Positive Attitudes

[spdsk8a]

Being around people with good positive attitudes is what makes the sport of inline skating and racing so fun for me. I have been racing since the early 90’s, and I guess I am decent at best. Ya, I can hang with the big dogs for a while, but I am surely nothing special. I often get down on myself, I feel as if there is no more improving, I’m as good as I will ever be. I don’t have a good training plan, I have never been taught to skate or train for it, and the truth is I would feel funny asking someone for advice.

This past weekend I raced the Napa Valley Inline Marathon (great race). I skated with some great people of all different levels of ability. After the race most of the skaters attended the BBQ and it was a fun time for everyone. But, what surprised me the most happened the next day. I received a phone call from fellow competitor Andy Zak. Talk about a positive person, he called to let me know that he had a great time skating with me in the race and to let me know I did a good job (sure, easy for him….he beat me). That wasn’t the end of the call; we spoke for over an hour talking about what races we were going to attend, fellow skaters (all good things), tactics, and what we did for training. I informed Andy that I didn’t really have a training regime in fact I really don’t train. Andy was quick to offer me several training tips. He offered to send me a detailed slide-board workout, and then did one better. He invited me to his neck of the woods, saying he would take me out and show me how and where he trains, and offered me an off skate training workout that he has used for years.

It is this type of selflessness that helps keep skaters like myself in such a great sport. If more people would emulate this type of behavior I feel that we could help build this sport back to what it once was. Andy has inspired me to keep on keeping on. I think I am even going to take him up on his offer….Thanks Andy…

Rob Motta

[The Major]

Andy is awesome and has no quit in him. I skated with hiim in Long Beach and was very impressed. He was just getting back into racing. HIs equipment looked antique but he finished right up front. Take advantage of his offer Rob, you won't be sorry. We'll, I've heard of some of his training methods, maybe you will be sorry but you won't regret it.