Chez
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Re:Asia - 04:15 14 Aug 07
OK this will be a long one all about our 5 days in China!!!
We travelled over to Shanghai with the Korean skaters and were met at the airport by one of the organisers who bundled us all into a mini bus to take us the the hotel where we would be staying (the accommodation, food and everything was all provided for international competitors so we didn't have to pay for anything!). The best thing was that the hotel was also only a 3 min walk from the competition venue although playing chicken with the crazy traffic while trying to get accross the roads was interesting! There are bicycles everywhere too - people carry building materials on their shoulders while cycling and everything! We even watched one guy on a bike cycle betwen two lanes of oncoming traffic!
Naomi and I put our washing from our week in Korea into the Chinese laundry place on the first day so we would actually have some clean clothes...we did have to wait 2 days for it to be done and it cost a bit but we realised why....everything had been cleaned, ironed, carefully folded and placed inside individual clear plastic bags!! My clothes have never been treated so well - they looked like new when they came back! Benjamin (one of the Singapore skaters reconed they just had a load of Chinese people stitching new clothes out the back of the shop!!
The first night we all went to skate at a place called Century Park. There were so many amazing skaters and a huge crowd of spectators that it was quite intimidating and I found it very difficult to try and practice anything (I knew if i was going to compete I would have to stop letting this bother me though!). Eventually I started to do a few basic tricks just to start to build some confidence! There were also several speed skaters practicing on a track at this place. It was all lit up by night and the atmosphere was just amazing!
The second day was sightseeing but it was also the first day of the Chinese national freestyle slalom competition which would determine the skaters who would compete with us internationals over the weekend. While we went round all the different parts of the city we were accompanied by translators which had also been sorted out by the organisers to make sure that the French, Koreans and us had people who spoke Chinese with us! In the afternoon I popped over to the competition place with Sebastien (Seba) while the others were all resting and I suddenly realised just how much of a celebrity he is out here! People were asking him to sign things, take photos etc and the shop couldn't wait to give him the t-shirts etc! I also got a peek at the new skates coming out next year which are half carbon! Very nice too so start saving the pennies everyone!!
On the Friday we were allowed into the competition gym hall place to see what the floor was like. There was not a designated practice area though so it was very much put down the cones at approximate spacings and try to dodge kids and bags etc! The strangest thing was that as soon as we were on skates and people realised we were the foreign competitors they all wanted autographs and photos with us lot too! A very strange feeling and probably the closest feeling to celeb status we'll ever experience!! ha ha. This also continued throughout the competition all weekend!
On Friday night everyone was invited to a HUGE banquet night thing with all the organisers. There were formal speeches and everything before we were served up all sorts! After the banquet we were told we would be allowed a proper practice in the skate place as practicing with so many people about earlier in the day had not been ideal. However, when we got there the power had been shut down for the night so all of us international competitiors had to practice in a pitch black hall! Hilarious fun! When we got back, Naomi and I were chillin in Sebas room which was next door to ours in the hotel and the two of them ended up in a pillow fight! Naomi also got flipped off a matress onto the floor with the matress landing on top of her. She also got wedged down the side of the bed between the bed and the wall! I ended up with a huge carpet burn on my elbow 
Had to get up really early the next day for the opening ceremony! We were all driven to a very popular tourist spot where a welcome ceremony was held to declare the competition open! As we got out the bus we had to walk past loads of women in pink banging drums! Then we were lined up behing a figure skating who was holding a sign with our nationality on it and walk towards the front of the area. Suddenly the heavens opened and we were drenched with rain! The Union Jack flag lasted only seconds as shelter. Everyone was in their competition clothes and everything! Not good!
The first day was speed slalom and womens freestyle. I did actually compete and thankfully my nerves were much calmer this time. I still expected to come last though as this was only supposed to be a confidence builder for me and I was up against the top Chinese, the Koreans and most other internationals were those who are sponsored like Chloe! I was therefore quite chuffed when I did not come last (just second to last instead! lol!) Naomi was 12th and I was 18th. Everyone had been so supportive though and I found having a prepared run much easier than the battle competition where my mind just went blank! That night Naomi put the videos of us up on You Tube. I am sure many of you have already found them and watched them but could someone please post the link to them for anyone who has not found them yet? Also check out Naomis posts about the competition on Serpentine Road forum! They are quite funny!
It was nice to have a relaxing day with no pressure the next day! It was the speed slalom finals and the mens freestyle comp which was absolutely amazing to watch! The standard is just soooooooooo high! After their competition there was a battle style competition which Seba was more involved with between several male competitors. I think this was to introduce them to different style competition! It was great fun to watch and a real crowd pleaser!
On the last night the French, Korean and UK skaters all went out clubbing! It was so much fun with loads of crazy dancing - the Koreans are very good dancers too! Naomi and the boys danced on the stage for a bit then Chloe and I got up on stage to dance! Very funny! When we got back to the hotel...Seba Naomi and I saw the younger Koreans were still awake so charge into their rooms armed with pillows. They then came with us to get the next room and it snowballed untill we had an army of freestyle
skaters armed with pillows wandering round the hotel! There were French, Korean, UK, Singapore, Russians etc! Then we started on the organisers! We got one guy called MMJ who had been on the mic the whole weekend and uckily he had a list of everyones room numbers so we continued one by one until no ones room had been left undisturbed!
Several more pranks continued throughout the night as it was our last night! Didn't actually sleep that night as we had to leave very early in the morning to get the plane back to Korea. Got back to Korea yesterday. Chillin today then we will be off to Japan tomorrow for our final weeks holiday!
Will continue with this when I next get internet access. Remember to read Naomis posts and hunt for videos! See you all soon!
PS Woohoo is not Korean Lemming 
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