Team SAFE Rolls at Northshore

Heavy in numbers as always, Team SAFE skated well at the 7th Northshore Inline Marathon in Duluth, MN on Sept. 18, 2004. With more than 3,400 skaters, Northshore is the biggest inline marathon in the Western Hemisphere, and the competition is fast and furious.

The day dawned clear and perfect for racing -- though perhaps a bit chilly for the California contingent -- with temps in the low 50s and winds at dead calm. The straight, 26.2 mile point-to-point course is unusually dangerous at the start, with fields of tar snakes that can grab wheels and knock skaters down like bowling pins; yet most of the SAFE skaters made it through with skin intact.

SAFE skater Dennis Humphrey emerged victorious in a large and talented Pro Veteran pack. Humphrey did his best to breakaway, but the pack knew they couldn't let him get away. After relentless attacks, he still had enough left to take the field sprint in a time of 1:16. Skating in one of the biggest groups out there, Pro Masters skater Paul Lomangino got caught in a nasty pile up, yet still managed to get up and finish in 1:25.

The Pro Men's pack took off like jackrabbits from the start, with 4 men staying out in front of the hundreds of contenders. Adam Miller worked his way up through the massive packs to finish in a blistering 1:04, while SAFE skaters Rocky Dufrene, Dan Christman, Ricky Blas and Brian Talley worked together to finish strong in 1:13.

In the Pro Women's pack, SAFE sprint star Sara Sayasane, just back from the World Championships in Italy, was suffering from a high fever and could not maintain her usual blistering pace. In her first elite marathon, 14-year-old Nastassia Hamor kept up with the big girls, to finish with Sayasane and Arica Armitage in 1:25.

It was brains over muscle in the Pro Masters Women's pack, with more teasing attacks than serious attempts to get away. No one was about to let SAFE skater Kim Perkins get off the front, but with the tactical help of Mechele Busby, she finally got some distance about 5 miles from the finish, only to get stuck in a dense field of male advanced skaters and get nipped at the line by Peggy Girgenti to finish 2nd.

In the Advanced race, Dennis Cummings showed a strong return to marathons with a time of 1:18, taking 2nd in the 55-59 age group. Christine VanHunnik also skated well, turning in a time of 1:25 to take 2nd in her highly competitive age group.

TEAM SAFE RESULTS, NORTHSHORE INLINE MARATHON Sept. 18th, 2004

PRO MEN
9. Adam Miller 1:04:57.6
17. Rocky Dufrene 1:13:28.2
20. Dan Christman 1:13:29.5
25. Ricky Blas 1:13:37.5
26. Brian Talley 1:13:37.7

PRO MASTERS MEN
53. Paul Lomangino 1:25:51.7

PRO VETERAN MEN
1. Dennis Humphrey 1:16:23.9

PRO WOMEN
12. Sara Sayasane 1:25:11.6
15. Nastassia Hamor 1:25:14.8
16. Arica Armitage 1:25:17.7

PRO MASTERS WOMEN
2. Kim Perkins 1:24:03.4
8. Mechele Busby 1:25:05.9

OPEN (Advanced)
2nd, Women 25-29: Christine Van Hunnik 1:25:49
2nd, Men 55-59: Dennis Cummings 1:18:46
20th, Men 55-59: Paul Sargenti 1:49:46

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."

Sara Sayasane Named to US Senior World Team

Team SAFE member Sara Sayasane has been selected as a member of the U.S. Marathon Team for 2004. She will represent the United States as part of the senior world team in the marathon event in Abruzzo, Italy on September 11, 2004.
 
To qualify for the World Team, Sayasane placed 5th overall in total points at the Outdoor National Championships in Colorado Springs in May. A member of the Junior World Team in 2003, Sayasane has been skating competitively for 14 years, starting when she was just 4 years old. In 2003, she also placed third in the pro category at the Northshore Inline Marathon and fifth at Long Beach. Competing indoors, she has won the national championship in her category numerous times.
 
"Sara has been skating for Team SAFE for a number of years, and her high level of commitment has been a major factor in Team SAFE's success. Her place on the U.S. Senior World Team is well deserved recognition for her talent, hard work and dedication," said team sponsor and SAFE CEO Paul Sargenti.

Team Safe Uncorks Victory at Napa Marathon

Team Safe's Brian Talley took top honors Sunday, June 20th, at the Napa Valley Inline Marathon in Calistoga Calif. With a tough pack including Philip Mullin, Grant Foster, Troy Atwell, and Chris Adams, the 14-year-old Talley pulled away from the lead pack one mile from the finish, and was able to hold off a chase attack by Mullin and widen his lead over the last 200 meters. SAFE's Dan Christman took 3rd with a strong sprint.

Christman and Talley skated on Bont's new Vaypor boots, 88mm Sniper Frames, 88mm Crager wheels, and Baby Bont bearings. Racking up his first outdoor win of the season, 14-year-old Talley laced up his new setup for the first time just 10 minutes before the start, and found the powerful package a winning combination.

The race was held on a hilly 6-mile segment of the Silverado Trail closed to traffic, making for 2 laps of long climbs, variable pavement and speedy downhills. Throughout the race, SAFE skaters Scott Wolf and Dana Eads attacked constantly, yet had enough left to finish 4th and 8th, respectively.
Also skating on Vaypor boots and 88mm frames, SAFE skater Kim Perkins had no trouble staying out in front with the lead men until she was sidelined by a loose bolt. With the help of a tool from the sag wagon, she got back in the race to become the second woman over the line, after Jenni Armstrong.

SAFE skaters Dennis Cummings took second place in the Grand Master B category, and Tom McCue, seen after the race sporting a cast over a previously punctured metatarsal tendon, took third overall in the half marathon.

RESULTS - NAPA VALLEY INLINE MARATHON June 20, 2004
 
1. Brian Talley - TEAM SAFE 1:22:20
2. Phillip Mullen - Salt Creek
3. Dan Christman - TEAM SAFE
4. Scott Wolf - TEAM SAFE
5.Troy Attwell - Salt Creek
6. Grant Foster - BONT
7. Howard Yeh- San Diego Street Elite
8. Bryan Mackay9. Dana Eads - TEAM SAFE
10. Louis Beaudoin - LA SPEED
18. Kim Perkins - TEAM SAFE
27. Dennis Cummings - TEAM SAFE

NAPA HALF MARATHON

1. Tiffany Miles - C.O.R.A. 51.53
2. Jeff Cavanaugh
3. Tom McCue - TEAM SAFE