Team Bont Wheels Official Website

Our team now has an official website!

www.bontwheels.com/team

Jaw Update

I was back at the hospital today for another check up. Everything is looking good and the wire splint inside my mouth should all be removed by the 9th of June as long as the x-rays look good. That was great news as we leave on the 12th to head to Korea and that would be a nightmare traveling that far with the wires and bands still on. It's been frustrating at times but now I finally feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Rennes Video

The RollerEnLigne site has a video with fantastic footage from the World Inline Cup race in Rennes. Click here to view the video.

WIC Rennes Video

Niki Neck has uploaded a video on to Bont TV from the World Inline Cup race in Rennes. There is footage taken by Cheryl Begg and pictures from various sites also added. Click here to view the video.

WIC Rennes

The World Inline Cup in Rennes is famous for being a wet weather race, but not this year. Some weather forecasts said rain and thunder but the bad weather held off and it was a dry race for both the men and women. The womens field of around 50 skaters started at 1.45 under pretty mild weather conditions unlike past years. The wind wasn't strong, the temperature was warm and of course no rain. Unlike the World Inline Cup races in Switzerland which are usually point to point or held on big circuits the Rennes course was 2.7km a lap through the city streets. The course is renowned as being tough due to cobbles, bricks, rough stretches of road, tight corners and a slight hill that has to be skated every single lap with a hairpin corner at the top.

For the past three years the womens race in Rennes has been won in a breakaway, so naturally a lot of people tried to escape. I have been in all the breaks the past three years and instigated nearly all of them so of course it was planned that I try to escape with another member of the Bont Wheels Team. Tamara, Alexandra and myself all attempted numerous times to escape but we were all chased down pretty rapidly as we were a marked team. Cecilia's job was to conserve as much energy as possible just in case it came down to a pack finish. With attacks being made causing the pace to constantly surge and the course taking it's toll the field of 50 soon dwindled down to about 25.

Tamara, Alexandra & Cecilia, Nicole
Photo - Francois & Marie

Throughout the race there were set sprint primes and one mystery sprint. I think this is a great idea, it makes the racing exciting for both the spectators and skaters. I had planned to attack over the top of the field after these sprints and while doing so picked up third place in three of the sprints. Alexandra was also third in the mystery sprint.

With three laps to go the pack was still together and it was looking like the race would end in a bunch sprint. A couple of last minute attempts were made by skaters to get away. It's risky to attack at this stage, being so close to the finish you risk using up all your energy but often the pack hesitates in chasing and someone can slip away. When these attacks were made I didn't hesitate and chased them down straight away because I knew our team had saved Cecilia for the sprint finish.

Going into the last lap quite a few teams wanted the first position in the pack. With narrow streets, corners and uneven road leading up to the finish straight our team plan was also to be in the front out of trouble and in control. With more than a kilometer to go Tamara took the lead for our team and lead us to the front of the pack. Once our team hit the lead Tamara kept the pace steady so we could not be swamped or easily passed. After going around the last tricky right hand corner Alexandra took over the lead for a few meters before Cecilia opened up for the last 150 meters to take the victory. It was a great day for the Bont Wheels Team taking not only the victory but also 2nd, 4th and 11th.

Heading into the final corner, Tamara leads.
Photo - Francois & Marie

There are some great photos from Francois & Marie and there should be some video up within the next few days on Bont TV.

Cecilia Baena


Womens Podium
Nicole Begg 2nd, Cecilia Baena 1st & Melisa Bonnet 3rd


Gearing Up

I felt a lot better this week and had more energy than the last race. I was able to open my mouth wider than last week when I took the bands off. So before the race I was able to have a banana, weetbix and really tiny pasta with sauce, no actually it was more like sauce with a tiny bit of pasta. Before the race last week I wasn't able to have anything semi solid, so it was a huge improvement this week.

Womens Results

1.Cecilia Baena, COL, Bont Wheels
2.Nicole Begg, NZL, Bont Wheels
3.Melisa Bonnet, ARG, Inline Center Matter
4.Alexandra Vivas, COL, Bont Wheels
5.Natalia Artero, ARG, Inline Center Matter
6.Marta Ramírez, COL, Bont IDRD
7.Hilde Goovaerts, BEL, Cado Motus
8.Liana Holguín, COL, Inline Center Matter
9.Nadine Gloor, SUI, Rollerblade IBU Austria
10.Sara Ervitti, VEN, Bont Bacatá
11.Tamara Llorens, ARG, Bont Wheels
12.Laetitia Le Bihan, FRA, Sarthé Loops Racing
13.Mariska Huisman, NED, Cado Motus
14.Jana Gegner, GER, Rollerblade MPC
15.Sara Bak, DEN, Rollerblade IBU Austria
16.Rommy Muñóz, COL, Bont Bacatá
17.Giovanna Turchiarelli, ITA, Powerslide Alessi
18.India Kuhn, SUI, X-Tech Crocs
19.Tina Struever, GER, Schankel World
20.Cinzia Ponzetti, ITA, Powerslide Alessi

Bont Wheels Team 1st & 2nd WIC Rennes

The Bont Wheels Team was victorious in sunny Rennes yesterday taking the first two places in the World Inline Cup race. All the team nearly made the top 10 with Alexandra Vivas 4th and Tamara coming in 11th after giving the team a long lead out.

Womens Podium
1st Cecilia Baena, 2nd Nicole Begg & 3rd Melisa Bonnet


Mens Podium
1st Diego Rosero, 2nd Alexander Bastidas & 3rd Nelson Garzon

More photo's and a report to follow once I return to Switzerland. We are heading back to Switzerland this morning and have an 11 hour drive ahead of us.

Busy, Busy, Busy

The past week has been pretty busy for the Bont Wheels Team and myself. We stayed the night in Holland after the World Inline Cup race last week and left Monday morning for our 8 hour journey back to Switzerland. Tuesday it was back into training and also still recovering from the hard race and travel.

Wednesday I had to wake up at 5.30 am as I had an early appointment at the hospital in Luzern. I had another check up and the doctor is happy with how my jaw is healing. The rubber bands will probably be on for another 3 weeks so I am half way there. Next week I have another check up and the week after that more x-rays will be taken.

Wednesday night there was racing at the Weinfelden bank track. I missed out on the racing last fortnight due to my jaw but this week I was back racing and won the points race and had the fastest flying lap time. Niki Neck has loaded videos onto Bont TV of the flying laps and the mens points race, the women should be up within the next few days.

Thursday for me was a recovery day. Because I am still unable to eat proper solid food I am finding it's taking me a lot longer to recover, I felt dead for most of the day.

This morning (Friday) the team went training and unfortunately Cecilia had a fall. She has taken a little bit of skin off but she should be fine for the race in Rennes. We also left for Rennes today after lunch. Seeing Rennes is about an 11 hour drive from Switzerland we decided to divide the journey. Today we drove 6 1/2 hours and we are staying the night at a hotel about 80km from Paris. Tomorrow morning we will have about 4 1/2 hours to go.

Alexandra Vivas Winner WIC, Wolvega

The World Inline Cup finally made it to Holland for the first time. Wolvega, a small dutch village hosted the third round of the World Inline Cup series.

The womens race started at 2pm in the middle of the village cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd. The first 500 meters of the race was neutralized but as soon as the flag was raised and the pace car took off the attacks started. The local skaters set the pace and attacked early. We had to react to all these early attacks made because many of the Dutch skaters were unknown. A handful of attacks were made in the first 15km of the race but none of them eventuated, then we hit the cobbles/small bricks. There was a patch about 3km long of small bricks which sent vibrations through your whole body, including my jaw. I went to the front and pushed the pace over this section because I just wanted to get over them as quickly as possible. Hilde Goovaerts then attacked half way over the section and was joined by myself, Liana Holguin and Catherine Penan but the small gap was soon closed down. Not long after that there was another tough section as we crossed over the dyke, the wind was really strong and the roads were rough and quiet narrow, again the attacks kept coming.

At the 31km mark there was a sprint for prizes. The team decided before the race that if we were near the front of the pack and not too many others were contending the sprint we would go for it. I followed a train of about four skaters from Cado Motus and popped out from behind them to lunge and take first off of Hilde Goovaerts by less than a wheel. Tamara Llorens (Bont Wheels) then attacked over the top of the pack as planned but before the gap opened up anymore she was chased down.

Bont Wheels Team made sure we had at least one team member in every serious attack throughout the race. This was successful and with less than 15km to go the winning break away was formed. Alexandra Vivas (Bont Wheels), Nadine Gloor (RB IBU Speedorom) and Elma de Vries (Cado Motus) were able to get away as Tamara was in control at the front of the pack. Liana Holguin then attacked and bridged the gap to the other three skaters. Jana Gegner tried to chase down the break along with members of the Alessi Powerslide team but their attempt was unsuccessful. A few kilometers down the road Catherine Penan headed to the front of the pack and started chasing but by this stage the breakaway of four skaters was well and truly gone and out of sight.

Elma de Vries had a small gap over the other three skaters in the break away through the cobbled streets of Wolvega heading towards the finish. Liana dropped off after her attempt to catch Elma leaving Alexandra to bridge the gap with Nadine Gloor on her wheel. Alexandra passed Elma through the last corner heading into the finish straight with about 250 meters to go followed closely by Nadine. Nadine made a final attempt to get past Alexandra with a few meters to go but Alexandra lunged at the line after stumbling to take first place for the Bont Wheels Team.

Tamara followed by Cecilia led the main pack through the cobbled streets up to the last corner, then Cecilia opened up down the last finish straight to win the pack sprint. By this stage I wasn't feeling too good at all and very low on energy but I managed to finish 10th. After being unable to eat solid food since Sursee two weeks ago I didn't feel like myself during the race. It doesn't matter how much energy is in the liquids I've been taking it just doesn't replace proper unprocessed food. I didn't feel strong and was unable to relax because I was aware and always conscious of my jaw, I didn't want to cause any more damage. Tamara after a long lead out and a lot of work during the race came in 20th.

I said in an interview before hand that I expected the WIC race in Wolvega to be hard with cobble stones, windy conditions and rough roads and my prediction was pretty much on the money.

The Winners
Alexandra Vivas (Bont Wheels) & Antonio Ruales (Bont IDRD)

Men top 7 & Women top 5

Bont Wheels Team Pre-Race

Alexandra & her husband John

Bill working out the WIC points.

South Canterbury Sportsperson of the Year

I received a surprise phone call from OJ at port FM (Radio Station) last night to tell me I had won the South Canterbury sports person of the year award for the consecutive year. Unfortunately I was unable to be at the dinner last night to accept the award, but a recorded message was played. The South Canterbury region produces great athletes and some of the other nominees included an Olympic cyclist Marc Ryan and Junior NZ rally champion Hayden Paddon. It is an honor for my achievements to be recognized as minor sports often fly under the radar.

The Timaru Herald has an article online that you can read "Nicole skates home with award again".

There are a lot of people I want to thank and I will post about those people and their impact when I return from the WIC in Wolvega, Holland.

Skate Podium

If you are able to read Dutch there is an article "Wereldtopper met gebroken kaak ann start" on Skate Podium. The article talks about my crash in Sursee, goals and this weekends World Inline Cup race in Wolvega, Holland.

Here is the information in English that the article was based off of:

Do you think you're fit enough to start in Wolvega this weekend?
Yes, for sure I will race this weekend in Wolvega. My jaw has not fully healed but the doctor has confirmed that it is ok for me to race this weekend.

Have you raced before in the Netherlands?
No I have never been to Holland before. I have heard a lot about the style of racing in Holland and the tough conditions. I have always wanted to race in Holland but have never been able to fit it into the schedule.

You had a good start in Zug, what about Sursee?
The team had a near perfect start to the season in Zug, we placed 1st, 2nd, 5th and 11th. The race in Sursee didn't turn out as planned as two of us crashed early on in the race and had quiet serious injuries. But we all managed to finish and salvage team points and Cecilia was able to get 3rd and retain the lead in the World Inline Cup.

What are you expecting in Wolvega, Do you like that the World Cup is in Holland?
I have heard that it is going to be a tough course with cobble stones and a lot of wind so this is what I'm expecting at this stage. I think a World Cup race in Holland is great because it may bring out a different style of racing in the womens pack.

What's you're goal for Wolvega?
Of course we would like someone from the team to win the race. When the team and an individual from the team is leading the World Inline Cup you have to set high goals.

Who's you're biggest competitor for Wolvega?
There are a lot of strong teams this year so we will be watching everyone. Rollerblade performed last week, Alessi are always a threat, Matter have had top placings, the Colombians are strong and of course the locals

How is it going with you're recovering?
It's really frustrating because I am unable to eat solid food. Everything I consume is slurped through a straw so it's very limiting. It just takes time to heal and there is not a lot I can do to speed up the process so I just have to be patient. My split chin has healed really well and the stitches are out and the hematoma on my leg has been getting treatment and has also healed.

How did it happen?
It happened about 10km into the race (WIC Sursee). The pack was going down a slight hill into a tight corner. I was positioned behind Alexandra and Cecilia was behind me. Whilst going into the corner someone came up the inside and tried to get between Cecilia and myself taking my skates out from under me. Because I could not see what was happening I did not anticipate the crash and had no time to land on my hands. My chin hit the ground first taking all the impact and therefor breaking my jaw.

You where 18th in Sursee, how can you skate with a broken jaw? Wasn't that very painful?
Yes it was quiet painful, but I think I can tolerate pain reasonably well. It never once crossed my mind to stop and pull out of the race. I knew I was going to finish the race just not too sure on how good the placing would be. My left leg was probably the most painful part of my body at that stage so when I could I rolled on one leg to relieve the pressure. There was blood everywhere from my split chin and because I was unable to see how bad it was it was quiet concerning.

What are you're goals for this season?
To be part of the number one team overall in the World Inline Cup. To have someone from the team win the overall and I would like to be in the top three. Of course another World Title would be nice.

What do you remember from the crash in Sursee?
I remember hitting the ground so hard with my chin and thinking oh **** there go my teeth, as I have chipped two teeth in a crash before. I got up as fast as I could and started skating to catch up to the pack. The next thing I done was check to make sure my teeth were all there, which they were. When I opened my mouth I knew pretty much straight away that I would need x-rays on my jaw and something was wrong.

You come from New Zealand and now you live in Switzerland? Can you tell some more about that?
I spend half my year in Switzerland and half in New Zealand. It is great for training because I never have a full winter. I live in Timaru, New Zealand for the off season and am based in Weinfelden, Switzerland for the skating season but I still call New Zealand home.

Back in the Pack

I was back in Luzern at the hospital yesterday for another check up. The two wires holding my mouth together were cut and replaced by rubber bands. The bands are tight and there are quiet a few so there is a lot of resistance if I try open my mouth, so still no solid food. These bands are going to be on for two weeks and then another x-ray will be taken to see were we will go from there. I am hoping that x-ray in two weeks time shows that it is fully healed because I am getting frustrated. It's frustrating not being able to eat, I have gone nearly two weeks on liquids and knowing that I have to do it for at least another two is hard. I have found liquids, purees and baby products that are high in energy, protein and carbohydrates but just drinking all the time is simply horrible.

The doctor did confirm that I was able to race the World Inline Cup this Sunday in Wolvega, Holland. I will take the bands off for the race so I am able to open my mouth and get more oxygen and then I will replace the bands immediately after the race. I will still be unable to fully open my mouth but it will be better than the situation I am in at the moment. The stitches were taken out of my chin at the same time and it is looking great. The doctor in Sursee that stitched my chin up done a good job and I shouldn't be left with a scar. Cecilia has also had her stitches removed and has been getting treatment for her strained muscle, she is doing well and back skating.

I haven't missed out on too much training and last night I actually skated in a group for the first time since the fall in Sursee. The other skating I have done has been alone or a couple of meters off the back of the pack just to minimize the risk of someone clipping my skates. So last night it felt great just to be back in the pack and in the draft.

Back in the pack
Photo - Niki Neck

I'm recovering but it's just frustrating and there is not a lot I can do to speed up the process apart from listen to the doctors and be patient. I'm feeling much better this week than last week and a hundred times better than the week before that. The painkillers have gone and the skates are now back on.

Bont Gigantathon

Bont has a new secret weapon: The Bont Gigantathon. The name basically explains everything, it's simply ginormous. It is a 23 inch 6 x 110mm 3 point frame not for the faint hearted. You can check out a video of the Gigantathon in action on Bont TV.

I wouldn't mind seeing someone attempt a crossover
on the Bont Gigantathon.
Just not me!

Alexandra & Tamara Dominate in Pamplona

Alexandra Vivas and Tamara Llorens from the Bont Wheels Team are dominating the long distance events this weekend at the Circuito Internacional San Antonio, Pamplona. On the first day of racing the duo took the first two placings in all the long distance events.

In the 10,000 meters points race Alexandra took the victory comfortably winning with 29 points and Tamara second with 17. The race for third place was close with Jana Gegner (Germany) and Lucie Peruzzetto (France) both finishing with 7 points. Jana crossed the line ahead of Lucie therefor taking third place, Lucie 4th and Sabine Berg (Germany) fifth with 5 points. The members of the Bont Wheels Team took first and second again in the 10,000 meter points elimination race well ahead of the competition on points. Alexandra first with 25 points, Tamara second with 23 and third Lucie Peruzzetto 12. The 5000 meters was won again by Alexandra followed by Tamara and third once again going to Lucie. Today Alexandra and Tamara have one race left, the 10,000 meters elimination.

Alexandra followed by Tamara, taking the lead.
Photo - Mundo Patin

Womens Start
Photo - Mundo Patin

Alexandra Vivas
Photo - Mundo Patin

My Spirit has Lifted

My spirit has lifted after I was finally able to get a decent nights sleep, eight hours of peace. My body was in desperate need of sleep because the first four nights after the race I averaged about three and a half hours sleep each night. The constant pain has now disappeared and I am off the dissolvable painkillers. So today I felt really good after a good nights sleep and no constant aching pain. Over the last couple of days I have been experimenting with new liquids and liquidized food because the menu was starting to get a bit boring. My body is adapting and I'm feeling quiet good under the circumstances.

I shouldn't lose any of my fitness, which is good because that was one of my initial concerns. I was able to skate alone yesterday at the track and again today. I've also cycled on the wind trainer which is set up in the garage. The hard thing at the moment is breathing when I'm exercising, I can't open my mouth so oxygen is limited. I learnt very quickly yesterday how to breath through my nose properly and not rely on my mouth. My left leg is still a little sore when I am skating but nothing like the pain I went through the first couple of days so it's bearable. My chin is also healing really well and not looking gruesome anymore. The stitches get taken out on Wednesday. Cecilia's knee is still sore as the stitches are right on the joint but they should be removed tomorrow.

This morning Alexandra and Tamara flew to Pamplona, Spain for the track racing this weekend. I was looking forward to racing in Pamplona on one of the fastest tracks in the World but am not able to race just yet. These things happen and I am just glad that it is not the World Champs or a WIC marathon on this weekend.

Here are a couple of nicer pictures than ones featured in previous posts of the Bont Wheels Team before the Sursee WIC last weekend.

The team plus the Kia outside our base in Weinfelden.


Pre-Race
Cecilia and myself are still intact.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

The Good

• Went back to Luzern Hospital today for a check up and everything is looking ok. The doctor is pretty confident that the wires can be replaced with elastic bands on Wednesday 14th. He also said that I will be able to race the next WIC race in Holland.
• On the way home we came across a Burger King, which is a rare thing to find in Switzerland. I had a strawberry thick shake and it was so good. That has been by far the best thing I have had through a straw during the last few days.
  
• I was able to gently ride on the stationary bike in the garage tonight for 20 minutes and do a few light arm weights.

The Bad

• I was only able to get about 2 hours sleep last night.
• I used to like chocolate milk but I'm not going near it for quiet a while after this.
• Had to have some photo's taken today with the team and my leg still hurts while skating.
  

The Ugly

• Changed the dressing covering my stitches today, pretty ugly.
• Cleaned the blood off my skates. I have created a new Bont boot colour, Blood Begg.
  

I'm Surviving

Tomorrow I head back to Luzern hospital for a check up and more x-rays. My mouth is just constantly aching and I found it quiet hard to sleep last night, but apart from that I am surviving. It's hard trying to maintain your weight and body nutrients when you are limited to drinking liquids through a straw. Yesterday I felt fatigued and basically like a zombie so first thing this morning I went to the chemist and brought protein drinks and baby formula high in carbohydrates to keep my body going. Today I managed to get down some extra runny mashed potato, apple puree and baby formula which is an improvement from yesterday when all I could manage was juice, soup and milk. Slurping runny food through a straw is nasty and tonight my mashed potato just tasted wrong.

Lunch - Apple Puree


Lethal cocktail to dull the pain.

You have to take the positives out of a situation like this and there are quiet a few positives.

1. It's a broken jaw not an ankle, leg or arm.
2. There is no WIC race next weekend.
3. It's not two weeks before the World Championships.
4. It can be fixed.
5. I still finished the race and salvaged points.
6. I can still sit down, not like Juan Felipe pictured below.

Ouch!

Medical Update

I went to Luzern today which is about an hour and a half drive from Weinfelden to see a specialist about my jaw. The bad news is that I have broken my jaw just below my ear, the good news is it is a clean break. My mouth has now been wired shut and has to stay like this for a minimum of 10 days. It is supposed to be wired shut for 3 weeks but the doctors are trying to speed up the process. If it is looking ok after 10 days then the wire will be cut and replaced with rubber bands. Each week the rubber bands will get a little bigger and I will be able to open my mouth a little more. With my mouth closed I can't eat any solid food and can only drink fluids through a straw, so I'm constantly feeling hungry and low on energy. I can however still talk/mutter which is good, I think I could become a great ventriloquist. I have to carry a pair of pliers with me everywhere just in case I need to cut the wire in an emergency like if I was to vomit. Tuesday I have to go back to Luzern and have a few more x-rays taken and a check up.

The procedure took around an hour

I did find a little humor in what I think looks
like a nun's habit over my head

Unfortunately Cecilia and myself will not attend the track racing in Pamplona next weekend as planned. Cecilia hurt her knee in the crash needing four stitches and also strained a few muscles, so it's best for both of us to stay at home and recover.

WIC Sursee Crash

I crashed quiet hard today in the Sursee World Inline Cup. I fell about 10km in to the race around a tight corner coming off a slight down hill, Cecilia also crashed with me. I spent about 3 hours at the Sursee Hospital tonight getting cleaned and stitched up. When I fell I landed on my chin and split it open, I was amazed at how much blood there was it went everywhere. Landing on my chin my jaw took all the impact and after x-rays the doctor is saying that I have broken a certain part of my jaw. Tomorrow I am seeing a specialist and I'm hoping that a closer look will show it's only a hairline fracture or something not so severe (fingers crossed). My leg is what is sore though I hit the deck hard and it's looking like I have a hematoma. I will have more news tomorrow and hopefully it's good news.

Next Race: WIC Sursee

The second World Inline Cup race for the year gets underway tomorrow in Sursee at 5pm. The course is two 21km laps around lake Sempachersee. This course is fast and is likely to end in a bunch sprint for the women, but anything is possible. There are no major climbs but plenty of fast straight stretches. It's been raining quiet a bit in Switzerland since I arrived but the weather forecast for Sursee is looking ok, a high of around 19 degrees celsius and some scattered cloud. Our team had a great start to the season taking the first two placings in Zug, now we have to cement that great start in Sursee with another good performance.

Uvive Skate-Off Heerde

We were planning to attend the Uvive Skate-Off in Heerde held this Thursday and Friday in Holland but at the last minute the team had a change of plan. After having a good look at the program and realizing the racing was going to finish quiet late on Friday evening we decided it was best to stay in Switzerland and focus on the Sursee World Inline Cup. The main goal for the team this year is to have an individual and the team win the World Inline Cup overall, so this comes first. It would have been great to attend the track racing in Heerde but with the WIC race the next day in Switzerland it was going to be at bit risky.

Kia Cee'd

Yesterday Bill and I visited the Kia head quarters in Switzerland to pick up a new Kia Cee'd. Kia Motors New Zealand are one of my personal sponsors and kindly provided a Kia to use while in Europe. The Cee'd is not sold in New Zealand but is a top seller in Europe. I must say I am very impressed with the vehicle and how spacious it is.

kia-ceed.com

Thanks to Bob Driver, Kia Motors Timaru and Jason Groube, Kia Motors New Zealand for making this possible.