February 5th 2010- Roller Speed Skating News

February 5, 2010

With the end of the work-week, it’s time to keep up with the going-ons of roller speed skating;

Photo from MundoPatin

Photo from Pattinaggio Bellusco

Photo from Cienporcientopatin

Photo from Asphalte Roller

By SSW | Posted in Advice, Blog, Championships, Equipment, Events, International, Marathon, National Selection, Photos, Race Series, Reports, Roller, Rules, Track, Video, World Championships | Comments (0)

February 2nd 2010- Roller Speed Skating News

February 2, 2010

Here are some recent links that will take you into what’s been going on in the world of roller speed skating;

A couple of weeks ago after the N.Z. champs Kalon Dobbin & myself were talking, we got on to the topic of our sports recognition, that many top World Class Cyclists & Ice skaters come out of Inline.We know off all the Ice stories, Theresea Cliff is doing well in the World cup Cycling & I can remember when we lived in Colombia in 1990 / 1991 & my wife Cheryl racing the Medellin team of Ladies cyclists, who were virtually the Colombian ladies road team, headed by Pan American Road Champion Adrianne Muriel, all the team at the time Cheryl had previously raced at World Speed skating championships.

By SSW | Posted in Championships, Coaching, Equipment, Events, Forum, Gear, Indoor, International, Links, Marathon, National Selection, Race Series, Reports, Roller, Skaters, Technique, Upcoming, Video | Comments (0)

Cat & SSW Hoodie, Cat & Skates

January 31, 2010

Here are pictures of my cat, Presti.

In the first picture, he’s getting hair all over a SpeedSkateWorld.com hoodie.

In the second picture, he’s chilling with my roller speed skates & Morgane’s short track speed skates.

By SSW | Posted in Equipment, Gear, Photos, Roller, Short Track | Comments (0)

January 26th 2010- Roller Speed Skating Links & More

January 26, 2010

As the middle of the work-week approaches, it’s time for me to share some links to what’s going on in the roller speed skating world. And so, as it goes on, some news is sad, some is good;

Sorry to be the bearer of horribly bad news. Mary Scott King of Huntington Beach, CA was killed in a tragic snowboarding accident on Saturday the 16th in Telluride, Colorado, while heli-boarding with her boyfriend, Carlo Nafarrette. She skated for me at Team Paradise in the early 90’s, competing both indoors and outdoors. While she hadn’t gotten new skates in years (she was still on her 5 x 84’s), she still skated every now and then. One thing about Mary Scott, she was always better than what she gave herself credit for, both in skating and snowboarding.


Photo from MundoPatin.com


Photo by Mark Virtue


Photo from ASTA

I remember watching the first one in November on live feed and thinking a LOT of the same thoughts that are being posted on here about this event. Everyone that was actually at the Initiation kept telling me what a success it was and how many people showed up to watch. I found that VERY hard to believe.. until I attended this event (tribulation 1) they had this weekend. I promise you- people came in BUNCHESSS to watch this event. The rink was absolutely packed with non-skaters and there was a lot of energy in there. Obviously, that energy is not making its way entirely across the internet and onto your computers. Joey and Miguel are their own biggest critics and are completely aware of that. One big reason that the live feed hasn’t been that fulfilling is because the audio being fed to the online viewers is coming exclusively from the emcee’s mic. It doesn’t sound natural.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Make sure you consult SSW’s events calendar for upcoming events. Please let me know if there are events that need to be added to the calendar.

Planet Adventure now offers Inline Speed Skating events in Indianapolis. With the help of experienced area speed skaters (Indy Speed, Asphalt Beach and Global Inline) and the National Roller Cup (NROC), Planet Adventure will host five events in 2010.

I am please to announce that Marathon Roller of Montreal 2010 will be back this year. Same great fun, same great venue. Confirmed date is for May 9th. More details to come soon.

By SSW | Posted in Advice, Championships, Events, Indoor, Junior, Marathon, National Selection, Off Season, Photos, RIP, Race Series, Reports, Results, Roller, Senior, Skaters, Track, Training, Upcoming, Video, World Championships | Comments (0)

January 23rd 2010- Roller Speed News

January 23, 2010

Here’s a bit of news from the world of roller speed skating;


Photo from Roller Sisters


Photo from here

The Masterston 1980 World champs was the end of of a proud era of N. Z. skating & the political offshute saw Peter & Marie Maxwell retire from skating, with International careers still well in front of them, Karen Yorke ( Treolaer ) Marlene Glover ( MacDonald) all World medalists at Masterton & all been World champions, never raced again Internationally.

It was not till 1999 that N.Z. won another World Senior Medal with Kalon Dobbin a Third, in 1996 from memory the first World Junior champs Shane Dobbin won a medal & was robbed blind of the Gold in the Marathon. I see Johnny said that Scott got a Bronze in Adelaide in 1986, I remember the first two were grabbed & some DQ as one was my skater, so not possitive about the Bronze, as I am still irked about the Italian 10 meters back off the pace getting a political gift.

By SSW | Posted in Article, Blog, Championships, Clubs, Equipment, Events, Fundraising, History, Indoor, International, Interview, Marathon, Photos, Reports, Roller, Skaters, Sprint, Technique, Track, Training, Upcoming, Video, Youth | Comments (0)

January 20th 2010- Roller Speed Skating News

January 20, 2010

Here are a few roller speed skating related links- enjoy.

I suggest you kick off your speed skating surfing with this video: 2009 Engadin World Inline Cup.


Photo from here

I am a big outdoor fan and I would love to skate this meet but in January it just doesn’t make that much since for me to go to Florida to race a lot of people that are not in outdoor shape which from watching.. a lot of people are not in outdoor shape. In January I just don’t believe that there is anything to gain from that meet. If you do good then you get a false since of security considering you weren’t racing many people that were in shape, and if you do bad you shrug it off and say you haven’t been skating outdoor much.

Club de patins à roues alignées, TAZ Vitesse from 24hroller on Vimeo.

By SSW | Posted in Blog, Championships, Equipment, Events, Indoor, International, Marathon, Masters, Photos, Reports, Results, Roller, Skaters, Track, Training, Upcoming, Video, Volunteer, World Cup, Youth | Comments (0)

January 18th 2010- Short track news, a bit of roller

January 18, 2010

Here are a few links coming from the early part of this past weekend.

My entry with the flame was announced and the crowd went wild. Something popped into throat and I was fighting back tears. My jog was real now. I have honestly never felt a shudder like that before. I remember one similar when we were at Canada Winter Games back in 2003, but this was more intense.

SHORT TRACK NEWS


Photo from Liam McFarlane


Photo from Michelle Portesi


Photo from Maarten Slembrouck’s Blog

A BIT OF ROLLER


Photo from Bont Skates

By SSW | Posted in A Bit Of Sunshine, Blog, Championships, Companies, Gear, Inspiration, International, Junior, Olympics, Photos, Reports, Roller, Short Track, Skaters, World Championships | Comments (0)

January 18th 2010- Skate Vermont, Championnat VRL #1, Supporting CAN Fund

January 18, 2010

SKATE VERMONT- JANUARY 29-31

Skate Vermont is set to take place on the weekend of January 29th to the 31st. The weekend will include speed skating marathon races on Saturday & Sunday. The races, which will be held on Lake Morey, are part of the Marathon Skating International’s events.

Skate Vermont is a celebration of the lake, ice and all things winter. This weekend will be filled with fun for the whole family with snow sculptures, ice skating, speed skating marathons and recreational racing for all ages and abilities, sledding, sleigh rides, torch light skating parade, food, live entertainment and the first annual Taste of the Lake, a culinary tour of Lake Morey’s Skate Trail, the longest maintained trail in the US.

CHAMPIONNAT VRL- REPORT & RESULTS

Here’s a report from this past December’s Championnat VRL;

À la veille du temps des fêtes, le 19 décembre, des patineurs de 5 à 59 ans ont chaussé leurs plus beaux patins pour prendre part au Championnat VRL à la Récréathèque de Laval au nord de Montréal.

Nous avons eu droit à de magnifiques duels sur cette piste de bois entre les clubs VRL, Taz et de Toronto. La compétition était composée d’une courte et d’une longue distance ainsi qu’une course à élimination. De plus, pour terminer le programme, la course à relai a permit aux patineurs de fraterniser. Les organisateurs du club VRL se disent très fiers de l’événement et espèrent en faire un rendez-vous annuel.

VRL le club, souhaite à toute la communauté du « roller » une bonne année 2010. Roulez prudemment!

SUPPORTING CAN FUND

Canadian Athletes Now Fund (CAN Fund) is in the final stretch to fund winter sport athletes who are currently on their waiting list. See how you can help with the Final Push.

You can view video testimonials from Canadian athletes.

The “Final Push” is the Canadians Athletes Now Fund’s call to action. This campaign encourages all Canadians to have a direct impact on the success of our athletes.

What is The Final Push?
It’s a minimum donation of $10 that will be given directly to our athletes so they have what they need over the final months leading up to the Winter Games. For example, this much-needed money will help ensure our top athletes have proper nutrition, upgraded equipment, funds for extra physiotherapy, coaching fees and basic living expenses. With these needs taken care of, our athletes can focus on being their best!

By SSW | Posted in Events, Fundraising, Indoor, International, Long Track, Marathon, Race Series, Reports, Results, Roller, Short Track | Comments (0)

January 17th 2010- Roller Speed Skating News

January 17, 2010

Here are some of the more recent roller speed skating links from the last few days;


Photo from Training & News

The Tour de France Roller leaves for a new adventure of 1300 km in 16 days throughout France, from Paris to the Pyrenees, with a grand final in the Alps. The concept remains the same: either a full 16 day sporting event or the opportunity to ride only 8 days or even daily stages.


Photo from Pattinaggio Bellusco

Nr. DATES HOST CITY / COUNTRY EVENT / LEVEL
1. April 01-04 1 Cartagena, Colombia WIC Top Class
2. April 10-11 Rennes, France WIC C1
3. April 17-18 Geisingen, Germany WIC C1
4. May 01 Ferrara, Italy 3 WIC C1
5. May 23 Incheon, Korea WIC Top Class
6. May 30 Ostrava, Czech Republic WIC C1
7. June 5-6 Pamplona, Spain WIC C1
8. June 13 Dijon, France WIC C1
9. June 20 Biel/Bienne, Switzerland WIC Top Class 2
10. June 26 Engadin, Switzerland WIC Top Class 2
11. August 7-8 Bern, Switzerland WIC Top Class 2
12. August 14-15 Zug, Switzerland WIC Top Class 2
13. August 28 Gdansk, Poland WIC C1
14. September 5 Chuncheon, Korea WIC Top Class
15. September 12 Eindhoven, Netherlands WIC Top Class
16. September 17-19 Buenos Aires, Argentina WIC Top Class
17. September 25 Berlin, Germany 3 WIC Top Class
18. October 17 Margarita, Venezuela WIC Top Class
By SSW | Posted in Advice, Blog, Championships, Events, Forum, International, Marathon, Photos, Race Series, Records, Roller, Senior, Skaters, Technique, Track, Training, Travel, Ultra Distance, Upcoming, Video, World Cup | Comments (0)

January 13th 2010- Lots Of Roller Speed Skating News

January 13, 2010

Below are a bunch of links to news & more from the wide world of roller speed skating;

I’m sick of our sport being in decline, so here is a plan…at least from an American perspective because that’s where I live.

One reason for the demise of the sport in my opinion is that most USA racing is done INSIDE away from the public eye.
That’s a fact that is probably not going to change, but here is a way to get it in everyones face and on TV and get some momentum going.
Joey is just the guy to do it.

Follow me here.

Joey is Mates with Apollo Anton-Ono, I believe they train (Gym work) together sometimes at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Joey is Mates with Chad Hedrick…former USA team mates in fact.
Joey is Mates with DD (Derek Parra)

That is 3 OLYMPIC Champions with a huge Media Draw who used to roller and inline skate!
I can’t be certain about Chad and Apollo, but my guess is that this Feb could be their last Olympics and DD has already dropped out of competition.

These 3 Athletes OWE Inline Skating in part for their success and I think it is time for a bit of payback after the Olympic competition.
It would help tremendously if somewhere we had an “Angel” investor who could motivate theses 3 with a Big $$$$ amount, but if not, they should just go back to their roots and help us wheelies out a little.


Photo from ASTA


Photo shared by Powerslide

By SSW | Posted in A Bit Of Sunshine, Advice, Championships, Companies, Equipment, Events, Falls, Forum, History, Indoor, International, Long Track, Marathon, Photos, Race Series, Reports, Roller, Skaters, Sport Development, Technique, Track, Training, Upcoming, Vendor, World Cup, Youth | Comments (0)