Skaters make good roll models

By KENNETH KNIGHT

kknight@tampatrib.com

Published: November 11, 2009

TEMPLE TERRACE - Roy Paz employs many skills as a veteran Tampa police officer, but the training that gives him the most joy and keeps him in tip-top condition happens on a skating rink.

For more than 30 years, Paz has honed his skills on indoor and outdoor speed skating tracks. Although he never pursued the sport as a career, speed skating has remained his favorite pastime.

"It teaches good values, hard work and dedication," said Paz, 42. "It carries over to my professional life and helps me stay in shape."

Paz, a husband and father of three, said the time he spends on wheels now is more enjoyable because his family shares his passion.

Paz was thrilled to be able to expose his wife, Vivian, and the couple's three children, Anna, 13, Samantha, 12, and R.J., 4, to the sport that helped him earn the title as the Tampa police officer with the fastest time - 2 minutes, 42 seconds - to complete the department's obstacle course.

"The SWAT team guys, I got them by one second," Paz said, flashing a sheepish grin.

For Paz, life is all about challenges. His newest one will test his ability to train and develop a new crop of inline speed skating enthusiasts.

He is forming a national-level team under the Florida Associated Speed Team umbrella, which Paz describes as the largest organization of inline speed skating teams in the country.

"We want to grow the sport here in Tampa," Paz said.

The affable law enforcement officer is now known as "coach" by 18 aspiring speed skaters, who range from as young as Paz's 4-year-old, R.J., to middle-aged adults.

They are members of Team FAST, a competitive inline speed skating program based at USA Skateplex, 5313 E. Busch Blvd. The new satellite team joins other Florida- and Georgia-based skaters to train and compete in local, national and international events.

The team normally practices twice a week - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. The coach will occasionally add a third practice session, when the rink is available.

Paz said he is excited about taking on the task of potentially developing the next great Olympian.

Inline speed skating is not an Olympic-sanctioned sport. However, Olympians Apolo Ohno, Derek Parra and Eric Heiden all started their speed skating careers on inline or quad skates before they switched to ice.

Interest in Team FAST has been exciting, attracting a mix of city and suburban dwellers of various ages and from diverse backgrounds, Paz said.

He described it as a grassroots effort, led mostly by tweens and teenagers who showed up for the first time on recreational inline skates or "quads," four-wheel roller skates.

"Everybody is coming in to see if they like it," the new coach said. "Several families say they love it and want to sign up for the team."
Tampa police officer Veronica Hamilton and her two boys, Travis Hills, 12, and Malachiah Hills, 6, were one of those families.

Hamilton, who learned to skate on quads as a child in Tampa, said she promised Paz she and her boys would get involved if he started a team.

Now Hamilton is training to one day compete on inline speed skates. And so is Paz's wife, Vivian.

"I never put on inline skates until recently," Vivian Paz said. "I roller-skated. I love to go fast. I love that freedom."

The art of learning to speed skate is being dedicated and focused and having a lot of fun while doing it, Roy Paz said.

"Inline speed skating is a sport where someone with relatively little or no inline skating experience can learn to skate and compete in a matter of weeks," he said.

Paz expects from 10 percent to 15 percent of his first-year skaters will qualify for the Indoor U.S. National Speed Skating competition this season.

No matches will be held at the Skateplex this season. Team FAST will be a road squad, taking on other Florida teams, including those that train at the United Skates of America Center, 5121 N. Armenia Ave., and Town & Country Skateworld, 7510 Paula Drive, both in Tampa. Invitational meets will include teams from across the country.

"A lot of people involved in speed skating think it's intimidating," Paz said.

He begs to differ. That has not been Paz's experience with the sport. He has seen nothing but positive results. "It helps people come out of their shell," Paz said.

That wasn't necessary for Dyllon Harris. The active 11-year-old, who is in sixth grade at Terrace Community Middle School, is full of energy and always ready to compete.

"I used to do hockey, but I wanted to try speed skating to see if I wanted to stick with it," Dyllon said.

Dyllon's mother, Kim, said she is in awe of her son's speed on the rink.

"He's really fast; this is where he shines," said Kim Harris of Temple Terrace. "He is a soccer player, too. It keeps him busy."

Ryan Brown, 13, of Riverview, who attends Young Middle School, said speed skating practice is how he relaxes after finishing his homework.

Robbie Burt of Temple Terrace said his daughter, Haley Newman, 8, who attends Mango Elementary, hasn't missed a practice session since the team formed.

Catherine Thrift said her daughter, April, a first-grader at Pizzo Elementary, has been skating almost nonstop since she turned 6 in March.

Although skater Brooke Hunter, 13, is slightly older than Paz's daughters, Anna and Samantha, she looks to the Adams Middle School students as role models.

"It's the best sport ever," said Anna, who dreams of becoming a competitive speed skater. "Since I could walk, I was on skates."

Her sister, Samantha, enjoys the time the family spends together.

"I think it's really fun and to have your dad as your coach is special," she said.

Paz said he hopes to instill in his children the good, solid values he picked up through his involvement with speed skating.

"The sport has helped me in so many ways," Paz said. "It gives you confidence and a feeling that there is nothing you can't do."

ON A ROLL

WHAT: Team FAST. Training under way for Tampa's newest inline speed skating team. Registration is available for new skaters.