My pics from the Senior Ladies SP

[Snowstorm7]

Here are some pictures I took last night....we were way up in the club level, so a lot of zooming was necessary, and consequently, there's a lot of noise in some of these...but I hope you like them anyway!

 

[emma]

Awesome pictures - thanks for sharing!!!! I hope you are having a great time and do share your impressions of the LIVE events when you get a chance!!!

 

[Snowstorm7]

Well I have to say, I'm a 32 year old male, and I'm probably the farthest thing from a "typical" figure skating fan. I'm the kind of fan who watches the Olympics and Worlds, but doesnt follow the sport closely outside of the few major events. Nationals was in my backyard, so I thought, "Hey, neat!! Opportunities like this don't come along too often, let's go and see what it's all about."

And I've gotta say, Thursday night was unbelievably exciting. I can't imagine what Saturday night is going to be like! I was getting butterflies today just thinking about it and normally, the only thing sports-related that has that effect on me are the NHL playoffs and World Series, lol.

I was struck by the lack of men in the audience in my peer group. I was on the lookout all night around the arena for other guys in the 18-34 range that were clearly not participants in the events this week. There werent many! I kept joking to my wife all night that I was the only male under the age of 50 there who wasn't skating. An exaggeration no doubt, but still, it struck me that this wonderful sport has some serious demographic issues right now. And that's really sad. I dont know what can be done to convince men in my peer group to get over the snicker-factor, but someone needs to come up with something. I'll do my part of course, because I've really had a good time this week and I'm gonna go out of my way to convince all my piggish male friends that this is a sport worth watching.

 

[Mathman]

Winning over the world, one man at a time!

Welcome to the forum, Snowstorm. Post often, post long!

 

[museksk8r]

I don't know what can be done to convince men in my peer group to get over the snicker-factor, but someone needs to come up with something. I'll do my part of course, because I've really had a good time this week and I'm gonna go out of my way to convince all my piggish male friends that this is a sport worth watching.

Haha, I enjoyed your post. I believe if the ISU would ban rather than reinstating the corrupt judges who have tainted the sport's credibility with their cheating, that would be a start. The judges need to be aware that if they partake in cheating there will be dire consequences for their federations, not a simple pat on the wrist. I think it takes an extremely tolerant sports spectator to handle a sport that is subjective and judged like skating. The sport unfortunately has a very seedy past where politics are concerned. There are too many judging controversies and too many rule revisions to the judging system and many people are just fed up with these aspects of figure skating and don't have the patience to see if it someday will get better. The general public has lost their trust in figure skating. It's been difficult for "experts" in the sport to make sense of the ever changing rules and judging system, so you know it's going to be difficult for John and Nancy Dough to make sense of it all.

 

[Tinymavy15]

nice pics thanks for posting! you must have some zoom lens to get those close ups that high up. Marai looks so tiny! Lucky to be there. wish i was.

 

[purplecat]

Thanks for posting and for your pics. Convert those piggish male friends of yours! Skating needs higher ratings!

There's nothing like seeing skating live and a major skating competition live is so exciting and nerve racking!

 

[PolymerBob]

As an amateur photographer I can say, excellent pictures Snowstorm ........... under very difficult conditions.

 

[Snowstorm7]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will hereby vow to do my best to change the hearts and minds of as many of my fellow beer-drinking, burping, disgusting male sports fans as I can!

Yes, it was really tough to get decent pictures from up in the second level. This is the first time I've ever taken pictures at a skating event too, I'm pretty much a complete rookie. Just got this camera about 2 weeks ago, it's a Canon Powershot A570, 4X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom. I like it so far, pretty nice little camera for less than $200.

I assume I didnt break any rules by posting those pics because I'm still able to log in, LOL. So maybe I'll go ahead and post a few more.

 

[Tigger]

Wow!! Those aren't too bad considering where your seat was/is. Then again, Canon makes really great cameras. I have a non digital Canon EOS Rebel and I loved using it. Do you have a Sport feature on yours that you can use? That could help w/the graininess and also increase your zoom focus range.

Oh and once you're bitten by the skating bug, it never lets go. Attending a big time event only makes it worse and more addicting. Welcome to the boards!!

 

[GoldMedalist]

Well I have to say, I'm a 32 year old male, and I'm probably the farthest thing from a "typical" figure skating fan. I'm the kind of fan who watches the Olympics and Worlds, but doesnt follow the sport closely outside of the few major events. Nationals was in my backyard, so I thought, "Hey, neat!! Opportunities like this don't come along too often, let's go and see what it's all about."

And I've gotta say, Thursday night was unbelievably exciting. I can't imagine what Saturday night is going to be like! I was getting butterflies today just thinking about it and normally, the only thing sports-related that has that effect on me are the NHL playoffs and World Series, lol.

I was struck by the lack of men in the audience in my peer group. I was on the lookout all night around the arena for other guys in the 18-34 range that were clearly not participants in the events this week. There werent many! I kept joking to my wife all night that I was the only male under the age of 50 there who wasn't skating. An exaggeration no doubt, but still, it struck me that this wonderful sport has some serious demographic issues right now. And that's really sad. I dont know what can be done to convince men in my peer group to get over the snicker-factor, but someone needs to come up with something. I'll do my part of course, because I've really had a good time this week and I'm gonna go out of my way to convince all my piggish male friends that this is a sport worth watching.

You are a wonderful human being.

 

[Snowstorm7]

Do you have a Sport feature on yours that you can use? That could help w/the graininess and also increase your zoom focus range.

Oh and once you're bitten by the skating bug, it never lets go. Attending a big time event only makes it worse and more addicting. Welcome to the boards!!

Ya know, I'll have to try that. There are 20 gazillion different modes and settings on this thing....hmmm, maybe I should actually read the user's manual before Saturday night. What a concept!

I think you're right about the skating bug. My first post here was about the attendance in Saint Paul. And the real underlying reason behind that post is this: I'm just praying and crossing my fingers that the attendance, the venue, and the city is impressive enough to the USFSA that they'll consider having it here again. Because after this week I can already tell that I'm going to need some more! :agree:

 

[isk82]

Thanks for the pictures - nice! And love your new found enthusiasm for the sport!!! While he doesn't know all the detail and history that I do, my husband also enjoys skating and has driven me across the country to see an event. Go men!!

 

[NJSk8Fan]

Thanks for the pics!
I have to agree with the poster who said they are not bad at all, considering where your seats were! I like how with no zoom you could get the whole ice.

 

[Snowstorm7]

Thanks, yeah, I guess all in all they didnt turn out too terrible. Maybe if I get real real ambitious (or real bored!) tonight I'll go through the 120 pictures I took Saturday, edit them and upload them on another thread.