USDAA nationals in Scottsdale
From BayTeam
USDAA has held its national championships (actually the "Cynosports World Championships") in Scottsdale, Arizona at Westworld often enough that club members have lots of info about it. Here's some.
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[edit] Who's attending?
See Bay Teamers at Scottsdale 2007.
[edit] Lodging at the nationals
[edit] RVs and motorhomes onsite
Many people have arranged for RVs or motorhomes to be set up and waiting for them onsite at Westworld because:
- The cost is about the same as a hotel; RV slightly more
- The RV parking is right by the field
- Since we'll be driving there and renting locally, we'll have a passenger vehicle with us so we can escape if we choose.
It's a two-part process: Arrange for a site with Westworld ($20 a night, 480-312-6802), and arrange for the RV. Some places that people have used:
- Cruise America; web site recommends calling them: at 800-936-7700. Their headquarters is in Mesa which is near Westworld, but not as close as two subcontractors. If you rent from the headquarters, they might have newer units and plenty of selection early on and they were quite helpful on the phone (like they know how far they are from Westworld).
- GetRV.com: Pick an RV from the website and then call and chat with them in person, very nice people, they contact the owners about pets and that's always worked out well.
- Owners RV rental -"I think this is the correct link. It says Glendale, but I believe they are located in Scottsdale."
Updated information from Nancy D, Feb 26 2008:
- Silvina and I are going to rent an RV again from :
- Renae Cannon
- Going Places RV Rentals
- (623) 221-1161 phone / (623) 376-8899 fax*
- This is her business and it has better prices going directly through a secondary service. The service is fantastic and the RV was great last year. yes dogs are allowed. Please tell her you received her name from Nancy and Silvina.
Updated information from Lisa W., Aug 2008:
Last year I rented an RV from Twisted Tree Farm located in Scottsdale. The owner, Larry, was fantastic; I can't say enough good things about him. I arrived late on Wednesday night where he met me at the lot. Inside, there was a basket of stuff...a bottle of wine, snacks, books and DVD's. It was a very nice touch.
About midway through the week, I broke the key to the RV and he dropped off another key and hid it in a prearranged location while I was at the show. He didn't charge me, and I didn't have to meet him at a particular place and time.
At the start of the process, I left Larry a message about renting an an RV and he promptly returned my phone call....while he was in Italy.
The negative side was that there were no dogs allowed inside this particular RV. However, I had a brand new one....I was the second person to live in it, so I don't know if the no dog policy applies to all the RV's he rents out.
- http://www.twistedtreefarm.com/RV%20Rental.htm
- 480 330 3948
[edit] Hotels
- Thunderbird Suites--Many people stayed at the Scottsdale Best Western Airport Suites in years past. That hotel is now the Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites, and it's part of Luxe Hotels. Their "special rate" is $129/night (in 2007). I don't remember how that compares to previous years.
- (I) stayed in a Motel 6 (in 2004). The room was quite small. I don't recommend it.
[edit] Traveling to the nationals
[edit] Driving time to/from Scottsdale
Ellen notes: On the way there (from Salinas or South San Jose is about the same, latter maybe half an hour shorter), we stopped 6 times and were actually on the road, driving, for 10 hours and 35 minutes. Elapsed time was 12 and a half hours.
On the way home, we stopped 14 times (mostly switching drivers overnight), and were actually on the road for 10 hours and 57 minutes, the difference being a constrution detour in Phoenix and an accident on I-10. Elapsed time was 14 and a half hours, the difference being those same 2 factors plus an hour and a half nap.
[edit] Travel routes and tips from the Bay Area
- Mile-by-mile travelogues of any highway you are interested in between here and Scottsdale (and anywhere else!), with photos. www.westcoastroads.com Check out the reverse-direction route's commentary too (the eastbound I-10/palmsprings mileposts commentrary is thinner than westbound).
- Highway 210 in L.A. is now complete: As of August, 2007, although Mapquest doesn't yet show it, yes, 210 now goes all the way to 215 in San Bernadino. Wikipedia article and revised map
- Most-recommended route: I-5 south, over the grapevine, to 210 east, to 215 south, to I-10 east to Phoenix. (210 isn't perfect for traffic, but usually better than other routes through the L.A. area.)
- Alternate cuts from 210 to I-10 if there's a blockage on 210: 57 south (a bit shorter than 15 south) or 15 south (might be less congested than 210/57/10 route during commute hours).
- If you have 2 people, the car pool lanes are available all day. But there is almost always traffic. And they're express lanes--meaning that you can enter and exit only at certain points. They'll always give you enough warning to get off at your exit, but you better watch the signs because sometimes it's pretty close to the exit.
- Last year we hit 210 off 5 at about 2:00 on Tuesday afternoon, and although we encountered a bit of slowdown here and there, it took us only about 90 minutes to travel the next 90 miles thru the LA area (using carpool lane) and out the other side 3:30ish. Your luck may vary.
- To avoid the LA basin altogether until Riverside--although it's a bit longer and lots of 2 lane, albeit straight, roads--is to cut off of 5 at Gorman/138 and follow 138 east across to 14 south, then 138 east again through Palmdale. It takes you all the way over to 15. If you find you'll be hitting the LA basin around rush hour, its a good option. Plus, if you like desert scenery, its a nice drive. But it is lots of two lane road, so if you get behind a semi...
- From Santa Cruz, Monterey, etc.: 101 to 152 E to I-5, or 101 S to 166 to I-5 (I think it was 166 that we took in 2006--just 2 lanes, but fairly fast and open, not much traffic, not even many trucks, but no ameneties.
[edit] Not so hot travel routes
- (We took) 5 south to 58 east (leave 5 nr buttonwillow) thru mojave & barstow, to 40 east thru needles, to 95 south (south of Needles), to 10 east (which turns into 202? in Phoenix) to the 2nd exit for 101 north (east of phoenix) to scottsdlae. We drove the CA parts late afternoon and evening, and it was fine except for a little traffic getting out to 5. The next morning, we got stuck in a construction zone for half an hour on 95, but it was a nice day and we weren't in a hurry. The desert scenery was lovely (if you like desert scenery), but very few amenities. Overall, that was 787 miles (from south san jose over pacheco pass) and about 12 hours of driving (not much over the speed limit).
- Coming home, took 10 west to 57-to-210 (in L.A. about 1 in the morning) to 5 north. That was 45 miles and 1 hour shorter in driving time.
- Dave Connet took some similar route and ended up doing hours on a gravel road somewhere--looked good on the map but not in real life.
[edit] Places to eat, stay, and gas up along the way
Tips from assorted Bay Team members.
[edit] Near/around Los Angeles
- There is a drive through Starbucks at the Laval exit just before the Grapevine off highway 5.
- If you continue on the 210, there is an awesome Mexican restaurant in La Verne on Foothill Blvd called La Paloma on the left hand side past White Ave (cheap gas station there for diesel). You can get food to go too. (They serve a mean margarita so don't plan on going anywhere after that.) There is a KOA RV campgrounds on White Ave near the 10 across from the fairplex for those who are taking the let's-not-drive-till-you-drop trip to the Natonals.
- On the way out, we camped at some Walmart east of 15. We drove until we couldn't, then crashed!
[edit] Barstow/Needles route
- (we) stayed in the Best Western Royal Inn in Needles. We had to be in a smoking room but they do that with all dogs. It seemed fine to us. In 2004 it was $66.95 for the night.
- Day's Inn in Needles allows dogs of any size. They charge $10 per pet.
- The "Dog Lover's Campanion to California" describes Barstow as a "mighty dog-friendly town." It supposedly has several places to stay, including Best Motel, Econo Lodge, Executive Inn, Gateway Motel, and Quality Inn. You can also camp in the Rainbow Basin Natural Area or the Stoddard Valley Open Area.
- Try not to buy gas in Needles if you go that way--one of the most expensive places in the country!
[edit] Palm Springs area
- (I have stayed in) Palm Desert at the Red Roof; not fancy, but I felt reasonably safe staying there alone with the dogs. If you're RVing and travelling that route, the Indio fairgrounds were a very nice place to stop to camp.
- (I) stayed in Palm Desert at a nice place, great food etc! Coming back I stayed at the same place although it was a little late at night. We never hit major traffic and left around 7 or 8am?
- If you need gas coming into Blythe after the long haul across desert from Los Angeles, don't stop at the first place--it gets less expensive off later exits.
- Karey says (Oct 16 '07):
- Year before last I stayed at Red Roof in Thousand Palms. It was marginally okay. No place to potty the dogs, a Denny's across the street, right on the freeway. 760-343-1381
- Last year I splurged; stayed at this historic place in downtown palm springs, had great grass on the grounds, two blocks walk from the center of downtown and a jamba juice and a starbucks and a bunch of other food I didn't hit. Hotel Casa Cody. A little far off the freeway but very quiet. I'd do it again but it was a little pricey, twice red roof prices. (huh, and I don't see it listed anymore on the pet-friendly sites.) http://www.casacody.com
- This year (just now, actually) I decided to go with cheaper-but-nicer. I finally learned last year that if I like the prices at Motel-6 hotels, I can get same but always much nicer stays at super-8's. So this time, I just now booked a room for Tuesday night before Scottsdale at the Super-8 in Indio. The pic shows a nice looking potty lawn out front. http://www.indiosuper8.com
[edit] Random tourist trip facts
- Tejon Ranch: You might have noticed that there's a "now entering Tejon Ranch" sign a ways before you start up the Grapevine to Tejon Pass, and also that the rest area near the top of the pass is still within the ranch. How big is that place anyway? According to its web site:
- "With over 270,000 acres, Tejon Ranch is the largest contiguous expanse of land under single ownership in California. Its 426 square miles make it larger than the City of Los Angeles and about 40% the size of Rhode Island."
- Windmill farm on I-10: This windmill farm, located in the San Gorgonio Pass near Palm Springs, has over 4000 windmills generating electricity for Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. If you happen by when you're not in a rush, you can get a tour of the place.
- Scottsdale elevation: If you or your dog felt a bit winded when you first arrived, that might be because Westworld is at more than 1500 feet in elevation. By comparison, Placerville is at about 2000 feet--but most of us haven't been there in a while to practice our higher-altitude acclimatization.
- Scottsdale history: The area was inhabited by Hohokam ("vanished") peoples from about 300 BC to 1400 AD, who built some of the most extensive & ingenious irrigation systems known. When Anglos arrived in the area, the site was a Pima village. Jack Swilling was the first Anglo company to set up business in the Valley of the Sun area as the Swilling Irrigation Canal Company, making use of the existing network of canals, in 1868. In 1888, a U.S. Army chaplain named Winfield Scott bought the area for $2.50 an acre, and his brother, George Washington Scott, started the town known briefly as Orangedale before being renamed Scottsdale in 1894.
- Scottsdale Geology: The McDowell Mountains rise dramatically above Scottsdale, formed from Precambrian basaltic rocks dating back about 2 billion years. The tallest, McDowell Peak, is about 1230 meters (4023 feet) above sea level. Frank Lloyd Wright established his winter home there in 1937, eventually building Taliesin West. He designed many buildings in the area, and there is a Wright memorial in northern Scottsdale.
In 1951, Scottsdale had a population of about 2000; today, it's 222,000.
[edit] At the nationals
Arizona does NOT observe daylight savings time. Therefore, if you're there when California is in DST, Scottsdale is the same time; if California is currently in standard time, Scottsdale is one hour later.
[edit] Tips and hints
- Drinks: Drinks onsite aren't very cheap, but they're there.
- Food: In 2005, there was lots of food onsite (portable booths like you'd see at fairs, some pretty good); we ate breakfast & lunch there every day, so bring cash. Last years (2006 and 2007), selection was more limited. Dinners:
- Wed. night: Awards dinner at Westworld for those who like good food, comradarie, and cheering for your friends and teammates who've earned major awards. Reviews have been mixed--the arrangements in 2007 were not popular.
- Thurs & Fri nights: many people eat out; usually with others.
- Sat night: Steeplechase finals; some people eat onsite. Some people leave for dinner & come back.
- Sun night: Relay & GP finals in the afternoon, usually over by dinnertimish.
- Shopping: Tons of vendors! Be prepared!
- Walking: The site is HUGE. You'll be doing lots of walking. Be prepared. Many people bring bikes, scooters, etc.
- Computer: Some hotels have free wireless access. There is wireless access at Westworld but last year [I] couldn't figure out how to get it, although Karey & others did. Maybe need to be in the "in" USDAA crowd?
- Weather: 2005 was drizzly & cool and, for the evening finals, damn cold & (I) was the only one happy because I took my down coat. 2006 everyone was in shorts, all day every day.
[edit] Crating onsite
Crating with your friends: To crate with a bunch of friends, you must choose one person to reserve the quantity of spaces that you want. If you're going to do this, better do it early.
- (Thanks for the idea for the following tips from blogger Elayne at Days of Speed.)
The free crating spots went really fast (in 2006). Several people ended up having to crate at the end of the reserved crating tents, which was a bit awkward. "Even with an onsite RV I still needed a place closer to the rings to crate my dogs between classes."
The reserverd, open-sided tents (in 2006--sounds like they're doing the same thing in 2007) had nice shade and were quieter than the cramped free crating areas, plus they were slightly closer to the rings. And they have the bonus of not having to haul a canopy down from way up in the parking lot, set it up, and tear it down in a rush at the end.
[edit] The Size of Westworld
(Originally posted as part of the 2006 Bay Team blog.) I've been asked how big Westworld is. It's huge. The entire site must be 100 acres or more, but we were located only on the polo grounds, which is 19 acres all by itself.
From flyball and frisbee at one end to agility at the other end, it covers a huge amount of space because it's not square--it's about 3.5 times longer than wide--so my guess is that the polo grounds are about 1/3 mile from one end to the other. Although we never went as far as the far end, still, the area in which we were most active covered about 3/4 of the space, so one could easily cover 1/4 mile from the dog exercise and crating area to, say, the far side of the main agility ring or the far vendors.
Here's the polo field layout from the USDAA 2007 program:
For comparison, here's what it was in 2006 (more or less):
[edit] More Bay Team info about USDAA Nationals
- Visit Portal:USDAA nationals, our index into all our USDAA nationals-related pages
[edit] External links
- USDAA Event Program in PDF (map of the event area; lists of vendors; descriptions of the various events taking place; winners of previous cynosports years; etc.)
- Westworld
- More about Scottsdale
- About Frank Lloyd Wright
- About geology of the mountains in the Scottsdale area
