Would It Help If It Snowed?

[Ladskater]

Apparently more people turn out for events like the recent outdoor hockey game held on the weekend between Buffalo and Pitsburgh. One of our local news sports casters said that people come out in droves to see events held outdoors (like football, skiing). Everyone here at GS has been complaining that figure skating is losing its following. I remember years ago when figure skating competitions were held outdoors. In fact, Canada's original skating sweetheart Barbara Ann Scott won her Olympic title skating outdoors.

I love skating outside. I always seem to skate better too. It must be the fresh air or something. Anyway, maybe attendance would go up if figure skating championships were held outdoors.

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/figureskaters/p/barbara_scott.htm

:agree:

 

[Tonichelle]

I wouldn't show up if Nationals were outdoors.... I may be from Alaska, but I don't like the outdoors in winter.

 

[laceup]

Barbara Ann is the sweetest thing ...... last year at Nationals in Halifax I sat for 12 hours a day, every day, watching skating .... I wouldn't do that outside .... even for Barbara Anne .....

 

[Ptichka]

The two outdoor shows in Russia, the one on Red Square in Moscow and the one on Palace Square in St. Petersburg, were a real hit.

 

[childfreegirl]

Count me as one who would not go if Nats were held outside. Heck, I can't even afford a plane ticket to go when it's beyond driving distance (which it usually is). No way would I hold up to sit outside. Not if I paid for it anyway. Someone else paying, maybe. I'll admit it. This Florida girl's a wimp.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I am expecting very mild weather for the 2009 Worlds in LA. It is in Southern California which is mild or hot throughout the year (evenings are cool). One of the big reasons for going to that event, and packing is so much lighter.

OK, leave the Olys in the Winter for Downhill skiing but Figure Skating Worlds does not have to be in mid-Winter. Someone should tell the ISU that they can make more money by having them in late April or early May so that travelling fans could add on another week to see the sights in neighboring countries. Travel Agents would love that too.

Tokyo Worlds was in early Spring and it was lovely!

Joe

 

[Tinymavy15]

hmmmm. that would limit the places they could hold the events... it would have to be cold enough for the ice not to melt, yet warm enough so the skates and spectatrs would not freeze.

 

[gsrossano]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo!

Skating history is full of stories of ruined outdoor competitions because of the whims of the weather.

As for moving worlds later in the spring, one factor to keep in mind, where it is now is the off season for travel which keeps airfares and hotel cost down considerably, compared to later in the spring. So the cost for fans to get to worlds would go up as a result if held later.

 

[sillylionlove]

I think the problem is that figure skating is very rarely televised live. ESPN does the Grand Prix about a week after it was competed. Many people will watch it live online or will know the results so why watch is a week after? Plus, the worlds are televised at night and in the past sometimes until 1 am! Who can stay up for that? I mean the excitement is gone when I know that This person fell, this person came in first, this person got injured etc. As for the shows...well we can read the reports and updates from the show...besides most of the shows are the same skaters and what seems like the same routines to different music.

Other popular events like football, baseball and NASCAR are televised live so there is much more excitement because you don't know the outcome in advance.

You could hold figure skating on the moon and I don't think that more people would watch other then those that already watch. Maybe come 2010 more people will be watching figure skating for the Olympics.....but....there are some more popular sports like snowboarding that are taking over the Olympics.

This is just my opinion.

 

[Johar]

Viewers were watching American Idol instead of the Olympic games. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

 

[Tonichelle]

GO IDOL!





*notices the glares* oops... hehe... sorry.

 

[dwiggin3]

Snow helps everything!

Apparently more people turn out for events like the recent outdoor hockey game held on the weekend between Buffalo and Pitsburgh. One of our local news sports casters said that people come out in droves to see events held outdoors (like football, skiing). Everyone here at GS has been complaining that figure skating is losing its following. I remember years ago when figure skating competitions were held outdoors. In fact, Canada's original skating sweetheart Barbara Ann Scott won her Olympic title skating outdoors.

I love skating outside. I always seem to skate better too. It must be the fresh air or something. Anyway, maybe attendance would go up if figure skating championships were held outdoors.

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/figureskaters/p/barbara_scott.htm

:agree:

I wouldn't show up if Nationals were outdoors.... I may be from Alaska, but I don't like the outdoors in winter.

Feel free to pack some of the extra white stuff for me!

 

[Ladskater]

We have been getting our share of snow this year - at least in the Mountains (the people at Whistler and Grouse are happy). Of course they are really praying for a good snowfall for th 2010 Olympics. We had a skiff of snow over the Xmas break in parts of the lower mainland. Last year we really got hit with a lot of snow! It makes for an ugly commute here.

I would love to see skating outdoors. I always wanted to skate on the Rideau Canal in Quebec. I really enjoyed skating outdoors in Prince George and Calgary.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Ladskater]

Snow helps everything!






Feel free to pack some of the extra white stuff for me!

A family in Quebec sold a huge pile of snow on EBay and then the family who purchased it also resold it on EBay. The proceeds went to a charity. Yes, people actually purchased chunks of snow!!!!

 

[NJSk8Fan]

I would not like attending skating events out-of-doors! I don't like the cold at all! We sat through a 20 minute little show at Longwood Gardens on Dec. 1 and that was tough enough to get through! This is why I'm a baseball fan when it comes to attending outdoor sports, the weather is warmer!

 

[Tonichelle]

Feel free to pack some of the extra white stuff for me!

hee hee I'll make sure to remember... hopefully the fridge in our room will keep it frozen!

 

[merrybari]

I wouldn't attend an outdoor skating event, though I might decide differently depending on length and who will be skating - and how far I'd have to travel to get there.

It's cold enough for me inside an arena!

 

[Piel]

It's cold enough for me inside an arena!

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am loving living here with all of the snow, as long as I am enjoying it from inside by the fire. I hate when the snow starts getting dirty on the roads.............either snow some more to keep it looking pristine or melt completely.

 

[Tonichelle]

either snow some more to keep it looking pristine or melt completely.

I wore tshirts during the 06 nationals... all of the others in our group bundled up in my coat and blankets lol I always think it's warmer in the Arena than everyone else