If anyone attended, woudl it be possible to post a review of the events? especially the championship events?!

There was no Masters Pairs event this year, but my friends John Hintze and Anne Krambeck won Adult Pairs! Way to go! We stayed so they could skate in the exhibition, left Michigan at 5 this morning, and got home in time for John and me to teach learn-to-skate this afternoon.
This was my first Adult Nationals, and I competed in Silver Ladies 11 B and Adult Interp. B. I didn't place very well in either one, but expected that since I only moved up to Silver last summer. For once, though, I managed to compete without shaking knees, so I was pretty pleased.
I was on the practice with the bad collision - my very first practice at Nationals, and only on the ice about 5 minutes when it happened. It was very scary. The skaters involved were both skating backwards and collided back-to-back right in front of me. The one who was hurt was skating very aggressively, and so rebounded a lot harder from the impact. There was a tremendous thud, and her gloves were knocked off - I've never seen anything like it. There was quite a bit of blood, and I helped pick up tooth fragments. We heard later that she had some stitches and a concussion besides the broken teeth. I certainly hope that she recovers quickly.
Aside from that, it was a wonderful week, and I hope I can go to Lake Placid next year!

I wanna hear if either Larry or Davin (or anyone for that matter) attempted a triple this year again at Championship Masters Men!!!

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Larry landed not one, but 2 triple salchow, one in combination with a 2toe. Davin landed 1 triple sal and fell on his double axel. I didn't stay for the result, but I'm sure that Larry won. He was wonderful.

(The eye roll is for "*sigh* I wish I was there to see THAT!!!")

Edited to add:

Yeap! He SUUUUURE did!!!

http://www.usfsa.org/events_results/...asters-men.htm

Larry: (Same for you, Davin!!! )

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

That was our very own Flutzilla!! She did such a great job at it too! (both events!)

I also want to second everyone's comments about it being a wonderful event - Thanks Michigan! I had a lot of fun and am proud of how I skated!

Hugs!
Danielle

Larry used to be a senior national competitor right?

Yeap!!!

http://www.ifsmagazine.com/pfeat68.html

He was also touring on the Ebony On Ice Tour this year...

http://www.ebonyonice.com/Larry_Holl..._holliday.html

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

And she had a pretty good standings to show for it too!!! GOOOO, Flutzilla!!!

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Did you notice that one judge gave her a 4.6 for presentation!!!!

And her coach was really cool, she was pointing out where she should start like "go out there now" kinda thing! ;-)

Hugs!
Danielle (proud of her skate too!)

I guess that's how I'd describe my experience @ AN '03.

On Wed. and Thu., I had this painful knot in the small of my back which cost me my Gold Ladies I event. It started before I left my house on Wed., and got worse with the 4 1/2-hour drive up (even though I was smart enough to take three breaks along the way). During the warm-up Thu. morning, it was so bad I could hardly stand on those two thin blades of steel; and my friend's coach could tell I was in agony. I thought I'd have to scratch, until a lady I happened to run into in Locker Room D gave me some Bayer Aspirin. After that, I got "out there" all right, but the elements just weren't "there" like I wanted them to be. I was so focused on my back pain that I messed up my flying camel in the beginning, which pretty much set the tone for the rest of my program. Very disappointing. However, I got 7th out of 9, which is actually still better than last year!

On Fri. night, I got to skate in the Exhibition program. In case you haven't figured it out, I was a the Jellicle Cat who skated to The Jellicle Ball. People really enjoyed my costume and my program! Also, by this time, after a free massage, some hot patches, and some more Bayer Aspirin, I was feeling 150% better (too bad I didn't think of all that before Gold I).

On Sat. afternoon, I had my Masters Ladies Interp. I program, which I felt was a complete success, having skated a fast, clean program and once again bedazzling people with my great costume. In fact, total strangers came up to me to have their photos taken with me! I thought I'd at least made the medal stand, but had to settle for 6th out of 15. Still amazingly high and lots better than last year, though!

Also, I was disappointed for having to miss my coach's Master's Champ. program. I knew he'd win it with his amazing triples!

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This space has been put on hiatus for retuning....

Bad back pain and you still placed 7th out of 9th!!! Sheesh, that's determination!!! Congrats to you!!!

And while I'm ... Please pass on this from me to your coach...

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Im back from AN and i had an awesome time watching everyone compete this past week. Everyone who skated this week should be soo proud of themselves for skating sooo well.

Some highlights from this week were the masters men. Davin skated very well but fell on his 2axel. He had great presintation and was a joy to watch skate. Davins interp number was awsome he dressed as Dorthy from the wizard of oz. It was really funny and he skated very well. Larry landed two triples and one in combination.

The silver mens two interp was very funny to watch. My poor coach had to go on after the guy dressed as Dame Edna skated. There were alot of very funny programs in that group. My coach skated very well and placed 4th. Yea Duane.

The adult pairs were pretty good to watch. The team that won skated really well. The reason there were no master pairs at the event this year was beacuse they bumped up the test requirments and you have to be at least silver level to skate adult pairs and gold to do master pairs and also the team that won the master even last year retired.

I just have to say that Jays hair was sooo awesome looking for his interp program. i couldn't take my eyes off of him.

The silver mens two event had a large field and im sooo proud of my coach beacuse he finshed 2nd in his group and skated great and hit a georgeous camel spin . The guy who won landed an axel and skated a very clean program. also some of the items were very funny that were thrown out on the ice during this event and made it even more interesting.

The exhibition fri night was cool to watch. I loved Davins balloon number from last year and im glad he did it again. The lasy who skated to the streak song was very very funny and soo was the ballet dancer.
I also enjoyed jays exhibition number along with the skaters from the Ann Arbor club.

I also have to say congrats to the guy who won the silver mens 1 group beacuse this is the first time he ever landed an axel in competition.

Well thats all i can think of for now. Im still really tired so when i think of more i will let you know.

Also feel free to ask me about specific events. Ill try to tell you what i can about them.

Again thank you AAFSC and all of the skaters for such a great week. I had the best time watching you all.

Davin's interp was so great! It was a medely of quotes and songs from the Wizard of Oz in order from the beginning of the movie until the end. He skated with a basket with a little dog and other things like a spray bottle with the word H2O on it lol.

We ordered in on tape lol.

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I passed Junior Moves! ::happy dance::

What's a yuffie? Beats me... it sounded funny so I'm using it.

I just got back. Had a GREAT time even though I had to scratch (Silver III). Sk8er1964 had a FABULOUS skate, and just for the record, judge #7 is the only one that had it right!!!!

I attended the Charlie Butler seminar today. It was great. If you ever have a chance, take it. (Advanced stroking, footwork and hydroblade principles).

AAFSC did a great job. I sure hope they will consider again.
Has anyone heard any rumors on where AN will be in 2005?

Haha yeah we said there should have been more judge sevens.

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I passed Junior Moves! ::happy dance::

What's a yuffie? Beats me... it sounded funny so I'm using it.

Just thought I'd add my two cents. I had a great time at my first AN's this year! I was bronze 1A, I placed 7th out of 13. I would have loved to have made the finals, but not bad for my first try! Interp didn't go so well, I got last. I had a good program, but it seemed the more entertaining programs medaled, I had a dramatic. It was only my second time skating it in the past month, as our ice went out March 16, and the ice time I did have was spent on my freeskate.
Overall though I had a wonderful time, I was surprised at the quality of skating at all levels and age groups, and it motivated me that I can do axels and doubles someday too!
I hope Ann Arbor hosts again in a few years, I loved the facility, and it was within driving distance for me. Hopefully I won't be there next year
(my husband and I are planning to try to start a family after this summer, sorry...I hope that wasn't too much information,) but I can't wait until 2005!

Mel on Ice - Just wanted to let you know that my friend was NOT the one involved in the collison - turns out she scratched before even leaving TN. Makes me feel much better for her, and also that she wasn't the one that caused your friend to be so shaken up.

Anyway, congrats to all that skated at AN - I have never had the guts in almost 6 years of skating to skate in competition, so you get major kudos from me.

All the best!

I see that one of the guys who I occasionally share ice with, Christopher Williams, won three medals (silver in championship gold men, silver in masters interp, and gold in gold men II). Did anyone see his programs?

I didn't get to see Chris skate this time, but I have seen him skate before. He's rawther amazing--he's been known to do a hydroblade into a double Sal.!

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This space has been put on hiatus for retuning....

Yes! I saw his skating...and he was GREAT! Loved his Chim Chiminy interpretive. I'm sure I gave him a few standing ovations.

Had a wonderful time this AN. I'm amazed every time I go at the level of Championship Masters skating....truly inspiring and many skaters could hold their own with some of the senior tests I've seen. A few comments:

Skater1964 has the most beautiful axel along with lovely difficult footwork and great skating overall! It was unfortunate that she skated early in the group, as I feel she was "forgotten" by some judges, except for the infamous judge #7!) By next year, she is going to have some very solid doubles. Very happy to meet you Skater1964!

Also pleased to meet Raine, who has to be terribly proud of her medal (3rd) in her group. Congratulations! (See, we told you to go ahead and go to AN!)

Most courageous moment.....A Masters Champ lady falling and dislocating her shoulder. She then got up in serious pain and finished her program with a beautiful flying camel....amazing!

Thanks guys! I do believe that Judge #7 is a man of infinite wisdom and knowledge . No matter my placement, I was thrilled with my skate, especially after having to deal with this injury for so long. The support from the crowd was wonderful, too - it really helped my in my program (between those of you who were there, my family, and my skating buddies from Plymouth and Ann Arbor, it got quite loud).

This entire week was terrific! I can't remember having this much fun in a long time - even when I was working it was great to talk to and meet other competitors. It's time to start saving for Lake Placid!

I really didn't get to see all that much skating, except for Saturday after my event, but what I did see was great, at all levels. The masters men were truly amazing, as were the masters ladies. What guts the lady who dislocated her shoulder had - to finish (when she was obviously in a lot of pain) with a flying camel that would make most of us envious without her being hurt....wow.

Congrats to Raine on her medal! It was great meeting you. Black Sheep, I'm glad you had fun and good skates. And Elsy2 and Michigansk8er - thanks for the support and the fun .

A big THANK YOU to the AAFSC for running such a wonderful Nationals! I was really impressed. The events ran on time and practice ice seemed to be plentiful. The Ice Cube is a great venue with ample seating, and with competitions taking place in two rinks, there was always something interesting to watch.

It was great to meet Skater1964, Elsy2, and Michigansk8er. As previously mentioned, Skater1964 indeed gave a wonderful performance. She was smooth and powerful with nice clean edges and great footwork. Her Axel was very secure, and all of her elements were presented with assurance and amplitude. You'd never know that she'd been struggling with an injury. She was very pleased with her performance and rightfully so.

Incredibly, I finished 3rd in Ladies Bronze III. Since I had finished either mid-pack or lower in my previous three comps, this was a surprise. I had a few rough patches in my program and wished I'd skated a lot faster and more smoothly, but I have to say that the support from the crowd led me to finish the program more strongly than usual.

I gotta say I can't thank you guys enough for encouraging me to go to ANs, not so much because I medalled (which was unexpected!), but because I would've missed out on so much else. Thank you for encouraging me to persevere and honor my commitment to this event.

I'll have to go back to my notes and post again, but I just wanted to throw in a few comments and keep the thread going.

Cheers,
Raine

I thought ANs this year was fantastic too. The Ann Arbor Club runs it so well, and everything is so organized. Plus all the hotels, venues and restaurants are so convenient to each other. And before I left yesterday morning I stopped at Zingermans Deli to load up on the best homemade bread in teh country, so I have a freezer full of it now! I hope some of you guys made it there...they've been written up for years as one of the best delis in America. (But if you missed it, don't worry, they have a mail-order catalog.)

I can't complain about my placements...I moved up a level this year and knew that skill-wise it was going to be a whole new ball game, and it was!

My first event was Junior 1. I didn't land the jumps that I should have, but my spins and edges were the best I had done all year, so I was pleased. I came in last, but lucky for me, there were only four of us, so I still medaled! And honestly, the level of the girls was so good that even if I had skated clean I STILL would have been last! I did have the best warm-up of my life however, landing every jump plus my double-double combo. So I was pleased at least the judges and audience knew that I COULD do it (just not when the music started...grrrrr.)

My second event was Masters Champ. Ladies, and my first year in it. I only made one jump mistake, and my spins and speed were very strong, especially considering that I'd had the flu two weeks before and hadn't trained the program properly at all. So I was just happy that I made it through the whole thing! Again I had a good warm up, landing the double double combo, but I made it a double-single in the program. I placed 9th out of 12, which was fine because my goal was not to be 11th or 12th! What made me happier was when so many random people came up to me after the event to tell me how much they enjoyed my program and the choreography, and how it really livened up the crowd (all the other girls skated to classical pieces while I skated to an Eric Clapton/Jazz medly). I even had a lot of people tell me that they thought I should have placed higher, like 7th. Cool!

And the icing on the cake...after two years of embarrassing crotch shots from the official photographers, I finally got several decent pictures!

Now I know what I need to do this year to be ready for next year. Can't wait to get started, actually. Usually after ANs I'm really tired and want to take time off, but I'm really motivated already for next year!

And yes, the Masters Ladies girl who fell and got up to finish anyway is awesome, She's a good buddy of mine, and she's doing just fine. We were all impressed that she had the cojones to go out and finish!

Many congrats to all of you! Broken teeth, numb feet and backaches – you guys are real troopers! And thanks for the excellent reporting and sharing with those of us in the electronic stands.

-- wannask8