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Focus on LA 2007 |
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#4:
a Trip and a half
Steve Cubbins in LA |
Universal here we come
Los Angeles grew up out of the film studios, and the film studios
are one of the major attractions of the area. We all knew that Bob
Hanscom had organised a trip, leaving at 8am on Friday, but what we
didn't realise was that he'd hired two stretch limos to take us
there in style!
 Ignoring
the on-board bar, everyone arrived safely and had a whale of a time
on attractions such as Back to the Future, Shrek, Waterworld,
Terminator, the Mummy, Backdraft, the Jurassic Park river ride, and
of course the tour of the studios - aided and abetted by the 'Front
of Line' passes that enabled us to avoid all the queues in this
immensely popular attraction.
Bob took us to see a square in the shopping area that would be ideal
for a glass court (any sponsors listening ???), but for many the
highlight of the trip was Karen Kronemeyer's reaction when what
appeared to be a Mummy statue sprang into life next to her right ear
- you should have seen her jump! Mind you, Manuela Manetta's attempt
to get intimate with "the Oolk" ran it a close second ...
So, a fantastic morning, thanks Bob, and as it happened two of the
quarter-finals featured players who made the trip against those who
didn't, and in both cases the studio-goer won - there's inspiration
for you ! |
Universal Photo Gallery |
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#3:
a Club and a half
Steve Cubbins in LA |
Welcome to the LAAC
SquashSite has covered a few events at the Los Angeles Athletic
Club, but nothing gave any impression of the size, history or sheer
impressiveness of the place. To give you an idea, I asked Bob
Hanscom, the squash supremo here and the guy behind all of
this, how many people worked here. “Oh, hundreds,” was the reply,
which put it all into a bit of perspective.
Built in 1918, with twelve floors, it’s about time we had a
good look around the LAAC, so here it is, in several parts …
Complete tour on the LAAC page |
Tour the Club |
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#2:
a City and a half
Steve Cubbins in LA |
That’s the Street …
but which end ?
When I mentioned that I needed to visit the British Consulate in LA
(long story ...) and that I’d found the address of the place, on
Wilshire Boulevard, imagine my delight when someone said that
“Wilshire is just two blocks away”. Yes, a result, I could probably
just walk there to get my passport problems sorted.
 Well,
not quite. One end of Wilshire here in Downtown LA starts at number
1, and the consulate is at number 11677. Ah. Could be quite a way
along then.
I asked John Dewis, the tournament compere who was kind
enough to offer me a lift there in his wonderful yellow, vintage
Mercedes diesel, just how long Wilshire was. Apparently it starts in
Downtown, goes through Koreatown, Hollywood, Beverley Hills, Santa
Monica and several other famous suburban centres before finally
hitting the Pacific Ocean.
Well, it’s a good job I got a lift, is all I can say, because
although you never get up to a tremendous speed with the traffic in
LA, it would have taken me a long time to walk the distance we
traveled in an hour in the Merc. We didn't quite make the beach, but
it must have been close ...
It was fascinating to see all the different parts of LA via a trip
down a single road, and although John admits to not being an expert
on the history of LA, which grew up into a conglomeration of
settlements under one umbrella once the film studios got it all
started in the 20s, one comment stands out – “There couldn’t be a
revolution here like in European style cities with a definite
centre, no-one would know where to go to protest!”
Oh, and yes ... I got my passport. |
Parking up at number 11,740
Success ...
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 Simplicity,
Italian-style
We all know the phrase “I came, I saw, I conquered,” spoken by a
famous Roman, but it seems that brevity of speech may be an Italian
trait.
Towards the end of the qualifying matches when Karen Kronemeyer
asked room-mate Manuela Manetta if she was coming up to the
room, the Italian heroine could have said “No it’s ok, I’ll watch
the end of the match, have a shower and then come up, see you
later.”
What we got was “I wait, I shower, I come.” Brilliant …
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#1: a presenting sponsor and a half ... |
Fly me to LA, Robin ...
Currently living in Los Angeles, Robin Sateriale comes from a
U.S. East Coast family where squash is as common as baseball.
Among his many investments, he is a limited-partner of LAACO, which
wholly owns The Los Angeles Athletic Club. Robin has continued to be
financially supportive of squash events as a Presenting Sponsor at
The LAAC and this year is no exception.
In addition to making a substantial contribution to the
Stephen Cox Cancer Care Fund, he has
made it possible to have Squashsite on site in Los Angeles to
provide publicity for this year's EBG / WISPA World Tour Event.
So, stand by for full coverage from Steve Cubbins in LA, and lots
more features to come ...
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 "I am so
happy to see more and more squash events come to The Club, not to
forget that this year is for such a great cause … to help one of our
own squash professionals Stephen Cox in his time of need."
Stephen Cox Cancer Care Fund |
Rod rolls in to LA ...
 Rod
Symington, of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, is the world’s leading
instructor of squash referees. His experience is second to none: as
a WSF World Referee, Tournament Referee for four World Championships
and countless PSA & WISPA events (plus many National Championships
in the USA and Canada), and during the past twenty years, has
conducted dozens of refereeing clinics (both basic and advanced) in
ten countries on four continents. He is widely known for his
extensive writings about the Rules of Squash and Refereeing.
Rod has a long connection with Los Angeles, having given his first
clinic in the U.S.A. there in 1998. He has been back to Los Angeles
many times since, and the tournament organizers look forward to
having Rod with them at this year’s Epstein Becker & Green WISPA
event. Together, he and World Referee Chris Sinclair of
Australia will take on the responsibilities of organizing the
refereeing scheduled of this year’s event.
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Tournament Features
Bob Hanscom reports ... |
Qualifying Bonus
In addition to the full hotel bonus being offered to the 16
main draw players, we're offering a one evening (Tuesday, June 19th)
hotel bonus to those entering the qualifying event, the two rounds being played in the morning and in
the evening of Wednesday, June 20th.
Player Tours
Secondly, we have a Thursday evening "Meet the Players"
sponsors and patrons reception scheduled for Thursday evening,
(following the conclusion of the main draw first round) in our
club's 3rd floor Main Bar and Lounge.
As an extra-special feature for those 16 players making the main
draw, we have a trip and full VIP tour to the world famous
Universal Studios and attractions scheduled for Friday, June
22nd...leaving the club at about 8 a.m. in plenty of time to be at
Universal by the 9 a.m. opening.
No fear for the eight quarter-finalists, as we plan to be back to
the club's hotel in time to eat, rest, etc. before the evening
matches.
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Dinner & Night Life
Saturday evening will feature a dinner for ALL players, sponsors
and patrons of the event...followed by special fund-raising
benefit hosted by our tournament committee at a newly-opened
local night club, which is only a two minute walk from our club.
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Referee & scribe
 We
will have a very special guest-referee with us for the week as well.
She is Chris Sinclair from Australia, one of only ten
"world-rated" referees and the only woman to hold this prestigious
rating. Chris will be our Tournament Referee and will be doing
re-caps of the matches for publication.
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  The
weekend following our event, (June 27th - July 1st) Chris Walker and
Greg Scherman will be hosting a WISPA event at their very
attractive, four international court facility in lovely San Diego.
So ... a full five or ten days of squash action, local visits and
partying await those who join us in Los Angeles and San Diego in
June.
Tournament Directir |
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