Nashville Workshop

Nashville, TN, Access to Speed Workshop, July 2, 3, 4, 1999
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Nashvillians created their own fireworks on skates to celebrate the 4th of July weekend at the Eddy Matzger Access to Speed Workshop in Nashville, TN, July 2-4, 1999.

Waves of muggy heat which rose from the pavement failed to dampen the volatile enthusiasm of workshop participants. Shade trees in the middle of the practice loop, mandatory water breaks, and whispers of breeze kept skating conditions temperate enough for skaters to weather more than 14 hours of on-skate instruction.

Starting out basic and building exponentially, skaters ran the gamut from balance drills to skating over chalk templates, to real road racing. Those who were initially dubious of their own skating abilities shed monkeys off their backs by improving balance while sitting lower and learning how to cannonball downhill with ever-increasing stability.

The Access to Speed course was generously supplied by TYWINCAM bearings, Explore wheels, Salomon skates, PowerBar, Transpack, Wigwam socks, and Raymond Verdaguer. Each participant was stunned by the amount of product for personal consumption stuffed into goodie bags.

The Nashville workshop was yet another example of racer and instructor Eddy Matzger's preparation for his own demise. Young up-and-comers like 17 year-old Jim Winn absorbed huge amounts of dangerously fast information which will stop Eddy from ever using his rear view mirror again. Certified instructors like Bonnie Teal, Steve Larios, and Sam Weaver nobly added to their own flaming torches of skating knowlege with the weekend's full ciriculum of activities. All are eminently qualified to set others on fire with flaming skating desire.

Fuschia wonders	Transpack trucks	Gritty work
Boy wonder	Awe-inspiring mom	You-ins true blue-ins
Muscle memory work	Dance practice?	Cruelty to mammals
Screaming pain	Slow gains	Friendly crossovers
Rear view	Fast group	Jumping juniper berries

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