Say,I was reading an artical in IFS., and it lead me to post this. So I was wondering....does anyone know what happens, how things are handled if an airport should loose a skater's skates or anything, with a skater(s) on their way to a competition? Does somebody arrange or do anything (since it's not the skaters fault), so the skater can still compete? Or,what hapens? Also,does anyone help a skater get their skates back?

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FSWer

Lots of cursing I would expect And really it would just be the regular baggage staff who would look after trying to track them down for you. Was the article about Joanne Carter when she competed at the Olympics in Torino?

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AW1
mum to Miss Lil (6yrs old)
mum to be to #2 due in March 08

Let's just hope those of us heading for the European competitions, that start next week, don't find out!

People who've come to the Mountain Cup have occasionally found their luggage hasn't changed planes with them (it usually arrives next day or the day after); they have been known to borrow skates to practice in. Thus far, I don't think anybody's had to perform in borrowed skates and costume, but it could happen.

And this time next week I'll be in Estonia! Hellllllp.

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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!

Oh yes, cursing indeed! I wouldn't want to be anywhere near ME if my skates didn't show up

I recently did my first competition, one I had been working my tail off for a year to get to. Being the paranoid type, I packed my costume and skates in one locked bag with big bright labels with the destination airport, my hotel, hotel phone number, home phone number (where there's an answering machine) and wrapped with a bright wide luggage strap. I wore my practice clothes (which I could skate in) on the plane and left my spare skates on the kitchen table at home. I have wide feet and custom boots so the chance of being able to borrow skates would be ZERO! If my bag had not shown up, I would have called my neighbours to put my spare skates in a box and courier them to the hotel.

I am just a nobody, not a high level competitor, but I can't understand why a serious competitor would have a "Plan B" !

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

I think that like most skaters, even elite skaters hate breaking in new skates. By the time they need new ones, there's no way their old pair is going to hold up to a competition. And breaking in 2 pairs of new skates is just asking for trouble!

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AW1
mum to Miss Lil (6yrs old)
mum to be to #2 due in March 08

I clicked the link to your daughter. She is precious!!

That happened to me in Estonia. None of my baggage made it! Piret and her sweet friends found a pair of skates and a dress and Kristi Norman lent me a pair of her tights. OK, since I wear custom skates I couldn't do FS, but did compete in Solo Dance doing the Hickory Hoedown in a Hawiian looking flowery dress!!
Good luck to all and have fun at the European comps!!
Becca

Honestly, Becca, I was really really impressed that you could skate in borrowed skates

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Blog: http://chowskates.blogspot.com

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/chowskates
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Argh. Don't scare me! That is my worst fear. I would cry! When coming back from a skating holiday my suitcase got lost but thankfully my skate bag arrived fine. I didn't care about my luggage, just my skates.

I don't know what I would do if my skates got lost! Cry a lot

I once got to a competition two hours away and realized that I had left one skate at home. I borrowed a friend's pair to compete the figures event while my boyfriend went back home to get my missing skate. (My Mom confirmed by phone that it was on the living room floor, under the couch.)

When we used to "caravan" to faraway competitions, my friends and I used to trade backup skates and outfits. That way, if you somehow lost your own skates, a friend had the backup ones.

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In my experience with lost baggage in general, the stuff was delivered to my door within 24 hours, usually quite a bit less time then that.

The best advice when you have to fly to your competition is, make it a vacation and allow a couple days for practicing, relaxing and seeing the area. That way, even if your skates do get lost, the most you may lose is one of your pre-comp practices.

Ok,how would they handle qualifacation under those curcomstances? Let's say it happens to a skater after they qualify for.....the OLYMPICS!!!! LOL,I would think that spells double-trouble. Does the USFSA. help out in any way?

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FSWer

Not the olympics, but Cup of Russia- but I knew I had read this story before.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...home?tag=Times

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Piret said once that the trick is to double-check that your suitcase has the airport code TLL on it, and NOT TLN (which is Toulon). I always double-check anyway, much to the amusement of the check-in staff, but that is the important bit.

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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!

Which is why I put my own BIG tag on my bags with the airport code, WAY bigger and brighter than the ones the airlines use and have all my contact information on the back. (They're only about $5.00 for a package of 4 at most travel stores.) I even have a second set that I pack for the return trip.

As far as "spare skates", The advantage of just starting out is that I went through 2 pair of boots before I figured out what I really liked so I keep the better of the 2 pair for "spare". If a person has invested tens of thousands of dollars in their training what's a few hundred dollars for spare boots?

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

GUYS, DON'T CHECK YOUR SKATES!! I've never NOT been able to carry them on. TSA will almost always ask to look at them, but they always let me take them on. I am not sure if it would be different internationally, but domestically, both pre and post 9/11, I've never had one issue.

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

It happened to the Australian Ladies representative at the Torino Olympics in 2006. She arrived and her skates didn't - took them 50 hours to get her skates so while the others in the field had 2 days of practice, she had a matter of hours

Story here; - http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/car...074110264.html

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AW1
mum to Miss Lil (6yrs old)
mum to be to #2 due in March 08

Just at this past AN in Chicago this happened to me. Due to the weather in Chicago my flight was cancelled, then the next best one got me in 6 hours late. And sure enough, my skates didn't make it.

So I missed my practices, but worse than that, I didn't actually get my skates til 4am. Official 20 minute practice was 6:30AM, competed at 8:00AM. And on 1 hour sleep because I had to check on the skates all night and lay there worrying in between.

So listen to Pairsman - allow more of a buffer when flying to a competition.

Tim

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People dream of flying, birds dream of skating.

Unfortunately, according to the TSA website, skates are banned items in carry-on luggage. You were very lucky that you had some lax TSA officials, but you don't want to be stuck in a situation where you don't check your skates and then have to find a way to properly wrap and check your skates.

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When asked what his "secret" to success was, Wayne Gretsky said: "Skate to where the puck is going and not to where it has been."
Is the figure skating version of this: Skate as if you're doing an axel and not just learning how to hop?

I don't know what TSA is, but I've never checked my skates. Even right after 9/11 when my synchro team was flying to Boston, we got permission to bring our skates on the plane with us (they had to be in a locked bag with the airlines holding on to the keys).

I took them with me on the plane to AN in Dallas and Chicago, and I just dragged them with me to Sacramento. This past February, they accompanied me to Milwaukee. The ONLY time I've had a problem was this last week when I got stopped going through security, but that was only because they saw a water bottle I'd forgotten to remove (thought I'd gotten them all out before I left for the airport!) and needed to confiscate it.

Then again, I haven't tried to take them overseas at all, so maybe that's why it's different. I've never had an issue in the States, though. No way would I let anyone check my skates. With the custom boots, phantom blades and orthotics, that'd put me out a good $1500.

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"Without Vision the People Perish"
שלום לעולם תמיד

The TSA is the Transportation security Administration-- they're in charge of airline security:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1038.shtm

Ice skates are not permitted on board an aircraft in carry on luggage (as per the above link)

You can be lucky. In some of the more lax airports they might not notice or know or care, but take it from someone who flys regularly-- you might get through some times but you don't want to go through the hassle of shipping the skates to yourself or trying to check your skates at last minute (and then going through security again).

What your syncho team did was best. Try contacting your airline and your airport's TSA and see if that can be done whenever you fly with your skates if you're too afraid to check them.

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When asked what his "secret" to success was, Wayne Gretsky said: "Skate to where the puck is going and not to where it has been."
Is the figure skating version of this: Skate as if you're doing an axel and not just learning how to hop?

I hope you don't put your address where it can be read by any passing random person - I believe burglars haunt airport check-ins and make notes of addresses..... I do have my name and address inside my suitcase, but never where it can be seen.

Which reminds me, I need to get something to personalise Husband's new suitcase - his old one was patterned so easy to pick out on the carousel, but the new one isn't. I have a vivid green strap on mine - maybe I'll get him something similar.

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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!

A wrap of coloured electricians tape round the handle is a quick method, non damaging and can be removed if you determine something more individual.

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The impossible is just a journey away ...

You can stick tape, like somebody mentioned, or you could tie some ribbons onto the handle. On my trip to Paris, I had a plain black suitcase, so I tied Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, and Happy Hannukah ribbons along with some other bright ribbons onto the handle.

Oddly enough, for my trip to Europe last year, I bought a red suitcase, figuring it would be easy to spot. Well, everyone now has a red suitcase, so it seems like having a black suitcase is more unique than red!

I've never had an issue taking mine on, either. I live near a major training center and I think the employees at our local airport are used to having skaters bring skates through security, but I always say something to the screener as I put my bag on the belt and I've never had an issue- although once, the rhinestones on one of my costumes were reflecting light and keeping them from seeing the images from my garment bag. The guy actually said to me, "Are these skating costumes?" (This is why I say they're used to skaters coming through our airport, LOL). I unzipped the bag to show him that they were, and I was on my way.

I assume at an international the USFS Team Leader would be responsible for helping a skater track down their skates, but if the airline can't get them to the skater on time, and a replacement pair can't be found, there wouldn't be any accomodation for the skater because it's his/her responsibility to have a backup plan. Most would probably have an old/extra pair at home that could be overnighted via UPS or FedEx in time for the competition, if not all the practices.

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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!