Nickname: Crash
Age: 35
Marital Status: Single
Have been skating for how long: I started roller skating when I was 5 because my best friend was 8 and SHE could skate, so I was going to skate, too! I got my first pair of astronaut boot Rollerblades in 1990 and spent some time jumping stairs and whatnot. After a six year hiatus, I finally hit the Veloway for the first time in 2008. That's when I first saw the Corvette of skates... a shiny red pair of Bonts! I knew I had to have some. I skated the 2008 Road Rash on K2 marathon skates. But I skated the 2009 Road Rash on my very own Bonts. At the beginning of 2009 I also tried indoor Pace Yourself for the first time. I spent the first 6 months tripping myself, the next 6 months being tripped by other people, and am finally getting faster and not falling (as much). I love indoor and outdoor skating on quads or inlines... I just love to skate.
Equipment Brand and Type: Bont Jets
Life Philosophies: You can only start over if have the courage to let your old self burn. and Those who say "It cannot be done" should not interrupt the person doing it.
Favorite Time of Day to Skate: Morning, while it's still cool.
Favorite Skating Event: Texas Road Rash, or Indoor Nationals
Awards/Competitive Wins: 2009 Texas Road Rash 1st Place Women 30-39, lots of medals for indoor events in which I placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd out of a field of 3 or fewer, and USARS 2010 Southwest Regional Champion Novice Master's Women (woohoo!)
Most Memorable Incident: Night skating on campus at Texas A&M in 1995. We were jumping stairs and statues and just being all-around foolish with no helmets or pads. I jumped off a statue base but did not see until too late the patch of grass between the base and the sidewalk. I hit the edge of the sidewalk and removed most of the skin from my right knee, possibly to the bone on the patella. Not to be a wuss (and since I couldn't feel it at the time) I ripped off the lower half of my T-shirt, tied it around my knee, and skated for another hour or so. Later that night I peeled the T-shirt off, washed, and dressed my knee with antibiotics. It was so painful I couldn't sleep. The next night it took two roommates and one of their boyfriends to hold me down, wash, and dress my knee - not my proudest moment. I haven't jumped off a statue base since.
What do you get from Skating: I love the exercise, and I love the feeling of rolling fast.
Would like to do this Year in Skating: Place at Nationals in Novice Masters Women
Coolest Accomplishment: Winning my division at Regionals this year. I may finally be getting the hang of this indoor stuff!
Other Sports/Hobbies you Enjoy: I'm a certified Tai Chi instructor, I enjoy weight lifting, and I "run" marathons/half-marathons.
Favorite skating gadget/tool: I have lots to learn about gadgets and tools. I generally refer to them all as "That thingy."
Mentors: Kasey Felter, Debra Smotrilla, John Thurmon, Renee Coffman and Steven Arceneaux
Helpful advice to other skaters/ Beginners: I hardly feel qualified to give much advice. Nonetheless, there is a certain amount of ankle/leg/back strength that one has to build before one can skate for any period of time with the proper technique. The early part of your training will be spent building that strength. Don't get discouraged. Focus on good technique, the strength will come, and speed will follow.
Favorite Quote: "Nothing prepares you for wind and hills like wind and hills." Renee Coffman
