Event News:

Sun Sets on Tahiti Marathon
Falling numbers sink event
By Planet staff
posted Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006

Citing falling numbers, the organizer of the Tahiti Aito Inline Skate Challenge is pulling the plug on the annual event.

"Thanks to all of you Tahiti skaters for seven years of fun," Christopher Pierre said in a short announcement on his web site.

The Frenchman started the annual adventure-skate event in 1999.

It enjoyed some early success. More than 200 skaters came from the United States, Europe and Australia the first year. And some skaters, including Eddy Matzger, liked the event so much they made an annual pilgrimage to the South Pacific island.

But despite Pierre's efforts to keep the event interesting — last year it included four races on three islands — fewer and fewer skaters came each year.

Last year, only 31 skaters showed up.

Pierre, who lives in Switzerland with his wife Karima, told friends that he also plans to close his travel business, Way Beyond, and quit offering travel packages.

Way Beyond has a running marathon scheduled for February. So far, it is still on the Way Beyond calendar.

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