CLUB NEWS


CLUB NEWS


2012 Skate of the Union to Showcase Olympic Spirit, US Speedskating Olympians Skaters from around country will


roll into the National Capitol region for four days of unparalleled excitement on wheels, Friday, June 22-Sunday, June 24. Skate of the Union (SOTU) weekend


features inline speedskating races for skaters of all ages and abilities - begin- ner recreational to elite competitive - with the main event scheduled for world- wide Olympic Day, Saturday, June 23, on the historic RFK Stadium campus. On Friday, June 22, the Washington


Area Roadskaters (WAR) host Skate DC, a guided 10-kilometer inline skating tour of the National Mall. Departing from Lafayette Square in front of the White House at 7:00pm, the tour travels down Pennsylvania to the Capitol before head- ing west to the Lincoln Memorial, with plenty of stops for regrouping. On Saturday, June 23, Olympic Day,


RFK’s dormant auto grand-prix course becomes the country’s most prestigious inline racing track. With members of the US Olympic Speedskating Team presiding, pro and elite-caliber skaters from across the U.S. vie for cash prizes in the National Inline Grand Prix, a thrilling criterium- style race. Recreational and fitness skat- ers test their stamina in 5k and 10k races and a 1-lap (2.5k) Kids Fun Roll. The morning concludes with an Olym-


pic Day Ceremony, followed by the final leg of the US Olympians’ Walk to Lon- don campaign, which began at the LA Coliseum on April 7. Walk to London has seen Olympic alumni from across the U.S. hosting 5k events in their communi- ties to help build momentum for the 2012 US Olympic Team at the Summer Olym- pic Games in London this July. Joined by the US Olympic Committee, speedskat- ing and figure skating Olympians will end the Walk to London by inaugurating the Skate to Sochi, leading a free 1-lap roll of the RFK grand-prix course, open to all skaters of any age, kind or ability. The course infield will feature the


Skate of the Union Fair (9:30am-Noon) featuring ice speed & inline roller skat- ing clubs, in-line freestyle troupes, DC Rollergirls roller derby team and an Olympian-lead figure and speed (slide- board) skating demos. A synthetic ice rink is also being planned. Sunday, June 24 features the long-


standing SOTU Marathon and Half-mara- thon inline speedskating races, contest- ed on the Faifax Police training facility in Chantilly, along with a fitness 5k and 10k. Hosted by Skater’s Quest of North- ern Virginia, the SOTU marathon has been contested annually for over nearly two decades, drawing the top inline skat- ers from the region and the east coast, many of whom have gone on to race in the Olympic Games as ice speedskaters. In addition to fun and fitness, Skate Of


The Union also features philanthropy, with proceeds donated to the non-profit DC In- ner City Excellence (DC-ICE) skating-based youth development program, which was inspired by the 2002 Olympic success of Shani Davis and which is headed by three- time Olympian Nathaniel Mills, who has coached the program since its inception. More information about Skate of the


Union, including online registration, at www.SkateoheUnion.org, on Facebook (Skate of the Union) and on Twitter @ SkateoheUnion.


Andrew Astalos The sport of speed skating was well


represented at the recent Salt Lake Valley Science and Engineering Fair. Morningside Elementary student and Oval Speedskating Club member Jack Garver investigated and tested a variety of skin suit safety fabrics for his proj- ect, “Blade vs. Material.” Jack’s project earned him first place in the Engineer- ing and Computer Science division for elementary students. Jeremy Ranch Elementary fih grader,


and Park City Speedskating Club mem- ber William Valentine explored several of the scientific factors that make speed skating ice so fast for his project, “What Makes the Utah Olympic Oval the Fast- est Ice on Earth?” William was treated to a tour of the Oval facility and gathered facts and information from Marc Norman to complete his project, which earned an


www.usspeedskating.org Summer 2012 RACING BLADE 27


Play Ball Andrew Astalos, 2012 Long Track Ju-


nior World Team Member, is enjoying his off-season down in Orlando, Florida


where he competed in the Home School Baseball World Series, April 30th- May 5th. His team, the Houston Mustangs, competed against 26 other teams from across the nation and finished 3-3 for 18th overall. Astalos did well in the tour- nament with an on base percentage of .518, and piteched two games with one win and one loss. Andrew is primarily a starting and closing le-handed pitcher and plays centerfield when not pitching. Among Andrew’s highlights so far for the season: an 89.2 fastball on the radar gun!


Junior Skaters Share the Science of Speed Skating


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34