Brammeier Floats Through Novice Ladies Short Program
by Michelle Wojdyla  (St. Charles, Mo., 1/8/05) - The novice ladies short program took place this afternoon at the 2006 State Farm U.S. Championships. The top three ladies come from
Minneapolis,
New York and
California, demonstrating talent from all across the country. Rhiana Brammeier (St. Paul FSC) stands in first with 47.98 points, taking the highest scores in both technical elements and program components. Michaelee Scarincio (
Saratoga SpringsSC) is in second with 45.54 (the second highest scores in both) and Victoria Rackohn (All Year FSC) is in third with 43.22.
Rhiana Brammeier’s performance to “On Golden Pond” was simply stunning. Dressed in a hand-cut, faux feather dress created by her mother, Brammeier’s arms mimicked the loon’s call, accenting the music and creating a mood.
“I’m not so much telling a story as I’m trying to portray a character,” she said. I’m trying to portray a loon. It’s Minnesota’s state bird. I’m just trying to be the loon and be very relaxed during the program and be very mellow and peaceful. You know, when you are watching a pond and it’s a sunrise, where you’re very relaxed and calm.”
Woven throughout the Minnesota zen were jumps including a triple Salchow-double toe combination, a triple loop and a double Axel. Brammeier (pictured) put her hand down on the ice on the Axel but saved herself from sitting down.
“I was really relaxed and I just pulled in a little too tight and overrotated just a little too much,” she said. “Sometimes when I get too relaxed it tends to happen. I saved it so I was really excited about that.”
Brammeier’s skating is the complete package, doing all facets well. She received level 4s on both of her spins.
“I think my spins are one of my stronger points because I worked so hard on them … on just perfecting and getting the bullets for the new points system,” Brammeier said. “I also work really hard on my edge quality and basic stroking.”
She credits three people with inspiring her on this.
“I think Kurt Browning is very, very good at his edge quality and he is incredible. And my coach Ted Engelking - he’s coached me since I was really little - just working edges every day. That’s really who’s introduced me to the edge world. And (coach) Ann [Edison] has also really worked on no wiggles and just smooth, straight edges.”
Scarincio laid down a beautiful, soft program to “Secret Garden.” A former dance champion and a current performer with the New York City ballet, Scarincio’s light style perfectly complemented the delicate music. Her arms are mesmerizing, leading her from element to element. She fought for her triple toe and made the triple Salchow-double toe look easy. Maximizing the Biellmann’s impact on her scores, she used two in her spiral sequence and another in her spin. Adding difficulty to her double Axel, she preceded it with a split jump and spread eagle entrance.
“My short program I usually skate clean, but I was really excited because this is my first time at novice ever and my first time ever at nationals,” Scarincio said. “It was my goal to make it here, and I’m just really excited that I’m second going into the free skate.”
Scarincio laughed when it was suggested she may be missing a few vertebrae.
“I’ve been dancing since I was two and a half. It comes naturally,” she said. “I’m flexible, I guess. I stretch every day to make sure I keep it up.”
Rackohn’s interpretation of “Samson and Delilah” showcased her stretch and control. Her spins were perfectly centered, the layback gaining a level 4 with mostly +1 for GOE. She was the only skater to do a clean double loop as the second jump in her combination, tacking it on to her double Lutz.
“I thought I skated really well,” Rackohn said. “I came here and I was determined. I did what I wanted to do. My goal is to skate a lot better than last year (12th in the SP), and I did.”
Rackohn is a fan of the new judging system.
“I’m really happy because I can do the spins and spirals,” she said. “I love the jumps, but I also like to try new positions in the spins and spirals.”
Also of note in the competition is local skater Debbie Knubley of St. Louis. Knubley was struck down with food poisoning yesterday, receiving IVs to help rehydrate her and prevent her from having to withdraw. She turned out of both jumps in the triple Salchow-double loop combination and had to put her hand down on her triple toe, but she fought through the program.
“I didn’t get out of bed until an hour before I skated,” Knubley said. “I was just trying not to fall over. My legs were really weak and wobbly. It was awful last night. I didn’t sleep. That wasn’t so much fun.”
Despite being in 11th after the short program, Knubley remains optimistic.
“Right now I’m trying to stay positive, keep my focus, and skate the best that I can. I was pretty proud of myself for not being able to stand up not too long before [the competition, and then] coming and skating.”
The novice ladies conclude tomorrow with the free skate. |