 Archway Anecdotes #5 - Dancin' Away in St. LouisU.S. Figure Skating Correspondent Senior dance practice gives me a good chance to check out who's doing what.
Notes from Tuesday, Jan 10 6:50 a.m.
I wake up before my alarm goes off. That’s a good feeling, actually.
8:18 a.m.
Over at Savvis to watch senior dance practice. I see Susie Wynne wearing an almost identical color scheme as I am, including the same color poncho. As a fan of Susie, that’s kind of cool.
8:47 a.m.
First group of dancers have finished. Susie asks if I’m going to teach her how to text message. (At the Marshall’s U.S. Figure Skating Challenge in Boston last month, Terry Gannon told the television audience that Susie doesn’t know how to text message. I ran into her at the end of the event and said I would show her when we saw each other in St. Louis.) We don’t have time today but will catch up later this week. Will let you all know how it goes.
9:36 a.m.
Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre come over to talk to Susie. Daphne and I are sitting a couple rows behind, and Daphne comments to Brent that if we wanted to be sneaky, we could eavesdrop and I could blog it. Brent says I should tell everyone that Kim is very mean to him and that she and her boyfriend make him eat brussel sprouts and beets.
9:55 a.m.
Back on the bus to go over to the Family Arena. It’s a full bus and the girl next to me never complains that she’s squished because my mangled suitcase is crossing into her legroom. She’s a redhead, so that could explain why she’s a good person.
11:03 a.m.
The novice free dances are doing their warm-up. Madison and Keiffer Hubbell (pictured) are doing their inverted hydroblade move center ice. Another team is skating backwards towards them and Madison, who is nearly lying on her back, hollers out. It just sounded weird to hear her voice so loudly from that position.
11:23 a.m.
Novice men are about to start. The announcer asks that “we please rise for—“ and is cut off by the blast of rock music. I’ve never had to stand for rock music. Quickly, though, the national anthem music comes on.
11:24a.m.
Officials are being introduced, so I’m off to watch. More later.
12:27 p.m.
Eliot Halverson’s vest is very sparkly. From up on the concourse, it almost looks electrified.
12:36 p.m.
Speaking of electrified—and Eliot—his program is officially the first one this week to bring tears to my eyes.
1:06 p.m.
I notice Curran Oi’s stretch and extension and it reminds me of Mark Mitchell. I then look over to where the coaches watch their skaters and voila—Mark Mitchell is his coach.
1:07 p.m.
Curran is setting up for his final jump and I catch Mark out of the corner of my eye. As Curran comes down from the jump (successfully) I notice that Mark jumps about four feet off the ground in celebration.
5:30ish
One again, Rhiana Brammeier rocks the mixed zone. A lot of novice skaters don’t have media training, but Rhiana is a natural. She’s composed and mature but still has the raw enthusiasm. Can’t top that.
The next 90 minutes
Sometimes articles just fly and writing them comes so quickly. Not so for my novice ladies article. I don’t know why, and it’s annoying me. I have so much to work with, good quotes, and cool statistics. Maybe it’s too much of a good thing.
7:06 p.m.
My novice ladies article is finally finished and only the Hubbells are left to skate. At least I get to watch one team. I love their free dance ever since seeing it in August.
A little later
In December of 2002 I covered the U.S. Junior Championships in Lake Placid where Madison and Keiffer Hubbell won juvenile dance. At one point I made the off-the-record statement that “the Hubbells rock” and a few people caught on to it and I still get it quoted back to me. Having had the opportunity to talk to, photograph, and write about them, I’ve got to say, they still do.
9:00 p.m.
Junior pairs are practicing, but I’m getting ready to take off for the hotel. Lots of dance tomorrow. Yankee Polka! Wheeeee! to top |