the Joy's of Local November

We are going to Donora for regionals. The eastern region. Located in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey is traveling west over four hours to Donora. If I didn't have relays there's a possibility I wouldn't have to go. The worst part is that I'm an official, my hotel will be paid for and I will get paid to be at regionals but all the people that are in the 2 hour (or less) range from the other option that if they had to could have drove back and forth cannot anymore. They will have to pay for a hotel. Two or more years ago I would not have stayed at a hotel at a meet unless it was more then 2.5 hours away. Last year the number of people that didn't make it to nationals in their division could probably have been counted with my fingers. But that is besides the point. I think if nothing else is added and my region wants to have regionals further away then it may be time to make it a one all-day meet.
We found this information out yesterday at our second league meet of the Keystone Speed League. League meets are fun. We go we skate four times (two division races two elite (nira) races) and you go home. It's good to get the racing in without having to go to an invitational. For me I use league meets for fun and I officiate them so that's always another reason for me to go. I don't show up to a league in my best shape because frankly I don't need to. Another reason I like league meets is they give me a chance to put on indoor wheels once a month. (Seriously.. I only wear indoor wheels at races) They also give me a chance to test indoor wheels that my sponsor company produces. There may not be a meet a skate this year until about April that I will not test something different, that is just how it goes. Testing wheels is a good thing it is something that has to be done. It's how you develop a wheel (hint research and development).
The best part about it is taking the shot's at the meets. There's always the people that will ask you about what you are wearing and it's simple "they're a test wheel, they're a prototype." Then there are the people that take shots. These are the best people. These are the people that despise you simply because they can. They go out of their way (considering I'm an official and usually in the center of the floor they actually have to come out of their way) just to say something smart. Just to say something to give them a little smirk on their face so in their head they can say to themselves "I really told him." Then it gets better. When you actually try to give a kind/polite response to their childish question and they cut you off with a childish comment. If you are going to go out of your way to say something to me, at least allow me to respond or get a word in.
The people that do this are never the people on your level.. never. They either have to be above you or below you. And because at a league meet few people are above those sponsored (in terms of skating), they are usually below. They can be a novice skater, a parent, or just some adult that has it out for you. This aggravates me, I will not lie about it. But I do not try to say anything else I do not stoop to their level. But I do something to give myself a little smirk. Needless to say, one of the people that did this saw their child get lapped in the first half of the next race.