| 2009 US Adult Nationals Grand Rapids, MI |
| April 22, 2009 ~ Wednesday 7:00am to 7:30 - I originally have my official practice at 11:45, but I figured it was too close to my event. So I chose to skate at 7am. I took my time and did not do anything crazy that would tire me out. I tried a runthrough of Carmen and managed. I ended up working up a sweat. 8:00am to 11:00 - Got back to my hotel and took a nap. 11:30am to 3:00pm - Rick Bretweiser and Aaron Gillespie was very nice to pick me up from my hotel. Aaron was my coach for the day and helped me get ready mentally for my competition. I was relaxed going into it and didnt feel the pressure until I was next to the boards waiting to get on for warmup. Warmup: As much as I can I tried to get into a positive zone and was contimplating on changing my program to an easier music piece. I did a good loop, flip and lutz and felt fine. Competition skate: For some reason my thoughts were together and thought everything would just fall in place. I started out with: ~ the lutz since it was the jump that was giving me fits during the week, ~ then proceeded into a Flip/Toe-Loop/Loop, ~ Flying camel was suprisingly there! After flopping on my stomach the whole week, ~ I started to feel sooo tired, I was going into a planned deathdrop, but though that my edge would give in, ~ Flip (so tired) ~ ena baur into a salchow ~ lunge into a scratch spin Then towards my ending pose, my right knee slipped under me and I fell on my stomach!!! This was the lowest technical content I have ever skated since 2004 - of course this wasn't on purpose. I knew then and there that a bronze was expected. What I've learned is to take total control of my skating this coming season and use all my resources to help me skate at the Championship Gold level. A 2nd bronze medal in a row is really embarassing and not acceptable. Grand Rapids, Michigan ~ April 21, 2009 ~ Tuesday 5:00am - I was too anxious all night and only had 3 hrs of sleep. 6:45am - My car service picked me up and dropped me off at the airport. I felt sooo lethargic.... 10:15am - Landed in Kentucky for my connection flight 12:45pm - Landed at Grand Rapids, Michigan 4:45pm to 5:45 - The rink is so cold, colder than usual skating rinks. I warmed up slowly and when I got to the flip, my body's timing was all off and ended up botching it. (I thought of last year's scenarios where I did the same) The second Flip was the same again!!! Ugh, so I re-organized my thoughts and finally did one. My lutz attempt though was the same.... My body was slowly freezing up. When it was my turn for my music to be played I chose to do Carmen. It seemed reasonable with the jumping pass and the layout of the program. I got the first jumping pass but the rest was all movements I was choreographing on the spot. When the second session started (at 5:15), I decided to try some of my flying spins. Flying camel attempt 1 - SPLAT Attempt 2 - SPLAT I landed splat on my stomach on both tries. I later on tried a deathdrop and at least I stayed on my foot, but didnt accomplish the spin. I decided to have my music played again, and this time I chose Tosca. I tried another Flying Camel and same splat on the ice :-/ So in conclusion, I hope and pray things work out tomorrow. I saw my starting order and I am very happy that I am skating last. (A good omen for me most of the time) Thank you all for your kind wishes :-) Practice ~ April 20, 2009 ~ Monday After not being on the ice for 5 days, I finally got up at 4:00am and went to the rink. 6:10am - I skated very slowly and didnt want to rush anything, but at the same time I dont want to go into a daze. 6:40am - Did a few jumps W, Sal, Lo, Fli-as soon as I picked in my right muscle below my shins tightened and felt a sharp pain, and as soon as I landed it - it got worse. After stroking around and trying to wait if the pain would go away, it didnt. So I left the ice at 6:50 and decided not to make things worse. Unfortunately I couldnt decide on the music today. After playing a couple of pieces, I just cant find to stick to something. ~ ~ ~ I realize this is the first time I am going into a competition that I am not prepared 100%, the past at least I was 75% prepared. I thought that by January things will click in and start training. Unfortunately things did not go as planned. ~ ~ ~ |
