- - Tuesday, December 30, 2003 WonderBlog's Ode to 2003: "That's Short Track" 2003 was, by far, the most amazing year I've ever had. And what's more amazing is I've never had an entire year be non-stop excitement. Sure, I have my good months. A week that totally rocked and you didn't want it to end. But a whole year? Whoa. So, the best way to ring in 2004 is a flashback on a year that was most definitely a Short Track year. *deep breath* Here we go... A World Cup of Firsts in Salt Lake City - Feb 2003 My first Short Track competition, and one that will always be close to my heart. This trip was the beginning of new friendships, new adventures, and a new appreciation for Apolo's sport. The crazy thing about the Utah trip was I almost wasn't able to go. I had never met Apolo before, never gone to any appearences, just content up until this time to enjoy him from afar. I remember talking with Lucinda almost everyday, getting more excited about the trip, and then the horrible news that she would be unable to make it to Utah. So at this point, with no roomie and the cost becoming overwhelming, I was starting to lose hope that I'd be flying to Salt Lake...and then I received an email. It was Joanna asking if I had a roomate, and if not, would I want to room with her. I nearly died right there. This, too, would be Joanna's first competition as well as first chance to meet Apolo, so the both of us buzzed with uncontrollable excitement, and it only got more intense when we finally met in the SLC airport. Snagging our first media passes to the event, it was unbelievible to be in the tunnel where the athletes would bustle back and forth, and having access to probably more than I should have had access to, *giggle* Those 5 days in Salt Lake were bitter cold, but I was literally on a high the whole trip. Too excited to eat, and too exhausted to care, Joanna and I would laugh and imagine what the week would bring on our 40 min. bus rides to Kearns, UT. Having the chance to go to the Olympic Anniversary Gala was mind blowing, and had damn near "cinderella" proportions for me. Olympic athletes everywhere, and faces of internet friends I had never met, it was more than my little heart could handle. Meeting wonderful people, understanding just a glimpse of the excitement of short track, and at last meeting the athlete I've admired since a year ago to that day. From the moment Apolo walked in the room, everything was in slow motion, and I couldn't get a grip on myself to safe my life. I'm usually pretty cool and calm in situations like this, but I realized after Kimo had called my name 4 times, that I couldn't whistle and pretend like Apolo wasn't there. He was as sweet as I had imagined he would be, but never had I been intimidated by someone so soft spoken, and with the kindest eyes I had ever seen. The Salt Lake City world cup was more than I could have asked for, and set the tone for 2003. Colorado Springs, here we come - March 2003 Notoriously known for his "no-time-for-you-to-plan-cuz-I'll-be-in-a-town-near-you-TOMORROW" appearence schedules, Apolo's Colorado Springs signing took everyone by surprise. Now Colorado, to Cali peeps, is one of those So close, yet so far away states, but I knew that I had to try every scheme to make it to this signing. Just floating down from the high of my first World Cup not barely a month earlier, I wanted to make this my first "Apolo Appearence" and Molly could - like The Rock - smell what I was cooking....up. The flight to the Springs was warning to what will happen if the both of us ever thought of sitting together on a plane in the future. Giggling like 8th graders waiting to see their crush in the gym after school, we touched down to CS wondering what Apolo would say upon first glance at us freak shows in all our glory. Well, we never got to hear his first reaction because we had him laughing as soon as we walked up to him in the swanky Washington Mutual. Molly poked fun at Apolo's dancing skills extraordinare on the Hollywood Squares taping, while I simultaniously imitated the dancing skills extraordinare. He threw his head back with a burst of laughter, and I could have swore he was even turning a bit red. To this day, I don't know if his laughter was that of embarrassment/friendliness or amazment/fear. Apolo was SO laid back, friendly, and made us feel like old friends down for a visit. I was snapping shots of fans with Apolo and it was so great to see people come in that had never met him before. It was a very familiar look of giddy anxiousness, which prompted me to do everything I could to help their "Ohno Experience" be the best. Whether that meant taking their picture with the Golden One or reassuring them that it was possible to make it past the words "Hi Apolo, my name is..." without passing out. It was great to see familiar faces like Kaori, as well as Corin and Torrie chatting with Apolo, snapping photos. We were tripping out (and apparently so was the entire WaMu staff) that we were the only fans from as far as California. When it was time to leave, we didn't expect to chat a bit more with Apolo outside the bank, and never expected the huge hugs we received from him upon our announcement to depart. I had to completely scrape my tongue off the floor from shock, and molly & I exchanged looks of...well...that's a whole 'nother post. Colorado is so beautiful, I didn't want to leave. To say the least, conversation on the plane ride home was riddled with questions of the next time we'd see Apolo again. Did someone say the word Speed? - April 2003 Yet again trekking through an airport, LAX never looked so good, mainly because I knew that my friends Lupe & Molly would be waiting for me as I made my way to baggage claim. They were there all right. Freaks of nature is what I've befriended on my hobbit-esque short track journey. They were both standing at the base of the claim entrance, holding a sign. I laughed so hard, then I smacked them both for even trying to poison my mind with such crazy thoughts. *wink* I must say, this trip to Los Angeles to attend the US Speedskating Hall of Fame Banquet was an act of love. It HAD to be. And of course, any excuse for us nutty short track enthusiasts to meet up we'll take it, even if it means boggling the minds of the skaters/coaches who gave us props for just sitting through the event. It was quite fun, actually, meeting more Olympic greats like Casey Fitzrandolph, Bonnie Blair, Dan Jansen, and the lovely & always tall as hell...Joey Cheek. It was also nice to finally met Kelly, the one that has so courageously stood by Stephen Gough's side. You awesome little short track fan, you. Since the banquet was only a one nighter, and us ST herds are accustomed to seeing each other for at least 3 days at a time, Lupe, Molly, and I decided after supporting the happiest sport on earth, we'd make a run to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. We had a blast, and at the end of the day - with Apolo still fresh on the brain - we used the giant CALIFORNIA letters that are out front of the park to our evil advantage. And certainly photoshop had a say in it, as well. On to San Fran to get our Luau on - June 2003 Kristi Yamaguchi's Passage to Paradise fundraiser was another trip that seemed "So close, yet so far". So close because this would be the first time Apolo was in Northern California, and San Francisco is only a tad over an hour from my house. Yet so far because I damn near had to sell my right kidney on the black market to get a ticket to go. I would have never forgiven myself if Apolo was a mere hour from me, and I didn't make an attempt. So, Lupe drove to my house from Central Cali, we picked up Molly from the Sacramento International Airport, and I drove us to San Fran as I recovered from my now missing kidney. We stayed at the Nikko Hotel, off the chain in everyway imaginable. We had so much fun getting to San Fran, and finally checking into the hotel with it's bad ass marble counters and velour seating areas. We knew Apolo would be arriving in a few hours, and the anticipation nearly ended my sad little Ohno-chasin' life. What seemed like years later, Apolo enters the lobby with Yuki in toe. Looking quite ghetto-fabulous in his seattle mariners cap, workout shorts to the knee, nike shoes barely laced, he struts up to the counter to check in...while we check out...his amazing...eh, cap. Yeah. The dinner was another "way-too-much-excitement" overload, with a whole string of figure skating greats that I would have given my right kidney to see in person. Oh wait. I did. nevermind. Apolo, again, blew our expectations out of the water. After the main parts of the event had finished, Apolo & Yuki made their way over to our now imfamous table 12, and there they stayed for the rest of the night. You would have thought it was an event for Apolo himself with all the people that wanted his autograph or a picture with him. Ladies formed lines that wrapped from table to table. At one point, I was standing in the main flow of traffic and was asked by a woman, "I'm sorry, are you in line to see Apolo?" That made me giggle. We took group shots, individual shots, no body shots, unfortunately. But Apolo cracked me up with a bit of his humor showing through as he asked me where to take our picture. "Over by the tiki god" I said. We walked over, and while waiting for someone to grab my camera, Apolo was jokingly attempting to pull out a tooth of the tiki. The little face he made was priceless. And with plenty of hugs, thank you's, and appreciative smiles, he made the night priceless. Marquette, aka WhereTheHellAreWe, USA - Oct 2003 My second world cup experience, and one I had been antsy about for months. Marquette's world cup was slated to be the best yet, with it's VIP packages and events tailored with the fans in mind. It was truly the greatest trip, and it even snowed while we were there. My first time in Michigan was an easy one, being well prepared from what I learned back in February. The circle of friends was 2 times the size of Salt Lake, traveling in a mini-van and always getting tables for 12. It was awesome. The short track was hot, the weather was cold, and the antics were crazier than ever. Finally having purchased a laptop, I came ready to report the races - just like I had wished for in Salt Lake - and early mornings getting to the rink first thing was great. The VIP seating brought us so close to the ice that any closer and we'd have to suit up & slap on some blades. We just had fun with this competition, cutting up in the stands, laughing at all the new ways we've come to appreciate The Skinsuit, and praying for someone, ANYONE from China to frickin' win a race so they would lose the drums. I don't think I've ever smiled or laughed so much, ever, than I did on the 5 day Marquette trip. The long nights in our hotel rooms, sipping cosmos, playing Uno, and watching Will Ferrell. Hauling our happy asses to the Super Wal*Mart of Marquette and purchasing everything needed to play arts and crafts, which turned into signs we'd wave loud and proud at the race the following day. I would wake up every morning and just sit at the edge of the bed in amazment. I couldn't believe I was here, clear over in Michigan, re-living Salt Lake City. Now used to the sight of Apolo's magic on ice, I thought I would be over the initial jitters when he comes into the room. No frickin' such luck. The Awards Banquet was slowly filling up, and of course, Apolo was to make his fashionably late entrance. He came in, and it wasn't quite as paralyzing as SLC, but he never fails to take my breath away. Never thinking you could have the time of your life twice in one year, I was proved wrong. Although the trip home was long, replaying the trip over in my head brought endless smiles to my face.

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