Pictures & Fallout
I’ve got mounds of images & video from the first weekend of racing at the oval, and am trying to put the first video of the year together, however before I ask a “real world” question about the current US financial crisis, here are a few images (and results from the races).
Brent Aussprung’s shadow a few moments before being called to the line. Never, ever try to get a skater’s attention during these few quiet moments. They are usually going pretty deep into an intense focus.
I have a theory about sprinting, compression=speed. There are few who can compress their stroke like 1998 gold medalist & former 500m world record holder Hiroyasu Shimizu. This static image does not communicate his amazing tempo.
Compression is not just for sprinters though, this is Pat Meek and Dutch skater Sietse Heslinga both zooming along at top speed about 400m into a 1000m. Compression=Pressure, pressure=speed. I was an english major, so I will leave it up to a true mathematical mind to explain the exact equation.
John Loquai has wrestled with many injuries over his athletic career, from multiple concussions when he was playing hockey, to surgery on his left ankle, plus back trouble last year. Now he has hurt his right knee, he tried to race on it, and truly struggled.
Here he is, with US National Team coach Bart Veldkamp.
John has such astonishing talent, and works SO hard. But this sport can just break your heart in such cruel ways. When several of his teammates came over to console him right next to where I was standing, there was so much raw emotion there, I turned off my camera.
Heal soon my friend….
(Topic change)
This is a blog about speedskating, but other things intrude, like the massive current financial crisis.
I woke up a few days ago to the news that the place I bank has just been seized by the government. How nice!
I have been looking at plane tickets to Europe in February, and compared to the first time I went there in 2004, prices have TRIPLED! Yeeeow!
I might need to replace my blades this season; prices have also gone through the roof due to the weak & flaccid US dollar. So that is not happening.
All of these things, although minor compared to what many are experiencing, are direct consequences of our current economic condition. So my question is this:
How is the current crisis affecting you? In speedskating or in “real life”?
Filed under: from home
Wow, those are great compression pictures! I hope John
As most of my friends know, I have been planning to move across Milwaukee to live near the pettit. It has been nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find a new roommate to take my place in the gorgeous apartment I’m leaving in one of the best locations in Milwaukee, not at all because of the rent in the apartment, but because most people moving right now are already trying to recover from financial problems, and they are families who had a home, had a whole life, and obviously lost…a…lot. Everybody has had foreclosures recently. Before this year, every time I have looked for roommates to live with, there were many college students, quite a few grad students, several people with new jobs in different locations, mostly single 20s and 30s, probably what you’d expect. This year, there are families - parents, three kids, and a dog and a cat - looking for anything, desperately…a three bedroom? a two-bedroom lower? ASAP! Please help us now! The kids are so quiet! The same ads show up over and over, and the people don’t fit in with the “hey we have one nice bedroom in a three-bedroom with…” ads, so nobody can find anything. There is more in the world than people living with each other, but this is clearly a sign of many bad financial situations.
As far as the financial situation, I fortunately have no funds in my WaMu account. Since Delta no longer flies from BLI to SLC, and the Richmond Oval is now in use, I cannot fathom or rationalize coming out to the Utah Oval anymore. I do, however, have two rooms available for rent for those who do desire to train at the Richmond Oval, albeit the 1-hour drive to and from the Oval.
Living here in Sumas makes it financially challenging. Where the US$ once drew CDN$1.66 five years ago and the GST was refundable, the US$ is now on par with the CDN$ and the GST is no longer refundable. Gasoline in town is $4/gal, where just 3 miles north in Abbotsford, BC, it is topping aroun $5.15/gal when conversion for L to gal is taken into consideration.
My job is in Bellingham, WA, 24 miles away and also I am called twice a week to drive an additional 33 miles south to Mt. Vernon. Combine that with the extra 25 miles to Langley or Chilliwak, and you’re at about 30,000 miles per year. That’s a cost of $6375 per year.
If one is considering the move out here and occasional flights to Calgary, there are yet cheap flights (West Jet) and the Abbotsford airport is just under 25 minutes away.
FYI, when I was working the Fall Qualifiers for the Canadian ST team at the Pacific Coliseum @the PNE, the drive (in heavy rush-hour) took just 1 hour, 15 minutes to North Vancouver.
Carla, your comment is really hard to read. I’m pained for families like the one you describe. I’m so grateful that what I love to do can earn me a living, a decent one, pretty much anywhere in the US. For now. So many people work just as hard as I do, and just haven’t been as lucky.
[…] on October 3, 2008 by peterdoucet This is Andrew Love’s most recent bit of inspirado; Pictures & Fallout- …But this sport can just break your heart in such cruel ways. When several of his teammates […]
I haven’t seen it as up close and personal as Carla has - yet - but this island lives on tourism, which is now down 25% from last year. Duh - we’re a significant airfare away from anywhere. People are anxious. The good news is that they’re also now very serious about renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, and that can only help.
Myself, I’m anxiously waiting to see if my sister, an experienced and talented attorney, is successful in setting up solo practice. We share a big family house, and if she flies, we’re all good. If not, we’re all (as my headmaster says) in deep kimchee.
My deep sympathy to y’all of the sports world - a brief, golden global age is over, and cost of travel is going to shrink that world.
Alas, we live in interesting times.