Now that the snow and cold has cleared and the European Summer has arrived, we have a better picture of what the new season, can provide for the speed skating World.

 

 

 

 The World Inline Cup, (Official Marathon Series of the FIRS) commenced in Seoul Korea on the 8^th April, the first big win for the skating world was 60 overseas WIC skaters traveling to Seoul, while in 2006 only 38 made the trip.

 

 To show speed skating is proceeding on the crest of a wave after last years record 51 countries present at the Anyang World Championships, the World cup increased from 7 full ladies teams, in 2006, to 15 in 2007, plus an extra 6 men’s teams.

 

 This is real exciting as we expose our sport World wide, with skaters from several new countries for the first time, in official World Inline Cup teams, Finland, Estonia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Singapore & Japan represented for the first time.

 

The First two of the 3 big European open speed events have been held, the Tri Pista’s

France, Bologna Italy and Gross Gera Germany have all attracted top class International fields. I had the pleasure of being in Bologna, with the Swiss National team, having our sport on Display on Sunday in the big Bologna Park, in front of tens of thousands of members of the public, was a great spectacle.

 

 With Gross Gera and Basel WIC dates not clashing this year, there will be a great competition, prior to the first European World cup and Swiss Inline cup events.

 

 Colombia is well advanced on preparing their circuits for the World championships in Cali, an area I lived in for 2 years and regard as the best training climate for sport in the World, the skating intense public of Colombia will come out in Force, to see their heroes competing against the Worlds best, no doubt local heroes like Diego Rosero will be under intense pressure, to deliver hometown victories.

 

 The big question in Europe at present is, with so many strong teams and more attacking races likely, will the indomitable Italian Max Presti or his team be capable of defending their last few seasons total domination, of the World Inline Cup.

 

 Getting away to an early start in Korea, has been their strength, over the past 2 years, this did not happen in 2007, with many of the Bont Hyper teams main opponents getting a big head start on them.

 

 With Australia and New Zealand having completed, there national speed titles, over the next month, most European countries, along with their South American counterparts, will be well into there home championships.

 

2007 promises to be our best and biggest speed skating year ever, as we gear up to promote our attractive and exciting sport for entry into future Olympics.