World Games speed skaters to heat up new track

One of the fastest non-motorized sports in The World Games will be held at one of the most historic venues in downtown Birmingham.

The parking lot at the former Powell Steam Plant is being converted into a course to host the inline speed skating competition July 8-11.

Skaters can reach speeds between 30 and 35 miles per hour and will have a newly constructed track on which to test their mettle while competing for their country.

“It always means a lot to represent the Stars and Stripes and do my best for my country,” said Kelsey Rodgers, who will skate for Team USA in The World Games.

Speed skater Kelsey Rodgers will compete on Team USA at World Games. (contributed)

Rodgers, 25, said she has been skating since she was 3, and got into competitive speed skating because her dad and her coach skated together.

“I like inline speed skating because it has taught me so many things about life,” she said. “It’s taught me to be determined, outgoing, being very committed, mental toughness, and it also allowed me to find my inner strength. It’s special to me because it allowed me to increase my confidence and build many friendships along the way.”

The Hagerstown, Maryland, native has won multiple national championships, including a bronze medal in the 10k elimination race at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru. She said she has raced many times with her USA teammates. Rodgers will be joined on the USA Roller Skating team by Jazzmine Foster and James Sadler, according to www.theworldgames.org USA qualifications page. The team won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Games.

“Team chemistry is everything,” Rodgers said. “It’s important to have a good relationship so they can help motivate you on your bad days and also make you stronger during your training sessions and races.”

All of the teams will have to face an additional opponent at The World Games – the Alabama heat.

“I’m kind of aware of the extreme heat, but I’m used to all kinds of weather for competitions and trainings,” Rodgers said. “I will stay hydrated and stay out of the sun as much as possible, unless I am racing.”

Speed skater Kelsey Rodgers will compete on Team USA at World Games.

The Powell Avenue site is not known for keeping things cool. The former steam plant, built in 1895, provided steam and electricity for downtown businesses in Birmingham. It connected the city by powering the streetcar system, which was essential to the city’s growth. Alabama Power acquired the steam plant in the 1950s and continued operations until 2013.

Plans are for the site to be converted into a retail and entertainment hub, and an Alamo Drafthouse movie theater was announced as the anchor tenant earlier this year. It’s expected to open in fall 2023.

But for now, the hot ticket will be speed skating in the adjacent parking lot.

Jay Kasten, chief operating officer for The World Games.

“We’re really excited to turn an historic venue right in the heart of downtown Birmingham next to Railroad Park into such a unique venue,” said Jay Kasten, the chief operating officer for The World Games. “We’re really happy that Alabama Power was willing to work with us and allow us to put down a temporary track that we think will be exciting for everybody that lives in the neighborhood.”

The 200-meter oval speed skating track must have a competition area of 6 meters wide with the entire track having a max slope of 1%, Kasten said. The oval is constructed of an asphalt base with a specialized skating material installed on top to create the skating surface.

The World Games will be in Birmingham July 7-17. After The World Games, Kasten said the track will be removed to help facilitate the planned updates ongoing at the historic steam plant.

“We think it will be extremely exciting to have three days of speed skating, and right outside of there, we’ll do a road course,” he said. “We think Powell Steam Plant is another way of showing off the uniqueness of Birmingham through a sporting event.”

(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)