Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Ready! Set! Skate!

Tampa, Florida – From bumps to bruises to broken bones, there are few injuries too great to stop some of the world’s best speed skaters.

On Friday morning, hundreds of them converged on United Skates of America on North Armenia Avenue in Tampa for the 30th Annual Tampa Classic Speed Skating Invitational.

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Friday, March 14, 2008

Feel The Need For Speed

Greensboro, NC -- We all wish we had more time to do the things we love, but sometimes life just gets in the way. Photojournalist Mike Lee caught up with a Triad athlete who despite her hectic schedule finds time to pursue her dream.

For most people, working fulltime and rasing a child would easily fill up a twenty four hour day. Throw in the mix a hectic training schedule and you might have a glimpse of what it's like to be Brandy Clark.

Currently, Brandy is training for Outdoor Nationals. If she makes the team she will compete with other inline speed skaters from around the world.

Source: WFMY News 2

Copyright: 2008 digtriad.com

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Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Local officials hope to realize Olympic dreams

Local Olympic hopes were boosted after Monday's announcement that Peoria will host the 2009 USA Roller Sports (USARS) national championships in inline speed skating and figure skating for 25 days at the Civic Center. USARS is recognized as the national governing body for competitive roller sports by the U.S. Olympic Committee and is pushing to have outdoor speed skating included as a future Olympic activity.


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Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Skaters will glide into Peoria

USA Roller Sports will hold championships in Peoria, providing big influx of tourist dollars





Tuesday, March 4, 2008

By John Sharp

of the Journal Star
PEORIA - Thousands of skaters will visit Peoria for 25 days next year during the national championships of two roller skating events expected to generate strong business for regional hotels.

USA Roller Sports, recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for Competitive Roller Sports in the United States, is estimated to bring about 3,000 skaters to Peoria for its national championships of inline speed skating and figure skating from July 16 to Aug. 10, 2009, at the Civic Center.

"This again goes toward that reputation Peoria has as kind of an amateur sports mecca," said Brent Lonteen, president/CEO of the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, referencing national amateur softball championships held in East Peoria. "This is something unusual. It's a big event. It's here for 25 consecutive days."

Lonteen said the biggest boon could be for area hotels. In past USARS championship events held in Omaha, Neb., and Lincoln, Neb., anywhere between 10,000 to 12,000 hotel nights were used by visitors, he said.

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Q&A: Speed Skater Wayne Bowles

By DAVID MANN
David.Mann@newsandtribune.com

Wayne Bowles makes a living as a training officer for Metro Louisville Corrections. But he’s also training local youngsters and adults on a few other skills as well.

Bowles — a former competitive speed roller skater who recently took over ownership of Skate Odyssey Family Fun Center — is in Clarksville coaching the next generation of competitive skaters. As a part of its weekly Q & A series, The Evening News and The Tribune recently sat down with Bowles.

He talked about his days as a competitive skater, his young team and turning around the Clarksville skating rink.

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