Interview with Bill Begg (New Zealand). - We saw your detailed reports on AIC blog. But can we have a short summary from you on first two stages of AIC? - Yes, thank you for the opportunity; I would be pleased to answer. - Thank you, Bill. From spectator point of view do you think it was exciting races to watch? - For sure I really enjoyed both of the men's events, attacks, counter attacks, attempted breakaways, with the field reduced to around a dozen skaters, still with a chance going into the last lap. - What do you think about courses/tracks for the first 2 stages of AIC? - Tuas was a great test of technical skill & cornering ability, but could accommodate a race of around 200 of similar ability, the F1 track was more open, but the wet surface & tight corner exerts added another dimension to the racing, but an open course with long straights, both good for starters & size of field. - Can you compare Singapore AIC stages to other international events? What do you think Singapore organizers of AIC should change/do differently when AIC will be back to Singapore in June? - I could not fault the organizers, Eddie & Daniel on the promotional side, with Max on the technical side. Rick and the team of volunteers were very efficient and despite a heavy downpour to test everyone (organizer and skaters alike); only one skater took the easy way out. The organizers need to find more skaters & bring the recreation skaters into the AIC to create the numbers to cover costs. - Any surprises (pleasant and not pleasant) during first two AIC stages in Singapore? Organizers, participants, authorities, etc - anyone fell short of your expectations? - Well the win by Daniel Chew Wee was a great booster for Singapore skating and it was pleasant to see as Daniel, June and Jenevieve had really embraced the sprinting technique that I had been teaching in my earlier visits. It was great to see them putting it to good use. June was unable to perform to the best of his abilities, as technically he can be very good. However, it was pleasing to see some great technical shots of people like Roger Ang who was skating very well. Jenevieve not competing was heartbreaking for me, as in December she was really putting it all together & future international medals looked every possibility. The young Indian Boys 4th & 5th at Tuas & 3rd in the F1 race, really provided India with some extra credibility in the skating World. Eri Marina Yo from Indonesia, whom I've taught the double push back there in 1995, has one of the best versions of the technique for a women in the World, then to wrap it up Doon Yuen from Hong Kong, won the men's 500 meters in the rain. Overall I saw it as a "WIN FOR EMERGING NATIONS". There could not have been better results to encourage the unrated nations, if we had tried to rig the results. Bill Begg at AIC-2. Photo by Lawrence Ang - How did you get involved in AIC? - Well, a group of countries in Asia were concerned about the gap between them and the Koreans at the Asian championships, so a need to support coaches & skaters was required. As a coach and a promoter, I guess I fitted in. There was also a need to create competition to give the skaters exposure, so the idea of the Asianic Inline Cup was born. Having considerable involvement with Coni, the Guru in the World Inline Cup, it was a right step to take, in helping to develop the sport and blend in with the WIC. - What is AIC main objective? - To lift the standard in Asian countries more in line with Korea, create new members, open up new countries to international speed and create a win win situation for equipment manufacturers, retailers, Federations, officials & skaters and to ensure that not only the sport survives, but it flourishes in these hard economic times. - So looking back at first two stages do you think AIC is on the right track? - For sure, we did not have the numbers of local skaters, but with 11 different nationalities competing and thanks to the 4 experienced Italians, the locals learnt a lesson or two. I really enjoyed the standard of competition. We are on the right track and the light at the end of the tunnel, is not a train coming, it's the daylight we are about to move into. Personally it will cost some people a lot of time & money, but we are seeing something for our investment & it will happen, as we have the "Make It Happen" Ron Barrasi types involved. - What is next for AIC? - Well the financial & time investors have to sit down & have a close look, at the reaction to date; we have the competition, now we need the numbers. Next year we should see more than 20 events, with Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and hopefully Japan. Philippines and Iran could be participating and Korea may want another international marathon event, we will try for double up weekends, to make it worth the travel, but keep the time stays down to a minimum. - At end of AIC-2 it was announcement about June night AIC race in Singapore central shopping district. Do you think it will it be a big one? - Well the race in the middle of the most well known Shopping & hotel road in Singapore will be a big bonus for our sport. Hopefully the middle of the night venture will not deter the recreation skaters, with a great promotion and with something like a 4 km course. - In the past few years you have been visiting Singapore quite often. Any special reason for that? Do you have "soft spot" for this country? - Well a number of times the route home can be through Singapore, but I had developed many close friends here & Team Revo Racing had the financial outlay to get me here on a few occasions. But it saddens me to see some are not presently skating. People like Jason, Lawrence, Anne, Jenevieve were individuals who added some different color and flavor to the sport, in one way or another. The skaters wanted to learn and after missing out on the finer points of coaching over the years, it was refreshing to see them put in the effort to learn. The skating world needs Singapore, as a launching pad for South East Asia, so I am happy to work in the country & the hosts are great. - What do you think about Singapore as skating destination for overseas athletes to come and train/race here? - Well its already had the stamp of approval, that's basically what the Italian masters came to do, get some early season quality training done, the racing & hospitality was a big bonus and the East Coast Park cycle / skateway for over 20km is a great cruising road to skate on & view a nice talent or two. - Do you think Singapore has potential to hold bigger international events like WIC stages in the near future? Will you support this idea? - For sure, one or two people put in a huge effort to put this together, once those who should be promoting our great sport also get behind it & give support, it will be a piece of cake. A double header WIC in Malaysia & Singapore on the same weekend could happen as early as 2010, but certainly by 2011, this would be the way to go. - You have seen quite a few local skaters. Anyone with potential to make it big internationally? Let's say at Asian Games in 2010? - What's this 2010 rubbish, they need to be there in 2009, sitting around procrastinating & not sending some skaters would return the sport backwards 5 years. However, last year the team in Asian Championship encountered some bad attitude problems & one should have been on the plane early heading home, there is nothing worse than a national representative, who treats national honors with contempt, fortunately for them, I was not the coach. Daniel Chew Wee has to go, he proved he could mix it, Darryl Chan is tough, but technique is restricting him and he needs to train in a stronger training group. Good to see "Fast Boy" Lai Yongquan who had finished his 2 years in the military & back in racing. He is tough & tenacious and can regain good form. Lim June Liang has great technique, but has to toughen up; we did not see what he was capable of. Terence Chew showed spirit, but he has not endeared himself to the skating authorities in past ventures. Edmund Tay, Alan Tan Chee Wee, Bertrand Chew, Roger Ang and Kabes are showing glimpses, that they may have what it takes to compete internationally. Jenevieve certainly was showing out & let's hope she can return, as the women's cupboard is very bare at present. - What Singapore skating needs in order to grow this sport and compete successfully at highest level? - Like most other countries, a purpose built 200 meters bank track, with the Vesmaco Urethane surface, put on top of asphaltic concrete paving, now required for World Championships. Basically a standardized track that is surrounded by a 400 meters asphaltic carpet road track. Some of the people are holding back the sport. Wake up and move on with it. We need to grow and a little backyard politics have no room in our sport. We need to identify "Make it Happen" people to lead our sport, in the form of officials & coaches. - Thank you very much, Bill. We will talk to you again in a few month time when AIC back to Singapore in June. Back to Media