It’s A Struggle To Survive, US Speed Skating, WOW Men’s Finish Video, 2008 Worlds- Spain, Hamilton Pictures, MISC Stuff
It’s A Struggle To Survive: Andrew Love posted an entry that I really like; it’s called Liam and John. Andrew writes ‘speedskaters, even national team skaters like him, have to struggle financially to survive. It’s a reality of many sports that demand total dedication, especially the small ones, and is a topic worth a wheelbarrow of blog posts on its own’.
I think what Andrew says is completely true. The training requirements to perform at the top level are so demanding that a lot of athletes have to sacrifice their jobs and educations in order to train and perform. It’s hard to understand what an elite/ world class athlete need to go through in order to achieve goals and results, and I am in the process of learning that. What I think might be even harder is for those outside of the ‘real’ circle of athletes to understand just how much support is necessary for athletes to perform.
I am lucky because I have my university degree and teaching certifications- I chose to not sacrifice those. But trying to be an elite athlete now while working full-time or near full time leaves very little of not no room and time for the little (important) things like friends, shopping, family trips, and saving money.
You might find that athletes are coming to you year in and year out for you to donate money- there’s a reason; athletes in general have very little support and they need help.
US Speed Skating: In his latest two entries Spring Board meeting, pt. 1 and Spring Board Meeting, part II, Andrew Love examines and comments on the political machine that is US Speed Skating. Interesting commentary and perspective again from Andrew Love.
WOW Men’s Finish Video: Click here for a video (or press play below) of Yann Guyader edging out Sjoerd Huisman in WOW’s Domberg.
2008 Worlds- Spain: The 2008 World Roller Speed Skating Championships will be held in Gijon, Spain. Good stuff. See you there! Pretty cool that the website is up and running!
The track is looking good!
Hamilton Pictures: Candy Wong wrote about the first Hamilton Beach skate of the year. You can find some awesome pictures from danielcd by clicking here.
Skating is a beautiful sport- Eric Gee leading the group in Hamilton- Ed, where's your helmet?!- photo from danielcd
Morgan Williams and Sarah Hopkins- photo from danielcd
MISC Stuff: For you politically incline readers, here’s a good opportunity to read and respond about US Marathons being sanctioned. There’s a lot of posts in Should U.S. inline marathons be USARS-sanctioned? On RaceReports.net’s Forum.
I like this skate in advertising- Get More Skates in Advertising...
Skates in advertizing- photo from http://www.lenihan.org/halls_skate.htm
posted by Peter Doucet at 5:28 PM
3 Comments:
Is someone honestly supposed to feel bad for these athletes? They, apparently, don't have to work or go to school, they get to run around doing whatever they want and their beef is that no one will pay them to do it? Boo hoo. They need to take a big bite of a little sandwhich I like to call REALITY.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 10:02:00 PM
THIS pathetic responce about sandwich and reality can only have been invented by someone who never ''played'' at the top level in sports. It's just a stupid comment, what is reality? YOUR reality does not have to be for everyone. Not all have to chose to work 9to5, get maried at 20 and then have kids the year after. Is there a manual of life I should've read? Reality is about having goals in life and doing it a your best...a litle money on the side is just appreciated. I think theses ahletes are more sane than the most. A least less of a threat for society than the reality sandwiches people.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 2:03:00 PM
Buddy, reality is that if you have a choice between having a job and not having a job, going to school or not going to school, you're not struggling. You're living the sweet life. You think everybody else wants to drag their ass to work every morning, that this is a CHOICE? We all have to (and "have to" in the sense that you "have to" pursue your dreams, we "have to" pay the rent). That's my, and everyone else's, reality. You want to pursue your wildest dreams and goals? Fine, and best of luck to you, but put your hands back in your pockets and button up about your plight. Realize that that lifestyle doesn't pay the bills. That's why most of us don't do it.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 10:39:00 PM
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