Inline Skating Notebook

来年２００７年２月２２日から開催予定だった「タヒチ・インラインマラソン」が中止になり、２０００年から続いたレースが今年２００６年の７回目で幕を閉じることになりました。初年度２００人ものスケーターが参加したものの、次第に減り、昨年はたったの３１人だったそうです。またスイス在住の主催者がパッケージ旅行を企画運営していたBeyond Travelも閉鎖する意向だとか、今後の再開は無さそうです。

EVENT NAME: 2007 Tahiti Aito Inline Challenge
EVENT DATE: February 22-24, 2007
LOCATION: French Polynesia in the South Pacific
VENUE: Islands of Tahaa and Raiatea
DISCIPLINE: Speed skating

DESCRIPTION: Events in 2007 will include a 20k race on the island of Tahaa and a criterium and a 42k race on the island of Raiatea. Organized by Christopher Pierre of Way Beyond Travel.

The 8th edition of the Tahiti Aito Inline Skate Challenge Canceled.

The Tahiti Inline races started in 1999. 2006 was the last edition.

Thanks to all of you Tahiti skaters for 7 years of great fun : )

Chris

Eddy Matzger skating in Tahiti 2006

Sun Sets on Tahiti Marathon Falling numbers sink event　by Planet staff

Citing falling numbers, the organizer of the Tahiti Aito Inline Skate Challenge is pulling the plug on the annual event. "Thanks to all of you Tahiti skaters for seven years of fun," Christopher Pierre said in a short announcement on his web site. The Frenchman started the annual adventure-skate event in 1999. It enjoyed some early success. More than 200 skaters came from the United States, Europe and Australia the first year. And some skaters, including Eddy Matzger, liked the event so much they made an annual pilgrimage to the South Pacific island. But despite Pierre's efforts to keep the event interesting — last year it included four races on three islands — fewer and fewer skaters came each year. Last year, only 31 skaters showed up. Pierre, who lives in Switzerland with his wife Karima, told friends that he also plans to close his travel business, Way Beyond, and quit offering travel packages. Way Beyond has a running marathon scheduled for February. So far, it is still on the Way Beyond calendar.

Inline Planet: Sun Sets on Tahiti Marathon (posted Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006)