Karate and a Surfin' Safari


Olympians, 

We've got our eyes set on Japan. Both karate and surfing are having their Olympic debut this summer, but we're beating Tokyo 2020 to the punch. I'm pleased to announce our next two events, but first I must say that I don't know whether to be proud of such a convincing April Fool's joke in Extreme Ironing, or if I should be checking my sanity since no one thought this goofiness was out of my norm.

KARATE I: KATA

Alison Nigon-Kirgis is to thank for helping usher in our first Karate event: Kata. While Kumite style Karate involves physically sparring with an opponent, Kata does not require actual fighting. It's an event where two competitors demonstrate their moves and techniques against an imaginary opponent. For our event, we will place the willing participants in a March Madness style single elimination bracket. Alison (a black-belt herself) will develop routines that get progressively harder by round. Competitors will film themselves doing the routine and the judges, led by Alison (not competing), will select the best of the two in the match-up to determine who advances and who is out. Please let me know by April 13th if you'd like to join the competition.

SURFING I: Individual

Surfing is a finicky event and one that even in the Olympics isn't scheduled until the day of during a 16 day period. Because we live scattered from coast to coast to coast (that third one is you, Siemers) we'll make surfing another send-in-your-video event to give everyone an ample chance to go on a surfin' safari and catch a wave. Piece together your video however you want and send in your final edit of one minute or less by the end of the year.

One final word: the website https://sites.google.com/site/gtsolympics/ has been reformatted. You will find a more exciting display of the top athletes' flags in the Results of Past Events pages and some other minor tweaks.

-Gustave

 

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