Hi Everybody-
Thank you for visiting my website and for taking time to see what I'm up to. Things have been going pretty well since I finished competing; I'm on Champions On Ice tour, having a great time and getting to relax a little bit. I'm actually at the end of a day off in Denver and thought it would be a perfect time to write, before I take a bubble bath and pass out.
I have been skating pretty well in the shows thus far. My program isn't technically difficult, so it's easy for me to skate cleanly and focus more on the performance aspect of the program every night. I am getting more comfortable conveying emotion through music to an audience and am hoping that this trend will continue into next season's programs. I have had a few glitches, one in Atlanta when all but one spotlight shut off before a jump, and in Chicago the announcement was messed up and my music started playing before I was even in position. The best audience so far has been in Corpus Christi, Texas; they were awesome. They appreciated every aspect of the program and not just the "tricks." Tour has definitely been a learning experience once again, but I love performing and seeing different cities and of course shopping in those cities.
Off the ice, tour has been a blast. The whole cast is getting along, and nobody is an "odd ball" or left out of anything. I am particularly pleased to have gotten to know Marina Anissina and Tatiana Totmiyanina better than ever. Hanging out with Marina has helped my Russian and French skills and I'm helping her with English. She sometimes gets confused because we'll be speaking whatever, and then I'll say something to someone in English and she'll think "Wow, he speaks such good English!" She's very sweet and very patient with me and I love her! It's also exciting to have Stephane Lambiel on tour for some time because he brings a new dynamic to the male skaters and gives the audience a real treat with his spins. I really miss having Nicole Bobek on tour this year. She took care of me last year and now I have to fend for myself, I wish she would come back. I'm also missing Irina Grigorian who had to leave us due to health problems, but I've heard from Irina Slutskaia that she is doing well and will hopefully be with us for next year's tour. I really feel like a part of the group this year and can't wait until the Olympic Tour.
I will finish the tour on May 1 and stay in California for a couple of days for a photo shoot. I'll be working with a new photographer just to get a fresh idea of what my pictures should look like. I'm really looking forward to that.
Sometime in May I'll be doing a show in Illinois for the Skokie Valley Skating Club. I believe it's called Superstars On Ice, and a lot of great people will be there so I'm very excited about that.
In the last week of May I'll be moving to Simsbury, Connecticut to start my programs with Tatiana Tarasova. We'll actually begin on June first, but I need some extra time to move my clothes and shoes to the north. I am so excited about the move and the work we'll be doing. Tatiana, Priscilla, and I have music selections in our heads, and we'll hash them out as soon as I arrive in CT I'm sure.
I'm already excited about the new programs and debuting them in the Grand Prix and other fall competitions. I will definitely have a quad in them, and I know it's getting old but, I WILL DO THEM! I have my fingers crossed for Cup of Russia and NHK Trophy. I'd love to see Saint Petersburg and a return to Japan will be amazing!
As far as news goes, that's all folks. I hope to do an updated Q&A when I get home, so please send those questions in! I hope everyone is enjoying their springtimes and please take care and be loved!
-Johnny
