A world champion at 19 – for Nicole Begg it is a dream come true

The talented speedskater has jetted her way home to Timaru with a fistful of medals.

The year, by her own assessment has "been amazing", capped off by taking out the senior women's 10,000m points-elimination race at the World Inline Championships in Angyong, Korea.

The race is considered one of the hardest track races but Begg had little time to celebrate or reflect. She was racing to a bronze medal in the 1000m just 30 minutes later.

"I have to admit the bronze medal seemed real but I struggled to think I was a world champion – but it is a dream come true."

Begg also scored a silver in the 42km road marathon to give her a complete set of medals.

The outstanding results made her second overall on the track, with the points from an athlete's best three track results tallied, and she went one better on the road, named champion.

Read More...

Melvindale's Smith wins 500

Melvindale's Jessica Smith -- one of the latest inline skaters to switch to ice skating -- won the women's 500 meters Tuesday in the U.S. Allround Long Track Championships in West Allis, Wis.

Smith won the race in 41.04.2 seconds, beating Maria Lamb of River Falls, Wis. (41.12. 3).

Locally, Smith skates with the Roseville-based Wolverines inline club.

A world champion for the U.S. inline team, she qualified for the U.S. speedskating team in October with an eye on the 2010 Vancouver Games.

"It's not that ice is more exciting than inline," Smith told InlinePlanet.com then. "I'm just ready for a new challenge. And this is a way to get to the Olympics."

Read More...

Switzerland for skating's supercoach

Bill Begg's career as an inline skating coach continues to blossom with his appointment as the Swiss national coach.

The 60-year-old Timaru man shows no signs of slowing down and will return to Europe in March having been at the helm of the German national team for the last two years.

Read More...

Queen of Canadian sport

Nash, Morneau, Thornton -- Winnipeg's Cindy Klassen beats them all to capture the Lou Marsh Award

Before that she was a member of the national women's junior hockey team, played field lacrosse as a demonstration event at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, and competed in the Winnipeg Pan American Games in 1999 as an inline skater. In 2003, she became the first Canadian in 27 years to win the overall title at the world speed-skating championships.

Read Full Article

Morrison donates her locks

Micalah also is an avid inline skater, competing locally, regionally and nationally, finding success on the hardwood. She skates at Fun Zone in Harrisonburg with her skating club, OMNISpeed, a 501 C-3 organization. This summer, she traveled to Lincoln, Neb. to compete nationally.

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Teenage Seymour skater rolling to new heights, awards

Congratulations to Seymour High sophomore Shauna McCullough, who is off to Spain to compete in the 2006 World Roller Skating Championships. The 15-year-old is a dedicated skater, and that is what is required for anyone to reach the world championships of any activity. Shauna is competitive and driven, but not at the expense of being a normal teenager. Yet she understands what it takes to reach the top of her sport. She has been skating for 10 years, spending hours and hours to perfect her craft. But she couldn't have accomplished what she has unless she truly enjoyed it. She works hard at something she enjoys and at which she excels. In Spain she will be competing against skaters from 21 countries. Since each country can send just two athletes for each event, Shauna had to finish in the top two spots at this summer's U.S. Roller Skating Championships. She has earned spots in the junior world class women's freeskating and the senior world class inline freeskating events. Shauna McCullough has achieved something rare and exciting. Good luck in Spain and have fun.

©The Mountain Press 2006

South American skater blazes trail

By GARY D'AMATO
gdamato@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Nov. 24, 2006

Thousands of miles from the sunny beaches of his hometown of Mar del Plata, Argentina, Jose Ignacio Fazio cuts a lonely figure as he glides around the 400-meter oval at the Pettit National Ice Center in a black skin suit bearing the letters "ARG."

Read More....

Inline Skating Super Hero

A new super hero is on the scene. Skate Ranger, the latest weapon in the battle of good against evil, is taking America by storm. Starting with an already-popular remote control action figure toy that moves with inline skates on his feet, knees and hands. Skate Ranger is poised to become the next major super hero enterprise.

Read More....

U.S.SPEEDSKATING ANNOUNCES THE HIRING OF OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST DEREK PARRA TO MANAGE NEW PROGRAM

PRESS RELEASES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS MOVEMENT:


U S Speedskating
U.S.SPEEDSKATING ANNOUNCES THE HIRING OF OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST DEREK PARRA TO MANAGE NEW PROGRAM

Over the last 15 years, US Speedskating has had a celebrated and informal relationship with USA Roller Sports, the national governing body for the sport. There have been several athletes who have achieved great success in the long track and short track speedskating, such as Olympian KC Boutiette, 2006 Gold Medallist Joey Cheek, 2006 Gold Medallist Apolo Anton Ohno, 2002 Bronze Medallist Jennifer Rodriquez, 2006 Gold Medallist Chad Hedrick, 2006 Olympians, Anthony Lobello, Allison Baver, Kimberly Derrick and Kristin Holzer and 2006 World Cup athlete Jordan Malone, all have their roots in inline skating.

Read More....

Derrick goes 2-for-2 on final day of Midland speed skating event

Monday, November 13, 2006

By MIKE SPENCER

TIMES SPORTS WRITER

MIDLAND - Kimberly Derrick saved her best for last Sunday afternoon in the Dow American Cup II Short Track Speedskating Championships.

The 21-year-old Olympian from Caledonia, who skated off the women's 1,000 meter race earlier in the day, made it a clean sweep with a victory in the Super 3,000.

''I didn't plan to go out and win that last race,'' said Derrick, who led the 27-lap race from start to finish. ''Nobody passed so I just led the whole way.

Read More....

American Racing Expedition Announces 2007 Dates and Information - Portugal Race

2007 Terras Do Infante V

Feb 14nd - 22nd, 2007
Aljezur, Odeceixe, Lagos, Vila do Bispo, Sagres, Loule
Portugal

For More Information, please visit: http://www.americanracingexpedition.com/

Hedrick, Lamb win speedskating events

Their absence has opened spots for newcomers like Jessica Smith of Melvindale, Mich., who has made the team based on her runs in two 500-meter races.

The 23-year-old Smith began competing in inline skating when she was 13 and has won a dozen world titles. She switched to the ice in 2004 because she wanted to compete in an Olympics.

"It feels good," she said. "I'm glad to do it now so I have more time to get used to the competition. It will help me in my goal of making an Olympic team."

Her best finish in the two 500s was third. She also placed fourth in the 3,000.

Read More...

Hedrick not expecting much on ice right now

Journal Sentinal Online - It has been a long time since Chad Hedrick showed up at a speedskating race willing to settle for anything but victories and track records.

Since he has been back training on the ice only six weeks and is still shaking off the rust from a five-month sabbatical after the 2006 Winter Olympics, however, he's going to cut himself some slack.

"I'm just not comfortable on my skates yet," Hedrick said after skating a relatively slow 500 meters in the U.S. Single-Distance Championships on Friday at the Pettit National Ice Center.

Read More ....

Skater Distraught After Placing 5th

DongA.com - Excessive confidence, based on the frilly expression, “the best,” to which she was so used to, might have held her back. The most popular inline skater of Korea shed tears as the she heard the announcement that eliminated her from the race as she had three laps to go.

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A POTTERS Bar teenager is taking the world of inline speed skating by storm.

Matthew Cardell-Williams is in his first competitive season and at a meet in August the skating sensation threatened to set a national record - despite stumbling at the start of the race.

The 15-year-old actually broke the previous British Cadet record in the 200m time trial at the Outdoor British Championship.

Read More...

Speedskating champ too busy to sharpen game

Chad Hedrick grew up in Spring, about as close to golf and as far from speedskating as a kid could get.

Always competitive, Hedrick was roller skating (at his parents' rink) at 2 and won his first national championship at 8. He won a world inline skating championship in 1994, and 10 years later, just 18 months after switching to ice skates, he won a world speedskating championship in Norway. At the 2006 Olympics in Torino, he won a gold, a silver and a bronze.

Read More....

Big incentive helps lure speedskating group

Deseret News - "... Parra, who recently bought a home in Draper, said he hopes to coach athletes here making the transition from inline skating to speedskating. ..."

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U.S. Speedskating to move headquarters to Salt Lake

SignOnSanDiego.com - “We are seeking to establish a better connection to our elite and developmental athletes in our programs, who reside and train here year-round, as well as setting the stage for our new inline transition program,” U.S. Speedskating executive director Bob Crowley said.

Read More..

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE

"Cindy Klassen, the first Canadian to win five medals in one Olympic Games, was born and raised in Winnipeg, growing up with a wide range of sports but with a predilection towards hockey.

She missed out on being selected for the national team for the 1998 Olympics but continued playing hockey for and attending the University of Manitoba. Wanting another sport to supplement her training, she had chosen speed skating and soon found herself competing at the 1999 Pan American Games in inline skating."

Read Entire Article

Arizona Rattlesnake Invitational

Just under two weeks until the first annual Arizona Rattleskate Invitational on October 15, 2006. Online registration at Active.com closes October 8th, but entries can still be accepted by mail or done at late registration the night before the race at Venezia’s Pizzeria. No race day entries accepted, except for the team time trial.

21-Time World Champion, JOEY MANTIA, will be conducting an outdoor clinic on Saturday October 14th from 3-5pm. Cost is $25.00 for the two-hour clinic. Payment for the clinic will be collected before the clinic starts. Please send me an email if you are planning on attending so I can give him an approximate head count.
arizonarattleskate@yahoo.com


Come and join us in Arizona for a fun day of racing.

• I have great sponsors who have generously donated items for great give-aways.

• The custom made awards are awesome and nothing like you have ever seen before!

• The t-shirts are made from a dri-fit material that keep you cool while working out.

• Cash prizes to the pro’s.

• You can still sign up your friends and family to receive a free skate lesson from a certified skate instructor so they have something to do in between your races - you don’t even need skating equipment, it will be all supplied. Sign up at www.freeskatelesson.com.

• Food vendors onsite during the day.

• Free coffee from Coffee Connection

• Free race food and drinks for the athletes

• Free massages for athletes and spectators

Full race details can be viewed at
www.arizonadustdevils.org under the Arizona Rattleskate link. Please call if you have any questions 480-734-0558.

Hope to see you all in Arizona!!

Carleton woman skates past world champion

CARLETON - Jilleane Rookard learned how to walk and skate at about the same time.

"I had skates on my feet when I was 11 months old," she said. "The opportunity was there, and it was something that I enjoyed. I love the competition."

Now the 23-year-old Carleton woman has become a world-class inline skater who has competed on the U.S. National Skating Team the last four years. Two weeks ago she beat the reigning world champion at the NorthShore Inline Marathon in Duluth, Minn.

Read More

Paris Friday Night Skate

From HotelBook.com: The original European mass skate sees thousands of Parisians on wheels taking to the streets of the City of Light every Friday of the year.

Starting at 10pm at the Gare Montparnasse (turn up by 9.45pm), an average of 12,000 skaters (the record is 28,000!) glide through the streets for three hours, covering 25-30km (14-18 miles) and finishing back at the Gare Montparnasse around 1am. The organiser, Pari Roller, welcomes everyone with the ability to brake and control their skates properly.

Beginners should probably work up to it, though, for the route is difficult in places and the large numbers make safety paramount. Cyclists, skateboarders and other fellow travellers are asked to keep to the rear of the procession.

Visit Pari-Roller.com

Inline skating is getting popular in Singapore

Inline skating is getting popular in Singapore, and now seven enthusiasts led by veteran skater Sandy Snakenberg will try to speed skate 24 hours non-stop.

This is done in the hope of breaking a world record, and getting ordinary folks involved.

Sandy said: "During this event it is not just a world record breaking event but also going to be open to the public, a 24-hour Skatetathon, so the public can come register and play with us. Basically they can skate on the inside track, it's almost like a skating slumber party."

More...

INLINE MARATHON: Mantia comes to Duluth undefeated in 2006.

Is Joey Mantia of Ocala, Fla., the world's best inline marathoner in 2006?

Full Story

Jilleanne Rookard of Carleton, Mich., uses timely move to win race.

Last year, Baena and Smith finished 1-4 at the NorthShore Inline as Hyper teammates ... at home with her mother in Michigan to offset her lack of skating this year.

Full Story

Slick surface slows skaters

One week earlier, in Anyang, South Korea, Mantia won the World Roller Speed Skating marathon title, also in the rain. ... Paul Inline last month.

Full Story

Rollerblade founder skates Duluth Marathon

The man credited with popularizing inline skating -- Scott Olson of Waconia, Minn. -- raced his first NorthShore Inline on Saturday, finishing in 1:42:29.

Full Story

Record Medal Haul for NZ at Inline Championships

"Timaru speedskater Nicole Begg was one of three stand-out performers at the World Inline Championships in Korea that saw the New Zealand team secure its highest medal tally ever.

The 10 senior medals placed the Kiwis third on the table behind world skating superpower Colombia and hosts Korea while finishing ahead of perennial champions Italy and the USA. "

Full Article

Rollerblade founder will skate Duluth Marathon

"INLINE RACING: Minnesota native Scott Olson will be competing Saturday, and his idea is what most skaters will be using during the races.

If you're skating in Saturday's 11th NorthShore Inline Marathon and looking for a brush with greatness, look for racer No. 1310. That's Scott Olson of Waconia, Minn."

Full Article

Korea’s Misleading Skate Medal Count

From DongA.com
(Korean News Site)

"The 2006 World Roller Speed Skating Championships closed on September 9. According to the rankings reported by the Korea Roller Sports Federation (KRSF) on the official website of the tournament, Korea won seven gold medals, eight silvers, and eight bronze medals and took second place next to Colombia which won 15 golds, 15 silvers and 11 bronzes.

From this record, it appears that Korea is a “powerhouse” in roller sports. But if you look carefully inside to seek where these medals came from, it suggests something else. The standings announced by the federation are a combination of the results of the junior class (for those 17 or under) and the senior class."

Full Article

I think it is odd that a Korean site would try to shine a negative light on their countries accomplishments at the World level.

Inline Skating in P.E. Classes

"And at a dozen local middle schools, students take inline skating as their PE class as part of a national Skate in School program. "

Full Article

Apolo Ohno Ad Shows Him in Quads!

Click on Image for full size image. This ad was found in the Sports Business Journal.

Skating: New Zealanders shine at world champs

Korea Takes 2nd at Skate Championship

Sun-Sentinal.com

Four-time Olympic speedskater K.C. Boutiette was also in the pro field and finished in top 10. Boutiette, 36, and his two-time Olympic speedskater wife Jennifer Rodriguez, who won two bronze medals at the 2006 Torino Games, relocated from Park City, Utah to Miami and opened the Sun Cycling South Bike Shop in South Miami.

Boutiette, who has a tattoo of the Olympic rings on his ankle, said he isn't serious about cycling as he was inline skating and speedskating, two sports he was a world-class competitor.

The Villages Daily Sun

The Villages Daily Sun: "THE VILLAGES " They seem to zip right along. At times, inline skaters here do sprints reaching up to 18 mph.

�"But we're not Olympic skaters," Phil Montague said, sending out a reminder that he and fellow members of The Villages Inline Skating Club understand they are a part of the senior sector."

ottawasun.com - Ottawa and Region - Last chance of season for free ride on roads

ottawasun.com - Ottawa and Region - Last chance of season for free ride on roads: "Also, Ottawa Inline Skating Club will offer free in-line skating tips from 10-11 a.m. on Colonel By Dr, at Seneca St."

Inline speed-skating club ready to pick up the pace in new season

Inline speed-skating club ready to pick up the pace in new season: "GREENACRES - They glide across the rink at the Atlantis Skateway in unison. Some are barely old enough to stand on their skates, while others, like Boynton Beach teenager Kevin Quandt, compete at a world-class level.

A helmet and a pair of inline roller skates is all that members of the Stardust Speed Club of Florida need to satisfy their desire for speed."

LAST WEEKEND TO ENJOY MANY OF THE NCC���S SUMMER PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES | Ottawa Start

LAST WEEKEND TO ENJOY MANY OF THE NCC'S SUMMER PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES | Ottawa Start: "Clinic: Inline skating lessons

Club: Ottawa Inline Skating Club

Location: Colonel By Drive (at Seneca Street)



The members of the Ottawa Inline Skating Club will be providing free inline skating tips and advice this Sunday, September 3, 2006, from 10 am to 11 am."

Extreme? SGMA Says Inline Skating Still Rules

Click here for full article

N. Palm Beach, Fla. (Ski Press)-According to SGMA International’s analysis of the current Superstudy® of Sports Participation, extreme sports are so popular that they attract more “players” than some traditional team sports.

Most Popular Extreme Sports in the USA
(U.S. population; 6 years of age or older)

Rank Sport # of Participants (participated at least once in 2004)
1. Inline skating 17,348,000
2. Skateboarding 11,592,000
3. Paintball 9,640,000
4. Artificial Wall Climbing 7,659,000
5. Snowboarding 7,110,000
6. Trail Running 6,486,000
7. Mountain Biking 5,334,000
8. Wakeboarding 2,843,000
9. BMX Bicycling 2,642,000
10. Mountain/Rock Climbing 2,161,000
11. Roller Hockey 1,788,000
12. Boardsailing/Windsurfing 418,000

Teen's busy schedule includes trip to Inline Speed Skating World Championships

From: Winston-Salem Journal | Teenager's drive and energy are reaping rewards as a speed skater and a guitarist: "In July alone, there were driver's education classes, skate lessons, skate practice, guitar lessons, and a trip to Lincoln, Neb., to compete in the National Inline Speedskating Championships followed by a trip to Colorado Springs to train at the Olympic Training Center."

Indoor Inline Marathon

From: Onalaska Life - Features: "Holmen's Kevin Schilling couldn't agree more. Schilling was one of several hundred inline skaters to participate in the Metrodome Inline Skating Marathon in April. The 71-lap, 26-mile race around the dome's concourse is billed as the world's only indoor inline marathon.

"Seventy laps, you would think it would be mind-numbingly boring," said Schilling, 46, whose 1 hour, 34 minute, 5.06 second effort at the Metrodome was good enough for ninth in his division."But it wasn't that bad. The pavement was smooth and there is no wind. It was really an interesting experience."

Ice Skaters More Likely To Suffer Head Injuries Than Roller Or Inline Skaters

From: Medical News Today - Ice Skaters More Likely To Suffer Head Injuries Than Roller Or Inline Skaters: "Most parents are unaware that young ice-skaters are more likely to suffer head and facial injuries than roller or in-line skaters. Research published in the August issue of Pediatrics found that ice-skaters experienced a greater proportion of head injuries (13%) compared with roller skaters (4%) and in-line skaters (5%). The study was conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) in the Columbus Children's Research Institute at Columbus Children's Hospital. "

Adventure of the week: Get inline and get going -- Outdoors/Outbound -- The Sacramento Bee

Adventure of the week: Get inline and get going -- Outdoors/Outbound -- The Sacramento Bee: "Adventure of the week: Get inline and get going
Bee Staff
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, August 24, 2006

Photo Caption: Brian Malone of Elk Grove, left, and Bernie Scoville and Mitchell Ryan, both of Sacramento, meet in downtown Sacramento for a Monday night inline skating run. Scoville, 68, teaches others how to inline skate and leads the weekly excursions. - Sacramento Bee/Florence Low"

Inline Skating Dropped from Ottawa Race Weekend

From: Runner's Web and Triathlete's Web, a Running, Track and Field and Triathlon Resource Portal

After careful deliberation, the Ottawa Race Weekend (ORW) has decided to remove the inline skate races from the program of events, commencing in 2007. This was a very difficult decision that will affect an estimated 800 participants, but one that was made to facilitate the safe growth of the main running events, to enhance the runners’ experience and to streamline the complex operations on race day.

World Longest Inline Skating Chain

From: Channelnewsasia.com: "280 S'poreans attempt world record for longest inline skating chain
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 August 2006 2025 hrs


SINGAPORE : A total of 280 Singaporeans strapped on their wheels and skated to their way to a new Singapore record for the longest inline skating chain - and they hope it will eventually turn out to be a world record.
"

Local girl on track to reach inline skating goals

From: The Mountain Press: "Local girl on track to reach inline skating goals
By: JEFF FARRELL

Staff Write August 10, 2006
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SEVIERVILLE - Twelve-year-old Hayley Fox came home recently with a fifth place title in the National Championships of Inline Skating, and a lesson in keeping focused.

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Fox said she was proud to have placed so highly in her first national event, but she thinks she could have placed fourth if she hadn't taken a race for granted."