The Inline Skating Whiteboard -- anyone can add anything here they
want.. ok!
2008 Ann Arbor Inline Friday Social Skate Schedule
Friday Night skates now being scheduled on a week-to-week basis, see the
"Upcoming Skates" section below for details.
Meet at the big flagpole on the University Diag.
Dinner to follow skating.
==================================================
Next Skate: Fall 2008 - Saturdays from Gallup Park. See the following web
page for details:
http://sites.google.com/site/annarborinline/
Upcoming Skates:
The Friday night skate is "no drop" group skate open to anyone with basic
braking and turning skills. We typically skate 8 to 12 miles, with frequent
stops to let everyone catch up. Cyclists are also welcome.
The Route: http://tinyurl.com/7j8n3
==================================================
Ann Arbor Skatepark News http://a2skatepark.org
The City of Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission will be holding a public
hearing on Tuesday, May 20 at 4:00 PM in Ann Arbor’s City Hall to consider
the
Northwest corner of Veteran’s Memorial Park as the location for a permanent
skatepark.
The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee is working to create a safe, public
recreation area for skateboarders, inline skaters and rollerskaters. The
committee is made up of a broad range of community members. Their goal is to
design and build an unprecedented skatepark, integrating public art and
environmentally sound construction techniques in the project.
The public is encouraged to come and show their support of the Ann Arbor
Skatepark initiative, and specifically, the proposed location in Veteran’s
Memorial Park. For more information, visit a2skatepark.org, or contact Trevor
Staples at (734) 223-9837
==================================================
The Skate Calendar has moved to
http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/dreeves/wb/skatecal (link above)
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A six mile section of Hines Drive is closed to automobiles from Outer Drive
Road going west to Ann Arbor Trail, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every
Saturday from May through September. Generally, Detroit area
skaters meet at Nankin Mills at 9am on Saturdays for a moderately fast paced
training skate. [Send email to skating-social@umich.edu to see if/when
people
are planning on skating in the current week.]
Park at Nankin Mills, off of Hines Drive, just east of Ann Arbor Trail in
Westland. Map: http://tinyurl.com/al9rv
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Stuff from past years:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devonshire hill measurements:
Mailbox closest to bikepath = 0 ft (zeroed altimeter)
Spruce St. = 29 ft
Arlington St. = 45 ft
Londonderry St. = 78 ft
Top (Melrose St., at manhole) = 125 ft
distance from mailbox to top (not exactly the race course we use)
is 1.0 mile (car odometer was used, so not precise distance)
Devonshire records: (first speed bump to telephone pole at top)
Danny 4:10 on 2005.09.30
Erica 4:12 on 2005.09.30
Mark Carpenter 4:15 on 2005.10.03
Peter? 4:53 on 2005.09.30
Mike Smith? 5:02 on 2005.09.30
Rahul? 5:26 on 2005.09.30
??? 5:43 on 2005.09.30
Bethany 6:10 on 2005.09.30
People interested in hearing about x-country skiing and outdoor ice skating
(we're looking at tours on frozen lakes and rivers)...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danny: dreeves@umich.edu
Kapoo: ckapoo@gmail.com
Victoria, Ken Mitton, Bill Rand, Nicole,
Phyllis Konecheck: pkoneche@yahoo.com
thomas smolarek: hypertws@sbcglobal.net
Bethany Soule: bsoule@gmail.com
******************** MOVED TO:
* Upcoming events: * http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/dreeves/wb/skatecal
********************
Friday Night Skate FAQ: (add any questions you have...)
-----------------------
1. How far will we go?
Somewhere around 15 km. There are some out and back sections that
slower skaters can cut short. Also, the faster skaters will occasionally
double back and do hills twice (we try to stick to very mild hills,
especially when downhill).
2. I don't know how to brake. Is that a problem?
As the group continues to grow and we have a critical mass and take over
the streets this is at least slightly less of a problem than otherwise.
You could get a friend on a bike to be your brake -- stay behind them
and just push on them to stop (works surprisingly well).
Finally, you could show up early and I'll give some pointers on
braking (let me -- dreeves@umich.edu -- know if you're coming).
3. I'm really slow. Is that a problem?
No, we'll keep stopping to regroup. A good rule of thumb is if you can
skate faster than you can run, you'll be fine. Try it on a bike first if
you're not sure.
4. I'm a world champion speed skater. Will I be bored?
No, we'll kick your ass. Bring it on.
5. Are helmets required?
Skating in the street without a helmet is contending for a Darwin Award.
I'd like to say helmets are required, but, ultimately, it's your head.
Wrist guards are smart -- it's possible to break (and even really
screw up) a wrist by landing on it hard.
Elbow/knee pads just save your skin, but adding these to your armory is
nice especially for beginners as you're completely invincible this way.
6. What flagpole on the diag?
It's huge; you can't miss it.
8. The Friday Night Skate sounds so cool, but I don't have skates. Can I
still join the fun?
Sure. A bike would do fine (we often have a few bikes join us), or any
other form of wheeled transportation. You could even conceivably keep
up on foot.
9. Who can I contact with more questions?
Daniel Reeves, dreeves@umich.edu, cell 734-276-7285.
Christine "Kapoo" Kapusky, ckapoo@gmail.com
10. What if it's raining?
If it's actually raining then we cancel (check this page before the
skate for the final verdict).
11. Where can I park near the diag?
See the parking map; link above!
Note that parking is free after 6 in the blue lot structures or the street.
Or, you can park at Mitchell fields, just east of the UM hospital (and just
west of the VA hospital) on Fuller (becomes Glen to the east and Geddes to
the west). That's also where the Gallup park path starts and we
pass by there on our route.
Some of us meet at the Mitchell parking lot at 6:45 and skate up past the
hospital to the diag at 6:50, arriving just after 7.
12. How long will it last?
Till about dusk. The Friday Night Skate is officially on every Friday,
May 28 (when it started in 2004) through October 28 unless a notice is
posted here about a cancelation.
13. How can I help spread the word about the Friday Night Skate?
You could post this flyer (thanks to Michelle Sternthal) where you work:
http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/dreeves/skating/skate.doc
Contact skating-request@umich.edu for more ideas for getting involved.
14. Where can I get skating lessons?
http://www.detroitbladingcompany.com
http://www.skatinstation2.com/
15. Where can I buy skate stuff?
Play it Again Sports at Westgate Shopping Center (Huron & Stadium)
Summit Sports in Brighton
Another list of skate stores:
http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/dreeves/skating/skate-stores.txt
Online at http://www.swatskates.com
or http://www.adamsinline.com
or http://www.nettracing.com
or http://www.rollerbob.com
or http://www.gatorbackskate.com/
or http://www.skates.com
(Note that swatskates is the only skate dealer with whom I've had a
problem. I would not recommend them - Brian)
16. Where can I get regular updates about skating in the Ann Arbor area
besides the mailings for the Friday Night skate?
There is a somewhat higher volume e-mail list skating-social@umich.edu
for Ann Arbor area skaters. Contact skating-social-request@umich.edu to
be added to this list.
Add your email address if you want to see updates to this whiteboard.
Note that there's a (very) small spam risk since this page is linked to.
{SPM}
dreeves@umich.edu, wrand@umich.edu, ckapoo@gmail.com,
brian.renaud@gmail.com, amanzitti@yahoo.com,
detroitbladingco@sbcglobal.net, mjste@umich.edu, ericaco@umich.edu,
rbagdia@engin.umich.edu, lalith@gmail.com
{NSPM}
THE STANDARD ROUTE:
UM Diag to Huron, cross Huron onto Ingalls
Straight on Ingalls (north) to Catherine
Left on Catherine (west) to N. Fifth
Right on N. Fifth (north) to Beakes
Right on Beakes (northeast) across Broadway Bridge to Wall St.
Right on Wall St. (east) to Maiden Lane
Right on Maiden Lane (southeast) across bridge to Fuller path
Left on Fuller path (east) past Mitchell Field to Gallup park path
Right on Gallup park path to parking lot (big wooden bridge)
Stop, tired skaters can wait on benches here for a while
Continue (east) on Gallup Park path to Dixboro
Return (west) on Gallup Park path to big wooden bridge
Exit left from Gallup Park (south) across Geddes through trail to
Devonshire
Right on Devonshire (southwest) across Washtenaw to Norway
Right on Norway (northwest) to Ferdon
Left on Ferdon (south) to Wells
Right on Wells (west) to Forest
Right on Forest (north) to Oakland
Left on Oakland (west) to East University
Right on East University (north) to UM Diag
Stops to regroup:
Corner of Wall St and Broadway.
Gallup Park big wooden bridge.
Corner of Devonshire and Washtenaw.
__________________________________
Old stuff from 2004 (inaugural year of the ann arbor friday night skate)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
< Announcing The Ann Arbor Friday Night Skate
< -------------------------------------------
< After what seemed an interminable wait...
< We present: The Ann Arbor Friday Night Skate
<
< You don't have to be good.
< You don't have to be fast.
< We'll wait for you all, right down to the last.
<
< If you've got some rollerblades, give them a spin.
< Put on a helmet, come out, and join in.
<
< (If you're still not quite sure
< We suppose, if you'd like,
< You can even show up and take part on a bike.)
<
< Just get there at 7 and meet by the flag
< (the huge one on central -- right on the di-ag).
<
< And in case you forget or this info needs updating,
< You'll find us by googling ann arbor inline skating!
< LOG:
< 2004 May 28: 17 people, 12 km, a hugely successful inaugural skate!
< 2004 Jun 04: 12 people (3 bikes), led by Kapoo.
< fast and slow groups separated.
< 2004 Jun 11: almost rained out; me, erica, brian, john, michelle
< baskin robbins stop
< 2004 Jun 18: 7 people, 1 bike, short and easy route to Dairy Queen
< led by Brian.
< 2004 Jun 25: a vast horde of skaters showed up (~25), a great skate.
< 2004 Jul 02: 17 people, ~25 km for those who did all of gallup.
< stopped at baskin robbins.
< 2004 Jul 09: led by Brian. expected turnout: 10, actual: 11
< 2004 Jul 16: rained out, but 6 people did it anyway!
< 2004 Jul 23: led by Chris and Rahul; Art Fair; 12 people.
< 2004 Jul 30: led by Rahul, rain on and off, 4 people
< 2004 Aug 06: led by Brian, 7 skaters enjoyed beautiful weather
< 2004 Aug 13: led by Danny, 8 skaters, 3 bicyclists
< 2004 Aug 20: rained out.
< 2004 Aug 27: about a dozen (check pictures...)
< 2004 Sep 03: five skaters (in spite of some heavy clouds)
< 2004 Sep 10: 6 skaters
< 2004 Sep 17: expected: 12, actual: 15. SPRINTS for $100 in prizes!
< 2004 Sep 24: 10 people. more sprints. comedy club afterwards.
< 2004 Oct 1: 15 skaters / 1 biker. relay race on wall street.
Brian Renaud's homepage: http://home.comcast.net/~brenaud153268mi/
____________________________________________________________________
For FNS on May 6, 2005, Laura K took pictures with her new camera.
Click here to view photos from last week's rollerblading:
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeAM2bVm5ctHDxw
Hey Eric, Mark, the chemist hockey player [Grant], and ??? (sorry, I forgot
your name,
training for the A to A race,), thank you for one of the best skating
experiences in a loooooooong time! You guys were great, and what a
fantastic,
fast, and fabulous skate tour of Ann Arbor! Thanks for slowing down for me
from time to time you skate beasts! Now I've got some hill training to do! :)
____________________________________________________________________
Hi everyone!
This is just a note to let you know that we have started a group that is
advocating for the building of a world-class concrete skatepark in Ann Arbor.
Most of us are skateboarders, but rollerbladers will be welcomed at the park
when it is built, and I figured some of you may want to get in on the
planning
of the park.
If you would like more information, come to the kick-off meeting at Launch
Board Shop this Wednesday, June 27 at 7:00 pm. You can also visit our myspace
page at http://www.myspace.com/a2skatepark
Hope to see you at the meeting, or in the future as we continue the push for
an Ann Arbor skatepark!
-Trevor Staples
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello! Anybody skating August 17, 2007? I'm coming in from Syracuse, NY.
Hope to see somebody from last year! -Steve [Yes, see top of page]
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8/20/2008
Anyone in the A2 area into freestyle slalom skating? I'm new to the scene and
would love to meet up with some people and skate.
david.grubers@gmail.com
Daniel Reeves