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 The 2000 Gifu Nagaragawa Cup attracted over 2000 skaters on Sunday, November 5th, 2000. The one day festival on wheels had everything a skater could ever want: speed races, a hockey tournament, a slalom course, a costume roll dancing, booths and food, and even soccer on skates! In a country where it is forbidden to skate on the streets (the official t-shirt reminds skaters "Not skating on public roadway") it's no wonder that the event was so well attended. It was a chance to let it all hang out. Zack Phillips of San Francisco showed everyone how to play rollersoccer, and Eddy Matzger from Berkeley, CA, kept the skaters on their toes with his unpredictable style. The speed portion of the event was run like clockwork. Race officials held up placards under which racers grouped for their designated start times. Heats and finals were run for all age divisions and ability levels on an out and back course on baby bottom smooth pavement. The Japanese are consummate practitioners of an extremely technical sport. Their emerging prowess makes it more and more difficult to hold them off with each passing year. The kids made up a high percentage of the over 2000 skaters that attended the Gifu Nagaragawa Cup on November 5th. Heats and finals were contested in all age groups as the race course overflowed with racers. The competition was fierce, and many of the kids' heats came down to the wire. No matter where they finished in their group, all of the kids had a huge smile for the camera, along with either a thumbs-up or peace sign. The talent pool in Japan is so deep. It's scary to think how strong they are all going to be in the near future! There was a lot more going on at the Gifu Nagaragawa Cup than just racing. There was hockey, the slalom course, lots of picnicing, and tons of people having a good ol' skating time! Gifu's costume roll has almost become the event! The costume roll allowed people to let themselves go, and dress up in wild outfits. Those that didn't dress up lined the course to check out all of the colorful displays. To further entertain the masses, a local skate dance troupe did several shows throughout the weekend, wowing all with their choreography, strength, and agility! They are able to do things on skates that most can only dream of, and they make it look so easy you almost want to try it for yourself. |