Champs Camp August 18-23, 2018

[skatingguy]

So when has Champs Camp truly benefitted someone? I get the monitoring part and what not, but what if Bradie Tennell had taken the advice given to her and ditched “Cinderella” would she have been a national champion and Olympian?

I think it comes down to smaller details than we may not notice or even be aware of, particularly because many of the competitors haven't competed their new programs. Issues with levels, and choreographic details that can maybe get ironed out before the major competitions of the fall.

 

[skatingguy]

Was there any media coverage of this event? A media day, press conferences, or open practices? I can't find any actual reports on the skaters aside what USFS has posted, or what skaters posted to social media.

 

[Yazmeen]

We already got reports from Dave Lease’s sources, so nobody is waiting for yours.

Well, DO let us know when you get those videos you think you deserve, Your Highness.

 

[Sylvia]

Was there any media coverage of this event? A media day, press conferences, or open practices?

No. It's different than Skate Canada's media day/open practices on the first day of their high performance camp that started today: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2018-skate-canada-high-performance-camp.104325/

ETA that Alex Johnson provided a short summary of his first Champs Camp experience - link is posted in the U.S. Men's thread here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...icles-latest-news.102845/page-38#post-5402268
Relevant excerpt:

I had a great time at Champs Camp. It was inspiring to be around such incredible athletes and was a wonderful jump start to the season. My favorite parts of camp were the off-ice dance classes and the media aspect. I did receive feedback on my programs, and will be making a few changes – but nothing major. I also have to say that camp was a lot more exhausting than I expected. Not only were we training and performing, but we had off-ice classes and various appointments throughout the entire camp.

 

[skatingguy]

No. It's different than Skate Canada's media day/open practices on the first day of their high performance camp that started today: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2018-skate-canada-high-performance-camp.104325/

That seems like a real missed opportunity for US Skating to promote the sport and its athletes. When you only have the whole US figure skating at two events a year - this and the US Nationals - I would think you'd want to take advantage of the opportunity. Any idea as to why they don't have a media day?

 

[AxelAnnie]

That seems like a real missed opportunity for US Skating to promote the sport and its athletes. When you only have the whole US figure skating at two events a year - this and the US Nationals - I would think you'd want to take advantage of the opportunity. Any idea as to why they don't have a media day?

Because they are dumb.

 

[Sylvia]

USFS shoots a lot of promotional stuff at Champs Camp for use later in the season. It's all about positive PR (no surprise) for the skaters invited to Champs Camp. The focus is on trying to prepare them for the season and assess what they need to focus on. If anyone looks below par skating-wise at this early point in the season, why would USFS want to publicize that?

Another example of "boring" positive fluff : http://www.usfigureskatingfanzone.com/uncategorized/team-usa-answers-favorite-part-of-summer/

 

[thvu]

We already got reports from Dave Lease’s sources, so nobody is waiting for yours.

Oh no @Frau Muller , did you have an unenjoyable dinner? Was the waiter mean to you?

 

[gkelly]

That seems like a real missed opportunity for US Skating to promote the sport and its athletes. When you only have the whole US figure skating at two events a year - this and the US Nationals - I would think you'd want to take advantage of the opportunity. Any idea as to why they don't have a media day?

Because the American public, as a whole, is only interested in figure skating in the winter, and only every 4 years for most members of the public.

Even at the peak of skating's US popularity ~20 years ago, I can't imagine many of the fans who might tune in to Skate America or a fall pro-am to catch up with the stars at the beginning of the season would be much interested in watching test skates let alone listening to press conferences even with Michelle Kwan in August.

Fans who populate online skating forums or follow skating and skaters on social media these days might be interested, but they're already highly invested in the sport. A promotional event in the summer is not likely to make much difference in whether we remain skating fans or lose interest. Whereas for casual fans, a test skate or press conference wouldn't even be on their radar, and if they did happen to come across one it wouldn't be likely to get them hooked on figure skating.

When the stakes are high going into international competitions, especially leading up to an Olympic season, that's when casual fans might care enough to pay attention and, if we're lucky, become interested in watching even more skating. Starting with other meaningful competitions.

 

[Tavi]

USFS shoots a lot of promotional stuff at Champs Camp for use later in the season. It's all about positive PR (no surprise) for the skaters invited to Champs Camp. The focus is on trying to prepare them for the season and assess what they need to focus on. If anyone looks below par skating-wise at this early point in the season, why would USFS want to publicize that?

Another example of "boring" positive fluff : http://www.usfigureskatingfanzone.com/uncategorized/team-usa-answers-favorite-part-of-summer/

What I object to with USFS is all their teaser build up for Champs Camp on Twitter - like it’s something for the fans to get excited about, at least in part. And then there’s a let down when there’s very little follow through.

Lynn Rutherford wrote some nice post Champs Camp articles - I always enjoy her stuff - but only a few. And I would say there were quite a few more she didn’t write. For example, Jason’s move to TCC was relatively big news this summer - but instead of an article from Lynn we get a very short, very lame, very boring quote in a sea of really boring quotes that I am so not interested in.

It remains to be seen how well NBC Sports Gold will fare - and I’m willing to give it a try - but I am really annoyed that USFS simply cut the cord on Ice Talk and the articles that Ice Network used to publish. You want to change streaming platforms? Great, it was long overdue. But is your budget so tight that you can’t pay a few free lance writers to regularly put up great content on the Fanzone, and by the way could you please make it a little more mobile friendly?

Really dumb on the part of the USFS management team.

 

[Debbie S]

I suspect Lynn wrote more articles than have been published so far. There is a note on the Fan Zone website that it will be relaunched this fall, so I would expect to see more articles then. I would also expect more video content, filmed by Sora/USFS staff. It probably makes sense to put that out in a few weeks, when summer is over and fans are turning their attention to skating, as gkelly noted above.

 

[skatingguy]

Because the American public, as a whole, is only interested in figure skating in the winter, and only every 4 years for most members of the public.

Even at the peak of skating's US popularity ~20 years ago, I can't imagine many of the fans who might tune in to Skate America or a fall pro-am to catch up with the stars at the beginning of the season would be much interested in watching test skates let alone listening to press conferences even with Michelle Kwan in August.

Fans who populate online skating forums or follow skating and skaters on social media these days might be interested, but they're already highly invested in the sport. A promotional event in the summer is not likely to make much difference in whether we remain skating fans or lose interest. Whereas for casual fans, a test skate or press conference wouldn't even be on their radar, and if they did happen to come across one it wouldn't be likely to get them hooked on figure skating.

When the stakes are high going into international competitions, especially leading up to an Olympic season, that's when casual fans might care enough to pay attention and, if we're lucky, become interested in watching even more skating. Starting with other meaningful competitions.

But that doesn't mean that the USFS shouldn't be trying to get more publicity. Where's Jackie Wong, or Around the Rings, or multiple other smaller traditional, and social media sites that would have covered this event. Maybe skating remains a niche sport that relies on the Olympics every four years to survive, but the leaders in the sport should at least be trying to do more.

 

[HeatherC]

They might be waiting for Nick McCarval to finish covering the US Open before they can do the Ice Talk stuff again. I saw an exchange between Nick and Jackie on Twitter just today that implied they were waiting for him to finish that up before starting those up again. Jackie has been tweeting out news as he finds it out and has been covering the JGP since it started last weekend (although not quite to the same extent that he does the senior GP). I think things will pick up once we get to September and start having senior events.

 

[Tavi]

I suspect Lynn wrote more articles than have been published so far. There is a note on the Fan Zone website that it will be relaunched this fall, so I would expect to see more articles then. I would also expect more video content, filmed by Sora/USFS staff. It probably makes sense to put that out in a few weeks, when summer is over and fans are turning their attention to skating, as gkelly noted above.

You’re probably right about articles being kept back until the relaunch, but until that happens, they’ve left a big vacuum. And frankly, I’m not sure I agree that most fans are waiting until fall to turn their attention to skating, especially this year, because it’s a post Olympic Year. What happens to all those casual fans who got excited watching skating at the Olympics? That was me 4 years ago. If you don’t have available content, aren’t you going to lose some of that audience you tried so hard to draw in with Nathan Chen?

I just think it was poor strategy not to have good content on the Fanzone site the minute Ice Network went black, even if they wanted to save the full blown launch until September. I can’t imagine putting out one new article and one new Ice Talk episode every week or so during the summer (with Jackie and Lynn or another cohost until Nick was free) would be that hard if they planned for it - I just think they didn’t plan.

 

[Debbie S]

I just think it was poor strategy not to have good content on the Fanzone site the minute Ice Network went black, even if they wanted to save the full blown launch until September. I can’t imagine putting out one new article and one new Ice Talk episode every week or so during the summer (with Jackie and Lynn or another cohost until Nick was free) would be that hard if they planned for it - I just think they didn’t plan.

Ice Talk was part of IN, not USFS. I'm not sure what the exact arrangement was, but I'm assuming IN paid Jackie for each podcast - Jackie is independent/freelance, like Lynn and Nick. I don't think USFS was involved in that and they may not want to incorporate the podcasts on the Fan Zone site. I hope they will, but we'll see. Remember that Jackie also has a full-time job and may not have been able to cover Champs Camp even if he had been asked.

 

[Tavi]

Ice Talk was part of IN, not USFS. I'm not sure what the exact arrangement was, but I'm assuming IN paid Jackie for each podcast - Jackie is independent/freelance, like Lynn and Nick. I don't think USFS was involved in that and they may not want to incorporate the podcasts on the Fan Zone site. I hope they will, but we'll see. Remember that Jackie also has a full-time job and may not have been able to cover Champs Camp even if he had been asked.

Hmm, I looked into this awhile ago, and may be misremembering, but I think Icenetwork was a joint venture between USFS and MLB; it had its own staff but MLB basically kept the platform running and USFS licensed content / rights to it.

I’m sure IceNetwork did pay the writers and Jackie/Nick as freelancers, but even if USFS doesn’t own the rights to IceTalk, that doesn’t mean it can’t do a FS podcast, with or without Jackie and Nick.

And yes, I did know Jackie works in management consulting. ?

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

I’m sure IceNetwork did pay the writers and Jackie/Nick as freelancers,

Off topic but why is Jackie posting Olympic performances that won't play. In his top 50 list a circling arrow appears but the vid never plays.

 

[Coco]

I can understand all the arguments on both sides, but a five-minute highlight video narrated by Adam Rippon and Mirai Nagasu with some on Ice clips, some off ice clips, some quotes from a confessional booth... That would have gone a long way.

It's a missed opportunity to address the lack of results over the past 4 years, remind people of what has gone right and generally 'strengthen their brand' as the kids say.

I get that people might not be ready for Primetime in August, but as we continue the transition from 6.0 to i IJS, us skaters need to realize they can't peak once or twice a season in January and March. They need to find a way to be competitive in the fall. So while the transition might be painful I think the message needs to be sent that you need to be very close to Grand Prix series ready by Champs Camp at least fitness-wise if not program wise.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Was there any media coverage of this event? A media day, press conferences, or open practices? I can't find any actual reports on the skaters aside what USFS has posted, or what skaters posted to social media.

Champs Camps was sponsored by Puffs. Hence, the restriction to Puffs Fluff Pieces.

 

[Moustaffask8r]

Champs Camps was sponsored by Puffs. Hence, the Puffs Fluff Pieces.

Is it a Camp for athletes to get ready for competitive season or an occasion for media coverage??? Just asking because I think we are loosing focus on what and who the camp is for.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Is it a Camp for athletes to get ready for competitive season or an occasion for media coverage??? Just asking because I think we are loosing focus on what and who the camp is for.

At least when Ice Network was still around, the reporters gave simple overviews of what they saw.

That we are hearing NOTHING makes me wonder what kind of state US skating is really in.

 

[skatingguy]

Is it a Camp for athletes to get ready for competitive season or an occasion for media coverage??? Just asking because I think we are loosing focus on what and who the camp is for.

It can't be both. Most these athletes train in various cities across the country, and internationally. To have the whole US skating contingent for the new season in one place and not have media access seems like a lose of an opportunity to build the sport and the athletes.

 

[MrMystery]

At least when Ice Network was still around, the reporters gave simple overviews of what they saw.

That we are hearing NOTHING makes me wonder what kind of state US skating is really in.

I'm not suggesting that U.S. skating is at its all time prime, but I think the lack of information speaks more to the lack of media interest and appropriate outlets, than the state of the skating. With IN gone, what else is there? TSL, which has already given their insight based on sources. The sport isn't exactly being covered on a regular basis in the sports pages of The New York Times, USA Today, etc.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

It can't be both. Most these athletes train in various cities across the country, and internationally. To have the whole US skating contingent for the new season in one place and not have media access seems like a lose of an opportunity to build the sport and the athletes.

True.

Maybe next year Champs Camp can be held at a top secret location like Area 51 instead.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I'm not suggesting that U.S. skating is at its all time prime, but I think the lack of information speaks more to the lack of media interest and appropriate outlets, than the state of the skating. With IN gone, what else is there? TSL, which has already given their insight based on sources. The sport isn't exactly being covered on a regular basis in the sports pages of The New York Times, USA Today, etc.

Which is why it is such a missed opportunity. TBTB at US Skating really dropped the ball here. Good promotion starts at the source.

 

[MrMystery]

Which is why it is such a missed opportunity. TBTB at US Skating really dropped the ball here. Good promotion starts at the source.

I don't disagree, but there also has to be an appetite for it, and right now I don't think there is. Now, of course, we can certainly discuss how and why we got into that place, and I very much blame USFS for a lot of it, but I think that's a whole other discussion. Haha.

 

[Sylvia]

At least when Ice Network was still around, the reporters gave simple overviews of what they saw.

How did they do that when the skating sessions at Champs Camp have never been open to the media?

 

[Sylvia]

Relevant GSD thread - Building a Fan Base: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/building-a-fan-base.104242/

 

[Willowway]

The post above supposing that Lynn Rutherford has written articles from Champs Camp that have not yet been published is right - maybe because the site is being relaunched. Hoping that they will be published soon.

 

[StitchMonkey]

What I object to with USFS is all their teaser build up for Champs Camp on Twitter - like it’s something for the fans to get excited about, at least in part. And then there’s a let down when there’s very little follow through.

I think this sums up my feelings pretty well. They were hyping for Champs Camp which implies we would get some information.

If they want it to be a private event for skaters only, they could present it as such and not, well frankly, mislead fans. Just bloody be honest, communication goes along way. Don't hype it and not deliver. Just be honest it is a media free zone, or whatever you want to call it. Just be forthcoming.