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Post by Laura (Lori) on Dec 3, 2009 22:11:17 GMT -8
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Dec 14, 2009 22:41:28 GMT -8
If I'm wrong about this, let me know, but it looks like Jr. Nationals has revealed a new skinsuit for our Category 1 skaters: Katy Ralston - Photo by Jerry Search  It's a red version of the National Team (blue) skinsuits. I like it much better than that solid orange-y red from the last few years... |
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Post by sunshine on Dec 15, 2009 14:24:27 GMT -8
do you think this skinsuit is Colbert Nation Red ? ........IMO Katherine was as adroit responding to Colbert's questions as she is on the ice  |
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 16, 2010 22:58:21 GMT -8
This is interesting... it looks like it's going to happen - I just wonder if it'll get much attention, and whether our USA Juniors will be participating. It mentions that ST will have mixed-gender events, as well as mixed NOC events (National Organizing Committee?) events - does this mean that some events will have pairs or teams containing athletes from more than one gender/country? (i.e., can you imagine a Chinese and Australian woman and a USA and German man as a relay team?)  www.olympicmonitor.com/ioc-executive-board-approves-qualification-systems-for-the-1st-winter-youth-olympic-games-in-2012-in-innsbruck.htmlIOC Executive Board approves qualification systems for the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012 in InnsbruckOlympic Monitor / January 16th, 2010 The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the qualification system for each event at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG), which will be held in Innsbruck in 2012. This follows the previous EB approval of the sports competition programme. The qualification system for each sport and discipline, which was prepared in close collaboration with the International Federations (IF) and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), strives to guarantee participation of the best athletes in their age category. For all disciplines, competitions such as Junior World Championships and Continental Championships, or official junior ranking lists, will allow athletes to attempt to qualify for the YOG. Over 1,000 athletes will compete in Innsbruck in seven sports, comprising 63 events. The number of sports on the programme is identical to the Vancouver programme. Each event has its own age group* competing, either 15-16, 16-17 or 17-18 years old. The bobsleigh age group will be 18-19 years old, and male participants in the pairs and ice dancing skating events will be 15-18 years old, to comply with the specificities of the sport. The Youth Olympic Games will see some events differ from those of the Olympic Games. A hockey skills challenge and women’s ski jumping will be included. Mixed–gender and mixed-NOC team events will take place in biathlon, curling, luge (artificial track), skating (figure skating, short track speed skating and speed skating with mass start), and skiing (Alpine skiing and ski jumping). The combination of cross country skiing and biathlon will be organised as a mixed-gender team event. Besides the sports competition programme, the YOG will feature an extensive Culture and Education Programme (CEP), which aims to introduce young athletes to Olympism and the Olympic values, and to raise awareness on important issues such as the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, the fight against doping and their role as sports ambassadors in their communities. The Executive Board discussed the general progress of preparations by IYOGOC for the YOG, which are on time and moving ahead steadily. * The age being the athlete’s age on 31 December in the year of the YOG. |
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 29, 2010 12:46:31 GMT -8
Utah Oval's Zamboni DriverWhen our 'posse' first met each other at the Oval, we also met another lovely lady, named Jeralyn. She heard us cheering and asked if we were 'family' - when we said we were just fans, we asked her the same question, and she replied "Yeah, I'm the Zamboni driver's mom." We've seen Jeralyn at several ST competitions - she's never forgotten us, and we'll never forget her. It's especially nice to see this video about her son Nate - thanks, USS!
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Feb 1, 2010 16:22:08 GMT -8
Do speedskaters like Brussel Sprouts? Video by USS  Jordan Malone: I don't really like any vegetable... Simon Cho: Brussel sprouts are the circular things, right? I don't think I like those very much... Katherine Reutter: Maybe if you pay me... Travis Jayner: Not my favorite - I wouldn't buy them... Alyson Dudek: Nope, not a fan... I know you're dying to know the final tally - so watch the video! |
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Feb 2, 2010 18:07:00 GMT -8
Well, now, doesn't this just suck... Obama cuts jeopardize Olympic training center in MarquetteDeb Price / Detroit News Washington Bureau / Feb 2, 2010 Washington -- A Northern Michigan University training center for Olympic hopefuls might be forced to close and athletes could lose their scholarships if President Barack Obama succeeds in eliminating the benefit as part of his efforts to trim $20 billion from the federal budget.
In his budget submitted to Congress, Obama called for the elimination of the B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarship, a $1 million program that each year helps pay college costs for aspiring Olympic athletes training in Marquette or the nation's three other Olympic training centers.Read the entire article at: www.detnews.com/article/20100202/POLITICS03/2020417/1022/Obama-cuts-jeopardize-Olympic-training-center-in-Marquette |
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Post by mtnme on Feb 2, 2010 19:04:32 GMT -8
...from the article... "Olympic athletes receive generous support from a variety of sources..." (re: for college and training expenses) ppfffttt! Yeah, Michael Phelps and Apolo (most skiers and snowboarders) receive generous support ...(and they aren't going to college) ...the majority scrounge. (when was the last time you saw a biathalon athlete rackin' in the dough, I ask you?) And really, the 1 million they put towards this is piss in the ocean compared to the federal budget and what this country spends money on. I certainly can think of TONS of other things I'd rather cut instead. ...like all those bailouts for big companies with rich CEO's that merely turn around and spend it frivolously. (Note to said large companies. Execs get bonuses when they do a GOOD job and run a company in the green, not the other way around. Certainly the rest of us peons don't get a bunus for doing a BAD job and running a company into the ground) OK, off of soapbox now... |
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Feb 2, 2010 20:22:59 GMT -8
My Google Alerts picked this up because of the speedskating mention. He was 27, and would surely have been a contemporary of some of our current National Team members. Very sad... Justin Mentell Dead: 'Boston Legal' Actor Dies In Car Crash At 27February 2, 2010 DODGEVILLE, Wis. — An actor who appeared on the TV show "Boston Legal" has been killed in an SUV crash in Wisconsin.
The Iowa County Sheriff's Department says Justin Mentell was killed when his SUV went down an embankment off Highway 39 near Blanchardville and hit two trees...
...Mentell was a former member of the U.S. Junior National Speedskating team.Full story: www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/02/justin-mentell-dead-bosto_0_n_446130.html |
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Feb 6, 2010 9:17:11 GMT -8
I posted this on Tucker and Travis' threads as well: Travis and LT skater Tucker Fredericks explain the difference between LT and ST skates in this new video by USS - I love that Tucker's skates were 'tagged' by Travis, and even show a tic-tac-toe game with Shani : Anatomy of SpeedskatesTHANKS USS for this great series of videos - I look forward to each one! |
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Post by mtnme on Feb 7, 2010 16:47:35 GMT -8
Another fun news/blog entry on trying to learn how to speedskate. Be sure to check out the 'training' videos too. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A look at some of the lesser-known
sports of the Winter GamesBy Bill Burt, Sports Editor Twice, I showed up as scheduled. Twice, I competed against myself. And I still finished second — you guessed it — twice. The 2010 Bill Burt Olympics began with hope, dreams and enthusiasm, not to mention a wing and prayer. The idea was to participate in three of those lesser known Winter Olympic events that we only see and hear about every four years. There was only one caveat — figure skating was not an option. Curling was the first and most obvious choice... Read the rest of the article here: www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_038000326.htmland another part of the story: www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_037222732.html
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2010 15:19:53 GMT -8
If you have any extra cash lying around:
Canadian Charles Hamelin is considered to be the top pick for the men’s 500m short-track by UK bookmaker William Hill. He is trading at 2/1 odds to earn himself a gold medal at the distance. Francois-Louis Tremblay, another Canadian hailing from Quebec, is considered to be the second favourite, carrying an 11/4 price tag. The Korean tandem of Sung Si-Bak and H-Suk Lee are trading at 4/1 and 11/2, respectively. Yoon-Gy Kwak is well-priced at 6/1. Olivier Jean is another Canadian looking to make a statement here, but he is a bit off the pace, trading at 16/1. This looks like a very solid opportunity for Canada to pick up two medals with an outside chance on sweeping the podium.
Chinese short-tracker Meng Wang is a massive 1/6 favourite to win the women’s 500m event. Canadians Kalyna Roberge and Marianne St-Gelais are expected to offer up some competition here and they are priced at 9/2 and 12/1. Roberge finished in 4th place at the 2006 games in Turin and will be looking to improve in front of a home audience. Nannan Zhao is also expected to challenge and you’ll find her at 6/1.
The Koreans look set to contest the 1000m men’s short-track event with Ho-Suk Lee and Jung-Su Lee headlining at 6/4 and 5/2, respectively. American Apolo Anton Ohno, winner of the 2007 edition of Dancing With the Stars, is also competitive at a 3/1 price. Charles and Francois Hamelin are at 7/1 and 8/1 and will be looking to get the job done here. I will be giving shouts out to my homeboy Travis Jayner who is skating for the American’s Team Colbert. He’s from Riverview, New Brunswick and will be riding for the Americans. You’ll find Jayner at 40/1 to win gold, and I’m going to be backing him to show those Koreans how we get ‘er done in Albert County!
In the Women’s 1000m short-track, Meng Wang is again the favourite but she faces much stiffer competition this time out, trading at a mere 5/6. Katherine Ruetter of the United States will be offering up a big challenge and she’s listed at 7/2. Eun Byul Lee and Yang Zhou are at 4/1 and 5/1.
In the Men’s 1500m short-track event, we have a cadre of Koreans looking to sweep the podium. You’ll find Ho-Suk Lee, Jung-Su Lee and Si-Bak Sung all competitively-priced at 5/4, 2/1 and 7/2. Anton Ohno pays out at 5/1 while Charles Hamelin trades at 6/1.
It looks a similar story in the Women’s 1500m short-track with Yang Zhou at 5/4 and Eun Byul Lee at 2/1. These two look like the main challengers for the gold, while Lin Lin Sun trades at 11/2. Katherine Reutter can be backed at a 6/1 price.
It looks like we’re going to be seeing some very intense competition in virtually every round of this contest. Keep in mind that these are for the gold medal winning odds and there are qualifiers prior to the finals. You’ll get a great price by backing your favourites now and not waiting until the qualifiers. This is especially advisable if you’re looking to back favourites.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2010 13:12:15 GMT -8
To TWEET or NOT to TWEET, that was the IOC and USS' problem. Thank goodness they planned ahead and resolved the issue. Love J.R.'s comment:
Exceprt from the article
Knowing the social networking craze was coming, the International Olympic Committee put out a four-page blogging guideline that supplements Rule 49 of the Olympic charter, which essentially states that only journalists can act as journalists at the games, while athletes and coaches cannot.
The addendum says blogs are permitted, so long as they are diary-like in nature, don't include live action or ceremonies and don't give "newsy" updates, such as injury reports or information about rivaling countries.
Bob Condron, spokesman at the U.S. Olympic Committee, said Twitter posts—with their abbreviation-inducing 140-character limits—are considered allowable by the IOC, which didn't specifically mention that site in its rules.
"The IOC considers blogging, in accordance with these Guidelines, as a legitimate form of personal expression and not as a form of journalism," the rule states.
Prohibited in that personal form of expression, however, are any attempts to promote non-Olympic sponsors—a sticking point between the Olympic powers and the athletes who often struggle to cash in on the success of their Olympic journeys.
Oh, and there is the ever-present reminder not to use the Olympics as a political stage—a rule that has long been the crux of a sticky debate about whether the Olympics are just a simple sports festival, or something much more.
"It was pretty crazy to see what we are not allowed to do or supposed to say," said short-track speedskater J.R Celski, a frequent tweeter. "No advertising and just making sure you are positive, but it's understandable."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2010 9:10:38 GMT -8
Olympic trivia:
Old kids on the block
Torino marked the arrival of a relatively new cast of U.S. Olympians. Of the nine American athletes who won gold in 2006, seven were Olympic rookies. But even with the veterans the average age of the golden nine was a tender 23. More important, all but one of the gold medal winners will return to compete in Vancouver (speed skater Joey Cheek has since retired). With four more years of seasoning, the U.S. team will enter the Games as one of the more accomplished in Vancouver.
I guess at 27, Apolo IS the Old Guy. He certainly ages well!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2010 10:53:25 GMT -8
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