Well, its been awhile.. a really long while really.. Ive been busy with work, family and alot of injuries this year.. Let me tell you, injuries SUCK! i wont bore y'all and "complain" about all of them, but the latest one is really keeping me down in skating, and just life in general.. it sux tearing a rotator cuff..
So, IDN is right around the corner, like 12 days away? wow.. this year has seriously flown by. It seems like yesterday we were at Greensboro! I hope everyone is ready for Indoor Nationals, and even if you aren't, its gonna be fun anyway, you get to see all your friends that you haven't seen in months... So, if you are getting excited, AWESOME, nervous? don't be! skating is fun, remember that!!!
Outdoor Nat's just finished up, the world team is picked, and i must say, there are ALOT of new faces this year on all the teams, SR women especially. I hope for all the best for the team, and i hope that they will do the US proud!
That brings me to my next thoughts... and i have talked to alot of people about this, some agree, alot don't. Outdoor nationals, what is it? is it simply the time to pick the SR/JR world team? or is it actually a United states Outdoor nationals? why do we put so much emphases on Indoor Nationals(upwards of 800-1000 skaters), but not on Outdoor Nationals(150-175 skaters)? I know that there is more divisions, etc in indoor, but there still should be allot more skaters going to ODN!!! Justin Stelly made the SR world team again this year. He deserved it, he skated awesome for it, he earned it, but he turned the spot down to focus on the 2010 Olympic games in Feb.
Now this is where people don't agree with me... Do it think Stelly would make the SR team more of a force? yes, he has the experience to bring. Do i think it was a bad decision NOT to accept the position? No, i don't.. ODN is just that, a outdoor NATIONAL competition! The world team is just picked there by who does the best overall. Its not called the "World team tryouts", but that is what it is looked at now, simply the event to pick the world team.
I think more coaches need to get there skaters to go to ODN, because that is where you are going to move forward in this sport. being a national champion is awesome, trust me, but being an indoor AND outdoor national champion? that's great!! Plus, if you do well enough, you can earn a spot to represent this country at worlds!!
Corey Gahan (sp) won the 500m on the road of I'm not mistaken. He is a SR world team alternate also. But here is the kicker.. he is already a NATIONAL CHAMPION, and "nationals" has not even happened yet!
To me, going out to ODN, is just like going to IDN. you are trying to be the best against your competition.. if you win, place, or even get a top 10 finish, you can be proud of that... I haven't gone to outdoor nationals in years, as I haven't had the extra money, time off of work, etc, but every year I wish i was out there.. not to "make the team", but just to have a blast skating on a great track, and enjoying the competition... That is what this sport is all about....
Coaches, get your skaters to ODN next year, the sport needs you to..
God Bless all of ya, and see ya in a few weeks!
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