US AN--procedure question

[SkateGuard]

Hi all,

I have a question I'm posting on behalf of my dance partner. His events (Gold I Men and Mens Masters Interp I) are not listed on the AN schedule at all.

As has been posted here and confirmed by someone at the rink tonight, the organizers contacted the Gold II/Masters Interp II men to ask if he could "age up"--a year early! :roll:

However, my dear dance partner didn't know any of this until I read it here. He actually thought he'd be going all the way to KC and not be able to skate. Nobody as part of the LOC contacted him. He was never asked if he wanted to skate Gold II/Masters Interp II. Am I missing something, or did the LOC never receive his forms?

Thanks in advance!

[starskate6.0]

I am in the Masters men II interp. I got a letter from someone asking me if i minded a masters mens 1 skater skating with us in Maters II interp.
I said it was OK by me :D . They asked me this a few day's ago. I hope your husband comes to skate with us. :D Ill look it up and see if I can find the letter and see who you could contact on that.
Im sure they where waiting to hear from every one first before contacting your husband. I can't imagine any of the Maters II men would mind.
Ill get back to you...

[starskate6.0]

Ok I found it.
I was contacted by Lori Osborne who asked me if a gold men 1 skater could skate with us in gold men 2 and a masters men interp 1 the same in Master men interp 2. ( I assume this is your husband. the letter also stated that Lorie had to contact all the skaters in those events to ask first so I assume that's why he has not been contacted yet. Im sure they will inform him of the situation.
Don't let him pull out of the event, Im sure he will be welcome to skate with us, assuming the other guys are cool with it. :D As alway's come say Hello :mrgreen:

[SkateGuard]

First, ROTFL! :lol: We're not married....just best friends and dance partners. We actually even live in different states. (I'm a consultant who got a contract in his city so we can practice together.) Just don't listen to those on her who were at Mids....we were asked if we were a couple away from the ice a dozen times! :roll:

Okay, I never thought about that they would have to get okays from the other Gold II men. But it would have been nice to tell him _before_ a schedule came out without his events.

Actually, my dance partner thought that he was going to KC for nothing....or perhaps an exhibition. He'll definitely be there, but he doesn't know where or when he's competing!

[starskate6.0]

Opps" 8O sorry about that , it was late last night I guess I missed that.
But at least you have some idea as to whats going on..
see you at Nationals :D

[SkateGuard]

Oh, no, I thought it was funny...I know you've been in some "down under" country, worried about those Midwestern Gold men.... :lol: A big part of that, though, is that we had to answer the "Are you a couple off the ice" question half a dozen times at Mids. The joys of being single and having a straight single man as a skating partner..... :P

Don't worry, you meet us and the rest of the crew at AN's, since you're competing against another one of our clubmates all week....and the whole horde will be watching, throwing socks, jerky, and other male-oriented items. I'll be with you guys if I have to put my dance partner out on the ice. Good thing his events don't conflict with mine....

BTW, he did send an e-mail or something to Lori Osbourne, so we'll see what's going on. Since they cashed his check, he's probably what I've been calling the Gold I Mens National Champion....to which our clubmate adds, "by default." Dork. ;)

[starskate6.0]

If the check cleared Im sure he's in with us. Thats good new's
This will be my first time at gold level so i don't expect a lot and I skate for the applause . I figure if the crowd gets a kick out of my programs Its a personal victory. Its more gratifying that way. ;) And I don't get nervous.
Looking forward to meeting you all at the Nationals. Ill be the only Aussie on the ice. Im from the Ice works club in Aston PA. See you there. :mrgreen:
"The greatest risk in life is not taking one." :D

[SkateGuard]

Apparently, only interp. One of the Gold II freestyle men had "an issue" with skating with a Gold I. :frus: :evil:

Here's the stupid thing: He's 35. He's going to be a II _next year_. It's not like he's some 26-y.o. kid. Um, doh, Mr. Gold II insecure guy, he's going to be in your event in Dallas....and probably a very different skater....

He was _on crutches_ from the beginning of Sept until mid-Nov due to a severe ankle injury. And this was after healing the other ankle from injury. His axel is just now coming back (it hasn't been consistent since 2003), and he has lost his 2 sal and flying spins. So it's not like he's going to be competitive for a medal in Gold II. :roll:

In all honesty, this will allow him to focus on interp, heal his ankle completely, and get new programs for next year. (And work on dance! :D Oh, wait, something about Bronze I final round for me beckons....) It is for the best, but I'm just so disheartened that someone would have an issue with that. Ages are combined all the time for smaller competitions, so I'm used to competing against all ages--and age has little to do with skill. I've even seen a Gold III man beat _two_ Gold I ladies. So what gives?

Well, I'll definitely follow up with the USFSA. I was just talking to members of the adult committee yesterday about the lack of I's going to KC and how do we encourage more I's to come. However, I doubt the USFSA has had this situation before, and I wonder, had this guy known that the Gold I was 35 (and practically a II anyway), if he would have refused. Hmmm.

[TimDavidSkate]

Can't wait to meet all of you :D

[icecatepairs]

hEY ROSS,
UNRELATED QUESTION,
ARE YOU GOING TO CATCH MY BOUQUET IN KANSAS...I'LL GET A PINK ONE JUST FOR YOU..RECOGNIZED ON YOUR SCREENNAME AFTER THE SKATED IN 38 COUNTRIES PART!
t :D

[starskate6.0]

hEY ROSS,
UNRELATED QUESTION,
ARE YOU GOING TO CATCH MY BOUQUET IN KANSAS...I'LL GET A PINK ONE JUST FOR YOU..RECOGNIZED ON YOUR SCREENNAME AFTER THE SKATED IN 38 COUNTRIES PART!
t :D YES... :bow: :D Ill bring a net. :lol: Ha Ha. Tell me what event and time. Should be fun.... :mrgreen: Ill be happy to catch it, ( "allways the brides maid never the bride " 8O " Oh sorry you are married".
Arn't you.

[SkateGuard]

Hi all,

I know you are just connecting before AN's, but as much as I want to meet all of you, could you please start a new thread for this? Pretty, pretty, please? :halo:

My dance partner just got booted from freestyle at AN's because nobody else signed up for his event, and someone wouldn't let him join the next older group, even though he's aging up next year anyway. What gives? :??

TimDavid, how specifically were you contacted by Lori Osbourne about your similar situation? What was the subject line of her e-mail? My dance partner says he was never contacted (I'm the one who told him his event wasn't on the schedule), but I'm wondering if her message got lost in a spam filter or something.....

[starskate6.0]

Apparently, only interp. One of the Gold II freestyle men had "an issue" with skating with a Gold I. :frus: :evil:

Here's the stupid thing: He's 35. He's going to be a II _next year_. It's not like he's some 26-y.o. kid. Um, doh, Mr. Gold II insecure guy, he's going to be in your event in Dallas....and probably a very different skater....

He was _on crutches_ from the beginning of Sept until mid-Nov due to a severe ankle injury. And this was after healing the other ankle from injury. His axel is just now coming back (it hasn't been consistent since 2003), and he has lost his 2 sal and flying spins. So it's not like he's going to be competitive for a medal in Gold II. :roll:

In all honesty, this will allow him to focus on interp, heal his ankle completely, and get new programs for next year. (And work on dance! :D Oh, wait, something about Bronze I final round for me beckons....) It is for the best, but I'm just so disheartened that someone would have an issue with that. Ages are combined all the time for smaller competitions, so I'm used to competing against all ages--and age has little to do with skill. I've even seen a Gold III man beat _two_ Gold I ladies. So what gives?

Well, I'll definitely follow up with the USFSA. I was just talking to members of the adult committee yesterday about the lack of I's going to KC and how do we encourage more I's to come. However, I doubt the USFSA has had this situation before, and I wonder, had this guy known that the Gold I was 35 (and practically a II anyway), if he would have refused. Hmmm.
"WOW" I CAN'T BELIEVE ANY BODY WOULD OBJECT. 8O 8O
Its hard to believe that any one skater would object to welcoming someone into another group when there is no chance to skate otherwise. :evil:
" Thats awfull unsporting of this person . After all your partner was looking forward to skating his Freestyle event, Im sure of it, No one else had an issue with it, and one skater has canned his chances to be out there and show his stuff. This is so unlike an adult skater. :cry: :evil:
Well I hope we get to meet at Nationals I would like to meet you and your partner. Let me know what events you and your partner are in and we will try and hook up for coffee or something. (" boy this makes me mad ")
Ill be looking forward to this interp. Is he with us in gold II for that event ??

[SkateGuard]

Well I hope we get to meet at Nationals I would like to meet you and your partner. Let me know what events you and your partner are in and we will try and hook up for coffee or something. (" boy this makes me mad ")
Ill be looking forward to this interp. Is he with us in gold II for that event ??

You took the words right out of my mouth. I had called him about a dance competition, and after babbling to him for 20 min (as a woman talking on a cell phone while driving 8O is prone to do), he told me. I was pissed, to say the least, not lessened by the fact that I was already having a difficult weekend and had gotten only a couple of hours sleep last night.

He was, however, accepted into the Masters Interp II group; I'll be playing coach and putting him on the ice. If I get the costume right (our friend and I schemed on the plane home from Mids while he slept, lol), he'll be in a pilot's costume, and unless I have time to take a shower after Adult Ladies Interp I in the am, I'll have gold hair. (I'm not kidding.) Trust me, you'll notice us! :)

I'm in Bronze I FR Ladies and Adult Ladies Interp I; he's just in Masters Men Interp II. We are also very interested in pre-Bronze dance, so you'll see us checking that out too. (Hmmm, wonder why? ;) Can we say, Dallas '06?)

[Maryeb44]

Hi skateguard,

If I am reading this thread right, it sounds like either someone in the gold freestyle event is really competitive and wants to keep the group as small as possible so they have a better chance of medaling, or someone has something personal against your friend.

Mary E.

[flo]

Skateguard: sorry your friend can't compete. Just a reminder to all, take care not to judge, we don't know why this person made his decision. I've been in this situation before and have said ok to a gold skater skating with me in silver, but that was my decision. For good or bad, this one was his.

[starskate6.0]

You took the words right out of my mouth. I had called him about a dance competition, and after babbling to him for 20 min (as a woman talking on a cell phone while driving 8O is prone to do), he told me. I was pissed, to say the least, not lessened by the fact that I was already having a difficult weekend and had gotten only a couple of hours sleep last night.

He was, however, accepted into the Masters Interp II group; I'll be playing coach and putting him on the ice. If I get the costume right (our friend and I schemed on the plane home from Mids while he slept, lol), he'll be in a pilot's costume, and unless I have time to take a shower after Adult Ladies Interp I in the am, I'll have gold hair. (I'm not kidding.) Trust me, you'll notice us! :)

I'm in Bronze I FR Ladies and Adult Ladies Interp I; he's just in Masters Men Interp II. We are also very interested in pre-Bronze dance, so you'll see us checking that out too. (Hmmm, wonder why? ;) Can we say, Dallas '06?)

Very Funny, He's skating with me, ( Im a pilot for a living ). :lol:

[skaternum]

Flo took the words right out of my mouth. While it would have been particularly nice if all the Gold II men agreed to have the Gold I skater in their group, they weren't under any obligation to do so. I wouldn't be so vocal about criticizing whoever said no. He was within his rights to do so.

Just a couple of cents worth of my mind ...

[starskate6.0]

Flo took the words right out of my mouth. While it would have been particularly nice if all the Gold II men agreed to have the Gold I skater in their group, they weren't under any obligation to do so. I wouldn't be so vocal about criticizing whoever said no. He was within his rights to do so.

Just a couple of cents worth of my mind ...
Well I guess thats true, :roll: he must of had his reasons. But I hate to leave people behind. We should all have a chance to perform, thats why where there. Just my 2c worth. No offence , just opinion. :D

[SkateGuard]

Flo took the words right out of my mouth. While it would have been particularly nice if all the Gold II men agreed to have the Gold I skater in their group, they weren't under any obligation to do so. I wouldn't be so vocal about criticizing whoever said no. He was within his rights to do so.

Just a couple of cents worth of my mind ...

I find it poor sportsmanship. Plus, most competitions _do_ combine the ages when necessary--it usually says in the announcement that when you sign up, you are tacitly agreeing to it. We had a very skilled young adult in our group at Mids. She'll hopefully be a silver I (or even a gold) by her first AN's in 2007. Nobody called to ask me permission (which is good--one less follow up to do in a day). My experience has been that for the most part, age really doesn't matter if everyone is at the correct level.

Then again, the Gold I in question is my best friend and dance partner, so I know who he is--I don't think Lori had given the men any info. Perhaps if she had just said that the guy is 35 and will be a II next year, the reaction would have been different. I think that's another big reason I'm disappointed in this guy--odds are, these two will be competing against each other next year, anyway. :roll:

Like I've said before, it's for the best. Gold II Men will be very competitive this year, and my friend is still recovering from two back-to-back ankle injuries (on opposite legs :P ). Let's just say he was in the "I don't want to finish last" derby in Gold II.

My other thought on this situation is that my friend didn't know about this situation until last week. (It was because a Champ Gold Man withdrew from Gold I and another was injured and withdrew.) What if my friend hadn't been able to skate interp? He has one of those sick-days-are-vacation-days situations, so perhaps he wouldn't have wanted to go if he couldn't compete, since he lost some vacation time from being sick a few weeks ago? Good thing he's driving and doesn't have to dilly with canceling/changing airfare.... :evil:

[jazzpants]

I just don't get this Gold II guy's problem. I competed against a 19 year old and a 20 year old one year in Artistic. The 20 year old beat me for the Gold b/c she has beautiful, BEAUTIFUL lines from all those years in ballet, but I got the Silver and the 19 year old the Bronze!!!

Oh, and on top of that, the following year I got beaten by another woman who's on her last year as a Group II and going to Group III next year and she creamed me!!! Her and this other woman who was also a Group II about to be a group III. The lady with the Gold had a good skate and and the Silver lady had good lines and good flow. Me? I had a bad skate and I NEED the ballet training!!! :lol: :P :twisted:

(See? It's not how young you are? It's how you SKATE!!!) :P

[SkateGuard]

There's a IV who competes in my area that usually medals in competition, often beating I's and II's. As was said in another thread, it doesn't matter what you have....it's how you perform. In this case, she has good posture and body line, has great spirals, and is very musical.

I do want to figure out who this guy is, and we are going to introduce ourselves, see if he'll be a II next year, and just say nicely, "see you next year in Gold II...he's aging up!" My dance partner still isn't 100% recovered...he will be next year, though, when this guy will have to compete against him. :twisted: :lol:

[starskate6.0]

Well at least he will get to skate the interp . He's in my Masters Interp event and Im looking forward to seeing him skate. I hope he has a blast at that.
Its alway's my best event because I can just do what ever floats my boat. :lol: In any case Ill be looking forward to meeting you both and making new friends. I love the Nationals because of this reason and being on the ice. For me its all about the "WOW" not the Win. A "WOW" factor is far more exciting than a win any day. See you there. :mrgreen:

" The greatest risk iin life is not taking one ". :mrgreen: