The stage is set for the National SpeedSkating Circuit’s (NSC) fourth and final event of the initial season, Tribulation. From the very first NSC event, the crowd has witnessed things that have never before taken place on a 100m flat track from the fastest twelve athletes the sport has to offer. These athletes have been training all year leading to this point and have earned the opportunity to take battle their rivals in the seasons biggest event, The National SpeedSkating Circuit Final. Winning a race at this event will not only put the athlete in a better position overall in the point standings but also give them bragging rights for performing on the biggest stage of the season.

After the last event, the overall point standings cleared up a lot more as a few of our athletes pulled away from the pack proving they can perform at the highest level for the length of the season. In the Endurance events, it is Joey SuperMantia on top with 190 total points which will automatically guarantee him the overall Endurance Title of NSC’s first season. With a tight grasp on the second spot is Michael “Cheex” Cheek has 100 points. Cheex has managed to move into second place overall despite entering NSC an event late. Who knows what the overall standings would look like had he been present at all three of the previous events. After Cheex, the endurance standings tighten up with Jake Powers (3rd), Justin “The Rajin Cajun” Stelly (4th), Jeremy “The Hammering Husky” Anderson (5th), and Jordan Hafenscher (6th) all in striking distance for the third spot.

The Sprint events were no different with William “Wild Thing” Bowen taken a commanding lead after Tribulation 3. He currently has 160 points, 60 points ahead of Keith “The IQ” Carroll who sits in second place overall. In third place overall is Stephen “S Dot” Carter with 80 points toward the overall Sprint Title. Following closely behind in fourth place is Chad “The Unibomber” Horne with 70 points. And the young Eben “Action” Jackson rounds out the sprint field with 35 total points. In the sprint field there are no positions that have already been determined but The Wild Thing has the overall title within his grasps.

Although every athlete would love to be crowned the Endurance and Sprint champions of NSC the goal is still to be crowned the as the most prestigious champion in inline speed skating: The National SpeedSkating Circuit’s Overall Grand Champion. Ten of the twelve athletes have found themselves in a Grand Champions race at some point or another during the season and would like nothing more than to qualify for the very last race of the Tribulation season. Leading the field for the most prestigious title with two victories in the 800m Grand Champions race is The Unibomber with a total of 150 points. The Unibomber is already guaranteed a position in the final Grand Champions race of the season for his win in Tribulation 3’s race. In second place is Cheex with an impressive 90 points in just two events. In third place sits SuperMantia with a total of 42 points. Following behind him is The IQ in fourth place with 19 points, Jake Powers in fifth with 16 points, The Hammering Husky and The Wild Thing tied for sixth with 15 points, The Rajin Cajun Stelly and S Dot find themselves tied for eighth with 4 points, and Action Jackson rounds out the grand champions field with 2 points overall. Entering the final event the only athlete that has a fighting chance to tie the Unibomber and claim the overall title is Cheex. But Cheex must first qualify for the race and then claim the victory in order to have any shot at tying the Unibomber overall. Who will rise above the competition for the season’s brightest stage and be claimed the Grand Champion of the season finale: the most prestigious title in inline speed skating?

Do you think you have what it takes to become an NSC athlete? NSC Qualifications for the second season will be head November 14th and 15th where we will expand the field to the 28 fastest indoor skaters in the world. Check back for more information.