Farewell, Nick

[Mel On Ice]

One of the stories that slipped by from US Nationals. Definitely more poignant than the drama of who to pick for the World team:

We were startled when we heard the announcement that Nick LaRoche had withdrawn from the men's free skate last Sunday, since we had talked to him on Friday and he gave no hint that he wouldn't be competing. We asked him about it this week, and this is what he told us:

"I withdrew, not because I was injured or anything, but because I was completely satisfied with my long at sectionals and short at nationals. I achieved my goals and wanted to end on a great note."

After not qualifying for the 2008 championships, Nick had to face the death of his parents last July. He said he felt that everyone expected him to retire, but he decided to compete again for the love of the sport. He had a great free skate at the Pacific Coast Sectionals and qualified for the 2009 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships. "After skating very well in the short program," he explained. "I knew when I stepped off the ice after the short I was done. For once in my life, it wasn't about numbers or placement.

"I decided to not do the practice on Saturday or the warm-up on Sunday. During the warm-up, I went to the referee and said I was withdrawing. She asked for a reason, and I said I had had a really hard year and coming back to compete was to prove a point, not only to myself but to everyone else who immediately counted me out when I lost my parents this summer. I feel I have proved my point through the last two events I've done, and that's how I'd like to leave it."

At which point the referee got tears in her eyes, and we don't blame her. Nick says he plans to retire some time around April.

Best of luck to him and his sister, in everything they do.

[Schmeck]

While I have sympathy for his situation, as it must be absolutely horrible to lose both parents in one year, I do not respect is choice to withdraw. What about the skater that just missed qualifying for Nationals? Peter Lindstrom could have gone to Nationals and would have been glad to skate both short and free program, I bet. Nick should have withdrawn right after Sectionals (where he proved he could make it to Nationals again) and let the reserve skater (Peter Lindstrom) go.

The only point he has proven to me is that he's a wee bit self-centered (having to prove he could do it), and only thinking of himself. If I was his (late) parent, I'd actually be not so proud of him. I'd have wanted him to finish what he had started.

He should be proud that he made it to Nationals, of course, because he had more hurdles to make it over than most, but I still don't think he should have quit before the competition was over.

[phoenix]

I wouldn't take such a harsh stance as Schmeck, but I would definitely have wished he'd announced it earlier. Not officially withdrawing until the warmup could have thrown off the skater who would have followed him, based on how much time that skater had before his skate. They plan these things out pretty tightly, & it can be a little un-nerving to suddenly hear you have to be on the ice NOW, not 6 minutes from now like you thought.

That said I'm happy for him that he could go out on a high note, and wish him all the best.

[Schmeck]

After finding out the tragic details behind his parents' deaths, I need to apologize. While I still wish he had skated his free program and finished what he started, I can only imagine what must be going on in his head, even now.

I wish him some peace, and hope he can come to some kind of closure with what has happened to his family.

[TreSk8sAZ]

Nick did not have a good short program at Pac Coasts. He wasn't actually going to qualify. He had an amazingly inspiring freeskate that got himself into qualifying position for nationals. Many who knew his story were tearing up in the stands and he himself was emotional. I think I can understand that he wanted to prove to himself, especially after the short program at Coasts, that he could in fact go out to a major competition and complete a good short program.

While I agree he should have probably not withdrawn at warm-up, I can't fault him for withdrawing from the long. After the performance he had at Coasts in the free and the emotion that went into it, I just don't think he could have possibly done better and understand his want to go out on a high note.

[Mel On Ice]

And I imagine he didn't realize he was done until after the short at Nationals. Lindstrom will have his shot too.

[LilJen]

I wondered why he had withdrawn--figured he'd gotten injured (as if he needed it after all he's been through). Thanks for the update.

[PhoenixBird]

That was a somewhat moving story. It sounds like Mister LaRoche is a very good skater on the inside, as well as the outside.

[doubletoe]

If you saw his freeskate at his last Nationals, you might understand why he decided to quit right before the freeskate. The year before last, Nick skated so well in the SP that he was actually in the final group in the LP. He was on national TV and the pressure was on. IIRC, he hit the boards with his blade as he was setting up for his first triple axel, it sort of shook him up, and the program started to unravel and it got worse and worse as the nerves took over. If he was starting to have flashbacks of that skate, he knew the last thing he needed was to go through that again, especially on top of the stress he was already dealing with from this traumatic year.

I don't know Nick well, but I know him well enough to say that he is a beautiful person inside and out. I am very proud of him.