journal

Saturday, November 24, 2001
Hi Everyone-

I know it has been forever since my last entry, but I wanted to update everyone. I have been so busy lately. I went to Boston for a few days, returned home for two weeks then went to Saskatoon, Canada for Skate Canada, returned home for six days, and left for Trophee Lalique in Paris, France. It has been a crazy two months.

Before I go into news about my trips, I need to tell you all that I have had a pretty bad injury since the Goodwill Games. I have had what started out as shin splints, and has now become a stress fracture in my right shin. Basically I got the injury from pounding on quad toes. I have a flaw in my jump technique which made the injury less preventable. When I pick into the ice, my foot rolls completely over because I'm trying so hard to get myself into the air. So, after months of rolling totally over and then snapping back to do four revolutions, my shin started screaming at me. I immediately went to the doctor, and he called it shin splints. I started therapy, Iontophoresis, which is when cortisone pumps into my leg electrically through one sensor and pumps out the other. It was helping for a while, until Skate Canada. I had a lot of trouble skating there because the pain was so bad. The physiotherapist, Judy Holmes, evaluated me at Skate Canada, and said that my hips are the weakest link in my body right now. And because I'm such a slight person I have to use everything to jump, and my hips give out which leads to my ankle rolling over. It is very complicated. I am now back in therapy at home, and I have a special strength coach coming to work on my hip strength until nationals. I was given a medical bye through Easterns to Nationals to give my fracture time to rest. So, now that I've explained that, on with the stories.......

I went to Boston for a show called, "An Evening With Champions." It was hosted by students from Harvard University, and I performed a new show program to music by Secret Garden for the event. My program was a tribute to the attacks made on the US. I skated okay, but the program didn't go over too well, I feel. It was a very fun show though. I got to meet up with Tanith Belbin and hang out a lot, and it was relaxing to have just a weekend with friends and skating before the Grand Prixs. I was happy to donate my time for a good cause, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

The next stop on my mini tour was in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Saskatoon seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, but it turned out to be a nice little city. I skated in the arena known as Saskatchewan Place, just outside the downtown area of Saskatoon. I was very excited to find out that I was on practice session with Alexei Yagudin and Todd Eldredge. On the first day of practice, I found myself unable to do the second practice of the day. I was in too much pain. So I left and got extra therapy on it and waited for the short the following day. Short went very badly. I wanted to prove so much that I belonged on the Grand Prix, and that I'm not still a junior skater trying to be senior, but I failed in the short program. I fell twice and was slow and sloppy. I definitely want to forget the program. I came in eighth which was surprisingly better than I thought I'd be. The day of the long, my shin was once again hurting awfully bad. The practice in the morning didn't go too well, and I was doubting myself. So for the long, I continued not to believe in myself too much. I landed a triple lutz, triple axel, triple flip and triple salchow. I didn't do any combinations because triple toes kill my shin, so again I wasn't too pleased. I was happy to get through the program though with no major errors. I also got a standing ovation from the crowd which was awesome. Canadian crowds are spectacular. There had to be 2000 people there per practice, even at 7am. I moved up to seventh, which I wasn't disappointed with, but I know I could do better. I knew I had to do better at Trophee Lalique.

Trophee Lalique was an awesome experience for me. I was worried going over that my shin wouldn't hold up too well, but with me rationing the amount of triple axels and triple toes I do, and being heavily medicated for it, it was fine in France. I again was on practices with Alexei Yagudin and Todd Eldredge which was so exciting. Also, two very close friends Sasha Cohen and Tanith Belbin were in France, which made things a lot more fun. In the short, I drew second to skate which I though was a bad place because it was so early. I knew I had to skate clean, and I did which was very cool for me. I came fifth. I was pleased, but I didn't want to get over excited with myself, because I still had the long to do. Long program was the following day. I skated ninth, third in the final group. I was ecstatic to be in the final group. I skated well, not the best, just well. I did triple lutz/triple toe, popped first axel, triple flip, triple axel, and triple loop. I was very pleased with my presentation in this event. I thought I stepped it up a level since Canada. I moved up to fourth which is amazing, since it's my first year on the Grand Prix. I was so excited. The next day was the exhibition, and I skated okay. I know I was boring, but I was done which is all I cared about! Being in Paris itself was awesome. I got to go shopping with Tanith and Sasha and go to lunch with the Cohens. I had fun. I didn't have enough time in my schedule to see Le Tour Eiffel or L'Arc de Triomphe, but hopefully I'll go back soon enough. I spoke French a lot, but the Parisians hated it because my French isn't perfect, but they hated it more when I spoke English, so it was a funny thing. I do suggest Paris as a future destination though.

Being on the Grand Prix has taught me so much this year. I've been able to see how the top athletes train, and how consistent and confident they are in themselves. It has taught me to not doubt my talent, and to be confident in everything I do.

Now, I'm just enjoying the holiday season. I ate a bit too much on Thanksgiving, so hopefully I can still jump. I can't wait for Christmas to come. I have a show in Wilmington, Delaware coming up, which will be just a fun thing, and Nationals is just around the corner. I'm really excited for Nationals. I think it will go really well for me. Thanks so much for visiting the site, and I hope you can digest this entry, it took me forever!

Bisous,

-J