Preparations continue at the Olympic Oval for the upcoming World Cup competition, which is scheduled for the weekend of November 9Th through the 11Th. They have taken down all of the obstacles in the center of the oval (I call them obstacles only because I am unable to video through them, but they are items necessary for the other sports that are held here). The plexi-glass and nets for the indoor soccer/lacrosse field and the same for the short track/hockey ice. The staff has set up bleachers almost all the way around and it appears that they are still doing so as of today. I have observed them scrubbing all of the cement floors and any other surface that is not attached to the ice. Additional snack bar seating and tables are ready to go for the large crowds expected.
Teams have been arriving over the last 7 to 10 days with the majority of teams expected to finally arrive early this next week. It has given me an opportunity to observe their warm-up regimen, stretching and training techniques. I couldn't begin to tell you if what these athletes from other countries do are the same or different from what skaters in the USA typically do. There is so much going on in so many different places that I seem to be having a hard time taking it all in.
Sven Kramer, the World Record holder in the 5000-meter and the 10,000-meter, appears to be relaxed and enjoying his warm-up prior to skating on the ice. Kramer, from the Netherlands, set his 10K record just this past February here in Salt Lake City during the 2007 World Championships. His time was a 12:51.61. Can he skate a personal best to surpass that time? You will need to be here next weekend to find out!
I understand that several of the skaters that work for Home Depot will be holding an
autograph signing at one of the main stores in town today. Along with the autographs they will be promoting this weekends World Cup competition and handing out complimentary admission tickets for at least one of the competition sessions.I have been here almost two weeks and wish I could have extended it just one more week. With all of the planning
that has gone into this event I can only imagine how exciting the World Cup itself will be!! I would like to wish all of the skaters the best of luck and hope the ice is record-setting fast! Go Team USA....Here on the left side is a young lady working on her core
strength training. To the right skaters are working with turn cables
and below two coaches are contemplating their next move. So many things are going on at one time that it is hard to keep track of what is up next. For me, it has been very exciting... and cold!
