Hi Everyone-
Thanks as always for visiting my site. It's been quite a month and I have a lot of memories, good and bad, as well as a whole new outlook on my skating.
The first vacation of November was in Nagoya, Japan. I happened to be competing in the NHK Trophy, and I wound up winning. NHK was a great experience. I'd never competed under the new judging system until then, and it turned out to work for my strengths. I skated a clean short program and was in first place by two points ahead of two of my top American rivals, Tim Goebel and Mr. Weiss. For the free program I skated tenth, right after Tim and was very nervous to try and win my first Grand Prix medal. I skated a relatively clean free program and came out on top with a total of around 220 points. I was really pleased with my performances in Nagoya and so excited at the outcome. My overall impressions of Japan are that it's a beautiful country with great shopping, and I hope I can return next year for the NHK Trophy in Tokyo.
After one day back in the states I left for Paris, France and the second Grand Prix of my season. My coach, mother, and I arrived early so I wouldn't have to acclimate to two time zones before Trophee Eric Bompard. I trained for about a week at Patinoire Sonja Henie in Palais des Omnisports Bercy. It was nice really, getting away from my usual training conditions and getting to see Paris at the same time. Of course I did a lot of shopping in that week and had a great time hanging out with my mom and Priscilla. We all really bonded that week. We hadn't spent quality time together since worlds in Dortmund, so it was a pleasure. The competition came and went very quickly. I skated a clean short program and scored a personal best score of around seventy five points and was in first place. In the free program I doubled two jumps and just lacked a lot of energy and fight towards the end of the program. I came second behind Brian Joubert in the free program but my lead from the short program was big enough for me to still win the title. I was pleased to have been able to push through my second competition in three weeks and come out with positive experiences.
After Trophee Eric Bompard I went to Moscow, Russia for Cup of Russia. It was quite an ordeal getting into the country. There was a miscommunication between the American and Russian federations before I left for Japan, and I didn't have a visa to go to Moscow. For the duration of my stay in Paris I was trying to get a Russian visa, at the Russian consulate in Paris, talk about an American in Paris. Of course it was very difficult to acquire the visa, but we got it the day after we were due to depart from Charles de Gaulle and therefore had to reschedule our flights and hotel. The following afternoon we left for Russia, but our plane was delayed in Paris so we missed our connection to Russia and had to stay in Frankfurt for the night. I finally arrived in Russia and had to wait four hours before a bus would take me to the hotel. Once I got there it was time for bed, then one official practice, and then the short program. I don't like to make excuses, but all the travel and competing really took a toll on my health and stamina. I was able to skate well enough for second place in the short program behind Plushenko, but I fell on my triple flip. I wasn't pleased, not one bit. Then in the long program I came second again and skated just okay. I screwed up my second triple axel and doubled the triple flip, but it was fine, I did my job to the best of my ability and was happy. Priscilla and Tatiana were pleased too. In the exhibition I picked in for a triple toeloop and felt something pop in my foot. I knew it couldn't be good, but I finished and was ready to go back to America.
Once I returned home I had to leave two days later for the Marshalls pro-am in Detroit. I wasn't aware of how injured I was, but I was ready to skate well regardless. I didn't skate well, not at all, it as horrible in fact. I missed two jumps and had a hell of a time getting through my program. The fact of the matter is, I've never competed this much in such a short period of time and been flying all over the world. I was exhausted. I couldn't wake up in the morning, I couldn't train properly, and I was just burnt out. It may be hard to understand because figure skaters always have smiles on their faces, wearing glittery costumes and floating around an ice surface, but it's hard work, especially when you have to smile and look like you're enjoying yourself. I'm not good at faking anything, so I wasn't very approachable to say the least. After the competition a few doctors checked my foot out and told me I shouldn't do the Grand Prix Final, I should rest and take care of myself. I lost ten pounds while on my world tour, hurt my foot, got really bad skin and I decided they were right. I could have gone and stumbled through the "GPF," but that's not really my style, so I withdrew and am now resting and training for Nationals. So that's that...
The one thing I noticed more than anything in my trips was the fan support. There was a banner from my fans in every arena I competed in, I got to meet a lot of my supporters and a lot of new supporters. Russia was probably the biggest shock because there were actually people screaming for me, and I'm not even Plushenko! It was crazy to think that people actually know who I am and are interested enough in my skating to come and support me. I really want to thank all of you guys for your love and support. It really does mean the world to me.
Until nationals I'll just be training like a crazy person trying to repeat last season's victory, and I'll be trying to enjoy the holidays and actually use them as a time of relaxation and concentration. I will get to see friends whom I've neglected with all my traveling and of course my family. My foot is already feeling better, and I can't wait to compete again and keep on showing everyone what I'm about.
Thanks for reading and I hope the holidays find you all in good health. Much love and appreciation,
-J
