Oregon State Games 2002

OREGON STATE GAMES 2002

Outdoor Roller Skating

Angela Officer

MEDALS FOR ALL AND A MASSEUSE TO BOOT

Every participant went home with a medal at this year's Oregon State Games, Outdoor Roller Skating events. This is not necessarily a good thing though. I'd been a spectator at the state games about ten years ago, but this was my first year being a participant. I expected there to be a lot of skaters, but when Teddie and I arrived at the road race, I recognized every skater and volunteer…and to think I had nervous butterflies over this! Now, I know there are more than a dozen skaters in the state of Oregon. What about the skaters I see on Marine Drive, coliseum skates, waterfront, and indoor skating, where were they? The state games of Oregon is designed for athletes all over Oregon and southwest Washington to come together for the weekend and compete and support the sport they love. You do not have to be an elite skater or speed skater to participate. The state games are designed for people of all ages and skating levels/abilities. We are planning on making some changes to next year’s outdoor skating events and hoping at least another dozen skaters come out and join us for the fun.

This year's state games were held Saturday, July 13th. The outdoor roller-skating events kicked off at the US Bancorp Center in Gresham, where the road races were held. There were two distances, a 5K and a 10K. In each distance there were different age and ability categories.Next year we would like to include a rec/fitness category. The road race course was 300meters, pretty smooth and flat, with two left turns (ideal for indoor skaters like myself), but not typical of a road race. JF Fullum is already working on finding a new location for next year's road race, which would most likely include left and right turns (shucks!) and hills (double shucks!!).

In the afternoon we headed to Powell Valley School where the banked track events were held. The track is 150 meters around. We started off with a timed trial event, which was 300meters. Each skater did two laps around the track, while the rest of us got to watch and cheer for them. This was my favorite event because you had a chance to watch the other skaters, which isn't always possible when you're out there skating at the same time. Next were the distances. There was a 500m, 1500m, 3000m, and 10,000m. The long distances are another topic of change. The long distances get a little painful to watch and, from personal experience, painful to skate.

We all had a great time at this year's Oregon state games. The weather was decent, Bonita brought her masseuse, who got most of us stretched out and warmed up, and he even managed to mend JF's knee. We were all participating in the sport we love and we all went home winners. What more could we want??? Not much, just a few changes and a lot more skaters to come out and join us in the 2003 State games. I also want to say thanks to our volunteers, who were Marilynn Seeman, Curt Meade and Marjorie Dykeman. These three were there all morning and afternoon. They cleaned, weeded, cheered and kept times for the races. Thanks!

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