OK People lets compare notes...how do you like the new schedule? Lets see my favoruie part is that I may have to with draw from interp if i am reading the schedule correctly...because it is at the same time as championship ladies gold...on another surface.!!!!

I guess our friend the referee , who knows so much about adult skating .. did not realize that masters interp includes ladies gold and they might want to check to see who qualified in CG before they arrange it that way. of course who really knows because that event (mastere intero ) is also listed for the following day but it is not indicated that they are seperate groups. please tell me i am wrong and they cannot be this disoraganized.

my next favorite part is that my coaches flight arrives after i skate in CG!!

anyone else as charmed with the new schedule as I am?????
lets vent before we all blow up!!!!

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Q:If landing an axle is 3 times your body weight, then how many times your body weight is the landing of a throw axle
A: depends on whos throwing you and how much you lied about your weight on your pairs profile


a can of stickum : $5.95
the email asking "how do you get this sticky stuff off " ...priceless

those are great ideas...now what lift were we doing again?

hey Tim...i finally figured out how to get the sticky stuff off!

Missing: east coast stunt doubles poster

I also like the fact that the Friday Masters Interp 2 group only has a warm up and no competition time. Whatever.

That's probably an oversight that they can (should) correct easily. I remember this same thing happening to me a few years ago, and they slipped my event back in. In any case let them know ASAP. Looking at the schedule they should be able to put you in the North Pole rink, which ends its events about 1 hr before those on the South Pole rink. Good luck with it.

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Whatever!

Here's a good dandy ....

I have no return flight home. Not without paying $800. So, I'll miss my Saturday AM flight in order to skate my dance final round, then I'll head to the airport, then I'll PRAY TO GOD that I can get home on standby. I'll camp out in the airport until somebody lets me on a plane, and then maybe I'll get home.

I'll also miss work Saturday. If I can't get a flight out, then I'll miss work Sunday too.

Of course, I HAD all this worked out, but then I changed it after the first schedule came out, and I can't get it back.

(sigh....)

__________________
"Gravity is a harsh mistress." -- The Tick

Get this one. Silver ladies 4 final is on Friday at the same time interp. 4 is.
I don't mind skating twice in one day but not at the same time.

I'm sending a bill to the USFSA. It will at least make them aware of the expense of this mess. Here's the contacts as listed in the announcement.

APdougherty@compuserve.com
Chief Referee Mory Stillwell MorryS@aol.com
Chair, Competition committee Larry Kriwanek larrykri@hotmail.com
Chair, Adult skating committee, Antonio Conte sedated@bellsouth.net

__________________
Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Hey guys ...

I guess we can expect the schedule to change again, at least for some of the events.

As for contacting people ... I got a VERY compassionate reply from Tony Conte. Although there's not much we can do to make this year better, he assured me that steps are already being taken to guarantee this never happens again.

I'm guessing he's been swamped with complaints. Remember if you do email him (or Maggie Harding) that they're competitive skaters too ... just like us. They're all getting bitten just like we are.

__________________
"Gravity is a harsh mistress." -- The Tick

You go Flow...I'm just wondering how many lawyers are out there among us who are getting screwed. You see, because we are "skaters" they think we are "kids" you know, only "kids REALLY skate."

Anyway, your partner just brought something to my attention that really sucks big time if it is true: ONE 20 MINUTE WARM UP FOR NINE (9) PAIR TEAMS! Please tell me this is not true.

Climb
They are skaters. Like you said they and the USFSA uppers need to be aware of the expense and problems this has caused so it will not happen again.

I don't know what the 20 min warm up is based on this time. When I spoke to the LOC rep, she had said that the ref had only put in one warm up, and she went back to request two. It could be that some pairs responded that they would not be at the 20 min warm up, so the second one was cut.

__________________
Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Morry Stillwell is the one responsible for this mess? Gee, I thought he was supposed to be one of the compassionate, understanding, and responsible leaders in the USFSA. My opinion of him has changed.

Who knows Debbie, I'm sure we don't know the whole story.

FYI:
I've spoken with the LOC (very nice people) and here's the word on the gold pairs warm up:
There will be two warm ups, 4 pairs on one (10:30 - 10:50) and 5 on another 10:50-11:10. The ladies masters willl be 11:10 to 11:30. After this the next two will be combined and back on schedule.

__________________
Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

I understand that Morry Stillwell, was not only the President of USFSA at one time, but was also there for the very first Adult Nationals in Wilmington, Delaware. So, how could have this happened? My best guess is that no one person did anything intentionally to cause this to happen, but that it was sort of a dominoe effect of a general disregard for the adult skating community; simply not taking us as seriously as they would when organizing an elite or standard track competition. Any thoughts about all this? I mean, I'm not looking at the "blame" factor, so much as I'm trying to understand a general underlying cause for what happened. I'm also guessing that this general attitude toward adult skaters filters down right from the top into our home clubs, rinks, and through the judging/testing system, too. Sort of always tolorating us, but not really taking us seriously...any thoughts?

Well, I have no idea how this all happened, but I don't know that I would automatically come to the conclusion that it resulted from a "general disregard for the adult skating community." Perhaps some of the people just didn't stop to think and consider things fully. Perhaps it was some bad miscommunication. Maybe some of the people involved are inexperienced in these things. Yes, the chief referee makes the schedule, and perhaps he did it all by himself and forgot that adults have jobs as opposed to school. Perhaps he thought everyone would go for the whole week so a schedule change doesn't matter. Of course, no matter the reason/explanation, the damage is done, and I feel very badly about this for all of you. Whatever the eason, it should not have happened.

Sure, there are probably people in the USFS organization who probably don't take adults seriously, but plenty do. Seems like more and more competitions are including adult events. Seems like more and more coaches are taking on adult students and even traveling to competitions with them. My own coach is going to AN (without me, since I can't compete there yet) with his other adult students.

Well, anyway, those are my thoughts on the matter. YMMV.

And anyway, have a great time once you are there, everyone!

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August 22, back on the ice!

I hear 'ya! Same here with my primary coach. Thank goodness that, given the schedule for Championship Gold Men (where his other student is competing at this year), I might still get in a lesson at my usual time. And besides that, I'll still get a lesson with my secondary coach. (She doesn't go to adult comps.)

But still no fun, considering that practically all the adult skaters from my rink are gone the week of AN and I still have to make those FS sessions.

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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!!!

Thanks sk8pics! Hope you can join us soon! There have been lots of surprises at Nats through the years. Time to focus on skating.

__________________
Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Ok, people, everyone take a deep breath!

In ..... out ......

Some of these problems are easily fixable. They are the reason the schedule is tentative. When a skater has events that conflict, that is like the No. 1 reason for the ref to make a change. And he will, don't worry. Second, that Masters Interp warmup on Friday that has no event does have an event. Both the w/u and event look like they are actually on Thursday night, and perhaps the w/u on Friday is simply a remnant from the old schedule.

Really, there has been a domino effect -- there was only *one* major mistake made by the referee and that was preparing a schedule that didn't mirror what was in the announcement. The conflicting events is a minor mistake and one that happens EVERY YEAR. So I hope everyone isn't soured on the AN experience, because it really is a fun time for all, and I look forward to seeing you all there!

ok the deep breath in and out didn't work. I am one of the ones who has the two events practically on top of each other thing going on and i was told by a member of the loc that it won't change so i should decide if i want to withdraw. 6 adult nationals . 2 broken ankles , 2 surgeries later I have never missed a national since 2000, and pins, rods, screws and stitches i have never withdrawn from an event. now i am forced to do so because of incompetence at the hands of the organizers. now i am told it is not fixable, they don't care , so whatever...and of course no mention of a refund. heres a clue..don't put people test eligible for the same events ont he same day

like silverladies4 said...why are ladies in silver4 who are eligible for interp 4 even having those events on the same day. if the silver 4 ladies had interp on our championship gold day then there would not be a chance that it would include the same skaters. i wish daisy was right and that they would fix it...quite frankly they don't seem to give a damn. i wish i could stand around and say nice things about this situation and protect people...but right now if i was a certain people or person...who incidently does not resond to his email...(thank you maggie for all your wonderful help as you are always the one to write back right away) i would stay in the hospitality room in texas. this kind of fiasco is not par for the course . the person on the loc i talked to today asked why everyone is calling her instead of the person responible...well because that person or persons doesn't provide their contact info...convinient!!!

sorry to vent people, but beter among friends than center ice in dallas (lol)

if anyone makes any headway here let us no...remenber people...we wrote big entry fee checks for this event...this is not free cable...its pay per view!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________
Q:If landing an axle is 3 times your body weight, then how many times your body weight is the landing of a throw axle
A: depends on whos throwing you and how much you lied about your weight on your pairs profile


a can of stickum : $5.95
the email asking "how do you get this sticky stuff off " ...priceless

those are great ideas...now what lift were we doing again?

hey Tim...i finally figured out how to get the sticky stuff off!

Missing: east coast stunt doubles poster

Thanks Icecatepairs for your post. Just to keep it real is was silver ladies 4 final and silver ladies 4 interp. that was scheduled at the same time.
I'm sure it will changed will 12 women having an issue with the event.
See you all in Dallas!! Mary

Icecate,

Thank you for that very rational post, and I can't agree with you more. I'm not trying to assign blame, but, nor am I trying to surgar coat what happened. I do believe it was a combination of a domino effect and a total disregard for the adult skating community. This attitude will never be changed unless the USFSA is confronted with this, which is what we are all trying to do right now.

I think the issue of "refunds" is paramount. There is absolutely no reason for the referree not to respond to your emails, even with just a one line "thank you, I will take it under consideration." I have been writing certain skating directors all year long for issues with regard to summer clinics, and no one has thought it important enough to even respond to my inquiries. It's like my correspondence are falling into a black hole. This is what I mean by "total disregard of adult skaters." It is rude, uncalled for and unprofessional.

I might also add, that Antonio Conte did, in fact, respond to my letter in the most gracious manner, too. Thank you Antonio for behaving as an "adult."

Iceskatepairs
I am surprised that there has been no attempt to respond to your requests and let you know what's going on to correct the situation. In the past there were scheduling conflicts with final rounds of interp and fs (when we had initial and final rounds of interp). The ref would not change the schedule prior to the events, but would wait until after the initial rounds and the final list of skaters was in and then make modifications. It was often still tight, skating early in one event and late in another, but we never had to withdraw. I also don't think it's out of line to speak with the ref in person in Dallas.

__________________
Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

Wouldn't be surprised if the ref is MIA.

Icecate, give me a call tonight, I'll be home after 6:00pm

I agree. It's unacceptable for a skater's events to conflict. If, say, an official warmup conflicts with another event, that's different and skaters just have to deal with it. But the events themselves? No way. Do not take no for an answer. You paid to be in both events, you trained for both events, and no way no how would I let this go unfixed. E-mail or call EVERYONE if you have to.

Wait a minute .... I am now confused. I am looking at the most recent schedule, and Ch. Gold Ladies starts at 7:40pm on Thursday. The last event in the other rink ends at 7:10pm.

Where is the conflict? Am I looking at the wrong schedule?

Yeah, it's tight ... but certainly not impossible. Due to the circumstances, the ref might allow you to skate early in the Interp and later in the FS.

But actual conflict? Sorry, I don't see it. I thought you meant your events were at the same time, crossing over each other.

Please let me know if I'm looking at the wrong thing.

Actually from
"because it is at the same time as championship ladies gold...on another surface.!!!!"
I thought it the events were overlapping as well. It might be tight and not the best of plans, but doable.

__________________
Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet