Gold Skate 2008 in Fresno California - Photos, Videos, Reports

[Bill]

Good News!
I know this is of interest only to skaters in the South West Pacific region, but I saw this note the board at the rink,

2008 Gold Skate Classic
February 16 & 17
(SELLAND ARENA)

Something interesting...
It has been at the Exhibit Hall (where worlds was held in 2004) for the past 7 years. Unless there was a mistake in the posting, it will be held in the Selland Arena a much larger venue next year.

I'll see some of you there!
Bill

[rwsz]

Originally Posted by Bill

Good News!
I know this is of interest only to skaters in the South West Pacific region, but I saw this note the board at the rink,

2008 Gold Skate Classic
February 16 & 17
(SELLAND ARENA)

Something interesting...
It has been at the Exhibit Hall for the past 7 years. Unless there was a mistake, it has been posted to be held at the Selland Arena next year.

I'll see some of you there!
Bill

the 2 nationals i went to in fresno in 92 and 98 were both held at the selland arena, its a good venue and the people in fresno welcome you. they even covered and then removed the parking meters so you wouldnt have to pay or get tickets. i found that a nice touch.

[pastskater]

Well, after reading those posts by the lady from San Jose's rink it will be a blessing for many. She had said such little attendance and seating there was; maybe that's what prompted them to make that smaller choices then. Maybe more are expected this coming year or two?
(New Venue)
It would be more suitable for others with children on the younger side for the escape route seems far more available then smaller seating areas with fewer means of moving out from them.(especially two yrs old and below) Also to mention being able to see far better than one level.

Thank you Bill for the update, this indeed is nice to have someone with the 411. Please let us know any other actions or ideas on this subject. I am thinking of attending one of the days or more.

[angoraknitter]

Yeah! I hope to go this year....that would be nice!

[Bill]

I talked with Tommy tonight, and it is the Selland Arena. The Exhibit Hall was over booked..... yeah!

Lighting should be better, and the spot lights should be higher up. Just need a way to fill up some of the seats!

Bill

[MWehmeier]

We start here and now to help promote the heck out of it here and all the websites and mail lists asking everyone to spread the word.

As for the parking meters being covered... You'd never see that in Lincoln!

Mary Lu

[rwsz]

Originally Posted by MWehmeier

We start here and now to help promote the heck out of it here and all the websites and mail lists asking everyone to spread the word.

As for the parking meters being covered... You'd never see that in Lincoln!

Mary Lu

your right Mary i tried to get lincoln to do that for the past 10 years and they wont, i got 2 tickets in one hour once there. i also tried to get them to leave us longer at meters while in the arena to no avail. i tried to get them to sell passes, kind of like handicap plates for meters and it didnt work lol. but i did get them to sell us passes for parking garages with in and out privileges for as many days as u want at the daily rate which really helped.

[pastskater]

Originally Posted by MWehmeier

We start here and now to help promote the heck out of it here and all the websites and mail lists asking everyone to spread the word.

As for the parking meters being covered... You'd never see that in Lincoln!

Mary Lu

Hi,

The closest I found was the parking for the events at $7.00 an event, but I think it is a daily thing. When booking your Hotel or such the group rates can apply if met with certain amount of rooms. Also the place you stay may have shuttles that can take you to the event center. You may wish to check into that when making your arrangements.

Bill, might you know if any Hotels or Inns or such is making discounts for the event? If so could you let's know?
Bill, Again thank you for the advance notice.
Gosh, it is nice to know people at the top!
Thank you~

[pastskater]

Bill,

how long before do you get the schedule of events for this show?
Do you usually get out for a break on both days? Are you out early on Sunday? Use to be the event lasted late night Sundays. I was told in a previous note the event doesn't have that many participants so I am wondering the amount of time for each of the days.

Anyone?

[Bill]

Originally Posted by pastskater

Hi,

The closest I found was the parking for the events at $7.00 an event, but I think it is a daily thing. When booking your Hotel or such the group rates can apply if met with certain amount of rooms. Also the place you stay may have shuttles that can take you to the event center. You may wish to check into that when making your arrangements.

Bill, might you know if any Hotels or Inns or such is making discounts for the event? If so could you let's know?
Bill, Again thank you for the advance notice.
Gosh, it is nice to know people at the top!
Thank you~

Hi Pastskater,
I stayed at a place that was walking distance for regionals and saved on parking and it was also convenient . You may want to book early, they have something else going on so the local rooms could book early. We sometimes book a block of rooms and get a rate It's not much cheaper then any of the other offers you can find online, and I prefer staying closer then the place they choose. I'll send you a PM for what I did for regionals.

Bill

Bill

[Bill]

Originally Posted by pastskater

Bill,

how long before do you get the schedule of events for this show?
Do you usually get out for a break on both days? Are you out early on Sunday? Use to be the event lasted late night Sundays. I was told in a previous note the event doesn't have that many participants so I am wondering the amount of time for each of the days.

Anyone?

There is a break scheduled both days... and Sunday still runs a little late, but not as late ... I'll check my program from last year for the scheduled time for the last event.
The numbers are not as large but it still is a fun event. Since it's at the arena this year, there will be plenty of room in the stands. It would awesome if some of the forum users visited. Hope to meet a few there!
Bill

[pastskater]

Originally Posted by Bill

There is a break scheduled both days... and Sunday still runs a little late, but not as late ... I'll check my program from last year for the scheduled time for the last event.
The numbers are not as large but it still is a fun event. Since it's at the arena this year, there will be plenty of room in the stands. It would awesome if some of the forum users visited. Hope to meet a few there!
Bill

That is indeed a great idea! Are the stands or the seating alike the old days? When certain clubs and such in the same seating pattern over and over every year?

I will bug my friend later on this, but did wish to show an interest with this forums gathering.

I think it will be a fun time~!

[Bill]

Originally Posted by pastskater

That is indeed a great idea! Are the stands or the seating alike the old days? When certain clubs and such in the same seating pattern over and over every year?

I will bug my friend later on this, but did wish to show an interest with this forums gathering.

I think it will be a fun time~!

The different Clubs have area where they like to sit. This will be the first time that GoldSkate is being held in the Selland Arena so I'm not sure where that's going to be

The Selland Arena is big, so one thing I do know is there will be plenty of room. It's also going to be a busy weekend, especially if you watch all of the skating. Last year The first event Saturday was at 8am and the last finished at 11pm.

Gold Skate is a fun event and one that skaters, (and their parents) in the SWP Region should try at least once. It's open to all skaters, typically there are a few from other countries.
Bill

[rwsz]

Originally Posted by Bill

The different Clubs have area where they like to sit. This will be the first time that GoldSkate is being held in the Selland Arena so I'm not sure where that's going to be

The Selland Arena is big, so one thing I do know is there will be plenty of room. It's also going to be a busy weekend, especially if you watch all of the skating. Last year The first event Saturday was at 8am and the last finished at 11pm.

Gold Skate is a fun event and one that skaters, (and their parents) in the SWP Region should try at least once. It's open to all skaters, typically there are a few from other countries.
Bill

never been to a gold skate but what is the typical number of skaters that skate and what is the attendance most of the time??

[Bill]

Originally Posted by rwsz

never been to a gold skate but what is the typical number of skaters that skate and what is the attendance most of the time??

Good questions. I'd guess around 300-400 skaters (I could be wrong). Skaters and family make up the majority of the audience, but a few of the locals have been attending. There's one older lady in a wheel chair that has been showing up regularly for the past few years. I even noticed her at Regionals this year.

On the past, according to one of the past programs, as many as 1800 skaters skated Gold Skate. It must have been busy all day and night!

Bill

[pastskater]

Originally Posted by Bill

Good questions. I'd guess around 300-400 skaters (I could be wrong). Skaters and family make up the majority of the audience, but a few of the locals have been attending. There's one older lady in a wheel chair that has been showing up regularly for the past few years. I even noticed her at Regionals this year.

On the past, according to one of the past programs, as many as 1800 skaters skated Gold Skate. It must have been busy all day and night!

Bill

I remember the hugh crowds. All the rinks from Southern Ca to Northern Ca all there to make it happen. The screaming and the cheering. We had a few celebrities that used to skate...one was Nikki Armstrong. She was a great little entertainer. Wow, but looking at the videos and reading some past notes there is 100% change in this event. May it change...only time will tell.

[pastskater]

Originally Posted by Bill

There is a break scheduled both days... and Sunday still runs a little late, but not as late ... I'll check my program from last year for the scheduled time for the last event.
The numbers are not as large but it still is a fun event. Since it's at the arena this year, there will be plenty of room in the stands. It would awesome if some of the forum users visited. Hope to meet a few there!
Bill

Bill, I have been so busy with school and hadn't forgotten you. I wanted to thank you for offering to go over your last years schedule to include ideas for the time issues on the Goldskate Classic.

Rick: Might you consider coming here for a Show event?...hint hint! You and your wife could visit Yosemite it is 60 miles further down.

[rwsz]

Originally Posted by pastskater

Bill, I have been so busy with school and hadn't forgotten you. I wanted to thank you for offering to go over your last years schedule to include ideas for the time issues on the Goldskate Classic.

Rick: Might you consider coming here for a Show event?...hint hint! You and your wife could visit Yosemite it is 60 miles further down.

not a bad idea, i been there a few times and went to see the sequiera trees at the nationals forest. also been to vegas, san fran, san diego, tijuana lol, coronado, torrance, etc etc, been up the coast and the neighboring states.
thanks for the invite.

[Monkeykey]

hey rick! i was just out there for vacation, i visited san francisco, yosemite, sequoia and kings canyon, and then drove up the coast on route 1 to monterey. it was a blast, you should do it. throwing a skating competition in will be the icing on the cake.

[rwsz]

Originally Posted by Monkeykey

hey rick! i was just out there for vacation, i visited san francisco, yosemite, sequoia and kings canyon, and then drove up the coast on route 1 to monterey. it was a blast, you should do it. throwing a skating competition in will be the icing on the cake.

Jess sounds like a good vacation,i didnt go to yosemite but seen the others and rte 1 and also the grand canyon, now that is something to behold once in a lifetime. sounds like you had a good vacation. yes and the gold skate is something different then any other competition.

Ciao