Franklin's SpamTrap
2004-06-15 21:09:12 UTC
Hi all,
Well, we survived and got the t-shirt, but only just... :-)
My son Vincent and me took the plane from Oslo to Amsterdam this year. I
was hoping for Vincent to get a big kick out of meeting Eddy and all the
other Dutch skaters, some of who were A class inliners. Eddy was in
great shape and as happy and inspirational as last year, so it was great
meeting old friends and some new workshop participants.
Friday night started off with an evening skate around Snowplanet, an
indoor ski slope with artificial snow. Rather strange to see people in
ski suits walking outside with green grass and trees in the
background... :-) The skate took an hour and a bit and most of us got to
strut our stuff on the lovely Dutch bike paths. Afterwards we went
through the introductions (even one guy from Iowa) Eddy talked about his
background and experience and what we would do this weekend, and the
goodie bags were handed out.
Luckily someone was living at our hotel so we got a lift back to the
hotel in the evening. The hotel is only about 15-20 minutes away on
inlines, but it's very nice to get a lift when one is tired...
Saturday morning started out well with dry land training exercises, and
later practice on skates. About an hour after lunch our big accident
happened. Vincent was the shark in the tank catching us fish when he
tripped or something and went down hard. I was standing outside the
tank, having been caught earlier by the quicker shark, when the said
shark came crashing out the tank...
I had bought a helmet for Vincent before the workshop as it is
mandatory, most kids here in Oslo don't use a helmet. And on the first
day of the workshop he gets to use it, actually use it so well that it
probably saved himself a much worse injury. Vincent was almost knocked
out when he came crashing down on the ground and the side of his
helmeted head struck my shin. The result was a very weak boy seeing dots
floating around, green colours and being light shy. Everybody was very
helpful, with clothes to keep him warm, comfort, helpful advice, calling
first aid from Snowplanet and eventually calling an ambulance.
After a scary (for me!) ambulance ride we got to the Red Cross hospital
at Beverwijk where they did a CT scan of his head and neck. Luckily
nothing was found but they requested that he spend the night in
hospital. The doctor said it was just a concussion. After about four
hours Vincent was perky enough to want to go home, but we spent a nice
night and half the next day in the hospital.
On Sunday we took a taxi back to Snowplanet to join the rest of the
gang, Vincent to relax and watch, me to skate a little. We had a hearty
welcome by all. After a little while Vincent put on his skates and
followed the action and picked up the double push quite easily it seems.
He is younger, smarter and has better balance than me! :-) After a bit
of race theory we had the team race, this year my team dropped the water
bottle...
So, an amputated weekend for us both, but what happened was good enough
I think. Everybody was very happy with the workshop, I think everybody
felt a sense of achievement at the end, which is good. The main lesson
Vincent learnt was to use a helmet, that people other than his dad are
nuts about skating and that a workshop with Eddy and other skaters is
fun! :-) My main objective of getting Vincent to meet Eddy and the other
enthusiastic, fast and friendly Dutch skaters was met, so I am happy. :-)
Thanks to everybody who was involved; Eddy for his instruction and
skating skill, Ted for organizing and driving me around while Vincent
was in the hospital and everybody else at the workshop for their
enthusiasm, and care when it was needed.
Not much of a skating report then, but I'll still say if you can get on
one of Eddy's workshops, then do it. It is hard work but is skill
building and just plain fun. The two workshops I've done have been
excellent. Now I just need to practice... :-)
Vincent seems to get a headache in the evenings, I'll have to see how
long that lasts, otherwise he seems ok. I suppose concussions take some
time to heal.
Some pics:
http://groups.msn.com/Vallerullere/eddymatzgerworkshopamsterdam.msnw
br Franklin
-DP? Mmmm...
Well, we survived and got the t-shirt, but only just... :-)
My son Vincent and me took the plane from Oslo to Amsterdam this year. I
was hoping for Vincent to get a big kick out of meeting Eddy and all the
other Dutch skaters, some of who were A class inliners. Eddy was in
great shape and as happy and inspirational as last year, so it was great
meeting old friends and some new workshop participants.
Friday night started off with an evening skate around Snowplanet, an
indoor ski slope with artificial snow. Rather strange to see people in
ski suits walking outside with green grass and trees in the
background... :-) The skate took an hour and a bit and most of us got to
strut our stuff on the lovely Dutch bike paths. Afterwards we went
through the introductions (even one guy from Iowa) Eddy talked about his
background and experience and what we would do this weekend, and the
goodie bags were handed out.
Luckily someone was living at our hotel so we got a lift back to the
hotel in the evening. The hotel is only about 15-20 minutes away on
inlines, but it's very nice to get a lift when one is tired...
Saturday morning started out well with dry land training exercises, and
later practice on skates. About an hour after lunch our big accident
happened. Vincent was the shark in the tank catching us fish when he
tripped or something and went down hard. I was standing outside the
tank, having been caught earlier by the quicker shark, when the said
shark came crashing out the tank...
I had bought a helmet for Vincent before the workshop as it is
mandatory, most kids here in Oslo don't use a helmet. And on the first
day of the workshop he gets to use it, actually use it so well that it
probably saved himself a much worse injury. Vincent was almost knocked
out when he came crashing down on the ground and the side of his
helmeted head struck my shin. The result was a very weak boy seeing dots
floating around, green colours and being light shy. Everybody was very
helpful, with clothes to keep him warm, comfort, helpful advice, calling
first aid from Snowplanet and eventually calling an ambulance.
After a scary (for me!) ambulance ride we got to the Red Cross hospital
at Beverwijk where they did a CT scan of his head and neck. Luckily
nothing was found but they requested that he spend the night in
hospital. The doctor said it was just a concussion. After about four
hours Vincent was perky enough to want to go home, but we spent a nice
night and half the next day in the hospital.
On Sunday we took a taxi back to Snowplanet to join the rest of the
gang, Vincent to relax and watch, me to skate a little. We had a hearty
welcome by all. After a little while Vincent put on his skates and
followed the action and picked up the double push quite easily it seems.
He is younger, smarter and has better balance than me! :-) After a bit
of race theory we had the team race, this year my team dropped the water
bottle...
So, an amputated weekend for us both, but what happened was good enough
I think. Everybody was very happy with the workshop, I think everybody
felt a sense of achievement at the end, which is good. The main lesson
Vincent learnt was to use a helmet, that people other than his dad are
nuts about skating and that a workshop with Eddy and other skaters is
fun! :-) My main objective of getting Vincent to meet Eddy and the other
enthusiastic, fast and friendly Dutch skaters was met, so I am happy. :-)
Thanks to everybody who was involved; Eddy for his instruction and
skating skill, Ted for organizing and driving me around while Vincent
was in the hospital and everybody else at the workshop for their
enthusiasm, and care when it was needed.
Not much of a skating report then, but I'll still say if you can get on
one of Eddy's workshops, then do it. It is hard work but is skill
building and just plain fun. The two workshops I've done have been
excellent. Now I just need to practice... :-)
Vincent seems to get a headache in the evenings, I'll have to see how
long that lasts, otherwise he seems ok. I suppose concussions take some
time to heal.
Some pics:
http://groups.msn.com/Vallerullere/eddymatzgerworkshopamsterdam.msnw
br Franklin
-DP? Mmmm...