LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Natasha · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 2973 Location: Basingstoke

We're waiting on the permit from FISS, but hopefully we'll be holding the first outdoor race of the season on Sunday April 20th 2008 at our home ground, Tatem Park, Enfield. Registration opens at 11am with the races kicking off at noon. There will be refreshments hand prepared by our fair LSST maiden Sol (yes, she will be making brownies)

To enter, complete a race entry form (downloadable here) and post it together with a cheque made out to 'FISS'. Send it to the FISS Head Office (23 Seaton Road, Thorpe Astley, Leicester, LE3 3SU). The fee will be £10 for all races. You can also enter online on the FISS site.

Postal Closing Date: April 13th 2008. Online Closing Date: April 18th 2008

Entries received on the day of the event will be accepted but at a £12 entry fee (£2 extra). FISS members, please bring your FISS cards when checking in and registering.

The expected race programme is as follows (I will make this into a pretty table later):

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5887

Devils are elimination races. Where you start with a large who race a bit field then every elimination lap (usually signalled by a bell when the leaders start it) or every other lap if it is busy for the distance one or more skaters are eliminated. Last over the line for that lap are asked to leave. After a while you get down to the last 5 (the fastest) and they go for it until the final lap and that determines the placings

Point races are similar but instead of eliminating people on the laps, points are awarded for the 1st and 2nd skaters over the line on each points lap. 1st, 2nd and 3rd on the final lap. The skater who completes the full distance and has the most points at the end of the race is the winner no matter what their finish position so a non-endurance sprinter skater can attack on the first few points laps and earn some early points then sit back and complete the distance and hope they have enough for a podium at the end. If it's a slow, tactical race, then they will probably pick up more points as they will be able to stay with the leaders for longer. A strong endurance skater is more likely to pick up points towards the end so long as they can stay with the leaders, but not cotest the sprints, early on. An endurance skater who can sprint, will probably win the race if it's quick, otherwise a sprinter is likely to win it.

Sometimes we eliminate skaters when they are lapped, in both devils and points races, but only if it is really busy and probably only until the field thins out enough to be easy for the officials to follow who is where. In this instance, in a points race it is important for a someone who scores points early not to get lapped as they are eliminated and don't finish the race and can't be placed. That has never happened while I have been officiating but it could.

Glenn · Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1081 Location: ST Pauls

Excellent, how are the categories worked out this year? (sorry, if this topic has already been covered).

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5887

People will continue in the categories they last skated in. We have a points system operational this year. Subject to there being sufficient skaters, both in individual races and in categories overall, points will be earned or deducted for performance in cateory races. +2 to a win +1 for second. -2 for last place -1 for last but one. Any skater reaching +5 or -5 will change category for the next race meeting and have their points zeroed and start again.

The idea is to take away some of the subjectivity of whether skaters move. Too good for your cat and you move up, allowing others to win some hardware. Struggling so much you can't stay with the pace, you go the other way, giving you a chance to win hardware again and get yourself promoted. No skater will dominate a category (except possibly cat 1) for the season.

Sounds fair but we'll see how it works in practice. If some skaters bounce between categories, then they will be generally better off in the more competitive one as in theory they should be improving unless they are in the slippery slope to retirement in which case they might stay in the higher one for the remainder of the season and change for the following year.

It's not in the rule book so it's not cast in stone and can be changed.

Natasha · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 2973 Location: Basingstoke

Who's racing from LSST apart from PeterC and Sol?

Fred_Paris · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:04 pm Subject:

I will be there too, but I didn't register yet.

Natasha · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 2973 Location: Basingstoke

Yay! Don't forget to renew your FISS if you haven't yet, I don't think they're taking on the day registrations.

If anyone doesn't fancy racing but would like to come along to help/cheer on your team-mates, we'd be glad of help with manning the tea bar, (selling pre-prepared & packaged foods, selling coffees and teas). A photographer would be great too so that we can put photos in our forum.

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2414

I'll be there but I'm not racing, happy to help out with simple stuff (i.e. not the lapboard)

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

IMPORTANT - Request from Chairman

Just in case some of you are feeling a little indifferent to this meeting, can I just say that this is our first meeting of the season and it would be so nice to see as many members from the club, not just racing, but turning up to spectate, support and general make the whole day go well.

If you think you would like to enter but are not sure what it entails, ASK NOW, it maybe that you thoroughly enjoy the experience. I have certainly seen several of you training at Tatem and Westway, as well as other venues to know that you are more than capable of entering these races.

If you don't think you are up to that then COME ALONG ANYWAY. Its so nice for all those members who are racing to have some support - it also helps the committee and volunteers with various tasks on the day - but not too onerous, promise!

Best of all, several of you new members will have never been to one of these meets so its a great chance to just see what it's all about, meet fellow club members and generally be inspired to maybe compete in future meets.

If anyone has any questions PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ask now even if its as simple as transport, sharing lifts etc.

Either way it would be great if we had a big turn out. Oh, and if you have them, WEAR CLUB COLOURS! (Hopefully new clothing order will not be too far off now, I also might have a jacket or top someone might be able to borrow!)

Many Thanks Laughing

And so confident am I of your support, I would remind you that directions to the venue are here Twisted Evil

sol · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:55 am Subject:

I better register! And hope I'll be well enough by next weekend Shocked

Natasha · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 2973 Location: Basingstoke

Remember that if you want to race in the category races you'll have to be registered with FISS (and you can't do that on the day any more) so pop over to their site and sign up. You can still race on the day in the "rat races". As Andy said, many of us have LSST gear lying around, if you want to borrow some just ask.

If you're coming along to watch, bring a picnic (although we'll be selling some if you forget), the Sunday papers and your MP3 player. You'll probably won't get time to read the papers though, the racing gets quite nail-bitingly exciting and you may find you won't be able to concentrate on what you're reading!

Martyzz1 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 358

whats the shortest distance a non FISS can race in?

Christophe · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 1621

I'll come along and watch. Doubt I'll be skating.

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2414

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5887

Depends big people there are.

Little ones do a lap then a 2 lap.

Mediums would get a could of laps then another couple or 3

Bigguns could 3 and 3 or 3 & 4 but we handicap depending on whether there are novice or experienced so nobody has to be out there too long

Can't give RATs too many laps as they only pay a few quid. The lowest category skaters are skating 2 and a bit and 3 or 4 plus a 3km of which they may only skate 3 or 4 laps before being eliminated and they pay £10 in advance or £12 on the day.

Hence to race properly you need to join FISS or just do marathons.