Skate America 2021 Returns to Las Vegas

[Vash01]

Some thoughts on SkAm-

I had not been to a live skating competition since December 2018 GPF in Vancouver (or was it January 2019?). So I was happy to see some great skating this weekend.

First, about the Orleans arena. My first time there. It looks old but I liked it. It was not a complete oval like other sport venues. One side had a wall.

It was not terribly cold but I went prepared with my winter jacket, scarf, etc. Didn't need much during the day but in the evening I was feeling cold.

The food choices were rather limited, but it was an easy walk to the Food Court to buy other things.

I didn't stay at the Orleans, so I can't comment on their rooms but they have many restaurants. I got to see Copper Whisk, where McMadame had organized a fsu meetup. Nice place.

I didn't gamble much, except when I had to kill time. I probably lost around $3-$4.

About the competitions-

Early in the season, but some very good performances. They will get better as the season progresses.

Pairs- T/M (not perfect but a well deserved win), and a thrill for me to watch their practices.
MIURA-Kihara (Japan) surprise silver medal. Audience favorites. New US pairs show promise.K/F looked good in the LP.
B/K good SP but problems in the LP. Shocking to see them win only a bronze.

Men- Vincent Zhou's win over Nathan Chen will remain in my memory for sometime. Vincent skated a great SP, then topped it with a Once ina lifetime LP performance.
Mens SPs were forgettable, except Vincent and Ma's. LPs were much better. Someone must have exorcised the ice overnight - LOL.

Ice dance- top 2 (H/D and C/B) looked very good. I liked Smart & Diaz (Spain) a lot. First time to see Annabelle Morozov and BAGIN. They were quite good. Somewhat disappointed in FB-Sorensen.

Ladies- Sasha Trusova's injury had me worried but she skated conservatively and won. There were many really good LPs by the women. Miyahara, Sakamoto, You, Amber Glenn, Sinitsyna were all good. Usacheva was great in SP but had a few errors in the LP.

I am not a big fan of exhibitions but I attended it this time. Some really good performances in it. It was nice to see everyone enjoying themselves.

Overall it was a great experience. I was happy to attend a live skating competition again.

 

[MacMadame]

I'm still in Vegas!! I wish I actually liked Vegas but I'm so done with it and have been since yesterday.

It turns out we only had a room for one night and that hotel was full so we couldn't extend. I was imagining that I'd just hang out there and work while my husband went to the casino across the road or hung out by the pool. Instead, I was frantically finding another room and trying to convince Alaska Air to get me on an earlier flight. Missed all my AM meetings. :'(

We're at the Excalibur now so that part worked out. Still scheduled for Wed evening but will continue to look for cancelations. There are other flights out on other airlines but Alaska won't pay for that. I am not sure if the $100 credit makes up for this or all the extra money we are spending on food. :/ They have been good about paying for everything but it's costing them more to keep us here for 3 days than it would to just put us on Delta or Southwest.

 

[AnnM]

Another west coaster with a flight delay. I should be leaving for the airport now, but I'm having a 2nd cocktail and hoping we can take off safely tonight.

 

[b-man]

Did I hear Rusty correctly, that this is the last year SA will be in Vegas? I was starting to believe USFS had fallen in love with Vegas and the Orleans Arena.

 

[Lacey]

Fly safely everyone.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Did I hear Rusty correctly, that this is the last year SA will be in Vegas? I was starting to believe USFS had fallen in love with Vegas and the Orleans Arena.

I don’t think so. I believe he was referring to this being H/D’s last SA when they did their farewell message.

 

[livetoskate]

Thanks for all the reports from Vegas! Hope you all get home safely. How was the mask situation in the arena? Was everyone wearing masks?

 

[Vash01]

Thanks for all the reports from Vegas! Hope you all get home safely. How was the mask situation in the arena? Was everyone wearing masks?

Most people wore masks at all times the right way. At the exhibition though some people were careless. A woman who sat next to me didn't wear a mask at all. I asked her if she had a mask. She pulled one out of her bag and put it on. A few minutes later I noticed that her mask had dropped to below her mouth. I changed my seat. There were plenty of empty seats at the gala.

There were quite a few people wearing masks below their noses at the exhibitions. During the competitions and practices just about everyone wore masks as required.

 

[toddlj]

Thanks for all the reports from Vegas! Hope you all get home safely. How was the mask situation in the arena? Was everyone wearing masks?

For the most part, yes! I was actually pretty pleased with that. A couple of exceptions...

Some folks decided that a mask doesn't need to be on their nose, not really getting the whole "airborne virus" thing.. (Not sure why people don't understand that part.)

Also, some folks decide to get a beverage and then leave their mask off while they sip it as slowly as possible.

 

[livetoskate]

Most people wore masks at all times the right way. At the exhibition though some people were careless. A woman who sat next to me didn't wear a mask at all. I asked her if she had a mask. She pulled one out of her bag and put it on. A few minutes later I noticed that her mask had dropped to beliw her mouth. I changed my seat. There were plenty of empty seats at the gala.

There were quite a few people wearing masks below their noses at the exhibitions. During the competitions and practices just about everyone wore masks as required.

How frustrating! I've been pretty cautious & am debating whether it's worth it to buy 1-2 seats next to mine just to have more distance between me & the next spectator. Probably not going to make a difference. I'll wear a KN95 or KF94 at all times. When I went to nationals in Greensboro, in the best seats, everyone looked well over 50 years old. Good to hear the vast majority of spectators were masked.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

Small world. Did you go to Mainland?

Most of my childhood friends did. I attended the MRHS 20 year reunion and really miss the area. I would have gone to Holy Spirit if we stayed in NJ (I moved before 8th grade).

 

[Vash01]

How frustrating! I've been pretty cautious & am debating whether it's worth it to buy 1-2 seats next to mine just to have more distance between me & the next spectator. Probably not going to make a difference. I'll wear a KN95 or KF94 at all times. When I went to nationals in Greensboro, in the best seats, everyone looked well over 50 years old. Good to hear the vast majority of spectators were masked.

During the competitions I got lucky. There was no one next to me on either side. Actually on my left 6-7 seats were empty. So I moved 1-2 seat toward the left to create more distance. I wear K95 on airplanes And in stores when I go shopping. At other times I wear double masks (like at this SA) because I find the K95 a bit uncomfortable for long periods. In the Orleans hotel/casino/arena masks were mandatory, which meant wearing them almost all day. So I preferred the double mask, with one of them having a filter.

 

[maatTheViking]

I saw mostly mask compliance. But not all. There was one person who wore a plastic shield instead of a mask but only a weird half shield over her lower face? She was in the next section if I’d been closer I’d have asked her to wear a proper mask. People next to me masked well. I’d say about 90-95% compliance in arena

Most people in casinos wore mask. But many had it slipping off. I’d say about 75-80% compliance, but many were using slot machines and ‘drinking’ (eg holding a drink)

Hotel security were pretty good at reminding people coming down from their rooms

No extra spacing in restaurants I went to - so you live with people obv eating with no mask. I had to sit in to the bar with no space as a single diner, but that was ofc a limited risk

One uber driver had a mask that slipped down and looked like a single use mask he kept reusing. I gave him a low star rating for health and safety tbh. (He was pretty old too and apparently his mom worked with Dorothy Hammill’s dad?)

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

I suggest if you are preoccupied with mask compliance percentage rates,attendance at a sporting event held at a crowded downtrodden casino may not be in your best interest.

-BB

 

[AnnM]

The only person in our row who wasn't mask compliant was an obnoxious Russian woman using a 'Trump 2020' mask as a chin diaper. It wasn't even her seat, and many people tried to shoo her away whenever they could.

All my Uber and taxi drivers wore masks and didn't mind if I opened the window for added ventilation.

People hanging out in the casinos were pretty good about masking. People transiting through were less so.

 

[Spikefan]

On Sunday there was a clearly ill younger male who was maskless. I only noticed him as I heard coughing. He had a box of Kleenex and was constantly wiping his nose. By the Women’s Free he was asleep with his ball-cap over his face. I knew the event would be a risk and there would be people not complying with masks but he was completely irresponsible and should have just remained in his room or home.

 

[thvu]

On Sunday there was a clearly ill younger male who was maskless. I only noticed him as I heard coughing. He had a box of Kleenex and was constantly wiping his nose. By the Women’s Free he was asleep with his ball-cap over his face. I knew the event would be a risk and there would be people not complying with masks but he was completely irresponsible and should have just remained in his room or home.

The word for that is a**hole.

 

[Vash01]

How frustrating! I've been pretty cautious & am debating whether it's worth it to buy 1-2 seats next to mine just to have more distance between me & the next spectator. Probably not going to make a difference. I'll wear a KN95 or KF94 at all times. When I went to nationals in Greensboro, in the best seats, everyone looked well over 50 years old. Good to hear the vast majority of spectators were masked.

When we fly, we are in close contact with many people, and it always worries me. I wear the K95. It is the best I can do. I wouldn't buy 1-2 extra seats. I could get lucky like I did this time. I wonder if the Nationals would be more crowded?

 

[toddlj]

I suggest that people who are immune-compromised and therefore preoccupied with mask compliance should not be required to just sit at home alone, and instead should have the right to attend events with the expectation that others there will follow simple rules which are clearly spelled out to all who are in attendance.

 

[Vash01]

On Sunday there was a clearly ill younger male who was maskless. I only noticed him as I heard coughing. He had a box of Kleenex and was constantly wiping his nose. By the Women’s Free he was asleep with his ball-cap over his face. I knew the event would be a risk and there would be people not complying with masks but he was completely irresponsible and should have just remained in his room or home.

That was very irresponsible. I have often wondered if we can report such people and to who?

Last month while I was flying, the man who sat in the aisle seat (I was at the window) completely took off his mask sometime after the plane took off, and he slept. I called the stewardess. When she asked me what I wanted I just pointed at the maskless guy. Southwest airline is very particular about their mask policy (cover the nose and mouth), but she didn't understand. So I put it in words for her - "he does not have a mask on". Then she talked to him very nicely (I didn't hear their conversation) and he put on a different mask and kept it on throughout the flight.

Events should have a way of enforcing the mask policies and also insist that anyone who is sick should not attend. The casinos in Vegas had the mandatory mask policy but occasionally I saw someone wearing it below the nose or even below the mouth.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I was impressed that the Orleans security people were actually calling out patrons for not wearing a mask. If only they’d been around when Nikolai had his dick nose sticking out while in line at the coffee shop.

All of our Lyft drivers wore masks and had no issues with us opening the windows. Our cab driver from the airport did not have a mask, however.

 

[maatTheViking]

Well given that there were no ushers/security to ask people to not walk in during skates there were none to remind people about masking. Those would be the same people I think.

Whatever you choose to do, factor in that there are always going to be people who don’t follow the rules. Whether it be walking in during skates, using flash photography or bringing snacks to arena , or masking.
If your risk assessment is assuming 100% mask compliance IMHO you will not be assessing the risk.

 

[toddlj]

But of course! I'll assess risks based on the assumption some are uninterested in my safety.

But I reserve the right to criticize others who are selfishly ignoring the rules. And I refuse to just "chill out" about it.

 

[Carolla5501]

I suggest if you are preoccupied with mask compliance percentage rates,attendance at a sporting event held at a crowded downtrodden casino may not be in your best interest.

-BB

Interesting view but totally untrue based on my experience. I’m moved Sunday to the cosmopolitan which is one of the most expensive hotels on the strip. And mask compliance was basically nonexistent. Which is not what I experience at the Orleans.

I guess people like you who stayed upscale resort can’t be bothered to take care of the little people.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

When we fly, we are in close contact with many people, and it always worries me. I wear the K95. It is the best I can do. I wouldn't buy 1-2 extra seats. I could get lucky like I did this time. I wonder if the Nationals would be more crowded?

Oh wow I tried that K 95 or whatever on my flight to Spain and I was in so much pain. Bent my ears forward and it stayed that way for three or four days. I went back to the cloth with adjustable straps after that

 

[Vash01]

Oh wow I tried that K 95 or whatever on my flight to Spain and I was in so much pain. Bent my ears forward and it stayed that way for three or four days. I went back to the cloth with adjustable straps after that

The adjustable straps are nice. Some masks come with filters in their pocket. I agree the K95 are painful for long periods.

 

[kwanette]

Most of my childhood friends did. I attended the MRHS 20 year reunion and really miss the area. I would have gone to Holy Spirit if we stayed in NJ (I moved before 8th grade).

I see.

 

[MacMadame]

People hanging out in the casinos were pretty good about masking. People transiting through were less so.

I think it depended on what part of the casino you were in and what day. Our last day there, I saw so many people wearing no mask, mask on the chin, mask with nose sticking out. I also saw throughout the weekend people who would wear a mask to get past the security guard and then ripe it off once they were standing in front of the elevators and would keep it off in the elevators and hallways too.

We are still in Vegas and walking around the strip, mask compliance is not good and it's really not good in our hotel. In our hotel, even the employees are wearing masks with their nose sticking out! I can't even.

There are signs and announcements all over about how it's mandatory to wear a mask and it must cover your mouth and nose but I don't see anyone enforcing it so people just do whatever. I think anyone who chose not to come to SkAm because they were nervous about CV made a good call.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

There are signs and announcements all over about how it's mandatory to wear a mask and it must cover your mouth and nose but I don't see anyone enforcing it so people just do whatever. I think anyone who chose not to come to SkAm because they were nervous about CV made a good call.

That was my only reason. I even had an excellent deal for three or four nights at an acceptable place. I was thinking to myself this weekend if I really jumped ahead of myself by cancelling once Delta started picking up? I'm a pretty conservative non-risktaker type and was fine with it. Thank you for acknowledging that!

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

Interesting view but totally untrue based on my experience. I’m moved Sunday to the cosmopolitan which is one of the most expensive hotels on the strip. And mask compliance was basically nonexistent. Which is not what I experience at the Orleans.

I guess people like you who stayed upscale resort can’t be bothered to take care of the little people.

Please do not project your personal insecurities onto me,dear. Some of my most trusted acquaintances are so-called little people.

I suggest that people who are immune-compromised and therefore preoccupied with mask compliance should not be required to just sit at home alone, and instead should have the right to attend events with the expectation that others there will follow simple rules which are clearly spelled out to all who are in attendance.

I sympathize. However anyone who believed mask compliance would be 100% at Skate America and the Orleans,renowned as the stale-smoke capital of Las Vegas, was delusional and only fooling themselves. Making the decision to fly to and attend Skate America or any public venue carries some amount of risk,just as does driving on the interstate of flying a regional airline or walking alone at night in the inner city. You made the decision to take on that risk. Own it instead of complaining here ad nauseam.

-BB