Mundo Patin Interview

I had a email interview awaiting me in my inbox a few days ago from Cuco Jimenez who runs the Mundo Patin website. It is now up on the Mundo Patin website in Spanish and I have it here in English/Spanglish.

NAME: Nicole
LAST NAME: Begg
DATE OF BIRTH: 11 June 1987
PLACE OF BIRTH: Perth, Australia
TEAM INTERNATIONAL: Bont Wheels
LAST MEDALS: 2007 1st 1000m, 3rd 10,000m points elimination, 3rd marathon at World Championships

HOW YOU SEE NEW SEASON 2008 As far as "WORLD INLINE CUP"?
This year I am racing for a new team Bont Wheels. I think we are one of the top teams to watch out for this year in the World Inline Cup and Swiss Inline Cup. Our team has a good mix of skaters with speed and strength.

AFTER FOURTH POSITION DEL PREVIOUS YEAR IN "WORLD INLINE CUP" YOU THINK TO BE IN FINAL PODIUM 2008?
In 2006 I made the podium and 2007 just missed out. Last year our team didn't have a good start to the season so we lost a lot of points and I managed to resurrect 4th. The World Inline Cup brings a lot of surprises but some one from the Bont Wheels team will be on the final podium hopefully on 1st.

THIS YEAR THE WORLD WIDE CHAMPIONSHIPS OF SPEED SKATING WILL BE IN THE MODERN SCENES OF GIJÓN, WHAT TESTS YOU CONSIDER THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DECIDE ON THE BALIOSAS MEDALS?
(I dont quiet understand the question, I hope I have understood it right)
The last 2 years at the World Championships I have won 2 golds, 1 silver and 3 bronzes. All these medals have been won in the 1000m, 10,000m points elimination and the marathon, so I think I have a good chance in these races.

As far as The DAILY TRAINING, US YOU CAN RELATE A COMPLETE DAY.
Monday
8am - 10am Weight training
4pm - 5.30pm Skate training
Tuesday
8am - 9.30am Plyometrics
4pm - 5.30 Skate training
Wednesday
8am - 10am Weight training
6pm - 8.30pm Bike Race
Thursday
8am - 9.30am Plyometrics
7pm - 8pm Bike Race
Friday
8am - 10am Weight Training
4pm - 5.30pm Skate training and coaching
Saturday
2pm - 4pm Bike Race
Sunday
2pm - 4pm Skate coaching

You can watch videos of the plyometrics and weight training on Bont TV


YOU WILL BE DISPUTING THE COMPETITIONS WITH WHEELS OF 110MM?
I am not using 110mm wheels at the moment.

YOU HAVE ALREADY PROVEN THEM?
No I haven't tried them. I think you need to spend a lot of time on them for them to be effective.

WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS ON THEM?
I think they will work for some skaters. I think the true results will show in a few years with the skaters who have been on them from the very start. I think in order for them to work you have to spend a lot of time on them and adjust your skating style and technique. There are so many questions unanswered about 110mm wheels but I think this is the season were some of the myths and questions will be answered.

WHICH ARE YOUR OBJECTIVES FOR THIS SEASON, WITHOUT MENTIONING The WORLD-WIDE CHAMPIONSHIPS And WORLD INLINE CUP?
Of course I would like to go to Spain and defend my World Title and have another successful World Championships. For the World Inline Cup the objective is to be the top womens team and have someone on the top of the podium at the end of the year. As well as gain as many podium places as possible throughout the season.