Athlete Spotlight: Eddy Matzger

The weather's getting warmer, which means the return of group street skating and rollerblading is just around the corner! (Unless you're lucky enough to live somewhere where you've been skating year-round.) Either way, join me and Arnav "Sonic" Shah this week as we discuss everything you need to know to skate/rollerblade in an organized group, no matter where in the world it is. Whether you’re a seasoned group skater or a new skater looking to join your local group skate, this episode has all the details and inside info you need to take on the streets with confidence.

Bummed out about it being too cold and dreary to skate outside? Me too. Wondering how you should utilize these months as you look forward to spring or fall racing? Join me and Team USA coach Kelly Springer as we discuss training periodization, different types of workouts, and how to stay motivated so you can set yourself up for success this racing season.

Join me and two-time United States World Team member Tori Carter as we discuss our tips and tricks for smooth skate travel, both domestically and internationally. Hear our tips for beating jet lag, warming up, finding proper nutrition in unfamiliar places, and how we balance tourism with the responsibility of competition, among many others. Not traveling for competition anytime soon? There are still plenty of great tips in here for anyone planning on traveling with their skates anytime soon!

This episode is about the greatest annual skating event in the world. Okay, I miiiight be a little biased, but Rick and Angelia and I had almost as much fun recording this episode as we do at Big Apple Roll. Join us this week as we discuss everything you need to know about New York City’s annual street and social skating event, Big Apple Roll. There’s something for every type of skater! Also important: the 2023 DATE REVEAL. 2023 Big Apple Roll will be August 3-6, 2023! Start making plans now! Check out our website at https://bigappleroll.org/ and follow the Empire Skate Club on Instagram for updates at https://instagram.com/empireskateclubnyc. Sponsored by NYC’s very own skate shop, Kinetic Expression. https://keskate.com/ And if listening to this episode got you *really* excited for other events like this across the country, check out: Skater Migration in Miami, FL (https://instagram.com/skatermigration) Skate DC, Skate Boston (https://instagram.com/sk8bos), Philly Free Skate, Skate Chicago, and the Big Avocado Roll (https://instagram.com/big.avocado.roll).

Maybe you were taught to skate by a Skate IA instructor (like me!), or maybe you want to know how to turn skating into a side-hustle. Perhaps you’ve heard about Camp Skate IA. Trish Alexander joins Sarai to discuss Skate IA this week on Sarai Talks Skating. More about Skate IA: https://skateia.org/

Ever wonder why skating isn’t in the Olympics? Me too. But the World Games are as close as it comes! Learn about how an athlete qualifies, what competitions are held, and what competing on the international stage of the World Games is like from the perspective of Jazzmyn Foster, Team USA sprint specialist this year.

You might know Eddy Matzger from his 30-year skating career, you might know him from Skate Farm Virginia, you might know him from Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Eddy and I sit down to discuss his lengthy skating career this week on Sarai Talks Skating. Eddy’s all-inclusive Thailand resort, Total Thai Adventures totalthaiadventures.com Eddy’s annual spring instructional camp, Skate Farm Virginia https://skatefarmvirginia.weebly.com/ Sponsored by: https://www.kitlab.us

What exactly is USARS, skating’s national governing body? And while we’re at it, what’s a governing body? Gypsy Lucas and I discuss the role of USARS on a national and world stage on this week’s episode of Sarai Talks Skating. This episode brought to you by the Florida Inline Skating Marathon: https://floridainlineskatingmarathon.com/

Interested in skating Athens to Atlanta, the nation’s longest, and longest-running, point to point road skate event? Anna Zuver, A2A Event Director & Rollerblade Ambassador, joins me this week to discuss the course, logistics, how to prepare and train, and how the nation’s most formidable skating event is a lot more doable than you might think! Register and check out more details here: https://www.a2a.net/ This episode brought to you by the Florida Inline Skating Marathon: https://floridainlineskatingmarathon.com/

Interested in skating a marathon? Concerned you don’t have the right skates, or don’t know which wave to pick? Join Connie Ecklund, Chair of the Northshore Inline Marathon board, and me as we discuss the course, logistics, and ways to prepare for the Northshore Inline Marathon. Northshore veteran? There are a few changes this year! Hear them here first on Sarai Talks Skating. And while you’re here, check out all the other great skating marathons held in the US! St. Paul Inline Half: https://www.stpaulinlinehalf.com/ Skate of the Union: https://skateoftheunion.org/ Apostle Islands Inline: https://www.apostleislandsinline.com/ Rollin' on the River Inline Marathon: https://gfinline.com/ NYC 100K, Marathon, Half, and Relay: https://skatemarathon.org/ Florida Inline Marathon: https://floridainlineskatingmarathon.com/