Episode 3: Live from Las Vegas

Every team, every topic, everywhere. This is believed. Hello and welcome to Unlaced with Truck and Bates. I'm Madison Trock. And I'm Evan Bates and World Olympic Ice Dancers for Team USA. We are in Las Vegas this week for Skate America, another week, another competition. And we are actually popping Evan's Las Vegas bubble this week. Evan has never been to Las Vegas, apart from US Championships last season. But you haven't actually set foot on the strip. So we were here earlier this year for the US Championships, but it was a bubble event. So we didn't actually see anything other than the hotel room and the ice rink. But luckily we had a very nice friend who took us on a little drive by tour of the strip before we headed to the hotel. Right. I did. So you got to see it a little bit. I got the car tour, but. Not the same. I don't think it's the same. I want to. I'd actually like to experience Vegas as much as we can, because we are competing this week. But in our little free time, maybe we can go do some fun stuff. Yeah, there's so much fun stuff to do in Las Vegas. So we'll have a bunch of options. And our families are here visiting. I'm so excited to get to spend some time with them. We really don't get to see them all that often. And so it's really special to have them all here in one place. Yay! And Maddie, are you a Vegas expert? I wouldn't say that I'm an expert, but I did use to come to Las Vegas somewhat frequently in my younger youth. With my family, we would take some long weekends and come see shows and just enjoy what Vegas has to offer. And what does Vegas have to offer? Like what should I do as a Vegas complete rookie? Like what do I need to see this week? Well, I definitely think for nostalgia sake and ocean's 11's sake, we need to take you to the Belagio and see the fountain show. Okay. That's just number one. A must. Okay. That's in the evening, right? Yes. I would love to take you. I don't think you're going to like this, but to the New York New York hotel to ride the roller coaster. Oh, you know. You did so well at Disneyland in the past. I mean, we went on. Not a big roller coaster person. Yeah, I know. It's really cool. It goes outside and inside. I think I heard someone say it was terrifying. That was the feedback I heard. So. Well, okay. We can maybe just go look at it and see what you think. This is going to be before we compete. We're going to go ride a roller coaster. Yeah. I mean, then after that, like, competing should be easy. I'm not sure that's the best prep for our week, but. Okay. Okay. So the roller coaster and what else? I would say what else? Oh, Caesar's Palace. Does Caesar live there? Does the real Caesar live there? I'm sorry. What? No, sir. Caesar does not live here. That's a hangover roll. Alan. Caesar's Palace. It's just like a casino and hotel. Like, what's. Yeah. What is so amazing about it? It's just a beautiful hotel. My favorite thing to see when I went to Caesar's Palace with my parents was the Poseidon Fountain Show. It's inside and I hope they still have it. And they would have these statues of Poseidon and the gods and then they would. Lightning would come and the ceiling would light up. It's like a light show? Not a light show, but then Poseidon would talk and they would tell a story. It was pretty cool, huh? The real Poseidon? No, not the real Poseidon, nor the real Caesar. I want to take a lot of imposter around here. Yeah, perhaps. There's an Eiffel Tower that's not really the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, not really Lady Liberty. Lots of imposter, but they mean well. Sounds fun. Yeah. We could also take a short trip to Italy, go to the Venetian, go on a gondola ride. So this is basically Epcot for adults? Essentially, yes. Got it. Sounds fun. Yeah, lots to see, lots to do. Great. Anything that you've been wanting to do since you've never been to Vegas before, is there anything you want to put like $100 on Black 31. Anything like that? Not as you mentioned it. Black 31 is calling to me. No, I don't know really. I mean off the top of my head, no. I'm going to just take your expert lead. Trust you blindly. As you should. Go see Poseidon. Go see Bellagio. Sounds fun. I'm into it. Excellent. Great. So yeah, so far it's been great. We traveled here yesterday with a big group of friends from our rink in Montreal. We have five teams at this event from our school out of a total of nine. So we're in good company. Yeah, it made the travel day quite enjoyable. We had a layover at Detroit, which was our previous home and training base before Montreal. So that was nice in the Stahljick to spend a few hours in our favorite airport. I love the Detroit airport. It's so nice. There's so many windows. There's a guy just like playing piano all day long. And that cool fountain with a water hop. So relaxing. I love it. And it's so spacious. So Detroit airport were fans. Mercy. So then we flew from Detroit to Vegas and Maddie, did we see the Grand Canyon? I thought that we did out the plane window to the left. She was like totally convinced it was the Grand Canyon. And then I spent the next 20 minutes trying to zoom in on the map on the plane, maybe not 20 minutes, but I spent a lot of time looking for it. It could have been, but I feel like isn't it more south? I'm not sure. I really should look at a map now that I have access to my photo. I mean, I feel like it was red. It was Canyon-y. Yeah, it was very Canyon-y. It was vast. It could have just been a little bit-- It had all the makings to be the Grand Canyon, essentially. And then you zoomed in on the map and it was like, we were flying over to the city. To the city. And I was like, Evan, to the city. Michael Scott probably made this. There are just tubes full of hamsters running through the entire city. Oh, man. I hope people have seen the office otherwise. That doesn't make any sense to them. To the city. Anyways, it could have been-- It could have been very well done with the canyon. It was actually called tuba city, so maybe it's just a city full of a bunch of tubas. Either way, two very good options for a city. Imagine playing those tubas in that canyon. Gosh, the reverb must be incredible. Great place for concert. A tuba concert. A tuba concert. Just tubas. Only tubas. We need more tuba. Gotta have more tuba. Can't make a tuba sound. Wow. Okay, sorry about that tangent. So we could have seen the Grand Canyon, which would have been a huge bucket list moment. Another one. Have you not been to the Grand Canyon either? No. Oh, we've got to get you out west. I know. I feel like I've let a sheltered life up to this point. Well, we'll get you on a covered wagon and get you out to the west. Just the way my ancestors did. Not even searching. We're not even searching. Part of the gold rush? Yes. Really? Yes. Tell us more. I think that's a story for another time, but yes, I did have ancestors that crossed the US to get to California to be part of the gold rush. Wow. In doing that, I became a sixth generation Californian. So six generations of my family on my mom's side have lived in California and grown up in California. And that's rare. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like California is the number one transplant state that everybody just wants to move to California and they do so. But a sixth generation, I mean, that is. Those are roots. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Respect. Well, thanks. I loved playing Oregon Trail as a kid. Must have been very similar. I mean, I didn't experience it personally, but yeah, perhaps. Great. We'll have to do an episode of Family Lineage. Yes. Okay. We'll have to know more about your lineage. You as well. Well, I just got a little taste. It's riveting. So the event this week, Skate America is the first of six Grand Prix events that make up the Grand Prix Circuit. There are six host countries, the US, Canada, Italy, Japan, France, and Russia. Skaters must do a maximum of two Grand Prix events and based on their results, it can qualify for the Grand Prix final in December, which will be in Japan. Sounds right to me. So, yeah, this is the first event for us. Skate America and our second one will be in a few weeks in Japan. But we're really looking forward to this weekend skating in front of a home audience. It'll be the first time in front of a US audience since January 2020, which feels like a lifetime ago. We used to have our parents last night and everyone is just really excited to see each other. It's a lot of good vibes over here and we couldn't be more happy that everyone was able to come out and visit with us. Your brother is in town. I know. His family. - Very exciting. - You haven't seen him in a long time. - No, I haven't. Very exciting time in the Chalk Bates partnership. - Woohoo. - So what are our goals for the week? - We are gonna have fun. We're gonna enjoy every moment, soak it up. - Yes. - Skate our best. Build on the performances from Finland. - Well done. - And show Evan Vegas. - Yes, sounds great. - I'm in. Black 31. - Yes. - Here we go. - I don't know, maybe it's Halloween that inspired me to do that. - Yeah. - But we'd love to hear from anybody listening who's had a Vegas experience. Maybe some high rollers out there, some show lovers. What should we do in our free time this week? What can we not miss while we're here? And what should Evan do as a first timer here in Vegas? - Can't wait to see these responses. - Yeah, let us know on social media, Instagram, Twitter, wherever you find us. - You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at chalkbates for more content. We really appreciate you listening and make sure to subscribe for future episodes. - Talk to you soon. (upbeat music) (whooshing)