Helena loves the challenge
MARATHON ON INLINE SKATES
Just name the sport that Helena Nyman has not tried. As she says: “I've got college credits in hockey stops and tango.” Helena was a physical education teacher who went back to school to get a degree in civil engineering and now works as a commercial project manager at Stena Fastigheter in Malmö. Two years ago, she accompanied a friend to an inline skating practice. She got the bug, and this summer participated in the Berlin Marathon.
“For me, inline skating is a pure exercise sport,” says Helena Nyman. “I skate with a club called Malmö City Skaters that brings together adults of all ages. We have participants between 18 and 80 years of age, and with varying skill levels. Each training session has a supervising trainer. For example, we practice different turns, skating in urban terrain, skating in packs, meaning skating close together, or relays. When I train, I like it when there is a technical challenge to motivate me in getting better at what I do. Training like this also gives me good balance, strength and fitness at the same time. I like that.”
How would you describe inline skating to someone who has never done it before?
“Inline skating is much the same as ice skating and has similar areas of practice. We have members in the club who come from figure skating, short track skating and cross-country skating. Here you can train for long tours on inline skates or skating fast in races, or to become proficient at dealing with obstacles and hilly terrain.”
“I love sports of all kinds and it's great learning new techniques and being challenged in new ways. As an athlete, I'm more interested in the challenge than exercising. Exercising is a fantastic side benefit but it's not what keeps me going.” Helena Nyman, who besides skating, also enjoy training in various circus acts.
What do you like about skating?
“I like being outside, the wind in my hair and being able to hone my skills and get better at something while getting my exercise. We have many people in the club who are newcomers to the city who have found a community through inline skating. I think these kinds of relationship-building activities are particularly good. We practice at IKEA’s parking lot in Malmö, and at the end of each semester we get together for dinner. This contributes to a sense of community that you don’t get if you work out in a gym, for example.”
You have also participated in the Berlin Inline Marathon. How was that?
“The Berlin Inline Marathon is a combined exercise and competitive race where even the world’s most elite participate. Inline skating is not an Olympic sport and does not have world championships or the like, which means that the very best are competing in this type of competition. I think that makes it even more fun. A race is set up like a foot race where the participants’ starting positions are based on previous race results. I skated in the race together with my club mates and we had a common goal to complete the race in under
1 hour and 50 minutes, which we did.”
What are your best memories from the event?
“It was a great feeling to skate 42 kilometers through Berlin, finishing at the Brandenburg Gate. You get a good perception of the city in a way that would otherwise have taken a very long time. The feeling of skating in an urban environment without having to pay attention to cars, crossing strollers or red lights is amazing. This year I did the 42 kilometers in 1 hour and 47 minutes, but next year I’ll try to do it even faster. Everyone who took part enjoys skating fast, but above all we make sure we have fun. We sing and shout out our chants as we compete against the other teams we meet.”
| NAME | Helena Nyman |
| AGE | 37 |
| YEARS AT STENA | 0,5 (started in May 2022) |
| TITLE | Commercial Project Manager, Stena Fastigheter |
| FAMILY | Husband Elias, two children; Alice 6 and Olivia 10 |
| LIVES | Staffanstorp |
| INTERESTS | Inline skating, circus acts and scouting. Has practised gymnastics, dance and track and field. |
3 TOP TIPS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO START WITH INLINE SKATING
- See if there is a club near where you live. Join them! Dare to join in even if you haven’t been at it for long or never tried it before.
- Get a good pair of inline skates. It’s more fun if you have good gear. If you’ve skated before, try a pair with bigger wheels. They’re faster, making it easier to skate longer distances.
- Always wear a helmet.
