the SkateNow shop'
Like you we are skaters, but please read
on for more details.... we won't be the
first nor last couple to have met while
skating and build a life around a sport we
truly love!
'the SkateNow shop’ by Skatenow, llc
evolved out of pure love and devotion to
the sports of speedskating, both ice and
inline. Owner's Eric Kraan and
Kimberly Simons-Kraan established the
business in 2001 in response to an
inherent need to support the local
community of skaters in Utah, USA where
they reside.
Whether on wheels or ice, speedskating
is their sport. Both Eric and
Kimberly compete in inline racing, with
marathon skating as their first choice
to go that extra mile. As avid
inline skaters, together they
opened Utah's first ever inline skate
school with IISA certified inline
instructors in 2001, the SkateNow Skate
School, llc.. Both teach inline
classes and clinics throughout the
greater Salt Lake area through programs
established with local Salt Lake area
parks and recreation facilities,
the University of Utah's BIP program,
and the new Park City Ice Arena, as well
as offering Private and Group
Instruction. And, it doesn't stop
there. SkateNow plays hosts to a number
of local inline events during the summer
seasons, including the Greek Festival,
Draper Days, West Jordan inline
5Kand 10K race events, Fun-Roll BBQ's, a
summer Skate Tour, and Salt Lake's
Friday Nite Roll. With a small and
growing enthusiastic group of local
skaters, Eric and Kimberly established
Salt Lake's first ever "Friday Nite
Rolls" in summer of 2004, and they've
been rolling around town ever since.
Their personal involvement as well as
professional efforts and expertise have
had a rewarding impact in supporting the
growth and fostering development of the
local community of skaters in
Utah.
Eric is a level II USS certified ice
speedskating coach, and coaches
independently at the Utah Olympic Oval
facility, when he is not busy training
and working towards his own personal
speedskating goals. Eric is the
pioneer and founder, and first ever
member of the Mexican National
Speedskating Team of Long Track
Speedskating. With Eric's
individual due diligence and hard
efforts, an official Long Track
Speedskating Team for Mexico was
established in the 2001-2002
season. Eric was then able to
participate in World Cup events, proudly
representing his native country of
Mexico. There are currently 4 members of
the Mexican National Long Track
Team. It is his hope to achieve a
spot on the Mexican National Olympic
Team for Olympic participation in the
sport of long track speedskating, and to
further facilitate development of the
Mexican National speedskating team. Eric
& Kimbery were invited to Mexico
City in 2007 to demostrate the sport of
short track speedskating, in the zocalo
of Mexcio City, to upwards of 50,000
spectators, a perfect opportunity to
promote the sport of speedskating. The
event was so successful we were invited
back for closing cermeonies in January
2008.
Eric also coaches Salt Lake's very
own: 'Salt City Derby' Team:
Women's 100 meter Flat Track Roller
Derby.
Both Kimberly & Eric are also PSIA
certified alpine ski instructors and
actively promote the benefits of
cross-training on skates to skiers
during their off-season. Skiing &
Skating are a perfect marriage of sports
to help you stay conditioned all year
round.
Kimberly has been skating for over
15 years, initially discovering skating
as a means to cross-train for ski
season.... skating soon dominated as her
sport of choice. Within a few
years time she pursued marathon skating
as a means to achieve personal goals,
stay fit, and skate in cool places such
as Tahiti, France, and elsewhere around
the globe. Kimberly is also a
professional architect, with an
environmental eye for sustainable
design. Her goals include being
able to design and build a velo-drome
facility for skating and cycling in
Utah, and do design for ice ovals
internationally. She also runs
both the skate school and 'the skatenow
shop' in partnership with husband Eric,
and is the web-mistress for the SkateNow
Skate School, llc., 'the SkateNow
shop', and Team Mexico.
We look forward to keeping you geared up
for the sports you love, ice and inline
speedskating!
All the best to you in your skating
endeavors,
Eric R. Kraan and Kimberly Simons Kraan
owners, 'the
SkateNow shop'
MEDIA
RELEASES:
- Salt Lake Tribune:
SkateNow Couple finds bliss on
Skates 2004
- Park Record: Inline News
2004
- TV2 - Morning Show: Inline
Skating: Fun & Safe 2004
- TV2 Healthly Living
Segment: Inline Skating for
Health & Fitness 2004
- Salt Lake Tribune:
Couple finds Bliss on Blades 2005
- Salt City Derby
segment 2006/2007
- Deseret New: Coach Kraan
& Derby 2007
- Salt Lake City
Weekly: Derby 2007/2008
- Mexico
City Press: Ice
Speedskating,
Zocalo: December
2007 - January 2008
- Utah
Sports Guide: Fall issue
2008- Inline for Skiing
