ADVENTURE SPORTS BY WINA STURGEON 10/22/07
NASTAR SITE GONE FOR GOOD?What's up with the NASTAR web site? It's been MIA for over a month. At first, there was a notice saying it was "under construction," and now you just get an error page saying the site doesn't exist.
Over 100,000 people race NASTAR every year, and the web site updated results and rankings at the end of every day. The web site got hundreds of thousands of hits from people who wanted to know their standings and if they were still in the running for the Nationals; and thousands of snowriders clicked on to the forum to discuss technique, equipment and just dish about skiing and snowboarding.
I called Bill Madsen to find out wazup, he hemmed and hawed and evaded giving any solid information, saying only that the site would be back up soon. But now, even the 'under construction' sign has disappeared.
SPEEDSKATING WORLD CUP AT OVAL
Mark your calendar for Nov. 9, 10, 11---speedskating's World Cup Championships at the Olympic Oval is coming back.
It's long track, so you know there will be a lot of smack talk and hot effort. There will be 250 skaters from nearly 20 countries, more than ever. What's cool is that this event is always so much fun, with a lot of unexpected incidents. It's loud, with flashing lights and skaters in skintight suits speeding past in a blur of color.
For info, call 801-968-OVAL or go to www.olyparks.com
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Or, you can go up to Olympic Park and watch the bobsledders and skeleton pilots race on the same
weekend. The races November 9-10 will feature men's bobsled two man and four man, two races for
women's bobsled, and two skeleton races for both men and women. While these are not World Cups,
they will serve as selection races, so the competition will be deadly serious. Win or stay home. Updates
on time and ticket price soon.
TARA LLANES, SOME SLIGHT GOOD NEWS AT LAST
Tara Llanes, the BMX/mountain bike racer who was paralyzed below the waist from a crash at a race
September 1, is now able to maneuver her wheelchair enough to be allowed 'field trips' outside of Craig
Hospital in Denver, where she is undergoing her rehab. Though she still has no feeling below the waist,
her spirits are good.
There will be a benefit fundraiser race called The Race For Tara, on Nov. 17 at the bike track Sand Hill
Ranch in Brentwood, Northern California. It is turning out to be a huge event, with many riders turning out
to raise money to help Tara with expenses that her insurance doesn't cover. Even for those who don't race,
the socializing of the community will be a memory maker.
The race will be a supercross format, with two qualifying runs instead of just one.
Don't worry if you're not a licensed rider, USA Cycling is waiving all fees and Sand Hill is donating free
parking that day.
For more info, go to the web site at P&RSports.com, or www.racefortara.com. Telephone info:
(925) 240-6247.
LANDIS JERSEY PASSES ON
Cheaters never prosper, and they don't get to keep their jerseys, either.
Floyd Landis had to give back his winner's yellow jersey from the Tour de France. It was given to
Spanish rider Oscar Pereiro, who came in second.
Landis still insists that he never took the testosterone that showed up in his urine during a test in this
year's drug-riddled Tour.
FUNNIEST FOOTBALL STORY YOU EVER HEARD
It was a Sunday night game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints. Luckily,
it happened during a timeout. The overhead camera, you know the one, the very heavy camera that
gives you the bird's eye view of the faces as well as the action---it's mounted on wires over the field.
It fell off the wires, right near the huddle of Seattle players. So, television being so important and all,
the camera was mounted back up and after a delay, everybody went on the field to play.
And it fell again, nearly hitting a player!
NBC officials tested the camera, moving it up and down the field. When it stopped at the Seahawks'
sideline, players and coaches cleared out at a quick clip. The camera was then stationed over Seattle's
bench area, and no Seahawk sat down for the rest of the night.