EVENT DETAILS
Event: U.S. Sumo National Championships
Date: April 23rd (Saturday), with all-day sumo training on April 22nd (Friday)
Where: Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah, 100 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Host Hotel and Travel Details: Details up at https://fitcon.com/utah/venue-details/ $129/night. You can attend this event entirely from Salt Lake City public transportation, from and to the airport, using TRAX. There is no need to rent a car.
Weigh-ins and Registration: All day on Friday, April 22nd, at the Salt Palace competition area; also Thursday at 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. at the Salt Palace sumo competition area. John Jacques and I (two Trustee Emeritus) will be there for all weigh-ins and registrations. I imagine Helen D will be there also.
Schedule of events: Trent Sabo, John Jacques and Kelly Gneiting will be on hand all day on Friday, April 22nd, at the Salt Palace for registration (cost is TBA, but I’m asking for a low amount). Saturday, sumo will start at 10:00 a.m. We will go through all 4 weight classes, then the OPEN, then the 2-person TEAM event. We anticipate that we will end at 4:00 p.m. We are working on a sponsored meal for the athletes at the event’s conclusion. We are also working on media appearances.
Entry Fee? $40-50
Things to consider: Although this is NOT a World Qualifying event, with the World Games coming up in July being covered by CBS television, and sumo being the most popular sport of the Games, there could be opportunities that arise for U.S. Champions later in the year. It has happened before, and growth in sumo is assured after the world sees the might and majesty of a 2000-year old martial art. U.S. champions and medalists may be in high demand after the United States wakes up from their delusion of what sumo is all about.
If you have any questions, contact me: Kelly Gneiting, 505-567-1776, sumosource@msn.com
There is a Facebook event associated with this competition entitled (for searching), “2022 Sumo National Championships/World Games Training.”