HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: harbour@Rapnet.Sanders.Lockheed.Com (Susan Harbour)
Subject: Re: Who's who of net.figure.skaters
Organization: Sanders Associates
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 17:30:43 GMT


	Okay...I'll say like George (Robbins) I don't have this real 
long history with skating, but I make the occasional noise around here,
so, I'll post as well.

	I started (roller) skating at 37 (a little more than a year and
a half ago.) It started when a friend of mine had her daughter's birthday
party at the local rink. To shorten the story, we ended up in the Adult
Beginner class. By the fall of that year we were doing 6 or 8 or the
Bronze (forward) dances, and wanted more and started taking private lessons.
It didn't take long before my teacher (now also my SO) informed me that I 
would skating in meets, and told me about the "J.O." program (which is for 
skaters who have held an USAC/RS amature card three years or less) 
and so, would be skating against other beginner adults. 

	A few weeks before that first meet I decided to try circle figures 
as well, and started taking additional lesson in that. (And it turned out
to be my "niche" competitively.) I won most of the figure events I skated,
including regionals, so I was off to J.O. nationals (where I got 10th).
(still had to "move up" in dance eventhough I didn't place at regionals,
since I'd won once during the season.)

	I've taken (and passed) all my "bronze" American dance tests,
my first four circle figure tests (I was psyched about testing my first
turn figure!) and the three bronze International Dance tests. I'm working
on my turn dances (still getting over that fear of doing a Mohawk at dance
speed) and have suddenly had this revelation about turn figures and
discovered a whole new world in that area....and a whole new hope that maybe
my "competitive career" won't be over when my J.O. time is through (in
figures at least....)

	I tried a freestyle class for awhile...but felt really out of place
being the only person in the class over 9 years old....and the biggest
coward in the class as well....stayed there long enough to learn a little
about spinning, and gain enough courage to do some of the "half" revolution
jumps (1/2 mapes, mohawk jump, waltz jump....) I also took the "judges' panel"
(and test) for freestyle and which means I can judge bronze freestyle tests.

	I feel like George (Robbins) when he says that folks at work to
understand what's with all this roller skating...when I have to travel for
work (which is often), my skates come with me (both dance and figure skates.)
Travelling companions don't understand why I want to tote around this extra
luggage, and spend my evenings skating at all these strange rinks all over....
(when I could be out partying with THEM!...ha ha ha....) But I've gotten to
skate at some really great rinks, and some that have wonderful reputations for
producing great skaters....as well as keeping "my feet under me" so coming home
doesn't mean learning to skate all over again....

Susan

ps. I've really enjoyed reading about everyone's skating careers...c'mon...
there must be more folks that haven't posted theirs...Let's hear from you!
From: ae299@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jack L. Wallace)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Unfair judging
Date: 27 Jan 1993 13:30:07 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc4.ins.cwru.edu


It is a shame when any skater is improperly judged and when a 
complaint is filed you can be assured that the matter will be
addressed internally.  It may be too late to change things now, 
but if the skater is consistent he/she  will be back and win
later on.

I believe that it was Todd Eldredge that bumped Mark Mitchell 
for the olympics and not Paul Wylie.   If you remember, Todd
didn't skate Nationals last year.

Jack 
-- 
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: carl@teal.csn.org (Carl Podlogar)
Subject: Re: Warning: Bearing Cleaning
Organization: Colorado SuperNet, Inc.
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 16:46:06 GMT

One more variation: I use a water spray instead of
compressed air (the average kitchen sink accessory type) and
follow up with a dip in acetone to remove water followed by
sewing machine oil, 2 drops only. I used to use Phil Wood
and Park's lithium grease, but after is liquefies, it leaks
out of the bearings and attracts grime. I've even tried
chain wax, the type you melt and dip chains in, but I wasn't
pleased with the reduced speed performance although grime
attraction was least of all methods tried.
Carl
carl@csn.org
From: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Braking in general w/inlines (was Re: Faster t-stop (how to))
Date: 21 Jan 93 20:22:29 GMT
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <1993Jan20.154940.24402@gagme.chi.il.us> pv@gagme.chi.il.us (Paul Vader) writes:
> Brent Burton writes:
> >The very first thing I learned is that the rear brake is nearly worthless.
> >I read the owner's manual which stated that, "the brake is designed to
> >bring the skater to a stop _gradually_." (Emphasis theirs.)  And do they
> >mean gradually.
> Everybody thinks that when they first start skating. If the brake doesn't.
> start screaming on a panic stop, you aren't applying enough pressure. 
> Considering that T-stops and power slides aren't good for your wheels (unless
> you like flat spots), learning to use the brake well should be a high
> priority. As is learning to duck and roll.

I'll agree with that.  Even with all the discussion here, I initially find
the rear brake awkward and see that it will take some serious practice to
become really comfortable with it.  Part of the problem is that coming from
indoor skating, I habitually use some form to t-stop or turn and stop.  I've
been trying to get comfortable (on conventional skates) with the stopping
backwards on the toe-stops, but don't find that easy either, though it's
probably the most effective indoor stop (maby next to hockey/power slides).

> >So, with all this said, what is the best approach to stopping at speed?
> >The reason I ask is that the rear brakes *do* slow you down, but if you
> >notice something _right_up_ahead_ on a path, what do you do?  There may
> >not be enough room to turn/slide.  As mentioned in the previous post,
> >the T-stop technique may cause a bad directional throw.  Of course, the
> >preventative response is to not go fast, but....

> If you aren't going extremely fast, you can kill your forward motion quite
> quickly by planting a foot and spinning. It also has the advantage of 
> looking very cool <g>. PV

The real problem with this is that people tend to freeze up when they feel
that they are losing control.  There is a certain speed beyond which one
will turn or spin, and only practice will nudge the threshold up.  The
result is "beginners" losing control, freezing up and evetually falling,
bailing out or kissing walls or cars.

The advantage that the rear brake has here, is that employing the brake
is relativly un-threatening and can be done at "any speed".  Still early
skating lessons should include practice in both use of the brake and
running out into the grass or other falling and should avoid hills or
terrain where there are no options.

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,     work:   to be avoided at all costs...
but no way officially representing:   uucp:   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
Commodore, Engineering Department     domain: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com
From: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Rear entry inlines
Date: 26 Jan 93 01:04:29 GMT
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <1jq0btINNpv6@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> cd517@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Douglas J. Narby) writes:
> 
> Tried on a pair of Ultra-Wheels Zephyr rear-entry skates yesterday.
> Very comfortable, but loose through the instep with no way to adjust.
> Rear-entry ski-boots have come and gone two or three times...
> Anybody know of good rear entry skates (pardon if you think the
> Zephyrs are; I don't) on the market -- it is a good theory, what
> about the practice??

These are the only rear-entry skates I've seen.  I'd be a bit skeptical.

In skiing, rear-entry boots have eventually reached a debatable
"as good as" front buckle-boots, with the ease of use overriding
other concerns for "recreational" use.

It takes a lot of techical detail to get this far - various adjustments
and mechanisms that close the boot and tighten up the forefoot/arch
area after insertion.

On the other hand, the average in-line boot is only equivalent to a
low or mid-line front closure ski boot, so this isn't neccessarily
saying much.  Looking at some of the more recent skate designs like
the RollerBlade(tm) CoolBlade, it looks like skate and ski boot
design may be diverging, despite an initial similarity in style and
construction.

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,     work:   to be avoided at all costs...
but no way officially representing:   uucp:   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
Commodore, Engineering Department     domain: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: jkaplenk@lucpul.it.luc.edu (Joe Kaplenk)
Subject: Re: Who's who of net.figure.skaters
Organization: Loyola University Chicago
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 16:04:17 GMT

In <93Jan19.125927pst.11912@alpha.xerox.com> Michel_Denber.WBST147@xerox.com writes:

>	"Anyone else care to 'fess up as to their skating background?"

I've got another posting about my background where Al Boulanger asked about my
experience with rollers and ice both, but I'll fill in some of the gaps.

I started pond skating as a child at a local park district pond in 
upstate NY (Middletown) and loved it. I did just hockey type skating and
all forwards moves and used to go there to skate to the music. I was
always impressed with backwards skaters, but could never do it, probably
cause  I didn't really try. They had a really nice warming hut with
a  propane powered heater. 

When there was urban renewal they built some low-income housing
projects near the pond and within about 2 years they stopped
having ice skating. I'm not sure if it was related, but I think
attendance dropped off very quickly because of parents, rightly
or wrongly, concerned about their children's safety.  So the park
district decided not to  keep it open. 

I missed the skating all through college and afterwards and kept hoping to
get back into it. Finally at age 39,(1988) I saw the Olympics and it 
rekindled my love for skating. I started taking ISIA ice skating lessons
at a local rink and got up to FS4 levels and also passed my USFSA Preliminary
Freestyle and Figures tests along with the Adult Bronze tests.

I enjoy inline skating also and am working on some trick skating and
will do some USAC/RS and IISA speed competitions, just for the fun of
it and experience. 

I picked up roller skating last year  as something to add to my
repertoire of skills and knowledge and am teaching quads and
inlines part-time as well as testing and competing in both
ice and rollers. I can teach rollers and compete in USFSA ice
skating, this was okayed by the Sanctions Committee of the USFSA,
in case anyone is curious about doing it.

I've often been asked why an adult of 45 wants to subject himself to
freestyle. The answer is that I love it. I enjoy the creative 
aspects and love bringing in my strong musical background (I'm a musician and
singer on the side also) and combining it with skating.

I've been pretty active in organizing competitive adult ice skaters 
and am Chair of the newly formed USFSA Adult Skaters Advisory Committee
as well as President and a founder of the Adult Skaters Forum, an independent
organization of adult freestyle, figures, dance and pairs ice skaters.
Adult competitive ice skaters, particularly in freestyle,  have had a
lot of concerns and have felt left out, ignored, or even abused by the
current system.  This is some of the concerns that we hope to address.  

-- 
Joe Kaplenk,
jkaplenk@lucpul.it.luc.edu
312-764-1212 home, fax at home 312-465-0406
From: lyndw@pogo.wv.tek.com (Lynd Wieman)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Skates are faster than bikes! (was: ASTM Roller ...)
Date: 25 Jan 93 22:03:06 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Wilsonville, OR.

In article <1993Jan24.022905.17202@cc.gatech.edu>, uwe@cc.gatech.edu (Uwe Brockmann) writes:
|> 
|> I did not know that bicycle racers touch each other on downhills.
|> I assume that a cyclist who pushes another cyclist on a downhill has
|> to be slighly to the side of the cyclist whom he is pushing.

(stuff deleted about possible drafting patterns)

In my experience, at 50+ mph on a bicycle in a pack, I am not looking for
ways to get closer to other riders.  The distances between riders generally
opens up a bit.  (I am only speaking from my experience.  Top racers are
probably a lot more willing to take risks then I am.)

I'm sure skaters can get a more stream-lined profile than bicyclists and,
at these speeds on a bike, it is more effective to tuck as tightly as possible 
then to try peddling.  I suppose you could have special gears that would be 
usable at these speeds but most bikes aren't equipped with them.

I believe the fastest position for coasting on a bike is sliding back so
your stomach is on the seat and your arms straight forward holding the bars
in the middle.  In this position the rider probably doesn't have much
more wind resistance then a skater but the bike adds a fair amount.

One thing that cyclists do is take turns at the front so that a cyclist in
the back can use the slipstream of the leader to go faster than him.  After
he passes, the previous leader tucks in behind until he overtakes and passes.
This allows the entire pack to go faster than an individual without touching.

Evidently skaters get the same effect, perhaps more efficiently, by pushing
each other.


|> Thus I should be able to go faster than them. I cannot try this because
|> hills aren't sufficiently steep around here. I also don't want to try
|> it because I already start feeling uncomfortable at 40 mph.

Ah, there's the rub!  I think bikes are more stable at these speeds and
having brakes that allow fine control of speed without shifting my weight increases my confidence.

Wind resistance and rolling resistance be damned!  You'll never see me
doing 50 on skates. :-)


My top speed of 60 mph in a pack was clocked with a cycle computer, as was
my individual speed of 50.  I still have a question I haven't seen an answer
to:  Have skaters been measured going this fast?  ("they looked really fast!
It must have been 60 mph!" doesn't count :-) )

Lynd
From: bpb9204@tamsun.tamu.edu (Brent Burton)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Warning: Bearing Cleaning
Date: 28 Jan 1993 00:34:32 -0600
Organization: Texas A&M Univ., Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: tamsun.tamu.edu

jss@bofur.unh.edu (Spectre) writes:
|In article <36020011@hpfcmgw.FC.HP.COM> cfb@hpfcmgw.FC.HP.COM (Charlie Brett) writes:
|>You can use a variety of methods to dry them (ie. oven, compressed air,
|>water displacing lubricant). I just seized up 4 bearings because I did not
|
| [...use drill to spin bearings in cleaner...]
|different times.  It works wonderfully!!  I was able to get totally frozen
|bearings to run clean this way, and these bearings had sand and everything
|in them (I used to skate on the beach, and all the sand got into my bearings)

Good idea.

From repairing many, many bearings, here's what I'd do.  (These repairs
were done at a rink, so there wasn't the grit that exists outside.  Adjust
as needed).

Remove the bearings from the wheel, remove one of the bearing caps with
a knife, icepick, etc.  (These are your average NMB bearings,etc).
Soak the bearings in cleaner (Varsol, gas) to loosen crud, free bearing.
Use an air compressor to blast the bits out.  Hold the bearing with
thumb and index finger in one hand, use the other hand to blast the air
onto the bearing, spinning it.  This frees up the junk *real* fast and
dries the bearing at the same time.  When the bearing begins to dry and
it's not clean, soak it some more -- you don't want to run the bearing
at a few thousand rpm without any lube too long.  Once the bearing is
clean, add your favorite lube (grease, light oil, whatever).  

Since the bearing caps usually are damaged when removed this way, you
can't replace them.  Make sure you install the bearings open-side facing
inward.  The bearings are slightly more susceptible to contamination
now, but this technique has worked surprisingly well.  When you need to
clean some 16 bearings, this technique takes about an hour or so.

On my mountain bike I've used Phil Wood waterproof grease.  It's a thick
green grease that seals the bearings ("until penetrated by dirt" ;-).
The next time I need to work on skate bearings, I'll use this grease.
I know light oil exists (for speed) but this Phil Wood grease nearly
liquifies once the bearing is used a bit.

-Brent
-- 
+-------------------------+
| Brent Burton    N5VMG   |    
| bpb9204@tamsun.tamu.edu |  
+-------------------------+ 
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: kevin@dipl.rdd.lmsc.lockheed.com (Kevin Anderson)
Subject: Skate Flambe' (sp?)
Keywords: xxxx
Reply-To: kevin@dipl.rdd.lmsc.lockheed.com
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 19:43:06 GMT

OK, I've got a new weird thread for a topic.  Somebody was
telling me the other day about a stunt skater (for lack of
a better term) who used to go around in ice shows jumping
over barrels (21 to be exact) with his skates on fire!  He
would also jump over a school bus (the long way).  I wanna
party with this guy :-)  To make things even harder, he would
do a somersault (sp?) in mid jump.  Does anyone know the name of 
this slightly insane person?  Also, how does one go about starting
out in this line of business?  Do you one day say to yourself,
"Hmmm, I think I'll set my feet on fire and jump over 21 barrels
while doing a flip in mid air...."

Does anyone know of any other crazy stunts (roller or ice) that 
have been done?

Kevin Anderson
From: icedance@carson.u.washington.edu (Ann Schmidt)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Partial Results--U S Nationals (Ice)
Date: 21 Jan 1993 23:46:36 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: carson.u.washington.edu

I found these in the Seattle Times

Senior Men Compulsory Figures
1.  Gig Siruno
2.  Brian Schmidt
3.  J. Robert Morris, Jr.

Novice Pairs - Free Skate
1.  Sarah Ward & J. Paul Binnebose
2.  Nicole Perry & David Delago
3.  Natalie Vlandis & Jared Guzman

Final Standings  1. Ward-Binnebose, 2. Perry-Delago, 3. Vlandis-Guzman

Novice Men - Free Skate
1.  Ryan Jahnke
2.  Don Baldwin
3.  Dusan Cirlic

Final Standings  1. Jahnke, 2. Cirlic, 3. Baldwin

Junior Dance - Compulsories
1.  Kimberly Hartley & Michael Sklutovsky
2.  Christina Fitzgerald & Mark Fitzgerald
3.  Carissa Green (from Seattle) & Greg Maddalone
...
13. Erin McCabe & Christopher Rossiter (from Seattle)

Junior Men - Technical Program
1.  Michael Weiss
2.  John Bevan
3.  Matthew Kessinger

Senior Pairs - Technical Program
1.  Calla Urbanski & Rocky Marval
2.  Jenni Meno & Todd Sand
3.  Karen Courtland & Todd Reynolds

Novice Dance - Compulsories
1.  Eve Chalom & Mathew Gates
2.  Julieanna Sacchetti & Oleg Fediukov
3.  Kristina Feliciano & Alex Jacoby

I got these Senior Dance Compulsory results off the net

1.  Renee Roca & Gorsha Sur
2.  Susan Wynne & Russ Witherby 

Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: mdm@bnr.ca (Diane MacMartin)
Subject: Re: Observations on Nationals
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 13:52:14 GMT

In article <1993Jan25.222536.5189@photon.com> wmc@photon.com (Bill Cornette) writes:

>	- I cannot for the life of me understand how Roca and Sur were
>allowed to compete!  They performed beautifully and earned the gold, BUT
>he doesn't even have a green card yet, much less his US citizenship,
>just an intention to get it.  I realize that the US desparately wants
>a competitive ice dancing couple, but we shouldn't allow someone to
>compete who cannot represent us at the World's.  I know that this matter
>is still undecided, but it should have been decided before letting them
>skate.

Didn't the TV announcers say that he IS allowed to compete at World's,
but that he would need citizenship or whatever before being allowed to
compete at the Olympics?

I was less than impressed with ALL the pairs skaters, by the way.  Most
of the better ones needed more time together as pairs.

Diane
Diane MacMartin       Bell-Northern Research, Ltd     Ottawa, Canada
mdm@bnr.ca            Any opinions are my own and do not represent BNR.
=========>> If this is printed on paper, please recycle it <<==========


Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: kimon@orac.holonet.net (Kimon Papahadjopulos)
Subject: Re: T-stop
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access BBS: 510-704-1058/modem
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 03:15:49 GMT

naru@eng.umd.edu (Naruhisa Takashima) writes:


>I've been roller-blading for about a year now, and I can manage to
>stop myself quite well using either the heel brake or power sliding.
>However, I have a difficlut time trying to stop using t-stop. I always
>seem to spin around and really can't scrub off any speed. 

>Can anyone tell me what is the proper techinique involved in t-stopping?

The trick in learning how to t-stop is not trying to stop when you are
practicing it-- If you try to do the proper movements AND try to stop at
the same time, you will probably end up putting too much weight in the
wrong place and end up spinning or otherwise falling.

As you are moving, practice dragging your rear skate on the ground without
trying to use it to stop-- at first, barely let it scrape across the surface.
As you become more confident, put more force in it.

If you are already confident about skating on one foot you will be
t-stopping in no time.

Kimon Papahadjopoulos
kimon@holonet.net
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: ac999257@umbc.edu (ac999257)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Kucichii and Wedland?
Date: 24 Jan 1993 02:23:00 -0500
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Campus
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc8.umbc.edu

In article <C1Bsvz.EqD@news.cso.uiuc.edu> vs55212@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Venus Sinn ) writes:
> Now, a question raised in my head.  I wonder how many skater from 
> each country is allowed to sent to the 1994 Olympic.  Since, a 
> lot of pro are thinking about the entering, like Boitano, Hamilton, 
> Bowman, Witt and.....may be Yamaguchi?
>

I'll take a stab at this one, although please correct me if I'm wrong:

For the world championships, I think it's two from most countries, 
and 3 if a country had a world medalist in the previous year. This 
is why we are sending two in all categories except the ladies, since 
we had a world medalist (2 in fact) last year only in the ladies
competition. Paul Wylie's Olympic silver medal did not enable us to
send 3 men to this year's worlds.  I am assuming the 94 Olympics will 
be the same, and the number of competitors we send will be based on 
this years world championships.

Mary
From: ericfitz@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Eric Fitzpatrick)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Braking in general w/inlines (was Re: Faster t-stop (how to))
Date: 25 Jan 93 20:44:19 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania


I really hate to T-stop with my new wheels on, due to the trmendous amount of 
wear it inflicts. Going down a hill the other night, I noticed that I had not 
replaced my brakes after playing hockey (we were told to take 'em off ..real 
nice wooden rink in New Orleans). Anyway, instead of T-stopping, I started to 
slalom in wide arcs. Having lost some speed, I looped to start skating in the
opposite direction. I tried this a few more times and really found it a real 
good technique for improving on "brakeless" stops and overall control....also,
I avoided skating into a  busy intersection.

			----------=====>FitZ<=====----------
Newsgroups: rec.skate