Nicole Begg goes Bodypainting? DoubleA is Subaru-Xtech! UFO sightings at X-Race!? Ecoroll Cup next weekend...

I guess the pictures were too obvious: Aaron Richard Arndt (DoubleA) is signing with Subaru XTech. He is known for winning the 2007 Athens to Atlanta as well as taking 4th at the 2007 Inline 111 in St. Gallen (SUI). He says he will be learning German during the season. Not that it will help the communication within the team. Aaron, if you read this: I am doing you a big favor here! Here are the most important phrases for you:
Faster! = più velocemente voi scansafatiche
Chase them! = inseguali voi codardi
Pull me to the front = tirilo verso la parte anteriore
Let me in the group = lascilo nel gruppo
:D

Check out this online video of an interview with Nicole Begg about the Halberg awards. She talks about someone wanting the make a body painting calender with Nicole in it. Are things getting out of hand for a pro sportswoman?

I was wondering how many skaters noticed a UFO flying through one of Isaac's videos. Check out the Berlin X-Race video to see if you can catch it (I didn't notice till I saw the picture)


The season opener for Lower Sachsony's outdoor skating is next weekend. I'll be traveling back to my home town to participate at the Ecoroll Cup. It is a two stage state invitational. Currently the weather report has a 73% rain chance with 1-3 liters of rain per square meter.

That reminds of the fact that Bont is bringing out a rain wheel (Bont G4 Typhoon), but I don't think I'll get it by this weekend, so MPC's Storm Surge will stay my rain setup (But I want sunny weather!!!).

I messed up the 2007 Ecoroll Cup pretty bad and it hasn't left me since: The first stage was ok. A little over a handfull of skaters escaped the pack and kept a nice pace. There were a few attacks within the group, but nothing too serious. A skater from Hannover (the same one from the Hannover-Celle report) tried his luck with over a kilometer left to the finish line. He was caught pretty soon and I managed to not waste my sprint so far away from the line. I passed the competition for first with 60m to the line to take first.

The second and decisive stage turned out to be a catastrophe for me. I talked to the skater who took 2nd at the last event and we agreed to take off together. The idea was attack in turns to weaken the pack. As soon as an attack was successful, the leading skater would wait for the other skater to attack and join the breakaway.

No attack was successful at the beginning with half the pack picking up the chase. When the pack realized what we were doing, they stopped chasing (not taking the attacks seriously). When the decisive attack took place I was in the lead and he shot past. Only a team mate of his picked up the chase. When he was about 150m away (and his team mate had caught on) I decided it was time to catch up. The only problem was: They weren't waiting. They stayed out front throughout the entire race and won with over a minute lead. I was knocked to second overall place and he got the ~12 pound trophy.

We left the past behind, but the embarassment and frustration hasn't left me.
I also feel the need to mention that he drinks out of the f* trophy when I visit.