FINAL STORY - " IN FLIGHT "

If you would like to see Josh Wood and the final pictures and video in this series of 3 stories, you will need to visit my original blog "WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A SPEED SKATING SPECTATOR".


Originally I had planned on writing all of these stories on that blog.... let's face it, I was just a "spectator"while Josh and Steve did all of the work. But some how the story got started on this page because it "became a story" that was intertwined with the Inline March Madness Invitational.

And I guess I just like to keep people looking around at all of the different things that are happening, so what better way to do that then mix everything and everyone up?!! LOL Hope you enjoyed it as much as I have.

Stick around because we have THE BATTLE IN SEATTLE coming up in just 8 days. Starting on April 10th with practice at Pattison's West in Seattle, WA, I hope to be uploading pictures, video or a story daily if time permits. After the completion of the meet, Josh and I will be sticking around in Washington for 7 days. No, it won't be for the snow that they have had recently but for clinics that will be held in two of the local rinks every night but one, and we will finish up the following weekend (April 19th and 20th) with the NORTHWEST 2008 Regional Clinic Qualifier for the upcoming OUTDOOR NATIONALS. So there should continue to be lots of photos, video and links throughout the course of the 11 days that we (o.k.--the kids) will be skating. Bookmark this site or better yet, hit the RSS feed button so that you are notified instantly when anything new is added to the SPEED SKATING SPECTATORS site. Enjoy.

RECORD NUMBER OF HITS TO SITE!!

I honestly think the ONLY reason you all came back today is that you all are waiting to see if Josh "biff's" it and that if I catch it on video!! LOL Here is Josh - in the middle of the jump, just as the flash goes off. This is what I captured.








This next picture is from Steve's
point of view! Check out those beautiful clouds. I can't imagine trying to hold a camera still (without a professional stick), as the athlete is skating towards you at a pretty good rate of speed. The athlete jumps fairly close to your face, skates, wheels and feet are still a little low as your subject flies over the top of you! But can you imagine the excitement of the speed, the adrenaline, the height, the danger and the coolness of the photo. It looks as if Josh were to come straight down he would be...... well, it wouldn't be pretty!!!



We had a record number of hits to our site yesterday to see Josh as a STUNT SKATER. Thanks for visiting the site. If we get close to the same amount today, I think Josh will need to find new work as a stunt skater.



Today I am adding a couple more of his jumps by video. Here to the left is the "normal" photo that they originally set out to do and one from when Steve was sprawled out on the ground.
Before I do that.... I was reminded to remind YOU the skaters..... DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. THE PHOTOGRAPHER IS PROFESSIONAL, THE WRITER IS KIND OF PROFESSIONAL, AND THE ATHLETE.... WELL HE'S FALLEN SO MANY TIMES HE WOULDN'T KNOW IT IF HE WENT DOWN AGAIN.

So skaters... keep your feet close to the ground and wear your helmet.

Enjoy........ oh... and more video and pic's tomorrow, see ya then.