Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Hotels at Regionals
Hi All,
We just made Hotel reservations at the Ramada which is right by I-25 at the Alameda exit. They told me that for a block of 10 rooms they could give me a group discount. We need three rooms.
Are there 7 other people staying there that we could all be a group?
Jodi and the Mile-High Vaulters
Friday, June 17, 2005
New Zones & Zone Awards in the AVA
Hi all,
I know you are all busy registering for Nationals & getting ready for Regionals but I just thought we should take a look at some new possibilities. Traditionally, we have had only one AVA recognized show a year, this year we are having 2 both the Octoberfest & regionals are recognized shows. We need three in order for our kids to be eligible for zone awards. Our Zone is not our region!!! Zone 3 is Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas & Oklahoma. With the addition of Kansas and Oklahoma, we might find some more clubs who would be interested in participating in shows. After filling out my very expensive registrations for Nationals, I think we should have some more shows in our area where small clubs could afford to participate.
Basically, in order to be eligible for Zone Awards, a vaulter must attend a minimum of 3 AVA Recognized Competitions within their own zone. If 3 competitions are not held, no zone awards are given for that particular year.
The time frame for the competitions is from the day after Nationals until two weeks before the next Nationals -- so basically from mid to late August until the next mid July or so.
We might want to hold a competition called "Zone Fest," just so Zone 3 would have 3 competitions in a year. The zone award classes are : Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, Trot and Preliminary Trot. I also think that this program will really encourage all of us to hold more AVA Recognized Competitions. I think the awarding of the jackets, etc. at Nationals, will stir up some interest also.
Just something to think about.
Noel
I know you are all busy registering for Nationals & getting ready for Regionals but I just thought we should take a look at some new possibilities. Traditionally, we have had only one AVA recognized show a year, this year we are having 2 both the Octoberfest & regionals are recognized shows. We need three in order for our kids to be eligible for zone awards. Our Zone is not our region!!! Zone 3 is Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas & Oklahoma. With the addition of Kansas and Oklahoma, we might find some more clubs who would be interested in participating in shows. After filling out my very expensive registrations for Nationals, I think we should have some more shows in our area where small clubs could afford to participate.
Basically, in order to be eligible for Zone Awards, a vaulter must attend a minimum of 3 AVA Recognized Competitions within their own zone. If 3 competitions are not held, no zone awards are given for that particular year.
The time frame for the competitions is from the day after Nationals until two weeks before the next Nationals -- so basically from mid to late August until the next mid July or so.
We might want to hold a competition called "Zone Fest," just so Zone 3 would have 3 competitions in a year. The zone award classes are : Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, Trot and Preliminary Trot. I also think that this program will really encourage all of us to hold more AVA Recognized Competitions. I think the awarding of the jackets, etc. at Nationals, will stir up some interest also.
Just something to think about.
Noel
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Music Guidelines
My #1 request every year: Have one smiling, punctual, responsible person from your club in charge of all your music. After that, everything’s in the details:
1. RECORDED CDs ARE PREFERRED, WITH ONE SONG PER CD.
-- It must be recorded as a “Finalized Audio CD” that would play in any old CD player. Record it at slow 4x speed and try it in your most antique CD player. Then protect it like gold, because recorded CDs don’t hold up well in dust and heat.
-- “Music CD-R” branded discs are the best.
-- “Data CD-R” discs are next best. NO CD-RW please.
-- Last year Memorex won the brand battle for reliability.
-- No commercial CDs please.
-- Use paper labels if you have a label “stomper”. Do not attempt to apply a label by hand. If you make any mistake with a label, chuck the CD and burn (record) another one.
-- BRING BACKUPS in case of technical failure and have them nearby at competition, not back in the hotel. The vaulter has 60 seconds to correct music glitches, like any other technical/tack failure.
-- Yes we’ll take your CDs that you’ve carefully prepared with multiple tracks, like Sally on track #1 and Billy on #2. But please be patient with the poor volunteers juggling all this stuff and trying to change tracks as well.*
-- USE A CASE FOR EACH CD WITH A LABEL ON THE CASE, even if there’s only one track. Wait. What are we about to lay? WE CAN NOT SEE THE LABEL ON THE CD once it’s spinning in the CD player waiting for the vaulter’s hand to go up. You try it!
2. MINIDISCS ARE STILL ACCEPTED, but please email me if you are bringing MD. I still love you, but we must organize if we are to continue holding this hopeless rebellion together.
3. CASSETTE TAPES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
-- Okay, just kidding, we’ll still accept them. I just wanted to scare you.
-- Seriously, do what you can to modernize beyond these antiques.
-- Use peer pressure on anyone you see walking around with tapes. Point and snicker.
-- Typical response from tape lovers: “But all my old vaulting music that I love is only on tape! Can you burn it to CD or me?” Consider this: It’s not just you and your club. We’ve ALL been listening to the same old, uhm, *chestnuts* for 15 years. Please. For all our sakes, freshen up your collection. Those old tapes sound like crumpled paper. They’ve been layed so many times, they’re going to wear through and break any day, now.
-- That gives me an idea for this Rule of Thumb: Don’t keep a cassette tape longer than a pair of underwear.
*Complainers will be directed to the music volunteer sign-in sheet.
RUN-IN: Run-in music is welcome, but the only time I guarantee it’ll play is for team. For individual events, we do our best, but don’t be heartbroken if it doesn’t play.
COMPULSORIES: Karmic points awarded to those who share comps music with fellow vaulters in your club, at least in your class. In fact, you will probably HAVE to do this, because we move fast at Nationals and there’s no time to change music. We usually don’t even stop the music between compulsories. Yes, still wait for a signal from the judge.
FREESTYLE (KUR): If you care about your music, have a backup. There’s this thing, called a backup. Have one. When your hand goes up and your music doesn’t start, I’m as desperate as you are to make it work. Mom should have the camcorder in one hand, and your backup music in the other. IN FACT, THE ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL CD MAKES A GREAT BACKUP, unless your music has been edited/spliced.
FALLING OFF: Here’s the thing with our modern age: it brings with it complexity. You stop a tape, and it starts again right where you left it. You stop a CD or MD, and it depends on which button you hit under pressure. Chances are, it won’t start where you left it. Instead, it will start again from the beginning of track 1. Please, we’ll all do our best. Keep on vaulting. You’ve already blown your Composition score, anyway. Don’t worry about it.
LABELS: Club, Kid, Class. You’ll remember the Kid. Yes, “Kur” or “Comps” is sufficient for Class - but just “Barrel” isn’t! Anyway, what your kid will forget is: Club. Club. Club. This is Nationals, with a few dozen vaulting clubs around. Club. Mark it. Word.
Thanks everyone, have fun, and I’ll see you out there.
Paul Caskey
Music Man
P.S. Old but mostly still relevant additional info:
http://www.swcp.com/pcaskey/ava/
Especially: http://www.swcp.com/pcaskey/ava/recording.html
1. RECORDED CDs ARE PREFERRED, WITH ONE SONG PER CD.
-- It must be recorded as a “Finalized Audio CD” that would play in any old CD player. Record it at slow 4x speed and try it in your most antique CD player. Then protect it like gold, because recorded CDs don’t hold up well in dust and heat.
-- “Music CD-R” branded discs are the best.
-- “Data CD-R” discs are next best. NO CD-RW please.
-- Last year Memorex won the brand battle for reliability.
-- No commercial CDs please.
-- Use paper labels if you have a label “stomper”. Do not attempt to apply a label by hand. If you make any mistake with a label, chuck the CD and burn (record) another one.
-- BRING BACKUPS in case of technical failure and have them nearby at competition, not back in the hotel. The vaulter has 60 seconds to correct music glitches, like any other technical/tack failure.
-- Yes we’ll take your CDs that you’ve carefully prepared with multiple tracks, like Sally on track #1 and Billy on #2. But please be patient with the poor volunteers juggling all this stuff and trying to change tracks as well.*
-- USE A CASE FOR EACH CD WITH A LABEL ON THE CASE, even if there’s only one track. Wait. What are we about to lay? WE CAN NOT SEE THE LABEL ON THE CD once it’s spinning in the CD player waiting for the vaulter’s hand to go up. You try it!
2. MINIDISCS ARE STILL ACCEPTED, but please email me if you are bringing MD. I still love you, but we must organize if we are to continue holding this hopeless rebellion together.
3. CASSETTE TAPES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
-- Okay, just kidding, we’ll still accept them. I just wanted to scare you.
-- Seriously, do what you can to modernize beyond these antiques.
-- Use peer pressure on anyone you see walking around with tapes. Point and snicker.
-- Typical response from tape lovers: “But all my old vaulting music that I love is only on tape! Can you burn it to CD or me?” Consider this: It’s not just you and your club. We’ve ALL been listening to the same old, uhm, *chestnuts* for 15 years. Please. For all our sakes, freshen up your collection. Those old tapes sound like crumpled paper. They’ve been layed so many times, they’re going to wear through and break any day, now.
-- That gives me an idea for this Rule of Thumb: Don’t keep a cassette tape longer than a pair of underwear.
*Complainers will be directed to the music volunteer sign-in sheet.
RUN-IN: Run-in music is welcome, but the only time I guarantee it’ll play is for team. For individual events, we do our best, but don’t be heartbroken if it doesn’t play.
COMPULSORIES: Karmic points awarded to those who share comps music with fellow vaulters in your club, at least in your class. In fact, you will probably HAVE to do this, because we move fast at Nationals and there’s no time to change music. We usually don’t even stop the music between compulsories. Yes, still wait for a signal from the judge.
FREESTYLE (KUR): If you care about your music, have a backup. There’s this thing, called a backup. Have one. When your hand goes up and your music doesn’t start, I’m as desperate as you are to make it work. Mom should have the camcorder in one hand, and your backup music in the other. IN FACT, THE ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL CD MAKES A GREAT BACKUP, unless your music has been edited/spliced.
FALLING OFF: Here’s the thing with our modern age: it brings with it complexity. You stop a tape, and it starts again right where you left it. You stop a CD or MD, and it depends on which button you hit under pressure. Chances are, it won’t start where you left it. Instead, it will start again from the beginning of track 1. Please, we’ll all do our best. Keep on vaulting. You’ve already blown your Composition score, anyway. Don’t worry about it.
LABELS: Club, Kid, Class. You’ll remember the Kid. Yes, “Kur” or “Comps” is sufficient for Class - but just “Barrel” isn’t! Anyway, what your kid will forget is: Club. Club. Club. This is Nationals, with a few dozen vaulting clubs around. Club. Mark it. Word.
Thanks everyone, have fun, and I’ll see you out there.
Paul Caskey
Music Man
P.S. Old but mostly still relevant additional info:
http://www.swcp.com/pcaskey/ava/
Especially: http://www.swcp.com/pcaskey/ava/recording.html
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Coach's Certification
Colorado State University will be hosting a vaulting coach's certification clinic June 17 -19 in Ft. Collins. If you are interested in attending either as a participant or an auditor, please contact Nicole Rau at nicole.rau@colostate.edu
This is a great opportunity to start your coaching carreer or just learn more about the sport. As a past participant, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in increasing their knowledge. (And it's fun too)
Noel Martonovich
VP Education American Vaulting Assn.
5016 Crawford Gulch
Golden, CO. 80403
fax 303/215-0773
ph. 303/277-0356
e-mail nmartonovi@aol.com
This is a great opportunity to start your coaching carreer or just learn more about the sport. As a past participant, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in increasing their knowledge. (And it's fun too)
Noel Martonovich
VP Education American Vaulting Assn.
5016 Crawford Gulch
Golden, CO. 80403
fax 303/215-0773
ph. 303/277-0356
e-mail nmartonovi@aol.com