Long Track American Cup II, Day 2

Long Track American Cup II continues Sunday, December 6, in Roseville, MN. Be sure to check out some great skating via live feed today from 9am-2pm (CST). Click here.

To see the latest results, go to http://www.speedskatingresults.com/ and click on American Cup II Roseville (USA). This will give you all the latest updates on how your favorite skaters are doing! A quick shout out to Matt Rittenhouse for skating a 4.52.35 in his 3000m yesterday earning him a 14th place position and Season Best (SB) and Personal Record (PR)! Another goes to Andrew Hodor for skating a 4.34.44 in his 3000m and placing in the top 10 (6th place)! Mary Kate Hodor is also skating well with a 28th place finish in her 1500m and 29th place in her 500m.

World Cup 4 is also taking place this weekend in Calgary, Canada. The USA team is skating well! Trevor Marsicano earned a 7th place finish in his 1500m with a Season Best (SB) time of 1.43.92. In the same distance, Chad Hedrick earned a Gold Medal with a Season Best (SB) and Personal Record (PR) of 1.42.14. Shani Davis was a close second earning the Silver Medal with a Season Best (SB) of 1.42.19. Denny Morrison (Canada) earned the Bronze Medal with a Season Best (SB) of 1.42.74.

Results for the World Cup in Calgary can also be found on http://www.speedskatingresults.com/ .

Good luck to all the skaters competing this weekend!

Long Track Speedskating American Cup II, Roseville, MN

No, this is not Roseville, MN.  This is the FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON hitting my deck! It always takes that first sight of the fluffy white stuff to get me into the holiday spirit. As the light fades into evening, the twinkling of lights outlining houseframes and bushes will shine through the neighborhood as they have for the last few nights. However, tonight there will be a special "magic" in the air because the snow (which is now about an inch and no longer a dusting as in the photo) will give a special background and feeling that the holiday will soon be here!

The first snow also makes me giddy at the realization that the speedskating oval in Lake Placid will be open soon! I am really looking forward to being outside and skating lap upon lap until I feel the need to step into the warming hut to warm up the skates and legs and such. For those that have skated at this venue, you know it is cold and has a wind that always blows against your face down the backstretch. I'm not talking just a breeze either. The force can be so strong, that at times will slap you like a sucker-punch when you come out of the turn and stand you straight up, no matter how hard to try to fight or "skate through" it. I will go until I have had a good two hour work out trying to master those corners or until I am just tired of the elements beating me up! The next best thing of being in Lake Placid  is going through the quaint little town and getting a coffee or homemade soup with friends.

Some of the good folks I skate with are in Roseville, MN this weekend competing in the American Cup II series long track races. What is great about these races is they are being carried by live feed and you can watch from the comfort of your computer if you are, like me, nowhere near Roseville! Click here! to watch some great skating.

Good luck to everyone in Roseville!

Now it's time for a cozy cup of hot chocolate and to sharpen my long track blades....