This Weekend- (ST, USA LT, NK LT), Long Track News (Canada, USA & Skate Podium), Excuses & Tomorrow, Venezuela Games

This Weekend- (ST, USA LT, NK LT), : The short track speed skating world cup #2 is taking place in Kobe, Japan- click here for ongoing results. Patinage Vitesse Courte Piste is keeping us updated on the progress of the Canadian team.

The USA long track world cup qualifiers are taking place. You should be able to find results here- I notice there's quite a few names from roller speed skating, including Jessica Smith, Alexis Contin, Pascal Briand, Jilleanne Rookard, Chris Creveling, Sebastien Cano, Stephanie Combs, Erin DiJulio, Jono Gorman, Roger Schneider, Terrence Almond, and Josh Wood. Andrew Love placed 20th in the 500-meters sprint with a time of 37.78.

Linda Wood caught up with Jessica Smith (top-3 in the 500)- see 500-Meter TOP 3 and JESSICA SMITH.


Jessica Smith's scar from her operation after he crash in the 1000-meter final at the 2007 world roller speed skating championships- photo Linda Wood
The Netherland long track distance championships are taking place this weekend. You can check out Skate Podium's day 1 and day 2 live updates.

Long Track News (Canada, USA & Skate Podium): The Canadian long track world cup trials are taking place this weekend- click here for all the updated results. You may notice that Meaghan Buisson placed 9th in the 1500-meter distance. Jeremy Wotherspoon is back racing after a break, and he clocked a 34.31 in his 2nd 500-meter sprint. See Wotherspoon fastest in Calgary return.


Skate Podium has a couple of new team pages with video that you may want to check out; see DSB Bank team page and APPM team page. If you're into ice skating, you know how fun sharpening blades is; well Skate Podium featured a pretty cool looking tool- see Sharp Master- you can read Linda Wood's article SHARP AS A TACK..and I'm not talking about the guy at the drive-up window! which talks about sharpening skates. Finally, click here for a video interview of a couple of young long track skaters.


Excuses & Tomorrow: I put Aaron Arndt's Excuses, excuses... and Andrew Love's Tomorrow... in the same category because I find they fit quite well together- excuses help you put things off until tomorrow (what a connection eh?!).

Here's a taste of what you'll get when you decide to use the links; Aaron writes 'I have a really great idea for my next series of posts. The series will be called: 'Peloton Politics'. I’ve always felt like one of the big things missing in the skating world is a real inside look from the pros...I always thought the coolest articles in skating were written by “Skater X” in the old newsprint style Speed Skating Times, where he would call out skaters, give insight into the true elite scene, and simply tell it like it is (was)....' while Andrew Love writes '...So here’s to Mike, and everyone who steps to that start line, and throws down their best, even if it’s not 'good' enough.'. Brilliant stuff guys!

Last week, Jacky Schu joined Aaron Arndt on one of Aaron's roadskates- see Cycling Pack. Jacky wrote about his experience, saying 'Yesterday, I joined Aaron Arndt's road skating. We had 4 cyclists: Petey Light, Dean Arndt, Eric Mass and myself; Aaron was the only skater'.

Venezuela Games: Click here for an article that talks about the Colombian crew that will competed at the upcoming Venezuela national games.