Wow... I can't believe it. Only ten days left until we start our Inline March Madness Invitational. We started some time back in July 2007 setting the dates in the rink book so that no private parties or sessions would be scheduled over our meet. We had to schedule the dates of when the floor coating would need to be done, all the while ensuring that we missed the week vacation that the local school district decided to take in February. We couldn't have the rink close down when all of the kids were out of school so it took a little maneuvering of days and times, but we got it handled.
Flyers needed to be printed and then brought to Indoor Nationals and of course we needed to find people to hand those out. We wanted to make sure we got our date out there early so that people could and would plan to attend a great meet. By August we had our own website and blog to match the name of our event and we felt we were on our way.
But there are always things that jump into the mix that we don't expect. The roof started leaking (again... our rink operator has spent literally THOUSANDS of dollars over the last 27 years that I have worked there) and now there was no turning back. This time he was told.... something big needed to be done. Not one to put it off, management spent even bigger bucks and basically started from scratch. They did just about everything but tear the building down... but we finally had a new roof.
Then I took an unexpected but most welcomed trip to Salt Lake City, Utah to visit my son. I originally had planned just 4 or 5 days, but once I got there and saw all of the World Class skaters, I extended my ticket for an additional 7 days and took it all in, while video taping, writing and watching all that I could. It was a new sport for me and I wanted to understand exactly what my son was doing. I think by the time I left, many were happy to see me go. It seemed that all I did was constantly ask questions!! But I think once you know ANY sport well, especially at the ELITE level, you approach every other sport the same way and want to know everything!! At least I do. My husband was afraid at one point that I would want to try and coach ice. I said, "Are you kidding ME??? It's too cold in there!!!" LOL Seriously I could have seen myself trying to "think" that I could have coached ice 15 years ago, but not today. No, I just wanted to be a mom.... a spectator.
(more to be added..)
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WELCOME TO: What it's like to be a "Speed Skating Spectator"
I have been involved in roller skating for 45+ years (that makes me feel very old!), as a competitor, an artistic teacher, a parent and finally as a speed skating coach.
And no matter what we call it, unless you are participating in that race at that moment, you become a "Speed Skating Spectator". For me, I will always be a speed skating spectator who loves this sport as much as the skaters who compete in it. I live to watch the intensity, the speed, the competition and the outcome.
I hope to be able to bring those feelings to you, if you are not able to attend. To give insight to the "behind-the scenes" action and stories. For me, those are memories that do not always get documented. We all know who won the race and who placed top three. But the "WHY did they win, WHAT did it take for them to get there, WHEN in the race did it happen and HOW are they doing after their win, loss, fall or injury". Those are the stories that I want to tell.
With that I hope to include my photos that will bring the story into the next dimension. From black and white into vibrant color with words and pictures.
If nothing else, it will legitimately keep me from doing housework! ;) So enjoy. If you have story ideas, please feel free to submit them. I am open to just about anything - LEGAL! While you are here, don't forge that we have an "Archive". You can check out stories from the past and know that your favorite stories are not gone for good. Just scroll down to archive on the left-hand side and click any month that you are interested in seeing.
Thanks for reading - Linda
(PS Please remember that all statements unless quoted, are strictly my opinion of what happened. That there are as many opinions as there are spectators attending. I just choose to publish mine on my own blog. And would NEVER intend to purposely hurt or discredit any other skater, coach or parent.)
And no matter what we call it, unless you are participating in that race at that moment, you become a "Speed Skating Spectator". For me, I will always be a speed skating spectator who loves this sport as much as the skaters who compete in it. I live to watch the intensity, the speed, the competition and the outcome.
I hope to be able to bring those feelings to you, if you are not able to attend. To give insight to the "behind-the scenes" action and stories. For me, those are memories that do not always get documented. We all know who won the race and who placed top three. But the "WHY did they win, WHAT did it take for them to get there, WHEN in the race did it happen and HOW are they doing after their win, loss, fall or injury". Those are the stories that I want to tell.
With that I hope to include my photos that will bring the story into the next dimension. From black and white into vibrant color with words and pictures.
If nothing else, it will legitimately keep me from doing housework! ;) So enjoy. If you have story ideas, please feel free to submit them. I am open to just about anything - LEGAL! While you are here, don't forge that we have an "Archive". You can check out stories from the past and know that your favorite stories are not gone for good. Just scroll down to archive on the left-hand side and click any month that you are interested in seeing.
Thanks for reading - Linda
(PS Please remember that all statements unless quoted, are strictly my opinion of what happened. That there are as many opinions as there are spectators attending. I just choose to publish mine on my own blog. And would NEVER intend to purposely hurt or discredit any other skater, coach or parent.)
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About Me
- Linda L Wood
- I started skating at the young age of 2. It was cheaper for my parents to take me skating than it was to pay a babysitter. Skating has been a part of my life for over 45 years and has given me the opportunity to coach so many young children and adults in a sport that I love. My goal is to see us make it to the Olympics some day. This sport deserves it as well as the athletes who participate in it.