Up early for the 5:30am! Ice Dance Practice
B&K are scheduled for the first flight...we get there and no B&K! Only D&L oh well guess they needed a sleep in! D&L looked good, the free is a good vehicle for them, loyts of unique lifts and holds. They were great with the fans spent a long time signing autographs.
Was looking forward to the second flight with A&P. They looked relaxed. You can tell who the top teams are just by their stroking, amazing speed and edge control. I am not that jazzed over their free, no real story but as my friend put it, does there always have to be a story? Good point, just not my favorite program of theirs.
I was waiting for the next flight to see FP&M, since they were not at the previous days practice. I was surprised by the size of Maritzio(sp) He looks bigger on tv (typical skating observation lol) Well when they took to the ice they commanded the practice. Quite poised, head in air, stroking like they meant it with an air of LOOK AT ME!!! I was impressed by their speed but in person as well as on tv, there's a lot of 2 foot skating, Babara is the stronger skater it's so obvious. I have a feeling they will take the title but A&P will put up a fight but this is ice-dance lol
Outfits: Bets dressed A&P a lovley lilac sleeveless number for her, nice beading, so far I have been impressed. Gwendal looked good black pants, the top was a bit flowy but this is Ice dance lol My friend commented that don't some of the men put up a fight and say "I don't want to wear that!" But I think they are used to it, it's part of the artistic expression of the program lol
FP&M wore a dark blue velvet combo, a bit fussy on her dress with a heart pattern. Is it me, or are velvet pants off putting on men? Ok I know they reflect the light and wel other assets butt really?
Both A&P and FP&M were gracious with the fans I was thrilled to get both teams to sign my book. They were friendly, patient and talkative. I was impressed.
Men's
Onto the Men hahahah ......
I was looking forward to seeing Todd Eldrege and Alexi
Yagudin, both were no shows the day before.
So there I was admiring some of the men's (I won't go there) um jumps ya that's it, when the crowd was stirring a bit. Yags was sitting in the crowd, so ever the prepared skating fan, with sharpie marker in hand and book in the other, I followed the throng. I was impressed that he signed in the stands, I don't usually approach skaters when they are relaxing. I think that it's their time, but since I have World's Fever, what the hey! He signed quite a few, made a lot of people happy as Martha would say "A GOOD THING"
So back in my seat just watching a flight with no big names when Elvis comes out. Heads turn *whispers there he is* Then Brian Orser comes down the ailse to see Elvis. Brian was mobbed and I mean mobbed, curious that middle aged women can lose such control "LOOOOOOOOOK THERE'S BRIAN, CAN I GET A HUG???? Control yourself honey lol Brian was great, smiling alway the way. He's the best!
Elvis looked good just watching the skaters and focused.
He finally took to the ice, I was distracted by my friend who was convinced he was wearing a wedding ring GASP HORROR lol....yes it's on his ring finger but it's just a ring so no worries lol. This flight was hard to watch because Emanuel was there too. He looked good, he has a presence like no other, he looked relaxed but had a few falls.So no quads from Elvis, he looked good, his SP footwork is amazing but he is Elvis so it's a given. A few clean combos triples axels.
A moment now for a fashion up-date Elvis Orange polar fleece, black pants, white t-shirtEmanuel a stunning red ensemble with a mesh and white trim.
Emanuel was the last to leave the ice, he appeared to be enjoying the crowd. He had a few problems with his triple salcow, gearing up for a quad??? hmmmmm...
Now for the exciting flight of the day. Yags, Abt Plushy....aka whiplash lol Russian Guns out in full force! I was excited to see Yags and he didn't disappoint....turned out to be a bit of a "QUAD OFF" between Yags and Plushy....and yes guess who's doing the quad, triple double combo now? That's right Yags, landed 2 beauties right in front of me. Now if Plushy, Yags and Elvis all land them Mon Dieu lol
Highlight of the day....
The practise was over and the throngs of autograph seekers were hangin over the boards...the Anncoucer said.."Will all skaters please leave the ice...." Well Yags stayed and stayed,(while dodging the zambonis) then she had to say it again....so Yags turned to her then to the boards and then jumped up and sat on the boards as if to say "There yo go, happy now, my peeps need me" lol
One last flight left... Looking forward to Todd Eldrege. Ok have to admit it not a huge Todd Fan, sorry find him a bit I don't know Vanilla, he is good yes but I need more zing in his zang lol Have to say I was impressed, his triple axel is amazing, and spins to die for! He had a bit of trople in the triple salcow like Emanuel, now they are both reverse jumpers, so might be the reason, might not who knows.....no quads from Todd, will he attempt one or not?
Goebel was on too, he needs to mature a bit I think but he is Mr. quad, his jumps have great life, something that is missed on TV. Goebel signed autographs, he was cute....someone asked him to ask Todd to come over, he said you better ask "Richard Callaghan, twas funny.
Ladies
The ladies practise was a bit of a downer, no Kwan, Hughes, Slutskya, Malanina a bit of a non event....
Highlight was Butryskya (sp) She was relaxed I thought that she might me having boot problems though, keep looking down but her jumps were clean, she was also gracious with the crowd....signed my book, so got to like her.
Celebs in the crowd, Brian Orser, Rod Black actually the whole CTV team doing a few pre-broadcast stand-ups Issabelle Duscheny(sp) and Paul Martini.
Side note Tatiana Tarasova, she frightens me, dunno why lol
Fashion fax pause of the day goes to a lesser know French Dance Team. A bot so winning nude body stocking dress with not so strategically placed scarves, let's just say, made you look twice.
During the day there was a few press conferences with Elivs and a later one with Sandu and S&P.
When Elvis was asked if his was difficult to maintain his focus during the season with his injuries, he replayed no that he is healthy and ready to compete and has as good of chance as any.
S&P also remarked that they are healthy and ready to compete and don't feel that the high expectations for gold are a burden. They are soon to appear on a Cheerios box near you...when asked how they felt Jamie said they are honoured but David still wants to be on the Fruit Loops Box.
Well that wraps up day two, more skating to come,
Chee
Saturday March 17, 2001
Highlight of the day....