September 29, 2010 (Gatineau, Park) – This Saturday, October 2nd, more than 400 cross-country skiers will be preparing for the ski season and trying to break a world record. Skiers of all ages will be meeting on the Gatineau Parkway for the largest roller ski practice ever. Local ski clubs as well as the general public have been invited to grab their roller skis and poles, don their helmets and gloves and head up to the Gatineau Park.

Roller skis are basically elongated in-line skates with wheels at the ends and are used on asphalt. Regular ski boots and bindings are used but special carbide tips are required for the ski poles to allow them to grip the pavement. The roller skis do not have any breaking system so speed is reduced by using the terrain or applying a snowplow type motion.

Roller skiing has become a very popular off-season training activity for cross-country skiers. Ottawa is the perfect location for roller skiing given the vast network of paved pathways and parkways.

Schedule
8:00 a.m.             Registration – P8 or P9
8:30 a.m.             Meet at parking lot half way between P8 and P9

For more information:
Dennis Thomasson or Chris Bloch-Hansen
613-729-3002; freshair@magma.ca