From Cali- Entry #1

From Cali- Entry #1: Hello from Cali, Colombia- host city of the 2007 world roller speed skating championships.

I've been thinking about how or if I would cover the world championships on Speed Skate World, and I think I figured it out; I will go day-by-day.

Let me explain-

Like last year's world championships in Korea, I've come here to race, first and foremost. Even though I feel I am not in top form at this time, I still want to give my best shot at this year's worlds.

That means racing, rest, training, eating, being with my team, being with other skaters comes first.

If I have time to kill, that's when I might snap a few photos. Just like last year's worlds, I think it is likely that I won't step foot into the press room or go out of my way to get into the middle of the track to take photos. I have a great internet connection in my hotel room, so when I have a few hours to kill, I'll write some good stuff for you and put it up along with a few photos.

From the start of the trip in Toronto to this very moment, I've take about 40 pictures- most of them at the beach in Miami.


Morgane Echardour and I at the beach in Miami- that's what an 11-hour layover + a really inexpensive rental car gets you!

The rental car and I in Miami
Ok, let me get you up to speed now with my world championships experience.

The flight from Miami to Cali was very nice- I was sitting surrounded by the German team, and most of them slept. It had been a long trip for them. The French team had is worst though, much much worst; during today's practice, I spoke with Yann Guyader and a few others from France and I was briefed on their nightmarish flight. To make a long story of a trip short, some of the French team left France on Tuesday and arrived in Cali on Friday. Instead of having two connections in the USA, they had something like 7 connections in 4 countries. The team left France as one unit, and at some point during their trip, they were split up between 3 different cities...


A few of the German skaters at the airport in Miami

Loading up our mini-bus once we arrived in Cali- some people from the organizing committee were on hand and secured some transportation for us from the airport to our hostel
So let me tell you about Cali and the track. If you haven't been to Cali, you've got to experience it for yourself. Just like the many cities I've been to all over the world, words can't do it justice. Between the windingly tight & busy roads that run through the mountains, the salsa and merengue music coming out of the shops, and the rich/ poor mix, it's a good place to be at right now. The food has been great, the taxis efficient and friendly, and the temperature surprisingly comfortable.


Cali by day
The track; I love the track! The corners grip, they're smooth, and it's fast. Morgane and I skated this afternoon at the same time as the French and Wouter Hebbrecht (Belgium), and were were really happy with how the track felt.


Before taking to the track for the first time, Morgane Echardour and I helped out one of the organizers with information on the Canadian team- check out the poster of Cecelia Baena in between the man and Morgane

Inside the offices at the track

Inside the offices at the track- This board tells when skaters/ countries arrive at the airport

The French team in warm-up

Picture from the track
I went and skated a 2nd session in the evening. When I took to the track, USA, Korea, and Great Brittain were skating. It was nice to reconnect with Gavin Pollock (Great Brittain). When I finished my practice, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Catherine Penan were on the track.

The facility around the track is very much under contruction. There are workers all over the place working feverishly to make sure that the track is ready for the first races. I've got a feeling that when the track finished, the crowds have filled the stands, the night has fallen & the lights turned on, and the skaters racing around, the atmosphere will be electric.


The carpet inside one of the taxis
As for the hostel I am staying at, well, I've got only good things to say about it so far. It's small and quaint, with the staff's attention focused solely on us- great food, a small terrace, air conditionning, nice and clean, a fast internet connection, and located in an area with shops (bike, food, super market), I suspect that we've got everything we need for the next 18 days.


This picture was taken from the backyard terrace at our hostel- it looks into the dining room- I think you can see Morgane Echardour enjoying a delicious breakfast

This is taken from inside the 2nd set of gates in our hostel- it looks out onto the street

Our hostel from the outside- it's a very well designed building, with arches and nicely finished wood inside
As I finish this entry, speed skating is on tv! They have footage of a skater training, skating, and they're interviewing her. You also may be interested in knowing that while I was shopping today, I spotted packets of pasta with speedskaters on them.


Skating on TV

Skating on La Muneca pasta
FYI- I am still sitting on a ton of updated that I plan on putting up soon.