Hi Everybody-
Thanks for visiting the site. Jenny has been working very hard on it, and I think it looks great. So much has happened over the past few months so hopefully I can supply a few of the stand-outs.
I suppose Worlds would be a good place to start. Honestly I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I skated very well in all three phases of the competition and the exhibition and made myself very proud. In the qualifying I popped the triple loop into a double and lost a little ground for that, but otherwise I think my placement was deserved and it kept me fighting for the short. The short program was the best performance of my season (in my opinion). I felt so comfortable and at peace that I could let myself fly. The long program was good, a little slow in places and not a lot of emotion, but otherwise I think I proved that you can be in the top five in the World, without a quad, but backing everything up with strong spins and artistic ability. Overall, I had a great time and am ready to give my all next year in Moscow.
I flew right from Worlds to Binghamton, NY for rehearsals for Champions On Ice. I was exhausted, but very excited for a new experience. After a week or so we started touring. Tour really gave me a chance to play with different movements and attitudes in front of an audience. I skated well in all the cities, except for maybe two, so I was extremely pleased with the way I performed. The best cities to me were Colombus, Ohio and Everett, Washington, in terms of skating. As far as the actual cities and the fun I had, I would say Boston, Chicago and Atlanta were the best. I got to experience getting to know very competitive skaters outside of competition which was a thrill. I really bonded with Nicole Bobek which was a shocker for me. I thought I would be very shy and scared to meet these "skating stars," but Nicole and I hit it off right away. I roomed with Tim Goebel which was fun. We made a competition in every city and we made a pact to have great seasons this coming season. Of course Sasha, Tanith and I got on very well, and I have to say that I love being on the road and always checking into a new hotel. Tour was one of the best experiences of my career.
About a week after the beginning of tour some of us competed in a Pro-Am in Providence, RI. It is so difficult to stay in a competitive state of mind, so it was a tough competition for me. I hadn't had time to practice my long program since Worlds so I was nervous if I'd be able to get through it or not, and at the same time I felt very "blah" about the whole ordeal. It showed in my skating, but it was nice to be able to stand up and take a final competitive bow for the season.
After tour I did a few minor things then I went up to Simsbury to meet with Tatiana and discuss plans for next season. I stayed for ten days and we got started on programs. For the short program I am skating to "Rondo Capriccioso" by Saint-Saens, and for the long I will skate to "Otonal" by Raul DiBlasio. I am really excited to start hard work on them and I know they'll surpass last year's programs by one hundred percent. And yes there are quads planned in both programs.
On June 1, I moved to Simsbury for three months. I am renting an apartment and have found a new sense of security in myself. I was able to learn how to run cable wires through the wall and into my TV, hand wash dishes, and even change a shower head! I am so domestic right now it kills me. In any event, I will be working with Tatiana and Evgeny for the duration of the summer. Tatiana is currently back in Russia, but we will begin hard work when she returns, and in the mean time I have new boots and blades to break in and start my summer coaching for ISCC.
Being in Simsbury is great because not only will I become a better skater, I am also closer to Boston where many of my friends live. I'm so excited about the car drive only being two hours as opposed to seven from Delaware. I will be celebrating my twentieth birthday in Boston (hopefully) and going up often to visit.
I know this wasn't as detailed as usual, but after time it's hard to remember everything. Anyway, I'll write again sometime this summer and I hope everyone has a great summer.
Love,
-J We
