The annual Slalom on the Fourth inline slalom event is happening again this year.

Visit http://slalomonthefourth.com/ for more information

Many in inline speedskating had found racereports.net an invaluable resource for latest product news, discussion of technique, and announcement and reporting about events. A few months ago, the site disappeared, replaced by a smiley face. Ouch.

Come to find out (over on the Bont message board), it's preserved, but inactive. The folks hosting it explain why.

Have a look

From email:

Rollerblade is giving away 10 free pair of skates!

Rollerblade wants to see skating through your eyes, from your perspective. We want to know what it means to you to be an inline skater.

From now until 12am pst on September 1, you can shoot and submit your video clip to be included in the 2007 “GO WHERE YOU WANT” P.O.V. Project. We're looking for video footage that you film, while skating, showing the experience from your own perspective. We want to see what you see (Check out the sample at

http://www.rollerbladepov.com

Whether it's urban, rural or at a local park; you decide!

The best clips will be used in an amazing montage of global perspective and you could win a free pair of brand new Rollerblade inline skates!

Spread the word!

A disparity: the email says Sept. 1 deadline, the website says Sept 30.

As seen in the UK Daily Mail {article}, gas powered skates are available from China. Seems familiar, haven't we seen this before? Either way, the article emphasizes the top speed of 20mph as some sort of crazy fast, death-inducing speed. Good to know next time you are going that fast without an engine...

The Big Apple Roll Skate Weekend 2007 in NYC, Friday August 24 through Sunday August 26, will be free, as in no registration fee.

Check the website for more info: http://www.empireskate.org/bigappleroll/

Read on for the emailed announcement...

JUST ANNOUNCED: Team Rainbo will be hosting a marathon in two weeks, on July 21, 2007. Entry fees go up on July 19.

The race is in Mundelein, IL, NNW of the city of Chicago.

Events include
All ages:
--Marathon (Elite Open, Elite Masters, Fitness/Rec Age groups (u18, 19-30, 31-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+))
--10 mile (Age group u18, 19-30, 31-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+)
--1/2 mile \"Dash for Cash\" (Elite Open, Elite Masters)
Kids:
--1/2 mile for under 12
--200 meter for under 8

Marathon and 10mi start at 8.30a, 1/2mi and 200m races start at 10.40a.

Please visit the event website for more info, including registration, course map and lodging: http://www.chicagolandinlinemarathon.com/

Thanks to Cale Carvell, founder Team Rainbo, for the email.

--EO Skates' full composite monocoque frame available in the US from SSMM Racing
--Gyro inline products catalog 2007 (frames, wheels, bearings, clothing) (discussion) (website) (store)
--New Bont lineup (including clothing) (discussion) (brochure) (discussion2)
--Powerslide USA (website)
--Source for PC-Vane wheels: (website) (discussion)
--Ceramic bearings from Liberty Sports $120/16 (discussion)
--TUSA will be producing a carbon frame for Bont 3pt boots (discussion)
--CadoMotus clap frame report and video (link)
--New MPC website (website)
--Another inline skate iteration: "step-action" skates (almost a powered clap skate) (link)

News:
--Inline speed skating to be part of 2010 Asian Games. (discussion)
--An online speed skating training program (information)

Gathered from racereports.net and email newsletters, while not a complete list, it includes some lesser known/advertised/last-minute events:

Races:
--5/5/07: NYC Triple Challenge triathlon (10k skate / 20k bike / 5k run) : team or individual ($75 adv or $90 raceday) :: Contact info: Event Organizer is Luis Figueroa, 718-612-2305, lefigue@yahoo.com
(link)
--5/12/07: Skate of the Union Half-Marathon in Washington, D.C. (link)
--5/13/07: Columbia Station (outside Cleveland, OH) marathon and half marathon (link)
--5/26/07: Wolverine Inline Marathon (or half marathon) on Belle Isle, in Detroit MI. (link)
--5/27-28/07: The Great Race 10k (Sunday) and half marathon(Monday) in Elkhart, IN (link)
--5/28/07-6/8/07: U.S. Junior and Senior World Team Trials will be held from May 28-June 8, 2007 in Colorado Springs at the 7-Eleven Veledrome. (link)
--Crit race in SoCal (link) (link2)
--8/12/07: San Francisco Inline Marathon (link)
--9/29/07: NYC Skate Marathon and 100K in Prospect Park, Brooklyn (link)

Events:
--Skate DC Weekend, May 11-13, 2007 in Washington, D.C. (link)
--Hills and Thrills 2007, June 1-3, 2007 in Pittsburgh, PA (link)
--Philly Free Skate, June 29-July 1, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA (link)
--Boston's Annual Slalom(fest) on the 4th, July 4th, 2007 in Boston, MA (link)
--Battle US: Eurostyle/smallcone slalom comp September '07 in NYC (link) (link2)
--Bill Jackson Pinellas Trail Skate '07, near Tampa, FL, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2007 (link)

This weekend is the Disney Inline Marathon and Expo; the marathon (for ages 13+) is on Sunday, April 1, the Expo (and Kids races!) is on Saturday, March 31 from 10a-6p at the Milk House at the Wide World of Sports complex. Even if you don't skate in the marathon, come to the expo for presentations by Eddy Matzger, a chance to meet Olympians Derek Parra and Joey Cheek, watch kids race in the Disney's All Star Kids' Classic at 1pm, as well as to browse the latest inline gear from vendors.

Onsite registration (at Wide World of Sports) is open Saturday for the Sunday race, and the weather will be perfect for this year's marathon.

More information is available at the Disney Inline Marathon website.

From racereports.net:

--Matter 110s now available [link to discussion]
--PC-Vane U.S. Website Open [website] [link to discussion]

For the rest of November, all wheels are 15% off. Take a look at the pc-vane USA web store, and email me if you're interested. I can verify inventory for you and ship immediately by Priority.
Pete Perron

--Tru-Rev Wheel Challenge [website] [link to discussion]

Try four Tru-Rev wheels on one frame and four of your favorite wheels on the other frame and compare the grip and roll for yourself. For $35.00 (free shipping anywhere in US and Canada) you will receive a combination pack of 4 wheels- you specify the wheel size of your choice. The Tru-Rev Wheel Challenge will run through the month of November December 2006.

This is a promotional offer. Only one set per customer.

--Wheel hub failure incident [link to discussion]


UPDATED: 061212: Tru-Rev extended wheel challenge through end of December.