2003 Memorial Day Weekend

WAR has invited skaters from across the country to skate with us in the nations capitol. There will be mirth and merriment again this year with five special skates. Memorial Day Weekend this year is Friday, May 23 - Monday, May 26 (2003).

There will be no Registration Fee, No police escorts, no sag wagons, no goody-bags, and no water trucks.

Skating with WAR

If you are from out of town, the Washington Area Roadskaters ("WAR") would like to welcome you to Washington, D.C. See the Skating with WAR page for details about our regular skates.

Times, Places, and skate descriptions of the Memorial Day Weekend skates are listed below.

Liability Waiver
All skating participants are required to read and sign this liability waiver (.pdf file, 76k) and wear a wristband for the weekend signifying that they signed the waiver. If you can bring a signed copy with you, you will be able to expedite the start of your skating weekend.

Remember, you are skating at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety.
To save time print, & sign the Liability Waiver (.pdf file, 76k) now. Bring it with you to the event.

Things to Bring on the Skates

• Water: We will not have any water trucks. Bring your own water. (You may have the opportunity to buy beverages at nearby stores during some stops.)
• Cab/Subway fare: We will not have any sag wagons. Therefore, bring money in case you are unable to complete the skate and need a ride back to the hotel.
• Shoes or sandals: Bring shoes or sandals on each skate in case we walk through the memorials, you want to ride the subway, or we eat in a restaurant that doesn't allow skates.
  Skating Ability Levels
  This is an event for strong intermediate to advanced skaters (NOT beginners) who will be able to navigate safely through traffic and up and down hills with steep grades.

  Skating Rules (Don't be a Lemming)
  National Skate Patrol will be patrolling the skates, but we will not have any police escorts. Although street skating is not legally permitted in DC, Virginia, and on certain U.S. government grounds, the police generally do not bother us. To keep things safe, orderly, and to preserve our good relations with the police, we ask that you please abide by the following few rules:

  • Participants are required to sign a waiver and wear helmets and wrist guards.
  • Obey all traffic lights, stop signs, and other traffic devices. (like a car)
  • Please limit your skating to one lane of traffic, the far right lane only.
  • Many tourists will be in town. Please keep aware of the pedestrian, bike, and vehicular traffic!
  • S There will be some skating on bike trails crowded with many cyclists, other skaters, pedestrians, children, and strollers. Keep in mind:
    • Pedestrians have the right of way. Please skate slowly and safely. This is not a race.
    • Please warn people ahead of you if passing. Use all other verbal signals as well. (e.g. bike up, bike back).
  • Some of you may be tempted to skate stairs. Please do not, especially on the steps of the memorials we will be visiting.

  Other Resources for out-of-town Skaters:
  Skating with WAR
  Skate DC Safety tips
  Local Skating Info
  Places to Rent Skates
  WAR Special Events Page
  WAR Resources

  Weekend Meeting Place and Event Schedule:
  Meet at the Red Roof Inn (in Chinatown) 15 minutes prior to each skate. We will leave the hotel ON TIME. If you get there 5 minutes after the start of the skate, we all be gone!

  Go to the Red Roof Inn Meeting Spot for directions and information about the hotel.

  Saturday evening skate will end at Froggy Bottom Pub (located on PA Ave, six blocks from the White House.)

  Each skate is expected to last about 3-4 hours.

  MDW Schedule, MAY 23-26, 2003

  Friday, May 23, 2003
  Friday Evening Skate	Friday, 7:00 pm   Leader: Bill Hicks Intermediate Level Skate (Distance 8 miles.) Starting at the Red Roof Inn, this is a slightly longer variation on our regular Friday night loop around the Mall at a relaxed pace. We will be visiting the Capitol, Washington Monument, Jefferson, FDR, Korean War, Lincoln, and Vietnam Memorials, and the White House.
  Friday Night Party	Friday, 9:00 pm Party at the Irish Channel, the bar inside the Red Roof Inn (NO SKATES ALLOWED) For those wearing an event wristband, the following drink specials apply: $3 pints of Yeungling, Miller Lite, and Irish Channel Ale; $3 glasses of house red and white wines. Food - pay as you go.
  Saturday, May 24, 2003 NOTE: NO SKATE CLINIC TODAY
  Saturday Morning Skate	Saturday, 10:00 am   Leader: Carl Ford Intermediate-Advanced Level Skate (Distance 12 miles.) This skate will visit Georgetown, Iwo Jima Memorial, and then stop at the Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam Memorials for a half hour. We will then skate along the Mall and then around Capitol Hill and RFK Stadium.
  Saturday Evening Skate	Saturday, 6:00 pm   Leader: Andrew Baxley Intermediate Level Skate (Distance 12 miles.) We will skate by Union Station, Howard University, Grant Circle, Rock Creek Church Road and Mount Pleasant, Upper Dupont Circle area. This skate has some hills.
  Saturday Pizza and Drinks	Saturday, 9:00 pm Pizza and Drinks We will collect $15 at the door. Please bring exact change if you can. Near the end of the skate we will stop at the Froggy Bottom Pub for pizza and drinks. This establishment offers great value with various types of pizza and beer, and a skate-friendly environment.
  Sunday, May 25, 2003
  Sunday Morning Skate	Sunday, 9:30 am   Leader: John Rossetti Advanced Level Skate (Distance 20-24 miles or for return via subway 12-14 miles) some challenging uphills and equally fun downhills. Once we reach Old Town Alexandria (mile 12-14), we will skate to a Metro station for those who want to take a train back to the hotel. We will skate along the mall and pass the Korean War and Lincoln Memorials, the Pentagon, Crystal City, the George Washington Masonic Temple in Old Town, and National Airport. When we return to DC we will skate along side Rolling Thunder.
  Sunday Evening Skate	Sunday, 5:00 pm   Leader: Emily Bennett Intermediate-Advanced Level Skate (Distance 9 miles) We will conclude the skate by 7:00 pm so that you can attend the concert
  Sunday Evening Concert	Sunday, 8:00 pm Annual, Free Memorial Day Concert On the West Lawn of the Capitol, this runs from 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm. This year's program hosted by WWII veteran and actor Ossie Davis offers a special tribute to the troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the heroes and victims of September 11, and the war on terrorism. The program will feature a special segment on the Korean War and a very personal remembrance of the Vietnam War through the stories of four Gold Star Mothers who lost their sons. Other appearances will include WWII veterans and actors Charles Durning and Tony Randall, former Senator John Glenn, Gena Rowlands, Ruby Dee, Joe Mantegna, Renee Fleming, and Linda Eder.
  Dinner at Tony's	Sunday, 9:00 pm Dinner at Tony Cheng's Mongolian BBQ This is an all-you-can eat menu. You select the food you want and the Chef's cook it in front of you. The cost is $20-$30, depending, of course, on how much you drink!!
  Further Drinking	Sunday, 10:30 pm Further Drinking at a Nearby Bar (RFD?)
  Monday, May 26, 2003
  Monday Skate	Monday, 9:30 am   Leader: Danny Donoghue Intermediate Level Skate (Distance 10-12 miles) We will skate by the Supreme Court, along the Mall, Washington Monument, Haines Point & the Awakening, George Mason, Lincoln, and Einstein Memorials, and White House. Distance: 10-12 miles. For all those with hangovers, we will skate at a moderate pace.

  Note:
  The Irish Channel Inn (at the Red Roof Inn) has offered skaters (wearing the event bracelet) the following specials throughout the weekend: $3 Miller Lite, Yeungling, and CI Irish Amber and $3 red & white house wine.

  Go to our Red Roof Inn Page for directions and information about the hotel.

  Interested?

  If members of your club would like to attend, please RSVP to mdw@skatedc.org with the numbers you have.
  Last Update: 5/14/2003