This weekend the famous Trois Pistes (Three Tracks) is taking place in France. This is a very popular race meet with races held on three different tracks in three different cities and over three days. On Saturday we will be racing at Pibrac, which is apparently a very slippery bank track. Sunday at Valence D'Agen which was the location for the 2001 World Championships. Valence D'Agen was also my first ever Junior World Championships. The last day of racing is on Monday at Gujan Mestras which was the location for the 1994 World Championships. I have had a chance to skate on the track at Gujan Mestras as it is only half an hour away from where I am staying in Bordeaux. I've never raced at the Trois Pistes but it should be very exciting with rumors of over 40 Senior Ladies competing. This truly is an International event with skaters from USA, China, Argentina, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Colombia and of course New Zealand. They are estimating that there will be 19 countries represented at this years Trois Pistes.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Trophee des Trois Pistes
This weekend the famous Trois Pistes (Three Tracks) is taking place in France. This is a very popular race meet with races held on three different tracks in three different cities and over three days. On Saturday we will be racing at Pibrac, which is apparently a very slippery bank track. Sunday at Valence D'Agen which was the location for the 2001 World Championships. Valence D'Agen was also my first ever Junior World Championships. The last day of racing is on Monday at Gujan Mestras which was the location for the 1994 World Championships. I have had a chance to skate on the track at Gujan Mestras as it is only half an hour away from where I am staying in Bordeaux. I've never raced at the Trois Pistes but it should be very exciting with rumors of over 40 Senior Ladies competing. This truly is an International event with skaters from USA, China, Argentina, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Colombia and of course New Zealand. They are estimating that there will be 19 countries represented at this years Trois Pistes.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
French Inline Cup, Nimes
Yesterday the first race of the French Inline Cup took place in Nimes. The French weather didn't disappoint this week. Nimes had one of the highest temperatures in France yesterday with a high of around 23 degrees. The marathon was held around a 2.6 km circuit, so we completed 16 laps in total. This was the first time I have every raced in Nimes but I really enjoyed the course. It was raced around 4 roundabouts so there were a lot of corners, a couple of small climbs over bridges but also long straight stretches. The road surface was a mixture of smooth and rough and the wind made it just a little bit tougher.
Tamara Llorens and myself were the only skaters present from the Bont Wheels Team, Alexandra and Kelly are still in Colombia and will arrive at the end of next week.
There wasn't a large ladies field but the pace was pretty fast from the start because I started attacking two laps into the race. I made numerous attacks throughout the race to test myself and the new Bont Wheels. Nathalie Barbotin came with me on most occasions. Tamara only arrived in Europe a few days ago so she stayed with the main group for most of the race and helped chase down any attacks that looked serious.
With the men and women racing on the course at the same time it was hard to make the breakaways stick. There were groups of men always passing women so some skaters were able to gain assistance. It was hard to control as the course was small and not very wide in certain areas. After seeing this I decided to change my tactics and just wait until the end sprint. Laetitia Lebihan made a couple of attacks with about three laps to go but she was quickly chased down by Tamara and Lucie.
On the last lap Lucie Peruzzetto was in the lead until about 300 meters to go when I made my move and passed her. There was a small rise, a left hand corner and then slightly down hill to the finish line. I wanted to be in front by the corner because the finish line was only about 100 meters after it. When I passed Lucie I accelerated and my eyes were set on making it first to the corner. I ended up winning the race with a few meters to spare. Tamara couldn't quiet stick on me when I accelerated but came 3rd, with Nathalie Barbotin just getting her on the line. Laetitia Lebihan came in for 4th and Lucie Peruzzetto 5th.
I found some good pictures from Nimes taken from a member of the SAMerignac Team, you can view more images on their Picasa Web Album by clicking here.
Tamara Llorens and myself were the only skaters present from the Bont Wheels Team, Alexandra and Kelly are still in Colombia and will arrive at the end of next week.
There wasn't a large ladies field but the pace was pretty fast from the start because I started attacking two laps into the race. I made numerous attacks throughout the race to test myself and the new Bont Wheels. Nathalie Barbotin came with me on most occasions. Tamara only arrived in Europe a few days ago so she stayed with the main group for most of the race and helped chase down any attacks that looked serious.
With the men and women racing on the course at the same time it was hard to make the breakaways stick. There were groups of men always passing women so some skaters were able to gain assistance. It was hard to control as the course was small and not very wide in certain areas. After seeing this I decided to change my tactics and just wait until the end sprint. Laetitia Lebihan made a couple of attacks with about three laps to go but she was quickly chased down by Tamara and Lucie.
On the last lap Lucie Peruzzetto was in the lead until about 300 meters to go when I made my move and passed her. There was a small rise, a left hand corner and then slightly down hill to the finish line. I wanted to be in front by the corner because the finish line was only about 100 meters after it. When I passed Lucie I accelerated and my eyes were set on making it first to the corner. I ended up winning the race with a few meters to spare. Tamara couldn't quiet stick on me when I accelerated but came 3rd, with Nathalie Barbotin just getting her on the line. Laetitia Lebihan came in for 4th and Lucie Peruzzetto 5th.
I found some good pictures from Nimes taken from a member of the SAMerignac Team, you can view more images on their Picasa Web Album by clicking here.
Friday, April 3, 2009
SAMerignac
Last Wednesday night I coached a group of skaters from the SAMerignac Skating Club. This group of skaters come every Wednesday night to the CREPS to train around the fast 400 meter road circuit. There is an article in French on the RollerEnligne website and also on the SAMerignac Club website. They were a really fun group of skaters to work with.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Hong Kong Pictures
Here are some pictures from my trip to Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago. To view larger images click on the slide show or visit my Picasa Web Album.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Grenade
Last weekend I raced in Grenade, France about 2 1/2 hours from Bordeaux. This race meet was part of the French National Qualification. Racing was held around a 400 meter road circuit with tight corners and very long straights.
On Saturday the rain just wouldn't go away. It would rain then stop and just before the track was dry it would rain again, so most of the racing was held in wet or partly wet conditions. The first round of the 500 meters was held in the wet and three from each heat went through to the next round. For the semifinals the track was half dry and half wet and because there were two foreigners eight skaters qualified for the final. For the final all the skaters stepped up to the line and just before the gun went the officials called off the race. The track was deemed too wet to race on and then it started to pour down with rain again. The 500 meter final was held on Sunday morning with not a rain cloud in sight. I won, 2nd was Sara Bak and 3rd Pauline Jegouic.
The 10km points race was held Saturday night in wet conditions and a cool 6 degrees. I won a few early points and then broke away and Laetitia Lebihan came with me. We both ended up lapping the pack and I went on to win the race, Laetitia 2nd and Lucie Peruzzetto 3rd.
The 200 meter time trial was on Sunday morning before the 500 meter final. To be in contention for the overall title you had to start all the races. I stepped onto the start line even though I wasn't highly motivated, the 200 meter time trial is an event I'm not fond of. I ended up coming 4th, 1st was Sophie Beaujot, 2nd Ophelie Carrerr and 3rd Aude Sohier.
The last race was the 10km Elimination which was held at around 3pm on Sunday. It came down to a sprint finish at the end with all 5 skaters still together and I went on to win, Laetitia 2nd and Justine Halbout came in for 3rd.
I won the overall title, 2nd was Lucie Peruzzetto and 3rd Pauline Jegouic.
On Saturday the rain just wouldn't go away. It would rain then stop and just before the track was dry it would rain again, so most of the racing was held in wet or partly wet conditions. The first round of the 500 meters was held in the wet and three from each heat went through to the next round. For the semifinals the track was half dry and half wet and because there were two foreigners eight skaters qualified for the final. For the final all the skaters stepped up to the line and just before the gun went the officials called off the race. The track was deemed too wet to race on and then it started to pour down with rain again. The 500 meter final was held on Sunday morning with not a rain cloud in sight. I won, 2nd was Sara Bak and 3rd Pauline Jegouic.
The 10km points race was held Saturday night in wet conditions and a cool 6 degrees. I won a few early points and then broke away and Laetitia Lebihan came with me. We both ended up lapping the pack and I went on to win the race, Laetitia 2nd and Lucie Peruzzetto 3rd.
The 200 meter time trial was on Sunday morning before the 500 meter final. To be in contention for the overall title you had to start all the races. I stepped onto the start line even though I wasn't highly motivated, the 200 meter time trial is an event I'm not fond of. I ended up coming 4th, 1st was Sophie Beaujot, 2nd Ophelie Carrerr and 3rd Aude Sohier.
The last race was the 10km Elimination which was held at around 3pm on Sunday. It came down to a sprint finish at the end with all 5 skaters still together and I went on to win, Laetitia 2nd and Justine Halbout came in for 3rd.
I won the overall title, 2nd was Lucie Peruzzetto and 3rd Pauline Jegouic.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
I've Finally Made it to Bordeaux
Last night I arrived in Paris after a 12 hour flight from Hong Kong. I stayed the night in Paris and caught a train this morning to Bordeaux. The train journey was supposed to take around 3 1/2 hours but ended up turning into a long 6 hour journey. All was fine until about 30 minutes out from Bordeaux when the train suddenly came to a stop in the middle of nowhere due to an electrical malfunction. All the announcements where being made in French and no one seemed to be able to speak enough English to tell me what was going on. An hour and a half later everyone started moving towards the front of the train so I just followed along like a sheep. We then all had to walk about 1km along the track to the next little railway station. It's ok having a 30 kg bag when you can drag it along behind you on wheels but that doesn't work going over loose stones. About 30 minutes later a train came to pick up all the stranded passengers and I finally made it to Bordeaux.
I am staying at Le Creps Aquitaine in Bordeaux which is the Ministry of Youth and Sports Institution. There are great sporting facilities at this complex including a road circuit, indoor 100 meter flat track and gym facilities. There is also a bank track about 20 to 30 minutes away. Quiet a few of the French National Team skaters are based here and I will be training with them for the next month.
Tomorrow morning I am going with the group of skaters from Bordeaux to a race meet in France. I'm not sure where it is but it's about 3 hours away. I'm rather tired from the travel, lugging my bags around, lack of sleep and delays but hopefully after a good nights sleep I will feel more energized tomorrow when I step on the start line.
I am staying at Le Creps Aquitaine in Bordeaux which is the Ministry of Youth and Sports Institution. There are great sporting facilities at this complex including a road circuit, indoor 100 meter flat track and gym facilities. There is also a bank track about 20 to 30 minutes away. Quiet a few of the French National Team skaters are based here and I will be training with them for the next month.
Tomorrow morning I am going with the group of skaters from Bordeaux to a race meet in France. I'm not sure where it is but it's about 3 hours away. I'm rather tired from the travel, lugging my bags around, lack of sleep and delays but hopefully after a good nights sleep I will feel more energized tomorrow when I step on the start line.
Monday, March 23, 2009
I Have Landed
On Saturday night I left New Zealand and flew out to Hong Kong. After a 10 hour flight I arrived in Hong Kong at around 6am. That afternoon I had a training clinic with the local skating club Checker Sports with around 40 skaters attending. Straight after the clinic Cheryl and I headed to the airport and took a short flight across to Kaohsiung, Taipei the city where the World Games are being held in July of this year. I skated early this morning with the Kaohsiung City Team and will train again with them tonight. Tomorrow morning I will get another training session in before flying back out to Hong Kong at midday. I leave Hong Kong on the 26th and fly to France where I will be training for the next month.
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