Senior Worlds is Streaming
The 2009 Senior Figure World Championships are officially started at the Messe Freiburg Convention Center in Freiburg, Germany. Join me at the events via Rollersports TV by registering and activating your account. Then view the streaming video schedule to find the events you want to see.
A Nice World Arena Story
Great moments are shared at competitions, sometimes due to a little trauma. The floor conditions were good, no one got sick and thank goodness there were no injuries. But, when Courtney Donovan damaged an inline wheel at her practice for the Inline Ladies Singles event and didn't have a matching spare, her coach, Rene Johnson, and her mom were in a bit of a panic. Vivian Moreira came to the rescue and helped connect Courtney's mom with one of her Brazilian teammates who had a spare wheel and was willing to give it to Courtney in time to skate her event. Way to go Team Brazil!
If all roller sports athletes and countries can show this level of excellent sportsmanship towards their competition, the goodwill alone will attract more skaters and build our sport.
Freiburg Inline Figure Results
The inline freeskating participants at the 2009 World Championship in Freiburg, Germany were low in numbers but good in quality. Hsin Chia-Ling (Taiwan) faced tough competition from Silvia Marangoni (Italy) and Natalie Motley (USA), but she won the Bronze which was her same placement in the 2008 World Championship in Taiwan. Vivian Moreira (Brazil) finished in 6th place.
Women's Inline Results
- Silvia Marangoni, Italy
- Natalie Motley, United States
- Hsin Chia-Ling, Taiwan
- Courtney Donovan, United States
- Aleesha Hanczakowski, Australia
- Vivian Moreira, Brazil
- Chen, I-Ching, Taiwan
- Laura McKenzie, New Zealand
Gustavo Casado (Brazil) regained the Gold Medal that he lost it last season by skating solid short and long programs. Eric Traonouez (France) skated an excellent long program which moved him up from 4th in his short program to the Silver Medal.
Men's Inline Results
- Gustavo Casado De Melo, Brazil
- Eric Traounez, France
- Carlos Urquia, Argentina
- Marco Viotto, Italy
- Anup Kumar Yama, India
- Diego Dores, Brazil
- Lee Chun, Taiwan
- Andrew Bassi, Australia
The next big inline figure skating event will be the Open International de Paris in January, 2010. Hopefully, many of the World competitors will support this event, hosted by Jean-Pierre Faugère, to increase their competitive experience and grow the inline figure sports.
If you have links to any of these or other inline figure skating events or performances in any discipline, feel free to send them via email for possible inclusion in the inlineskating site.
Some Skates Are Fit to Be Tried
Whether they are the latest manufacturer's offerings or inline models that have been rolling around for a while, there are a variety of fitness and training level inline skates that are suitable for workouts, training and other recreational roller sports activities that are not discipline specific.
These fitness skates usually cost a little more than entry level recreational skates, but the extra features and upgrades are usually worth it.
Got great fitness skates? Tell us about your inline skate experience.
Promote Your Skating Class
Ever wonder what does it take to build a successful skating class program?
Of course you need to find students, but before you get students make sure you have a sound basic skills, intermediate and/or advanced skills programs to deliver to your students. Be sure to teach within your area of expertise and comfort and make good referrals for skaters who need something different. It's hard to pass up a lesson, but you'll get respect and good student referrals for your own discipline. In the long run, your best marketing tools for group classes and individual private lessons will always be the students who pass through your classes and actually learn how to skate or skate better. Whether they came to you to enter competitive skating sports, learn a few new tricks or just conquer a great fear of falling, the skaters you build who visually demonstrate the benefits of training are the best PR you will ever have.
A large number of my class members come by word of mouth from current and former skaters, and I spend time at roller rink public skates and school parties helping newbies (at no charge), adjusting helmets, lacing skates properly. This doesn't always result in lessons, but building a sense of community and goodwill is another way of promoting my services.
I am also fortunate enough to work at facilities that market their skating classes via local parks and recreation programs, private and public schools, digital marketing and in-rink flyers. Once the public finds the classes, it is up to you, the instructor, to provide a positive experience for as many skaters as possible to help continue to grow your skating program and the sport in general.
You can add your own teaching adventures and suggestions right now. Share Teaching Adventures and Tips!
I'm Sittin' On Top of the Worlds
The 54th World Roller Figure Skating Championship events begin this evening with inline skating, and I get access to the best seats in the house - thanks to my USA Roller Sports media pass.
It's great to see coaches, athletes and friends from around the world who all come to live or share the World Championship dream. This first week will feature the Inline and Junior events that will compete in the Schauenberg Hall at the FT-Sportpark.
Next week the Senior World Class events will skate finals and do award ceremonies at the Messe Freiburg.
Image Courtesy of the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports
You Might Be a Cheap Skate
If you want to skate or get a family member started in roller sports and find that your budget does not agree, don't walk away from skating. First look for dependable new multi-purpose inline skates from known manufacturers of affordable recreational skating equipment for entry level inline skating and training. Most come with a similar list of features, and these low budget skates can be a good option for new skaters, skaters who have not committed to a skating discipline or when expensive premium inline fitness skate equipment is just not an affordable or practical solution for recreational skating adventures.
If that doesn't work there are other cheap inline skating equipment options, including used, borrowed and rental skates. At a later date, you can buy the skates that you really want.
It's better to be a selective cheap skate for a little while than never to skate at all. Are you a successful cheap skater? Share your inline skate experience with us.
Get a G.R.I.P and Prepare to Skate
Are you ready for the "Open International de Paris" - a well known annual inline artistic dance 
and figure skating competition that will skate on January 30th and 31st in 2010? See photos that were taken during the event from January 31-February 1, 2009 in the Gymnasium de la Plaine 13 Rue du Général Guillaumat 75015 Paris, France. There are also photos of previous "Coupe de Paris 2007" and "Coupe de Paris 2008" inline figure skating events.
Then, if your entry is not already submitted, hurry up and get additional information and submit your entry to the Glace et Roller Inline de Paris (G.R.I.P.) association.
Photo Courtesy of Glace et Roller Inline de Paris
Inline Figure Thrives in Freiburg
The inline freeskating participants at the 2009 World Championship in Freiburg, Germany will enjoy the support of teammates and be greeted by an enthusiastic German crowd. Young Vivian Moreira from Brazil is back, and I'm anxious to see how she is growing in this sport. This is the skating lineup, so far:
Women's Inline Participants to Date
- Aleesha Hanczakowski, Australia
- Vivian Moreira, Brazil
- Nesa Hassanzadeh, Iran
- Sara Zadmehr, Iran
- Silvia Marangoni, Italy
- Laura McKenzie, New Zealand
- Chen, I-Ching, Taiwan
- Hsin Chia-Ling, Taiwan
- Courtney Donovan, United States
- Natalie Motley, United States
Men's Inline Participants to Date
- Carlos Urquia, Argentina
- Andrew Bassi, Australia
- Gustavo Casado De Melo, Brazil
- Diego Dores, Brazil
- Eric Traounez, France
- Anup Kumar Yama, India
- Marco Viotto, Italy
- Lee Chun, Taiwan
The next big inline figure skating event will be the Open International de Paris in January, 2010. Hopefully, many of the World competitors will support this event, hosted by Jean-Pierre Faugère, to increase their competitive experience and grow the inline figure sports.
If you have links to any of these or other inline figure skating events or performances in any discipline, feel free to send them via email for possible inclusion in the inlineskating site.
It's Not Easy for Jilleanne to Be Good
If your name is Jilleanne Rookard, it is very hard to be a great speed skater. Jilleanne surprised everyone at the U.S. Speedskating Trials in Milwaukee by winning the 5,000 meter race last Sunday as well as winning the 3,000 earlier. She claimed positions on the World Cup Team in the 1,500 and the 1,000 to qualify her to skate as many as four events in Vancouver. Her position on the Olympic Team appears to be secure after her performance at the Pettit National Ice Center, even though the Olympic team will be picked based on the results of five World Cup meets.
The hard part of this story is that Rookard, a former inline skater, is experiencing very difficult financial times since her father passed away eight years ago and now her mother has cancer. But Jilleanne is a tough inline-to-ice survivor, and hopes to find Olympic success in spite of her current circumstances.