 The second-to-last day of competition at the 2007 U.S. Championships turned out to be full of surprises and top-notch skating.
Notes from Friday, Jan 26
(1/26/07) - I had a difficult time figuring out what to write about today. Because I wasn’t on any news article assignment, I didn’t focus too much on the specifics of the competitions. I actually did something I rarely get to do: watch and enjoy.
Some of the skating newbie media people come over with their start orders and ask which ones they need to make sure they shoot. I’m always relieved when the skaters don’t let me down and make me look bad. Because, of course, it’s all about me.
Because I haven’t been feeling very good this week, I’ve missed most practices. Usually they give a great insight into who’s on top of their game. I didn’t see any pairs practice, so Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski’s win came as a pleasant surprise. And by pleasant, I don’t mean any disrespect to Rena and John or Naomi and Themi. It’s just so exciting to see a skater go all out and rock the arena and then get rewarded with the scores.
Rhea Sy and Cole Davis were one of the teams who looked like they had the skate of their lives. Rhea was so thrilled and it was fun taking photos of her reactions.
Brooke and Ben were amazing. Seeing their split triple twist was the highlight of the competition for me. Since the judging system change, I feel like pairs programs have taken such a step backwards. So many of them are boring and safe and lately it seems like a clean program is as rare as a +3 GOE. If I want to see a low double twist, I’ll watch novice. I want to see big air. Why is it that the pairs are doing less difficulty than skaters in the 80s? Yes, the combination spins are difficult and change positions, but they are also slow and not very pretty. Pairs used to be such an athletic highlight of a competition, and now the discipline has become rather boring.
The dance event pretty much rocked. Isabel Elliman and Dmitriy Serebrenik’s program to “Movin’ Out” was a definite crowd pleaser. They may have come in last, but they definitely got the crowd clapping along.
I talked to Nick Traxler briefly backstage after he and Charlotte finished. He said he’s going to miss their free dance because it was so much fun. That must be weird to have something that was such a big part of your life for so many months suddenly be gone.
The battle for the podium was interesting. Kim and Brent looked like they were having the time of their lives out there. A lot of the time it’s easy to spot the skater who is smiling and doesn’t really mean it. With Kim and Brent, they couldn’t *stop* smiling.
Melissa and Denis have never impressed me more than tonight. They received the biggest ovation by far and earned every standing Spokanian. The program built and built into a frenzy. So, so exciting.
Meryl and Charlie looked a little scared when they took the ice and were waiting for their introduction. First time at senior U.S. Championships, skating on live TV and two tenths of a point out of silver, had to be pretty intimidating. They completely rose to the occasion, not holding back and flying around the ice like old pros. All these years skating together have made them such a force to reckon with. They aren’t mushy romantic, but have this wonderful synergy that draws you in.
For Tanith and Ben, it was a debut they can be proud of. They both talked about the limitless potential “Amelie” has. For being only weeks old, the program is pretty wonderful. It’s a different style for them, very lyrical and flowing. I’m glad they are going to Four Continents because I selfishly want to see the program as much as possible.
My favorite moment of the night was right before the skaters were going out for their medals. Kim Navarro looked like she was going to burst. “I’m getting a medal!” she exclaimed, jumping up and down. It wasn’t bragging. It was the pure joy of a dream realized.
It’s the kind of moment that makes me love skating.
Editor’s Note: And then Kim Navarro tripped on the carpet on the way out to receive her medal. That’s how excited she was. to top |