Event Review

Fandamonium 2003

On August 1-3, the city of Colorado Springs and the organizing committee of skinsuitsnskates.com (SNS) hosted the first annual speed skating Fandamonium. Events included a skater/fan BBQ, a skating demonstration of both long and short track, an insightful explaination of training drills by Tony Goskowicz, and an up-close look at the short track skate and the long track clap-skate. It was also an opportunity to see the World Ice Arena, where the national short track team spends many hours.

Tony Goskowicz explains the drills

The roster of athletes at this event was impressive and well balanced. Short track was represented by several national team-members including Derek Gray, Caroline Hallisey, Bridie Farrell, and JP Kepka. Jondon Trevena was the long tracker present, and the legendary Eric Flaim also attended. The event grew even more prestigious when Olympic Bronze medalist, Rusty Smith, made a surprise appearance at the demonstration.

Fandamonium was fun, educational, and well organized. Perhaps the only thing missing was… the fans. The dismal turnout at the BBQ grew somewhat more hopeful as more people showed up at the World Ice Arena for the demonstration. But, SNS seemed radiant about the turnout, saying that if more than 10 people came, they'd be happy. So, apparently… their expectations were surpassed.

Maybe fan turnout was indeed acceptable, considering the SNS folks spent minimal time and effort promoting the event directly to the fans. They spent all their time booking skaters, and rightfully so. If the skater lineup wasn't impressive, then no one would have come for sure! To SNS's credit, they did attempt to spawn excitement among fans by posting announcements with community websites. But the "hype" failed to evolve in these online communities. Many fans knew about the event, but failed to make it a priority stating, "lack of funding" and the more detailed "I'd rather spend my money to attend World Cups."

Derek Gray & Brigid Farrell

All the more joy for the fans that did make the effort to attend! They received the most special experience that no World Cup fan will ever have: skater time. It was a chance to casually interact with a group of Olympic athletes, to ask them questions and spend quality time with them. All the skaters stayed nearly two hours after the demonstration to talk and share with fans. One will never get this opportunity at a World Cup, a setting where the skaters must focus on the task at hand, not on entertaining fans. Surely the fans in attendance this year will generate their own 'hype' among other fans so the event will grow as Team Fanda heads to Milwaukee's Pettit National Ice Center for Fandamonium 2004.

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