| 2005 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships Kansas City (Overland Park), KS April 13-16, 2005. Oh I was so nervous. Taking a year off from national competition does not help with getting used to all of the perceived pressure. It did not start out well with getting in late. I forgot about the time change and lost a desperately needed hour. Luckily Lori was already there and she changed my practice ice time to a late 9pm slot. However, she was skating at the same time, so that was fine. The practice went VERY well and I felt pretty good. However, Lori's skating sash (to identiy her as the person skating to the music at that time) fell off and due to her mask she could not see it and skated right over it. I was so worried that she had reinjured her knee - but she was fine and her spirits were up! Wed, April 13th. Could I be ANY more nervous? Today was qualifying, luckily it was early and I could get it over with. I felt my stomach in my through numerous times. I could not seem to get a grip. I was about 7th or so to skate. I took the ice, the music began and I started to skate so well. I felt fast and secure and was having a great time until out of no where I FELL!!! I had not yet fallen in competion as an adult. I popped right back up - acted like it did not bother me a bit and finished the program like it never happened. I never fall after a split jump so it was very weird! Maybe a hole got me, maybe nerves and jello legs?! It doesn't really matter because the lesson learned was that I could fall and get right back up and live to tell the story. Falling is not the end of the world!! I did not watch many people from my group, so I had no idea where I would place and I was concerned about how the judges would view my fall. The skate was very strong with the only problem being the fall. Results came out and I qualified 4th - so I got to skate again! I felt very good. Thurs, April 14th. Interpretive day! I love skating interp. You can never expect any normal kind of results, but you do it for fun, to show your creativity and to break from all the rules of freeskate. I skated to the "Typewriter" by Leroy Anderson and was a 60's secretary in a green wig. It was footwork intesive and was a challenge since I had not previously done much footwork. I had to skate first - never good! Lori skated to Tocatta en Fugue with a switch to Thriller. She took the house down. Not only did she get to skate last which is primo in Interp, but she got the crowd behind her. Oh I still laugh when I watch the video because she did such a great job. I love to see her face when she takes her mask off to reveal her big smile! Lori and I wanted to be on the podium together and we were! She won and I was third. Mary Poppins somehow beat me. Again - interp results are always wacky - you just have to do it for fun. Fri, April 15th - the day that my skating changed forever! |
| Skating Journal 2004-2005 Part 4 |