1998 News

Stay abreast of the news. Jump on the press release train and get skating news hot off the rails. Click on the bold type to read more and view pictures. February 21, 2003: Eddy Matzger Workshop Pounds Florida Skaters While the eastern seabord was getting pounded by a blizzard, skaters in Florida were getting pounded by the first ILQ-Eddy Matzger Workshop of the year, February 14-16, in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL. December 19, 2002: Eddy Races Cable Car on National Television Skate adventurer Eddy Matzger lived up to his bold prediction of beating a cable car in an uphill, head-to-head battle on the streets of San Francisco. Eddy's version of the classic struggle between man and machine was filmed by Ripley's Believe It Or Not, and aired nationally on December 11, 2002. November 12, 2002: Hats Off! Matzger Recaptures Title in Tahiti After a brief intermission last year, TWINCAM/Salomon racer Eddy Matzger took back his reign of the Tahiti Nui Roller Marathon on November 11, 2002. He defeated two "metropolitans" from Team Salomon, Pierre Sohier and Richard Deniaud, with whom he played a deadly serious game of poker on wheels. November 5, 2002: 7th Title for Matzger at Japanese Race TWINCAM/Salomon speed star Eddy Matzger asserted his international gravitas at the Gifu Nagaragawa Cup in Gifu, Japan, November 4, 2002. His hard-fought solo victory in the face of increasingly fierce Japanese opposition marked the 7th time that Matzger has topped the field at the Japanese speed event. October 28, 2002: 35 Plus Ravenous Skaters Devour Last Workshop of 2002 Skaters, skaters and more skaters came to Gifu, Japan to brush up on skating technique one week before the big Nagarawa Cup. Over 35 were on hand to hungrily devour a packed and stacked cirriculum that challenged skaters with each and every exercise. October 27, 2002: Tokyo Area Skaters Flood Workshop Gates An overflow workshop of skate crazy Japanese actualized with the speed of a flash flood in Doman, Japan, October 25, 2002. Yuge and Su-G were honorable hosts and improvised like jazz players to secure a covered location for a wet-weather workshop. October 21, 2002: Skaters Matriculate with Honors at Irvine Workshop Two dozen studious skaters ran themselves through the mill and still graduated magna cum laude from the Access to Speed Workshop in Irvine, California, October 18-20. SoCal skaters good and aplenty hosted out of towners and out-of-staters in Roooger Olson's backyard. October 16, 2002: Matzger Avoids Carnage at Long Beach Marathon TWINCAM/Salomon's Eddy Matzger narrowly missed plowing into a wayward lead motorcyle during a promising breakaway at the Long Beach Inline Marathon, October 12, 2002 in Long Beach, CA. The marathon, actually shortened to 25 miles through the scenic port city and waterfront, unfolded more like a radical street skate than an actual race. October 6, 2002: Matzger Wins Athens to Atlanta Outright in Dramatic Fashion TWINCAM/Salomon's Eddy Matzger consumed the field like southern-fried chicken on his way to an unprecedented 6th win at the 21st Annual Athens to Atlanta Roadskate, October 6, 2002, in the state of Georgia, USA. He covered the 87 mile grandaddy of all skate races at an average of nearly 20 miles per hour in 4 hours 22 minutes and 56 seconds. September 25, 2002: Matzger Smashes Steep Competition to Smithereens at Grueling 100K Championships All the King's horses and all the King's men could not bring down the Matzger Machine at the New York City 100K Open National Championship, September 21, 2002, in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. The TWINCAM/Salomon racer took on an international field stacked with top guns, including previous champions like 1999 winner Phillipe Boulard (France-Levallois), 2001 winner Jarmo Valtonen (Finland-K2), and 2000 winner Fourth Lacey (USA-Verducci). Eddy toppled them all. September 18, 2002: Matzger Makes Waves at Northshore Marathon TWINCAM/Salomon racer Eddy Matzger whipped up pounding offensives that packed the punch of a lake-effect storm surge on a sand spit with a 7th place finish at the 7th Annual Northshore Inline Marathon on Sept. 14, 2002. Matzger proved his mettle by bridging up to the winning breakaway in the deepest and most fearsome international field ever assembled on American roadways. September 4, 2002: Matzger Drops Rack of Bombs at US 10K Classic TWINCAM/Salomon taskmaster Eddy Matzger ensured that the world's toughest 10K lived up to its billing by testing the field sorely with withering attacks on six brutal Appalachian ridges at the US 10K Classic on September 2, 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia. August 27, 2002: Matzger Raises Arms on European Circuit Again TWINCAM/Salomon speedster Eddy Matzger celebrated his second ascension onto the podium in as many weeks at the Singen Inline Cup season finale race in Singen, Germany, on Sunday, August 25, 2002. Living up to his attack-happy style, Matzger gambled heavily early in the 21 kilometer race only to have his break countered by Tristan Loy, the eventual winner who managed to slip away on the third lap and extend his lead slowly but surely for the win. August 19, 2002: Matzger Captures 2nd in World Cup Event! TWINCAM/Salomon speedster Eddy Matzger made a daring break and captured a coveted podium spot at the Innsbruck Roller World Cup Marathon in Innsbruck, Austria, on August 15, 2002. Pumped up by the announcer as the American "superstar" from Berkeley, CA, Matzger became the race's major animator when he bolted from the gigantic pack early in the 26.2 mile race. August 12, 2002: Matzger 6th in Europe's Premiere Skating Event TWINCAM/Salomon racer Eddy Matzger saw stars while striking fear in the hearts of European racers with his strong 6th place finish at Europe's premiere inline skating event, the "Inline one-eleven" race on August 11, 2002, in St. Gallen, Switzerland. August 6, 2002: Matzger Workshop Torches Vancouver Inline Skaters The Eddy Matzger Workshop stormed into Vancouver, B.C. and struck two dozen skaters with out-of-control skating mojo. With its blend of technique drills and games, the workshop touched off fires of skating passion within all its participants, including the sparky 7-year-old Noah Coor. July 31, 2002: Matzger Busts Racks in Moose Country 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. July 15, 2002: Matzger Shows Minnesotans Bliss on Skates Bliss on skates could be found in Roseville, MN, where for two EXTRA HOT days some mighty fine folks came together to fine tune their strokes in revelatory fashion.Skating nirvana comes with a price, though. For it all to make sense, the instructor will have to beat it into you like some ecstatic ascetic. July 8, 2002, Workshop Entertains and Instructs Skate-Crazy Chicagoans The Access to Speed Workshop provided entertainment aplenty to participants and onlookers alike in skate-crazy Chicago, IL, July 5-7 2002. Not only did skaters flex their smile muscles as often as their skating ones, but curious passers-by and binocular-scoping appartment dwellers watched like avid sportsfans. June 24, 2002: Canadians Honk Pushes in Ottawa at Matzger Workshop Like hardy tulip petals clinging to the stalks in summer weather, Canadian, American, and Bermudan skaters effloresced for two straight days at the piping-hot Salomon Access to Speed Workshop in Ottawa, Canada, June 21-23, 2002. Ottawa is easily one of the world's most beautiful capital cities, memorable for its endless parks, flowers, waterfronts, and now newly known for its incredible skating pavement! The "Gavinik" skating terrain, some of the smoothest black asphalt around, served as the perfect place for drill heaven and allowed 30 flower skaters the chance to bust out of their bulbs. June 17, 2002: Bedford Workshop in a Box Succeeds Magnificently The Access to Speed Workshop in Bedford, MA on June 14-16 became a shining example of how well a workshop can go in a box. For nearly three-quarters of the 16 hours of instruction, skaters worked on techniques in the truck bay of Middlesex College and loved every minute of it. June 10, 2002: D.C. Workshop Bakes Like Fine Biscotti Voracious learners carved up the Warren Building parking deck (thanks, Stuart and Carol and Krista) with a gold mine of new techniques that rocketed skaters to new spheres of poise and proficency in only a weekend's time. June 3, 2002: Motor City Skaters Find New Fuel Giant evolutionary leaps in the history of skating took place with staccato-like frequency as eager skaters soaked up terabytes of inline information at the Eddy Matzger Access to Speed Workshop in Dearborn, MI, May 31 - June 2, 2002. May 20, 2002: Matzger in Photo Finish at Festival of Health Skaters, bikers, and runners filled the closed streets of scenic Montreal for hours as part of the 12th Annual Festival of Health on May 19, 2002 in Montreal, Canada. May 13, 2002: Matzger Wins Ottawa Marathon With Mass Media Coverage Bandit riding was your only choice if you didn't sign up early, because they sold out of chips for the National Capitol Inline Marathon in Ottawa, Canada, on May 12, 2002! The race was a tremendous interval workout with some steady aneaerobic threshold work later on, punctuated with a surge or two before the final sprint! May 12, 2002: Matzger Slays Field at MDS Nordion An international field of over 500 skaters took over the Queen Elizabeth Parkway to celebrate the Festival of Tulips along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada, May 11, 2002, for the National Capitol Nordion 10K. May 6, 2002: Athens Skaters Get the Fever at Matzger Workshop Rollicking good times were had at the Access to Speed Workshop in Athens, Georgia, a town no stranger to skate fever. Starting cool and ending up so hot skaters went scurrying for cover, the workshop whipped and whooped its participants for two solid days. April 29, 2002: Matzger Workshop Goes Deep in the Heart of Texas Ever wonder what a skater with a 15-gallon heart looks like? Wonder no more! A whole lot of them opened their ventricles and pumped it up big time at the Access to Speed Workshop at the Dallas State Fairgrounds in Dallas, Texas, April 26-28, 2002. April 15, 2002: Atlanta Skaters Bear Fruit at Matzger Workshop A new crop of peachy skaters full of budding talent came out for the Access to Speed Workshop in Atlanta, Ga., April 12-14, 2002. The magic of Atlanta is that it keeps producing skaters just as sure as buds on the peach trees blossom in spring. April 8, 2002: Matzger Workshop Heats up Cool Phoenix Phoenix and Tuscon area skaters swooped down on the Castles and Coasters parking lot for two days of unbelievably cool skating pickins' in the desert. Never did the mercury climb higher than 80 degrees, allowing skaters to practice away to their heart's content. March 25, 2002: Skaters March to a New Tune at Austin Workshop Program An happy menagerie of skaters convened on the Lake Travis High School marching band practice patch and learned the ropes of classic skating, crossovers, and the double push at the Access to Speed Workshop in Austin, Texas, March 22-24, 2002. March 20, 2002: Matzger Lights Up Skates in Schools Program Salomon skater Eddy Matzger gave a Skates in Schools presentation and passed out autograph cards to over 500 students at both campuses of the Claire Matzger Lilienthal Elementary School, March 19, 2002, in San Francisco, CA. Skates in Schools is a collaborative program designed to inspire lifelong learning and achievement through inline skating. March 4, 2002: Matzger and Miller Experience Raiatean Inline Rapture When American bozos Mike Miller and Eddy Matzger grabbed a basketful of Salomons and took out a bunch of local Raiateans for a skate, all happiness broke loose. February 18, 2002: Ft. Lauderdale Kicks off Access to Speed Workshop Season Bruce McNamara and Julio Palomino facilitated a fantastic season opener of the 2002 Access to Speed workshop on the freshly cured outdoor track at Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City, Florida. January 30, 2002: Matzger Attends Grand Opening of TWINCAM Bearing Factory This skater was invited to come see for himself the new TWINCAM factory in Ningbo, China, and wow did it sparkle! It's a gleaming new plant, with floors so clean you could eat off them! The strength of over 300 Chinese workers combined with a distinctly Western management style produces TWINCAM spirit by the container load. December 1, 2001: Indonesians Locals Try Inline Skating Here's a sure way to strenghthen your abs: watch the locals try on the Big Ones! Your laughing muscles will burn like never before. November 12, 2001: Salomon/TWINCAM Hose Competition at Long Beach Marathon No strangers to racing in the rain, the pros from the European circuit came out in force and hosed off the Americans at a frenetic and wet Long Beach Inline Marathon, November 11, 2001 in Long Beach, CA. November 5, 2001: Sweet Victory for Matzger in Face of Strong Japanese Opposition The 2001 Gifu Nagaragawa Cup showcased talent from across the board. Dancers, hockey players, slalom specialists, and racers basked all day in beautiful weather and good vibes. October 27, 2001: Workshop Season Concludes with Bang in Japan The last Eddy Matzger Workshop of 2001 concluded with a bang in Gifu, Japan, October 27, 2001. Japanese students brimmed over with enthusiasm and met each challenge with cheery determination. October 21, 2001: Field Succumbs to Matzger at Casino Niagara Marathon Skaters flowed down the Niagara River Parkway -- sometimes in a torrent of rain --and stopped just short of going over the falls at the Casino Niagara Marathon, Sunday, October 20, 2001. October 15, 2001: Skaters Enjoy One Heckuva Workshop in Irvine Roger and Virginia hosted a heckuva workshop in Irvine, CA, bringing fresh faces to the skating establishment in Southern California. Skaters worked like the season was just getting going, devoting one hundred of their energies to becoming better skaters. October 8, 2001: Matzger Wins 5th Athens to Atlanta Roadskate! The 20th Annual Athens to Atlanta Road Skate was epic in every way. Like TWINCAM Salomon skater Eddy Matzger, who rode his 100mm skates into the history books by booking victory for the fifth time at the 85 mile event. September 9, 2001: Matzger Bumped to Third at 10K National Championships The US 10K National Inline Championships on Monday, September 3, 2001, in Atlanta, GA,. lived up to its reputation as the world's toughest 10K as TWINCAM/Salomon skater Eddy Matzger was literally elbowed into submission in the final meters by a Verducci skater. August 15, 2001: Matzger Fosters Rivalry in Tahitian Racing Scene Now that there's an inter-island rivalry brewing between the skaters on Tahiti and Raiatea, you'd better believe that the training has stepped up a notch for the upcoming Tahiti Nui Roller Marathon, set to go on March 4, 2002. August 7, 2001: Matzger Leads Fun Skate Training in Tahiti 40 kids from the Tahitian "I have a dream" skating association broke the ice with 30 others from the Raiatean "Utafara" association during a fun skate on the French Polynesian island of Raiatea. July 30, 2001: Matzger Hammers for Gold in Half Marathon If you've ever wanted some down-home racing in the middle of nowhere without having to pay heed to the middle line, then the Hoyt Lakes Half Marathon is your kind of race. Fill the road! The Half Marathon attracted the cream of the skating world from the Twin Cities and the Duluth areas. July 29, 2001: Matzger Big Winner in Twin Cities TWINCAM/Salomon racer Eddy Matzger ate the field like a piranha at the Great River Roll, July 28, 2001. The Twin Cities are also home of Asia Acess Inc.'s TWINCAM bearings. July 23, 2001: Matzger Wins Big At Superweek The 2001 Superweek of Inline Skating came back strongly thanks to the tireless efforts of Jim White, Ken and Iris, Sue, and countless others who helped give skating a good name with 5 superb days of racing, July 18-22, in and around Milwuakee, Wisconsin. TWINCAM/Salomon racer Eddy Matzger showed his torrid mid-summer form and won the lion's share of the Pro Men's racing. July 9, 2001: Portland Workshop Intense and Exciting Want to hit Portland at its best? Without a single cloud in the sky for 3 whole days, the Salomon Access to Speed Workshop with Eddy Matzger burned up the pavement at an elementary school, July 6-8, 2001, in Portland, OR. July 1, 2001: Matzger Scouts Tahiti Marathon Course Ever dreamt of going to Tahiti? Dream no more. Just go. Want to eat the healthiest foods and get in the best shape of your life? Then go for a week and hang out with "Ta Ui Moe Na", the Tahitian "I Have a Dream" skating association. June 25, 2001: Vancouver Workshop on Indy Speedway What a site and what a sight! The Indy-car motor speedway on the scenic Vancouver waterfront provided a perfect place on June 22-24, 2001 to school oneself in the finer points of going faster than the dickens on inline skates! June 18, 2001: Middlesex College Hosts Partying Workshop Middlesex College in historic Bedford, MA played host to the John and Mary Wardley Access to Speed Workshop, June 15-17, 2001. Multiple levels of lots served as the classroom for multiple levels of skaters who carved their way into the historical record with more effective pushes. June 11, 2001: Workshop Blows Into Chicago With Vigor Part vacation, part boot camp, part entertainment, and part learning, the Eddy Matzger Workshop blew into Chicago, June 8-10, 2001, with the finest weather in weeks. Enthused athletes from near and far shredded urethane vigorously and improved mightily en route. June 4, 2001: Winged Flyers at Texas Workshop Ever wondered what skaters in heat look like? Wonder no more! Winged flyers at the Texas State Fair Grounds practiced their moves in withering hundred degree heat at the Eddy Matzger Workshop, June 1-3, 2001 in Dallas, TX. May 28, 2001: Workshop Participants Motor Faster on Inlines Want to learn how to motor faster on skates? You came to the right place then! The Eddy Matzger Access to Speed Workshop rolled through the motor city on May 25-27, 2001, in Detroit, MI. May 21, 2001: Fog City Skaters Enjoy Sunny Workshop More than two dozen inline pupils skated their hearts out in San Francisco at the Eddy Matzger Access to Speed Workshop in San Francisco, CA, May 18-20, 2001. Skaters passionate about maximizing their rolling pleasure had only to strap on their wheeled conveyances and hang on for a wild weekend ride. May 14, 2001: Matzger Wins Sprint to Wire at National Capital Marathon "Matzger edges in-line racers," read the headline in the Ottawa Citizen on Monday May 14, 2001, one day after Eddy won the National Capital Inline Marathon as part of the annual Tulip Festival. May 7, 2001: Tremendous Team Spirit Abounds at D.C. Bouncy personalities and bodies made for uninterrupted fun and games at the Eddy Matzger Workshop, May 4-6, 2001, near Washington D.C. Stuart Austin secured the primo parking deck for the weekend's festivities, which consisted of dedicated work on the regular push, the crossover push, and the double push. April 30, 2001: Skaters Bud and Bloom in Philly Skaters bent on getting better with age met budding talent and bloomed en masse at the Eddy Matzger Workshop April 27 - 29, 2001, in Philadelphia, PA. April 2, 2001: San Diego Skaters Get Big Boost from Workshop Talk about giving your skating a boost! We're not talking about rocket science here, we're talking about skating with more oomph. And oomph is what skaters got more of at the Eddy Matzger Access to Speed Workshop in San Diego, California, March 30 - April 1, 2001. March 26, 2001: Phoenix Skaters Rise to Occasion at Workshop On Ken and Kathy Player's gazillion inch television, the supposedly "second string" workshop in Phoenix, AZ on March 23-25, 2001, came to a startling realization: by all measurements they were whupping up on the varsity skaters of two weeks previous with longer pushes, more fully extended legs and greater fall angles! March 19, 2001: Atlanta Workshop Peachy Keen on Inlines Just when you thought you couldn't gather a more eclectic bunch of skating fanatics together in one place, it happened again. Two dozen highly motivated skaters gathered for a nonstop weekend of skating action. This time the Gerogia Tech parking deck was where you could hear the sound of skaters' wheels chewing the ground, carving away and propelling themselves into uncharted speeds on the brushed concrete. March 12, 2001: Arizonans Scorch Earth With Skates An unbelievably spirited group flocked to a rollercoaster overflow parking lot for two days of skating and strength boosting at the Phoenix Access to Speed Workshop, March 9-11, 2001. March 6, 2001: First Workshop of 2001 is Hot Stuff Bruce McNamara rustled up the greatest gaggle of skaters for the first worskhop of the year at Hugh Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale, FL, March 3-5, 2001. February 21, 2001: TWINCAM/Salomon Mounts Podium at Tahiti Marathon Ready for some heavy breathing on a tropical island? Well then come along and skate the rapturously scenic Tahiti Inline Marathon with the frontrunners, and you'll be sure to get a taste for something completely oxymoronic: working hard in paradise. January 23, 2001: Amid Egypt's Pyramids, Matzger Races Camels -- and Wins! Racing against camels in Egypt is one sure way to get inline skater Eddy Matzger's adrenaline pumping. Normally focused on rustling up business with tourists, the camel drivers wanted nothing more than to race 150 meter sprints against the tourist with the funny shoes. January 22, 2001: Matzger Climbs the Great Pyramid of Cheops on Skates If living for ultimate thrills is your thing -- and it certainly is, if you're inline skater Eddy Matzger -- nothing comes close to skating up and down the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Giza, Egypt! January 13, 2001: Matzger Rolls for the Cameras in Salomon Training Video Ay tranquillo! Take it easy! This week American inline skater Eddy Matzger traveled to Sicily to meet up with the Salomon team and make a training video in the shadow of Aetna. "Destination: Speed," produced by Salomon International Team coach Christophe Audoire, also features Pascal Briand, Elisabeth Schrenk, Sebastian Baumgartner, Franck Cardin, Luca Presti and Pier-Davide Romani. December, 2000: Matzger Guest Stars at Telethon Tour de Tahiti Ta Ui Moe Na (the "I have a dream" inline roller association) succeeded in mobilizing more than 50 participants to skate 10 kilometers to generate money for a good cause: research for genetic diseases. November 13, 2000: Exploring Fun at the Long Beach Marathon There was no way not to have fun at the Long Beach Marathon trade show! Fearless flyers turned tricks and the crowd went wild. Mad sticker fiends were on the loose, and there was plenty to play with, especially if you were at the Explore booth, where the slickest freshest products glittered in the limelight. The E spirit was everywhere, you could just feel the energy! November 6, 2000: Victor Matzger in Carnival Atmosphere 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! October 23, 2000: Casino Niagara International Marathon The 2000 edition on October 22 proved to be both a hoot and a holler on both sides of the border! Crisp temperatures before the start kept everybody in constant motion.After the five mile dash to the border, pre-cleared skaters took the express lane through customs and found themselves gliding along in Canada. October 9, 2000: Access to Speed gets boisterous at the beach Jerry and Colleen hosted the biggest, most boisterous workshop of the year in Long Beach, CA, October 6-8 2000. The level of excitement and energy exhibited by skaters from Northern California, Arizona, San Diego, Switzerland, and Finland was so high you would have thought it was spring training. October 2, 2000: Perthuis and Hartman victors in record time! World Hour Record Holder and 1999 winner Tristan Loy may have lost the battle for the millenial edition of the Athens to Atlanta Road Skate, but his Salomon teammate Benoit Perthuis certainly won the war. Despite a nearly 3 minute wait at a rail crossing, missed turns, swirling winds, a prolonged slowdown, average-speed sapping stop-and-go-attacks, and in-town traffic, Benoit still shattered the previous course record by skating 86 miles in 4:19:24 (on the women's side, Empire Speed's Barrie Hartman also smashed the women's record). September 24, 2000: Matzger gets reeled in at the NYC 100k The New York City 100K in Brooklyn's Prospect Park was a true fall classic with its most thrilling finish ever. Defending champion Eddy Matzger (TWINCAM/Salomon/Explore) tried to fry the competition by breaking away with one lap (5K) to go. Salomon's Benoit Perthuis came with and powered the breakaway to within 200 meters of the finish, where the two were caught by a ramped-up pack and passed in the final meters. September 17, 2000: The cream rose on the Northshore Marathon The crop had so much cream in it that staggered starts were necessary for the pros and the advanced skaters at the 5th annual Northshore Marathon, Saturday, September 16, 2000. Professional teams, speedy independents, and club squads swelled the ranks under the start banner for a 7:30 a.m. start under clear, sunny skies. August 28, 2000: Access to Speed goes a mile high! Mile-high skaters got even higher up on Thunder Ridge for the Access to Speed Workshop in Denver, CO. Each participant was stunned by the lifetime of information dispensed over the course of the weekend. Everybody was hit with a new skating consciosness as if by lightning. August 21, 2000: Access to Speed bites the Big Apple Skaters from New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Michigan, California, and France proved themselves to be highly energetic, motivated, and focused during the Access to Speed Workshop in New York City's Central Park, August 18-20, 2000. August 14, 2000: United Skates Open The first stop for the National Points Curcuit, the United Skates Open in Philadephia offered a prize purse of $25,000, and that brought out most of the top skaters and teams in the nation. Verducci was there with Chad Hedrick, Derek Downing, Keith Turner, Joe Flescher, and a few other speedsters. EC Beast came out in force as well, with Forth Lacey as the top gun, and Stephen Carter, Jason Sepulveda and others in strong support. August 7, 2000: Seattle Super Skate The Seattle Skate for MS raised big bucks and lots of awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. 300 fired-up inliners skated their hearts out for the cause along the Sanmammish River multi-use path. August 2, 2000: Salomon test drives Pike's Peak Salomon buyers, reps, and key point people went full throttle at the In Line, On Track event August 1, 2000, in Colorado Springs, CO. Everybody had the double thrill of taking both cars and skates for a test drive test on the one mile oval of the Pike's Peak International Speedway July 30, 2000: Matzger leaves the Muse brothers up River What better place to enjoy inline skating's resurgence than at the Great River Roll, Saturday July 29, 2000, in Minneapolis, MN? Nearly 700 people skated with delight along the mighty Mississippi River in the 2nd annual event that featured fun and one of the largest fields in American racing. July 24, 2000: Salomon VIP skate A select group of Salomon dealers, designers, media, and marketing professionals assembled for an adventure challenge of their own during the Salomon X-Adventure race, July 22-23, 2000, in the rareified air of Aspen, CO. July 24, 2000: Salomon X-Adventure Race The Salomon X-Adventure race was the first of its kind to seriously incorporate inline skating in a grueling, multi-event oddysey at altitude. 46 mixed, three person teams from around the globe mountain-biked, inline skated, rock climbed and rappelled, orienteered, river kayaked, and ran with horses. July 17, 2000: Superweek of racing Skaters of all abilities came to Wisconsin again to compete in the one-of-a-kind Superweek of Inline Racing! Medals, prizes, trophies, and even cash money were awarded to skaters male and female in all 4 categories. Team Rainbo of Chicago had the most skaters but also represented were; Wisconsin Speed, Fast Forward, Team Body Glide, and TWINCAM just to name a few. Skaters came from all across the country to cheer each other on and enjoy some of the best bicycle racing in the country while resting between inline races. July 11, 2000: Eddy makes it into the Ring! Under your own steam penetrate the arena before the last bull rushes in and you'll be penned inside with a couple thousand runners and some very angry bulls. July 11, 2000: Eddy skates with the bulls! Want to get into trouble with the police while endearing yourself to the crowd? Then skate the bull run in Pamplona, Spain with Dave Cooper, the Kwanstress, and Eddy Matzger. For only 825 meters and a mere two-and-a-half minutes, your life will flash before your eyes on cobbled streets lubricated by centuries of spilled beer, red wine, and blood. July 3, 2000: Access to Speed bakes in Austin Skaters in Lance's country were a hardy lot for the first really baking workshop of the year. Physical and chemical reactions were numerous as participants cooked up new skating masterpieces and increased seratonin levels in their brains. A mixed lot met met in a paved lot for two action-packed days of instruction. Indoor skaters and outdoor skaters, younger and older skaters, inline and quad skaters-- all pored over the course material until they poured with sweat. June 26, 2000: Access to Speed Finds its Groove in Vancouver The place? Heavenly, ay. The weather? Sublime, ay. The talent? Divine, ay. A long list of superlatives could not do justice to the Vancouver, B.C. Access to Speed workshop, June 23-25, 2000. Host Lorne Milne and an amped group of skaters parlayed oodles of information throughout the weekend into powerful poetry on wheels. June 19, 2000: Access to Speed goes to Washington Some very good skate and meteorologic mojo got going in the District of Colombia at the Access to Speed Workshop, June 16-18, 2000; while most of the region shivered under drenching rains, the collective will of the skaters staved off precipitation and allowed unimpeded learning fun until the conclusion of each day.. May 14, 2000: Access to Speed blows away Chicago Chicago welcomed the Access to Speed Workshop to town for the first time in history and what a weekend for skating it was. Skaters came from as far afield as Michigan and Iowa for an unforgettable weekend of skill sharpening. May 14, 2000: Access to Speed Motors in Detroit Access to Speed participants learned how to get more out of their motors during a full weekend of skating in Detroit. Eddy Matzger rolled his students through a whole production line of drills and exercises which readied them for skating in the real world. May 14, 2000: Access to Speed has a tea party in Boston The Access to Speed worskhop in Boston was so filled with excitement and energy that partcipants nearly split their britches during the full weekend of muscle and confidence building. May 8, 2000: Access to Speed is Bigger in Texas The Texas State Fairgrounds in Dallas, TX provided skating terrain that normally only dreams are made of. The Access to Speed Workshop utilized gorgeous, smooth, concrete to work on the whole enchilada for two solid days. April 23, 2000: Brooklyn Bladers Clinic with Dan The Brooklyn Bladers' one day clinic with Dan Burger was postponed from April 16th until the following Sunday because of the rain. Even with the foul weather that day, a bunch of skaters came out for a social skate with Dan, and stayed out even after it started to come down pretty good. Dan was impressed with the fact that a little water doesn't stop these folks from getting out and having a good time. Skating in wet conditions teaches a skater where to push and where not to push, so it is good to get out in the wet stuff every once in a while! May 1, 2000: Access to Speed Frees up Philly The Access to Speed Workshop blew away predictions of meteorological doom with two sunny days of meteoric rises in skaters' skill levels. Philadelphia's fleetest and most courageous perservered with astounding alacrity, dissecting difficult drills, identifying the parts, and assembling the pieces with uncommon composure. April 10, 2000: Tahiti Randonnee Claude Feillatre and the Ta'ui Moe Na (I have a dream) Roller Association organized a day of fun, sun, and skating in memory of Heremoana, a young skater who had perished in a neighborhood fire that took eight houses and two lives. In spite of the somber circumstances for the occasion, 140 skaters and other fitness enthusiasts were tremendously upbeat for the 20 kilometer social skate on Tahiti's Presqu'Ile. It was a mini-vacation for all. April 24, 2000: Access to Speed Warms up in Sacramento Spring sprang warm and fuzzy at the Sacramento Access to Speed Workshop, April 21-23, 2000. Sweet smells from orchards and farmland wafted on the winds while serious skating took place. April 3, 2000: Access to Speed Surfs San Diego The Access to Speed worskhop in San Diego was hard work disguised as a ball. Over twenty skaters from all different skating circles fought long and hard to master the difficult drills proposed by their relentless teacher. March 27, 2000: Access to Speed is Peachy in Atlanta Team spirit abounded at the Atlanta Access to speed workshop. Speed and fitness hounds worked tirelessly in packs, barking encouragement to eachother and moving strongly en masse towards a common goal: raising their skating to new levels of proficency and enjoyment. March 20, 2000: Access to Speed Gets a Tan in Honolulu! Aloha skaters! Honolulu provided the ideal atmosphere for a workshop experience: sun, ocean breezes, a dedicated bunch of fun-spirited students, a fully-supportive fire-department nearby, and plenty of pavement on which to practice for the big time. March 13, 2000: Access to Speed Storms the Dome Okay, so there WAS snow on the ground for the millenium's first workshop, but that didn't stop a whole cavalcade of skaters from showing up inside the Dome for a weekend of mind and rear-end burning learning. February 21, 2000: Matzger's Sweet Victory:Tahiti Nui Inline Marathon Eddy Matzger gobbled up the course as if it was a ripe mango, soloing to a repeat victory in the second annual Tahiti Nui Inline Marathon. Dan Burger munched just as greedily coming across the line all alone a few minutes back for second place. Everyone in attendance tasted every bit of sweetness that Moorea had to offer. February 6, 2000: Skate Ski Clinic: Burger turns rollers into gliders In the weeks preceeding the first Dan Burger Skate-to-Ski Clinic of the new century the weather reports were painting a bleak picture, forcasting tons of snow and cold temperatures. But on Saturday, February 5th, those that came out to Tahoe Donner Cross Country were treated to blue skies and excellent snow conditions. January 30, 2000: Matzger and Glass are Super!! Cloudy skies and the threat of rain didn't stop hordes of skaters from gathering at the start line of the Super Bowl 10K in Redondo Beach. TWINCAM's Eddy Matzger triggered an early breakaway and won in a three man sprint on the men's side, and Fila/Verducci's Julie Brandt-Glass easily outsprinted teammate Kimberly Derrick for the women's crown. December 13, 1999: Western Hemisphere Marathon The 1999 edition of the Western Hemisphere Marathon, also known as the Chase the Sun In-line Marathon, was a wonderful success. 200+ skaters came out for the full distance, and 100+ skated the half-marathon (some in wild costume!). The racing was exciting, especially at the finish line. The first eleven Advanced skaters finished just five seconds apart, and many more were right on their heels. November 14, 1999: Long Beach Half-Marathon The Long Beach Half-Marathon (actually about 14 miles) was most definitely a well attended event. 10 pro women, 29 pro men, and 334 advanced, fitness, and recreational skaters, that's 373 skaters in all! Most of the skaters came from places in California, but there were skaters representing Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, and even Rhode Island! November 1, 1999: Snakenberg's Day!: 24 hour World Record Sandy Snakenberg had waited a long time for this opportunity. He had withstood constant needling over the years from race organizer, Jonathan Seutter. Seutter, along with many others may have doubted Sandy's mental toughness before now. Now, let no one doubt him any longer, because Sandy Snakenberg, confronted with probably the single most difficult skating event in the world, travelled farther than anyone on inlines in one twenty-four hour period. October 31, 1999: Burger, Diamantopoulus-Baruch: World Record holders! Eight skaters stood on the start line at the Polo Fields to try their hand at breaking into the Guinness Book of World Records. Thirteen minutes after ten in the morning the skaters started leaving the line. First Kent Baake (NRG), and then Sandy Snakenberg (Bont/SkatePro), the twenty-four hour skaters, staggered twenty seconds apart. Then Dan Burger, Nikki Diamantopoulos-Baruch, Dana Eades, Alice Eades, Eric Kraan, and Jaime Johnson set out ten seconds apart. Dan Burger was shooting for both the six and twelve hour world records. The TWINCAM sponsored skater received special event sponsorship from Transpack and Beeswax Productions. October 31, 1999: Gifu Cup The Gifu Nawagawara Cup attracted over 2000 skaters for a full day of skating fun and festivities on Saturday, October 30, 1999 Skaters came out en masse for hockey, slalom, dancing, racing, and a costume roll. Two skaters even showed up in their Sunday best fully intending to get married, which occurred in very public fashion to the delight of everybody in attendance. October 18, 1999: Access to Speed Quakes Long Beach Explore enriched workshoppers cruised the strand and seized upon Friday night for a hoot and a holler of a social skate. Then they sunk into pizza and a lecture. Slumber was rocked by a 7.1 earthquake in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Total liquefaction action! Hosts Jerry and Colleen MacDonald's house was a-jigglin' baby. yeah! October 11, 1999: Salomon/TWINCAM Swim to Athens to Atlanta Podium The rain had an immediate effect on the race, and it became clear early on who could swim. The lead pack got whittled down to 12 skaters even before the end of the "gator-back" section at mile 21. Then Eddy Matzger(TWINCAM/Salomon) and Tristan Loy(Salomon) went on what would become the winning break. October 1, 1999: Aspen Skate Getaway FOX TV and Salomon skates furnished Eddy Matzger with the dream skate escape into Aspen's fall splendor. September 26, 1999: Matzger, Brandt-Glass Dominate NYC 100k The weather couldn't have been much better for the 1999 edition of the New York City 100k, the NPC National Championship for this distance. Both the top men's and women's fields were stong, but were dominated by the two skaters that eventually won, Julie Brandt-Glass(Verducci) and Eddy Matzger(TWINCAM). September 19, 1999: Salomon Shines at Northshore Marathon 3000 skaters bladed on superior pavement for 26.2 miles from Two Harbors to Duluth, Minnesota, at the 4th annual Northshore Marathon on September 18, 1999. The whole dang shabang was won with a tremendous solo effort by Salomon's Cedric Michaud in 1:07:43, though in reality, most were just there for an all-around good time. Skaters wore smiles as conditions favored short sleeves and bare legs. September 13, 1999: Access to Speed Flies in Ft. Lauderdale Skaters took advantage of the calm before the storm, September 10, 11, and 12, 1999, at the Fort Lauderdale, FL, Access to Speed Workshop. After a week of rain, an eerie spell of purgatorial heat settled in. August 30, 1999: The Chris Thater Memorial 10K, Binghamton The Chris Thater Memorial 10K race was won with a massive double-pushing sprint by Stephen Carter on August 29, 1999. Carter won on a challenging course around an historic city park in Binghamton, NY. August 29, 1999: NPC #2, Turnersville The NPC continued its 1999 season with some clean, barn-burning racing at the Regal Cinema Plaza parking lot in Turnersville, NJ, on Saturday August 25, 1999. August 23, 1999: Access to Speed Goes to Washington Washington Area Roadskaters welcomed the Access to Speed Workshop to the District of Colombia August 20-22, 1999, and showed everybody a good time. August 16, 1999: Access to Speed Does Dallas Record heat was no deterrent for tough Texans as they swallowed whole a huge platter of skating knowledge hot off the concrete at the Dallas, TX, Access to Speed Workshop, August 13-15, 1999. August 2, 1999: Access to Speed Devours Big Apple Fall came early to New York City for the Eddy Matzger Access to Speed Workshop, July 30, 31, and August 1, 1999. Leaves and twigs littered the ground not because of some cold snap but no thanks to the unending drought and intense heat of the summer of '99. July 26, 1999: Superweek: TWINCAM's Matzger Takes Overall! Team TWINCAM had a dominant Superweek, winning five out of nine races. Eddy Matzger skated home with the distinction of Overall Champion, winning four events and coming second in three others. July 12, 1999: Salomon Booth Energizes NSGA Show The Salomon booth was a veritable beehive of activity at the NSGA trade show, July 9-11, 1999, in Chicago, IL. The stunningly visual, multi-paneled presentation of Salomon's 2000 product line drew people in from afar and became the focal meeting point for those who still know how to raise Cain in the inline industry. July 5, 1999: Access to Speed Explodes in Nashville 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. June 28, 1999: Access to Speed Rocks Cleveland Eddy Matzger's Access to Speed Workshop bumped and ground its way to better skating where rock and roll all started, June 25, 26, 27, 1999, in Cleveland, Ohio. In spite of high humidity and a few hard knocks, workshop participants toughed it out and earned their status as workshop "survivors." June 14, 1999: Access to Speed Sails in Seattle Smells of summer filled the air in the Pacific Northwest as two dozen skaters were drawn to the excitement of the Eddy Matzger Access to Speed Workshop, June 11-13, 1999 in Seattle, Washington. June 7, 1999: Access to Speed Accelerates Ann Arbor Copious amounts of skate mojo came together at the Access to Speed Workshop in Ann Arbor, MI, June 4, 5, and 6, 1999. Skater Eddy Matzger treated and released 20 students over the course of the weekend. May 24, 1999: Access to Speed Blasts Boston Students were brimming over with energy and enthusiasm at Eddy Matzger's Access to Speed Workshop, May 21, 22, and 23 in Bedford, MA. With the work ethic of medical residents, 24 skaters doggedly applied themselves to the execution of exercises and drills. Many were rewarded with epiphanous moments warranting out-loud exaltation. May 17, 1999: Access to Speed Floods Philadelphia An refreshingly eclectic crowd amalgamated themselves into gold at the Eddy Matzger Workshop in Philadelphia, PA, on May 14, 15, and 16, 1999. 18 skaters came from all over the map for a challenging weekend of hanging skating framework from on high. March 3, 1999: Salomon and Zephyr Team Up in Amish Country Good old times came alive as a half-dozen magazine editors joined Zephyr Tours, Salomon skates, and Eddy Matzger for a trip into the unfettered life of the Pennsylvania Amish, May 1-2, 1999, in and around towns with such curious names as Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse, and Blue Ball, PA. April 26, 1999: Access to Speed Enthuses San Diego 20 dedicated troopers came to hone and tinker and enhance their fun in the cool maritime breezes of a parking lot near Sea World. Everybody was genuinely sad to have it all end so soon. There was a collective realization that the road to improvement is arduous but attainable, and that the rewards of skating are found in the enjoyment of the process, not solely in the attainment of ever-increasing speed. April 23, 1999: Reconnaissance Fruitful: Date Set for Tahiti Marathon A fuller inspection of Tahiti and her islands was necessary after last year's Moorea Blue Marathon and before next year's Tahiti Marathon. Christopher Pierre, Claire Leonard, Jon Lowden, and Eddy Matzger worked hard at laying the groundwork for skate event of the new millenium while surveying the sample material of dreams. April 19, 1999: Phoenix Fired Up at Hot Workshop Phoenix ushered in the spring inline season with a monumental weekend of skating instruction and practice at the Eddy Matzger Access to Speed Workshop. The desert sun was a big bright spot but nothing compared to the high horsepower enthusiasm emanating from the skaters throughout the weekend. Young kids and old birds alike inspired aspiring skaters to keep up the good fight and keep the work playful. April 12, 1999: Bak Surprise Victor at Marco Sports Fest Bak was quick to point out after the race to a reporter from the Naples Daily News: "This is Eddy's race. I just got lucky in the end to win. Eddy put up a good fight." And in spite of interference from behind, Eddy was conciliatory. "Bak's built to win," granted Matzger. "He was patient. He saw the right time to move and took it.". . . . April 6, 1999: Atlanta Workshop a Lifetime Highlight Skaters not prone to hyperbole rated their experience at the Eddy Matzger "Access to Speed" Workshop, April 2-4, 1999, in Atlanta, GA, as among the best in their lives. 18 super-motivated inliners challenged fear with laughter and hard work, learning tremendously about skating and themselves in the process. . . . . March 29, 1999: Matzger Notches 4th Win in 1999 Using Explore wheels and Salomon TR Racing skates right out of the box, Team TWINCAM skater Eddy Matzger added to his string of victories in 1999 by decisively outsprinting Mountain Dew's Scott Baldwin at the Greg Levien Memorial 50K, March 28, 1999, in San Mateo, CA. Matzger beat Baldwin by four seconds in a time of 1:31:44 March 19, 1999: Salomon Skate Testers Sworn to Secrecy Two French engineers and four qualified skaters convened in Santa Monica, CA on March 17 and 18, 1999, for a round of testing which gave the Salomon group feedback on revolutionary new products. . . . March 15, 1999: Two Dozen Come In From Cold for Skating Workshop Workshop partcipants came indoors to the Metrodome to sharpen their skills and got that and much more. Not only were they made to re-tool much of their body kinetic, they also became fresh converts of cool new product. Sponsors generously kicked in goodies on a grand scale . . . March 10, 1999: Team Get-Together in Vegas and Red Rock a Hit Salomon, Explore, and Transpack team members converged on the gambling capital of the world for quality bonding time at the Ski Industry of America trade show, March 8-10, 1999. Even though motivated corporate cheeses, buyers, sales reps, and athletes put in the obligatory rounds on the convention floor, the real business was done on the asphalt and in eating establishments . . . February 20, 1999: Matzger and Cliff Win One in Paradise Young and old alike flocked to Tahiti for the race. 13 year-old Phillip Martin and 89 year-old Alan MacDonald both dazzled everybody with their amazing fitness and vigor. Over 200 skaters stole the show from the 11th annual running marathon, capturing the lion's share of newspaper and television coverage, as well as the admiration of the native population, many of whom participated in the half-distance fun roll. . . . February 12, 1999: Sun Reigns On Hawaiian Access to Speed Workshop Eddy doled out pupu sized platters of skate knowledge and lore throughout the weekend. Participants gorged themselves on information ranging from speed techniques to teamwork to unleashing the hidden power of their hips. . . . January 31, 1999: Eddy Matzger Wins Wet One in Southland Matzger squeegied the competition dry with a commanding breakaway early in the race after the fatigue of a quick and slippy start set in. Burger bridged up with a solo move away from the pack and the two motored to a victory of over a minute and twenty seconds under the wet road conditions . . . January 11, 1999: Eddy Victorious at Japanese Marathon Championships It was only with an enormous solo effort that Eddy was able to prevail against a determined pack. Since the Japanese had already shown such sprinting speed in the weeks before the race, Eddy's strategy was to turn the race into a debilitating interval workout. After nearly a dozen intensive bursts, their sharpness had been dulled. Stopping and going repeatedly-even though his legs were cramping too -- was the only way Eddy was able to beat them to the line.. . .

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