RSO Speed Series #2 Report, Results, & Pictures

If you're looking for the Engadin post with results, scroll down (or click here).

RSO Speed Series #2 Report, Results, & Pictures: Clear blue skies and perfect weather conditions greeted skaters from Toronto, Cambridge, Harriston, Montreal, and Ottawa for the 2nd stop of the Roller Sports Ontario Speed Series.

Click here for Peter Doucet's photos.

Results
1500-meter time trial
500-meter sprints
10km group race
Stage 2 Overall results
Kids Overall
Kids 200m
Kids 400m
Kids 1000 & 2000m

The turn-out and support for the event was very good. The race officials and volunteers kept the races going and helped bandage up skaters after a few crashes. The biggest crash came during one of the 10km races. Mister Pauly and Jonothan Romyn clicked skates. Romyn went down and 3 or 4 skaters piled up and flew through the air.

Peter Doucet was the top finisher in the 1500-meter time trial. JF Messier was the top 500-meter skater, and Jesse Pauley took the 10km race after Sergio Almeralla attacked and tried to take the race with 3 laps to go.

Martine Charbonneau was the top female skater in the time trial and 500-meter sprint and 10k while Sarah Hopkins was the 2nd top female finisher in the 10k, after she and Morgane Echardour dueled the last few laps after the big crash.

The kids racing is getting better and better. It's very nice to watch the young skaters coming to the RSO events and participating and giving the crowd something extra to cheer about!


EGC Skates- the ones that Eric Gee built- saw action at today's race...including a crash in a multi-skater fall the 10k

Our lap counter in training did a great job- he was replacing Ryczard Adamczyk

William Malcolm during his time-trial

Candy Wong leads her 500-meter final- you might notice tucked away in 5th is Zahra Rajan from Newmarket

Paisley Perrie sitting comfortably behind Benoit Letourneau during her 500-meter sprint

Eric Gee making his move on the outside of Sarah Hopkins, Mister Pauley, and Jonothan Romyn in the last turn of the 500-meter sprint

Brian Jalbert in his 500-meter sprint, followed by Morgan Williams, Martine Charbonneau, and Youri Juteau

Hal Malcolm

Jacky Shu with Paisley Perrie and Kevin Noh in tow while David De Coninck is out in the outside lane

Mike Garvin openned up a big lead in the early goings on the group 2 10k- the lead was cut down 17 laps into the race thanks to a concerted and organized chase

Morgane Echardour leading Sarah Hopkins, Brian Jalbert, Mister Pauley, Jonothan Romyn, and Dominique Lalonde during the group 2 10k

Peter Doucet in front during the group 1 10k- folling are Jesse Pauley, Jade Pauley, and Sergio Almeralla

Peter Doucet leads Jesse Pauley and Jade Pauley

Engadin Results

Engadin Results: Click here for the Engadin World Inline Cup results. The men finished in 51:09 and the women finished 1:01.03. Aaron Arndt placed really well- he's climbing up the results ladder with a 26th place finish. Click here for the live updates from Rollerblade.

Men Top-5 Engadin WIC
1- Peter Michael
2- Raphael Pfulg
3- Kalon Dobbin
4- Stefano Galliazzo
5- Fabio Francolini

Women Top-5 Engadin WIC
1- Giovanna Turchiarelli
2- Tamara Llorens
3- Jana Gegner
4- Catherine Penan
5- Laura Lardani

Badger Pictures, Ice Videos, Blazing Engadin, Rollerblade News- Iten Interview & Mountainsmith Storage Bags

Badger Pictures: I missed the link for the Inline Planet/ Darlene Prois' photos from the Badger State Games- click here to view the pictures.


Badger State Games- photo from the Inline Planet and by Darlene Prois

Badger State Games- photo from the Inline Planet and by Darlene Prois
Ice Videos: I know it's almost July. There are probably a few heat waves that are separating us and outdoor ice skating- just in case you've got a need for short track and winter-esque videos, some have been posted in Bont's Forum- the most amazing ice video ever. I also embeded the videos below.



Blazing Engadin: The Engadin World Inline Cup is set to take place this afternoon. It is said to be the fastest marathon on earth- some say that the marathon could be finished under 50 minutes. I say that's crazy and awesome if they can pull it off. Team Rollerblade has a bit of a preview of the race. I am sure that they'll be putting up live reports.


Rollerblade News- Iten Interview & Mountainsmith Storage Bags: Team Rollerblade has published an interview with Nicolas Iten. You can even look at pictures of him. You can also find information on the Mountainsmith Storage Bags that the Rollerblade skaters use. Of course you can look at pictures of people with their Mountainsmith Storage Bags.


Two people with their bags- photo from Team Rollerblade

Funding Drive Starts Soon, Italy Videos, Skaters Look Good On Billboards, Aaron's House Members, Links (Junker, Skatefan, & Skating Sisters)

Funding Drive Starts Soon: At last, school's out for summer! I can now focus more on skating. Now that I take a few seconds and think about it, I don't think that it's possible to be more focused since I am already consumed by our sport. As I am writing this, I am chatting with Jacky Shu about technique, with Guido Ferra (webmaster of PatinCarrera) about the Pan Am games, and I am watching my skating friends' MSN coming online at all times.

I will be launching the SSW Funding Drive early next week, so keep your mouse and web browsers pointed and aimed at Speed Skate World. There's a good chance that next week, you'll be treated to pictures, videos, and reports from this weekend's RSO Speed Series race & Canada Day Marathon. They should be good! The Canada Day Marathon takes place this Sunday- on Canada Day. For you non-Canadians out there, Canada Day provides Canadians with a long weekend- a chance to go to cottages, beaches, water parks, have BBQ's, skate, and of course celebrate Canada!

Italy Videos: Lega Nazionale Hockey has some videos that just might interest you. Put your mouse over this hyperlink, yes, that's right, here and you'll be taken to the racing videos which include indoor Italian champs in Adria, Bonomia Fini Sport Roller marathon in Bologna April 2007, Italian marathon in Savona in April 2007, and the Italian track championships. Enjoy!

Skaters Look Good On Billboards: It's true, isn't it? Don't Skaters look awesome when they grace billboards? I recall people talking about Ed Leung and Andrew DelJunco being featured on a billboard for condos- well I finally saw a picture of it; looks good (see below). Candy Wong put up a few renditions of what billboarded skaters would look like-


Ed Leung and Andres DelJunco on the billboard

Somewhere probably in Toronto- from Candy Wong

Times Square- from Candy Wong
Aaron's House Members: Aaron Arndt is living with some pretty good company- below are the bios of his house members. Before I embed the bios on the side, I'd like to direct you to Aaron's report on the Sursee world cup. As we're learning to expect, it's a good read. I love to quote what Aaron writes. It provides good material for SSW- 'So, along the open roads, the pack had complete freedom. The surface was fast and grippy, and we had both lanes which we covered easily with the skaters. Good ones too. From this point on, there is so much movement in the pack, I can’t even begin to explain it, or pull out specific occurrences. There really isn’t a ‘paceline’. There isn’t a ‘leader’ and ‘guys following’. There is not much that is seemingly systematic about the movement of the pack. It is, by any definition, a peleton. But that’s really the only word you can use to describe it. To those new to it, it is complete chaos. You are constantly surrounded by skaters moving different speeds than you. Sometimes they are slower, sometimes faster. Sometimes you are moving towards the front, and sometimes moving back. A lot of this, is beyond your control'.

Aaron goes on to write 'There is certainly etiquette. The guys know what is safe and unsafe, and if you do the wrong thing, you will quickly know about it. The best guys can move from line to line easily, and when you have that kind of skill and confidence, you can ‘get in’. Some of that freedom comes with your skinsuit. The bigger teams get a lot more liberty with that kind of stuff. If you are an independent, well, not so much. The smaller pro teams find themselves somewhere in the middle. The same goes for your technique. If you come up the side with garbage technique, noone (not even your mom), will let you in. If you are known to leave gaps, it will be tough going. There is something of a system to it, and (forgive the phrasing, I just can’t help it) you’ve got to fight for your right to party. While it may seem that it is some sort of ‘boys club’ in the peleton, who gets in, who you let in and so on, but much of that it is correlated with real factors, and serves to keep the good guys from having bad traffic in front of them'.

Maybe I should just copy all of Aaron's report here. It's just that I like his reports so much, and I think that secretly, I wish I was the one writing them.


Links (Junker, Skatefan, & Skating Sisters): It's been a while since I've posted links, well, for the sake of putting them up; the first one is a skate shop in Germany- JunkerSkates.com Online-Shop.

The next link- Skatefan.nl is pretty sweet, and packed with news. It's too bad I can't read it. Well I sort of can; I can pick up skater names, I can decipher race and competition names, and that's about it. Oh, I can also appreciate the photos.

Since this site is very Netherlands focused, here's a link to report/ results from the house man and freezes winners rural of of the wheel job competition (that's what the AltaVista - Babel Fish Translation translates the headline from Dutch to English). I think it's actually Haulerwijk vd Wiel. Harm de Boer Fotografie has posted some pictures.


Haulerwijk vd Wiel- photo from Harm de Boer Fotografie

Haulerwijk vd Wiel- photo from Harm de Boer Fotografie
I am pretty sure I linked to Skating Sisters sometime in the past, but sometimes I play too much guitar and my memory goes away and doesn't work because I am heavily involved and immersed in the 'now' of my life. So just in case I haven't posted the link, but if I did post it before, it wont hurt to repost it, here once again or for the first time is the website Skating Sisters.


Skating with an umbrella probably somewhere in Europe- photo from Skating Sisters

Badger's Bad(ger) Finish, ST World Cups, Pics- Southern Regionals, Patin Carrera Reports- IIC & GBC, Love- NSI & Combs, 24 Hour Fever- Mans & Montreal

Badger's Bad(ger) Finish: Between the heated exchanges & messages and deleted threads that deal with the contested finish from the Badger State Games, I am sure that someone somewhere is happy about the attention and publicity that their event is getting. The Inline Planet has posted some pictures of the finish and you can also view a (shaky) video.


- photo from the Inline Planet and by Darlene Prois
I think AustinSkater said it best; 'the last couple hundred meters several skaters came into view, roaring towards the finish. Due to the intense speeds, the ground began to shake as evidenced by the camera. Shock waves began to emanate from the lead skater, much like the wake from a boat. At this point Jono and Pete began to take evasive action. The tremors were so intense that it threw Pete off balance and would have sent him to the ground were it not for Jono grabbing him to keep him upright. Both men clutched each other as they fought to stay alive. In a selfless act, Pete then dashed over to his friend Major to make sure he was all right, desperately urging him to slow down before the earth began to split. Unfortunately, one of the skaters had crossed over the critical limit and a fissure began to open behind Rookard as she too was trying to outrun the great rift in the earth. In a rare display of chivalry, Jono, with complete disregard for his own safety, lunged and pushed Ms Rookard out of harms way. Mustering the last bit of energy left, all four made one final stretch, narrowly avoiding catastrophe'.

ST World Cup: Ohno Zone has posted a schedule featuring American short track races and the world cup races. World Cup #5 will take place in Quebec City! I'm sure that I'll manage to make my way up there and cover the event on SSW.

Pics- Southern Regionals: You can drool over the plentiful great shots from the Southern Regionals thanks to Jeff Adams and Powerslide USA.


Sourthern Regionals- photo from Powerslide USA

Sourthern Regionals- photo from Powerslide USA

Sourthern Regionals- photo from Powerslide USA

Sourthern Regionals- photo from Powerslide USA

Sourthern Regionals- photo from Powerslide USA
Patin Carrera Reports- IIC & GBC: Patin Carrera's got a few reports up- I've ignored PC for a while, so it's time to put up some links; click here for a report on the Italian Inline Powerslide Cup and click here fora report on the German Blade Challenge (Mittelrhein/ Hamburg).

Love- NSI & Combs: Andrew Love is continuing to share his love and passion for life and skating- he continues to make the sport & the people involved in skating shine by posting entries like Night Skating International and From Spring, Texas.

24 Hour Fever- Mans & Montreal: We're getting closer and closer to that time of the year where the skating world stops...no, wrong choice of words.

We're getting closer and closer to that time of the year where on two continents, many skaters will not sleep for 24 hours. Instead of sleeping, they will attempt a few power naps between hours and hours of skating. Many of you know what I am referring to; the Mans 24 Hour taking place this weekend and the 24 Hours Inline Montreal taking place on July 14-15.

These events are looked at by some as a long skating party. Others take these slightly more seriously. Some (like Eric Gee) have these grandiose plans of doing something unique and spectacular, and many of those people will accomplish their goals. Eric will be skating the 24 hours in Montreal solo. He's built his own boots, he has assembled a team to support his quest, and he has prepared like none other! With his mega miles weekends, his experimenting with different lubricants for his feet, his hydration plans and test runs, and his analysis of who he is skating against/ with, I look forward to seeing what Eric could do.

I will probably be on hand at this year's 24 your relay in Montreal, but I won't be skating it. I'll take some pictures and post them.

Roller En Ligne is set to cover the Mans, perhaps in the same fashion that I covered the Montreal 24 hours a couple of years ago. REL has posted a profile of the P.U.C. Speedy Girls.

What I am really curious about is when is there going to be a rivalry between teams that skate the Mans and Montreal? Could my site start a rivalry? Here goes. I think the Poulettes Sur Roulettes are better than the P.U.C. Speedy Girls. I think that the team that I skated with last year in Montreal could finish at least top-3 overall, if not win the Mans.


Sylvain Rouillard- photo from Roller En Ligne

Marathon Rollerblade Montreal, This Weekend's Races,Mathias Pic, Haulerwijk-Wolvega Report & Pics, Virtue's NW Regionals Pics, Tru Rev Review

Marathon Rollerblade Montreal: Don't you all rush over; the Marathon Rollerblade Montreal's regitration is open for all. The event, which includes a 1/2 and a full marathon is set for September 8th. It will take place on F1 track of the Parc Jean Drapeau- a beautiful island that lies in the St-Lawrence river in Montreal.

This Weekend's Races: A two event weekend for you! A few events for you to consider skating in this weekend; RSO Speed Series in Toronto on Saturday June 30th and then Canada Day Marathon the following day on July 1st in Cambridge- about 45 minutes from Toronto.

Mathias Pic: The picture of Mathias Schwierz (from Germany) was recently posted on Bont's forum. It's from the German national championships- he won the 300m, 500m, and the 1500m.


Haulerwijk-Wolvega Report & Pics: Click here for Maarten Slembrouck’s report on the Haulerwijk-Wolvega race in the Netherlands. Click here for the results and click here for msl's photos.


Haulerwijk-Wolvega- photo from Maarten Slembrouck’s Blog
Virtue's NW Regionals Pics: Mark Virtue has put up what I think is an un-countable number of super pictures from the Northwest regionals.


NorthWest Regionals- photo from Mark Virtue

NorthWest Regionals- photo from Mark Virtue

NorthWest Regionals- photo from Mark Virtue

NorthWest Regionals- photo from Mark Virtue

NorthWest Regionals- photo from Mark Virtue

NorthWest Regionals- photo from Mark Virtue

NorthWest Regionals- photo from Mark Virtue
Tru Rev Review: The Inline Planet has posted a review; Tru-Rev's Three Wheel Frames for Kids.

Funding Drive Starts Next Week, Zepto Reports- Germany, Sursee Video, Boot Making EGC Style, IDF & GP Bourgogne Reports, Pics- Haulerwijk & Sursee

Funding Drive Starts Next Week: I am going to start the SSW Funding Drive next week. The funding drive's aim is to raise funds to compete at the Pan American Games and at the World Championships. Stay tuned for more...

Zepto Reports- Germany: Zepto Skate Team is providing lots of material from German championships- use the following links for reports/ pictures/ results; 300, 1500, 500, 10k, 20k, , 5k, 10k, another distance, and a report on the Stuttgart 1/2 Marathon.


Johannes Schmalz wins the Stuggart 1/2 Marathon- photo form Zepto

Germany Champs- photo form Zepto
Sursee Video: Click here for a video from the Sursee WIC/ SIC- it's a 2-something minute news coverage. You can really see Joey Mantia's wounds/ bandages. You also get a good taste of the landscape with aerial footage to the music of Muse (Starlight). Good choice- enjoy.

Mittelrhein Report: Gavin Pollock has posted a report on the Mittelrhein marathon. He gave some pretty good advice in his reports, saying 'So a tip for the guys that are skating marathons, and struggling to work in the pack....When the pack concertinas and the person behind you starts pressing against your back and you have to put your hands on the guy in front to stop yourself from crashing into him... DON’T. Instead, get used to using the push that the guy behind gives you as a boost, look over your shoulder to make sure it’s clear, and step out (even better if there’s another line passing next to you). The push the guy gave you will bump your speed up and without even trying you’ll be skating faster than the guys you were just behind. Skate a little bit further, and then step back into the line. Get used to doing this almost EVERY time someone pushes into you from behind. You will be amayed at how easy it becomes to keep yourself in a good position and moving forwards through the line all the time'.

Boot Making EGC Style: Eric Gee is continuing to share his boot making experiences from version 1.0 to the 3rd generation boot- see Before I forget. Eric Gee's skates were recently featured on Pattinaggio Bellusco.

I was browing Pattinaggio Bellusco and noticed one of their entries was of a Canadian skater, Rich Ralph, who is skating across Canada in support of cancer research and awareness- See The End for more. He's actually in and about Toronto now!


IDF & GP Bourgogne Reports: Roller En Ligne has posted a report on the Ile de France championship. When you follow the trail of links, you might end up here on the report (with results) and on the photo page.

You can find a report on the Grand Prix de Bourgogne (this is where you can find results if you browse around).


Grand Prix de Bourgogne- photo form Roller En Ligne
Pics- Haulerwijk & Sursee: I would be willing to argue that you can't really go wrong by exploring the following photo galleries; Sursee WIC/ SIC pictures from http://www.skate4fun.ch/zopf/ and Haulerwijk pictures from Harm de Boer Fotografie.


Haulerwijk- photo from Harm de Boer Fotografie

Haulerwijk- photo from Harm de Boer Fotografie

Sursee WIC/ SIC- photo from Quartier Zopf Online

Sursee WIC/ SIC- photo from Quartier Zopf Online

Sursee WIC/ SIC- photo from Quartier Zopf Online

Sursee WIC/ SIC- photo from Quartier Zopf Online

Sursee WIC/ SIC men's finish- photo from Quartier Zopf Online

Sursee WIC/ SIC women's finish- photo from Quartier Zopf Online