Planet Interviews:

Saab-Salomon Team Expects Another Strong Year in World Inline Cup

The Team May Introduce Bigger Big Wheels to the Competition

(part 2 of 2)

Robert: What about Saab-Salomon?

Pascal: All of us on the team have been world champions at different distances, including the 500 meters, 1000 meters, 10 kilometers, 20 kilometers and marathon. So we have a complete team; we have lots of tactical choices.

Robert: Who do you expect to finish on top of the individual rankings this year?

Pascal: I don't know. ... Sometimes it's more important to win a race than focus on the rankings. But every year, everybody says that, but after a few races, we will all be looking at the point totals (hehe).

We are competitors; we always like to be on the top.

(Interview with Juan Carlos Betancur:)

Robert: Will the Saab-Salomon team be skating on Supersonic's new 110 mm racing wheels this season?

Juan Carlos: It really depends on the feeling of each skater and the type of track, and it could change from race to race. But I think all of them will race on 110-mm wheels in Seoul.

Robert: How has the responsibility of running Supersonic effected the Saab-Salomon team?

Juan Carlos: Managing Supersonic has been a great experience and an excellent compliment to our professional athletic careers. It has not interfered at all with our performance in the races, and it has helped us to improve and upgrade our racing material.

Saab-Salomon continues to be a team made up of the most professional and talented skaters in the world. The team expects to continue its top performance and again take the highest positions on the podiums of the World Inline Cup.

Robert: Last year, Saab-Salomon finished second to Fila in the World Cup. This year, Bont and Rollerblade appear to be in a position to challenge for second place. Do you think Saab-Salomon will climb or drop in the World Cup rankings this year?

Juan Carlos: Last year, Saab-Salomon made a bet on new young skaters with high potential to succeed, and we took over the second position of the overall ranking.

It is difficult to predict so early in the season what is going to happen this year. Fila, Bont and Rollerblade are very strong competitors in the circuit. They have managed to gather top skaters on their teams, and Saab-Salomon has to keep a very close eye on each of them.

However, Saab-Salomon -- with its experienced all-World Champion team, its admirable team spirit and its ability to develop new performance racing material -- is the top candidate to again lead the World Inline Cup ranking.

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Copyright © 2006 by Robert Burnson