The Planet Articles
Inline Planet articles listed in reverse order of publication: (Old archive) Inline Gold Rush! ... Joey Cheek's Will to Win - For  former inline skater Joey Cheek, it was never a question of whether he could make it on ice—just how long it would take. That's part of what we learned when we talked to the new gold medalist's first ice coach, Kent Thometz. (Go to the Planet story.) (Feb. 13, 2006) Minnesota Skate Oval Needs Donors - Minnesota  skate promoter Mike Cofrin describes the John Rose Oval as the "point where inline and ice converge." But the oval has proved a financial drain on the city of Roseville. And now it needs help. (Go to the Planet story.) (Feb. 10, 2006) Young Chad: Sleeping on the Floor - It wasn't always  talk shows and glory for Olympic speed skater Chad Hedrick. The night before one of his first outdoor races, he slept on the floor next to the bathroom with skaters stepping on his head all night long. (Don't believe it? Go to the Planet story.) (Feb. 9, 2006) Inliners Poised for Their Olympic Moment - Rejected  as an Olympic sport, inline skating will nonetheless provide a subplot for the Torino Games, as commentators talk about the new-found strength of the inline-fortified U.S. speed skating team. (Go to the Planet story.) (Feb. 6, 2006) Talley and Yeh Lead the Way in Redondo - The  outdoor racing season opened Sunday in California with Brian Talley winning the Super Bowl Sunday 10K in Redondo Beach. Right behind him was the always competitive Howard Yeh. The two Southern Californians broke away midway through the race and finished about a minute ahead of the chase pack. (Go to race photo and storylet.) (Feb. 6, 2006) Skate Sales Fall ... But Not So Much - The skate industry  got good news and bad news in the latest SGMA report. The bad news is that skate sales continued to fall in 2005. The good news is that the massive bloodletting appears to be over. The report says the key for the industry is new skaters. (Go to the Planet story.) (Feb. 2, 2006) Ice Skaters Suffer More Head Injuries - Ice skaters may suffer less road rash than their inline counterparts. But they make up for it with more head injuries, according to a new study. (Go to the Planet story.) (Feb. 1, 2006) Skating for Attention Deficit Disorder - Michael  Sandler plans to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records this summer by becoming the first person to skate from Los Angeles to New York City. But making it into the record books may be the easy part. His other goal is to raise $1 million to help people with Attention Deficit Disorder. (Go to the Planet story.) (Jan. 26, 2006) Skate Coach: See and Be Seen - Invisible might  work for the Invisible Girl. But not for the night skater. He or she must remain visible to motorists or risk undesirable "meetings." Fortunately, we've got Skate Coach Kathy McSparran to advise us on the gear we need to stay out of Hummer's way. (Go to Skate Coach.) Missouri Town Bans Skating - This appears to be  another one of those unfortunate situations in which a town passes a law based on the misbehavior of a few of its citizens. ... We talked to Ava's police chief about it. He accused us of trying to start an argument ... which we would certainly be willing to do if it would help. (Go to the Planet story.) (Jan. 20, 2006) 10 Ways to Avoid Getting Hit by Cars - Of course, you  could just stay home. But that's no fun. So here's a guide to how to skate in the street safely. It's adapted from Michael Bluejay's excellent guide for bicyclists. Among the topics are where to position yourself at stop lights, how to pass slow moving cars and how to make it more likely that drivers will see you. ... Study it! The best piece of safety gear is a well-tended mind. (Go to the guide.) (Jan. 18, 2006) Salomon Goes for the Win  - Salomon is serious about winning the World Inline Cup this year. The team it announced today is the strongest (at least on paper) that anyone has put together in years. Topping its roster are the two top WIC skaters from last year. Rollerblade may have a hard time keeping up. (Go to the Planet story.) (Jan. 13, 2006) USOC May Find Way to Help Roller Sports - The U.S. Olympic Committee may reconsider its decision to cut funding for inline skating after the Winter Olympics. But it will depend on whether the governing bodies for inline skating and ice speed skating can agree on a joint plan to develop athletes for the Olympics. (Go to the Planet story.) (Jan. 12, 2006) USOC Bites the Hand That Feeds It! - Apparently, it's  true: No good deed shall go unpunished. Just as inline skaters prepare to make their greatest contribution to the Olympic Games, the U.S. Olympic Committee cuts their funding. ... How's that for gratitude! (Go to the Planet story.) (Jan. 11, 2006) Fila Skates Arrive in U.S. Market - The competition  heats up again in the U.S. skate market with the introduction of Fila skates. And Fila won't just be selling skates in the United States. It will be putting them on the feet of its new Fila USA racing team. (Go to the Planet story.) (Jan. 9, 2006) Latinos Are More Likely to be Skaters - Here's some  good news for skate makers: According to a new report, the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States also happens to be the one that likes skating the most: Latinos. (Go to the Planet story.) (Jan. 4, 2006) Two Inline Races Set for Long Beach - Long Beach may be without an inline marathon in 2006. But it won't be without skate races. Audrey Winthrop of the Beach Bladers Inline Skate Team is producing two Long Beach events this year, including the Parkinson's Open Road Race on Oct. 1st. (Go to Planet story.) (Jan. 3, 2006) Inline Skates Become Darling of Transit Strike -  The New York City transit strike is doing a nice job of showing off the commuter potential of inline skating. Lots of stories have listed inline skating as one of the creative ways New Yorkers are getting to work. And a favorite strike photo has featured commuters on skates. (Go to the Planet story.) (Dec. 22, 2005) Rollerblade Drops Pro Aggressive Team; Adds National, Regional Teams -  Rollerblade says it's not turning its back on aggressive skating — just changing its strategy. With few big aggressive events left these days, it is replacing its salaried TRS team with a 10-member national and 50-member regional team. (Go to Planet story.) (Dec. 20, 2005) Long Beach Drops Its Inline Marathon - Inline  skating is no longer a part of the Long Beach Marathon. After a bruised inline history, organizers have decided to drop skaters from the 2006 event. They cited safety and racecourse logistics as the reasons. (Go to the Planet story.) (Dec. 15, 2005) Organizers Push Ahead With Plans for 2006 A2A -  The Athens to Atlanta Road Skate looks like a go for 2006. Organizers have set an Oct. 1st date for the event and have developed a multi-tiered approach to entry fees which they hope will help resurrect the 25-year-old event. (Go to the Planet story.) (Dec. 13, 2005) Holiday Gift Idea: Chad Hedrick's Instructional (and Sometimes Goofy) DVD -  Got a speed skater on your list? If so, here's a great stocking stuffer: Push, Chad Hedrick's instructional DVD. It's short but worth the price. Not only do you get to hear the 50-time world champion explain his signature technique — the double-push — but you get an introduction to his wacky sense of humor. (Go to the Planet review.) (Dec. 8, 2005) Northern Europe, Asia May Be Home to New World Cup Events - According to the newly  posted 2006 World Inline Cup calendar, China will have its own event next year. So will Sweden, Denmark and the beer capital of Germany: Munich. ... But don't start dreaming of beer mugs yet. It's all very tentative. (Go to the Planet story.) (Dec. 7, 2005) First South American Cup Draws 1000 Skaters, 40,000 Spectators - The  organizers of the newly created South American Inline Cup must be feeling pretty good today. Their first-ever event was an apparent success. A thousand skaters laced up and 40,000 spectators lined the 2 kilometer road course. (Go to Planet story.) (Dec. 6, 2005) K2 Brings Out Bevy of 2006 Skates for the Holidays - You won't  have to wait until next year to buy many of K2's 2006 models. The company is launching a dozen of its new skates in time for the holidays. Among the early releases: the entry level Exo 2.1, the VO2 fitness models and the all-new Athena line for women. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 29, 2005) USA Fit Hands Off Instructors to USSG - It may seem like much  ado about alphabet soup. But in fact, it will be big news for inline instructors. For the last year, they've been adrift without strong leadership or support. Now they've got the United Skate Schools Group to hold on to. ... And the further good news is that USA Fit, which has a great plan for growing inline skating, isn't ready to give up on the sport. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 28, 2005) Rollerblade Pops Out Two New Skates for Holidays - You don't  have to wait until January to get your hands on a pair of 2006 Rollerblades. Just in time for the holiday shopping tsunami, the company has released two of next year's models: the Wing 7 for women and the Astro 7 for men. The models are top-of-the-line for the company's new Wellness series of fitness-recreational skates. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 25, 2005) Mr. Potato Head Goes on Diet, Takes up Inline Skating - Mr.  Potato Head will be flaunting his buff new physique today at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He'll be wearing running shoes and carrying a water bottle. But did you know that the newly svelte spud has also taken up inline skating? That's right. As part of his new active lifestyle, the former smoker (who has a propensity for getting smashed) has become a sports spud! (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 24, 2005) Norwegian Completes Skate Across United States - Helge  Hjelland has an adventurer's outlook on life. "I love not knowing what's around the next corner," he says. The Norwegian school teacher completed his latest adventure on Tuesday: a cross-country skate tour of the United States. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 23, 2005) LandRoller Raises Funds to Keep Slant-Wheel Skate Rolling - The  business of building a better mouse trap is tough. Not only do you have to design it, but you've got to persuade the public to buy it. That's the situation LandRoller finds itself in at the end of its first year in the public eye. But an infusion of cash should be able to keep the LandRoller rollin'. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 23, 2005) Growing Pains for the World Inline Cup ... A Second Team Drops Out  - The World Inline Cup has been one of the bright spots in the inline fabric in recent years. The growth of the race series has cheered skaters and surprised sceptics. But ironically, the growth is proving a challenge for team sponsors, who are finding it tough to keep up with rising costs. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 17, 2005) Skaters United Shall Never be Defeated - The head of the  California Outdoor Rollerskating Association says skate clubs and teams should form an umbrella group to spearhead efforts to rekindle inline skating in North America. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 14, 2005) K2's Skate Sales Continue to Fall, But Not Like Last Year -  Sales of K2 inline skates dropped $9.4 million worldwide during the first nine months of 2005, according to a company report. While significant, the drop is less than half the size of last year's, suggesting the inline slump may be reaching bottom. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 10, 2005) Silver Strand Promoter Wonders Where All the Skaters Are? -  Fewer skaters are signing up for this year's Silver Strand Half Marathon, which is Sunday in San Diego. That's bad news for the race promoter, but he promises to keep it going. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 9, 2005) Bont Puts the 100mm Racing Skate on a Diet! - The Australian skate maker Bont has turned up the heat in the market for 100mm racing skates by dramatically cutting the weight of its high-end Vaypors. The 2006 Vaypors will weigh a full 300 grams less than this year's model, Bont says. The company has achieved the weight loss in large part by developing a lightweight (126 grams) frame that attaches to the boot with three, rather than two, bolts. (Go to the Planet story.) (Nov. 7, 2005) Who Knew? ... Rollerwars Ends First Season With Death-Defying Performance - Ghost has won the  first-ever Rollerwars World Championships in Birmingham, England. Not impressed? ... Consider this: Ghost won even though he's dead! That's right, dead! ... So how can a dead man breath life into a new arena sport? (Go to the Planet story!) (Nov. 3, 2005) Fila Reports Strong Skate Sales; Continues Search for U.S. Partner - Fila says its skate  sales jumped 35 percent this year, boosting its inline revenues by 20 percent. "This is making us very happy," said Fila's Claudio Balconi. The company is so happy, in fact, that it would like to expand into the U.S. market. But so far, it hasn't been able to find a U.S. distributor. Hmmm. (Go to the Planet story.) (Oct. 24, 2005) Lewis, Sayasane Win Long Beach Marathon - Dane Lewis and Sara  Sayasane won today's Long Beach Inline Marathon in California. The race was marred again this year by problems caused by putting skaters and cyclists on the racecourse at the same time. (Go to the Planet story ... with finish line photos!) (See list of Top Finishers.) (Oct. 16, 2005) Athens to Atlanta Tradition Carried on at Two Weekend Events - The spirit  of the Athens to Atlanta Road Skate rolled through the Georgia countryside Sunday despite the cancellation of the official event. Thirteen skaters showed up for the Alternate a2a at a park east of Atlanta. A smaller group insisted on skating the traditional road course, traffic control be damned. (Read the Planet story.) (Oct. 10, 2005) Saggiorato, Mendez Win the Berlin Marathon - Fila's Luca Saggiorato  proved himself the master of the field sprint once again Saturday as he won the final event of the 2005 World Inline cup: the Berlin Marathon. The women's race was won by K2-Empire's Briggyte Mendez with Powerslide's Brittany Bowe just behind her. (Read the Planet story.) (Sept. 25, 2005) Roll Bounce Opens Today to Mixed Reviews - The skate industry,  especially the roller rink crowd, has high hopes for the new movie Roll Bounce. It would like to see the movie roll in big audiences and give a nice bounce to ticket sales at roller rinks. But the critics don't seem too impressed. (Read the Planet story.) (Sept. 22, 2005) Organizers Hope to Make World Inline Cup Safer, Fairer Next Year - Among the changes  planned for the 2006 World Inline Cup is the videotaping of the last 1000 meters of each race. Organizers apparently decided on the change in response to persistent complaints about cheating and unfair tactics in the sprints, especially in the women's races. Another planned change in race rules would require long straight-aways before finish lines. In addition to this safety measure, all racers would be required to wear gloves. (Go to the Planet story.) (Sept. 21, 2005) K2 Hopes to Spark a Fashion Revolution in Inline Skates - Tired of drab, colorless fitness skates? If so, you're not alone. According to K2, lot of women want skates with more "pop." That's why the company teamed up with designer Jette Joop to create what may be the first-ever line of inline fashion skates. (Read the Planet story!) (See photos of all the new skates!) (Sept. 13, 2005) ESPN Signs on As Sponsor of Northshore Marathon - The Northshore  Inline Marathon is in great shape once again this year. Not only is it the biggest and richest inline marathon in North America, but it has an impressive new sponsor: the cable sports giant ESPN. (Read the Planet story!) (Sept. 12, 2005) Brittany Bowe, Joey Mantia Win on Final Day of Worlds - USA's Brittany  Bowe and Joey Mantia won the marathon on the final day of the 2005 World Speed Skating Championships in Suzhou, China. Their golds pushed the United States into third place. But the day belonged to Colombia, which won seven medals and the right to call itself the top inline speed skating country in the world. (Here's the Planet's Final Day Coverage of the 2005 World Championships!) (Here's the final medal count.) U.S. Junior Women Keep Winning; Argentine Women Send Rival to Hospital - The U.S. girls and Colombian women continued their domination of the 2005 World Speed Skating Championships today in Suzhou, China. ... Meanwhile, the U.S. men win a bronze, and the Argentine women get a little agitato and come out swinging. (Here's the Planet's Day Six Coverage of the World Speed Skating Championships!) (Sept. 1, 2005) 200 Meter Records Fall at World Championships - Despite the  proliferation of 100-mm wheels, no records for speed were set last week on the flat, sticky track in Suzhou, China. But today, as the World Speed Skating Championships moved to the road, world records were set in the men's and women's 200-meter time trials, in both cases by Italian sprinters. ... The time posted by U.S. junior woman Brittany Bowe was off the world-record pace but fast enough to earn her second individual gold medal. She has now won five medals at the championships. (Here's the Planet's Day Four Coverage of the World Championships!) (Aug. 30, 2005) USA Wins Four Gold Medals on Third Day of World Championships - The young  U.S. team won seven medals today, including four golds, at the World Speed Skating Championships in Suzhou, China. Heather Richardson collected her second gold while Brittany Bowe and Joey Mantia both won their first. ... After an off day Saturday, the U.S. junior women returned to form and dominated the track. So far, they have won all the junior women's gold medals, except one. (Here's the Planet story!) (Aug. 28, 2005 Koreans Win Three Medals on Second Day of Worlds - After being shut  out on the first day of the 2005 World Speed Skating Championships, South Korea came back strong today, winning three medals, including a gold. The story was just the opposite for the U.S. team. After winning big Friday, the team missed the podium on the rain-shortened second day of racing in Suzhou, China. (Here's the Planet's coverage of Day Two of the World Championships!) (Aug. 27, 2005) U.S. Junior Women Win Four Medals on First Day of Championships - The U.S. junior  women showed surprising depth on the first day of the World Speed Skating Championships in Suzhou, China. U.S. girls won both of today's events and collected two other medals. Heather Richardson of High Point, N.C. won the 300-meter time trial. Emily Scott of Belleview, Fla., won the 15,000-meter elimination. (Here's the Planet story, including commentary by U.S. World Team manager Linda Wood!) (Aug. 26, 2005) Speed Skaters Converge for Smaller World Championships - They've got  a new name. And they are smaller than last year. But this year's World Speed Skating Championships promise to be just as exciting as ever with the top inline racers in the world -- including USA's Brittany Bowe and Joey Mantia -- competing for gold, silver and bronze on track and road. (Here's the Planet Preview of the 2005 World Speed Skating Championships!) (Aug. 25, 2005) Pouring Rain, Hard Falls and Steep Climbs at the St. Gallen One-Eleven - The St. Gallen One-Eleven is the  top ultra-distance marathon in Europe and maybe the world. One of the top U.S. ultra-distance skaters, Louis Beaudoin of Berkeley, Calif., competed in the 68 mile event for the first time on Sunday. The 24-year-old electrical engineer sent back an epic report, recounting the frenzied start, his nasty spill, his fight back for position, and the daunting 20 K final hill. It's a great read! (Read it here!) (Aug. 23, 2005) Bret Whitman, Jessica Smith Win the St. Paul Marathon
The Hyper  Racing Team showed its strength today at the St. Paul Inline Marathon, taking the first two spots in both the men's and women's races. Bret Whitman finished first in the men's race with Dane Lewis in second. Jessica Smith won the women's race with Cecilia Baena in second. (Here's the Planet story including observations from Bont's Glenn Koshi, who was in the pace car!) (Aug. 21, 2005) Watch ESPN Sunday for Highlights of the St. Paul Marathon
Inline skating will grab a sliver of  the media spotlight this weekend as the ESPN cable sports network broadcasts live from the finish line of the St. Paul Inline Marathon. We talked to ESPN producer Marc Weiner today about the coverage. He filled us in on what to expect. (Here's the Planet story!) (Aug. 18, 2005) Sneak Peek: New Rollerblade Frame Will Stretch to Fit Street or Road Skating
2005 has been the  year of the Big Wheel for Rollerblade; 2006 will be a year of refinements. The skate company's new models will include more Big Wheels, new colors, new shells and an all new fit. There will also be an adjustable frame designed for both street and road skating. And an ultra-light frame for speed junkies. (Here's the Planet's sneak peek at the 2006 Rollerblade models!) (Aug. 12, 2005) Changes for Long Beach Marathon: Lots More Skaters, New Finish Line
Skaters  continue to rally around the Long Beach Inline Marathon. Registration for the event is on track to top 1000 this year. In fact, the organizers say, skaters are registering for the race at about double last year's pace. ... Long Beach asked for help. Skaters responded! (Here's the Planet story!) (Aug. 10, 2005) Louis Beaudoin Wins Big in the Napa Valley Marathon
Twenty- four-year-old Louis Beaudoin pulled away from the pack shortly after the midway point in today's Napa Valley Inline Marathon and went on to win by more than a minute and a half. Finishing behind him in second and third were two members of the Hyper Racing Team: Dane Lewis and Troy Atwell. ... Naomi Shechter won the women's race. (Here's the Planet story!) Organizers Cancel 2005 a2a Ultra-Marathon But Plan for 2006 Event
The organizing committee of the  Athens to Atlanta Road Skate announced today that it has canceled this year's ultra-marathon, which would have been the 24th annual, but hopes to bring it back in 2006. "We simply have too few people registered and not enough funds," the organizers said. "We need to regroup, re-think, and revise this event to make it more viable and ensure its success in the future." (Here's the Planet story!) (Aug. 6, 2005) New York 100K Gets Put on Hold While Organizers Search for New Date
One of the world's premier ultra-marathons, the New York 100 K, has been put on hold while organizers look for a new date. "We have every intention of running an event, but we haven't got a date yet," said Robert Kaskel, president of the Empire Skate Club. The club is helping the event's organizer to find a new date ... which could be as late as early November. Brrrrr! (Here's the Planet story!) (Aug. 4, 2005) The Napa Marathon Rolls This Weekend Through Wine Country!
The Napa Valley  Inline Marathon doesn't attract the crowds. But don't let that stop you from coming out this Sunday to support one of the finest inline marathons on the West Coast -- and an event that has the potential to be one of the best inline marathons anywhere! (Here's the Planet preview!) (Aug. 3, 2005) The Garmin Forerunner: Made for Runners, Great for Skaters
Want to know  how fast you skate and how far you go -- and be able to quickly scan through two years worth of workout stats? If so, consider buying the Garmin Forerunner 201. Contributing writer Travis Brown says that though this GPS device was designed for runners, it's great for skaters, too. (Here's the Planet review!) (Aug. 2, 2005) U.S. Coach Seeks Equipment for Mexican Children's Skate Team
U.S. World Team  manager Linda Wood will be volunteering her time in Mexico City this September to coach a fledgling children's skate team. But there's one problem: Most of the 25 children have little, if any, equipment. ... Do you have any closet clutter you can spare? (Here's the Planet storylet!) (Aug. 1, 2005) Team USA Gets Booted From Denver Park!
A Denver police officer today  threatened to write the U.S. World Team a speeding ticket! The team's marathon squad was training on a trail at Washington Park when the officer ordered them to stop, said team manager Linda Wood. The officer said he clocked the team skating in excess of 25 miles per hour. "We were asked to leave the park and to 'please' not come back," Wood said. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 29, 2005) Fila Plans to Enter U.S. Skate Market!
With Salomon leaving the U.S. skate market,  and Roces slow to arrive, it's about time the nation's skaters got a little good news. ... Well, here it is: Fila, one of the top skate makers in Europe, is talking about making its skates available in the United States. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 28, 2005) Colombia, France and Korea Finish Strong at World Games
French skaters  proved their strength today at the close of the speed skating event at the 2005 World Games. But their efforts were matched by the powerful Colombian squad, which won as many medals today as any other team managed to collect for the whole event. (Here's the Planet story!... and here's the final medal tally!) (July 21, 2005) Roller Federation President Pledges to Continue Struggle for Olympic Recognition
Sabatino Aracu  says the recent IOC meeting in Singapore, despite its rejection of roller sports, should be viewed as a "starting point," not an end, to the sport's effort to gain entry into the Olympics. "We won't give up now that the road to the Olympic dream is clear before us," Aracu says. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 21, 2005) New Zealand Skater Steals the Show at 2005 World Games
New Zealand  speed skater Kalon Dobbin won his second gold medal today at the 2005 World Games in Duisberg, Germany. The win came in the finals of the 500 meters. So far, Dobbin has medaled in every speed skating event at the sub-Olympic World Games. Nonetheless, Argentina commands a big lead in the medal totals at the halfway point of the event. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 20, 2005) Brittany Bowe Sets U.S. Record in 100 Meters
Seventeen-year-old Brittany Bowe set  a U.S. record Monday in the 100 meter time trial during the first day of the U.S. National Indoor Speed Skating Championships in Pensacola, Fla. The Team Florida speedster skated the distance in 10.742 seconds. Her time broke the old mark, set by Julie Glass in 2002, by 18 hundredths of a second. (Here's the Planet report on the first day of Indoor Nationals!) (July 19, 2005) Organizer Talks About Plans for New Inline Skating Group
Skaters were  set adrift by last year's disbanding of the International Inline Skating Association (IISA). But slowly the winds of change are refilling their sails. The latest breeze blew in Saturday when Zephyr Adventure's Allan Wright announced the formation of a new group: For Skating. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 18, 2005) Many of the Top Inline Speed Skaters Snub the World Games
After  tomorrow's marathon in Zug, Switzerland, many of the weary and battered World Inline Cup skaters will get a welcome vacation. But a handful of the skaters, tired or not, will be heading straight to Duisberg, Germany, to represent their countries in the World Games. The World Games are said to be the second largest multi-sport event in the world, after the Olympics. But many of the top skaters in the world are not impressed. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 15, 2005) Former Champ Cheryl Ezzell To Poke Her Head Out of Retirement Next Week
Cheryl Ezzell was one  hot skater in the 1990s. Among her awards were 12 gold medals collected at various World Championships. But then the slender Texan hung up her speed skates. ... Well, not exactly. "She still skates on country roads to keep in shape," her mom, Cara Ezzell tells us. ... Cheryl is a mom herself these days. But she will be taking a break next week to attend the National Indoor Speedskating Championships in Florida, where she will be inducted into the USA Roller Sports Hall of Fame. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 14, 2005) IOC Members Criticizes Process for Reviewing Olympic Sports Program
IOC  member Anita Defrantz said today that any new Olympic sport should be drug free, open to both sexes and "bring some element to the program that doesn't already exist." But she declined to talk specifically about roller sports' failed Olympic bid. "I can't tell you why what happened, happened," she told the Planet. "It was all done with secret ballots and there was no discussion beforehand." (Here's the Planet story!) (July 13, 2005) Rubber Trail Sinks Skaters in Korea
City officials in Gwacheon,  South Korea, recently opened a $5.5 million bike path, which they said would allow commuters to cycle or skate into nearby Seoul. Only problem: they paved about half of the 5.7 kilometer trail with a "high-impact condensed rubber," which is like "skating on a blanket," according to the intrepid JinWoo Lee, who toured the trail for the Planet! (Here's the Planet story ... with photos!) (July 12, 2005) Sliver of Hope Remains for Roller Sports' Olympic Bid
Why did the  International Olympic Committee cut two sports from the roster and then decided not to fill the empty slots? Good question. But before we get to it, we will have to see what happens tomorrow. Reports are circulating that the IOC's Executive Board may try to persuade members to revisit the issue of new sports. If so, roller sport might get another chance. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 8, 2005) One Days to Go Before Vote That Could Land Roller Sports in the Olympics
Now that London has been picked to host the 2012 Olympics, does English-born rugby have an edge over the four other sports vying for a spot on the program? Probably not. But with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) set to vote Friday in Singapore, that's one of the popular story lines, even as insiders say any change in the sports roster is unlikely. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 7, 2005) Salomon to Abandon U.S. Inline Skate Market!
Citing declining  sales, Salomon has decided to abandon the U.S. inline skate market. That means you won't find any 2006 model Salomon skates in stores in the United States next year, although you may still be able to buy them online. (Here's the Planet story!) (July 5, 2005) Skate Mom Rolls to Rescue of World Team!
None of Martha Polston's kids  are members of USA's world inline speed skating team. But when she learned that some team members would be unable to attend this summer's World Championships due to funding problems, she rolled into action. Drawing on her expertise as a process manager, she put together a team that hatched the Send the Best to Worlds Project. If enough money flows in, the World Team may be restored! (Here's the Planet story!) (July 2, 2005) USA Roller Sports Names Speed Skaters for World Games
Jilleanne  Rookard, Erin DiJulio and Jordan Nelson will represent the USA in speed skating at next month's World Games in Duisberg, Germany. Rookard and DiJulio are members of the women's U.S. World Team. No member of the men's World Team was available for the World Games. Most are planning to compete in the U.S. Indoor National Championships. (Here's the Planet storylet!) (June 30, 2005) Registration is "Way Up!" For 2005 Long Beach Inline Marathon
Organizers say  early registration is up by more than 100 percent for this year's Long Beach Inline Marathon. In fact, so many skaters are signing up for the beleaguered marathon that organizers hope to break the 1000 mark this year, something that only three U.S. inline marathons have managed. As a result, cash prizes will once again be awarded to the top skaters. (Here's the Planet story!) (June 28, 2005) Rollerbade Is on Track For a 10 Percent Jump in Sales This Year
Despite problems in the skate  industry, Rollerblade is having a great year. Its U.S. skate sales are up by 10 percent. And some of its models have proved so popular that the company has almost entirely sold out of them ... and it's only June, for Chrissakes! (Here's the Planet story!) (June 27, 2005) House Committee Rejects Administration's Call for Cuts in Physical Education Grants
A House subcommittee is recommending continued financing for a federal program that helps schools buy athletic equipment. The Bush administration had proposed the eventual elimination of the Physical Education Program (PEP) grants. Cuts in the program would hurt Rollerblade's Skates in School program. (Here's the Planet story!) (June 23, 2005) ESPN to Spotlight Neglected, as Well as Wacky, Sports on 50-State Tour
As previously announced,  one of the stops on ESPN's "SportsCenter Across America" tour will be the St. Paul Inline Marathon on Aug. 21st. But inline skating won't be the only neglected sport basking in the ESPN spotlight. Among the multitudes will be windsurfing, skydiving, foosball, jousting and pie-eating. So what's it all about? (Read the Planet story!) (June 22, 2005) A2A Champ Kim Perkins Announces Retirement From Inline Racing
After a late-blooming  career that catapulted her to the top ranks of ultra-distance skaters, Athens-to-Atlanta champ Kim Perkins announced today that she is retiring from inline racing. "I think it's unlikely that I am going to return," she said. "The focus for me has changed." (Here's the Planet story!) (June 21, 2005) Eddy Matzger Plans "Skate Farm" in Blue Ridge Mountains
What do you  do next when you've already won every race, skated every corner of the Planet, and learned every nuance of inline skating? If you are Eddy Matzger, you build a skate farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains. ... And just what is a skate farm? (Read the Planet story!) (June 16, 2005) American Pursues World Record in Australia
Two weeks into  his planned 10,000-mile skate around Australia, Joe Rehana has contended with sore muscles, blisters, bruises, rainy days, bumpy roads and busy highways without shoulders. He doesn't have much good to report about the roads. But he says he is "loving the other side of Australia." (Here's the Planet story!) (June 15, 2005) Salomon to Streamline Product Line, Distribution Network
Salomon plans to streamline  its inline product line and distribution network in the United States. "We are consolidating our U.S. strategy to be more in line with actual market conditions," said the company's Michael Chiasson. Nonetheless, the company is promising more "new and innovative products." (Here's the Planet story!) (June 14, 2005) Roller Sports Gets Mixed Reviews in Olympic Sports Report
The Olympic Programme Commission gave roller sports a mixed review in its report of the 28 current | 
