Hi Everyone-
Thanks for visiting the site. A swirl of activity has surrounded me since Nationals, and I've been having a great time. There are some big things to go over in this journal entry; post Nationals happenings, Worlds, and plans for the spring and summer. Alors, allons-y!
At the beginning of February I went to New York for almost a week for a photo shoot with fashion photographer Nigel Barker, an appearance on the Today Show, and of course, for shopping. The photo shoot was so much fun. I really enjoy being in front of the camera in beautiful clothes and trying to show different looks and "moods." Nigel's studio is in the meat packing district, a part of town I don't really frequent, but in actuality, it is such a hot place. I mean, doing a photo shoot across the street from a dumpster filled with decomposing cow seems a bit ominous, but I had fun. We did four different looks, one of which (my favorite) was in nothing but vintage leather pants and Vaseline! The photos are for publicity and for other such purposes.
The Today Show was quite an event. I had to wake up at 6 a.m. to get ready and get to Rockefeller Center by seven. First of all, it was a freezing, rainy February day, but I love the rain, and there was a sense of comedy surrounding the whole thing, so I ended up having a great time skating. I was expecting to have my interview outside like all the other skaters I'd seen on "Today," but the producer said that Katie, Al, Matt, and Ann had invited me inside the Studio for my interview, which was apparently quite a coup as I was perhaps the first figure skater ever invited inside. I was extremely honored, and even though the actual interview only lasted two minutes or so, I came away with a great experience.
The rest of my time in New York was spent with friends just hanging out and going shopping and basically having a mini vacation before hardcore training was to begin.
Before Worlds, I'll be doing a show at Colonial FSC in Massachusetts. The show benefits a friend of mine's sister, Marina Shelton, who was in a life changing accident last year, and proceeds benefit her medical expenses. It's on March 13, and I really hope a lot of you guys who live in the Boston area can come out and see the show.
Now, Worlds! I am so excited to be going to my first Worlds as the United States Champion, but I'm not putting any pressure on myself to do anything beyond my limits. It will be my first Worlds, so I will be happy with doing a good job and showing the international judges who will be challenging Plushenko and Joubert leading to the next Olympics. I am excited to get wrapped up in the whole experience and just overall having a good "vacation." I am well trained, and mentally very fit right now, so I couldn't feel any better about going.
For the spring I will be touring with John Hancock Champions On Ice. I will be in the cast in the entire tour, and I'm so excited to live on the road and skate for a different city every night. It's going to be a blast, I know it!
I will be spending the summer in Connecticut training with Tatiana Tarasova again. I have not set a date when I'm going or returning, but it will be for a longer duration this year, and I am really looking forward to training with her and having her choreograph two new programs for next season. I will also be working with a strength coach from Russia, so maybe next season I'll look a little more buff!
That's all I really have to say for now, but thank you for all your support. Please send good vibes to Germany for Worlds, and hopefully I'll come back with some good stories and lots of new experiences to share!
Much love,
-J We
