Hi Everyone-
Wow, tour is finished and my season is finished. It was definitely a satisfying year of skating for me. I battled through a lot and have come out stronger and ready to fight on for bigger and better things next season.
Tour was a blast. I skated well in most of the cities, and I think I've really started to come into my own as an artist. When you go to take your position and people are appreciative but don't really know who you are you think, "does it even matter to have all these titles and hours of work?" Then to finish and have a roar of applause for skating your heart out for an audience every night, you realize you're doing something right. The shows may not have been sold out, but the people who came were true skating fans, down to their cores, and appreciated every skater and performance. I hope I was able to show people something unique and pretty and something they can remember. I love skating, and tour is an outlet for me to show that, and I really value it more than anyone would think.
Off the ice, tour was also excellent. I got to know two of my biggest inspirations, Tatiana Totmyanina and Irina Slutskaia very well. We were always seated next to each other on the airplanes because alphabetically we are near the end of the alphabet, and it's funny how air travel can bond people. We started going on shopping excursions and sushi dates, and by the end of tour we were fast friends. Besides being incredible artists and athletes, they're also beautiful people. I really loved getting to know "the girls."
I suppose now is a good time to personally judge my season since most people already have. There were performances that I gave that may not have been perfect but I am extremely proud of myself for. Technically my best short program was at Trophee Eric Bompard and my best free program was at the NHK Trophy, but they don't mean as much to me as other programs. The performances that came from my heart are the ones I'll always remember. My freeskate at Worlds was highly imperfect and technically unstable, but it is probably the single performance I'm most proud of. After a week of uncertainty and pain and tears, I gave a good free skate, had the support of the audience, and dug down in the center of my heart for something I wanted very badly. I didn't disappoint myself, my friends or family, or my fans with my fourth place finish; I made them proud, and that's something truly terrific if you ask me. On that day in Moscow, I think I truly became "a champion." The second performance that sticks out in my mind is the exhibition at Worlds. I was more nervous to skate to Russian lyrics in front of a sellout Russian audience than for my competition. I love Russia obviously, and I wanted to give them something back for all the inspiration they have given me, and I was terrified. :) I think skating to a foreign song is somewhat similar to being an American pop star trying to sing in Spanish in Mexico, it's tough to be accepted! As soon as Mr. Karachinsov started singing, the audience went crazy. I felt so much passion and love from the Moscow audience for those three minutes than I ever have felt before on the ice. It didn't matter what I did, they understood my gift for them and said thank you to me too! The third and final performance from the season that I'll always remember is my freeskate from Nationals. I had a lot of pressure on me to "show 'em all," and I think I did. It was another heart stopper for me; I had to dig deep and forget everything and just skate the way I'm supposed to. The national title doesn't mean as much to me as the pride I felt for not buckling under the pressure and being able to just skate.
This season would have been impossible without my family, friends and fans. They never had a doubt in me, and it makes you feel better when you have all that love coming to you. My fans, The Angels, sent a banner around the world for me this season; at every event I was at or supposed to be at, my banner was there. I know about these guys because they're my friends, an extended part of my family. I've even heard of a little town in Pennsylvania called Frackville, where my grandparents grew up, that has Johnny Weir pictures and banners in the local taverns wishing me well. These are coal miners in the Pennsylvania Mountains that send their prayers and love my way, and to me that's beautiful. It is difficult to tell you guys how much gratitude I have for your love and support, and I really would never be in the position I'm in today without you. I really appreciate every letter, every e-mail, every cheer, every smile. It really means the world to me, and I know a lot of people say that about their fans, but I'm actually telling the truth.
So, the season was a success, next season will be even better and I can't wait to start. I have one more show in Illinois and a move to Connecticut, and then the real fun begins. My first realistic chance at achieving my dreams are in 2005 and 2006, and I'm fired up and ready to go. Until next time, take care and enjoy the sun!
With all my love,
-Johnny
