2023 Four Continents: Info and Pre-game Chat

[ElSoteroLoco]

There is a question that has been burning my brain for a while and I hope someone can answer it finally. 4CC is established for skaters/athletes from Africa, Asia, Americas and Oceania. Why does Israel compete at Europeans and they are not even in Europe? Shouldn't they be competing at 4CC??

 

[NanaPat]

Does anyone know what the parking is like at World Arena? I found this link with parking prices and directions. Does anyone know if there is enough parking? The page does indicate that getting out of the parking lot after an event can be slow/difficult.

 

[karne]

The carpark is huge. You won't have any issues.

There is only a couple of narrow entries/exits.

It will be a cold walk. It could have been a warm one.

 

[yuumagical]

There is a question that has been burning my brain for a while and I hope someone can answer it finally. 4CC is established for skaters/athletes from Africa, Asia, Americas and Oceania. Why does Israel compete at Europeans and they are not even in Europe? Shouldn't they be competing at 4CC??

This sort of thing happens in other sports leagues and contests too, not just in figure skating. It's due to geopolitical reasons. Let's just say that some of Israel's neighboring countries in the Middle East don't support its existence, which could pose problems for Israeli athletes...

 

[frida80]

I did see some skater go on O2 after skating. I live and work at 2500 and hike at 9000 so I must have big lungs.....

More red blood cells/hemoglobin in your blood. Your body produces more in response to lower oxygen to carry more to your cells. After two weeks, the process is done.

I’ve been through it each time I studied in Latin America. Cuzco was intense! Elevation of 11,000 ft (3399m). There was a fancy hotel that pumped in oxygen in the rooms for guest. The Inca we’re amazing building a full city with such little air.

A lot of athletes do altitude training believing that that increased level of blood cells will reduce fatigue and increase stamina. I hope it helps the skaters training there.

 

[Keith]

Re Israel, I believe they are part of the European Broadcasting Union, hence participation in European events.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Welp. I bit the bullet last night and booked Residence Inn for the 7th-12th. Longer than i wanted, but did not want to gamble.

 

[StitchMonkey]

The carpark is huge. You won't have any issues.

There is only a couple of narrow entries/exits.

It will be a cold walk. It could have been a warm one.

Respectfully karne, this is Colorado. It literally could be easily be both over the course of this event.

I mean, i guess that does mean you have to pack more now as you need both...

 

[karne]

Respectfully karne, this is Colorado. It literally could be easily be both over the course of this event.

I mean, i guess that does mean you have to pack more now as you need both...

Well, it's not like I can go now. Like other Australian fans, I was going to be travelling to Sydney or the Gold Coast, which would have been massively cheaper than having to fly to the US, even in the Beforetime and let alone now when flights are more expensive and inflation's out the wazoo.

But Gold Coast in February is guaranteed to be warm, no chance of blizzard. Could have gone to the beach between sessions.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Well, it's not like I can go now. Like other Australian fans, I was going to be travelling to Sydney or the Gold Coast, which would have been massively cheaper than having to fly to the US, even in the Beforetime and let alone now when flights are more expensive and inflation's out the wazoo.

But Gold Coast in February is guaranteed to be warm, no chance of blizzard. Could have gone to the beach between sessions.

Nowhere is perfect for everyone.

4CC was yanked away from Colorado Springs a few years back and that sucked as i wanted to go. Crap happens.

I am going to be grateful for the opportunity this gives me. My better half is on dialysis so traveling is a challenge and this is close enough that he can if needed drive to his normal location. This is a chance for us i honestly never thought we would get to see. So at least make fun of Colorado for the over packing...

 

[Arriba627]

Respectfully karne, this is Colorado. It literally could be easily be both over the course of this event.

I mean, i guess that does mean you have to pack more now as you need both...

Residence Inn is SO nice!...Expect anything is probably the best motto for the weather. I just had dinner with a friend from Denver. She was explaining how they can get six inches of snow and then the following day it's 60 degrees and everything melts! Dressing in layers is good for the arena, and I would think it will be the same for outdoors.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Residence Inn is SO nice!...Expect anything is probably the best motto for the weather. I just had dinner with a friend from Denver. She was explaining how they can get six inches of snow and then the following day it's 60 degrees and everything melts! Dressing in layers is good for the arena, and I would think it will be the same for outdoors.

I actually live in Denver suburbia so i am well aware. We are all over the place all the time and can have wild extremes. We have seen 80 one day and snow the next. All the same we rarely get snowed in for long times and don't get massive blizzards often. With Colorado luck i think it will be just warm enough for it not to be comfortable to wear the same thing in the arena as out.

 

[NanaPat]

The carpark is huge. You won't have any issues.

There is only a couple of narrow entries/exits.

It will be a cold walk. It could have been a warm one.

Thank you.

It's interesting that you were the first person to answer with first-hand knowledge, considering you live halfway around the world!

I can deal with cold. I'm Canadian, after all, though I have grown soft since I moved to British Columbia.

 

[karne]

Thank you.

It's interesting that you were the first person to answer with first-hand knowledge, considering you live halfway around the world!

I can deal with cold. I'm Canadian, after all, though I have grown soft since I moved to British Columbia.

I have been to the World Arena Ice Hall before, on vacation. I even met Max and Joshua there, and Jason, when he was at Monument. I stayed at the hotel immediately across from the Arena and walked across the carpark each day. It is not far, but it is a big carpark.

 

[mrrice]

When will the lineup of skaters be announced? I imagine this event will have great skaters. I imagine most of Tom Z's skaters will be there, and it wouldn't surprise me to see several retired skaters in attendance.

 

[NanaPat]

When will the lineup of skaters be announced? I imagine this event will have great skaters. I imagine most of Tom Z's skaters will be there, and it wouldn't surprise me to see several retired skaters in attendance.

Skaters have to be assigned, and there is a max of 3 entries per country/event.

Someone above noted that the US sends its "B" team to 4CC (skaters just below those assigned to Worlds). That is true for the US and Canada in Olympic years, but I don't know/think it is true any more for non-Olympic years. Of course, there may be additional skaters from those countries who are not attending Worlds if the Worlds quota in a discipline is less than 3.

4 Continents assignments are usually announced by each federation after Nationals (the same time the Worlds team is announced, unless a Worlds assignment is left TBA so contenders can slug it out once again at 4CC for the Worlds assignment).

 

[NanaPat]

I was lookin at this link to get an idea of the expected schedule. Does anyone know th length of the "dinner break" between the afternoon and evening events?

 

[NanaPat]

Thanks for the detailed schedule, @CoyoteChris . The length of the break affects the accomodation planning. A longer break means we can stay further away from the arena and still get decent food. The Residence Inn looks nice, and is convenient, but is pricey (perhaps unnecessarily pricey for those who will have a car?)

 

[StitchMonkey]

If you are willing to drive one place that I think is over looked is the Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

Colorado Resorts | Cheyenne Mountain Resort, A Dolce Resort

Our Colorado Springs Resort, Cheyenne Mountain Resort, is an extraordinary escape from the ordinary. The hotel is the ideal destination for family vacations.

www.cheyennemountain.com

Half the distance to the Broadmoor but way cheaper. Less than the Residence Inn actually (i want the kitchen and no driving).

Of course not as nice as the Broadmoor but few things are. This is still a resort with multiple pools, spa, eating options, etc. The location is lovely and i really enjoyed staying there. I would say it is much nicer than anything walking distance.

Also, they have an Olympic Museum Package https://www.cheyennemountain.com/colorado-hotel-deals which i feel like is a good sign for something like this.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Just curious...Whats wrong with the Hampton? Its $134 a night..right next to the arena and food....Cheyenne MR is very nice but it says its $200 a night and the pirate fees go up perportionally. If money were an object, I would reserve a room there at the Hampton and wait till the La Quinta rooms become available. If you are into watching practices and socializing with friends at those practices at both sheets of ice, and having dinner right there in the complex, you will be spending very little time in your hotel if you check out the schedule....a resort is nice and I confess I like to sit out in the "Pool" area of the Orleans in Vegas cause of the warmth and I hope we get good weather in Colorado Springs but the average high is 45 and the average low is 18. If you are not driving you can have adult beverages at the restaurants with dinner early in the week and walk back to your room and not have to drive impaired.

I would not say there is anything wrong with Hampton or any of the ones in the area. But i would label them more a hotel than a resort and different people have different priorities. I suspect most on GS are like you and i that want to spend almost all our time at the area and be close and easy. But others may have other ideas. Some may want to use this more as a vacation than just a skating trip. Others may have a spouse who want to spend less time at the area and may need to WFH at the hotel. In my case long ago promised the other half he will never have to be sober for a figure skating event, so yeah i am staying closer.

I would say this is a more of a "Im willing to settle for less than the Broadmore for half the price!" alterative than an alternative to walking distance. Still, an option that i rather enjoyed and that i just don't see as being well known so i thought i would bring up in case it work for anyone. I also noticed they seem to have a lot of accessibility showers in rooms, which could be something that is a factor to some people.