SSW Fundraising Drive Day #5, Canadian Nationals This Weekend, Vancouver Torrent, Euro Jr & Sr Champs, EGC's Pain, Awesome ST Video, Ask Bill Begg

SSW Fundraising Drive Day #5: There were no fish who took the bait yesterday- no luck, no donations. This leaves the total funds raised during the SSW Fundraising Drive at $408.98. Let's pick it up today- if you're on the edge of donating money to the SSW findraising drive, I highly encourage you to do so. I will close the drive on Monday and it will return next year- perhaps in July.


For today's entry, I just wanted to talk about the lack of support that many skaters and top athletes have. When I say support, I don't mean moral support- there are a lot of well wishers behind many athletes who aspire to be at the top. The support I am talking about is financial support. This is one of the reasons behinds the drive; I am trying to mobilize some support while getting the SSW readers to realize or confirm what they know, about how much support is really out there.

I've written sponsorship request letters and sent them to companies within and outside the skating industry. I've had virtually zero positive responses. Maybe I am bad at doing this, but I do really try.

Roller Sports Canada gets no funding from the Canadian Olympic Committe and has no corportate sponsorship or very little in donations, so the financial support that athletes can get/ expect is very very limited at best.

I am optimistic that at some point in time, we wil reach a tipping point; With a lot of us working for positive change, cooperatively, honestly, with integrity, with a plan, and with leadership, I think we can create a strong support network for skaters of all abilities including a rich source of affordable equipment, safe & fun races that are well officiated, a local/ regional/ provincial/ national racing scene, coach & offical development programs, information packages on how to start a club, media-kits, support networks, access to nutritional & psychological help for developing & top level athletes, financial support for athletes & coaches, and of course world class facilities.

Ah we've got a long way to go.

Canadian Nationals This Weekend: I'll be in Ottawa this weekend taking part in the Roller Sports Canada Canadian Outdoor Speed Championships. I might have some pictures to post on Saturday night. I might not. We'll see. I will be staying at Sergio Almeralla's house. He's got a hot-tub, giant screen tv's, and a couple of dogs! Hehe.

Vancouver Torrent: This is a plug for a website from a group in the same country as me, but 4405km's from me: check out Vancouver Torrent.


Euro Jr & Sr Champs: MundoPatin will be providing us skating fans with a whole lot of coverage from the European Championships. The junior championships are taking place in Holland fom July 6th to the 14th (see MundoPatin's coverage) and the senior championships are taking place in Portugal July 22nd to the 29th (see MundoPatin's. coverage



EGC's Pain: Eric Gee posted a well written entry called Pain.


Eric Gee has the rehab thing done to his aching feet- photo by Dr. Robert Evans
Awesome ST Video: This one is hard core! Andrew Love's latest entry Ghostbusters Short Track features a fantastic short track video- it's worth watching the video, but before you do so, I suggest you read what Andrew Love writes. Then watch the video, and then re-read what he wrote. he puts a nice spin on the video.


Ask Bill Begg: I'm posting this one a little bit late, but the Inline Planet's latest edition of Ask Bill Begg! is online.