Go Becca! Loved the raspberry nips! (And no, pair partner was NOT happy with the stunt you pulled, neither was the team that followed us!)

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Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

And so was my fellow skater, WeirFan06!!!

BTW: Thank you for the back scratcher! It came in handy today at the rink.

Yeah, I hate to admit it... 1980 was heavily hyped as the rink surface to skate on and when I did, it was QUITE hard and unforgiving. QUITE sucky for me. (Then again, I suspect that they were still "flooding the ice" when the event was happening, so that's why the ice is so hard.) The other thing that was depressing is seeing the Lussi rink all ripped up. Anyone there know what they're doing on that particular rink? And my favorite rink ice wise was the USA rink three!

Good meeting 'ya, Hannahclear! At least NOW I know for sure who you are, so I can look for 'ya at future AN's.

That was HILARIOUS!!! It was like "Why does he have this one finger, then two... and then it dawned on me about the 3 second spiral rule!!!

The other fun moment was watching the Michigan group (Mel's, f~c and techskater's club) yell out "GO JUDGES!!! GO JUDGES!!!" I was right behind them at one point when they were doing that, so I just joined in!!! You guys are having WAAAAAY too much fun there and you didn't even have any alcohol in your system yet!!! (For those who weren't at AN... the judges responded by going "the wave!" LOL!!! )

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

I spoke at length with one of the controllers (he helped partner and me go from a level 1 to a level 4 spiral from gold pairs to champ. pairs after I questioned our features after the gold pairs event). He said that they were not being very stringent this year with toe-waltzing and toe-axeling and with other things that people got dinged on last year, and that when something was borderline, the panel would give the benefit of the doubt to the skater.

I hope everyone operating under IJS knows that you can request to speak to the technical controller for your respective event (never the technical specialist or assistant technical specialist). They actually have the planned program content sheet with notes written on it, so you know exactly what you got credit for. For example, on the spiral sequence, Tara and I had "V," "CE," and "V2" written for each spiral (variation, change edge, and variation for three spirals, or level 4). Unfortunately, Tara held her blade the whole time, had no unsupported spiral, and thus had an automatic level 1 (there was slash through all the shothand notes!). We somehow overlooked this, but the controller was able to easily point it out. And just like that, we changed it and got a level 4 for the champ. pair event.

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Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

I didn't get to skate on the 1980 rink at all, because both practices and my competition were on the 1932 rink, and I suppose I should be glad for it! The official warm-up was on the USA rink, which was OK. I loved the ice on the 1932 rink - very soft, my spins centered easily and all my toe jumps felt like they had a lot of pop.

We tried.

The volunteer portion of the event was in the works since late winter with e-mails going back and forth. A lot of the volunteers were adult skaters who come to the adult weeks in Lake Placid during the summer, and many more competed so it was a fun reunion in addition to the competition.

Getting a full staff of volunteers is always difficult during the first two weeks of April in Lake Placid since this is the traditional "vacation time" for Lake Placidians since this is mud season. That is why some of the stores were closed during thr week.

The sometime "disconnects" that occurred during the event is due mostly to the fact that ORDA controls certain aspects of the competition with the volunteer aspects of the competition being left to my club. What is a great help is having volunteers who are also competitors so thay know "both sides of the table" so we can make the operation run smoother.

I am open to any comments, criticisms, ideas, and suggestions you folks might have. I will make sure it gets to the proper people within my Club. Also the same goes for ORDA. I know all the folks in there as well and I am not shy in bringing anything to them.

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!

This was supposed to by my pairs partner, but she chickend out at the last minute, so our favorite nip thrower did it.

The original idea was to take the "critter" to the door, put down a plastic bag and then push her out. But, the guy at the door said we couldn't go through. That's why she went over the boards.

When we had practiced it earlier that day, we realized that the critter would go further if you put a plastic bag under it, but with her going over the boards instead, that didn't happen. In practice I could get Sara almost to the center when she was on the plastic!

You can't see it in the photo, but the shirt was made to look like Wendy Bauer's teddy bear sweaters. And, we were working on the "tag" as we walked across the street to the rink. And, believe it or not, the string attaching the tag to the critter is ONE of my boot laces.

Rob

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Geriatric Figure Skating Crew - President for Life!
Georgia Figure Skating Club - President (again)
Facebook
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"I'm too old to die young, and too smart to be happy" - Kinky Friedman, The Mile High Club

2010 Adult Nationals - earning a gold - "Priceless"
2009 Adult Nationals - competing with a cold is not much fun.
2008 Adult Nationals - Too little sleep, too much vodka!

Re: scheduling complaints

Isn't it the Chief Referee who makes up the event schedule, including the official practices? That's the way it works at the Non-Adult Nationals.

The Chief Referee is assigned by Headquarters and is not a member of the LOC. So rather than addressing complaints about the schedule to the Lake Placid people, maybe people should address their issues with US Figure Skating, the members of the Adult Skating and Competitions committees, and even the Chief Referee him/herself.

I agree with Manleywoman. The logistics of scheduling an event as huge as AN, with people competiting in multiple events on multiple surfaces is a nightmare. It's impossible to please everyone. They do the best they can. Maybe the complainers should take on the task next year and see if they can do better?

It's a lot more scary in the cold, sober light of day.... ask anybody who's been at the Mountain Cup Sunday night parties.....

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Thanks to everyone for your concerns

Andrea is resting fine now. She has a compression fracture on L1 and a hairline fracture on one of the sacrum (sp?) vertebrae. Both are stable and in place and are not expected to need surgery. She was in a lot of pain the first night but it was well managed by the EMT's and hospital staff. She was stabilized and x rayed at Lake Placid Hospital and then transferred to Saranac Hospital for a Cat Scan. That's where the sacrum fracture showed up. She was admitted there. By Sunday morning she was able to smile a lot and as of mid afternoon, the torso brace man came and fitted her. She felt a lot better just having that on. (perfect posture always feels good).
She was discharged yesterday, Monday mid day and she managed the ride home pretty well and is resting as comfortable as can be expected. She will be in the brace for 6 weeks and then PT.

Thanks to Nova and Larry for a very accurate summery of the circumstances.

I'll just add a couple notes. The time of day did not figure into the accident. The practice was at 6:30 PM and we had made adjustments to our routine to accomodate this. On a semi related note, we did take exception to the late night practice just prior to our 8 am event 2 days earlier and as a result, we drove 2 hours to Saratoga Springs very early Wednesday in order to accomodate what we felt we needed. As for the practice in which we fell, the ice conditions that Nova described were accurate and as for the numbers on the ice, there are regulations for offical practices that were exceeded. For a number of reasons, it wasn't a realistic option for us to compete our program elements without the minimum 20 minute official practice, so we took what was assigned to us, even though we knew going in that it was substandard.

Thanks to all, for your encouragement and support.
Lee

Poor Andrea - do draw her attention to the thread that Tim started with best wishes for her. I do hope she heals fast.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Guys, I wish I could take credit for this great dramatic gesture, but the individual lying prostrate on the ice in the picture is actually Becca Guthrie from Alabama, the same generous person who threw out all the little nips to everyone during the event.

I can't say what I was actually doing at the time. It was probably much worse!

BeBi

Last year I found that the caller we had for Champ. Gold Ladies and Gold III FR was much stricter on the toeloops and spiral sequences than the one we had for Gold III QR (so after Gold III QR I made some changes to avoid downgrades in Champ. Gold). This year the calling looked like it was much more consistent, and more forgiving across the board. I didn't see that many downgraded toeloops, and I was surprised to see that a fan spiral (unsupported free leg to the side/front) was actually counted as a feature in a spiral sequence even though it is no longer considered a feature this year unless done in an extreme position.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Tee hee hee... you guys are having WAAAAAY too much fun down there!!! (And drats!!! I missed out on meeting Beccapoo too!!! Maybe next year...)

Yup!!! You guys were definitely the right people for Matt's horn!!! Thin-Ice and I couldn't blow that thing to save our lives!!! Maybe we should have had some vodka nips beforehand so our lips would be loosen up for the horn!!! LOL!!!

Bebi: Sorry I mixed you and Becca up... (and I haven't had any nips too... honest!!!)

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

I had a great time at AN. Came in 12th out of 16 in my Artistic. Wish I had placed higher but those are the breaks. Didn't skate my best. I should of had flo come to stand by my side. I was the only one in my warm up group without coach. I could of used a friendly face. Usually, it doesn't affect me but this time it did!! But, it was a great experience anyway.

I met some great new friends and met Frank R., Freeskater, and others from the board. Sorry, I forgot the names. Brain is still fried from the week. Wasn't feeling too well for most of it. I should change my name from herniated to kidney stone. I passed another the week before and it leaves me feeling sick to my stomach. My family had a great time as well. We stayed till Monday just to relax.

Sorry to hear you were sick... and I was looking for you actually but unfortunately didn't get your REAL name...

And hey, you did better than me in my interp event!!!

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Herniated - anytime. I put a couple of friends on and was fortunate enough to have mel and camel at my practice.

I had a great time catching up with folks. Every 5 feet there was someone to greet and hug. I even babysat Hercules while his parents were dancing. I love being in Lake Placid - it's such a magical place to do what you love.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Oh, Flo, was that you? Then we've met! I had just gotten off my practice ice and was having a hard time resisting little Hercules myself so we chatted a little and you told me about your fur kids.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

I had a fabulous time at AN. Having been to every AN since the beginning, I believe this one ranks up there as one of the best. I am sorry to hear that the pairs had a hard time of it, but from my perspective the competition was extremely well run. It was neat to finally have the AN logo painted on the ice after all these years -- although it would have been nicer to have practice ice on that surface. But, hey ... it's the thought that counts! Even the competitors' party was well done.

I had a great time skating my FS event ... which is odd for me because I'm not really a FS person! I just really enjoyed being judged under IJS. I placed third, and doubletoe pointed out to me that I was the first skater ever at AN to receive a level 3 step sequence ... and since she was the first skater at AN, last year, to get a level 4 spiral sequence, I feel like I am in good company!

I skated my Interp pretty well but ended up 6th. I found myself saying what I say every year, no matter how I place, "Well, that's Interp for you! Always a crap shoot!" Looking at the ordinal sheets every year is almost as entertaining as watching the programs! Ordinals all over the place. I remember one year I actually won Interp without having one single first-place ordinal. It was that wacky!

The only thing that marred my trip was the flight home. Unfortunately I was sick all week, and I was no less congested when I had to fly home. I have trouble with my ears on planes when I am well -- I always take Sudafed and use nose spray when I fly, to open everything up -- but this time those methods did nothing and the pain in my ears upon descent was absolutely excruciating. And unfortunately I had to do it twice, because I had a layover in Chicago. The flight attendant on my first flight gave me a Claritin D, but unfortunately, by that time, it was too late. It's been 36 hours since I landed, and I still can't quite hear properly. I am seeing an ENT tomorrow morning!

Congrats to everyone!

Doubletoe - how funny! I also found out after having dinner with her that I met climbskate! I remember your practice - it was pretty good. Hercules was a cutie! Congrats on your skate.

Daisies - congrats! I hope you feel better. How many are here now who have been to all nats? This was definitely one of my favorites.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Thanks! I counted seven: you, me, Colleen Conroy, Ted Gradman, Angie Prevost, Walt Horton and Dorothy Ray. I have a feeling I am missing one, though!

Thanks! If only my actual competition skate had been that good!
I look forward to seeing you again next year!

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Hi Jazz, I'll PM you my real name. I was hoping to meet you too! I'm still eating the two bags of cotton candy I bought there. It makes me sick, but what a great 'sick' it is!!

[QUOTE=flo;362057]Herniated - anytime. I put a couple of friends on and was fortunate enough to have mel and camel at my practice.

Thanks flo. Next time I'll PM you and make arraingements.

And I have replied your PM with my real name too...

Cotton Candy! Mmmmm Mmmmm!!!!

Of course, I'm waiting 'til after my dietitian's appt. this weekend to splurge on a REALLY good JUICY burger!!! But I did have an okay burger right after my freeskate. Apparently a couple of people griped that I didn't leave any more leftover fries for them. (You know who you are...)

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Also, in the Master's Junior/Senior Ladies I+II group there was an 'e' call on the second place skater. From the stands her lutz looked great to me and likewise half the judging panel gave it a -1, the other half a 'O'... I thought edge calls were a mandatory -1 GOE, but I guess not.

Speaking of deductions, does anyone know why Edward VanCampen got a costume deduction? He wore an all black tight fitting costume and I can't even imagine what merited the violation.