Inline Skating Notebook

Luigino Racing WIC Team 2008

Joey Mantia 34. WIC (LuiginoUSA)

Max Presti 1. WIC (BontHyper)

Claudio Naselli 45. WIC (TNT)

Riccardo Bugari New

Harry Vogel New

Hi Skaters,

No Longer rumour but the real thing look up the Luginoracing site Link.

The new seasons announcement for 2008. Of course the two bigger than Ben Hurr starts Superstar Joey Mantia undisputed World number 1 & Marathon Superstar & 6 times WIC winner Max Presti , N Micheal Cheek & Harry Vogel definately in there.

Perhaps Naselli filling in in a couple of European races. Julie Glass looks like back on the start line after the twins! Two well known Masters Eddy Matzger & Norm Kirby, also two of the best youngsters Chad Horne & Colin Thomas.

So a high profile Line uo, obviously going after the new USA marathon series, being pushed by the Inline planet.

Bill Begg
Bont Skates Message Board and News: World Cup Topics for 2008

Joey Mantia Interview

My plans for ice are still a little up in the air to be honest. Most poeple ask me what im still doing on inlines because there's so much more money in ice; they say i should be going to the olympics because if chad can do it, then i definately can. It always makes me smile to hear people say that, but i know that its not as easy as he made it look. Plus, although money is very important (because this is now my full time career), it's not everything. Theres not many things in life that i would rather do than inline skate.

This year i want to reach back to my junior years and really try to put the amount of passion and drive into every single workout as i had over those years. I'm going to do an immense amount of cross training, accompanied by intense indoor workouts and long vigorous outdoor skates. My goal this 2008 season is to be able to interval like i could when i was younger... i really miss those days. I also want to continue to help Luigino develope the best skates on the market.

Out of everything, traveling to switzerland this year, winning back to back world cups, and being presented a new car for the victory. Right after it happened, it really didnt sink in at first; i thought to myself, "There's no way you just won a world cup... and a car!"

The worst thing i can remember happening was having a complete season of getting my butt handed to me on a silver platter. When i was a first year sophomore, i spent the entire season losing. Every meet i went to, including outdoor nationals, i was just terrible. One of my teammates and good friends, Paul Fitzpatrick went on to win indoor nationals that year, which was really hard for me to cope with. I had always been the one on top, always been the "fastest", and now it was him. On one hand, i was really jealous of Paul's success, because here he was, getting a ton of attention... just like i used to get. On the other hand, i was happy for him as a friend. After that year was finished, i started fresh. I put a 100% effort into every single thing i did at practice and it didnt take long to get back to myself. It really taught me that you can't give up when things start to fall apart, if you are determined, things will work themselfs out.

This is probably the most popular question i get. Only time will tell i think. It was never a goal of mine from the start and its still not. I just go to worlds and try to win as many gold medals as i can. Chad is amazing and to be compared to an icon such as himself is flattering, for lack of a better word.

I think the style of racing, the equipment, and the amount of compeitition are all much different between my and chad's eras, so i dont really think its fair to say yes or no. Although, i would love the challenge if it were possible.

give joey mantia 5$ every time u see him.

ha, just kidding... Just that you should always follow your dreams and never give up on things. Most importantly, do what YOU want to do. If you love skating, then skate. If you love jumping jax, do jumping jax.

Start off by sayin that im thankful for all the gifts ive been givin in life. I have an amazing set of parents who, despite them separating when i was 12, made sure they did everything they could do to make it possible for me to pursue my dreams and do what i love to do. Im grateful for just so happening to grow up in a small town that housed one of the greatest young speed skating teams of the late 90's and early 2000's, coached by the greatest technique coach in the world, in my opinion (Renee Hildebrand). She brought me to the top, i wish every kid could get the chance to experience a ride like that and to be passionate about something; it makes life much more meaningful. Doug Glass has been an amazing mentor to me over the past few years. Last, but not least, the Hohagen family, for taking me in and making me part of the family up here in WA.

He's one of the very few people in history to beat the legendary chad hedrick more than once. He's won the world cup overall title something like 6 times. He's helped countless people attain gold medals at the world championships, as well as attaining many himself. He's an Italian icon that kids say they want to grow up to be... On top of all that, he was a wife and a little girl. I think he's probably the oldest guy to still be winning world cups as well. Oh, and he's one of the funniest people I've met... that's something good to have around ha.

I cant wait to go to the world cups and have a teammate as seasoned as max. Everyone in the world, independent of the states, knows who he is... and theres a reason. With the experience he has and our drive to win, i think it will be a very interesting season in the world cup circuit this year.

it would be something cool to add to the resume' at some point, but until I'm completely done with worlds, and don't care too much about the indoor scene any more, which isn't any time soon, then maybe ill give it a shot. but this is kind of like the whole 50 gold medals thing... its a cool title to own, however, its not something i need to define me nor the success of my career.

Noo, actually me and the kid that was involved are pretty good friends now. Cheating someone is completely garbage in my opinion, but after i put myself in his shoes, i was able to understand why he did it. He was blocking for Jorge Botero, who was basically the Chad Hedrick of Colombia for a long time... He never beat Chad, but has a handful... OK maybe a BAG full of silver medals thanks to Chad. So, i asked myself, if i was a first year senior and someone that i really really looked up to all my life coming up in the skating world came to me and told me to keep everyone behind me no matter what... i might get caught in the moment as well and make some bad decisions. That being said, i just figured i should let it go, learn from it, and don't put myself in a position to be cheated like that again.

Answer will be here before you know it and i personally cannot wait. Indoor, we finally get to see the sonic welding technology that I've been desperately waiting for to make the indoor wheels that much better. Outdoor, we're going to see a whole new hub design... a ONE PIECE hub. This is going to give us a brand new set of variables to play with and develop to adjust the speed and traction of our outdoor urethane's. Answer Wheels will be globally distributed by the Luigino Family, where as Matter was shared between Powerslide and Luigino. This is a huge deal, as WE now have complete control over any changes in development, sizing options, colors, hub types, and most importantly, quality control. I think everyone will be very pleased with the new Answer line that is to come. Answer Website

Ive come to grips that gossip is a part of life. Everyone does it, so I can understand why people go around and say some of the things they say... its juicy. However, it cracks me up that the parents get involved and spread it around like wild fire. With the whole steroid and baseball thing blowing up right now, its incredible how many people bring my name up in conversation on this topic. In a way its a little flattering, but i want to say I've never taken anything to enhance my strength, performance, or endurance EVER. I can't even stick to a simple diet, so theres no way i would be able to... as its been put, "stick myself in the butt" with a needle on any kind of schedule, let alone, be able to keep up with worrying about covering it up for a drug test. I was one of the highest tested athletes last year by USADA, especially for a non-Olympic sport. Apart, from the steroid thing, theres been other things said about me and i would much rather any skaters or PARENTS, come to me and ask me about them, rather than your friend who has no idea either.