|
|
 Like a moose-on-the-loose, Eddy Matzger trampled the competition en route to racking up victories in two Minnesota races over the weekend of July 27-28, 2002. Eddy caddywhomped at the Great River Roll Half-Marathon along the mighty Mississippi in Minneapolis, MN, on Saturday, then sped 200 miles north of the TWINCAM cities to put another sturdy pack of speedsters in a rut at the Hoyt Lakes Half Marathon on Sunday. Powering Eddy's feet were the futuristic monocoque Salomon/Miller/Xenan fusion skates. Saturday's Great River Roll Matzger made moosemeat of Tony Muse, the most decorated quad skater in US history, by bludgeoning him and the rest of the field by over a minute -- all the while filming the carnage with a miniature digital video camera! The course crossed the crossed the headwaters of Tom Sawyer's swimming holes twice on a scenic loop with just enough ups and downs to knock some serious wind out of the lungs. To the competition's chagrin, Matzger attacked at least five times before finally floating off up the road for good. The demoralized and shattered pack had to settle for second best. Finishing the 8.5 mile course in under 22 minutes, Eddy stayed on the scene for hours to help encourage many of the over 440 Great River rollers over the line. Still on skates, Eddy then hula-hooped with kids and danced to a live big band. Sunday's Hoyt Lakes Half Marathon As if Saturday's trouncing wasn't enough, on Sunday, 144 skaters from the Twin Cities, Duluth and the Northwoods gladly came to the boondocks to get stomped on again by the Matzger machine. Up to his usual video antics, Eddy found himself way behind the leaders early on. But he steadily made up the lost ground, all the while filming participants and launching attacks up the road. Each attack was designed to hammer the young bucks of the pack into submission so older skaters could break away later and face the field. The strength and depth of the peloton was too strong, however, leaving it up to Eddy to counter-attack decisively and tatter the field solo. "You were so far ahead we couldn't see you anymore," said Jay Jackson, winner of the field sprint and second overall. |