Shot At Redemption for Inline Skaters in NSC Season Finale

April 19, 2011 - PRLog -- (FEDERAL WAY, WA) – National Speedskating Circuit (NSC), the North American league of professional inline speed skaters, will cap the success of its second full season with high-speed racing action fueled by intense contention in its finale race “NSC: Redemption” at 6 p.m. PST on May 9, 2011 at Pattison’s West Skate Center in Federal Way, WA, and on the internet with a free live feed at www.pronsc.com.

In the world of most professional sports, redemption is hard-earned over a long road. Inline speed skating pros make their reputations at high-speed on short tracks, where a career of World Champion medals, respect and glory can be lost behind the checkered flag in less than 30 seconds.

As NSC athletes prepare for this last race card of the season, the unprecedented success of one man is driving a host of world class talent to train harder than ever, each and every one of them is geared to clash with this titan and stop his unmitigated domination of the field.

That man is William Bowen.  At the top of his game, Bowen has won all but one race this season—a race heavily contested in a photo finish.  A four-time member of Team USA, he came into NSC’s second season fresh off a heavily-medaled 2010 World Championships in Guarne, Columbia.

A family man and crowd favorite, Bowen is driven by his passion for the sport and his need for speed. He is looking to closeout this season at the top of the standings by taking back the Grand Champion crown lost in the contested event, while holding onto his title positions as Sprint Champion and 100m Fastest Man.  It ain’t gonna be easy.

Enter the sport’s number one bad-boy, Harry “The Hurricane” Vogel.  What Sean Avery is to the NHL or Ron Artest to the NBA, Vogel is to the NSC.  He makes no secret of his contempt for anyone who crosses the finish line before him.   His mere presence at a race meet drops everyone else back four feet mentally from the starting line.  It’s an edge he counts on, but it hasn’t been enough to take the fury out of Bowen’s feet.

A world champion in his own right, Vogel is out to live up to his reputation.  Earlier this week, Harry messaged through Facebook, “The sprint races are between me and Will for the first and second spot.  The other guys just mix it up a little.”  He made his intention with Bowen crystal clear, “I’m going to use Will up for the first part of the races and spit him out for the finish. I’m crossing the line first.  That’s all there is to it!”

Call it a hurricane warning, but Vogel hasn’t been more than a tropical depression this season.  He’s trailing in the standings and needs the wins.  Will fans feel the force when Vogel’s storm crosses their path on May 9?  Predictions call for a lot of wind and hot air that’s for sure!

Then there’s the rest of the sprint division.  It’s a mad stack of talent, all looking to regain their self-respect through the glare of the winner’s spotlight, because in the NSC, there is no second place.

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s a string of world class endurance skaters fighting for their own title in the same race event.  Justin “The Rajin’ Cajun” Stelly, the man who skated away with the Endurance event gold at the recent NSC events “NSC: Monday Night Mayhem”, “NSC: East Coast Carnage” and “NSC: Thursday Night Throwdown” has been outshined by Bowen in the battle for Grand Champion.

Stelly has something to prove. He’s a man out front, too visible with professional sponsorships and the clinic circuit to walk away denied the title yet again.  Known for his insane ability to make dangerous high-speed passes and his genuine disregard for safety at the finish line, fans will look to Louisiana native Stelly to kick it up a notch in his season finale performance.

Jake “The Snake” Powers, the lone skater who’s denied Bowen the title “Undefeated.”  Powers is out to prove his standing as Grand Champion isn’t a fluke.  Even if Powers can hold onto 3rd place it’ll be nothing short of an upset.  This event marks the return of Stephen “S.Dot” Carter, and another four-time Team USA member, Keith Carroll Jr.  Both skaters are expected to make a melee of the start, with the winner of the brawl being the guy who’ll take it all.

With former national champion and “Fastest Man in America” Jeremy Anderson training with the zeal of Apolo Ohno, and up-and-comer Eben Jackson throwing down the fastest time trials of his career, “NSC: Redemption” is a powder-keg with a 100m fuse, set to blow when the floor catches fire in Federal Way.

Finally, there’s Michael Cheek. Brother of Olympic Gold medalist Joey Cheek, Michael has had a long and successful run at the top of world inline speed skating. The 2009 NSC Grand Champion and longest-running NSC record holder for the 100m Fastest Man title, “Cheex” is one of a handful of elite professional skaters not under the age of 25.

With chronic injuries that he’s been nursing all season, Cheek has suffered dearly in pursuit of his passion for the sport. But true to this champion’s heart, he’s flat-out refused to take the bench. His love for the sport runs deep, but the one thing that runs deeper is his hatred of losing. His training has been intense. He’s coming back on Monday night May 9 to prove that he’s not over-the-hill.

Doors open at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 9, at Pattison’s West Skate Center, 34222 Pacific Highway South, Federal Way, WA. Free internet live feed starts at 6:45 p.m. PST /9:45 p.m. EST on www.pronsc.com.

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About NSC: National Speedskating Circuit (NSC) is the official league of male professional inline speed skaters in North America.