Going fast, physical contact motivates inline speedskaters
On a recent afternoon, members of Pattison Inline Racing team prepared for an upcoming competition. Clad in snazzy red and black uniforms, they hit the hardwood at Pattison’s North, and skated by in a blur. As they picked up speed and leaned low in the turns, the wheels of their skates created a buzz that echoed across the rink.
Their coach, rink owner Shaun Pattison, is a two-time Northwest Coach of the Year and offers 25 years of skating expertise. He grinned and said, “I was born wearing skates.”
Actually, he donned his first pair at nine months, but no one is going to quibble about the wealth of experience he brings to the sport. His parents own Pattison’s West in Federal Way, Wash., and Shaun and his wife Jericho purchased Pattison’s North from his aunt and uncle in 2006.
Inline racing may be the fastest growing sport few people have heard of. Jericho Pattison said, “It’s kind of like a hidden sport.”
The format is similar to Olympic short track speedskating. In fact, Shaun Pattison frequently skated with eight-time Olympic medalist Apollo Ohno. “He trained at my father’s rink,” said Pattison.
However, he said, “Inline skating is a lot more physical than ice speedskating.” He pointed to two teammates who jostled each other around the curve. “We say, ‘Rubbing is racing!’ ”
Skaters train and compete on a 100-meter oval track. Events include 500-, 700- and 1,000-meter races as well as relays. Competitors are categorized by age and gender. The Pattison’s team has 33 skaters, ranging in age from 6 to 52.
Pattison said a major appeal of the sport is that “all ages can do it. Kids get into the sport and parents see it and get involved too.”
Team member Doug Miller agreed. His kids Harmonee, 14, and Hazen, 11, enjoy inline racing. “It’s good exercise and I can do it with my kids,” said Miller.
Skaters warmed up with a “lap the pack” drill in which the skater at the end of the pack skates around the oval to take the lead. The speeding skaters generated a breeze that could be felt on the sidelines. Pattison said, “The top guys are up to 30 miles per hour.”
Twelve-year-old Briana Roske slid to stop at a nearby bench and grabbed her water bottle. “This is my second year and I love it!” she said, as she tried to catch her breath. After taking a drink she said, “I get to go fast and I get to crash all the time.”
According to Roske wiping out is all part of the fun. It’s also one of the reasons helmets are required. “You fall – you get right back up,” she said.
The inline racing season runs from October to July and team members practice three to four times per week. Pattison said the best way to explore the sport is to attend a beginning speedskating class. The classes are offered Sundays through May at the rink.
He’s rightfully proud of his team – three of them are training for the National Speedskating Circuit. “It’s a pretty big event,” he said. “They bring in the top 15 skaters in the U.S.”
Pattison is especially proud of national champion P.J. Muxlow. “Pound for pound, she’s the best skater out there.”
Muxlow, 41, said she skated as a kid and got back into the sport seven years ago. She’s a four-time national champion. In July, she broke all three records for the 500-, 700- and 1,000-meter races. Her time in the 1,000-meter race? A quick 1 minute and 41 seconds.
For Muxlow, inline racing is truly a family activity. She and her sister won the two-lady relay at Nationals, and her husband Tom and two sons are also part of the team.
“I got back into it for the exercise,” she said. “It’s way more fun than the gym.”
Tom Muxlow agreed. “It’s probably one of the best fitness activities,” he said. When asked how his skating abilities measure up to his wife’s, he grinned. “I’m competitive,” he said. “But she wins.”