Other than that how did you like 1998 AN, Mrs. Lincoln?

Sorry Flo, but your comments just come across as rather harsh. I know computers don't allow for inflections... but geesh!

I think St. Moritz did the best it could under the circumstances. And as someone from the West Coast, I thought it was WONDERFUL to not have to travel through 2-3 time zones to AN (for both time and $$ reasons) for a change. We had PCAS there this year.. and I think most of the pairs found enough space to practice off-ice lifts.. although of course, there were fewer pairs at PCAS this year than there are at AN now.

Thin-ice, I'm sure they did they best they could under the circumstances, but it's hardly a well-kept secret that many many adults were not happy with how Oakland went. I didn't think Flo's comments were off the mark.

But it would be nice for the Pacs people if they didn't have to fly east every time. Again, that's up to the Pacs people to actually find a cooperative club and a facility that works and bid on Adult Nationals.

Thin - they're not harsh at all. It was not the best facility to have such a large event. The practice rinks were too far form the primary rink, and after Oakland this was taken into consideration in the selection of future locations. The traffic was also a factor in that the shuttles themselves could not get to the rinks on time.
We were also told not to leave the building alone, that the surrounding area was not safe. There were people changing in the halls also because the dressing rooms were packed and dark. I'm sure the LOC did what they could, but they can't make a space larger and better suited for what we needed. I'ts great the west coast folks did not have to go far, and I'd be happy to go to another nats out there, just at a better suited facility.

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I remember one of the shuttle drivers telling me that they had been given a totally unrealistic schedule - the skaters, not surprisingly, were blaming the drivers, but the drivers blamed the organisers!

We went for a couple of walks to explore - not alone, my friend and I - and saw nothing that made us uneasy. However, I can see that people who aren't accustomed to inner-city life might have felt uneasy.
And those of us who were visiting from the UK and Australia were overwhelmed by the luxury! Given what we were used to..... (our twin-pad arenas at Sheffield and Nottingham hadn't been built then, nor did we have any prospect of our own Adult Championships any time soon. Thank goodness that changed!).

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Mrs Redboots
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I can confirm that All Year is definitely hosting PCAS next year, in Culver City, CA.

Re: 1998 AN in Oakland ... sorry, Thin-Ice, but I didn't find Flo's comments harsh either. I have no doubt that St. Moritz ISC did the best they could, but unfortunately it didn't translate well, at least from this competitor's standpoint.

Hmm. Anyone know where Midwesterns will be next year? Assuming I manage to pass my Novice Moves and Free, I might consider trying out Championship Masters next year (then again, maybe not. . .I'm slightly intimidated by it!). Still curious where it'll be held, though.

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Yes, I'm sure St. Moritz did their best, but Oakland was a horrible venue. Outside the rink, there was a very dicey and scary environment and the locker rooms were dark and packed. The bus schedule was horrible and it had a lot of traffic issues and practice ice issues. I'll never go back there, EVER!
Ann Arbor was nice and Lake Placid was great. Marlboro was good, too. I am eager to hear feedback from Dallas. Good Luck , everyone!

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Perhaps I'm overly-sensitive because I know how hard our club worked to do what could be done... and I've never heard anyone say ANYTHING nice about 1998 AN.

I don't disagree Oakland was not the best venue for AN.. but this topic comes up from time-to-time. Those who were there know it was not ideal. But that was EIGHT years ago.

Perhaps damning with faint praise I DID hear "well at least we never have to go THERE again".

And Lake Placid is a VERY tough act to follow.

I'd be very happy to have some other West Coast/Rocky Mountain club host AN. And if our club does NOT host AN, then I don't have to volunteer and skate and try to keep working (what a silly idea all of that is!!!). I like AWAY competitions MUCH better, so I can just skate and hang out with all my friends.

No hard feelings intended.. none taken. Perhaps I should just gloss over any comments about that AN. I didn't even skate well that year. Better luck to everyone this year in Texas!

Thin Ice: i actually had a great time in Oakland, as it was my first ANs. I was overwhelmed that there were so many adults who competed (my rink there were only two of us at the time) and I had friends to visit in San Fran, which f course made the whole trip fun. I did not use the practice ice, so I had no problems with the buses by default! So don't feel too badly. I had a good time regardless!

At the time I thought Oakland was a cool competition, since I'd never been to another ANS for comparison, and I'm fairly low-maintenance. But in retrospect and after hearing from others, I will agree it wasn't the best venue due to lack of space. I really am a beleiver that the practice rink should be VERY close by for convenience, because we adults do a lot of running around in order to compete in our own events and watch others. I thought KC, as well as they ran it and as nice as the competition rink was, the practice ice was way too far away.

No, I found my warm-up on the regular schedule, Wednesday morning at 7 something. The email I got referred to tuesday AM as "official practice". I filled out all those forms so long ago, all I remember is paying for two blocks of ice time, I can't remember what they were. I thought one was official practice, one was unofficial practice, and warm-up was included, but I could have that wrong. I'll be arriving early enough on Tuesday to figure things out and hopefully get in the unofficial practice I think I paid for Tuesday afternoon or Tuesday evening. I just wish some of this stuff about practice ice had been spelled out more clearly in the application.

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Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!

Thin, you're right. Itwas early in the AN process and we all learned from it. The LOC did put a great deal of effort into it, and Lake Placid is always a hard act to follow.

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I wish I knew my practice ice time as well. I know I put my e-mail address on everything. If Tuesday AM is official practice for Silver I ladies, I am also in trouble, I am not getting in until noontime or so. I'm not sure if I should contact the LOC now or wait till I get there. I just want to make sure I get some practice ice time.

Still, I am SO SO SO excited for this...just being in warm weather for a couple days is going to be awesome.

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On my e-mail, the 30-minute, Tuesday practice that I paid for is also referred to as "official practice," so it sounds like it's all OK.

Thanks Manleywoman.. that DOES make me feel better.

And thank you too, Flo! By the way, I LOVED watching you skate pairs in Texas this year! My first AN in Lake Placid, you were in my Interp group (you remember, when the Bronze skaters competed in the same qualifying round as the Gold & Masters skaters?).. and I was so impressed by your grace. I've managed to see you skate at least one event every year since... you just keep getting better and better.

Wow, thanks I do remember - it was quite a task to skate with the masters when we were bronze!! I remember that there were so many of us that they only took 4 for the final round. What was your program that year?
Congrats on your skate!

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