NROC Profile
Profiles of the top skaters in the National Roller Cup

Rebecca George

Age: 25

Team: Unaffiliated

Hometown: Baxter, MN

Single mom with three sons, ages 3, 5 and 7

When did you start competing?

This is going to be my third season. Before 2006, I didn't even know there were inline races. I found about them from my fiance, Jim O'Hearn. We met skating on the Paul Bunyon Trail in Brainerd. I noticed his skates were different than mine and I asked him what they were, and he said, "racing skates." After that, I just went to Scheels in St. Cloud and bought some K2 Radicals, which I thought were pretty fast.

Then I went to the Hoyt Lake Half Marathon and got second; then to the Hayward Marathon and got first.

After that, I went to the Saint Paul Marathon and skated with the pro women, including Jessica Smith [25-time world champion], and I only finished 19 seconds back. I felt pretty good about that.

Were you an athlete before you started racing?

Not really. I had children young, so I didn't have time. But I was always one of the fastest runners in school. I was in track in seventh grade and went to state. But I didn't stick with it. I think I was more interested in boys.

As a little girl, I used to go everywhere in my plastic Barbie skates, and when I was 12, I used to rollerblade into town all the time. It was 11 miles one way, so 22 miles round-trip.

How do you train?

I'm trying to work on my technique these days. Over the winter, I worked on a slideboard, and I think it really helped. I'm learning more about how to use the fall [the transfer of weight from one skate to the other] for power. Instead of using more of a running motion and toe-pushing, I'm trying to go side to side. Up until now, I've mostly used my power. But I know I have a lot more to work on.

You've become something of a celebrity in the skate world. What do you make of that?

It seems like everyone knows me when I show up at a race. I had someone in Texas ask me to sign a picture of me, and I've had people ask me to sign their calendars. It's pretty neat.

I really enjoy going to the races and meeting all these skaters who come from all over the country. It's a great experience.