Colorado Springs, Colo. (Jan. 3, 2008) – National Skating month kicked off Jan. 1, with U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey and US Speedskating joining forces to promote all forms of skating. Nearly 300 skating clubs across the United States are participating and offering free lessons.

Olympians Kimmie Meissner (U.S. Figure Skating) and Scott Gomez (USA Hockey) and three-time Olympic medalist Chad Hedrick (US Speedskating) are encouraging those who have never tried ice skating to take advantage of the free lessons being offered by participating ice skating rinks.

“The great thing about National Skating Month is that families can go to any participating rink for free lessons and all sorts of other fun events,” said Meissner, the reigning U.S. champion and 2006 World champion. “It’s a sport and a pastime for people of all ages, and I encourage everyone to visit their local rinks to see how they can get involved in this wonderful activity.”

(more…)

Filed under: Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, News Bytes, Speed Skating by jane
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Studies show that an average 143 lb person skating at 10mps can  burn as much as 600 calories in an hour of roller skating. Most people average in the 6 mph range and will burn an average of 350 calories or greater. With most roller derby leagues, they practice for 2 hours totalling a caloric burn of over 1200 calories in a single practice.

Besides the sport of roller derby providing aerobic activity, it also provides the benfefits of muscle toning, strengthening and not to mention some nice bruises to show off to your friends and family.

Key benefits of roller skating:

• Low-impact exercise for joints
• High caloric burn
• Aerobically as good as jogging or cycling
• Involves all the major muscle groups
• Mentally uplifting

Where and when to roller skate:

• Roller rinks
• Parks and paved exercise pathways
• As a way to regain strength after an injury
• When you find exercise boring
• Winter or any day it’s impossible to exercise outdoors

Filed under: Exercise, Health, Roller Derby, Speed Skating, Sports A-Z by Roller Chick
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KOLOMNA, Russia, Dec. 2, 2007 - - Anni Friesinger of Germany won the women’s 1,500-meter World Cup speedskating event Sunday, edging Christine Nesbitt of Canada by .21 seconds. Friesinger, the three-time world champion, finished in 1 minute, 55.39 seconds for her second win and fifth overall podium finish out of six World Cup races this season.

Daniela Anschutz-Thoms of Germany timed 1: 57.10 at Kolomna Speedskating Center to finish third

Nesbitt, who won two 1,500 races in November, leads the World Cup standings with 280 points. Kristina Groves is second with 210, while Friesinger moved three places up to third at 180.

Filed under: Events, News Bytes, Speed Skating by jane
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HEERENVEEN, The Netherlands, Nov. 25, 2007 - Meng Wang of China won the women’s 500 at the third stop on the short-track speedskating World Cup circuit. Kalyna Roberge of Ste-Etienne-de-Lauzon, Que., Anne Maltais of Quebec City and Valerie Lambert of Sherbrooke, Que., finished 1-2-3 in the B Final for fifth, sixth and seventh place, respectively. (more…)

Filed under: Events, News Bytes, Speed Skating by jane
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