Joey Mantia has come forward as a spokesperson for USA Roller Sports and inline skating via his Team USA blog. It's simply called "Joey Mantia In Black & White," and the first post, "Skating Is The Best Sport In The World," says it all. I've added him to my Inline Skating Blogline, so we can keep up with his encouraging words.

If you want to know how the women skated at the 2009 World Inline Hockey Championships in Varese (Lombardy), Italy, moving pictures can definitely speak louder than words. The Women's Team USA won the inline hockey Gold, and the video is still available online at Rollersports TV.

Get more information about the events and complete results from 2009 World Inline Hockey Championships at the Comite International de Roller In-Line Hockey site.

A lot of skater email boxes and blogs are filled with Evian Roller Babies videos. Although they are not wearing the right equipment for their aggressive stunts, freestyle slalom or jam skating routines, the commercial has caught the eye of many around the world and may encourage a few recreational skaters to get their inline or quad skates out of the closet, just for laughs. I don't know how everyone else feels, but I'll take a little free PR for roller sports in any form.

The USA Roller Sports 2009 Inline Speed Skating National Championships and World Team Tryouts has delivered a new Inline Speed Skating World Team. These skaters will represent the United States at the FIRS Speed Skating World Championships in Haining City, Peoples Republic of China from September 16th though September 27th.

Junior World Team USA Members

Our Junior Women are Erin Jackson, Alex Harris, Sophie Webb, Hailey Leech, Meagan Gillis and Samantha Goetz with Nicole Lloyd and Darian O'Neil as alternates. The Junior Men are Jonathan Blair, Mario Valencia. Justin Mannon, Andrew Shatzer, Eben Jackson, Michael Ringer with Corey Bethel and Brandon Esianor as alternates.

Senior World Team USA Members

Team USA Senior Women include Sara Sayasane, Briana Kramer, Chelsea Creveling, Katie Grimm, Nastassia Hamor and Leeza Hargreaves as well as Xion Akana and Sophie Buckaloo as alternates.The Senior Men on the team include William Bowen, Keith Carroll, Joey Mantia, Michael Cheek, Chad Horne and Justin Stelly with alternates Jake Powers and Corey Gahan.

Your inline skates have their very own footprint that is not made by your feet and a profile that does not include your nose. These properties are among many things you should know about the inline wheels on your skates before replacing or upgrading your currently set.

There were "snakes" strategically placed in the 15,000 Meter World Class Men's Elimination Race at the 2009 Inline Speed Skating Outdoor National Championships, but no reptiles were injured. The experienced World Class Men selectively skated a snake pattern strategy to control the track at the United States Olympic Training Center Velodrome in Colorado Springs Colorado. Here are the results of the 15,000 Meter World Class Men's Elimination:

• 1st Place – 96 Joey Mantia - Colorado Springs, CO 25.52.123
• 2nd Place – 103 Justin Stelley - West Jordan, UT
• 3rd Place – 90 Michael Cheek - Greensboro, NC
• 4th Place – 02 James Springer - Harrisonburg, VA
• 5th Place – 99 Jake Powers - Greensboro, NC

More Complete Race Results:

• Wednesday, July 1st Results
• Tuesday, June 30th Results
• Monday, June 29th Results

Race Photo Galleries:

• Wednesday, July 1st Photos
• Tuesday, June 30th Photos
• Monday, June 29th Photos

Event Video Recaps:

• Wednesday, July 1st Video
• Tuesday, June 30th Video
• Monday, June 29th Video

Today, July 1st, is your chance to see live video coverage of the 2009 Outdoor National Championships for all age divisions as well as the Junior and Senior World Team Tryouts for athletes across the United States. Coverage begins today at 10am E.T.

Those who have access to the Unites States Olympic Training Center Velodrome in Colorado Springs Colorado can spectate in person from 6am to 3pm. The rest of us will sit back and enjoy the internet video coverage of the event.

When you become a "skater", you decided to take on one or more of many related sports or recreational disciplines that use a variety of ice or dry land skates as a mode of travel. Skating is done on natural or synthetic ice, wood, plastic, tile, asphalt, cement or any other dry smooth surface and can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors. Most of use have experienced many of these surfaces with or without a roof.

Whether you are a serious skater or just skate for fun, most "skaters" know and enjoy many of the skating sports. How many skating sports have you tried?

New skaters usually have a hard time determining whether their weight is over their skates, or if their knees are bent enough to get good side push and turn on the cruise control.

Finding a good posture baseline or stance is as easy as glancing down to see your own knees. If your inline skates are hidden by your knees, your knees are bent enough to dig in and go for a good ride. Once you establish that the knees are doing the right thing, focus on where you are going, because that is where your skates will take you.

Skater's Quest offers a free skating lesson ride at select learn to skate clinics in Virginia. You can get the basics of inline skating and get some supervised practice time, too. This program is good for anyone who has never tried inline skating or to refresh your existing skating basics. You also get to try out Rollerblade skates and protective gear. Registration is required.

The following free Skater's Quest clinic dates are still available this season:

• July 18 - Dick's Sporting Goods, Fairfax, VA from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
• August 1 - Dick's Sporting Goods, Fairfax, VA from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
• September 13 - Skate of the Union Race, Chantilly, VA from 10:00 AM -11:00 AM

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