Inline Skating Events Around the World

Worldwide (from an American perspective) Skate Events
These are just a small sample of the events around the country that I've gone to, love, and/or am dreaming of going to. Many more events can be found in the inline skating category of The Open Directory Project. The only organization here is that I've attempted to place the events in the order in which they happen throughout the skating year. (The skating year beginning in May of course.)

Bike the Drive
From Chicago's 57th street to Hollywood Ave and back again. (Car Free!!!) There are water and snack stops along the route and music and lunch at the end. Yes, it is billed as a "bike" tour, but every year skaters do the whole route and feel." Check it out!

The Great Race, Elkhart, IN
Now! 34 Events! "Just Something for everybody" but for skater there is a 10K criterium and a half-marathon. Within driving distance of Chicago without a stay over. The folks in Elkhart (and now Team Rainbo) have worked very hard keep this event alive and to improve it every year.

Big Granite Marathon, Ashland Wisconsin
The Big Granite Races will be held on a 13.1 mile looped course of town roads, state & county highways. The marathon will be two laps of this course. The entire lap has been paved in the last two years and features quality blacktop. The course is an aerobically challenging course and includes one significant downhill that generates fast speeds. As such, it is not advised that beginning skaters register for this race and all registrants should have experience and be comfortable with skating more challenging hills.

Badger State Games, Madison, WI
Out of state skaters are now welcomed to participate in this Wisconsin tradition. This is the closest full marathon-distance race to the Chicago area, drive up and check it out.

The Chicagoland Inline Marathon
With some pride, this is our home-town event, held in mid-July, in the northwest suburb of Hoffman Estates the course is a rolling hills affair with a number of turns. A good course for both elite and recreational skaters. As a multi-lap race it is also a spectator's delight. Find out more here.

Saint Paul Inline Marathon
The Saint Paul Inline Marathon isn't just about getting to the finish line first, it's about skating with friends, families, co-workers and teammates. It's about challenging yourself to try something new and doing it. It's about the pride you feel when you cross the finish line.
First-time marathoners share the road with the world's top professionals. The Saint Paul Inline Marathon is an achievable challenge for skaters from all walks of life: young, old, moms, dads, grandparents and siblings...you name it and they skate it. This is a very well run event, on good roads. Well worth the drive.

Hayward Inline Marathon
This is a dilly of an event, in addition to a half-marathon distance there is also the 39 mile "challenge." As a reward for all of your effert rolling up and down their beautifully wooded hills the competitors are treated to a lumberjack competition and often lunch. This is a well run event in the north woods of Wisconsin. More here.

NorthShore Inline Marathon, Duluth, Minnesota
The largest skate event in North America. 4000 (yes, four thousand) skaters race 26 miles along the north shore of Lake Superior on a flat, fast closed course. www.northshoreinline.com

The NYC Skate Marathon & NY 100K
Web Site. For beginners to experts, 8 to 80, this event is for everyone. Join the fun, take the challenge, meet skaters from all around the world, try something new or do it again — this event rocks! Beautiful Prospect Park in Brooklyn provides a wonderful traffic free route.

Annual Athens-to-Atlanta Road Skate
Skate 38, 52 or 87 miles in America's oldest and most famous road skate. Start on the college town of Athens, Georgia and skate through the rolling countryside to Dacula (38 miles) or continue on through and finally roll into downtown Atlanta's Piedmont Park (87 miles).www.a2a.net

The Great EsSkate, Miami Beach
Break away from arctic winter & daily stress... make the Great EsSkate. It's an endless tropical weekend jammed with parties, group skating, picnics, skate tours, skating competitions, prizes & much more!!! (OK this is the hype right off their web site, but Chicago participants loved it and go back year after year.)

Eddy Matzger Workshop
An intense, participatory, interactive skating and racing workshop taught by the one-and-only 6-time winner of Athens-to-Atlanta. No other skate clinic comes close to offering the personal attention and instruction of this weekend workshop. When in Chicago it's held on the lakefront in beautiful downtown Chicago, enjoy The Taste of Chicago during lunch then burn it off learning the double push! Info at www.skatecentral.com

Zephyr Inline Skate Tours Various skate tours and camps in Colorado, Florida, Pennsylvania Amish, Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard, Minnesota, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Paris. Too many details to mention. See the web site or call 888-758-8687 for a free brochure.Website