NZ Update

I have been back home in New Zealand now for over a month and you could call this the "off season" but it's still full throttle for me. Here's a quick preview of what I've been up to over the past month.

Halberg Trust
I have attended two Celebrity Sporting Functions held by the Halberg Trust since my return. The Halberg Trust is an organization which honors sporting excellence and gives people with disabilities the opportunity to be involved in sport, recreation and leisure activities. These were fantastic events which I attended in Nelson and Dunedin that raised funds for a great organization.

Aoraki Secondary Schools Sports Awards
I was the guest speaker at the Aoraki Secondary Schools Sports Awards dinner held in Timaru on the 31st. The event celebrates the sporting talent from the Aoraki region.

Mountainview High School Sports Awards
I was the guest speaker at Mountanview's schools sports awards, which is a local Timaru high school.

Radio, Radio, Radio
I have had plenty of radio interviews since my return and even recorded a radio ad for Bob Driver Autos/kia.

A picture taken last year with Bob Driver

Learn to Skate
Last year Cheryl and I started learn to skate leasons on Sunday afternoons in Timaru. It gave me a chance to give something back to the community and rejuvenate the South Canterbury Skating Club which has lacked number for quiet a few years. We have continued learn to skate again this year on Sunday afternoons from 2pm. We now have a group of budding young speed skaters who I am also coaching on Friday afternoons.



Bike Racing
I am back on my bike and racing three times a week.

Up & Coming
*21st November I am speaking at the Active Health Services Volunteer Breakfast in Timaru.
*27th November the filming for Top Town starts up in Christchuch.
*6th December is the Timaru Christmas Parade with the theme Walt Disney so I think I am going to be a skating Snow White.

My apologies to the Timaru Fire Department for not being able to judge their Movember contest coming up on the 30th of this month (Movember). Also to the Timaru South Cosmopolitan Club for not being available for their Sports Cabaret event on the 29th.

On the Hunt for Top Town Team

The Top Town show is making a return to New Zealand TV in December this year. It involves 15 teams from different towns around New Zealand competing in a range of fun challenges. Teams must have 12 members including a mix of male and female in different weight categories. I am a member of the Timaru team and this week there will be trials to determine the other members. Yesterday Timaru mayor Janie Annear and I had the pleasure of tipping cold buckets of water over Steve Kotua for a photo for the Timaru Herald. You can view the article online "On the Hunt for Top Town Team" here.

Latitude Magazine

This month I am featured on the front cover of Latitude Magazine's 2008 Spring Issue. There is a three page spread with a great article and plenty of pictures.

NZ Speedskater Second in World Series

The Timaru Herald has an article "NZ Speedskater Second in World Series" which can be viewed here online. It talks about the last WIC race in Berlin and my accomplishments this year.

I will be flying out of Switzerland today and heading back home to Timaru. I have around 24 hours worth of flying to get back to the land of the long white cloud.

Season Finale

They say the best is saved till last, well that certainly was the case with the final World Inline Cup race for the 2008 season. The Berlin WIC marathon was spectacular. With good weather this year there were spectators lining the streets of Berlin to see thousands upon thousands of skaters zoom or in some cases roll by. There was actually live coverage on a Berlin TV station which could be viewed by those awaiting the skaters at the finish line. There was atmosphere, crowds, thousands of skaters and press.


The Bont Wheels Team finished off a successful season with Cecilia winning in Berlin, myself 5th, Alexandra 6th and Tamara 15th.


The team also took out the top 3 in the World Inline Cup Individual Overall Ranking. Cecilia the overall WIC Champion, myself 2nd and Alexandra 3rd. Tamara who sacrifices herself in a lot of the races by doing the initial long lead out finished in the top 10 ending up 7th overall.

Individual WIC Overall
Photo - Niki Neck

To top off the season we also won the World Inline Cup Overall Team Ranking with over 1500 points to spare.

Overall WIC Team, Bont Wheels

Photo - Niki Neck


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Photo thanks to Niki Neck

Pontarlier

With no WIC race on last weekend Alexandra and myself headed to France early Sunday morning to compete in the French Inline Cup race at Pontarlier. The race started at 10.30am under clear skies but it wasn't a very warm day and the wind chill factor made it even colder. I started the race with a set of socks over my hands to try keep warm. Alexandra had that many layers on under her skin suit that she said on the start line "I feel fat".

The 34km course snaked through three valleys starting in the city of Pontarlier and ending in Mouthe. It was predominantly up hill but nothing too steep just a lot of long gradual climbs. It was a beautiful race if you were able to admire the views.

The course sorted out the womens field with skaters slowly dropping off the pack one by one. There was a sprint at around half way and I think nearly the whole village must have been out to see it, there was quite a crowd. We weren't too sure what the prize was for the sprint but when we saw the 1km sprint signs and we were both at the front of the pack we decided to go for it. I ended up winning the sprint and the prize was a set of ski's. Ironically Alex and myself have never skied before.


With around 10km to go the pack was down to just five skaters. No one tried to attack but Alex and I increased the pace a little each time we hit the lead. With around 3km to go we headed off the main road into Mouthe and onto little side roads which were rough and really patchy. Anne Sophie Petitprez was the first to make a move and started winding up the pace with around 1km to go. Jessica Gaudesaboos came from behind to take the lead with around 500m to go and we jumped on her wheel as she came through. Alex and myself both came past her down the final straight whilst trying to dodge the pot holes in the road. I won the race for the 2nd year and Alex came in 2nd.

1/ Nicole Begg - BONT WHEELS
2/ Alexandra Vivas - BONT WHEELS
3/ Jessica Gaudesaboos - Cado Motus
4/ Karin Widmer - x-Tech Crocs
5/ Anne Sophie Petitprez - ASEB


This was the first long road race that I was able to wear and test out the Bont 100mm wheels. After the race the first thing I done was cheek out the state of my wheels as the road was quite rough and I expected to wear out my wheels. I was surprisingly pleased that the wheels had hardly worn at all. They still all have their center lines and have hardly been touched.

Photos from Spain

Senior Womens 10km points elimination race

Photo's - MundoPatin


Senior Womens 15km elimination race





Photo's - MundoPatin