Notes from Thursday, Jan 25
It’s the halfway point of the 2007 U.S. Championships and I’m feeling it. Actually, it feels like my travel day was a million years ago. So much has happened since I arrived in Spokane.
Every time I’ve covered the entire event, I think of it in three parts. The first two or three days are all about the novices and the excitement and energy they bring. The last two or three days are the Big Events. We’re talking live TV and the best of the best in U.S. skating.
Right now we’re in that middle part, a mix of juniors and senior short programs. Not that the juniors are boring, but it feels like the eye of the storm. It’s strangely calm and relatively quiet. More and more media people are making their way to Spokane. The press room is filling up with familiar faces. Earlier in the week, the reporters and photographers are usually just the local paper and the skating magazines. Now I’m surrounded by Nancy Armour, Jo-Ann Barnas, Christine Brennan, Phil Hersh, John Powers and Amy Rosewater.
The local news outlet people have become sucked into the wonderful world of skating. They are starting to recognize the skaters and the elements and what makes a good program.
The junior dance was a tight, exciting battle with lots of excellent skating. I swung through backstage during the Zamboni break and the atmosphere was definitely different that the compulsories and the original dance.
I can’t remember ever competing against my best friend for exactly the same thing that only one of us can have. Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates, and Madison and Keiffer Hubbell are not only amazing on the ice, but are pretty inspiring off of it. The photos of them that are displayed on the scoreboard were ones I took in August in Lake Placid. What a season they’ve had since then!
Today was a quiet day compared to the rest of the week – only three events and three press conferences. Unfortunately for me, I woke up very sick and missed all the press conferences and junior men. I’m pretty wiped out right now, so this will not be my most exciting blog ever. Must have energy for the rest of the week. to top |