Audio of Teleconference with Hurdling Star Lolo Jones

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USA Track & Field hosted a Q&A with Lolo Jones on February 26, leadig up to the USATF Indoor Nationals, which take place this weekend (Feb 28-Mar 1) in Boston. Jones has run the top three fastest times in the world indoors this season and therefore is the obvious favorite in the 60m hurdles this weekend.

The first question regarded the new World Anti-Doping Agency’s regulations, which require athletes to specify their exact location for a specified hour-long window every single day three months in advance.

“I don’t care if they have to put a GPS on me 24/7 if that what it takes to keep the sport clean. What I’m concerned with is that the athletes weren’t consulted on this first.”

Lolo emphasized that she is not against the drug-testing system, but she hopes that WADA can understand how hard it is as an athlete to know your whereabouts every day, three months in advance, and that they can get the kinks worked out soon.

Lolo takes questions from the Chicago Tribune, Runner’s World, and more, about recovering from her Olympic experience, where she was leading the field until she hit a hurdle and stumbled, how she is feeling in training now, how she is adjusting to her soaring fame since last year and the difference between racing the indoor 60m hurdles and the outdoor 100m hurdles.

Jones, as always, is upbeat, positive and converses easily with the reporters. She will make you laugh and motivate you at the same time. Listening will be time well spent, we promise!

Listen to the Q&A with Jones here:

More on Lolo Jones:

Jones uses stumble at Olympics as motivation

Lolo’s Website: www.runlolorun.com

No business like snow business – Indoor snowpark opens in China

June 18, 2008 – In China, it seems anything is possible – even snowboarding in summer. Indoors. In the city. To prove it, Beijing introduced their newly constructed Burton sponsored indoor snowboard park to the public last Saturday.

The Qiaobo Ice and Snow World is about 40,000 square meters and can accommodate about 3000 people.  The Ski Dome is equipped with a Children’s Snow Paradise, Easy Ski Run and Advanced Ski Run to satisfy the different needs of  skiers. With the unveiling of the all-terrain snowpark, which boasts  a kicker line, wallride as well as rail and box combinations, more people may get into snowboarding since it gets hot as hell in the city and the humidity is unbearable. 

The project is yet another sign of the growing affluence of China’s rising middle and upper classes, who are discovering new ways of spending their income and leisure time. We may well see some of the top snowboarders in the world come from China soon. So girls, next time you head to Beijing - be sure to bring your board.