Winter Classic 2012 (USARS sanctioned) in Wichita, KS, displays some classic talent!

Photo Courtesy: Tyler Welch
(Wichita, KS) was the site where they held their annual Winter Classic USARS sanctioned event this past weekend and despite the cold bitter weather outside it was hot racing inside for flat track racing! Around 125 entries this year rounded out by local and several neighboring states’ skate clubs brought some fierce competition nonetheless. One athlete that definitely came to play was Luigino/Atom’s newbie Aaliyah Grant out of Ft. Smith, AR, carded as a Sophomore division competitor but competed like an elite world-class skater winning 7 golds out of 7 events in classic style & humility.

(above from left: Emrick, Grant, Threet)

Just a week prior Grant was nursing a sore calf muscle from her varsity track running but it didn’t seem to hinder her performance this past weekend such as the Grand Champions race comprised of the top 3 finishers in Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman & Classic Ladies combined for a Winner Takes ALL war on the floor. Winning that event as just a Sophomore made her the one to talk about all weekend & she seemed to have plenty more of where that came from. Grant also turns just 16 this coming Tuesday & Atom Wheels would like to wish her a very happy birthday & look forward to many more together.

above: Race action Grant leads the way during the Grand Champions 2500m Event

(above: Aaliyah Grant, overall Grand Champion showing off her #swag)

In theElite Sr. Men’s division it was a battle for the top of the podium spot between Donavon Sellers (Des Moines, IA) Michael Ringer (Dallas, TX), Brian Talley (Dallas, TX) and a Grand Classic ‘but still running with the big boys’ skating elite competitor Nickey Lee (Tulsa, OK). Sellers seemed to have the upper hand in the sprint distances but Ringer redeemed himself by winning the 1500m event stating he was starting to get use to the more narrower than traditional floor.

(above: race action Ringer, Talley & Sellers (far right) on the move)

Meanwhile for 2^nd & 3^rd it was a battle between Talley and Lee, even hawking each other at the finish line a few times but Talley would prevail in the end giving him enough points for the bronze overall. The Sr. 5000m Open didn’t disappoint with Sellers & Ringer going head to head for bragging rights in Kansas. It would seem that Ringer won the event but a late DQ came after the race, advantage Sellers. Definitely some crowd pleasing race action by the elite men!

(above from left: Ringer, Sellers, Talley)

(above: race action Michael Ringer taking the lead in the Grand Champions Race)

Hall of fame coach Mark Muse (Des Moines, IA) brought around 10 athletes to this competition and they all came to put IA back on the racing map as they once were the most dominant club during all of the 80’s and ½ of the 90’s hands down! Whitney ‘the Whip’ Emrick (Freshman Girls champion) Stoppelmoor (Freshman Boys Champ) Kayla Duque (Juvenile Girls Silver) Jenea Kaster & Avery Tilley (Novice Silver) were just a few of this team’s solid roster & growing fast!

(above from left: coach Mark Muse, Sellers, Emrick, blurry stranger)

(above from left: Tinsley, Emrick, DFW)

Wrapping up some other top finishes were Jim Larson in Veteran Men (gold). St. Louis’s finest came with Gateway Speed led by grand classic’s Patrick Finley who came to make some noise no doubt. Finley stated “the big winner from our team was definitely Carolina Rivera, coming out with the HUGE win in Classic Ladies, and a STRONG showing in the Race of Champions. Brian Hampton, Justin Rogers & Julian Williams all stepped up to the plate this past weekend.” Plan on seeing a lot more of Gateway in 2012.

(above from left to right: Justin Rogers, Brian Hampton, Carolina Rivera, Patrick Finley, Ashley Rumfelt - Team Gateway Speed - St. Louis)

Great job racers & thanks to all that stopped by the Luigino/Atom booth to say hello. We appreciate your support and plan to see each and every one of you real soon.

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World Cup Info!!

TORONTO – Toronto Roller Derby hosts the first ever Roller Derby World Cup December 1 – 4, 2011 at The Bunker in Downsview Park. Thirteen countries are assembling teams of their most accomplished skaters to compete at an international level and claim the title of the best in the world: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, and U.S.A.

Presented by the popular Blood & Thunder Magazine, the Roller Derby World Cup presents the first opportunity for skaters to represent their countries and the range of skills and experience that exists in international roller derby. Over 31,000 rollergirls, 1000 leagues and 36 countries make up the international roller derby community today. As modern-day roller derby is more developed in the US after ten years, and growing here in Canada after six years, the roller derby community is excited to see what each country will bring as the sport continues its exponential growth and popularity. Best of luck to all of the fantastic skaters and competitors!

For complete bout schedule and further information click here>

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Now THIS has put us in the holiday spirit! Thank you to GI Jane Austen from Hellions of Troy Roller Derby for sharing this great picture. Atom Wheels really does have the BEST customers and fans!!

Ask An Expert: Plate Mounting - Short/Forward vs. Standard Mounting

from DerbyLife/November 1st/2011:

"We received a request from Joe Asbury for more information from experts in the field about short and forward mounts vs. standard mounts for skate plates. For answers, we contacted Ivanna S. Pankin from Sin City Skates, and Doug Glass from Atom Wheels/Atom Gear/ Nistevo Manufacturing. Both experts referred us to Sure Grip's statement on the issue, so let's start there."

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Quad Plates... Past and Present

Nistevo Sport V.P. and former two time World Champion and Team USA member Doug Glass weighs in on the history and looks to the future of quad plates.

I personally lived the transition of 45 degree single action trucks to 45 degree double action trucks on into 5, 7, 10, 15, 19 degree trucks.

Like all sports, there is an evolution that cannot be stopped. So many of the products skated on early in my career were by-products of plates that were not specifically designed for speed skating.

Plates that ruled the speed market in this order from late 70’s to early 90’s: XK4 single action, XK4 double action, Magnum 45 double action, same time as the Magnum were a couple double action nylon plates. Then in 85 the Italian plate design began taking over. Plates such as Boen, Whip, and in recent the Roll-line and Star all have 15-19 degree trucks which have proven over many years they are more stable as well has responsive action. These plates are also designed with longer wheel base for additional stability in the turns. Late 80’s to 90’s Labeda Pro-Line, Hyper Power Track, with 5-7 degree double action took the indoor speed market by storm.

5-7 degree trucks proved to be very stable and provide tremendous power transfer. Without any question this change enhanced the sport of speed skating and in most cases ended up breaking all the speed records.

However, derby is not speed skating but resembles it in many ways including skater technique and skate related product selection. Derby has every aspect that speed has and more. The dynamics in the turns, stability needed at high speeds or in the pack. Derby specific techniques can be more related to roller hockey. Stop and go, lateral movement, tight turns, contact in a pack are all key elements that are considered part of ordinary roller derby.

With the increased dynamics of speed skating 45 degree trucks became obsolete by 1986. 45 degree no longer could hold up to the overall performance of the Italian brands and newer US brands. Ultimately most skaters picked an Italian brand for outdoor racing and a US brand for indoor. In many cases the brands crossed over, such as the best male quad speed skater of all time used Whip plates both indoor and outdoor.

For roller derby it is imperative skaters are first and foremost stabilized on their skates. Stability comes from the action of a plate, where the plate is mounted, wheel base on the plate and the skater’s technique. 45 degree is to squirrely, causing instability. As well 45 degree reduces power transfer during the push. Not all levels of skaters will notice the loss but if you are looking to optimize speed, power and stability then 45 degree trucks is not what you want

19 degree trucks are optimum, this action provides the best of all worlds. Between fifteen to twenty degree trucks are sufficient enough to provide all styles and levels of derby player’s maximum speed, stability and agility. 19 degree is flat enough to provide sufficient power and speed yet angled enough to ensure vast agility. 19 degree doesn’t over-react; it remains under you and responds on demand.

Artistic skaters are happy with 45, however they are not being hit, not looking for speed, they need to spin in one spot for a period of time, etc. Also, most of the top artistic skaters around the world are not using 45 any longer. I have not kept up closely with the evolution of art but from my knowledge years ago skaters were already changing to Italian plates. I don’t think the technology will regress for artistic. I also don’t see it changing much at all as the sport is so small now it is hard for the industry to invest in new product development. Derby is large enough that I think sooner than later brands are going to stop using the same truck molds they have had in their possession for 30 years and open some new innovative action. We are all tired of recycling the same trucks and relabeling the plate as a new name with the same action as 30 years ago.

-Doug Glass – Team USA 1986-1991, 2 Time World Champion

Atom Gear... Is It Right For You?

Atom Gear has been out on the market now for nearly a month and the response has been very interesting. Getting feedback from many different types of skaters, from fresh meat, intermediate to experienced derby folk alike.
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