Montreal, Quebec. Workshop, 2003

ILQ-9 Eddy Matzger Workshop
Montreal, Quebec
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"A total celebration of skating," was how hostess Allison summed up the nonstop skating fun that was had by all participants at the ILQ-9 Eddy Matzger Workshop in Montreal, Quebec, April 18-20, 2003. The Gilles Villeneuve Motor Speedway served as the ideal location, with fun skaters and speedskaters alike going full throttle while enjoying smooth pavement and mild weather. Never idling, the exuberance was impossible to contain. French Canadians and visiting Americans proved themselves a breed apart, always managing to keep the serious skating work fun. "This is exactly what we needed early in the season to inspire our workouts and remind us that this is all about having fun while getting better," said the bizarre and wonderful Youri.

"You work so hard and it rubs off on all of us," said Dileep with gratitude. Marcel was so incredibly enthused after the Saturday session that he confided that it was the best day of his life! Claude admitted that he had such high expectations for the workshop he thought it could never live up to the billing. "It surpassed even my highest expectations!"

Skaters learned about drafting and changing positions in the pack as part of their morning warmup on Saturday and Sunday, helped by overflights of pacelines of migrating birds. With all the examples in nature to learn from, skaters learned how to fly themselves.

Eddy opened up the hood on classic, crossover, and double push skating. "I've never seen a guy with so much energy and pure power," said Richard. Workshoppers couldn't get enough of their instructor's demonstrations, and especially ate up Eddy's double push drills. Upon seeing the stroke mechanics and physics of the double push laid out in a progression simple, digestible pieces, the mystery was unlocked and all latched on and dialed up their own honking versions.

Pit stops were rare. All weekend long skating animals carved, honked, and underpushed their way to new dizzying speeds

Thanks also to TWINCAM ILQ-9's, Wigwam socks, Explore race wheels, Transpack goodies, Bob Flynn, Raymond Verdaguer, and, Barrie for making the workshop a wondrous extravaganza on wheels!

Warm yet?	Fanatics!	ILQ-9 Power
Underpush practice	X-over practice	Pairs crossover
Paceline practice	Scull her!	Togetherness
Team Monique	Gliders	Chariot skating
Team Isabel	Katia cross	Emergency stop
Your TT champ	Ferocious happiness	Monkeys

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