Zen and the Art of Speedskating

Yaknow what makes me really happy. The international family at a MASTERS speedskating event!

Just look at this mix of people & nations! (image grab is from the results)

So many good folks came over from Europe & North America to experience the fast ice of Salt Lake city.

So many interesting people & stories; Here is one of them.

Look closely at the scar on the back of Canadian Randy Plett’s neck-

I made a lot of jokes that this is Canada’s effort at downloading speedskating like that part of “the Matrix” where they downloaded skills through the plug in the back of a person’s neck.

In actuality, Randy crushed the vertebrae in his neck in a bike racing crash this summer. The doctors told Randy he would never skate again-

Not only is Randy back, but is also skating stronger than he has ever been on the ice!

Amazing.

American Brian Boudreau was also displaying matrix-like skills, including the fastest 1000m EVER at a masters event. Here he is ripping by the crowd at 35mph.

then after the day was over, surrounded by Dutch freinds, and the sparkly Italian, Sylvia Tassara.

Eva Rodansky’s days of full time training are far behind her. Now she manages a lab at the University of Utah. As I joked with her, now she is a true master, she has a professional job, and skates when she can.

Even so, Eva still can bring it, and set records in the women 30-35 category 500, 1000 & 1500m

Just look at the form of these two athletes for a moment. These are serious speedskaters, who really know what they are doing.

That is 60 year old Marian Furst from Salt Lake and 55 year old Joke Wittenberg of the Netherlands.

I’ve always thought that one of the hardest age groups to be in, in all of speedskating, is the older Master women. Simply because there are so few of them, so few “true peers” to race with, to talk with.

Marian told me during warmup skate on friday, surrounded by other masters, she did not feel so alone.

To know Olu is to love Olu. Here he is, on his way to a 1000m personal best. This powerlifting world champion is having a mixed year of results so far, but is ready for some breakout races.

RZ on the slideboard, imitating what she sees her daddy doing. She is not facing the right direction, but she is smiling, and that is more important than technique for a little kid! (and for most adults too…)

Nat White set the Allaround Short (500-1000-1500-3000) samalong record. He is the proud father of a 4 month old Jasper, and also has recently made a big jump in technique, to complete skating badass.

I present this image as visual evidence- What is even more impressive is he set his record after a night of food poisoning. His races were very consistent-

Tom Cole from the Midland club & Dutch skater Stephan Tellier from the Lekstreek club had a great battle in a 1000m race. Den Haag vs Petosky. Who won this 1000m duel? Tom came roaring back in the final turn, and it was almost a dead heat at the line, both skated personal bests.

(Stephan, do I have that right? or do you skate in Den Haag?)

Victor van den Hoff of the Netherlands is a hard guy to take a picture of. He is too damm fast. He also had a great weekend, taking multiple records on the fast ice. Victor uses the new Marchese LT blades as well.

When I congratulated him, he smiled and said “Well, I did move up in an age group“.

I have had senior skaters tell me that they are looking forward to turning 30, and racing masters events now, because of seeing guys like Victor tear it up.

Norwegian Nina Torset, with her son, and then rocking out the last lap of a 3k masters record.

Like Eva, Nina pretty much re-wrote the record book in the 35-40 age category.

Both Nina and Nat show that loving moms & Dad’s can also be cruise missiles of areodynamic speed. Nina used to train in Calgary, and has the technique to show for her years of deadication to the sport.

From Left to right, Vladimir Letunov, Boris Leikin, Sergej Avdejev, and yours truly.

I met Sergej Avdejev many years ago, skating together in the blizzards of Inzell. He and I have crossed paths at many masters events, and always greet each other warmly.

I do not speak a word of Russian, and Sergej does not speak a word of english. But that is ok, we share a language of skating, and the deep respect that comes from it.

Filed under: RACE DAY