Any news on AN 2009???

I'll even take rumor!!!

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Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

Really? Whose lutzes got called as flips? I was actually curious about whether there would be any edge calls and was surprised that I didn't find a single "e" in any of the protocol sheets. I'm wondering if maybe they didn't have this year's software or something. But even so, all the caller had to do was to announce "lutz, wrong edge" and every judge was supposed to take off at least -1 GOE. . . Hmm. . .?

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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

Nova - I do believe that the overall levels have increased, but overhead lifts have been around since the first nats and thus the risks are not that different to the person falling. And the numbers of pairs were just as high if not higher in the early years, and then dipped, quite obvious in 2004. If anything, the probability for injury is less with the "former standard track" skaters as they obviously have more experience. I do not believe at all that the LOC should "accomodate" the pairs events any more now just because of these competitors. All event have naturally increased in difficulty and all skaters need to be safe, and all skaters need to accept responsibility. I don't think that there should be more practice time for greater difficulty, but for the numbers the usfsa guidelines of how many pairs on the ice do need to be followed now just as they should have been followed all the other years nats was there. I'd like to see more common sense used in the scheduling as far as late night followed by early am, and maintained ice for all. But again, its the skaters responsibility to determine if the conditions are "safe" for them.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

That would be Portland, OREGON - not Portland ME.

Come on down (up? Across?). We would love to see you here!

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Thanks for the kudos. The Chicago LOC worked really hard to make it great (and I give GREAT credit to the whole crew. There were a lot of dedicated volunteers who really made it work, a lot of whom who were adult skaters, which helped).

As a result, I'm for sure sensitive to complaints about scheduling issues. Some are very legit. Some not so much. Some are legit, but there's simply nothing to be done about it, regardless of intentions. So I have to roll my eyes a bit at some of the complaints. We just can't make everyone happy. It's impossible. So all I can offer is that the ANs schedule give you lemons, make lemonade! We've all had a crappy schedule at times.

I'm not poo-poing the safety issues of Pairs at all, since a lot of my closest friends do pairs! I want everyone safe! But when it's not possible to accomodate the Pairs, then I think the Pairs teams need to take a hard look at what's comfortable for them. If the ice is bad on the practice ice and it's crowded, perhaps don't practice the lifts for that session. If it's too late in the day for your body, don't do it. Everyone has to make their choices. The LOC can do the best they can to address the safety issues, but ultimately it's up to the skaters to decide what's best for them given the circumstances.

A few of us from Chicago, the Adult Committee, and USFS have started writing a "how-to" manual on how to run an ANs. I don't know if it will be ready for the next LOC. But we figured it was a good guideline on what to think about and when. Many of the scheduling issues . . . and safety issues for Pairs . . . that have been discussed here have been addressed in the manual. So it is already well on everyone's radar.

Having said that . . . that doesn't guarantee anyone will take our advice!! It's up to each LOC to do things their own way, as only they know the resources available to them. Chicago had a lot of resources. Other locations will not. Personally, i thought KC did an incredible job, and they had the least amount of resources available, so ANs CAN be done well with less. Conversely, LP has all the resources in the world. But if their volunteers are just going to leave, as NoVa described, well, what can you do!

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I heard rumors of the following. Again, just rumors:

Grand Rapids, MI
Detroit, MI
UDel
IceWorks (south of Philadelphia)
Hackensack

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Those are the 5 that I heard, but was told at the meeting that 12 clubs have bid!! I can't even think of 12 clubs that would want AN! They are keeping it hush hush as to exactly what clubs they are to discourage rumors. But we should know within a week or so! Personally, I am hoping for Hackensack!

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

Rumors about AN '09 location... pulleaze... the word eventually gets out.
I have a feeling, just a feeling that if a West Coast club bids and has a good package, that club may very well get it. AN hasn't been on the West Coast in years!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

I want to thank Ross for his support for my events. You talk funny but you know skating. Congrats also on your events. I need a cowbell.
Diana - It was so good to see you at AN. Thanks for the tip on Velcro. You have been a fixture at every competition I go to for the past 6 years. You love the "Dress Up".

When will we know where AN is next year?

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[b]Freesk8er
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add Raleigh, NC to the "rumor" list. I can confirm GR, MI did put in a bid.

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Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

OMG...that is a three hour drive for me and home to skaternum, mskater, skatingatty, and several other adult skaters!!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Burton's lutz got an "e" in masters novice/senior men (on page 22 of the men's protocol sheet), yet a judge still gave it a +1 GOE.
Interestingly, the same jump was called as an outright flip in the champ. master men event, which sucks, since he ended up doing 3 flips, the last one not getting credit!

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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 my twin brother lives in Chapel Hill, NC, and I feel like it would be in my "home-away-from-home" town!

The facility there is lovely.

Cheers!

Larry

I'd love to go to Portland! I also have fond memories of skating in Grand Rapids. Ann Arbor has also done a wonderful job at hosting AN's. The Carolinas would also be fun.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Pic of her on the ice holding up nips is now up at http://web.icenetwork.com/gen/photog...4/cf47683.html.

Hahahahahaha!!! That was the funniest thing I'd seen all week!

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

You were in Bronze I, right? If so, we were in the same group! I finished 3rd!

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I've got mad salchow disease!

Cool - about a half hour from me! I have a "matched pair" of sweepers that would love to help out!
(I haven't heard any buzz about that down here, but I don't coach in Raleigh, proper.)

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Ooh! right near me! (I doubt I'll be living here then, but that's still a good location!)

__________________
Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

I haven't heard a peep out of my club about hosting AN. The other club in the area is in Hillsborough and doesn't have enough ice surfaces. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the pro who is trying to pull out of our club (and start his own) is contemplating a bid, but they're not a full member club and couldn't get a sanction right now.

Hey, if AN '09 is at UDel or IceWorks, I might actually go, since those places are so close. But IceWorks is not the greatest facility - no heat, frigid rinks (and locker rooms), and hard ice. And there's not much in the immediate area in terms of hotels - people would have to stay in Wilmington (DE), most likely. Same hotel situation with UDel (although the rinks are nicer). I've never been to Hackensack, but there are probably more accommodations in the immediate area, but also expensive, I imagine. But I could stay with friends who live in the area....

Hmmm...

I'm not traveling to Michigan, though. Especially after going to Cleveland in January to watch (standard track) Nationals.

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Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

Regarding ice Works as a possible venue for AN09 .
As a club member Iv not heard anything at all , however I will admit Im out off the loop in most cases when it comes to any rumors . Im about the last to know, even though I probably skate more hours there than some off the kids..

Your Welcome Freesk8er.. Im going to Oberstdorf.. Ill bring you back a bell.. no cow attached..

I would like to thank the organizers for a very professional and well run competition. Lake Placid is a wonderful facility - I feel as if I'm at the Olympics! I think they did a great job in avoiding conflicts since most people had multiple events. I can't imagine the difficulty of scheduling a competition of this size. I thought the "Official Warm-ups" were nicely scheduled and the perfect length of time to be sure that all my elements were there.

Wow, very interesting. I need to go back and look through that sheet again. Still, I would have expected a lot more edge calls. Either we're not flutzing badly because we're only doing singles (in some cases doubles) or they've decided to take it easy on us unless the flutz is particularly bad. . .?

It can be disconcerting skating in a different rink, with different visual cues and in the competition environment. I know I focus better and feel a lot more confident once I've skated my program in the competition rink.

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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