However, you will have to hear hasty pro-forma rationalizations from V/M ubers who will eitherOriginally Posted by dorispulaski
a) State that this guarantees V/M's victory at worlds.
B) Will ignore it and reiterate the commitment the judges have to placing D/W on top.
You're an optimist, I see
There is more than just the altitude at work here. Patrick Chan, who is undeniably one of the best conditioned athletes at the competition, and trains right in Colorado Springs, said (and demonstrated) that it was hard to get air in the arena. He pretty much said it was excruciating after the skate. My guess is something is very wrong with the ventilation in the arena currently. This can be fixed. There have been competitions in Colorado Springs before without anything like this.
sorry, i did not know that was bothering you, i won't do that again. I hope I was not so intrusive on your pc.
Last edited by figureskate; 02-12-2012 at 07:19 PM.
Interesting point. Were there all these issues when 4CC was in Colorado Springs in 2007?
On the podium, the medalists were standing for photographing and Scott moved his head to a side from behind Tessa to be better seen. Tall Andrew put his arm around Scott and lifted him up a bit.Andrew doesn't just hoist chicks.
Yes, he does. I will ask about that in the upcoming press conference.
I don't recall it being this bad. Nor at Skate America in 2000
From what I can remember, no. But I could very well be wrong. Anybody else remember?
This is exactly how I feel.
Don't let Blades of Passion buffalo you. His bark is worse than his bite. I for one enjoy your site.
[QUOTE=Serious Business;617978]There is more than just the altitude at work here. Patrick Chan, who is undeniably one of the best conditioned athletes at the competition, and trains right in Colorado Springs, said (and demonstrated) that it was hard to get air in the arena. He pretty much said it was excruciating after the skate. My guess is something is very wrong with the ventilation in the arena currently. This can be fixed. There have been competitions in Colorado Springs before without anything like this.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for this. Since 4cc's has been held in Colorado Springs previously, I wondered why the obvious impact to the skaters across all disciplines was apparent now. I certainly don't believe it is because skaters are less well conditioned now than before.
It's not a matter of altitude or conditionion per se, but of having sufficient time to prepare and perhaps vertilation as Serious Business points out. You can be well conditioned and yet not be aclimatised to high altitude. it may also be a matter of the weather at the time. I've been to the Broadmoor once for a business trip about 10 years ago. The weather can change drastically as can the temperature. That significantly affected my reaction to the thin air. Another point not mentioned thus far is how dry it is there. it was quite annoying for me. I learned after arriving how much more I would have to hydrate myself to adjust the the conditions. That may also be affecting the skater. Still all of those things are manageable. Clearly some skaters did just fine, and not just those who skate in Colorado Springs or Lake Arrowhead. I maintain that it's more of an issue with spacing between events. European skaters get about a month to prepare for Euros after their own nationals. They have time to treat niggling injuries, address tweak their programs, and train for varied conditions. Americans and Canadians have 1-2 weeks. The Chinese really only excel at pairs and less so than in the past. Their best pair was fine. The other nations in this event are expectedly worse and most would not even be comepetitive at novice or junior level in the States. So it's no surprise they struggled.
As to training specifically, lung capacity can be improved by running in cold conditions. I can imagine how Charlie and Alex feel. I have asthma and my wrestling team in high school ran 2-3 miles every day during the winter in temps in the 20s either before or after a two hour practice. It burns like hell, believe me, but over time endurance is significantly improved. I was never more tired than after a 6 minute wrestling match. It takes way more out of you than a 2 hour tennis match. Recovery is a lot slower. It's likely similar to what the skaters are experiencing, because you are literally using every limb for the whole length of time you're on the ice and not just for short bursts, but for sustained movements and feats of strength. Your heart rate never has a chance to go down until you are done and less and less oxygen goes to your muscles. Everything burns. Still if you are trained to go beyong the alotted time for the competition, you can manage the strain better. Its not easy, just more manageable. Of course if you have asthma like Charlie, it is harder, but certainly not impossible. What you need is time to prepare adequately.
Either way some gap needs to be established.
Doris, at least your team shows up to play each year. My Skins are stuck in a 20 year long battle with futility. They even beat the Giants twice and still lost to just about everyone else. Plus their owner is pure greed and meanness.So is Keegan Messing
Every mother crow thinks her own little crow is the blackest.
You have to give us East Coasters the right to like our favorites.
BTW, Scott was clearly visible in the K&C clapping for D/W during their 1st rotational lift, for all those who wish to see a conflict there that is nonexistent.
Last edited by jcoates; 02-12-2012 at 07:36 PM.
I did ask Charlie since asthmatics have a harder time breathing in altitude how tired was he, and he admitted he was "gassed" at the end when he took his bow, but he didn't want to admit that it had any affect on the performance. But sitting in the stands it looked very much like he was working hard to get through the program, which probably affected the levels.
Were you able to find out what was wrong with Alex Shibutani? If he was alright now?
Like Michelle Kwan.Patriots are overrated anyway
Back on topic. V/M must be pleased they certainly skated a gold medal performance. After the loss at GPF this
will boost their confidence level going into Worlds.
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