Re-opening rinks with social distancing

[Yuri]

The NFL is most likely going to cancel its season. They are already starting to dial back games. If NFL players aren't training and competing, no one is going to risk their community for a skating competition.

I will bet you a million dollars that the NFL season will happen, at most with a delay of a few weeks. The NFL among all professional sports has given ZERO indication of cancellation, you don't have a friggin' clue what you are talking about. The only question is how soon and under what circumstances fans will attend, but the NFL will play empty stadiums if needed. The TV and marketing contracts are too huge not to do so, and we are still four months from opening the regular season.

I will also bet just about anything that the main ISU events will happen, but given the international travel figure skating is much more likely to happen in empty or nearly empty arenas than a North America-only sport like football and baseball.

 

[ZilphaK]

Well, it proves you can launch yourself in the air anyway. (Seriously, all but one of those "jumps" looked to me like the person doesn't actually know how to. )

He's a "freestyle" skater, so not real figure skating jumps.

If hardcore athletes need to wear masks, I truly have faith that Nike, Bauer, etc. will figure this out. There's too much money in sports for someone not to be working this problem.

 

[ZilphaK]

I will bet you a million dollars that the NFL season will happen, at most with a delay of a few weeks. The NFL among all professional sports has given ZERO indication of cancellation, you don't have a friggin' clue what you are talking about. The only question is how soon and under what circumstances fans will attend, but the NFL will play empty stadiums if needed. The TV and marketing contracts are too huge not to do so, and we are still four months from opening the regular season.

I will also bet just about anything that the main ISU events will happen, but given the international travel figure skating is much more likely to happen in empty or nearly empty arenas than a North America-only sport like football and baseball.

OK, bet.

NFL has already canceled the five international games. It's the "little disappointment" to prep people for the bigger disappointment to come. And thank goodness, football can disappear from the planet and take all its CTE with it.

 

[MacMadame]

He's a "freestyle" skater, so not real figure skating jumps.

I'm not 100% sure what that means but he reminds me of a few people I've had to share public ice with that I wanted to kill.

 

[syzygy]

Look,
I was a marathon runner, a good one. I raced against international athletes. Many of the athletes for Asia who arrived in the states for international races wore masks outdoors for all of their workouts in the days leading up to their races. I have personally witnessed some killer track workouts performed right near me, at the very same facility I was using, by large groups of elite runners wearing masks.

Were they cloth or paper masks? Cloth masks are much harder to breathe through and they are all we can wear in the US currently. I know I would be fine wearing a single use mask thought it would not stay on as well as a cloth one. However, we aren't supposed to be wearing those.

 

[overedge]

Were they cloth or paper masks? Cloth masks are much harder to breathe through and they are all we can wear in the US currently.

Do you mean that cloth masks are mandatory, or that they're the only kind most people can get their hands on right now?

Most of the advisories I've seen are to wear a mask, not specifying the kind because obviously not everyone is going to be able to get a medical-grade mask.

 

[MacMadame]

The advisories I see specifically say to leave the medical-grade masks for medical personnel. It's not forbidden to wear them but it's strongly discouraged.

 

[syzygy]

Do you mean that cloth masks are mandatory, or that they're the only kind most people can get their hands on right now?

Most of the advisories I've seen are to wear a mask, not specifying the kind because obviously not everyone is going to be able to get a medical-grade mask.

The advisories I see specifically say to leave the medical-grade masks for medical personnel. It's not forbidden to wear them but it's strongly discouraged.

^ this

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

Tom Zakrajsek's skaters are training with masks on.

FSIgstories on Twitter

“Tom Zakrajsek ig https://t.co/18UcfV62LM https://t.co/vGzmWu0Jsb”

twitter.com

 

[overedge]

^ this

That's not the same as ordering everyone to wear a cloth mask. It's a recommendation to wear a cloth mask if you're not a medical worker and have a choice between a cloth mask and a medical mask.

 

[overedge]

Tom Zakrajsek's skaters are training with masks on.

FSIgstories on Twitter

“Tom Zakrajsek ig https://t.co/18UcfV62LM https://t.co/vGzmWu0Jsb”

twitter.com

And that video he posted showed one person standing at the boards and another person on the ice right in front of them. Is that the "social distancing" he was talking about?

Sorry, but I think this is a terrible idea that puts everyone in that rink at risk. Not to mention their families and everyone else they come in contact with.

 

[syzygy]

That's not the same as ordering everyone to wear a cloth mask. It's a recommendation to wear a cloth mask if you're not a medical worker and have a choice between a cloth mask and a medical mask.

I never said it was. Also, it is almost impossible to get your hands on a paper mask.

 

[kittyjake5]

Palladium de Champery in Switzerland will reopen on 5/21 with restrictions.

Patinoire | Palladium de Champéry

Si vous souhaitez réserver notre patinoire pour un match, un camp d'entraînement, une école ou une autre activité. Notre département Relation-Clients est à votre écoute : [email protected] - 024 479 05 02

www.palladiumdechampery.ch

 

[ZilphaK]

Palladium de Champery in Switzerland will reopen on 5/21 with restrictions.

Patinoire | Palladium de Champéry

Si vous souhaitez réserver notre patinoire pour un match, un camp d'entraînement, une école ou une autre activité. Notre département Relation-Clients est à votre écoute : [email protected] - 024 479 05 02

www.palladiumdechampery.ch

My French stinks. Are the restrictions listed? Thanks!

 

[kittyjake5]

My French stinks. Are the restrictions listed? Thanks!

My French is not good either. I googled the English translation.

 

[just tuned in]

He's a "freestyle" skater, so not real figure skating jumps.

If hardcore athletes need to wear masks, I truly have faith that Nike, Bauer, etc. will figure this out. There's too much money in sports for someone not to be working this problem.

He was wearing hockey skates!

I think I recall seeing features on skaters wearing masks to train to prepare to compete in high-altitude situations. Maybe even the Shibs.

 

[manhn]

A rink in the Vancouver area is reopening (not 8 rinks but the same municipality), but only for private lessons. 4 players and 1 coach only on the ice at one time.

 

[ZilphaK]

He was wearing hockey skates!

I think I recall seeing features on skaters wearing masks to train to prepare to compete in high-altitude situations. Maybe even the Shibs.

Yes, there are a ton of YouTube videos on all kinds of training with high-altitude masks.

 

[MacMadame]

Yes, there are a ton of YouTube videos on all kinds of training with high-altitude masks.

All the people I know who do things like this (i.e., professional and elite amateur triathletes and marathoners) don't do it for every workout though.

I just think people will start out with masks but at some point in the workout, will take them off even just for short periods of time.

 

[Yazmeen]

The worst thing will be if some rink does have a Patient Zero. Media will jump on it, people will share photos and video on social media of how skaters and parents weren't following rules, and then it will be harder to re-open the next time. I think that needs to be the talking point among ourselves at the rinks. We get it, it sucks to have these rules in place, but a slip up can turn into a media circus, so let's generously and even compassionately keep an eye on what we're doing in the rinks and help keep them open.

THIS. Including the fact that I first misread it as "PARENT Zero."

 

[ZilphaK]

THIS. Including the fact that I first misread it as "PARENT Zero."

I'm actually pretty worried about a lot of the coaches. We have so many who are in the age high-risk zone, although, also a lot of elderly grandparents who bring kids to rink. I get the whole "if you're at risk, stay home" thing, but I also think clubs need to find ways to keep older coaches and parents in the loop and part of the club activities so they don't feel excluded.

 

[gkelly]

I'm actually pretty worried about a lot of the coaches. We have so many who are in the age high-risk zone, although, also a lot of elderly grandparents who bring kids to rink. I get the whole "if you're at risk, stay home" thing, but I also think clubs need to find ways to keep older coaches and parents in the loop and part of the club activities so they don't feel excluded.

Not to mention all the older judges.

But there won't be test sessions or local competitions until it's been possible for the kids to get back to training for a few weeks or months first.

 

[ZilphaK]

Not to mention all the older judges.

But there won't be test sessions or local competitions until it's been possible for the kids to get back to training for a few weeks or months first.

I think competitions will take longer to get back to than testing. At least, I'm hoping we can get back to testing sooner. It will give kids some goals to work toward -- maybe start solo dance, if they've topped out their tests. It seems like practicing some tests can be more easily done than running programs, but maybe I'm not thinking that through.

But yes, we need to protect our older judges. Solid plexiglass.

 

[gkelly]

I think competitions will take longer to get back to than testing. At least, I'm hoping we can get back to testing sooner. It will give kids some goals to work toward -- maybe start solo dance, if they've topped out their tests. It seems like practicing some tests can be more easily done than running programs, but maybe I'm not thinking that through.

I don't think there will be much difference in practicing for tests vs. competitions.

But I do think the events themselves would have different impacts.

With tests, you generally only have maybe two warmup groups worth of skaters in the building at a time -- they can leave as soon as they're done and have received their results and are less likely to stay to watch other skaters perform.

They're also less likely to use dressing rooms to change clothes and apply makeup, especially for MIF tests.

And almost all the skaters testing are local/within easy driving distance.

Many clubs can staff test panels with local judges or a couple who live within driving distance. Fewer officials are needed in total.

For competitions, many of the skaters travel from out of town, sometimes by air, and stay in hotels.

So do many of the officials.

IJS events especially need more officials total in closer proximity on the officials stands and also in the hospitality room with schedules that have them on and then off and then on again throughout the day.

Therefore I think there is a lot more potential for disease transmission in a competition setting than at a test session.

 

[misskarne]

Australia's National Cabinet released it's three-stage reopening plan today. Judging by my initial scrutiny of it, rinks will probably not reopen until stage 2. My understanding is that there'll be four weeks minimum between the stages.

So, no ice in Australia until June at least. And we're doing much better with stats than a lot of other places. Perhaps because we aren't rushing.

Frankly, I think it's absolutely irresponsibly insane that there are rinks open in the US right now.

 

[ZilphaK]

I don't think there will be much difference in practicing for tests vs. competitions.

But I do think the events themselves would have different impacts.

With tests, you generally only have maybe two warmup groups worth of skaters in the building at a time -- they can leave as soon as they're done and have received their results and are less likely to stay to watch other skaters perform.

They're also less likely to use dressing rooms to change clothes and apply makeup, especially for MIF tests.

And almost all the skaters testing are local/within easy driving distance.

Many clubs can staff test panels with local judges or a couple who live within driving distance. Fewer officials are needed in total.

For competitions, many of the skaters travel from out of town, sometimes by air, and stay in hotels.

So do many of the officials.

IJS events especially need more officials total in closer proximity on the officials stands and also in the hospitality room with schedules that have them on and then off and then on again throughout the day.

Therefore I think there is a lot more potential for disease transmission in a competition setting than at a test session.

I just can't see competitions happening for a good long time. At least not club competitions. Maybe eventually, some clubs can have rink-only "for fun" competitions. I think most skaters would love to just get on the ice. But eventually having testing would fill that "work toward a goal" need most athletes have.

 

[ZilphaK]

New article in The Athletic (pay to read article) on organizations in Canada talking about what hockey might look like this year (if there is hockey). https://theathletic.com/1796677/2020/05/06/no-parents-no-tournaments-big-changes-floated-in-minor-hockeys-bid-to-return/

No parents in rinks -- although I've also heard "one parent per skater; this would depend on how many skaters and whether overall numbers of parents in stands means more $$$ to clean between each game/practice).

No tournaments. No travel outside geographic region for games. 3x3 or 4x4 games. No entering and exiting rink buildings through same doors; make use of fire exits. Come to rink completely dressed, put skates on inside.

Up to a 1/2 hour between ice uses to clean rink. (This is a biggie. No parents and no locker room use would make everything a lot easier for rinks.)

Reaction to article is mixed: some parents saying they won't come back at all until vaccine, and others going ballistic and saying it's back to normal or...or...or...or.... (they don't say, just that they'll be really angry).

 

[overedge]

Small(ish) point, but coming to the rink completely dressed is going to be very uncomfortable for hockey players in the summer. Even with air conditioning in the car.

 

[bladesofgorey]

Tampa Bay Skating Academy on Instagram • Photos and Videos

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Here's one rink that opened- people in the stands, no masks on anyone, kleenex boxes all lined up on the barrier, definitely more than 8 people on the ice at a time. This is in Tampa, where cases keep rising. Florida had its deadliest week https://www.tampabay.com/news/healt...tate-prepares-for-first-weekend-of-reopening/ I have zero hope the rest of the country won't experience the horror the NYC region has and continues to.

 

[ZilphaK]

Small(ish) point, but coming to the rink completely dressed is going to be very uncomfortable for hockey players in the summer. Even with air conditioning in the car.

Well.. I guess we'll see if they are really as tough as they keep telling us they are.

Honestly, it would just need to be the socks and pants and underthings put on. The chest protector and elbow pads could be thrown on pretty easily after getting out of the car.