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1997/10/19
Hello, everyone! This is Bob Aoto. I would like to send my direct message to you. I will update what I am doing out here.
AOTO ON THE AIR
On Oct. 17, I was in a radio program (Nippon Broadcasting) and I talked to a famous singer, Ms. Miho Nakai and General Manager baseball team, Mr. Junzo Sekine about bobsleigh. She was so cute. I was so impressed with her small face. Mr. Sekine was a good middle aged guy, I guess. Actually, this program is scheduled to be on the air nation wide on Nov. 16th. Three Lucky listeners will get a picture of us with autographs. If you have a time, tune it in.
Bye
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1997/10/21
Finally, I arrived at Cargary. This is exactly like a situation from the famous flicks, 'The cool running'. We have no snow here yet, but the temperature is quite low and the high is around 10 oC. I am staying in the Olympic park and the facility is locating right in front of the goal point of Bobsleigh track. I can see the jumping stage, too. It's getting brighter around 8 in the morning and the sun goes down around 8 PM. I am still suffering jet lag a little bit, but my first run would be on 21st 14:00 local time. I am a bit nervous... I can't do a shitty job because a lot of press folks are here.. I am trying to do a image training, but I cannot memorize the course....Anyway, I will send my message after the first run. |
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1997/10/22
Today's AOSHIN EXPRESS is a 'PUKE EXPRESS'. Thank you all for helping me out to release my stress. My first ride on bobsleigh.... I experienced all kinds of vibrations and gravity from hell. I could push the sled and run OK but after getting in, the tiny space between pilot and breaker scared the hell out of me. I wanted to put my head up and see the view, but the enormous G in the corner made me duck. I memorized this course arrangement, but after the 4th corner, my head went blank and Mr. Suzuki, the pilot brought me back after the goal. I was conscious after getting off the sled, but I am sure I was pale. I'm telling you this thing is 10 times scarier than the roller coaster. You should try this once. In Japan, you can ride bobsleigh at 'Gulliver Park at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Well, that's all folks!!
p.s. Today's race will be broadcast during 'News Station' on Oct.28. |
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1997/10/28
Hi, everybody! It as been a long time since last time…..
I hope you can imagine how seriously I was engaging in hard training. Well, 2 men's finalists of World Cup are about to be announced, but I'm afraid I'm gonna miss the opportunity, this time. Ohori and a freshman, Inoue will be selected. In addition to my bad record,, our sled had to put extra 15 kg weight because I was way too light! The heavier, the more time is required for acceleration. What a drag!! I will do my best for 4 men's sled. (^_^)
About the training camp…. We take the sled out of storage around 1300, attaching runner (blade) on it. Then the sled is transferred to the starting point. Real training starts from 1400. After warming up, we usually go down the course once or twice….Well, only twice, what a wimp you might say. But even twice a day gives me a lot of fatigue. ( ; _ ; ) We always have to move around the darn heavy sled, doing weight training while waiting. After dinner, of course, we polish up the runner. To polish these things up, we usually start with 400 sandpaper. By the time we use 2000 sand paper, the runner looks like a mirror.
Well, $ men's training will starts from Tuesday. I will keep you updated. Don't catch cold. Gargle when you are home. Adios Amigos!
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1997/10/29
Yo, what's up? How did I look like in the last night's News Station? I didn't have a chance to watch it, please let me hear what you felt. After the program, I hope you have some idea what the bobsleigh is. Even the bobsleigh is one of those minor sports, but it is super-duper hard. Yes, I rode 4 men-sled for the first time. I'm telling you this is tough. Max speed is about 10k/h faster that that of 2 men's, which means I feel more Gs, if you know what I'm talking about. Inside of the sled, we sit holding our knees and the gravitational force come perpendicular to my body axis. Due to that force, my back aches. Pushing sled forward requires total teamwork with 4 guys. I wonder if I can do a good job with this teamwork thing because I have been competing by myself all the time as a track and field athlete.
Well, I gatta go. O-o-ouch!!
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1997/11/5
Well, World Cup Games is coming closer. Bob's race will be on this coming Saturday, and the meantime we are doing official practice. As of today, 39 teams from 21 different countries are signed up for the race. We can practice from Monday through Friday, and it is the requirement to be eligible for the race that we have to finish 2 runs out of at least 4 runs by 2 men or 4 men. On Wednesday, the turn of the race will be decided by drawing. It is more advantageous to run in the earlier turns because the course will be damaged towards the end of the race and that give a few seconds differences!!. We saw Canadian, German, American, and Swiss National teams on today's practice. It's getting exciting, but a bit of anxiety, too. But, I try not to be overwhelmed by the atmosphere. I will enjoy it.
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1997/11/10
Results from World Cup.
4 men race
A(Takewaki, Nakamura, Onoda, and AOTO): 1' 50'' 67( 1st attack: 55''29, 2nd attack: 55''38) 18th.B (Wakita, Oishi, O-hori, Inoue ): 1' 51'' 11( 1st attack: 55''55, 2nd attack: 55''56) 21th Winner: Canada (1'49''40)
Yeees!! I ran the race! I honestly think bob is great. At 1800, the race started. Audiences gathered around the starting line and cheered us up. Bright lighting, TV crews, even from locker room I can see the race results. Everything was my first experience. I was in a mixed feeling of nervous and exciting. I was focusing o the start. I wondered how other team's sprint time was. We could do only 5''19 during practice but our team's target was 5''10. Canadian team gave 5''3 in the first run, and audience went crazy. It was our turn 29th out of 32. I was extremely nervous, but once I was in a race suit, and setting on the mark, I felt the gushing energy I once felt. That was exactly like the one I felt on the track and field race. Our first sprint time was 5''16, and finished with 55''29. This was not that bad. In the 2nd attack, 5'713 for sprint and 55''38, and that makes 1'50''67 and finished at 18th. Looking at sprint, 11th for the 1st and 9th for the 2nd. This is not bad at all. We were only about one second behind. Condition of ice, piloting technique, and runner(blade) will affect the finish time. We still have chances. Please stay with us. |
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Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 14:05:26 GMT
Hi, everybody! I'm sending my message from ITALY!! I hope you are doing all right. The hotel I stayed in Germany provided only pulse line. For that reason, I could not get connected. Sorry for not being able to communicate for a lo0ng time. Well, here is the results from The World Cup the 2nd game (Winterberg, Germany). JPN1 (Takewaki, Nakamura, Onoda, and Aoto): 19th.JPN2 (Wakita, O-ishi, O-hori, and Inoue): 24th. During our stay, the weather condition was cloudy or rain almost everyday. After the game, we left the hotel at 7:30 in the morning, and headed for cortina, Italy. We drove almost 1000KM across Germany, Austria, and Italy. Official practice started 900 next morning. This was my first liaison and a bit tired, but all of the bobsleigh athletes doing the same thing all the time. Cortina, Italy is a Mecca for skier and Silvester Stalone's movie 'Cliff Hanger' was shot here. I can see high mountains from the window of the hotel I stayed, and it was the best situation, and location. But, the bobsleigh course was a tough one and somebody called it 'Braker Breaker'. Needless to say the ground of the course is ice, but the side walls are concrete. If the sled hit the side wall, the impact will be a enormous one. If we hit our head, literally the 'twinkle, twinkle, little star!!' I will run the course tomorrow on 4 men. Be prepared!
So long!!
Japan National Team do not run All Japan Chanpionship on 12/21 and 23.
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Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 17:16:16 GMT
Hello! We could safely finish the WC III, the 'Braker breaker'. Here is the results JPN1 (Takewaki, Nakamura, Onoda, and Aoto): 18th. JPN2 (Wakita, O-ishi, Miura, and Inoue): 20thThat was a terrible course. Max speed was not that fast (120km/h), but the sled bounced while running! As you can guess, we hit our body against the sled, especially heads. I barely kept conscious, but some of the memory are missing by the heavy impact. On the 2nd attack, the course condition was terrible and I don't remember from the last corner to the goal line. You might think I exaggerating, but I mean it. The race was over at 1230, and went back to hotel and then packed up. After that all of the team member including coaches headed for France. I did not sleep at all on that day and we drove 800 km in 12h all the way to France. It was so hard, but all of the top athletes are doing the same thing. This makes me feel that I am part of the atheletes.
with love.
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Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 22:35:04 GMT
Yo! What's happening, dude? I'm late again. Sorry about that. I am back in Japan, exhausted… But I could not finish all of these tough races without your warm messages! I really appreciate them. Here is the results of WCIV la Plagne JPN1 (Takewaki, Nakamura, Onoda, and Aoto): 19th.JPN2 (Wakita, O-ishi, Miura, and Inoue): 22thThis time the we got good time in sprint, but we missed 17th by 4/100 sec. But it was a good finish of the year. I will do my best at the training camp in Nagano, the home course.
From the end of this year, IBM will use bobsleigh for their TVCF. Please enjoy it.
From Jan 5th, I will be on print (Cartoon Magazine, 'Young Sunday'). |
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Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 07:43:51 GMT
A Happy New Year.Thanks to your warm support, I was selected a member of National Bobsleigh team for Nagano. I will do my best at Nagano, and please keep em watching. We will start our training camp from Thursday, Jan. 8. About our team. I was teaming up with Takewaki, Onoda, and Nakamura, but this time, I 'v got a new team mate. The new crew will be Wakita, Nakamura, Onoda, and myself. Wakita, Onoda, and Aoto are from Wakayama prefecture, and Nakamura and Aoto are graduates of Chukyo Univ. We have a lot of common things, don't we? Please keep a warm eye on the TEAM WAKITA. Please check 'Young Sunday' which will hit your nearest book stand on Jan. 5th. Bobsleigh cartoon, '0.9 sec: The challenge of Japan National Bobsleigh Team' will start. Some said that the main character Aoto in the cartoon is a way too handsome, if I might add. |
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Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 03:40:21 GMT
Yo! Everyone! Sorry for not writing you sooner. I was in a deep doo-doo to keep up with the new Mac OS8. I purchased the 18th ( yes, 18th!) Powerbook 1400cs/133. I forgot how to use Netscape, and of the mailing software…. Consequently, I'm transmitting via mobile gear. The reason I bought the new PowerBook is that I am planning to tell you about the Olympic game from the eyes of one of the athletes. Look forward to hearing the Inside Report from me. Well, I'm doing pretty well here at training camp. In the last week, we could not practice due to the heavy snow. But we have no problemo this week. My new team is getting in gear now. Keep watching us!!So, how was the famous cartoon? Did you like it? Some people said that the writer painted Aoto too good. I'm looking forward to hearing your opinion. |
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1998/2/7
Yo, fellas. What' going down? I have been a bit lazy recently,,,, but anyway, the day has come! As you know, I attended the opening ceremony. This is my third Olympics, but this was my first time to be in the opening ceremony. Well, feeling so-ooooo goooood!! What is more, men, this game is at my home, Japan. Yeah, I was weeping, so what? Could you locate me in the cｒoｗd during marching? I was one of those Orange coalition and I was in the middle of 10th low. Check your VCR out again! I was holding a DVCM in my hand.
What did you think about the Olympic torch relay in the stadium? It was so touchy, , Chiba-chan looked so good, but what was that last lady? Sachiko-Kobayashi from Kohaku? Oh, give me a break. All of the athletes liked Ms. Midori Ito, anyway. The time went by so quickly during the ceremony. I missed that Sumo-Wrestler's Dohyo-iri.
Well, I still have some time before my race on 20th and 21st. I will do my best. Keep watching me. In case you are not aware of my home page, please visit the address below. Thanks folks and see you soon. |
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1998/2/15
Hello!! Everyone!!
My home page have been accessed more than 5000times!! My tension is getting higher and higher!! Well, the Olympic games is already in the 2nd half. Team Wakita kept our tension high by watching 2 men bobsled. Good luck for both Takewaki, Oishi team and Suzuki, Inoue team. Official practice of 4 men will start tomorrow. We ran only twice in the afternoon for 4 days. That will make 8 practice runs and 4 runs for race. We will do my best for every one of the 12 runs.
Some tips for watching race at Spiral.
It will be damn cold, so wear warm cloth.
There are only a few bathrooms around the Spiral.
It is slippery and choose good shoes or boots for snow.
You can not find a place to put your but. Foldable chair would be nice.
If you have horn or something that can make some sound (preferably not a noise), that will make everybody excited. (Please do not use those equipment around the starting line.)
=====Big fat ugly favor from Team Wakita=====
On that day, when we are at the starting line, could you clap your hands just like the one you do for broad jumper. |
