I really had a *lot* of fun at the World Professional Championships. The arena, atmosphere, and skating all added up to a great time. And as always, Surya did not disappoint. She skated really great in both programs. My only problem with this competition was the judging, which was really off mark for the technical portion of the event. Nevertheless, Surya put together two strong programs, and finished in 3rd place.
** All pictures on this page were taken by me. Please do not copy or reproduce without my permission. Thank-you. **
TECHNICAL PROGRAM:
Costume: Black, Purple, and Orange Body Suit with Multi-Colored Roots on the Right Leg (See Picture)
Music: Exotica & Duel of the Fates from The Phantom Menace Soundtrack (John Williams)
Review: In the technical program warmup, Surya kept practicing lone Triple Toes and Triple Salchows to loosen up. Just before her skate, she went to the boards and got some last minute advice from her mother, Suzanne Bonaly. I knew from the way she was moving across the ice in the warmup that she was going to really put something together, and she did! She opened up her program with a gorgeous Triple Flip jump. Nice height and controlled landing. After a bit of skating she completed a quick Split Jump into a Triple Toe-Triple Toe combination. Perfectly done, and the only Triple-Triple combination of the entire night, men included! With great command of the ice, Surya went into the "Bonaly" spin, where she goes into a half-sit position, grabs her non-spinning ankle, curls into a ball, brings her non-spinning foot behind her back with one hand holding the foot and the other holding the same leg's knee, and then brings the leg behind her up to shoulder/neck level, while maintaining both hand positions and the integrity of the spin, which is now a common spiral position. Absolutely breathtaking and wonderfully executed! She would also tack on a Double Axel and a Triple Salchow later in the program. Both jumps were very secure and had good air position. Then the Duel of the Fates section of the program kicked in, and Surya completed a nicely done straightline footwork sequence to the beat of the music right into her signature 1-Footed Backflip. She then hurried to the center of the ice for her dramatic, well-timed end to her program! Excellent program, with more technical difficulty than any other skater in the field. 4 Triples, a Double Axel, and a 1-Footed Backflip were completed, along with the most difficult combination of the evening, men included! The crowd loved it, and was very upset by Surya's marks. She was somewhat hurt by skating first, but that should only mean that judges should have awarded lower scores for later skaters. This is where I thought judging validity was in question. Both Denise Beillman and Tara Lipinski, who had technically inferior programs with less actual *skating* than Surya, garnered higher not only artistic marks, but technical marks as well! In a portion of the event that is supposed to be focused on the technical side of skating, this smacked of corruption. The fact that Surya was behind Denise Beillman, who even made a minor mistake, was unbelievable. Nevertheless, Surya skated well with the most speed and actual skating of all the ladies. There is no doubt that Surya should have won this portion of the event.
ARTISTIC PROGRAM:
Costume: 1998 "Caravan" Outfit w/Hair Up - Blue/Black Sparkling Outfit w/Open Back (See Picture)
Music: Magalenha from Dance With Me Soundtrack (Sergio Mendez)
Review: Surya was unjustly in 3rd place heading into the Artistic portion of the event, and I knew she'd deliver. While not quite as clean as in the Technical program, she really put out a great effort, and ended up in third place overall. Like at the ESPN Professional Championships, Surya skated her Magalenha program. This program really accentuates her musicality and rhythm. She opens with a bit of dance to some chanting and the drum beat. She slowly skates forward, and pops right up into a Double Axel, very well done. Next she skates up the ice, building speed for her Triple-Triple combination. She executes a nice Split Jump, right into a Triple Toe-Triple Toe combination. The first Triple Toe was flawless, but she lost her balance on the second Triple Toe, and had to put her hand down. She recovered quickly, though, and went with great speed and attack into three walleys followed by a Triple Salchow-Double Toe combination. Very crisp and secure. More dance steps to the beat of the drums, followed by a gorgeous straightline footwork sequence, right into a Forward Handspring! She would later do a few spin combinations and a Flying Camel with a Broken Leg layover. For the finale of the program, she skated with much flair down the ice into her 1-Footed Backflip. This move was a scare, however, as she seemed to lose her orientation in mid-air, and had to put her hands down. The exit was kind of sloppy, but she recovered and showed some nice choreography before ending right to the beat of the drums. The crowd loved it, and she included several really nice step sequences and innovative moves. The marks were a bit low. I knew she'd really perform, and she did! Before the show, I went out and got her a gift - a snowman which I modified to carry a French flag in one hand and a note in the other. I handed it to her as she left the ice, and she gave me a hug. Surya truly is such a nice person. She was one of the few skaters to stop and thank the fans who were presenting her with gifts and flowers. To the right is a picture of the gift that I gave her. I hope she liked it!
I think the Artistic Program marks were fair, although it was close between Surya and Denise for 2nd place! Had Surya not made slight errors on two of her elements, then she would have been second, and perhaps even first. Nevertheless, Surya finishes in 3rd, but she should be proud of the two great programs that she performed here. Next year, Surya will take this title!
After the show, I went to the Grand Hyatt hotel (where the skaters were staying) to try and catch up with Surya. While I missed her, I did see Suzanne Bonaly, who was carrying all her gifts. I briefly said hello and told her to wish Surya good luck next week in Kennewick!
**All photos of Surya from the Intro, Technical, Artistic, and Finale stages of the event can now be found in the photo gallery!**
Costume: Black, Purple, and Orange Body Suit with Multi-Colored Roots on the Right Leg (See Picture)
Perfectly done, and the only Triple-Triple combination of the entire night, men included! With great command of the ice, Surya went into the "Bonaly" spin, where she goes into a half-sit position, grabs her non-spinning ankle, curls into a ball, brings her non-spinning foot behind her back with one hand holding the foot and the other holding the same leg's knee, and then brings the leg behind her up to shoulder/neck level, while maintaining both hand positions and the integrity of the spin, which is now a common spiral position. Absolutely breathtaking and wonderfully executed! She would also tack on a Double Axel and a Triple Salchow later in the program. Both jumps were very secure and had good air position. Then the Duel of the Fates section of the program kicked in, and Surya completed a nicely done straightline footwork sequence to the beat of the music right into her signature 1-Footed Backflip. She then hurried to the center of the ice for her dramatic, well-timed end to her program! Excellent program, with more technical difficulty than any other skater in the field. 4 Triples, a Double Axel, and a 1-Footed Backflip were completed, along with the most difficult combination of the evening, men included! The crowd loved it, and was very upset by Surya's marks. She was somewhat hurt by skating first, but that should only mean that judges should have awarded lower scores for later skaters. This is where I thought judging validity was in question. Both Denise Beillman and Tara Lipinski, who had technically inferior programs with less actual *skating* than Surya, garnered higher not only artistic marks, but technical marks as well! In a portion of the event that is supposed to be focused on the technical side of skating, this smacked of corruption. The fact that Surya was behind Denise Beillman, who even made a minor mistake, was unbelievable. Nevertheless, Surya skated well with the most speed and actual skating of all the ladies. There is no doubt that Surya should have won this portion of the event.
Costume: 1998 "Caravan" Outfit w/Hair Up - Blue/Black Sparkling Outfit w/Open Back (See Picture)
More dance steps to the beat of the drums, followed by a gorgeous straightline footwork sequence, right into a Forward Handspring! She would later do a few spin combinations and a Flying Camel with a Broken Leg layover. For the finale of the program, she skated with much flair down the ice into her 1-Footed Backflip. This move was a scare, however, as she seemed to lose her orientation in mid-air, and had to put her hands down. The exit was kind of sloppy, but she recovered and showed some nice choreography before ending right to the beat of the drums. The crowd loved it, and she included several really nice step sequences and innovative moves. The marks were a bit low. I knew she'd really perform, and she did! Before the show, I went out and got her a gift - a snowman which I modified to carry a French flag in one hand and a note in the other. I handed it to her as she left the ice, and she gave me a hug. Surya truly is such a nice person. She was one of the few skaters to stop and thank the fans who were presenting her with gifts and flowers. To the right is a picture of the gift that I gave her. I hope she liked it!
