24 Hours On A Scooter
| Vendula KosíkováCome on! Come on! Parallo! Here I go! Racers shouting at each other could be heard during the endurance relay race 24 Hours on a Scooter. The unusual race has a 25-year-long tradition; around fifteen teams participate in it every year. Adam Scheinherr from the Parallo team arrived from faraway Marseilles, where he studies biomechanics, to take part in this year’s race. Why does he never miss out on the rather demanding 24-hour marathon just like others?
“The event has a unique and electric atmosphere; I see most of the people, like, once a year – in Stromovka Park on scooters. What’s more, my brother Martin and my father Jiří are also members of the Parallo team and regularly participate in such races. My father built scooters for our team, which has nine regular members, from old Favorit bicycles several years ago,” Adam explains why he is so enthusiastic about the races. What he and his friends enjoy most about the Stromovka races is good company and unforgettable experiences.
First Medal After 20 Years Of Participation
Last year the Parallo team won the race for the first time in its history and gained the challenge skittle pin. However, this year they have handed it over to a group of chemists from the research laboratory “Sdílení hmoty” (Sharing Substance) who have managed to ride 233 rounds and 559 kilometres in a small team of around 4 -5 riders. You can find them under the name Grassel in the result chart.
Scooter From A Rental Shop
The team entitled “Nudle s mákem” (Noodles with Poppy Seeds) was founded some time ago by Jan Kepler Grammar School graduates. Three sturdy male canoeists and three beautiful female canoeists represented the team this year. “We do not ride scooters throughout the year at all; the founder of our team, the only owner of a scooter, did not take part in this year’s 24-hour marathon, so we had to borrow a scooter for the race,” the members of the last year’s winning team - Nudle s mákem – explain. This year they came in a very commendable fourth place.
One Man Team
The eighteen-year-old Tomáš Rukavička from the Stopaři (Trackers) team showed an excellent performance on his home-made vehicle. His team did not arrive at the race, so he stood on the starting line with the aim of riding 300 kilometres just by himself. Thanks to the support he received from his family, he managed to pass the long dark night, endured torrential rain in the morning, and until Saturday 5pm, when the race officially finished after 24 hours, he managed to ride the 2.4-kilometre-long circuit in the Královská obora 115 times. During the ceremony at which the results of the race were announced, Tomáš enjoyed well-earned appreciation and undying applause from other contestants for the fabulous 276 kilometres he had ridden, for his unfailing courage and firm willpower.
Freshmen In The Race
While some teams break up, other teams emerge. The team called “Smraďoši” (Stinkards) took part in the race for the first time this year. The team was founded by a former Wemena team member, who challenged his former team to a duel. “I began to devote more time to the tourist club “Poutníci” (Tramps) and I wanted not only my colleagues, but also the children from my new club to take part in this wonderful event,” says the 20-something racer known as “Opičák” (Monkey).
The 25th scooter race took place between 5pm of Friday 17 May and 5pm of Saturday 18 May in the back area of the Stromovka Park. For the final results please go to the website of the race organizer and at the same time the Prague scooter server provider - kolobezky.wz.cz.
See You Again Next Year
Scooters are a lifelong passion for the Yedoo team, as well as their daily routine. Alena Romanovská, international business coordinator of the Yedoo brand, who managed to complete 22 rounds in the Stromovka Park described her final round as follows: “Breaking the finishing tape after the 24-hour-long struggle and listening to the applause of all the participants was exciting, amazing and impressive. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate.”