Cook Islands skater joins top team
By Charles Pitt

Deb Tamaiva, of Arorangi, is a proud grandmother. She has just learnt that her 19-year-old grandson Reyon Kay, who is one of New Zealand’s top “inline” speed skaters, is poised to join Athleticum-Rollerblade. This is Switzerland’s top professional team of speed skaters.
Kay, whose parents live in Paraparaumu, near Wellington, has travelled to Rarotonga several times to stay with his grandmother.
Kay’s chance to join the top team came when one of its five members left. The team, which won the 2006 Swiss Inline Cup Series and finished fourth in the World Inline Cup, offered Kay a one-year contract.
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Kay has already had a year of professional skating, having skated in Asia and Europe for another Swiss based team “World Inline Centre Model.” It was his first year on the world professional scene.
That team finished second in the Swiss Inline Cup with Kay finishing 10th overall as an individual, scoring four top ten places. His team went on to finish fifth in the World Inline Cup with Kay finishing with 17th as an individual.
In September 2006, Kay represented NZ in the World Championships in Korea where his best result was eighth out of around 50 skaters in the one kilometre event.
Kay will compete next in the New Zealand nationals on 6 January before heading back to Europe in April.

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