RoadSkater.Net - Comments for "inline"

Justified Gushing

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

Well if you know Skatey-Mark and Roadskater, you know we don't just love everything. I can spot a crooked lampshade from a mile away, thanks to my genetics. But this is where we agree that if you want to get some FUN skate WORK done, the roadshow workshop is a great place...and Greensboro always has a big enough but manageable size group away from the drudgeries of your home. But the key is Eddy is a world class teacher who happens to be a world class skater, and yes, he can spot where to tweak and can give you as much or as little as you want to work on.

There are a few things I try to do every year and the Greensboro Eddy Matzger Roadshow inline skating speed workshop is one I always want to do when Eddy can get us on the schedule. We'll get on it quickly this time and try to lock in a date as soon as Eddy can do it. I hope it can be the week after tax day next year, ha. But whenever it needs to be, it is worth hosting, talking about, trying to help people attend, and attending.

definitely notebook

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

Haven't used an iPad, but it doesn't interest me at all. Same goes for an iPod Touch or Kindle. My company gave me an MSI netbook to use for testing, and I don't like it one bit. It's too small to be useful. Typing is a pain. Navigating with the stupid touchpad thing is awful (I *hate* those things). Screen is too small. I think the netbooks will be a shortlived phase and that tablets like the iPad will take over that space. I doubt that typing on an iPad is any more problematic than it is on a netbook. Hell - i can just about type as fast on my LG Env phone as I can on the netbook.

I'm not a fan of desktop pcs anymore, either. Laptops/Notebooks have plenty of computing power for anyone and have the benefit of being portable. I like my notebook quite a lot (granted, it cost more than $600). But I'm sure there are plenty of options in the $600 range that would work.

another awesome weekend

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

This was perhaps the best weather for any workshop I've ever attended. Absolutely perfect. Literally, not a cloud in the sky. Perfect temperature. If only we could get this lucky every year!

This was either my 6th or 7th Eddy workshop, since my first one in 2002. I have to say that after skipping last year, I wish I had made more of an effort to attend one of the other roadshows or make the pilgrimage up to Skate Farm. (There wasn't a roadshow in Greensboro last year.) Last year, I struggled with a couple parts of my technique that took Eddy about 2 seconds to diagnose and start making suggestions on how to fix them. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to iron out some of the wrinkles over the summer and be ready for some of the events in the fall.

Even if I hadn't learned anything (which is impossible unless you're not trying at all), the weekend is such a fun time that it's worth going. I look forward to my skating vacation every year, and the sore muscles afterward are a pleasant reminder of everything that happened.

It was great having such a small group, as we all got a lot of individual attention. Still, having the larger groups in years past was fun too. I've never met an unfriendly person at a workshop. In fact - it was after taking my first workshop in 2002 that my skating obsession started.

I know people probably get tired of me gushing about how great the workshop is... It's just that I think everyone should be able to experience it first-hand and make the same improvements that I've made over the years. You don't have to be a competitive skater to appreciate the workshop - you just have to love skating and want to do it better.

We're so lucky that Eddy continues to come to Greensboro, and especially fortunate that he's already committed to coming back next year. I know I'll sign up as soon as the date is announced...

Enjoying the Comments...More After April 15

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

As a Certified Independent Professional Procrastinator I thought I'd read Getting Things Done by David Allen part of the day instead of doing things on my Next Actions list. Then I decided some posts might take less that two minutes each, so I'd do them. Of course, they probably don't take less than two minutes each, and I feel this one breaking rules already.

Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean, I'm really enjoying the comments and I hope you'll keep sharing them. It's really wonderful to hear that this workshop and Eddy have made as much difference to most as I have so often and obnoxiously claimed they would.

A great teacher is hard to find and despite all the talk about how important they are, teachers often work everlong for everless. Hopefully we can keep the Greensboro workshop/roadshow profitable enough for Eddy, financially and soulwise, to make it worth the time and travel. He indicated at dinner at Lucky 32 that we'll always have a Greensboro workshop, so we need to a) schedule it when we see him at A2A or soon after, and b) spread the word all year, and c) make sure he knows there's a core group who support the parking lot workshop format as the best way to work on these drills together...which most of us may not do so much outside that safety zone.

OK, computer. Got to go. See you after National Procrastination Day and the 1040 or 4868.

Anybody seen an iPad in person? I'm interested in your take. Seems like printing is problematic, and typing may be an adventure. Would you rather have an iPad; a kindle and a netbook; an iPod Touch and netbook; a $600 notebook PC; $600; some other combination? Feel free to launch a new thread if you want to get serious on this one.

Greensboro SkateFarm Roadshow

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

I have been wanting to do an Eddy Matzger skating clinic for a long time, and finally had my chance this past weekend. It turned out to be all that I expected and more. On top of everything else, the weather could not have been any more perfect.

I was concerned that because it was so early in the season I would not have the strength or endurance to keep up. To an extent that was true, but things are structured so that you can go at your own pace. There is absolutely no pressure to keep skating all the time. You get tired, you can take a break, and learn by eyesmosis ( a Skatey Blake-ism).

The other thing that I learned was that it is probably a good idea to wear all the protective gear, including elbow and knee pads. This is because, as Eddy so aptly puts it, if you aren't falling, you aren't trying hard enough. I definitely felt that I was holding back to avoid falls that might have compromised my ability to get back to work on Monday! By playing it safe, I felt I missed out a bit. The good news is that you learn so many drills and moves that you can practice to your heart's content once you get back home.

As has been stated by so many before me, the heart of the roadshow is of course Eddy himself. He has such mastery of his skates that just watching what he can do is probably worth the price of admission alone! At times, I had to tell myself that he has been doing this daily for over 20 years, and I shouldn't expect to be able to ever do everything he does. I know I will never be a competitive racer, and may never master the double push, but an important thing for us old people is to continue to learn new things. Why not on skates? Balance becomes ever more important as we get older. At any rate, Eddy has an incredible number of exercises to learn and do, and his ability to teach them is unsurpassed. He is indefatigable, patient, entertaining. ( Anyone remember the Ed Sullivan show? I felt like Topo Gigio for the number of times I said "hey, Eddy").

The weekend was overall a really fun time, not only because Eddy makes it fun, but the folks who turned out made it a fun time as well. Thanks to Blake for hosting, and for arranging great meals at some of the local spots. The venue for the social skate on Friday, and the site for the clinic, were great choices. It was good to meet up with those who become friends over time, eg from attending events like A2A, T2T, NYC. It was also nice to meet some new skateys who will no doubt be turning up at some of these events in the future.

What did I come away with? I asked Eddy what I could do about my tendency to pronate, and after going over issues of alignment and proper setdown, the problem disappeared immediately! The mechanics of stroking were broken down to the basics, then put back together. I remember long ago hearing about how if you have the proper balance you can skate with your laces undone. I could not have conceived of the very idea back then. After some balance drills, Eddy had us do just that- skate without lacing up. Voila- it didn't seem to make a difference!

I look forward to practicing the drills on my own, and perhaps trying the advanced drills requiring conter-traction with Patrick. ( It is great if someone you know comes along as well).

My hope is that I will be able to make it back next year, and will have been able to incorporate even a little of what we aere taught into my routine.

Thanks to Eddy, Blake, Elizabeth, Skatey Mark,Patrick, Jonathon,Marianne, and Craig for a great weekend!

SkateFarm Roadshow!!

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

So after attending this weekend long workshop - and recovering for a day to let my aching muscles rest, I am actually looking forward to finding a parking lot and working on many of the drills Eddy taught us.

What a great way to spend a weekend, meet new people, re-connect with 'old' friends, burn many calories, and get a whole lot better at skating. And oh yes, it helped me overcome (at least for a large part) my fear of falling while skating. I can't remember how many times I fell - but because I was always trying to skate low (hence the soreness in unspeakable muscle groups), and Thank God for knee pads!! - falling was no big deal. Of course - it's also quite possible that I didn't try hard enough, didn't skate fast enough to really get hurt. OK - fine. I still had an amazing weekend, and can honestly say that I have regained a good bit of confidence on skates. Not that I am ready to do Tour to Tanglewood on skates any time soon mind you; but doing this workshop made that seem less of an out of reach thing than I would have ever thought possible after doing it once, a long, long time ago....

If any of you have been wondering whether to do this workshop or not - wonder no longer! Sign up for the next available one. Go for it! And if you have done this workshop before, do it again! Like Jonathan said, Eddy spends time with individual skaters, so there is always a lot for you to learn.

Marianne

alginate fibers

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

All of these products are also great for pressure ulcers or bed sores. The fibers, which can also be obtained in a rope, where designed for larger, deeper wounds (read 1-2 inch deep crater, possibly down to visible bone). I don't think they would work very well for our surface wounds.

Jonathan S

Eddy Matzger rocks!

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

Alright, so I came to this thinking, "I'll learn a few drills, get a little better on classic technique, end of story"

I think we had accomplished my expectations in the first 4 hours! I now have about 25 drills I can rotate thru to practice different parts of my stroke. I am not only better at my classic technique, but I know exactly which areas to focus on. This is were Eddy excels! He can take a quick look at you doing something and immediatly pick out what part is failing. It's not just a bunch of "do it like this", but rather "that's good, but try to push harder here, relax there, cut this tighter". Every drill is made very personal to the individual skater. This translates into being able to jump by leaps and bounds ahead in skating ability. One of my biggest weakness' was I weaved all over the road when I skated. You would have thought I was an artistic skater watching me! Eddy showed me how to set my skate down closed so I would track a straight line and then open it up to push. I know have drawn a straight chalk line down the road in front of my house just so I can continue to practice this.

Here are the bonus things I learned, above and beyond my expectations. I now can do a front T stop, which not only works great, but also looks wicked cool. I can now do a double push, not a great one, but I think it was a huge step since I came to the clinic not double pushing at all. Before I could crossover, but I wasn't really putting any power to the ground. Now I understand how to get some speed out of the corner.

The other bonus was just spending time with Eddy. Not only is this man a god on skates, (he skates better than I can walk), but he is very caring, laid back, personable, and invested in helping everyone be the best skater they can. It was both an honor and a pleasure to learn from him.

So to anyone out there who would like to go, but has any reservations, I say if you only do one skate event a year, this one is the best. I don't think you could go and not become a better skater by leaps and bounds. This roadshow was my first, and I will now be there every year after, no matter what it takes.

Jonathan S

Hydrophile

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

Thanks Jonathan!

All this time I thought 'Duoderm' was just another manufacturer's term to try to outdo the other product, Tegaderm. So then I might go back and get those large sheets of calcium alginate for $20. Falling without pads is expensive. They also sold the calcium alginate fibers in a clump that presumably gels upon contact with fluid. It looked like mini roof insulation.

I appreciate any info you may have because frankly it's overwhelming in the first aid aisle - which by the way seems to always be the absolute furthest aisle from the front door - when faced with several types of gauze, hydrocolloid, alginate, various drainage capacities, number of dressings in a box, various pricing....gah....I feel a spreadsheet coming on.

dressings

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

I'm no expert eebee, but you sparked my curiosity, so here is what I can figure out.

Both the duoderm we used and any kind of alginate dressing are great for a draining wound. They both maintain a moist environment, which helps our road rash wounds heal quickly with little scaring.

The main difference in function seems to be that duoderm is recommended for light to moderate drainage and the alginate dressings are for moderate to heavy drainage. The alginate dressing material is hydrophilic (read water loving) so it natural attracts drainage to it.

I'm afraid I'm still enough of a rookie that I could not give a recommendation which would work better for you in this area. Both keep the wound moist, which is our main goal. You may want to add some neosporin to the mix just to cover your bases.

Jonathan S

Here's how the workshop went!

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

You're right Tim, it was absolutely beautiful! Sorry you had to miss it this time. It was great to see Don and Patrick come all the way from Boston for a whole weekend of nothing but skate focus. It was of course tons of fun, and I was sufficiently relaxed to be able to actually absorb some more concepts. Unfortunately I was so relaxed on Sunday I wiped out pretty badly. But a calm chat with Marianne on a grassy bank, plus outstanding professional medical skills from Jonathan (and medical supplies!), and a hilarious roadrash story from Skatey-Mark made me feel so much better. I think I laughed for a whole three miles straight on the way home down I-85 at Mark's previous workshop/roadrash story.

I just spent a good half hour in CVS staring at the different boxes of wound dressings. I finally asked the pharmacist if she could explain the new calcium alginate dressing to me. The box grabbed my attention because it promised to be suitable for wounds with heavy drainage. These little compede hydrocolloid patches aren't holding much (hmmm, we sell hydrocolloid material in 5 liter cans where I work...). She admitted to not being familiar with the calcium alginate dressing (any idea Jonathan?), but explained that keeping the roadrash moist is the primary way to reduce scarring, and with smaller, non-leaky abrasions on non-covered body parts the same can be achieved through Bacitracin or Neosporin. At this point I was relieved to know I didn't have to shell out $50 on absorbent gauze pads. My needs are twofold: to be able to bend and straighten my knees and elbow, and reduce scarring as much as possible. However, it gets old really fast when you're continually mopping up ooze, and it doesn't look good in a professional setting either!

Funny post-workshop, post-roadrash story. At work today we needed to call in the phone technician. He called in the morning saying he didn't think he could make it due to an 'injury' but that he would make the effort if it was urgent. Well I was sat there secretly thinking 'Hey I came to work with all these stupid oozing wounds and my jeans sticking to my knees!', and I actually told the poor guy it was pretty urgent and that he should come in! About an hour later the phone technician comes hobbling up to the front door on crutches!! I felt pretty bad. Later we swapped horror stories: his - softball, mine - skating. He acted somewhat ashamed but I congratulated him on getting out there and trying it.

For me, I can't learn something new on skates unless I fall. A lot. I also learned for the twentieth time that it's prudent to wear knee and elbow pads when trying new maneuvers on skates.

And once again I have quite the to-do drill list for my upcoming evening skates (which is going to look weird to anybody watching). Somehow it's so much easier to make a complete fool out of yourself at the workshop/roadshow, and difficult to skate like a monkey at the local park in the suburbs!

But for goodness' sake!! When I was first learning how to balance vertically on skates, I was falling and stumbling all the time and didn't care who saw me! These days it's so tempting to just lace up and let it rip, especially if there are people walking their dogs or jogging - I want to look 100% competent and in control in front of those people, to advertise skating as a kick-butt fun form of exercise. So then I skate the same way each time, not trying anything new, and not applying things I learned at the workshop.

I am hereby reminding myself not to do that this year.

Looking forward to the reports

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

I was thinking of you folks this weekend, as I sat in my late-schoolyear-weekend daze. I wouldn't have been any good for anyone out there, but it looked like it was an absolutely beautiful weekend for those who participated. I hope all went smoothly and that it was fun and rewarding for all.

A note about fitness fatness and the roadshow workshop

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

Just in case anyone is out there wondering if they're good enough or fit enough for the workshop, here's what I think...

You don't need to be a racer or want to be a racer. You just should want to learn more about skating at get better at it by working on it for a weekend.

You don't need to be a great skater, but you probably need to be at the point where you are able to stay up on skates mostly except when learning new things and pushing the envelope, so to speak.

You don't need to be skinny. You don't even need to be as skinny as you used to be. I'm neither right now! But I'll be there giving what I can to learning and relearning to get my year off to a better start than without the workshop. Of course I'd be better off if I didn't take winters off, perhaps, but that's the way it is so I'll be there doing what I can.

You come to the workshop to participate as much as you are able and to work at your level. Eddy will work with everyone at their level and he's very good at observing skills and adjusting his teaching based on who is there.

If it were not so great we would not host this event as many years as possible. It is a great weekend for your skating and your life.

If your family wants to come to town, we have lots of golf, tennis, shopping, etc., and springtime is in bloom in Greensboro.

More on the Eddy Matzger Roadshow Greensboro Apr 9-11

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

Here's a revision of a note I sent to a potential attendee at our Greensboro workshop which is ON even with currently low reservations.

This is your BEST EVER opportunity at some quality time working with Eddy. We've had low signups for this year's workshop here (not sure why other than economics and family and event conflicts on the date). I'm not sure where we are now but it looks like maybe only 4 or 5 others. Even with double that, you'd have lots of time to work with Eddy in the small group and also some time alone with him taking video (you get a DVD afterward of all of us skating for the "test" and highlights of the drills, included in the registration, delivered to your mailbox).

Day one is usually a review of classic skating technique similar to ice, but very useful stuff for much of the time on skates for many of us. It's important because it contains all the fundamental concepts for either classic or double push skating. Eddy shows lots of on and off skates drills and exercises, and just by being around him you'll see what could happen to your skating if you stay in your skates a lot and are not afraid to work at it on and off skates, letting it be part of or even in some cases most of your life.

He intros some yoga poses that are skate helpful, some jumping and balancing drills (there's one especially useful one done off skates that helps in understanding how a double push works and feels), and lots of things to practice on your skates the rest of your life.

At some point during the weekend depending on various skill levels, Eddy introduces or reviews the whole idea of double push skating, which many skaters have put to such good use in winning races. He takes the key elements learned the first day and applies them to the double push method, where you get twice as many pushes per cycle. instead of glide-push / glide-push as you can do efficiently on ice, it becomes push-push / push-push or perhaps push-glide-push / push-glide-push for the asphalt, which has way more resistance than ice of course.

OK it's hard to say in a quick summary so that's why being around Eddy for sixteen hours talking and watching and doing skating will change your mind and your skating life. Even if you're not a racer and don't want to be, you'll have some new tools in your box for just when you need them most... to catch up, keep up when someone's trying to gap, or to gap someone who keeps kicking your frame skating two-wide in the road.

Regardless, you'll get the concept if you don't have it, and if you do know it already, Eddy will see it and help you improve. He is great at SEEING where you are instead of where you think you are, showing you on the video, then finding the NEXT ACTION to work on to improve your skating and the fun and power within. He'll find out how you plan and hope to enjoy skating, and help you do that, instead of trying to talk you into something he's done.

Aside from the irrelevant to your skating fact that Eddy has won lots of races or is well known as a roadskater, the real value is he knows skating AND is a GREAT and WILLING TEACHER who works full time for those who paid to do a workshop, and will keep you working on it the whole weekend in bursts of presentation-effort-review-microrest-repeat, with time to reflect and watch video saturday evening.

Friday we'll do a social skate around 5 or 6 pm if weather is fine, most likely on a rail trail we've used many times. It's very nice countryside skating. just getting to know each other on skates with no racing planned.

Saturday is usually 3-4 hours then lunch with Eddy, then 3-4 hours then dinner on our own then Saturday night video probably at Craig's house.

Sunday is usually 3-4 hours then lunch together while Eddy writes up notes and advice then 3-4 hours with review and "awards" finishing at least 6 or so, then maybe dinner together with Eddy if he can stay long enough.

If you fly in by early afternoon it'll be fine, and fly out as late as you can/like. Dinner with Eddy if we do it is a nice relaxing review of the skating but also just getting to know him more not as teacher so much but as new skate friend. Even if Eddy has to go, some of us will likely want to go eat and talk it all over and get to know each other off skates.

The best place to stay is near the airport at the intersection of NC-68 and I-40. there's a Hampton Inn, Motel 6, Sleep Inn, and various others in various levels of cost and appeal at that intersection. This gives you best access to the less congested roads leading to our locations. I'll verify locations in an email early the week before the workshop.

You will probably need a rental car unless we can make arrangements for your rides, but rentals are inexpensive in Greensboro usually. The area is spread out and we have not found a suitable location very near the hotels that is not also crowded. details to come but that's the idea. I'll check for new asphalt nearer to the hotels but for now we plan to use our prior locations.

Hope you can come. You will get a lot from the weekend if you can make it. Mostly you'll get a weekend about nothing but skating and new friends.

Let me know if the only thing keeping you from being able to come is transport or floor space. I can TRY to get some help with it if you need it. Hotels and cars in Greensboro are inexpensive relative to other cities, but if we can help get you in we'll try. My responsibility is to eddy first, but i can call on friends perhaps for support. join us!

Reminder to Skate to the Next Level with Eddy in Greensboro

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

Here's a copy of a note posted to InlineNC yahoogroups.com group and other places, in case it's of interest or use, and as a reminder the workshop is soon!

Hi again! We're finally getting out to skate some. How about you?

Here's a chance to come skating with many times over Athens to Atlanta winner, great teacher and roadskating enthusiast, Eddy Matzger, and the rest of us here in North Carolina. Consider how great it'd be to come to Greensboro, North Carolina for some springtime skating on April 9-11 during a full weekend of skateyfocus! Join us Eddy Matzger Roadshow Inline Skating Workshop and we'll have 16 to 20 hours of immersion with very few distractions from the fun work of getting back into it, getting to the next level, or learning what it would take to get there!

Most of Eddy's workshops are now at the skatefarm (see skatefarm.com) and that's some awesome hillage for all, but we coaxed him to come down for another Greensboro workshop this year for those who love that format and love our location.

Why am I still hosting these workshops? Well, Eddy's the best skate teacher I know, and if nothing else, it gets me back into inspiration to prepare for the year, ending with the 2-day 90-miles Tour to Tanglewood and the (up to) 102-mile CarolinaCentury. com skate or bike for MS.

Please come join us in the Piedmont of NC for a weekend of happy skate work with people of all levels of skill, to see, hear, and do not much but the sport we love so passionately. Fly in to GSO airport and stay near the airport. Let us know if you need some help with transport, but there are inexpensive rentals available most weekends in GSO. (RDU and CLT are OK, but you will likely spend some time in rush hour traffic if you come in during the Friday afternoon. Usually flying in to GSO costs about the same when all is said and done, and our airport is big enough but still small enough to be convenient.)

Now there are plenty of excuses not to do this, but there are some incredible ways this could make your life sweeter, right? Get in the car, get on the plane, and come on down!

Here's more about the Roadshow and Skatefarm...
http://skatecentral .com/page32. html

It's $300 for the weekend of skate lessons and drills, plus Eddy makes a movie of everyone, including some individual video assessment, and you get a DVD in the mail later as a memento and valuable reminder of what you learned...and some things you may have missed or misremembered!

If you have a Roadshow in your area, then by all means please support that one! If you can't make that date, then consider us as an option. We usually have a nice group but not a huge crowd, so you get some more individual attention from the Edmeister.

Here's the remaining schedule for 2010...
http://skatecentral .com/page84. html

Here's where to register...
http://skatecentral .com/page20. html

Please contact me or the address at skatefarm.com for more info and details on our weekend.

Seriously. Eddy can help people on all levels of skating skill, and he works hard to give great value to all who attend the Roadshow. Join us!

Impossible to overstate how great this workshop is

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

Blake and I could talk for hours about how great Eddy's workshops are, but the only way to really know is to experience one for yourself. There is a ton of information packed into the weekend - so much that it's a bit like drinking from the firehose... But Eddy is a great instructor and he explains all the concepts in a way that you can understand. You'll learn a lot, and have an absolute blast doing it.

Blake's absolutely right that you don't need to be a speedskater to attend. ANYONE can benefit from this workshop, and I'm living proof. I had never been exposed to, or even considered speedskating prior to taking Eddy's workshop for the first time. (After that, I was hooked - and that's another story entirely.) I need to make a before & after video comparing my skating at the 2002 workshop (my first one) and the 2003 workshop.

At this point, I've taken Eddy's workshop probably 6 or 7 times. (Every time he's come to Greensboro, plus one time in Athens.) I know the drills. I could practice them on my own. But I keep going back because it's such a fun weekend. You also can't beat the personal attention you'll get, and I always learn something new.

Try it. You'll like it!

- SM -

Eddy Matzger Roadshow Prices and Rebate Offer

In reply to Eddy Matzger Roadshow 2010 Greensboro, NC Inline Skating Rollerblading Speedskating Workshop:

Yo me skateys. See how Skatey-Mark got my text above and posted it before I did? Great going S-M! Thanks for posting the event immediately.

I had a query offline about whether the cost was $300 or $260, so I double-checked with Eddy and yes it's $260 for the Greensboro NC Roadshow inline skating workshop.

Also, families of 3 or more and clubs/teams with 5 or more get a 10% REFUND at the roadshow (if 5 or more actually attend and pay from the same club/team, and I imagine that's aside from any host types).

In any case, if you enter ROADSKATER.NET as your team (and have been or are going to be skating with us this year) we should have enough to get you the 10% rebate.

Mention any other teams you are on too of course (ones you're on, actually, not ones you hope to be, like the USA Olympic team, the Radio Shack Tour de France team or such lot).

That's the scoop so now go to skatefarm.com and make us unliars by upgesigning for the greatest roadshow on skates.

By the way, you don't have to be a speedskater to get tons out of the workshops. Lots of rec inline skaters of various levels regularly enjoy and benefit from the weekend (many would consider me a rec skater who wears speedskates). Eddy will find your level and help you get to the next one and beyond.

It truly is fun for all ages as long as you love skating and want to be part of a great weekend of focusing on that. You can take breaks if you need to, but most people really stay engaged in the drills and ask for more demonstrations by Eddy when they're tired! It's inspiring just to see how Eddy and some of the participants have really mastered the art and skill of inline skating.

The three local events I always hope to put time into are Eddy's roadshow inline skating workshop, the Tour to Tanglewood MS Ride and Carolina Century ride and roll for MS. Eddy is so busy he can't always get us on the schedule, so this is a great chance to catch a great springtime workshop to start the season. Join us!

Skateylove, Roadskater

Kirubel

In reply to Great hotel deal for skaters in US10K, Atlanta, Labor Day Weekend:

I found out the identity of the slinky wonder-runner! My son has been telling me all about Grayson High School's Kirubel Erassa, originally from Ethiopia. He is on track for breaking even more records and next time I'm skating at the park while he's running there, he'll probably pass me. He just ran a 5k in Charlotte in 14:43. Amazingly, he came in second place! Here is a small AJC article about him. Some funny excerpts:

"It was my freshman year," Erassa said. "I played on the soccer team.
After the season was over, I had nothing to do. I joined the track team
just to see how I could do. The coach let me run the JV [junior
varsity] mile. I broke five minutes at 4:58. After that, I threw up."

"Ethiopia, Erassa's homeland, is known for producing some of the world's
best long-distance runners. He and twin sister Tiyo are the youngest of
12 children. Erassa and eight other family members moved to the United
States in 2005 for "better opportunities."

It both amuses and depresses me that there are a select few who routinely run faster than I can possibly skate. I mean, I've got wheels on, for heaven's sake :-)

What he said

In reply to 2009 Inline Skate Calendar of Events for the Roadskater.net Community will be helpful:

Thanks for the link to the clip.

very cool news clip

In reply to 2009 Inline Skate Calendar of Events for the Roadskater.net Community will be helpful:

Thanks for that clip GustavoAMH. This event looks like a ton of fun.

2009 Northshore Inline Skating Marathon

In reply to 2009 Inline Skate Calendar of Events for the Roadskater.net Community will be helpful:

2009 Northshore Inline Skating Marathon. The sounds of polyurethane rolling across pavements filled the crisp northland air this morning. It was the 14th annual Northshore Inline Marathon that rolled its way along scenic highway 61 today. Northland's NewsCenter NBC 6, CBS 3, My 9, and Northland CW covered the event.
http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/59862952.html?video=YHI&t=a

Deer Prudence

In reply to Great hotel deal for skaters in US10K, Atlanta, Labor Day Weekend:

Correct. The deer at Tribble Mill are getting a bit more daring, and like to hang out on a fast downhill road, darting across in front of me at the last minute when I'm about 10 - 20 ft away from them, and I'm going about 25mph. The deer and the supposed US10K athlete all look pretty running, I just wish the deer wouldn't wait until the last minute to cross!

The deer at the more populated Bay Creek Park are just downright chill. One day last week I skated around that trail at about 3pm. The only other people on the trail at that time was a middle-aged couple jogging. I was completely spaced out, focused on my feet (probably bad for skating technique!), when I heard a noise to my left. I looked up and saw two deer standing 2 feet away from me. We looked at each other in shock. They didn't even budge. I realized one was the Mother and the other was the suckling fawn in the middle of an afternoon feed. I was so surprised I said to them "Bloody hell you guys scared me to death!". When I spoke, they jumped, but stayed put.

The deer are getting more and more comfortable with people at that park.

Three Deer on the Loops

In reply to Great hotel deal for skaters in US10K, Atlanta, Labor Day Weekend:

If I recall correctly, there were also three deer hanging out by the downhill side of the hilly loop before you saw the runner? I hope those deer don't jump out in front of ye on a 35 mph downer! That might smart! Maybe some blinkies would scare the deer away? Probably not. Might just put them into a trance in the middle of the road!

When runners are hot on your heels...

In reply to Great hotel deal for skaters in US10K, Atlanta, Labor Day Weekend:

Alright, I was only doing 9mph up this one hill, but still I didn't expect to see the runner right behind me when I got to the top!

Tonight I was doing some hill training at Tribble Mill Park (Gwinnett County, GA), and the dusk made skating on the trail through the woods difficult. I decided to do some parking lot loops and noticed a runner off in the distance. He looked like he was sprinting. I thought I'd turn around and go back up a hill rather than wait for him to pass me, then turn around and have to pass him again as well as several walkers across the trail. Thinking back, I don't believe that would have been an issue! Assuming nobody could keep sprinting that far, I skated up the hill half a mile later, felt good about myself at the top and thought I was alone. Then I turned around to see the runner right behind me! At that point it occurred to me that he was possibly training for the US10K Classic. He had the build of the guys who usually win the running portion of the race: low body fat, yet fluid-looking rather than sharp or muscular. He was flying. Gracefully. I bombed it down the next hill and scrambled a little way up the next, hopped off onto the side of the road and turned around to see him already at the bottom of the hill behind me!

He ran like he was pouring himself cell by cell into the next frame. He gained ground as if sprinting along an airport passenger conveyor-belt. Uphill. I waited ... a few seconds ... for him to catch up and yelled to him "You training for the US10K?", and he grinned at me, not really understanding what I'd said, and replied "Nice hill, huh?".

It's always an amazing thrill for me to see those guys cross the finish line at the US10K Classic. I don't think the rules of gravity apply to them.

Word to Wordpad or Other

In reply to Great hotel deal for skaters in US10K, Atlanta, Labor Day Weekend:

Unfortunately things are not as supersweet as I'd like here, and I use some workarounds myself. I have my profile set to let me look at plain text first, rather than rich text. If you're looking at plain text or a limited version of html, as you prefor, sort of, it'll say "enable rich text" below the text box (at this writing at least). Before I click "enable rich text" I copy all (Ctrl-A Ctrl-C), then I click "enable rich text" and select all and paste (Ctrl-A Ctrl-V). This preserves my paragraphs as I had them in the plain text.

If the link below the text box says "disable rich-text" you are in rich text mode, which will have icons that look Wordish above the text box. It's a good idea to select all and copy (Ctrl-A Ctrl-C) before switching between modes so you can select all and paste (Ctrl-A Ctrl-V) if you need to after looking at what it has done to your text. Sorry for these glitches!

Another trick if writing with Word and you want to clean out codes is to save it as .txt or to call up Wordpad and do a Paste Special...Unformatted (Atl-E S U [Enter key]), then select all and copy, then switch to the Roadskater.net or other web browser window and paste. So on a PC that'd be something like this starting with the paste unformatted... Alt-E S U [Enter key] Ctrl-A Ctrl-C Alt-Tab (to get to the correct window for pasting into Roadskater.net) Ctrl V.

Not sure all of this makes sense but I hope it'll help. I don't mind helping but am glad you cared about it too!

Once I'm finished with jersey work, maybe (ha) I can get some time to check a few strange things that happen on the site!

Thanks!

In reply to Great hotel deal for skaters in US10K, Atlanta, Labor Day Weekend:

Original was from word and that looked like sh.... so I took as much out as I could, but it left that bunch in the top of the post. That top part I could not see (and therefore not change). I could see it looked like "#¤¤%!, but in my preview it looked fine.

I would have thought it would be more "clean" to post from a plain txt doc. that should not have any hidden codes.

But well, does not matter and thanks for your help. Cool with the link!

/Birgit

Maybe Paste from Word (W and Clipboard icon)?

In reply to Great hotel deal for skaters in US10K, Atlanta, Labor Day Weekend:

Perhaps paste from Word works better. Dunno. To clean it up I chose "enhanced text" then select all then pasted it into Wordpad and cleaned it up a bit. I agree it should be easier! Hopefully next time paste from Word might work. Thanks. I added a map pin for the start line location.

Somebody that knows how to

In reply to Great hotel deal for skaters in US10K, Atlanta, Labor Day Weekend:

Somebody that knows how to post in this forum, be my guest and clean up the codes in above posting.

I posted "plain text" and it looks like something the cat ...

Hope everyone can get the gist anyway.

/Birgit

Sounds like a great time!

In reply to Inline Speed Skating Clinic March 28 2009 with Harry Vogel, Hank Galbraith, Mariah Richardson:

Nice writeup, Eebee. I'm glad to hear that you got something out of that workshop. I'd guess that it gave you plenty to think about while waiting for your leg muscles to recover. And for only $15.00 too...

Great Indoor Workshop!

In reply to Inline Speed Skating Clinic March 28 2009 with Harry Vogel, Hank Galbraith, Mariah Richardson:

Roadskater, Kensun and I went to Skateland USA in Greensboro for the Harry Vogel indoor speed clinic this past Saturday. Not really knowing what to expect, we wondered beforehand if we really shouldn't just sit on the sidelines and watch. There were about twenty speedy little kids, three other indoor adults, three Roadskaters, and three amazing world-class skaters who were teaching the workshop.

We all started off in the middle of the rink, speedy little kids' parents watching from the wings, and did some dryland exercises, such as holding a tuck for 30-45 seconds. Other exercises included basic dryland skating and crossovers, and stretches once we had warmed up. We then separated into groups and we 'seasoned' roadskaters took turns with some of the speedy little kids in getting down really low and skating smaller circles, focusing on technique. It didn't take long before my left quad was shaking out of control.

Next came start line practice, and I got to learn the indoor-style start, which although I'm sure I'll never use, was fun to learn anyway.

After all of this we launched into time trials and races, which I took part in to begin with, but unlike dodging cars, dogs or iPod-joggers in the park, the skills I lacked in the turns had me terrified of flattening one of the kids, so I backed off and eventually gave up! However, this workshop got me all fired up to try indoor again. I go to an indoor practice probably once every three years, and I believe I do make some progress each time, so maybe after 25 years I'll be able to do it.

I felt somewhat self-conscious that all the parents were able to watch me make a complete arse out of myself, but I know that's silly, because it's far better for me to be taking part than sitting and wishing I had the nerve to take part. Besides, the parents couldn't have cared less about me anyway, since they were watching their own children and cheering them on.

I hadn't realized how young Harry Vogel still is :-)

Even today, it still feels like somebody slugged me in the thighs with a baseball bat. What a happy feeling!