Notes from Sunday, Jan 21
When Laura Fawcett sent me the assignment schedule, she stressed “subject to change.” It didn’t take long for that to come true.
The first event I was supposed to cover today was the junior ladies short program.
That didn’t happen.
Not that I’m complaining, because I’m not. It’s kind of funny because aside from the 1998 U.S. Championships, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a junior ladies competition. Something always comes up.
Novice pairs short was added to my assignments, and what an event it was! The Convention Center is packed – literally standing room only. The crowd was insane, cheering loudly and really getting into the spirit. Only a couple falls throughout the pairs event, and program after program of polished, exciting skating. I remember previous years going to watch novice and junior pairs and feeling as though I needed a tranquilizer to calm my nerves watching the very shaky overhead lifts. Today, solid. Across the board, no one made me flinch. And for all the complaints that the new judging system ruins individuality in programs, I didn’t see a dozen cookie cutter shorts. I saw personality and innovation and simply enjoyable performances.
After Skate America in Hartford, I had named Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre my new favorite mixed zone skaters. Today they have been passed by the novice team of Minna Lee and Taylor Toth. Minna and Taylor held court like seasoned pros, teasing the reporters and telling tall tales with tongue planted firmly in cheek. They like the same music, a trait more important to them than matching lines in a tryout (or so they claim). They clicked. They riff, and show a bundle of respect tempered with humor. We were all laughing so hard. It was wonderful. I’m trying to figure out how I can take them home with me to entertain me when I’m having a bad day.
But before the novice pairs, it was novice compulsory dance. People may think I’m insane, but I love novice compulsory dance. I like almost any compulsory dance, really. For the first one, the European Waltz, I sat with fans, answering questions and hearing what they thought. The couple next to me received all-event tickets as a present for their 50th wedding anniversary. They were blown away by the talent of the novice dancers. After Sara Bailey and Kyle Herring skated, they knew they had just seen the top team. The whole audience reacted with the loudest applause I have ever heard for a compulsory dance at any level. It was wild!
When Maia and Alex Shibutani came out for their warm-up, the usual coos and “So cute!” could be heard. But Maia and Alex showed that while they might be short, their technique is top notch. And given that they are even stronger free dancers, it’s going to be quite the battle tomorrow.
For the Paso Doble, I headed backstage to take some candid photos. At one point Megan Evans was holding a leopard purse, asking if it went with her dress. Igor Shpilband grabbed the purse and modeled it himself. What he didn’t realize was that I was right behind him, capturing all of this on my camera. The skaters started laughing, and Igor turned. I just grinned. “You didn’t.” Yes, I did. One dancer exclaimed, “That’s so going on my MySpace!”
Part of the buzz among the dancers was about last year’s junior pewter medallist, Kaitlyn Weaver. Today at the Canadian Championships, Kaitlyn and her new partner, Andrew Poje, captured the senior bronze medal in the upset of our northern neighbor’s nationals. Kaitlyn made a lot of friends in the ice dance world, and everyone seemed so thrilled for her.
In addition to the dancers, you never knew who would be passing by my little backstage nook.
Naomi Nari Nam and Themi Leftheris came past after finishing an appearance at FanFest. Always shy and demure, they posed for photos with their bag of tortilla chips. Why? Well, why not.
Todd Sand stopped over to say hello. He and Jenni Meno were one of my first sit down interviews ever, so it is always nice to catch up.
Aaron Parchem, who is coaching some of the younger teams here in Spokane, took a break to chat, too. I worked with Aaron and former partner Marcy Hinzmann at Adult Camp this past June and found them to be wonderful people. (Well, not that I didn’t think they were before. Hmm, that didn’t sound right.) Anyway, Aaron said he’s much less nervous on this side of the boards. Most of the coaches I talk to have said the opposite, actually. I thought that was interesting. Aaron said when he was competing, his work was never done. As a coach, though, once he puts his skaters on the ice, it’s up to them.
I was able to catch up with Samantha Tomarchio and her mother, Mary. The Spokane medical team was arranging for Sam to have a head CT to check her after last night’s crash. Mary and I talked a lot about concussions, something I know about all too well, as I’m still recovering from one myself. Later in the day, I spoke to Mary and she said that Sam’s neurosurgeon from home has been in contact with the doctors here, and she is cleared to skate, assuming her symptoms don’t worsen. They are taking things minute by minute.
But back to the “subject to change”…
U.S. Figure Skating director of publications Troy Schwindt and I swapped the last two events, with me staying in the Convention Center for novice men and him taking the junior ladies over at the Spokane Arena. After spending some time yesterday talking to a bunch of the novice guys, I really wanted to see how things would play out. Unfortunately for the skaters, more than half of the spectators had already left, so there wasn’t the energy of the other events here today.
The guys really did well, though. Although he had a jump nightmare event, Grisha Fournier was one of my favorites. Grisha *performs* instead of just skates. His style is similar to Daisuke Takahashi, and just exciting to watch. One of my other favorites was Keegan Messing, the 4’4” Tasmanian devil from Alaska. Keegan barely touches the ice, skimming over it like Scott Hamilton. His program to Trans-Siberian Orchestra rocked, with an awesome Russian split jump his coach Rory Flack must be very proud of.
Photographer George Rossano wandered into the mixed zone and told me to interview him. I asked him how many U.S. Championships he had been to and which was his favorite. After thinking, I found out that Spokane is his 24th consecutive U.S. Championships. He also said that ‘84 was his favorite, but mostly because that was his first. I can relate. Cleveland was pretty amazing for me.
As I type this blog, the last group of junior dancers is finishing its practice. During an earlier group, Daphne text messaged me “Pilar is hurt.” I hate texts like that. I went backstage to find out what is going on. Pilar took two bad falls on her hip and was in extreme pain. The medical staff was working on her, and everyone waiting outside the door looked so sad. Daphne came back to tell me that the parents sitting in the stands watching were crying. No one wants to see anyone get hurt, and skating parents are the only ones who truly know what it feels like to see your child in such pain.
I hate to end a blog on such a sad note, but after fighting through food poisoning last year in one of the bravest efforts of the entire St. Louis Championships, I really hoped Pilar and John Corona would have a healthy and successful outing in Spokane. Fingers crossed that she will be OK. to top |