Skaters in the News
Inline Planet news and articles about skaters who are making news, listed in reverse chronological order. June 7, 2011 Wheels Up Eddy Matzger glimpses the world through the eyes of a child in Thailand.
Aug. 25, 2008
Skaters in the News
Rough Roads, Busted Wheels, Great People
 College student Jack Sisson talks about his 71-day skate across America.
• Planet story June 9, 2008
Hedrick Gets Hitched
 Skate legend Chad Hedrick weds girlfriend Lynsey Adams in Texas.
• Planet story March 26, 2008
Skating for an Ailing Friend
Colorado skater Chris Howley hopes to raise $5000 to help a friend with leukemia.
• Planet story March 24, 2008
Trans-USA Skater Plans to Do It Again
 "Yes, I'm crazy," says Danny Dannels back home in Texas, where he is nursing two broken bones.
• Danny's story March 9, 2008
New Trans USA Record Set
 Danny Dannels skates coast-to-coast in 67 days and change.
• Forum news and photos Feb. 19, 2008
Battered But Not Beaten
Danny Dannels reaches the final stage in his attempt to break the trans-USA world record.
• Danny's story Jan. 23, 2008
Trans-USA Skater Reaches Texas
Danny Dannels reports on the second stage in his quest to set a new trans-USA skate record.
• Danny's report Jan. 9, 2008
Prison in Steroid Case
A federal judge sentenced James Gahan to six years in prison for giving steroids to his speed-skater son.
• More info Jan. 8, 2008
Record Attempt Underway
 Danny Dannels battles mountains and wind on the first leg of his trans-USA record attempt.
• Danny's report Dec. 13, 2007
Rolling for a Record
 Texan Danny Dannels hopes to beat the 69-day Guinness mark for skating across the USA.
• Announcement Dec. 10, 2007
Life in Skating Rolls to Finish
 Charles Wahlig, 74, was a champion speed and dance skater, coach and roller official.
• Announcement Dec. 5, 2007
'Fitness Made Fun'
 A Twin Cities TV station touts the health benefits of rolling the Dome.
• KARE video Nov. 12, 2007
Popping the Question Mid-Marathon
 They met at the Silver Strand a few years ago, so what better place to pop the question!
• Story/photos Oct. 23, 2007
Rolling for a Record
Singapore's Khoo Swee Chiow set out from Hanoi in an effort to skate 6000 kilometers and notch a new world record.
• Than Nien Daily story Oct. 22, 2007
Rolling Revolutionary
 A painting of Lenin on inline skates is expected to fetch as much as $60,000.
• Planet story Oct. 12, 2007
Muscle Power
After 13 years, Englishman completes the first muscle-powered journey around the world.
• Scotsman.com story Sept. 25, 2007
Playboy Eyes Speed Skater
 The men's magazine may use one of Nicole Begg's nude photos in its January issue.
• Stuff.co.nz story Aug. 28, 2007
Guilty Plea in Doping Case
Florida man admits providing steriods to his son, a former member of the U.S. World Team.
• More info Aug. 1, 2007
Winners Don't Quit
In his continuing effort to halt the genocide in Darfur, Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek delivered petitions last week to China's U.S. embassy.
• VOA story July 19, 2007
Cuddly Bears, Stiff Headwinds and Generosity
 Rich Ralph is seeing Canada close up as he crosses the country on skates.
• Planet story July 3, 2007
Helmet Law Takes Effect
New law in New Mexico requires kids on skates, bikes, scooters and skateboards to wear head protection.
• More info June 22, 2007
Skates, Hoops and Maybe Ice
Boca Raton's newspaper talks with Team USA's Brittany Bowe about juggling two sports and plans for the future.
• Boca Raton story May 24, 2007
Get Your Skates On
Humor columnist describes first lesson on quest to be "one of those cool people on more than two wheels, with the wind in my helmet and knee-high in knee pads."
• Courier-Mail story April 24, 2007
Nude Photos Raise Profile for World Champ
 Her granny may not like them, but Nicole Begg's semi-nude photos are making headlines in New Zealand.
• NZ herald story March 15, 2007
Dad Indicted in Steroid Case
The father of former junior national champion Corey Gahan has been indicted for allegedly providing steroids to his son. Corey was banned from the 2005 World Championships after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
• More info March 8, 2007
Hedrick Falls Hard in Salt Lake
Former inline champ Chad Hedrick struggled during the first day of the Single Distance World Championships, hitting the ice hard in the 5000m.
• Debbie Rice's report March 6, 2007
Hyper Skater Hurt in Crash
 Newly signed Hyper team member Darren Kauffman was seriously injured Sunday in an auto accident. The 19-year-old from Waynesboro, NJ, suffered a broken back, collapsed lung and other injuries. He is a former member of the U.S. Junior World Team.
• More info on Hyper Board. Feb. 28, 2007
Vicci King Wins Entry to Hall of Fame
 USA Roller Sports has inducted Bont North America's Vicci King into its Athletes Hall of Fame. King of Pullayup, WA, won five gold medals — at distances ranging from 300 to 5000 meters — at World Championships in the mid-1990s. She won a gold and silver medal at the 1995 Pan American Games.
• Read her recent Skate Tip. Jan. 30, 2007
Cyclists' Loss, Skaters' Gain
When safety issues closed the cycling track in Manawatu, New Zealand, local skaters saw their chance. They bought the track and began its renovation. In March, it will reopen as a world-class inline training and racing facility.
• Go to newspaper story. Jan. 17, 2007
Sometimes Nice Guys Do Finish First!
The United States Olympic Committee has named Joey Cheek its SportsMan of the Year. The former inline skater won gold at the 2006 Olympics and caught the world's attention when he donated his winnings to charity.
• Go to announcement. Dec. 19, 2006
'Jesus Can't Skate'
 This new film about the world of artistic roller skating (quad and inline) won the audience award at the 2006 Australian Film Festival. Made by skater Jayson Sutcliffe, it includes actress Melissa George's return to skating.
• View to MySpace video.
• Go to movie homepage. Dec. 14, 2006
Rolling Out New Skaters
Students at an Indiana grade school were enthusiastic about their recent five days of skate instruction. "As anyone can see, rollerblading has made the students more active," a teacher said. "This is a way to get fit kids."
• Go to newspaper story.
• Go to Skate in School site. Dec. 6, 2006
Matzger Guilty
After a two-hour trial, a federal judge convicts Eddy Matzger of skating on the Blue Ridge Parkway but commends his argument.
• Go to Planet story. Dec. 1, 2006
Abominable Roller Dunk
 It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a projectile hairball! ... No, it's Squatch, the Seattle Sonics' mascot, performing a gravity-defying skate stunt at a recent game.
• Download video clip.
• Go to Squatch web page. Nov. 29, 2006
Miss Skate Babe Crowned in Singapore
 Ace Tay, a 21-year-old business student, was crowned Miss Skate Babe at the closing party of the inaugural Women on Skates event Monday.
• Go to Planet story. Nov. 9, 2006
Opera Diva vs. Skater
 Shara Worden started out as an opera singer. But skating kept getting in the way. Now she's the lead singer of the successful Indie rock band My Favorite Diamond.
• Go to YouTube video. Nov. 1, 2006
Close Call for SF Skaters
 Ten people were injured by gunfire 90 minutes after skaters left Halloween street party. Will skaters return to event next year? ... You betcha!
• Go to Planet story. Oct. 23, 2006
10 Years Later
 In 1996, after her mother was diagnosed with leukemia, Christine Ichim skated across Canada to raise money for cancer research. Today, she is one of the scientists doing the research — and thanks to the drug Interferon, her mother is still alive.
• Go to Varsity news story. Oct. 12, 2006
Hedrick: Taking a Swing at the Good Life
We know what Chad hasn't been doing since the Olympics: inline racing. The former inline champ didn't lace up for a single race this season. ... So what has he been doing? For one thing, golfing. He's no Tiger Woods, but he did shoot a hole-in-one.
• Go to Chron story. Oct. 9, 2006
Rollerblade Founder - 27 Years Later
One of Scott Olson's newest inventions is the Skybike — half bike, half roller-coaster. It's one of many things that keeps the inventor busy these days, as Darlene Prois reveals in her profile.
• Go to Star Trib story. Oct. 4, 2006
'Heroic Rollerblading Teens from Kilmarnock'
 Yes, Kilmarnock, a mining town in Scotland. The four boys, 15-17, were skating along when they spotted a thug robbing a woman at knifepoint. One of the boys helped the woman; the others chased the mugger. He got away but was later arrested after the boys picked him out in a photo line up. The boys were among a group of "local heroes" honored Monday at Edinburgh Castle. ... (Next up for the boys, the Lock Ness Monster!)
• Go to Herald story. Sept. 28, 2006
Inline Manga Wars
 In the new Japanese comic book and animation Air Gear, Ikki's got a problem: thugs. Fortunately, he's also got a pair of Air Treck skates. Brother, can they fly! ... Look out, bad guys!
• Go to YouTube video. Sept. 13, 2006
Rollerblade Founder Keeps Making New Things
 Scott Olson didn't rest on his royalties after the company he founded gave him the boot in the mid-1980s. He continued inventing things: first, the Rowbike; more recently, the Skybike.
• Go to Duluth Trib story. Sept. 12, 2006
J-Rod's New Olympic Dream
 Jennifer Rodriguez's quest for Olympic glory isn't over. The former artistic roller skater, turned inline speed skater, turned long-track ice skater has started training for a spot on the 2008 Olympic cycling team. "I'm not putting a ton of pressure on myself," the 30-year-old says. "If I make it, great. If I don't, whatever."
• Go to Miami Herald Story. Aug. 31, 2006
Blade for a Cure
This year Ontario, next year Canada — at least that's the plan of 17-year-old Mat Granger. He's 12 days into his 340-mile skate across southwestern Ontario to raise money for Parkinson's research. (His mom follows in a black Pontiac.) "People give us honks on their way by, and we appreciate every donation," he told the Goderich Signal-Star. Next year, he hopes to skate the length of Canada.
• Go to Signal-Star story. Aug. 30, 2006
Stardust Memories
Founded 21 years ago, the  Stardust Speed Club in South Florida continues to roll out top skaters (such as U.S. World Team member Kevin Quandt.) "I really enjoy seeing kids go from pure beginners to the world-class level and everything in between," coach Ed Mueller tells the Palm Beach Post.
• Go to Palm Beach story. Aug. 24, 2006
Social Rolling in Sacto
 The thing that Bernie Scoville likes most about inline skating is rolling with a crowd. "It's a great way to meet people," the 68-year-old skate instructor told the Sacramento Bee. The Bee featured Sacto's Monday Night Skate as its "Adventure of the Week."
• Go to Sac Bee story.
• Go to Group Skate Mapper. Aug. 23, 2006
Retirees Roll On in Florida
Thriving skate clubs don't just happen in big cities. The Villages, a retirement community in Florida, has a club that organizes three weekly group skates and excursions to area trails and rinks. Yet its population is only 8300.
• Go to DailySun story. Aug. 21, 2006
Cliff Conquers Cycling
 Theresa Cliff-Ryan, the winningest women in inline history, is finding success in cycling. She won Sunday's USPRO criterium in Downers Grove, Ill. The 29-time world inline champion quit skating last year to train for a berth on the U.S. Olympic cycling team.
• Go to VeloNews race report. Octogenarian Keeps Rolling
Retired teacher Charles Chapman fell the first time he stood on inline skates. But since then, the 84-year-old Florida retiree has skated 14,000 miles. And he's not ready to quit. His motto: "Growing old is not for sissies."
• Go to Orlando Sentinel story.
• Go to Skaters in the News. June 28, 2006
J-Rod Hangs 'em Up
 Jennifer Rodriguez is retiring from skating after a varied career that began on roller skates, moved to inlines, and culminated with two bronze medals in ice speed skating at the 2002 Olympic Games. The 30-year-old former artistic roller skater told her hometown Miami Herald: "When I looked down deep, I realized I didn't have the motivation to compete at this high level anymore.''
- Go to Herald story. • Go to earlier stories. | 
