Imagine lacing up your skates while the sun rises in peachy perfection over Lake Superior. Your heartbeat quickens, and your breath appears in spurts around your fingertips. You are about to participate in the largest skate race in North America; the NorthShore Inline Marathon (NSIM.)
Assemblies of 4,000 amazingly diverse skaters are moments away from embarking on a 26 mile journey. Imagine the thrill of skating for hours, never alone, with crowds of small town cheerleaders bringing you onto an empty highway, flying through tunnels, and supporting you every mile of the way. Finally, you reach the home stretch. You hear your name being called over the loud speaker as you officially become a Northshore Inline Marathon finisher. You’re exhausted, but filled with pride. Does it get any better than this?
These are the vivid memories I most cherish from my racing days… and which many skaters relive every year! The NorthShore Inline Marathondraws a range of people from all levels of skating: international world-class speed skaters to 90 year old fitness Minnesotans. Whether you participate in the full marathon or the half, whether you do it in a skin suit or in a purple boa, whether its in under an hour or nearly a day- the NSIM event is a blast!
The focus of the NSIM is the race, but there are also lots of social activities, and a huge expo. At the expo you can check out the latest gear, get tips from former Zephyr guide Eddy Metsger,or visit the Zephyr Adventures’ booth. I had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of people at the Zephyr Adventures’ booth. You should have seen the look on everyone’s face when I asked, “Would you like to hear about our skate vacations?” Most people excitedly tweaked their head and quizzically asked, “Those exist!?!” I spent two days in the Expo, meeting potential Zephyrites, and to my surprise, lots of longtime Zephyr alumni as well!
It was a long weekend full of smiles, stories, and skating. Complete strangers willingly gave hugs to this new whippersnapper guide; Zephyrites are a fun, loving bunch. Meeting so many new friends and connecting with alumni, sharing stories, and making future skating plans confirmed what I believed to be true: Being a Zephyr guide is an amazing opportunity! Who else gets to hang out and skate with these awesome people all over the world!?!
Desiree Kameka is one of our fantastic and fun-loving Zephyr Adventures Guides and Camp Rollerblade Instructors. She was a world-class inline speed skater, has traveled all over the world for competitions, and placed 3rd overall in the Elite division of the NSIM during her racing years. She is known in the international racing circles for her family’s inline speed skate company, TruRev (www.TruRev.com) and loves to visit speed skaters in Zephyr Adventures locals… Her latest side-skate adventure included a spin around the Vatican after the Tuscany & Umbria Hike and Bike Food and Wine Tour!
Photos from NorthShore Inline Marathon