Ohno Zone

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February 15, 2003

Todd’s Rambling Journal-like Thoughts on SLC

Todd’s Rambling Journal-like Thoughts on SLC

Saturday

Flight from Cleveland…I arrive bleary-eyed and late for the day’s races. Checked into the Homewood (not Homestead) Suites – whoops! Grabbed the nearest taxi and shot off to the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah. I was greeted by Noelle outside of the building, and it was the first time we’d had the opportunity to meet in person. Everyone keeps asking me what it was like to meet Noelle after a whole year, but it was delightfully uneventful, which is to say, as natural and comfortable as could be. The person I met was exactly the person I expected. Of course, it was momentous for me to finally meet my Ohno Zone significant other... she was as intelligent and sweet as I had imagined, immediately disarming and looking quite like she just walked off the set of a Dove Soap commercial.

I was overwhelmed just being there. Having the opportunity to watch Short Track live and in person was so exciting, and to do it with so many wonderful fans was a total bonus! I couldn’t believe how many Zoners were there cheering on Team USA and speedskating, in general. It was the first time that it dawned on me just how enormous this place has become…a fact that would become more and more evident as the weekend progressed.

Having arrived in time only for the relay, I managed to get the lay of the land, maneuvering around the Media area and meeting lots of enthusiastic fans. Without any sort of mental preparation, Noelle managed to introduce me to Stephen Gough, Yuki and Apolo. Imagine me (one year later and feeling a wee bit ridiculous) face to face with Apolo and Yuki and hoping to god they didn’t think I was some freaky, bizarre, over-the-top fan who, at the age of 31, should be well beyond antics like setting up fan websites. I probably was feeling a little self-conscious. No…I definitely was. Sometimes, even though you know it’s going to happen, you just can’t believe it actually will. And, there I was…right there with Apolo, Yuki, Noelle and Stephen…my head almost exploded. If I wasn’t so wickedly exhausted, I probably would have had a stroke. Alas, my cooler head prevailed (because the rest of me was asleep). Everyone was extremely polite, but it was evident to me from the beginning that Noelle was the real celebrity here…known and loved by all…I was feeling quite lucky to just stand next to her. Hi, um…I’m with her…

That evening, I was graciously invited to attend the Olympic Anniversary party at Rice-Eccles Stadium, home of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics. It was at this party where I had the chance to meet so many Ohno Zoners. This is the part where I start to get all mushy… Imagine setting up this website and never really knowing what would or could happen. Yet, here were all of the people who I’d know online for a year…and, do you know what? I couldn’t have dreamed of a nicer, better bunch of people. I remain completely impressed and quite entertained. Some of y’all are hilarious! I cannot tell you how incredible it was to meet everyone, and I was completely overwhelmed with the warmth and love everyone showed me. It meant so much to me, and I doubt I will ever be able to thank all of you for your kindness and generosity. Suffice it to say, all the Zoners made me feel like a million bucks that night! I felt like I won the gold medal!

Sunday

This is what I’m talking about! A whole day at the Oval watching short track!! Does it get any better than this?!? I loved seeing all the hyped-up fans supporting not only Team USA, but all of the wonderful teams in attendance.

If you’ve never seen it live, there’s nothing like it at all! It’s exhilarating, exciting and unbelievably entertaining. Some people make the comparison to NASCAR, but I think it’s WAY more interesting than that…NASCAR drivers at least have a whole car around them when they crash…not so when you’re zooming around the ice. Speaking of crashes, Noelle and I were witness to one spectacular crash involving Juffermans from Netherlands and our own Derek Grey. The impact occurred right under Noelle’s nose which was both a bit of a shock and oddly thrilling. It looked like Derek had been cross-tracked, but got the DQ anyway. Check out my pre-impact shot of Noelle, dutifully snapping pics.

I still can’t get over how much fun 5 hours rink side was! I wish I could go to short track events every week! After Sunday, I became more committed to the idea of supporting speedskating as much as I could. Sure, Apolo will always be a focus here, but the more we can do from the Ohno Zone to hook new fans and new audiences, the better off the whole world of speedskating will be!

Of course, Apolo winning the gold in both the 1000m and 3000m was worth both the trek and the lack of sleep! Do you remember what it was like to watch the races during the Olympics…where you were somewhere between nauseous and drunk?!? You can’t imagine seeing it unfold in front of you, live! Noelle was absolutely right, I came to SLC an Apolo fan, and left as a huge fan of short track!

After the day’s events, I had a chance to spend some more time listening to Apolo give interviews downstairs. He still amazes me with his grace and determination. I don’t know many other 20 year olds who have as much poise (except for a few of you here in the Zone, of course!). I was well aware that both Noelle and I had the honor and responsibility to represent the Ohno Zone in a professional and respectable manner. After all, we were down there with the likes of NBC, The Seattle Times and AP…we had a job to do, and Apolo, Yuki and Team USA expected us to do it well.

Highlights, anyone?
+ First, and foremost, meeting Noelle in person was one of the most significant events of the SLC weekend and in my own OZ history. Noelle, you know I can never thank you enough for being my partner in this…I love you.

+ Meeting the other webmasters was amazing! I loved spending time with the folks who really understand that, no matter how big a labor of love, running these sites is a lot of endless hard work! You inspire me.

+ Meeting Apolo, Yuki and the rest of Team USA was, of course, a major highlight…and one I shall never forget.

But the most important highlight (and I tell this to anyone who asks) of the weekend was meeting some of the people who make the Ohno Zone such a thriving and wonderful place. To finally see the faces…like meeting long, lost family members, was an experience I cannot put into words. It was, by far, the most profound part of this whole journey. And to think how many more of you are out there to meet! I tell you, I can’t wait! If there is any way you can get to a competition, by all means, DO! If you have a speedskating club or facility near you, GO! Get out and support the sport…and keep on being the most amazing web community EVER!

Love to all of you,
Todd

Posted by noelle at 11:30 PM | Comments (50)

Chicoutimi Update

Here's a summary from US Speedskating of today's World Cup action in Chicoutimi.

Posted by noelle at 8:22 PM | Comments (28)

WOW!

This MT stuff is awesome!!!! Thanks to Hossein!! He says all of our old comments will be migrated over the next couple of days...which is AMAZING considering all the comments we've made in a year!

Posted by noelle at 10:42 AM | Comments (46)

TECHNICAL UPDATE Our friends over

Our friends over at YACCS are assisting us in our transition to self-hosted comments. You will notice slight changes in the look and feel, but it'll mostly look and work like we do currently. Bear with us as, no doubt, there'll be a few technical hiccups along the way. The worst-case scenario would mean the OZ might be down for a couple hours on Saturday or Sunday. Best-case: you won't notice a thing. In either case, don't freak...it'll all be fixed soon!!!!

Posted by noelle at 1:48 AM | Comments (21)

late nite ramble... So, what

So, what exactly does the Ohno Zone do? It's not exactly an easy question to answer. It's a question I am asked more and more these days. A new friend, also named April (from Texas) asked me just today to explain it a little. On the surface, sure, we're a resource for fans of Apolo Anton Ohno. But, we're way more than that now. After experiencing the World Cup in Salt Lake City last weekend, I had the real-live sense of community we so often talk about here. Heck, I'm always the first person to toss that word around. It's not just some ideal...it exists here online and in the offline world, too. Meeting so many of you for the first (and hopefully not last) time made me really understand the power of what's going on here. We started out with a terrific idea, poured in lots of hard work and dedication...and nurtured it...and I guess, nurtured ourselves along the way. Where did all of this come from, exactly? I don't know...but I do know that I wouldn't change a thing. It's kinda like magic, right? Maybe it's not such a mystery. Good things happen to good people. It's too easy to say we just got lucky....right place/right time. It's more than that. Yes, Apolo's been terrifically successful...but that didn't guarantee our success. Look at how many other great fans sites have come and gone in twelve months. So, what exactly have we got here? Great fans, great athlete, great sport, great respect for each other...somehow we got the mix just right. I've spent the past year being completely in awe of all of you. Salt Lake just reinforced it for me. As we round the corner toward our one year anniversary, take a moment to think about the ways you've been impacted by the people and the spirit of this place. What we're all a part of here in the Ohno Zone is pretty damned special. You have always, and will always, amaze me. And, if you're new to this place, just jump on in. You are in good hands. You are all welcome here. Anyway, April from the "microscopic" town in Texas...welcome. Make yourself at home!

Posted by noelle at 1:37 AM | Comments (25)

February 14, 2003

Here are photos and a

Here are photos and a report from

Read all about it:

Posted by noelle at 11:50 PM | Comments (40)

Pictures from April of Apolo

Pictures from

Posted by noelle at 11:36 PM | Comments (23)

Radio-Canada's special coverage of the

Radio-Canada's special coverage of the World Cup is here:

I e-mailed their reporter today to tell him how nice their coverage is and to pass along to Apolo a hello and good luck from the Ohno Zone. He wrote back and said: "We will try to talk to Apolo about the ohno zone people during the event. And Jean-Francois Monette of course, who seem to be one the favorite Canadian skaters on your website..." He also says it is -40 degrees in Chicoutimi. Brrrr....

Posted by noelle at 11:18 PM | Comments (14)

Press release from US Speedskating

Press release from US Speedskating with details of tonight's World Cup action:

Posted by noelle at 11:09 PM | Comments (6)

IMPORTANT - World Cup from

Here is the schedule for this weekend's World Cup action (1500m prelims start at 5PM, think that's ET):
-17h00 Préliminaires 1500m
-19h00 Cérémonie d’ouverture
-Quarts de finale, demi-finales et finales 1500m
-Demi-finales relais féminins 3000m

-11h00 Préliminaires 500m
-14h00 Quarts de finale, demi-finales et finales 500m
-Demi-finales relais masculins 5000m
-11h00 Préliminaires 1000m
-14h00 Quarts de finale, demi-finales et finales 1000m
-Finales 3000m
-Finales relais féminin 3000m et masculin 5000m

Posted by noelle at 11:57 AM | Comments (57)

February 13, 2003

SLC photos from Susan G

SLC photos from Susan G (aka 'Ma')

l-r: Sooz, April, Susan G, Anita, a guy (I think his name was Apolo)

Posted by noelle at 6:58 PM | Comments (62)

Apolo receives his shirt at

Posted by noelle at 6:48 PM | Comments (21)

Derek signs

Posted by noelle at 6:47 PM | Comments (26)

"Izy"

Posted by noelle at 6:47 PM | Comments (35)

from Todd's Salt Lake Ohno

from Todd's Salt Lake Todd, Sami and Noelle in the Ohno Zone Seating Section!

Posted by noelle at 4:44 PM | Comments (13)

Attention Bay City peeps (and

-- Banquet is Saturday night at the Bay Valley Resort (official hotel) and tickets are $30 per (available till they're sold out)
-- Pre-order the video for $20 (it will go up to $30 later) to save yourself from having to film -- this is also a great way to see the races for those who can't make it to Bay City.

Further details and order forms are available from

Posted by noelle at 9:45 AM | Comments (58)

April has created a new

You can also read some of April's SLC adventures in her Live Journal:

Posted by noelle at 9:15 AM | Comments (10)

A bit of news: Apolo

I've noted the new appearances on the

Posted by noelle at 9:01 AM | Comments (22)

Some Radio-Canada links from Mylène:

Some Radio-Canada links from

Photo Essay 1: Photo Essay 2:

Posted by noelle at 8:59 AM | Comments (9)

Todd & Apolo at the

Todd & Apolo at the Olympic Anniversary Party

Posted by noelle at 12:02 AM | Comments (38)

February 12, 2003

Apolo Anton Ohno Among Five

Posted by noelle at 7:17 PM | Comments (11)

Here are some of Yano's

Here are some of

Posted by noelle at 6:27 PM | Comments (15)

Posted by noelle at 6:26 PM | Comments (17)

Apolo before the 3000m

Posted by noelle at 6:21 PM | Comments (28)

Posted by noelle at 6:20 PM | Comments (9)

February 11, 2003

quick impressions: stephen gough [head

Attending the World Cup this weekend in SLC was fast and furious for me, and for many others in attendance. Despite the frenetic pace and excitement, one thing remained certain: Stephen Gough is rock-solid, an anchor in the eye of the storm. To say he is intelligent and focused is an understatement. He gets amazing results from his athletes, blending their natural abilities with his expertise. Team USA is nothing short of thrilling because of his tutelage. He is, at once, completely focused on the business of managing the team, and completely affable…willing to endlessly answer questions and proffer a stunning array of statistics from memory. If you get the chance to see Team USA compete live (and I absolutely demand that you do!) not only will you have the chance to see our team hard at work, you will see them excel under Stephen’s leadership.

Posted by noelle at 11:46 PM | Comments (27)

quick impressions: ohno zoners [first

There was no way I could have been adequately prepared. Like a tsunami, it hits me: all of these people are part of the Ohno Zone family! There were so many introductions and hugs and handshakes that it became increasingly difficult to mentally document everyone in attendance. In some ways, it’s so mind-blowing to think the Ohno Zone family is that big and that active! And then there’s the stunning realization just how many more of you were not there! I think back to the beginning (almost a year ago) and could NEVER have imagined this. Overwhelmingly, the OZ family is populated with wonderful people, and I was so proud to have had a part in creating this community. The real kudos, of course, go to all of you out there…for keeping this place alive with your enthusiasm, support and love of Short Track and Apolo. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: you are incredible!

Posted by noelle at 11:33 PM | Comments (22)

The following two photos from

The following two photos from Sophia, who was in SLC this weekend

Posted by noelle at 5:35 PM | Comments (27)

Signing for fans on Sunday

Posted by noelle at 5:35 PM | Comments (45)

Not sure where this is

Not sure where this is from, but it's a great shot of Apolo winning the 1000m in SLC on Sunday.

Posted by noelle at 5:32 PM | Comments (47)

Post-relay debrief, Utah Olympic Oval,

Post-relay debrief, Utah Olympic Oval, Sunday 2/9/03

Posted by noelle at 12:42 AM | Comments (77)

Our boys collect their relay

Our boys collect their relay silver, Utah Olympic Oval, Sunday 2/9/03

Posted by noelle at 12:41 AM | Comments (20)

February 10, 2003

Technical Update It's time for

It's time for a change! Basically, we've

Posted by noelle at 11:23 AM | Comments (20)

Wasn't yesterday awesome!? I see

Wasn't yesterday awesome!? I see you guys broke the comments in your posting frenzy. Just a far-reaching effect of the OFF, I'm sure! I don't know where to begin so I'll just jot down a few things that come to mind.

+ By all accounts, Apolo's difficulties Friday and Saturday were largely due to the ice. From my understanding, Apolo is not light on his skates as many other skaters are, and with the ice at the Oval being very hard and also brittle, his blades were not gripping the ice well and it was just breaking out from under him constantly. Saturday night he reviewed videotape of the previous days' races and made some adjustments both to his strategy -- proving his superior conditioning -- and his skating style to try to be a bit lighter on the ice. Whatever he did, it paid off, in spades!

+ Derek Gray's DQ yesterday in his 1000m quarterfinal happened right in front of Todd and me. Derek was attempting a pass around the turn and he and the Dutch skater went flying into the pads literally under my nose. It's the closest I've been to a crash. I knew someone would be DQ'ed, but I wasn't sure whether it would be Derek or the Dutch skater. Derek thought he was cross-tracked, and his coach agreed, as I heard him explain in his statements to the press later that day. I don't know why no video review took place.

+ Apolo's 1000m and 3000m victories were both sweet and thrilling. The 3000 is by far my favorite race. It's fascinating to see the different tactics the skaters use and the changes in tempo during this long race. Apolo seems a natural at this distance.

+ The U.S. men did great in their relay! It was a great cap on the weekend's competition. When they came out for the medal-less medal ceremony, the guys all took a lap around the edge of the rink, slapping our palms and high-fiving the crowd assembled along the boards. All the skaters were throwing their bouquets to the crowd, and I

+ The spectators were awesome!!! And you know who made up the biggest contingent in attendance? OHNO ZONERS! The crowd was obviously there to see Apolo and the U.S. team, and the team later spoke of how much they appreciated that support and how good it felt. But this was a great crowd for ALL the teams and competitors. Apolo remarked to me later and others on the team also noticed how we - the crowd - got behind all the teams and skaters out there, clapping and cheering them on enthusiastically. I think it made a great impression. I'm proud of us.

+ Most bewildering aspect to the weekend: What was up with the medal ceremonies? The athletes all received bouquets on the ice, and nothing more. Apolo said he hoped he'd be getting his medals later at the awards banquet, but no medals were presented there, either. In place of medals, medal-winning athletes received their choice of gifts: some kind of portable radio built into a knit cap, a coffee table book commemorating the 2002 Winter Games or a blue bathrobe. It was surreal. What happened to good old gold, silver and bronze?

Posted by noelle at 10:14 AM | Comments (37)

Apolo and Caroline Hallisey DEAN

Posted by noelle at 9:37 AM | Comments (57)

DEAN RUTZ / THE

Posted by noelle at 9:35 AM | Comments (16)

Some great coverage today of

Some great coverage today of the weekend's World Cup action:

- -

Best for last - the peerless Ron Judd weighs in:

Posted by noelle at 9:28 AM | Comments (18)

February 9, 2003

quick hello! Noelle and I

Noelle and I wanted to say hello...we've just returned from the Olympic Oval where we spent the day with all the great short track athletes and fans. Most importantly, we got to spend some time with the Ohno Zone family members who made the trek to Utah! Noelle and I were so happy to hear (once again) from Yuki, Apolo and Will (Apolo's new agent) that they are all so supportive of the Ohno Zone and are so appreciative of everyone's enthusiasm and positive support...so Both Noelle and I promise to update later this evening! And hey...how about that terrific skating today?!?!? ;)

Posted by noelle at 8:56 PM | Comments (6)

Photo and article links about

Photo and article links about yesterday's races

Posted by noelle at 11:05 AM | Comments (274)

Picture from Kaylene

Picture from Kaylene

Posted by noelle at 11:02 AM | Comments (6)

Here are photos from tonight's

Here are photos from tonight's Olympic anniversary party at Rice-Eccles Stadium. This is one of my favorite Apolo candids ever. Here he is looking at April's album of comic strips and drawings she has made featuring Apolo, Rusty and others. Apolo's grin grew bigger each time he turned the page. I'll leave it to April to fill in all the details later.

Posted by noelle at 3:23 AM | Comments (14)

This can only give you

This can only give you a sense of the crush that surrounded Apolo at the Olympic Anniversary Celebration. Apolo and Rusty were fantastic to give so much of their time to be there tonight in the midst of the World Cup competition. Note Uncle Kimo and Rusty in the photo.

Posted by noelle at 3:19 AM | Comments (11)