Team SAFE Rules in San Mateo

After a series of solo sprints, Team SAFE's Dan Christman won the top step on the podium Sunday at the Dan Burger 50k Series #3, held in San Mateo, Calif., on July 11, 2004. SAFE's Kim Perkins won the women's field.

The traditionally-vicious wind was a tad lighter than usual, but due to road closures, the slower short course was on the menu -- instead of five 10k laps, each with a mile of flat road, skaters rode up and down seven super-hilly 7k laps.

Team SAFE worked together like a well-oiled machine to cover attacks and keep the other contenders tired. Team SAFE's Dana Eads and Christman alternated attacks and cover as Perkins and Ricky Blas held back the pack filled with top skaters including Herb Gayle and Chris Adams.

After a series of failed breakaway attempts by the lead pack, Bont's Grant Foster finally succeeded at the 25k mark. Foster took off on the last hill before the turn, with Adams and Uel Archuletta giving chase. After watching them tire, Christman attacked in earnest, chasing down first Adams, then Archuletta, within a lap and bringing them back to the pack.

With 15k to go, the tireless Christman again took off after Foster, and surprised him at the turnaround 5k later. The two finished 1:22 ahead of the main pack, with Christman taking the overall win and Foster garnering the Pro Masters title.

In the field sprint, Jenni Armstrong attacked at the bottom of the last hill with about a mile to go. Perkins stayed on her heels and caught her at the top of the hill, passing her in the straightaway for the women's win.

Christman, Perkins and Foster skated on 88mm Cragar wheels and Bont Sniper frames. Christman, Perkins and Eads were also sporting new Bont Vaypor boots.

RESULTS: Crystal Springs Inline Marathon, Dan Burger 50k Series #3, July 11, 2004
 
1. Dan Christman - TEAM SAFE 1:41:18
2. Grant Foster - Bont
(Alan Marcossen - Pyro Apparel - DQ)
3. Kim Perkins - TEAM SAFE
4. Jenni Armstrong - LA Speed
5. Chris Adams - Salt Creek Mortgage
6. Ricky Blas - TEAM SAFE
7. Kimon Papahajopoulos
8. Uel Archuletta
9. Louis Beaudoin - LA Speed
9. Neal Lucey - LA Speed
11. Dana Eads - TEAM SAFE
22. Critter Crittenden - TEAM SAFE
28. Dennis Cummings - TEAM SAFE
35. Tom McCue - TEAM SAFE

Team SAFE Skaters Excel at Nationals

Team SAFE member Donna Shelton, for the second year in a row, swept the Grand Veteran Ladies category at Indoor Nationals, held July 21-24 in Lincoln, NE. She won all three races -- the 500m, the 700m, and the 1000m. Breaking the national record for 700m, she now holds the national record for her category in all three races.

"I don't race for time anymore," said a pleased Shelton. "I just skate to win the race."

Other SAFE members also did well: In the Standard Division, Pro/Elite Sara Sayasane took 3rd in the 100m time trial (even after tripping), and 2nd in the Two-Lady Mixed Relay, partnered with Kimi Butler. Pro/Elite Rocky Dufrene took 12th in the 100m time trial. Pro Masters Mechele Busby took 4th in the 1000m, and in the Freshman Girls JO division, Nastassia Hamor took 4th in the 300m and 5th in the 700m.

The multi-talented Shelton stayed around Lincoln for Artistic Nationals the following week, placing third with her partner, James Barnett. The pair (as well as Sayasane and Hamor) trains at Cal-Skate in Milpitas, Ca.

ABOUT TEAM SAFE
Team SAFE is a professional inline skating team sponsored by SAFE (Security Alarm Financing Enterprises) LP and Bont Skates. Team SAFE's 2004 roster includes Adam Miller, Arica Armitage, Ricky Blas, Mechele Busby, Dan Christman, Critter Crittenden, Dennis Cummings, Rocky Dufrene, Dana Eads, Nastassia Hamor, Dennis Humphrey, Haley Galbraith, Paul Lomangino, Kim Perkins, Aimee Sanderson, Paul Sargenti, Sara Sayasane, Donna Shelton, Brian Talley, Christine Vanhunnik, and Scott Wolf. For more information on Team Safe, contact Dan Christman at turnsleftfast@yahoo.com.

ABOUT SAFE LP
The San Ramon, California-based SAFE group of companies has become one of the nation's largest enterprises involved in the purchasing, financing, and servicing of residential and commercial security alarm monitoring customers. Fifteen years after it acquired its first customer account, SAFE has acquired over 250,000 customers in 45 states. Visit www.safefinancial.com.

Results, Standard Division National Indoor Championships, July 21-24 2004

Donna Shelton:
National Champion, Grand Veteran Ladies
Winner, 500m, 700m and 1000m

Sara Sayasane:
2nd, Pro/Elite Two-Lady 3000m Relay
3rd, Pro/Elite Ladies 100 m Time Trial

Rocky Dufrene:
12th, Pro/Elite 100m time trial, 10.507

Mechele Busby
4th, Pro Masters 1000m

Nastassia Hamor
4th, Freshman Girls JO 300m
5th, Freshman Girls JO 700m

Team SAFE Results for Cornhusker Classic Marathon, July 25, 2004
Glenn "Critter" Crittenden, 23rd overall, 3rd Masters, 1:32:58.35

Team Safe Signs Adam Miller

Adam Miller has signed with Team SAFE Racing for the 2004 outdoor racing season.
 
Miller, 22, of Independence, MO brings a wealth of strength and experience to the team, having raced extensively on the European World Cup circuit in 2002 while skating for Bont International. A former Junior World Team member, Miller is First Alternate for the 2004 US Senior World Team. Among his other accomplishments are placements at the Long Beach Marathon (9th in 2001 and 11th in 2003), a win (shared with Jordan Nelson) at the Casino Niagara Marathon 2002, and 3rd place in the 1000m this year at Outdoor Nationals.
 
"We are  very excited to welcome Adam to Team SAFE this year," said team sponsor Paul Sargenti. "His excellent skills and experience will be a benefit to the whole team."

Safe Signs Rocky Dufrene, Dennis Humphrey

Rocky Dufrene and Dennis Humphrey have signed with Team SAFE for the 2004 season.
 
Dufrene, 22, of Lafayette, LA, a former Bont skater, has been racing for 13 years. He is known for top-level all-around skills and has had numerous high placements in indoor, outdoor and banked track races, including 1st Pro Man in the 2002 Texas Shootout.
 
Humphrey, 48, of Albany, N.Y., has won the Masters title at the Empire Skate Series the past 3 years running. He holds the Pro Veteran course record at the Northshore Inline Marathon, was the 2003 Masters national distance champion, and placed first in masters at the Cactus Classic the past two years, last year placing 2nd overall.
 
"We are excited about having Rocky and Dennis skating for SAFE," said team manager Dan Christman. "With this year's strong lineup, we're going to cement SAFE's reputation as a national presence in inline racing."