| Planet News Archive Week of August 21, 2005 Sunday
(Aug. 21, 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) Monday
(Aug. 22, 2005)
Schedule Conflict Keeps Chad Hedrick From St. Paul - A meeting with  potential sponsors in Houston kept inline-to-ice champion Chad Hedrick from competing in Sunday's St. Paul Inline Marathon, his main sponsor, Powerslide USA, said. Hedrick, who is training for the 2006 Winter Olympics, had a meeting with some of Houston's top business leaders, including the head of Compaq-HP, said Powerslide's Joe Flesher. ... As part of its St. Paul coverage, ESPN had planned to put together a feature story about Hedrick, who was registered for the race. When he didn't show up, it shifted its attention to skate great Eddy Matzger. ESPN's brief coverage also included interviews with Bret Whitman, who won the marathon, and a one-legged skater. (Here's last week's story about ESPN's planned coverage.) (Aug. 22, 2005) On the Forum:
• An Alternative to GPS - The Microsport  wireless speedometer for inline skates keeps track of distance, speed and calories burned. ... Mr. T tested it and says it worked pretty well. (Here's his report.) • Fear of Falling - Crystal is a brand new skater. "I have a fear of falling on pavement so I am not skating properly at all," she says. ... She's looking for newbie tips. (Can you help!) • Got a question, comment, events to publicize or press release? ... Post a note on the Planet Forum Tuesday
(Aug. 23, 2005)
Photos of the Spectacular St. Paul Inline Marathon - Events don't come  any better than the St. Paul Inline Marathon. Only in its second year, it's already a big hit with skaters, who admire it for its spectacular racecourse and dead-on professionalism. The throngs Sunday included top inline racers, intrepid fitness and recreational skaters, cheering crowds and an ESPN news team. ... And we've got photos to prove it ... well, actually we've only got one photo so far, but more are on the way. (Here's where you will find them!) (Aug. 23, 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) On the Forum:
• Skating the Caribbean? - Sirius will be in the Caribbean next Christmas. Does anyone know of a good resort area for rollerblading? ... He wants to know. (Help Sirius avoid from becoming a beach slug.) • Let ESPN Know You Care! - Dan from Race & Roll magazine is urging all skaters to contact ESPN. "Let them know we enjoyed the coverage," he says. Link included. (Here's his post.) • Skate Clubs Should Do Roller Rinks - Skatewolf of the Washington Area Roadskaters suggests that skate clubs schedule roller rink nights. "I can see a bunch of beginners coming out," he says. (Read it and roll.) • Got a question, comment, events to publicize or press release? ... Post a note on the Planet Forum Elsewhere on the Web ... Is Guilford  County, N.C., the center of inline skating in the United States? ... Could be given all the speed skaters it sends to the Inline World Championships. (Greensboro News Record) Wednesday
(Aug. 24, 2005)
Here They Are! ... More Photos of the St. Paul Inline Marathon - Events don't come  any better than the St. Paul Inline Marathon. Only in its second year, it's already a big hit with skaters, who admire it for its spectacular racecourse and dead-on professionalism. The throngs Sunday included top inline racers, intrepid fitness and recreational skaters, cheering crowds and an ESPN news team. ... And we've got photos to prove it. (Here's where you will find them!) (Aug. 24, 2005) Joey Mantia Is Reportedly Fully Recovered and Ready for Worlds - U.S. speed skater Joey Mantia has  recovered from mononucleosis and is skating well in practices in Souzhou, China, said his coach, Renee Hildebrand of Team Florida. "I fully expect Joey to be on the podium," she said. The U.S. team is in Suzhou preparing for the World Championships, which start there Friday. Mantia's fitness was in question after his bout with mono forced him to skip the team's training camp in Colorado earlier this month. Mantia, 19, was the top U.S. men's skater at last year's Inline World Championships, winning two gold, three silver and two bronze medals. (More racing news.) (Aug. 24, 2005) K2 Says Its Inline Skate Sales Fell in 2004 - K2 reported today that its sales  of inline skates fell last year, largely as a result of declining international sales. In its 2004 annual report to stockholders, the California-based company said skate sales outside the United States dropped by $14.7 million (U.S.). The report gave no figure for U.S. sales, which reportedly have been holding fairly steady. "The decline in inline skates sales is the result of sluggish worldwide retail sales for the industry, caused by soft consumer demand," the company said. ... In 2003, K2 reported a $6.3-million jump in skate sales, which it attributed to strong sales in Europe and Asia. (More skate industry news.) (Aug. 24, 2005) Thursday
(Aug. 25, 2005)
Speed Skaters Converge for Smaller World Championships -  They've got a new name. And they are smaller than last year. But nonetheless, the 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!) (Aug. 25, 2005) Spokane Race Director Hopes for Growth in Second Year - Last year, 109  skaters laced up for the inaugural Spokane Centennial Trail Skate in Washington State. This year, race director Marla Emde is hoping for 140 to 150 skaters. The event, which starts at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, is a bargain: only $50 for the marathon and $30 for the 10 K, including late registration fees. And if you reach the podium in any of the numerous divisions, you win a spectacular handmade trophy by sculptor-skater Mario Marcella. ... Get out there and roll, skaters. This is one of the few inline marathons in the Pacific Northwest! (Official event page.) (Aug. 25, 2005) U.S. Coach Seeks Skates for Mexican Kids Team - U.S. World Team manager  Linda Wood is still trying to find skates for the fledgling skate team she will be coaching next month in Mexico City. The children are skating on old recreational and quad skates. Wood is asking for donations of used speed skating equipment. ... Do you have any closet clutter you can spare? (Here's how you can help!) (Aug. 25, 2005) One Week To Go Before Final Drawing in Planet Sweepstakes! - The final drawing in the Planet's Summer Sweepstakes  will be next Thursday, Sept. 1st. The winner will skate away with a pair of Rollerblade Aero or Lightning model skates. All you have to do to enter is fill out the registration form and post a note on the Planet Forum about your first time on skates. (Register here!) (Aug. 25, 2005) On the Forum:
• Did You Catch ESPN's St. Paul Coverage? - What did you think of it? ... Inspiring or tiring ... way too little or the best we could expect? (Post your note here!) • Got a question, comment, events to publicize or press release? ... Post a note on the Planet Forum Elsewhere on the Web ... Judge says U.S. skater must await a hearing before he can compete in World Championships. (Colorado Springs Gazette) ... U.S. soldiers in Iraq find release in roller hockey. (New York Times, reg. required) Friday
(Aug. 26, 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) Italians Lead Medal Count at World Speed Championships - After the first day of racing, Italy holds a slim  lead in the medal count at the World Speed Skating Championships in Suzhou, China. Italian skaters rolled away with seven medals today, including two golds. Right behind Italy in the medal count was Colombia with six medals, including three golds. Then came the USA with four medals, all won by the junior women. (Here's the Planet's World Championship page with the complete medal tally and news!) (Aug. 26, 2005) Medal Eludes Joey Mantia in the 300 Meters - Joey Mantia posted the fastest time in today's qualifying heats for the 300-meter time trial in Suzhou, China. But the perennial favorites turned up the heat in the finals, and the 19-year-old from Ocala, Fla., had to settle for fourth place, out of medal contention. The gold medal was won by the veteran Italian sprinter Gregorio Duggento. Kalon Dobbin of New Zealand took the silver; Thomas Boucher of France, the bronze. ... The speeds on the flat 200-meter track were sluggish. Duggento's time was 25.826 seconds, more than a second slower than his world record (set in 2002) of 24.720. ... Mantia qualified for the finals with a time of 26.310. His time in the finals was 26.279. (Here's the World Page!) (Aug. 26, 2005) On the Forum:
• Like Rocks in a Box - Echoeory's first pair of skaters were so big his feet felt like "rocks rattling in a big box." (Here's Echoeory's post!) • Did You Catch ESPN's St. Paul Coverage? - What did you think of it? ... Inspiring or tiring ... way too little or the best we could expect? (Post your note here!) • Got a question, comment, events to publicize or press release? ... Post a note on the Planet Forum Saturday
(Aug. 27, 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) On the Forum:
• Eau De Gym Socks - Ah, the odor of well-worn skates and protective gear. But what ya gonna do? (Tahiti Girl wants to know.) Smell-buster! (Here's the stinker!) • Got a question, comment, events to publicize or press release? ... Post a note on the Planet Forum | | | Go to the Planet News Archive | | |
