Well, it looks like I'll be going to Marquette in a couple weeks for the World Cup Short Track competition. It's been a while since I've actually mentioned short track on this blog (my mind has been on other sports **cough CUBS cough** lately) so I thought this post would be a welcome return. I got the idea from April's blog, which went over the top 10 things to do at a World Cup. I can't limit my list to 10, nor can I write so much about each one, and I haven't been too funny lately, so this list is pretty bland. I've been to one World Cup, a US Championship, and a World Championship, and this will be my second World Cup. I've had a bit of experience, but not tons. So I always forget to do things, I always end up unprepared. I know that there's a couple of first timers out there, so I thought I'd share my....

Do's and Don'ts for Attending a Short Track World Cup:
My Own Reminder List for the World Cups

DO bring a digital camera to the event. You're going to be taking a ton of pictures, and 50% of them will be a big blur. Having the instant gratification of digital is a plus, and so is the ability to delete the many pictures of ice that you'll take because the skaters have passed by already.

DON'T forget to bring extra batteries, memory cards, film, etc. Nothing sucks more than your battery dying in the middle of the competition.

DO use your ZOOM function. The better the zoom, the closer you can get to the action, and the skaters better assets.

DON'T slip when you're passing in front of the zamboni's path. The 'I don't want to slip and fall on my ass' dance is not the kind of recognition you want in the rink.

DO bring single hot guys that you know with you. The ratio of women to men in the audience is about 4-1. Give those single pretty skater girls some eye candy to look at too. A lot of the female fans are single, too (and incredibly cute), so give your single guy friends a chance.

DON'T ask speedskaters 'Have you gotten a lot of tail lately?' when you're on tape. Not that I have. Just something to watch out for.

DO talk to other people - fellow fans, concession workers, skaters that don't have their faces on the cover of the program. If you're planning on going to these things often, it's nice to see a familiar face.

DON'T forget to pack shampoo and soap. You might end up in a crappy as hotel that doesn't have any free stuff.

DO feel free to ask skaters for pictures with them. For the most part, they love the attention that they get, and that their sport is getting. But no free ass grabs. That will cost ya.

DON'T plan on having a normal eating schedule. Things happen so fast, you may even forget to eat.

DO cheer and scream during the races. The skaters love to hear the crowd behind them. And if the home team isn't in a race, cheer anyway, show them how much you love the sport!

DON'T chew gum when you're interviewing hot speedskaters. Sure, it's nice to have nice minty breath when you're standing so close to them, but you don't want to look like a cow chewing on a cud.

DO sit with the fans if you have a media pass. It doesn't feel right to sit in the media area and scream 'Thank the Lord for skinsuits!!!' You don't get that same feeling of fun in the media area.

DON'T drink before doing interviews. It makes you giddy, chatty, and forget everything that you say. But it makes for one hell of an interview!

DO say hi to a skater if they make eye contact, or say hi to you first. Don't stand there like a moron with your mouth hanging open thinking 'Did he just say hi to me?', 'Did he just look at me?'

DON'T leave your cell phone on during the races. It's annoying to hear it go off when they're at the start.

DO get roommates that you know will be a lot of fun. The more, the merrier, the cheaper the hotel room.

DON'T get caught in your hotel room by the maintenance man as you're lying on the bed with two men standing around with camera equipment. It just doesn't look right!

DO wear layers. Easier to take off than to put on.

DON'T forget to do a little sightseeing before/after races. Who knows when you'll be there again!

DO bring a lot of quarters to play pool at the local bar.

DON'T gawk when skaters refer to other skaters with nicknames in your presence, like 'Chunks' or 'Smitty'. Yes, that's what they actually call each other.

DO try the churros. They are quite tasty and 2 of them can sustain you for the whole day.

DON'T hold a grudge if a skater hurries past you without saying hi or making eye contact. Sometimes they're in the zone, or they really don't have time to talk.

DO have a friend that's staying in the same hotel in case your roommate busts up your toilet and it takes half an hour to flush.

DON'T have chipped nail polish if you're going to be holding up a mic for interviews on film.

DO cheer for the zamboni guy. He gets a kick out of it and loves saying to his friends, 'Dude, there were these really hot chicks cheering for me at the World Cup today!'

DON'T be afraid to beat up the annoying teenage girls in front of you that are screaming right before the start of the race and disturbing everyone's concentration. We'll all thank you.

DO talk to the girl skaters. They're really nice and they work just as hard as the guys.

DON'T sit by yourself. There are hundreds of other fans there that are as excited to be there are you are. Make a new friend. And if you're reading this, then you know me, and I'm pretty much the only brown person you'll see there, and I'll be happy to hang with you for a bit.

DO have a good time. Enjoy the races, enjoy the sport, enjoy the spandex.

Posted by Yano at October 13, 2003 08:40 PM

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---