All these little things

Wilhelmshaven pic - after the bridge: Orana - PS Phuzion - Stadler - ETAP - Ecoroll-Bont - Subaru X-Tech

For all those, who haven't seen it yet: Skate-Tv has their Wilhelmshaven Video online.

The first stage of the World Inline Cup took place this weekend. It might be a little comparison with international standings, but the winner of the Wilhelmshaven GBC marathon placed 28th. The best German placings came from Tina Strüver and Felix Rijhnen. Strüver, a member of the Schankel World Team, placed 16th in the womens race. Felix Rijhnen placed 33rd in the mass sprint of the race in Zug. I had a discussion with a coach from NZ on why German's don't really reach top positions ("You have Jana Gegner, Sabine Berg and a developing Tina Strüver, but there's not much following for this season"). He said that German's somehow only manage to peak as juniors. From then on a misguiding German mentality kicks in, leading to overtrained athletes or a failure to combine sports and university studies/work.

I'd love to see more German athletes at the tops of the WIC, and there is some hope with a few really strong candidates.

I went to doctors this week, because my ancles are swollen and inflamed... When I get really tired (ie. after a half marathon that consisted of me on breakaways + a team time trial two hours later + a marathon the next morning) my ancles will bend/buckle causing the edges of my boot to dig into them... times that by 20K and a few hard weeks of training and you get pretty swollen ancles... (add general problems I have with the boot... ;-) )

Anyways... I have to put some ointment on my ancles and put a wet bandage over that... I have for the past few days and it has always helped (a lot!). I want to have my ancles back to normal by the time my Bont customs get here (ie. Monday!), but I have a training "race" tomorrow. There is a minor event in a town nearby with an inline half marathon. I decided I could just attend the race as a training meet.

BTW. My next Bont package (including my boots) is currently on it's way from Frankfurt to Celle: Status - In transit.

Isn't online tracking great!? I can time receiving the package perfectly (except for the part, when I get to battle the German customs agency, who will google what's in the package in order to find the most expensive price (for whatever is being sent to me) online and charge me 20 - 30% of that $$$...).

I wonder how things are going to turn out this time...

Stadler has updated their site with pictures of their team: "Check it!" :-P - Ali G

I don't have enough info on the following, but

Rumor has it that a team or teams almost directly involved in the German Inline Cup have forbidden their skaters to start at the German Blade Challenge, although the GIC said they don't intend on competing for skaters with the GBC.

What it looks like is a change of focus from GBC to GIC and Swiss Inline Cup, where they are probably hoping that they can get more coverage for their sponsors (something the GIC has promised). We'll see what happens.

One sad development is the lack of women's teams at the GBC. There were only four or five women's teams in Wilhelmshaven and they make up the total for the GBC (Powerslide, K2, Der-Rollenshop.de, O.B.F.S.T. ... all reaching the finish line in the same order). Zepto has everything put into the men's WIC. Munich-Power has disappeared. The Experts in Speed are only skating GIC events in Germany.

Gotta get a few hours of sleep before the training race...

PS. I want my Bont customs :D

Photo Courtesy of Mavdesign.de