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One recent way inline speed
is growing is long track racing in the
USA. This format has long been the home for
world championships, common outside the USA.
Long Track is
where the best USA skaters, the
World Team and the National Team,
are selected.
REGIONAL CLINICS
One growth is that USARS Regions are conducting
track racing clinics. One has already been
conducted, in the south,
and others are planned for this spring.
These Regional clinics are conducted by coaches
whose experience includes conducting National
track clinics; many of these coaches have years
of experience successfully developing USA World
Team skaters.
Clinics teach track skating techniques; this
instruction, for many skaters, also takes their
indoor or road skating to a higher level.
Clinics teach strategy and techniques for
special race types, such as points and
elimination races, the basis for world
championships, many races outside the USA, NIRA
races in the USA.
Skaters who complete the clinics leave with
a bigger “bag of tricks” for indoor racers.
NATIONALS
Another purpose of Regional Clinics is to grow
the number of skaters at National clinics (and
the number of skaters at track Nationals, and
thus the candidate pool for the National Team
and World Team, and the quality of these teams).
Some skaters aren’t aware that these National
Clinics are open to anyone who is a reasonably
good inline speedskater (e.g., can do smooth
crossovers).
National clinics are
held on banked tracks;
banked track skating adds a whole new dimension
to the skating experience.
Think of the difference
between a life in two dimensions, as compared to
a three-dimensional life. Three-
dimensional skating is much more exciting than
two dimensional skating just
as life is in three dimensions, compared to
two. Some National
clinics are held in Florida,
such as just before the West Palm race,
so skills learned can be applied and tested
immediately. Other clinics are held at the
Olympic Training Center in Colorado where
off-track activities include eating meals with
Olympic athletes from many sports, and have
included swapping skating stories with Apolo
Ohno. Click
here to learn more about the spring 2005
clinic, or to register.
ROLLERDOME MARATHON
Another growth is a whole new kind of skating,
the indoor marathon.
This is by the group which put on the very
successful St. Paul Marathon. More
information is at:
MetroDome Inline Marathon
General Hype Board Discussion
Wheels and beer
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