The First of Many

     Middle of December, holiday season, there just really isn't much going on in the inline world.  I've been trying to spit out one blog a week, but I've just been drawing a blank this week.  Then when sitting around talking about races with some friends it hit me.. why don't I just write about races that I watched that really stick out to me.  Anyone that's been around me knows I basically watch every race, at every competition I go to, so I have a lot of them to chose from.

    So which race do I write about first??  There were several that really stuck out to me, but one race started something special in our sport.  For that race we have to go all the way back to the World Championships in 2005, .........


   Joey Mantia is an icon in our sport, one of the most decorated skaters of all times.  However, in 2005 he had yet to win his first individual world title.  2004, was Mantia's first year Sr. and although he was close several times, he didn't win an individual race.  He had been pegged for greatness because of his success in the Jr division.  However, just because you win when you're Jr, that doesn't always carry over.  And that leads us to this....


2005 World Class men's 500 meter final:
As a spectator this was one of the most stressful races ever.  Joey is one of my closest friends, so I'm super nervous just watching.  He had mono during the summer, so he missed our team training.  Because of the sickness he wasn't sure if he would be able to finish the long races, which at the time everyone thought were his best races.  He had won the heat of the 300m, but didn't have a great run in the final.  The last race on the track was the 500 meter.  Warm ups started and... wait a minute..... Joey's one of my best friends, I shouldn't be telling this story..... Let's hear this story from his point of view.

"Two and a half laps and a handful of the world’s fastest skaters were what stood between me and everything I’d worked so hard for to achieve. It was the 500m final at the 2005 World Championships, held on a 200 flat track in Suzhou China. I found myself standing on the line more nervous than I had ever been for anything. My teeth were tingling, my stomach was in knots, my hands were clammy and shaking; I wanted to win this race more than I wanted to breathe. Being a flat track with absolutely no where to pass, everyone had the same plan: win the start, win the race. The official gave his command, we rolled to the line, we got set… BANG… officials’ whistles signaled a false start and we rolled back to the starting line. The official again gave his command, we rolled to the line, we got set… this time, I false started and again we were called back by whistle. The official warned me specifically not to jump again, but he was wasting his breath, I was going to be the first one to the corner no matter what, it was do or die. One more time the official gave his command, we got set… I felt something tell me to go, then, the smallest amount of time you can imagine after I set my body in motion, I heard the gun… but this time no whistle. I put every ounce of strength and will I had into that start and made to the opening turn first, it was suddenly my world title to win or lose, the ball was 100% in my court. I remember hearing the bell for one lap to go and thinking, “oh my god, this is really going to happen, I’m about to be a World Champion,” I just needed to make it less than 200m in the front. As we exited the final turn and approached the line, I knew the race was mine, I threw my hands to the sky in victory. It was the single best feeling i had ever experienced and it’s the search for that feeling again that drives me in everything I do today."  

                                                                                                      --Joey Mantia


Yeah, that's how it happened.  On the sidelines we were going crazy.  The biggest thing I remember about after the race was them asking if we wanted to take a bus back to the hotel and Joey would stay and get his award.  I looked the person that asked me that in the face and said "I don't care if I have to walk back I'm watching my friend get his first gold medal."  After that race Mantia went on to win 2 more golds in the championships, and it took off from there.  Joey won many many world titles, but you can't win many without winning your first one.  And this was the story of Joey Mantia's first world title, hope you enjoyed.
 

Movie Time

This blog is gonna be something new, but everyone loves lists, right?


So you got a little down time, you've had some long training days, and you're tired.  Looking for a little extra motivation.  I've come up with a top 10 movies to watch list(this is my list, so I'm using my own rules).  I know you're anxious, so lets go.

10. Mighty Ducks- What a great story of a former hockey player turned lawyer who after a DUI arrest is forced to coach a team of Pee Wee hockey losers.  Of course he helps turn the kids from losers to winners, and they win the state championship.  Sure it's a little corny, and I still don't know why there's a commentator at a Pee Wee hockey game, but it's a great movie.(Sorry Miracle, I have a one hockey move per list rule, and Mighty Ducks beat you out b/c it brings back great memories, and reminds me of one of my first coaches)

9.  Rudy-  Story of a kid with a dream to play american football for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, one of the top football colleges in the country.  The undersized Rudy, works to get his grades right, as well as improving on the football field.  In the end there's an epic scene of all of the football players offering their spot on the team so Rudy can dress for the last game of his Sr season.  This really is an amazing movie, b/c I don't actually like it anymore (after seeing it like 100 times) but I know this list is completely discredited without it.

8. Cool Runnings- Feel the rhythm, feel the ride, get on up.. it's bobsled time!!!  This movie taught me so many things.  Track stars make the best Bobsledders, everyone should have a lucky egg, and Swiss people hate Jamaicans(haha just kidding Livio).  Sure the movie makes the Jamaicans look a lot better than they were in real life, but who cares it's a great film that everyone should see it.

7. Forever Strong- Troubled teen rugby star Rick Penning gets sent to a juvenile detention center, where he gets convinced to play for rival Highland rugby team.  He learns to play the game the right way, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and to help others.  Goes on to play the national championship against his former team coached by his demanding father(who also used to play for Highland).  This isn't a very well known movie, but it's on Netflix, so check it out if you got a chance.

6. Michael Jordan to the max- Ok, not the most critically acclaimed movie ever, but it's about Michael Jordan.  And any movie about Michael Jordan is good to me.  This guy probably hates losing more than anyone that's ever lived.  On road trips he would bribe the guys who unloaded their bags to put his on the belt first, then bet his teammates that his bag would be first.  Man did he hate losing, and he worked hard as hell so that he wouldn't lose.  So, this is a decent movie, but because it's about Michael it gets on the list.

5. The Ultimate Fighter: season 3- I'm cheating now, I realize that.  This isn't a movie, it's a TV show, but it's on DVD, so it counts(remember my list, my rules).  And I know it's lame for someone who's not a teenager or a female to watch reality TV, however it is about fighting so that's makes it a little cooler, right?  While the later versions of the show reflect more on the antics of the cast, and the earlier versions were more about educating the fans about the sport.  Season 3 was dead on, Tito Ortiz(former UFC champion) coached against Ken Shamrock.  The theme of this season was basically, those who work harder get better.  There were clips that showed Tito's groups working their butt's off, while Ken's group would be dong things like going to the driving range.  Tito's group gets better and better, Ken's not so much.  Work hard, get better... Great Moral

4. The Karate Kid- We're talking 1984 not 2010.  Once you get past how 80's this movie is, it's pretty awesome.  Mr. Miyagi teaching Danielson how to fight by making him "paint the fence" "wax on, wax off".  Then he battles through the the bullies in a karate tournament with one of the most awesomely bad songs of all time "You're the best".  Then Johnny sweeping the leg, and Danielson limping out and using  the crane kick(and every school yard fight for the next 2 years included at least 1 failed crane kick attempt) .  The Karate Kid will for sure get you going.

3. Chariots of Fire-  To be honest, this is the movie on the list it's been the longest since I've seen.  The plot involves two runners quest to win gold medals in the 1924 Olympics.  I remember it being a great movie, but one might ask how can a movie you haven't seen for so long be #3 on your list.  It's simple, because of the song.  The Chariots of Fire theme song still plays in my head anytime I see someone running in slow motion.  bum bum bum bum buuuum bum, bum bum bum bum buuuummmmm.. I'm sure someone just read that and sung along, that's why Chariots of Fire is 3#

2. Remember the Titans- I've seen this movie hundreds of times, have it on DVD and if it comes on TV I still watch it.  An team integrated in Virginia, in a time when people weren't too pumped about integration.  Sure that would be a good movie, but the training scenes were sooooo good, mix that with one of the best placed sound tracks of all times, and you got yourself a winner.  Kids if you've never seen this movie, and I don't know how that's possible.. Stop whatever you're doing right now, and go watch it.   No, seriously, GO!

1. Rocky 1, 2, 3, and 4-  I didn't want to take up 4 spots with Rocky Movies, oops.  But seriously no movie is going to get you pumped up more than the Rocky films(minus 5, which we pretend never happened, and Rocky Balboa which was a good movie, just not on this level).  Sure if you're an actual boxing fan there are parts of these movies that drive you up the wall(Rocky got knocked down like 100 times against Ivan Drago, c'mon ref you gotta stop that fight).  But the training scenes are unmatched by any movie.  When I was a kid, my club would all get together before our national championships and watch the Rocky movies as a group.  Rocky is the ultimate underdog, and everyone of these films can help you get the eye of the tiger if you need a little motivation.  These movies are great because as I'm writing this there are all sorts of rocky scenes going through my head... Rocky and Apollo's first battle, Rocky and Apollo's beach hug(sure it was slightly awkward), "yo Adrian, we did it", the kids chasing rocky up the steps, "he's not a human.... he's like a piece of iron"... These movies were truly some of the best movies ever made.

Thanks for reading this far, I know it's a little different, but it's December and there just isn't too much going on in the inline world.  That was really hard, and I doubt I'll do anymore lists, but who knows if enough people read it and like it we'll see what happens.

The letter

Dear young skaters of the USA,



What happened to the US team??? It seems like everyone has the answers... Blame is put on the federation, coaching, the older skaters, ice skating, lack of tracks, lack of racing, lack of knowledge, and a hundred different things.  At one point the US had all of the advantages, and now we have fallen behind.  Truthfully, the problem is a combination of a lot of things, but one thing is for sure, we have failed you.  All of us.  There are still people with the ability to win world championships, but the depth isn't where it needs to be. And we are the ones to blame, not you.

  But what I'm begging of you, is not to let our mistakes hold you back.  The road will be hard, but it's not impossible.  Learn to set goals, and sit down with your coaches to find ways to help reach those goals.  If your coach doesn't know the answers, ask them to reach out to others that do. Kids that only skate indoor try and skate outdoor. Remember that training hurts, always.  You get faster, and stronger, but when training doesn't hurt you've stopped getting better.  If you have the opportunity to race in Europe, South America, Asia, anywhere else, take it.  Get experience all over the world.  But if you don't have that opportunity, don't think you'll never make it.  Go online and watch race videos!!!!  There are hundreds of video's of races online, watch them.  Be proud of your country, but don't be so proud that you can't learn from other countries.  And don't be too shy to talk to the people from your own country that have been there before.  Skaters like Vogel, Stelly, Sayasane, Oniel, and a bunch more have all been there before and are all great people.  Don't be afraid to ask them questions when you see them(don't nag them, or be offended if they're busy at the time, but if they have the time to talk to you they will.  And if you ask nicely a lot of them will make time to talk to you).  Go to every; camp, clinic, practice, race, just anything that you can.  Don't be afraid to become a leader.  So many kids now days wear lack of training like a badge.  If you lose with out training, you still lost.  Work your butt off everyday, and then if you do lose, look yourself in the mirror and say I got beat by somebody better than me.  There is no shame in giving it 100% and losing to someone better, the shame is losing and having to look at yourself and know you could have trained harder.

You'll have to work harder than  any inline skater in the US ever has... But it's not an impossible task.  More great skaters will come from the US, not just good skaters, great skaters.... I know it.   Please please please do everything in your power to make sure that you are one of those great skaters.

Thanks for your time,

Michael Cheek

This may seem like a shameless plug, there is TONS of video's from world championships in 2010, 2011, and 2012.  You really should check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/user/powerslidevideo