2023 Four Continents: Info and Pre-game Chat

[CoyoteChris]

Last I heard Japan had decided Covid was no longer an issue and tons of people died. Not that many had gotten vaxxed and those who had got the Japanese vaccine which is apparently much less effective than the US. If you told me I could go to a figure skating comp but had to not cheer I’d stay home.

I am disabled and on disability, though I do have a side job. I’m able to attend at most 2 comps per year. I prioritize Gracie so this year it was Philly and Nats. I would have loved to go to Cranberry, Skate America, International Classic, 4CCs but I can’t. Especially with this short turnaround between comps I’m not sure I could even do it physically let alone financially. My sister and I used to go together and she could drive in snow (I can’t). I doubt there is anyone near me who would want to go but if there is anyone in the St Louis area who would drop me a line..
I doubt I ever visit the land of $6.75 diet cokes again though.

Like you, I wont be returning to the land of $14 Sundays and a whole foods store bill in excess of $200 plus other purchased food.
And a $1200 entrance fee.
But my Uber driver pointed out a steady stream of 100s of Millions of dollars of private jets coming into San Jose for some game of the ball. I will spare you my views of our taxation system but rich and not so rich people attend games of the ball for much money every week and so too did figure skating fans flock to Spokane in 2007-2010......
I have no answers on why now people have all this money to fly on airlines and go hither and yon and attend events or go to Mexico on college spring break, etc.
All I know is they went to Spokane and the lines were long at the ladies bathrooms.
And now they didnt go to San Jose. I am sure the Shark people pay for those $14 beers....so some folks have money to go to sports events, or at least think they do enough to load up their credit cards.
BTW, if you were just watching on TV, you get a false sense of how few people were really there...I have my pics....

 

[CoyoteChris]

BTW, for the few people who are going, the weather forecast has changed dramatically. Glad I am arriving on Sat! Be prepared for 40s for a high each day with a 10 mph wind. Lows in the 20s....not alot of precip so far but things change there very fast...

 

[CoyoteChris]

Good news! I emailed the box office and they will be opening up 8am on Tuesday so we "will call" people from the last century can get our tickets before practice at 9:30 am Go Yelim!
(I will be putting my paper tickets on ebay after the event....no lowballers...I know what I got.....)
You will get my gala ticket from my cold dead hands.

 

[Seven Sisters]

BTW, for the few people who are going, the weather forecast has changed dramatically. Glad I am arriving on Sat! Be prepared for 40s for a high each day with a 10 mph wind. Lows in the 20s....not alot of precip so far but things change there very fast...

Thanks for the weather forecast! I was worried there would be a foot of snow to wade through. This is good news!

 

[CoyoteChris]

Thanks for the weather forecast! I was worried there would be a foot of snow to wade through. This is good news!

LOL! Just remember that this is my back yard...and on the front range of the Rockies, anything can happen, like Brent's car getting plastered with hail. BTW, the 10 degrees colder than normal air is good news for the athletes as it lowers the density altitude quite a bit....right now, its 6074 ft ASL. Fly out of there in your private jet in July and you will be using alot of runway....

• temperature = 40.14 deg f
• relative humidity = 32 %
• uncorrected barometer* = 24.09 inHg
• corrected barometer* = 30.19 inHg
• wind speed = 10.47 mph
• wind direction* = SE (128°)
• more info: current metric | historical | forecast | help

• dew point = 15 deg f
• saturation pressure = 0.249 inHg
• vapor pressure = 0.080 inHg
• grains = 14.5
• air density (w/o water vapor) = 84%
• air density (w water vapor) = 83%
• density altitude = 6074.19 ft

 

[CoyoteChris]

The el henry shuffle. I successfully flew to San J with a backpack and a carry on. So I am gonna take e.h.'s advice and use a collapsable piece of luggage to take lots of snacks and adult beverages to COS. One way. Since there are stores nearby this is more of a trial thing. But there may be an added benefit. I have a close connection on the way down. The last time I was forced into a close connection, I ran for the second flight and made it, but we had to wait a few more minutes, they said, to get "a Pax's luggage off of an incoming flight and onto this flight"
SLC is an easy airport to get to the next gate....
Thanks to

tsuyoboogie​

I actually found one store that carried a Japanese beer. It was a rice lager and although it had somewhat of a light body, it tasted very good...
So to tsuyoboogie and Kaori....

 

[CoyoteChris]

Humm...from the Fairfield website.....
Free Grab n go and Buffet and Hot Breakfast
Monday-Sunday 6:00 - 9:00 AM
Unlimited bacon perhaps like the FOFS breakfast?
my internet is slow but I might try and find pics of it.
(In a small collapsable expendable dufflebag, you can get 30 lbs of booze and snacks....)

 

[CoyoteChris]

Internet is back up for now....Wheels up in 48 hours. Funny to see NBC news showing Ashley Cain skating the streets of Texas and she wasnt alone. Off to give blood for yet another endless seriess of medical tests....(Her hair was fantastic at the FOFS breakfast. Not so much under a big cold weather hat on, LOL!....

 

[Flying Feijoa]

Last I heard Japan had decided Covid was no longer an issue and tons of people died. Not that many had gotten vaxxed and those who had got the Japanese vaccine which is apparently much less effective than the US. If you told me I could go to a figure skating comp but had to not cheer I’d stay home.

Sorry to interrupt, I believe you've confused Japan with China. I'm assuming this is an honest mistake from someone not familiar with the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan's approach has always been similar to the stricter Western countries (masking, quarantine requirements, the same internationally recognised vaccines as everywhere else), with regulations loosening gradually over the course of the pandemic as less virulent strains took over. Postwar constitution prevented the government from enforcing hard lockdowns, only 'strong recommendations', but people were good at following them. Casualties have been quite low, comparable to Australia or Taiwan.

China had draconian measures (>3 weeks border quarantine, locking down entire cities) from the start of the pandemic until just over a month ago. It also didn't permit importation of foreign vaccines or recognise the vaccination status of travellers with them, and its domestic vaccines are ineffective against Omicron. When it became politically unsustainable they made an abrupt U-turn and lifted all restrictions without the necessary support measures (increasing healthcare capacity, effective immunisation) and got a huge wave of infections and deaths.

Yes, Japan is now taking a more relaxed approach to Covid, but only after a gradual route to recovery, just like most of the world. I don't know if they still have the rule on not cheering at competitions.

 

[yuumagical]

Yes, Japan is now taking a more relaxed approach to Covid, but only after a gradual route to recovery, just like most of the world. I don't know if they still have the rule on not cheering at competitions.

The World Figure Skating Championships still advise against cheering on its official website. However, there are reports that cheering is now permitted at sports events. I'm honestly a little confused as to whether an official statement has been made and whether the ban will be lifted now or on May 8th due to the various reports.

 

[CoyoteChris]

The World Figure Skating Championships still advise against cheering on its official website. However, there are reports that cheering is now permitted at sports events. I'm honestly a little confused as to whether an official statement has been made and whether the ban will be lifted now or on May 8th due to the various reports.

Sadly at nats, many misinformed (put your own adjective here..if you need one, I can give you one) people where yelling and cheering and that included the "Red Shirts", the 30 or so developmental skating school class.
Sadly, no one seems to learn anything except the Asians....
I refer the the sad super spreader event in My state that is now legend....2 dead and many sick and who knows how many THEY infected. And killed.

How a superspreader at choir practice sickened 52 people with COVID-19

A superspreader at a choir practice gave COVID-19 to 52 other people, 2 of whom died.

www.livescience.com

 

[el henry]

The el henry shuffle. I successfully flew to San J with a backpack and a carry on. So I am gonna take e.h.'s advice and use a collapsable piece of luggage to take lots of snacks and adult beverages to COS. One way. Since there are stores nearby this is more of a trial thing. But there may be an added benefit. I have a close connection on the way down. The last time I was forced into a close connection, I ran for the second flight and made it, but we had to wait a few more minutes, they said, to get "a Pax's luggage off of an incoming flight and onto this flight"
SLC is an easy airport to get to the next gate....
Thanks to

tsuyoboogie​

I actually found one store that carried a Japanese beer. It was a rice lager and although it had somewhat of a light body, it tasted very good...
So to tsuyoboogie and Kaori....

Thank you Chris, but I am not the one to have given such excellent advice. I wish I were. and I wish I could tell you who it was.

 

[CoyoteChris]

I am so old, I have CRS desease! (cant remember shoot) ! False memories. Well, thanks to the person who I cant remember.....!
Here is an example of coincidence and memory....I know all these people. Bottom row is Andy, Ann, VP of FSC of So. Cal, me, and my good buddy Clarence. Next row is Marriane and Dudley, Next row is Pauline and Florence, and in the back is Mark. All I have seen for decades at comps, except for Ann who posted this pic on FB.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Hope Ann comes to Four CCs! She is a hoot. She posted this pic of her db meter when Rusty and Romeo were playing their rap music

 

[double_sal_gal]

Hi, all! I live in the Denver area and will be staying in downtown Colorado Springs Thurs-Sun. I may also drive down Wednesday to watch some practices.

This is my first live competition since 4CC 2012! Any tips on where to buy flags? I'd like to have a small (no bigger than 12”x18”) flag or poster/sign for each country represented here, but I don't want to break the bank. None of the online options I've found so far seem to have what I need -- lots of "here's 50 flags for $50 and most of them are European" deals. I might just print the flags and signs I need on cardstock through Office Depot or someplace, but if you have a better idea, I’m all ears. Thanks!

FYI for people who drink: the nearby Target does sell full-strength beer. If you want wine, cider or liquor, you’ll need to Uber to a liquor store or have Drizly deliver to your hotel. CO liquor laws have loosened a lot since 2012 — starting next month, grocery stores can sell wine, but not quite yet.

This is going to be so much fun! Hope to meet a bunch of you there. I’ll be the one with the dorky signs and flags, I hope.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Hi, all! I live in the Denver area and will be staying in downtown Colorado Springs Thurs-Sun. I may also drive down Wednesday to watch some practices.

This is my first live competition since 4CC 2012! Any tips on where to buy flags? I'd like to have a small (no bigger than 12”x18”) flag or poster/sign for each country represented here, but I don't want to break the bank. None of the online options I've found so far seem to have what I need -- lots of "here's 50 flags for $50 and most of them are European" deals. I might just print the flags and signs I need on cardstock through Office Depot or someplace, but if you have a better idea, I’m all ears. Thanks!

FYI for people who drink: the nearby Target does sell full-strength beer. If you want wine, cider or liquor, you’ll need to Uber to a liquor store or have Drizly deliver to your hotel. CO liquor laws have loosened a lot since 2012 — starting next month, grocery stores can sell wine, but not quite yet.

This is going to be so much fun! Hope to meet a bunch of you there. I’ll be the one with the dorky signs and flags, I hope.

Thanks for the info!
Put this into amazon
Mflagperft japanese flag
12x 18
$8

I carry a three ring binder so cardstock flags would be an option. But I like the 18 in real ones.
If you want to go skydiving with me, show up at the USAF Acadamy on Monday

 

[CoyoteChris]

The Rusty Kath/Romeo rap music db meter app with recording function now installed on phone....

 

[Seven Sisters]

Hi, all! I live in the Denver area and will be staying in downtown Colorado Springs Thurs-Sun. I may also drive down Wednesday to watch some practices.

This is my first live competition since 4CC 2012! Any tips on where to buy flags? I'd like to have a small (no bigger than 12”x18”) flag or poster/sign for each country represented here, but I don't want to break the bank. None of the online options I've found so far seem to have what I need -- lots of "here's 50 flags for $50 and most of them are European" deals. I might just print the flags and signs I need on cardstock through Office Depot or someplace, but if you have a better idea, I’m all ears. Thanks!

FYI for people who drink: the nearby Target does sell full-strength beer. If you want wine, cider or liquor, you’ll need to Uber to a liquor store or have Drizly deliver to your hotel. CO liquor laws have loosened a lot since 2012 — starting next month, grocery stores can sell wine, but not quite yet.

This is going to be so much fun! Hope to meet a bunch of you there. I’ll be the one with the dorky signs and flags, I hope.

I look forward to having a glass of wine with you. You seem like my kind of person! See you at practice.

 

[CoyoteChris]

FYI...from US FS. FYI the museum is well worth seeing if you have never seen it.

Annie White <[email protected]>​	11:16 AM (22 minutes ago)
to

Happy Friday All!

For those of you who were in San Jose last week I hope you enjoyed the competition and it was wonderful to see a lot of you there. I know some of you are traveling to Colorado Springs next week for the 4-Continents competition. We are looking at some off-ice opportunities and coordinating the US Figure Skating museum hours and tours for our Friends of Figure Skating members. So we can best accommodate the group, please let me know if you will be in attendance next week and if so, what days you will be in town.

Thank you,

Annie

Annie White SENIOR DIRECTOR, MARKETING AND SALES 20 First Street | Colorado Springs, CO 80906 O: 719.228.3136 | C: 719.238.2398 [email protected]

 

[moonvine]

I really dont know whose vax they are using but I have had all my five shots of US vaxes and when I got covid, thankfully there was paxlovid. Vax doesnt keep you from getting the virus....it lessens the effects. Here is what is happening to our Asian friends....

I can’t take Paxlovid.