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)

Pace Line Etiquette

December 23, 2009

At first I was taken back by the blatant disregard for my hard-earned position in the line. But then I thought it would be fine because she could take a pull before my next turn. No biggie. What I didn’t expect is that after a lap, 1 freaking lap in 4th position back, she quit again. Right in front of me. There was nowhere to go, and the elites were getting away.

Read more using these links;

By SSW | Posted in Forum, Indoor, Roller, Rules, Strategy & Tactics | Comments (0)

IOC Trying For Doping Accord With Canadians

December 22, 2009

LONDON (AP) — Olympic officials are trying to reach an agreement with Canadian law enforcement authorities on fighting doping at the Vancouver Games.

Arne Ljungqvist, chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s medical commission, said Monday the two sides are cooperating but have not settled on a strategy for the Feb. 12-28 games.

Read more here; IOC trying for doping accord with Canadians.

By SSW | Posted in International, Long Track, Olympics, Rules, Short Track | Comments (0)

Claudia Pechstein- No Reasonable Explanation For Doping

December 19, 2009

Claudia Pechstein’s website has been update with the following (translated with Babel Fish);

Well three weeks ago the barrier was confirmed against me by the CAS. And in me the impression that the anti- Doping experts so slowly however becomes surely conscious, strengthens what glaring miscarriage of justice in Lausanne pleases became. First Professor Wilhelm Schänzer expressed doubts immediately after the judgement its:„I had expected that one does not close her. I feel uneasy with the judgement, since it is based only on the parameter increase of the reticulocytes. “

By SSW | Posted in Long Track, Rules, Skaters | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Commission To Look Into The Smit-Paul Allegations

December 18, 2009

A commission is being asked to look into the allegations that some people in Gretha Smit’s circles, including Ingrid Paul, offered Poldand’s Katarzyna Wojcicka 50-thousand euros to not skate at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Read more using these links;

2009-12-18-igc

By SSW | Posted in International, Long Track, News, Rules, Skaters | Comments (0)

Canada Stands Behind Ingrid Paul

December 17, 2009

The following is from Canada achter Ingrid Paul (translated with Babel Fish);

2009-12-17-csi

CALGARY – Speed Skating Canada, the Canadian shoe association, has spent a declaration in which one puts Ingrid Paul behind association coach to stand. Dutch it was expired weak accused from a attempt to bribery. During the Winterspelen of Turin 2006 Paul 50,000 will have ordered euro to the Polish jockey Katarzyna Wójcicka its give startplaats on the five kilometres up.

By SSW | Posted in Coaching, International, Long Track, MISC, Olympics, Rules, Skaters | Comments (0)

Olympic Qualification Process: Is It So Hard To Understand??

December 17, 2009

I agree the process is difficult to explain, at least for USA, but I think most countries with many skaters are similar. Following is about what I know.

First, a skater must skate a qualifying time at certain meets (I don’t know which) and between certain dates (I know what the latest date is, but don’t know the earliest). These times qualify them to compete in the meet in the next paragraph.

Then skaters compete to qualify for the fall world cup team. I don’t know exactly how that’s selected, and how alternates are chosen.

Then selected skaters compete in the 4 world cup meets, or some of them. I don’t know how it’s decided who of those who qualified actually skate, and who skated if the selected ones do not.

Results of the 4 world cup meets give a certain number of Olympic spots to each country, and guarantee some skaters an Olympic spot. I don’t know the details of most of those rules.

Then the USA holds another meet to fill its Olympic spots which haven’t been guaranteed. I don’t know who is qualified to compete in that competition, nor how the selection of primary and alternate skaters is made.

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If this process is simple to explain, it will be easy for someone in this group to write a simple document explaining it all to a person who has never seen speedskating, who doesn’t know how many skaters are on the ice at one time.

If someone wants to try, I’ll get the reaction of Jill and some of her friends.

Jim White

Read more here; olympic qualification process – is it so hard to understand??.

By SSW | Posted in Forum, International, Long Track, National Selection, Olympics, Rules | Comments (0)

Katarzyna Wojcicka Offered 50-Thousand Euros So Gretha Smit Can Skate 2006 Olympic 5km Long Track, Refused Bribe

December 15, 2009

Interesting story on Dutch Teletekst now: according to Katarzyna Wójcicka (now Bachleda-Curus), Gretha Smit’s coach Ingrid Paul offered her €50,000 to start in the the 2006 Olympic 5000 m, after the Netherlands failed to obtain 3 starting positions. Smit would have been able to skate if Wójcicka hadn’t started, but she says she refused to take the alleged bribe.

You can find out more by using these links;

2009-12-15-gsp
Gretha Smit and Ingrid Paul in 2006- photo by TLG, from here

By SSW | Posted in International, Long Track, Olympics, Rules, Skaters, Video | Comments (0)

Unilateral Rule Changes By Speed Committee

December 14, 2009

I’m a little puzzled by the way things worked with USARS on these rule changes and perhaps someone could shed some light on it for me.

The coaches were just asked for input by our regional reps on 20 or so items relating to rules changes within USARS. One of the items I don’t remember seeing on that list was the elimination of the 15 foot cone (and NIRA track, but that’s another post).

Seemingly (to me) a unilateral decision was pushed down to remove the 15′ cone on relays. We’ve heard very little on this, certainly nothing in writing from USARS, other than a simple decision to remove the cone (citing increased interference calls in recent years). Members of my team who wrote to USARS received a professional and polite response that basically said the issue will possibly be revisited in 2010. If this is viewed as a safety issue, which it is by all the skaters I’ve informally polleda year is too long.

Read more here; Unilateral rule changes by speed committee.

By SSW | Posted in Forum, Opinion, Roller, Rules | Comments (0)

Pechstein Cleared To Race At Salt Lake City, Video In SLC

December 11, 2009

BERLIN (AFP) – German speedskater Claudia Pechstein, banned for two years due to doping irregularities, was on Tuesday told by a Swiss Federal Court that she can compete in a World Cup event at Salt Lake City.

Last month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a two-year suspension against the five-time Olympic champion due to anomalies in her biological passport.

But Tuesday’s decision by Switzerland’s highest judicial authority gives the 37-year-old the opportunity to meet the qualifying mark for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in the 3,000 metres race at Salt Lake City on Friday.

Read more here; Pechstein cleared to race at Salt Lake City.

Here’s a video of Claudia Pechstein arriving in Salt Lake City; Pechstein arriveert in SLC.

By SSW | Posted in International, Long Track, Race Series, Rules, Skaters, Video, World Cup | Comments (0)