Kurt Browning in Newmarket

[michelca]

Today was the day. I hope we will read comments on who skated and how well they have skated.:)

[erin_m]

There is a little review over at FSU (mainly about Bourne and Kraatz who were indeed there).

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2254

[luckiest1]

I didn't take notes...but here are some general impressions.

First off, B&K were fabulous! They did both their new programs. Not going to go into details as the thread on FSU says it all.

Kurt did his clown number in the first half (extremely well done and well received) and the one where he holds the Christmas gift in the second half (again amazingly done, people around me were just ooohing and aahing all over the place LOL).

Brian did the same two numbers from last week's Holiday On Ice in Kitchener - he was great as always.

Jeff Buttle did Angels and his new Christmas number (same as Kitchener) - the crowd loved him.

Jen Robinson did her Tiger number in the pink dress, and also the Christmas number as shown on Holiday on Ice in the bright sparkly green dress. She skated well.

The surprise of the night for me was Joannie Rochette - OMG did she look awesome! Whoever said her jumps weren't on mustn't have been watching the same thing I was - she landed everything, and the jumps seem to come out of no where - no hesitation, no telegraphing, and her presentation is gorgeous. I think she just may be the future of Canadian women's skating. Can't wait to see her at Canadians.

Ken Rose skated one number, which was a nice treat. He wore a sparkly silver/grey top.

Josee had a bit of trouble on her jumps, but skated two times. Sorry I can't remember any details....

Lenny & Jaz opened with a serious number, very pretty, and then came back with a really fun number with Lenny wearing antlers.....one scary moment when they did the head banger and he kind of released her funny, but she was ok.

There was also a local girl who skated, whose name escapes me right now, but she did well, and the crowd really gave her a good round of applause.

Other highlights included the "Timbits", the little tots, all skating with hockey jerseys and helmets on.....at the end of the show Kurt picked one up under each arm and carried them off the ice LOL. There were a few Santa appearances.....hard to tell who they were under the costumes, but one did a backflip, so..... :) A local high school choir performed, starting by walking through the stands, and ending up on a raised platform in the middle of the ice, while the skaters skated around them doing the finale number.

It was a really well put together show and it will apparently be shown on Rogers Cable TV in the future "in rotation" whatever that means. The only downfall of the night was the confusion over seating - no one was clear on where the "bleachers" were, so many people sat in the wrong seats and were asked to move after all the good seats had been taken. Hopefully in future these things can be marked for those ticket holders, because being harrassed by various arena members to move when you have sat where you were told doesn't make for a very pleasant start to the evening! (OK rant over ;) ).

[jcspkbfan]

Thanks for the great review, luckiest1--it sounded like a wonderful show! I was especially happy to read about how well Joannie Rochette skated last night--I was really impressed with her last season and I was disappointed to hear about her injury last fall! Glad to hear she's recovered! Ditto for B&K! :)

I'm also happy to find out this show will be televised--even if it is on a channel I can't get in my area. :cry:

[calypso56]

I happened to surf onto Rogers' TV yesterday afternoon about 3 PM and saw B&K skating. Figured it must be the Newmarket show, so hung up my clicker and watched the whole thing. What a treat!

Isn't it a shame B&K were not able to compete this year? It must have been a bittersweet moment for them to get such warm response to their competition numbers that no one else had seen.

Quite a bit was the same as the Kitchener show, which I saw in person. Joannie Rochette was a wonderful addition. She is not a little girl anymore, she is simply luscious! Oh, and her jumps are excellent, too.

Jazz and Lenny seem to be headed along the same path as Brasseur and Eisler. They have a similar approach to their skating. I was just happy neither one was hurt in their exhuberance!

All I can suggest to others is to keep checking Rogers' schedule. The rotation has begun!

[victorskid]

Thanks to a friend's "surfing", I discovered that the Newmarket show was also "in rotation" in the Ottawa area on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I was able to put a tape in the VCR and catch it yesterday between 1 and 3 p.m.