Renata and Patrik (back row, far...

Zurich, 6 December 2011: Patrik Grätzer says, he is „really very satisfied“ with the results of his IDEEprint-EOSKATES team in 2011 and he has good reasons to be: best team in the World Inline Cup overall ranking, Mélissa Chouleysko 2nd and Renata Karabova 3rd in the Women’s individual standings. Already after the first full season the Swiss Inline Skating squad has left the competition behind.

Being fascinated by the sport for years and participating in competitions himself, Patrik decided to “having his own team” after starting his personal business with the IDEEprint company. His team was “IDEEprint-X-tech” in 2008 before he met with Daniel Busser of EOSKATES in Berlin September 2010. They joined forces and found strong athletes from France, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland and Italia to set-up a new group.

In 2011 it was mainly the two 24 year old Mélissa Chouleysko and Renata Karabova who led the team through the season and accounted 789 of the total 890 points that made IDEEprint-EOSKATES the World Inline Cup Women Team Champions. Being on top of the world needs a lot of sacrifices in a sport that has not the same public awareness as soccer or formula 1 racing.

Mélissa does not like the word “sacrifice” though as she says that she does all of this because she really likes it and in winter there are times when she gives priority to recharging her batteries by spending more time with family and friend(s) at home in France. And they are paying back: her boyfriend does not only support her by understanding that there is not so much time in-between Mélissa’s job, practice and the competitions, but as well by riding the bike when she is on skates going for long distances.

Being a university student it seems as if Renata’s schedule is not as packed as, but with developing her own juniors inline skating team at home in Slovakia there is no time to be bored. In exchange seeing how the kids improve makes her more than happy. In winter Renata fuels as well her career on ice. It started with Hockey when she was 13 and shortly after she had the opportunity to try short track. She took part in several Junior World Championships, the World Cup and the Seniors European Championship. Renata is one of the few racers, who took part in the World Cup of ice short track, long track, and inline skating.

Still both of them are not considering themselves being full professionals although they need to dedicate as much time to the sport to be competitive. So it is the passion for the inline sport that motivates them to pull out their best. Renata likes relays and hates running practices whereas Mélissa prefers endurance races over sprinting to get there. Competing with the world’s best is an important goal, but all the team likes as well the chance to see the world. Visiting countries like China, Korea and Venezuela plus meeting people from all corners on the globe remains an exciting part of the package.

So what are the plans for 2012? Renata shared with us that she would like to attend her first World Champions after 2008 in Gijon. But the main goal with the IDEEprint-EOSKATES team is to repeat winning the World Inline Cup. Daniel Busser will be the manager and Patrik Grätzer concentrating on the coaching. The girls are going to give their best to make it happen for sure. And they will enjoy every inch of it. The joint fervour for Inline Skating is a strong common basis for this old and new endeavour.