Video excerpts from the Katami Bar commercial

It's here! You can see highlights of the Katami bar commercial starring Apolo Anton Ohno, Picabo Street and Dan O'Brien. Many thanks to Lupe A., Maggie and Sonia! See the video.

Summary of ISU Congress decisions regarding short track

Thanks to US Speedskating for a synopsis of what was decided at the ISU Congress earlier this month. Here are the short track-related highlights:

- Country abbreviations will now be placed on the lower leg of the Short Track skin rather than the thigh to make it easier to identify and not conflict with sponsorship on the thigh.
- ISU Members, i.e. U.S. Speedskating, may now notify the ISU if an official should be taken off the ISU Championship list for various reasons such as age limit, resignation, death, sanctions, etc.
- Resolution by ISU Council to look at the whole structure of ISU Championships in Speed Skating (Long Track) and Short Track to determine what is fair and equitable and what would work for the ISU at this time (pushed by Speed Skating Canada in response to the ISU funding the European Championships and not a Four Continent Championships (or North American Regional Qualifier); also the ISU has continued to add Championships over the years without taking any Championships away and now there seems to be too many ISU Championships).
- The Technical Committee in Speed Skating and Short Track promised to provide World Cup schedules two years in advance going forward (in response to a proposal by Australia).
- The 100 meter track in Short Track was not approved, however, the Technical Committee will look at this and evaluate it for possible future use.
- A and B finals at the World Short Track Championships was not approved, however, the Technical Committee will look at this and evaluate it for possible future use.
- Qualification for the Olympic Games in Short Track will be through results of two World Cups held in Europe during the season of 2005/06. A country may qualify up to three skaters in each distance (must have three skaters in the top 8 in that distance in overall classification for the two World Cups to do this); the number of skaters from each country for each distance is based on that distance's results. Maximum of 5 men and 5 ladies on the Olympic Team from any country.
- A Global Club competition can be organized biannually under the responsibility of the Short Track Technical Committee. [anyone know what this means?]
- After a false start in Short Track, the skaters will receive the full order of commends on the re-start. [sounds very positive; I think many people had urged adoption of this rule]
- New 2006 ISU Constitution approved - establishes 4 person Board of Directors to manage sports activities and report to the Council; technical committees will consist of 6 people including an athlete and a coach; the Director General position replaces the General Secretary position, with the plan to have a wider role; anyone serving on any ISU committee or commission may not serve in an Executive Board-type position within their own federation. [This sounds big as far as USS goes. Does it mean that Andy Gabel will no longer be able to hold his dual roles as ISU short track Technical Committee chairman and USS President?]

Introducing MarinAustin.com...

Marin Austin is one of the newest skaters to join the national team training program in Colorado Springs this year. She's also the latest skater to come out of the SoCal Speedskating program. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from her in the years ahead. Congrats to Marin on launching her official site! Check it out: www.marinaustin.com

2004-05 ISU World Cup Schedule

The ISU has announced the World Cup schedule for next season:

World Cup #1: Harbin, CHN (22-24 Oct)
World Cup #2: Beijing, CHN (29-31 Oct)
World Cup #3: Las Vegas, USA (26-28 Nov)
World Cup #4: Saguenay, CAN (3-5 Dec)
World Cup #5: Budapest, HUN (4-6 Feb)
World Cup #6: Spisska Nova Ves, SVK (10-12 Feb)

The U.S. team is expected to attend ALL six World Cups this coming season!

Here are the final 4 Katami screen grabs. Can you believe the misspelling?! As if!

Here are screengrabs from Apolo's commercial for the Katami exercise bar. Video is coming soon! Many thanks to Lupe A. for providing the footage and getting it into Sonia's hands for editing!

Additional Katami screengrabs