Roos Club AGM

The 2008 Roos AGM will be held on Saturday 26th April at 3pm. Venue will be Acacia Ridge Iceworld, please send your nominations to the Secretary, Ian Caldecutt via email shorttrack@optusnet.com.au or alternatively see Ian at the rink.
Nominations close 12th April.
Look forward to seeing you all there.

2008 Karapoti Classic, New Zealand

photo taken by Dr Ken Looi

Thanks Sean for this next piece

I have been asked by a number of people how this race went. Ken had taken a photo as Eyal and I crossed the Finish Line so I thought I would wait till the photo arrived before I sent this out.

The main story of the day was Eyal - a Californian who mostly rides really technical downhills and does not do very much distance. He was under the impression that he had entered the 20 km Challenge race. He was therefore somewhat surprised to discover that he was entered in the 50 km race. Since he rides rougher terrain he uses a 24-inch wheel, which is really good at hopping from rock to rock but really lousy at delivering any top end speed. During the car trip to the start Line Ken and I convinced Eyal that it was possible for him to reach the finish after 50 km and pointed out that the really juicy terrain is only found on the full distance. So with some misgivings Eyal lined up for the 50km. I did say if he tried the full distance I would ride with him and keep him company rather than leaving him on his own.

The first (and last) 10 km is pretty easy riding. It is a track almost wide enough for a car. The surface is clay with lots of rocks embedded - which works to provide grip. Then you reach the start of Deadwood, which seems like a couple of hours of pushing your bike up a revoltingly steep hill. There is a short downhill run after this however there is a catch - it is called The Rock Garden. It more resembles a waterfall rather than a bike path. Eyal was able to "ride" down this with only about three step-offs. Being more interested in self-preservation I walked this section, as did the cyclists around us.

Following the Rock Garden is Devil's Staircase, which is an uphill section where everyone has to carry their bikes. There is a drink stop at the top, which gives great cause for celebration. The next 8 km are all downhill in a section called Big Ring Boulevard because the cyclists are all flying in top gear. Another creek crossing brings the start of the final "hill" - Dopers. At this point Eyal was seriously wilting and considering bailing out. However we managed to crawl to the top passing the tail-end cyclists who were weighed down by having to push two wheels up the hill.

After the summit of Dopers it was all downhill. Quite steeply downhill initially but still rideable. Another river crossing at the foot of Dopers and then about 10 km of easy riding to bring it all home. We were hoping to beat the seven hour mark however the clock ticked over just as we crossed the final river with only about one hundred metres to go. Unfortunately that last section included a reasonably knarly climb to the level of the Finishing Line so I was faced with the very likely prospect of having my last wipeout in full view of everyone as the PA announced the arrival of the final two riders. Fortunately I managed to keep aboard and Eyal and I gave them a formation finish - two people on two wheels - but not linked.

Now that he has had a taste of long distance unicycling Eyal has decided that he is NEVER DOING IT AGAIN. For myself I feel a little embarrassed by taking seven hours to cover a lousy 50 km so I will be back next year to record a sensible time.

Congratulations Tatiana

China's Zhao Nannan (L), China's Wang Meng (C) and Australia's Tatiana Borodulina celebrate on the podium after the women 500 meter short track World Cup final race Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The 2008 season begins

Training resumes today. Ice times for the year are as follows:
Thursdays 6-7.30pm (no skating Feb 7th)
Saturdays 6-7.30pm
Sundays 3.30-5.30pm

Training resumes Feb 2nd

Just to let you all know, our training times will start back for the year on Saturday Feb 2nd usual time 6pm. Fees will be as per last year.

Frank skates Long Track in Europe

I thought I would drop you a line to let you know about my Davos skating
experience.
It was a new experience to walk into an ice stadium and to get used to the
clack, clack of the skaters walking around. I actually felt like a bit of a
leper as I was the only skater who still wore the old fixed blades. I never
thought I would have people laugh at my $1200 moulded skates!!!!
Anyway, a few of them stopped laughing when I did an 11.3s first 100m in my 500m. I finished 2nd overall in 44.69 for the 500m but the longer distances and anything beyond the 100m certainly suffers without the klap skate.
I suffered very substantially from the altitude and I could really feel it in my
lungs. I really noticed it last night in Munich when I got on the ice for a
training session at 1000m less in height than Davos. So much so that I did
another 1500m in 2.18, which was a whole 20 secs off what I did in Davos the day before.
The weather conditions we were skating in in Davos were not great, so I'm reasonably proud of the 44.69 500m time.
But as far as the long track goes, I will definately come back for some more
action, but next time, I'll invest in some klaps!!!
Frank Anderson

Congratulations to Mari our 2007 Club Champion. Emma 2nd, Deanna 3rd and Kathleen the most improved skater 2007. Well done girls.