2008-2009 Short Track Season!

[Lori]

I got a nice note today from one of the organizers of AmCup1 in September. She says that fans are absolutely welcome to take advantage of the special rates at the host hotels.

Also, she had this to say about Apolo skating:

...we do not have any information other than he must skate to qualify for the World Cups. We certainly hope that he attends. From what we have been told, he does not have a bye. Barring medical issues or changes from US Speedskating, he should be in attendance.

EDIT to answer dopeyrn's question:

There are several sources that people have posted that indicate that Apolo does want to skate in the first World Cups (including Vancouver). As I said upthread, though, as of right now he must qualify via AmCup1 in September. I personally would say the chances are very good that barring injury he'll be skating in Vancouver.

[musicalmom]

News from Vancouver........
Vancouver News Article from www.vancouver.24hrs.ca/Sports/2008/07/21/pf-6216731.html

Ohno says yes to 2010

By BOB MACKIN, 24 HOURS


United States' short-track speedskating star Apolo Anton Ohno has five Olympic medals, a world championship, a trophy from ABC's Dancing With the Stars, and appears on a giant action photo on the side of B.C. Ferries' Coastal Renaissance.

"I have not seen myself. but somebody told me that," said Ohno, 26. "That's cool."

The native of Seattle suburb Federal Way is the closest to a B.C. athlete on the 3M-made ship wrap.

"There were no real coaches or programs in Seattle, I had to learn from Canadians," he told 24 hours. "My father would drive up here on the weekend and we'd have competitions in Burnaby and Vancouver. I would copy and learn and apply whatever I saw from the top Canadian skaters."

Reigning world champion Ohno hopes to cap his career with a third gold medal at Vancouver 2010. The U.S. team, coached by former Canadian skipper Jae Su Chun, trained July 12-20 in South Surrey Arena. Dryland training included a unique two-for-Tuesday on the Grouse Grind.

"That's a killer workout," Ohno said. "We did it twice."

What do you think, it might be worth an extra ferry ride when you come for the Olympics!

Musical Mom ;D

[bubblebuttsbabe]

musicalmom, say hi to FLOU for me! ;D

have a lot of fun...that sounds like an amazing opportunity.

[musicalmom]

I'll do my best if I can get close enough! Will try for a picture too. I'm a technical klutz with just a throwaway camera so don't expect too much! Will try to get a feel for the rennovated venue too.

[dopeyrn]

Lori, thanks for the answer on Vancouver...I really appreciate it!

[musicalmom]

What a marvelous day I've had...saw the Canadian National Senior Team practice, met and interviewed several team members, and yes, got a few pictures with my throw away camera which I just had developed. Now I need someone to tell me (1,2,3) how to post pictures here on the board. Once I figure that out, I'll come back with news, pics, & interviews as I'm able. Help!!
Musical Mom

[Lori]

OMG! Did you get a pic of 'Prince Charles' Flou (Tremblay) My favorite 'JamaiCanadian', Olivier Jean???

I'm so jealous, but I can't wait to see your pics - trust me, we won't care if they're dark or blurry, (just feed us!)

[musicalmom]

Hi Lori;
Got 2 out of the 3 for sure and one I didn't recognize and don't have his name, really cute though.
Also 2 of the women. Joined photobucket last night and uploaded my pics. Will try to get all posted this weekend....I stayed out of most of the photos so you could have only your favorites!
Musical Mom

[musicalmom]

CANADIAN NATIONAL SHORT TRACK TEAM SUMMER CAMP-VANCOUVER
Part I - The Event

Speed Skating Canada's Short Track National Team was in Vancouver for it's annual training Camp on July 23rd. The SCC invited the media to attend a training session at he 2010 Olympic Games Venue :
(Pacific Coliseum, 100 North Renfrew, Vancouver
Parking Lot 6- off Renfrew Street, north of the Coliseum)
I was fortunate enough to be able to attend.

It was an opportunity to meet the Short Track National Team including Olympic Medalists Charles Hamelin, Jean-Francois Monette, Francois-Louis Tremblay, Kalyna Roberge, Tania Vicent and Amanda Overland as they prepared for the season and 2010 Olympics. They were here from Montreal and Calgary to familiarize themselves with the venue and the ice before returning to Vancouver for the first Team Selection of the season ( September 16-18) and the second stop of the ISU World Cup Short Track
(Oct. 24-26)

Local junior development team skaters were invited to take the ice with their heroes for a relay race. I'm guessing they were in the 12 to 15 year old range but boy were they focused. I spoke to one of their mom's and she said this was their first time on the ice for 3 months and although excited, their uppermost thought was not to fall in front of their heroes. No one did, and it was fun to watch. They tracked like pros and flew ahead as they were pushed by the seniors..there were a few squeals in the process as they really took off when pushed by "the big guys"! A thrill for each of them. See picture below after they changed from their gear.


Musical Mom

[A.O.Freak]

awesome pics Musical mom

[musicalmom]

CANADIAN NATIONAL SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING TEAM - VANCOUVER SUMMER CAMP- 2008

PART II - THE WOMEN'S TEAM

After the training session, and after the major press interviews, I had the chance to speak with some of the skaters and get some photos...

KALYNA ROBERGE (here are some photos) I spoke to her briefly but I speak no French . She graciously allowed me to take her picture.




I also got a candid of Kalyna relaxing with her team after practice.

I was very fortunate to actually interview Amanda Overland.



She is a charming and very intelligent young woman with a twinkle in her eye . She was quite friendly and forthcoming when I explained that I wasn't really press but a fan. She smiled when I told her about our fan sites and how we all stayed up and watched Asian TV for the World Championships and the World Team Championships. I told her she had many fans at GA and at Apolo and Julianne.com.
When I asked her how she chose short track as her sport, she explained that she has 2 older siblings who were involved in long track and that she was 'Kind of born into skating". She really prefers short track because "it involves more than physical skill, it really requires mental focus and strategy" When I asked her who she considered her biggest competition, she said Kalyna & grinned. I then remembered that the team has to qualify first and then approach the world cups...a long way to the Olympic team! She said she was most excited about the 1000 and the 1500.
We talked about all the risk in short track, about how talent and skill are not the only factors but "fate, luck, & happenstance". She said that disappointment was just part of the package and worth it for the thrill of the sport. I asked her if she was by nature a risk taker and she said No.
"In real life I love being home, love to cook" She said about 1/2 her time is devoted to short track, 1/4 to school ( she is searching for a major but interested in public relations and communication) and the rest to sleeping and her private life. She said she trains in 1 1/2 hr sessions on ice which are incredibly intense. Then of course there is dry land training. She has trained in Calgary but is now training in Montreal with the whole team.
Amanda was very approachable and talked to fans, press, posed for endless pictures and smiled her brilliant smile thru out. I was very lucky to have this time with her .



Here she is relaxing with her team..Canadian coach in foreground
i51.photobucket.com/albums/f388/musicalmom08/00200009.jpg[/IMG]
Here are the women taking the ice ( I think it's the women's team)


Enjoy,
Musical Mom

[musicalmom]

CANADIAN NATIONAL SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING TEAM-SUMMER CAMP-VANCOUVER 2008

PART III - THE MEN'S TEAM



Ok, Ok, here are the pictures. Sorry there aren't more. Several people promised to send me theirs but haven't yet. There was one taken of me with Charles but the person forgot to use my camera. Am hoping someone else got it and will forward to me. There is one photo here that I haven't tagged because not sure who it is..Will put it last...Enjoy


CHARLES HAMELIN


I really enjoyed meeting Charles. Amanda introduced us. He is absolutely
delightful to talk with...gracious, yes charming, and smiles all the time.
He was amazed when I told him about all his American fans and that there were whole threads devoted to him on the fan sites. He said he doesn't use the computer much and didn't know. I kidded him and said there was one question I wouldn't ask although there would be many who would wish I did, and that was "Are you available?" He grinned as Amanda jumped in with a chuckle, "He has a girlfriend"! He was really a good sport and seemed tickled to find out that he had American fans.
We talked about the upcoming season and I asked him who he felt was his major competition...The top 12 he said! When I asked which teams would give him the stiffest competition, he said the U.S. and Korea.

OLIVIER JEAN

Olivier stood out on the ice for several reasons...he is quite tall ( one of the parents said he looked like a long track skater), he has long dreads, and he wore a bright yellow & gray skin suit. He was amazing with the younger kids on the ice and took time to talk to them before the relay.
He explained to me that he had been off the ice for an entire year because he was rehabbing from a serious cut to his lower leg. ( even showed me the scar- wow!) He is excited to be back and on the "racing team" and says he's fully recovered and in great shape for this season. I wished him well and told him that he had some U.S. fans as well. Really he said, they remember me? Anyway, I wished him well and told him he had a new fan in me.



more photos to follow
Musical Mom

[musicalmom]

CANADIAN NATIONAL SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING TEAM AT SUMMER CAMP IN VANCOUVER

PART III - SOME MISCELLANEOUS PICTURES
(If you can identify any of the skaters, please let me know who they are..I took them fast and didn't have time to write anything down til after)












And a symbol of what's to come...a blank score board waiting for World C





and an empty parking lot overlooking the Vancouver North Shore mountains waiting for the fans to arrive !!



Musical Mom
(and special thanks to everyone for the advice on how to post photos, but especially to Mtnme whose 1,2,3 directions really helped!) ;D :

[A.O.Freak]

WOW Musical mom you met CHARLES HAMELIN ?? Lucky you!!! So are these people gonna be in 2010 olympics also?? ;D Gave you Karma for these spectacular pics musical mom

[musicalmom]

Thank you for the karma aofreak...
As in every other country, the competitors first need to make the National Team....
then they have to compete in various qualifying events ( the first of this season is here in Vancouver in Sept.), I'm really a novice but think that they have to gather points at the world cups in order to qualify for the world championships, don't know exactly when the Olympic team is picked..Canada can send 6 men and 6 women...think it depends on points...they may even have been already chosen..I'm a bit confused myself...maybe someone can enlighten me....
However, those I've introduced here have done very well in the past and are very likely to be among the Olympic competitors bar any unforeseen injuries or happenings.
Just when I think I understand it, I find out I don't. Thank heavens for sites like these where we can teach each other.
I'm attending the World Cup in October and it will be the first live competition I've seen!
Cheers,
Musical Mom