Standard disclaimer: Below you'll find my latest skating event review. At events I am concentrating on photography and take no notes, so this review is from memory. As a result there may be some errors, but I'm trying my best! I am also largely a mens fan, so they'll often be the most detailed parts. This review may be posted to other lists so long as this disclaimer is included and you let me know where you sent it. Questions/comments can be sent to me at hoo@hooloovoo.com

Since I actually have a pile of work on my desk here I've only got time for a detailed review of the mens section, but in short: The womens event was so-so with only Josee really shining. The pairs was hot and cold. Ina & Zimmerman turned in two stunning performances - their American Trilogy was even better here than at the Masters - you can tell that John really feels connected to this music. While Wirtz and Wirtz had a few errors there programs had a lot of sentiment behind them as this was their final outing and after the IF Kristy called out "we're gonna miss you guys" and I think both of them had tears in their eyes. Kasakova & Dmitriev were frankly just embarrassing as he's got an even bigger gut than he did at World Pros last year and both of them just looked horribly out of shape (in the SP DMitriev couldn't even hold the pivot for the death spiral and had to pull her out and up halfway through)

Mens SP

Sandu - same SP as all season.
4toe-(2ft)-1/2loop-2sal(2ft), 3axel, 3lutz. It was a nice program for him, but not quite the same spark as it had at Skate Canada.

Orser - "Concierto de Aranjuez"
Same music as last year but some different choreography/elements and costume (black pants and gray open neck shirt - previously used for "This Years Love" on Josee's tour). He did a 3toe-2to2, 3sal, 2 axel for the jumps which were easier than the other guys but all of them were just textbook examples of what those jumps should look like. Most interesting was that I thought his sit spins were lower than I've ever seen them! Great footwork as usual! The thing about this program is that there was 100% commitment on Brian's part to the feel of the music and it's integration with the skating. There wasn't a beat that wasn't used and I think this might be one of the most "complete package" performances by Brian in a while. It was simply mezmerizing!

Cousins - "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd.
3axel (fall), 3flip, 2axel. Costume was the same as Masters: black pants, vevelty black t-shirt, black/silver belt. While he did take a tough fall on the 3axel, he didn't let that effect the rest of the jumps and the 3flip was great. His combo spin was a little slower than usual, but otherwise it was a nice program from him.

Eldredge - "Carmina Burana / Mythodea"
Skated in shimmery black costume originally from "Pity the Child". He went for the 4toe and had the rotation but sat down on the landing. Now while I'd of course rather see him land it, I was happy he got the rotation and not just pop it. 3axel was huge but popped the lutz to a double. Turns out Todd had the flu and was barely able to breathe (you could hear him gasping/sniffling) going into the lutz. The spins had good position and were fast (albeit slower than usual for Todd ). The interesting bit was that the footwork was really sold and managed to be rather snappy. Even with the lack of 'sell' to the program, for a first time viewing I really liked it and think it's a good choice both music and choreography wise for Todd.

Stojko - "Lion"
4toe-2toe combo that was low but landed, 3axel, 3lutz. Footwork in this program was quick and clean as usual. Sit spins were a highlight with I think even more hand movements in the spins - very effective!

Browning - "Peanuts Winter Music"
I got the chance to speak with Kurt before the SP and when he said he'd be skating a new program that was based on outdoor fun and that it should be amusing I knew I couldn't wait to see it! Costume was dark shirt, black overall-style snowpants and winter knitted cap. The interesting thing about this program is that it definitely wasn't your average eligible SP! THe entire first 2 minutes was nothing but the footwork sequences and spins - all 3 jumps came in the last 40 seconds! Jumps were 3toe-2toe, 2axel, 3sal. Humorous moments included a footwork seqment where Kurt put he eyes over his hands and did a series of hops and quick steps totally blind. He did however receive a deduction for finishing the program with a belly slide and possibly one for timing too as after the slide he laid on the ice and did some snow angels and the refs still had the clock running. So the program really wasn't a great SP per say, but I didn't care - I loved it anyway :)

THe other amusing note is that in the program at one point he makes a snowball to throw into the audience. Well, after he gets off the ice and is in the kiss-n-cry with his dad, Brian and Steven sneak out from backstage and pelt him with snowballs of his own. He then scrapes them together and throws them back. The first every snowball fight in the kiss-n-cry and it was hysterical!

Standings after the SP:
1. Stojko
2. Sandhu
3. Browning
4. Orser
5. Eldredge
6. Cousins

Mens IF

Orser - "Somewhere in Time"
Brian's got a new costume for this new program (and he even helpfully pointed this out to me during the warmup!) of beige pants (which for those who are curious happen to be Yagudin's from the CSOI tour!), creme banded collar silk shirt, brown and tan diamond pattern sweater vest and brown and tan boot covers designed like spats. The program is a development of the one he and Yuka did for Kurt's special and includes at least 2 complete figures. THe jumps were backflip-3toe combo, 2toe, 3sal and I think 3 2axels. But the jumps aren't really what the programs about. Instead it's all about edges and movements that flow one into the other. The 1914ish music gave it that old time feel and the long edges and figures just highlighted the theme. As usual Brian's camel spins were beautiful with some lovely arm positions. It was another program where all the beats of the music were used and to me a real match for the concept of Interpretive Free.
Granted I'm incredibly biased, but I found the program entirely mezmerizing and I couldn't believe that it was time for it to end when it seemed only to have just started. Between this and his SP, I think it's one of the best competitive outings from Brian. Both were complete packages and Brian's confidence and mastery of his edges was just beautiful to behold.

Eldredge - "Glory"
Same old blue and creme costume from "Indepedance Day." Considering Todd was skating with a fever I thought he managed to sell the program rather well. Certainly not his best effort, but I think that because he really feels this music that it wasn't as off as some other program might have been (though obviously the judges did not agree with me). Elements were 3axrel, 3loop, 2lutz and 2axel.

Cousins - "Tom Jones Medley"
OMG - I can now totally understand why people keep raving about this program from SOI as it was so amazing here that I can only imagine what it's like under show lighting. THe first half to "What's New Pussycat" was a real exhibition of pure unadulterated sex appeal - it's a wonder more women weren't fainting when he was making eye contact and little cat paw motions Costume was black pants and black and white tiger print shirt. Unfortunately I think Steven might have injured himself halfway through; he went down into his split and as he came up he seemed to catch an edge and suddenly went down again and a bit of the spark went out of him, and his last few elements had a fall on a jump and the russians weren't quite up to their usual stretch. Again poor Steven got hammered on the marks and I just don't understand why a program like that didn't get better presentation marks. Next to Brian's IF, this was the other big highlight for me. Thankfully Steven seems to realize that the judges just aren't going to reward him no matter what he seems to try so he just goes after the audience - works for me!

Stojko - "Dragon"
*argh* Given how much I like the LP of this, I was hoping that he might break the curse of those who turn a great LP into a watered-down crappy IF, but I was wrong. "Dragon" just looks wimpy without all the elements in it - since most of the program is the same you're just overly aware of what's not there instead of what is. I did have to wonder though if Elvis had caught whatever Todd had as he was looking a bit on the pale side and I remember most of the jumps seeming to be doubles.

Sandhu - "Purple Rain"
Black vinyl pants and shiny silver shirt. Now this program was like pure melodrama on ice which I normally loathe, but except for the final ending (a hordi 10 second fetal position curl on the ice was awful) I actually liked the dramatics of the program. It just all seemed to work for me I guess. He did make the record books though by opening with a 3toe-3toe-3toe combo that was rather stunning along with a 3sal (or maybe loop) and 2axel. The program also had lots of nice hogh kicks, spirals and spread eagles.

Browning - "Elevation"
I preface this review by saying that in other circumstances I might have liked this program more, but at the time Sandhu's marks had just come up and Brian was still in first. With Brian only one place behind Kurt in the SP, through most of Kurt's program all I could seem to focus on was hoping/wishing/praying that Brian might actually win the thing.

Costume was leather pants and a red mottled pattern shirt with some silver beadwork. The footwork was amazing in the program but I just wasn't able to get into the program. I'm withholding final judgement on how I like the program til I get to see it at another event without the Brian issues :)

Results:
1. BRIAN ORSER!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Sandhu
3. Browning
4. Stojko
5. Eldredge
6. Cousins

(for the IF itself it was just a flip of 4th and 5th but Stojko's win in the SP put him ahead)

Final comments:

Now in front of me in the judges area there's a monitor showing the CTV feed. Well as Kurt is waiting for his marks, the camera is showing Brian backstage and he's got both hands over his mouth and is looking incredibly pale and rather nervous - almost as nervous looking as back in Calgary! I on the other hand was sitting there frantcially trying to do some mental math as Kurt's numbers came up and actually figured it out before they posted the final standings (and also embarrassing my friends with a rather loud 'whoop' of joy as I realized it - nothing like a loud 'whoop' in a silent arena *cringe*). On screen you can see them interviewing Brian and him trying his best not to burst into tears of joy. THen they cut to Debbie and Rod and Debbie's looking almost as tearful as Brian! For those not followers of Brian's career, this is only his second ever professional win - the last one being the 1989 North American Men's Professional Skating Championships (which almost didn't count as it was against an embarrassingly easy field). When the men came out for their bows, the crowd gave Brian this huge standing ovation and you could tell that he was just so incredibly happy at that moment. I for one cannot wait to see the tv coverage and see more of his reaction to winning :)

A few other misc comments about the weekend:

-When I first came back from Kurt's Gotta Dance I said that I thought it might turn out to be the best event of the season to have attended. Well I was wrong! Being a Brian fan and seeing this event live was just an ultimate thrill!

-According to Lisa of Spotlight on Skating, Brian's program was brought to him by a woman who used to be "Queen of the Figures" (I forget her exact name) and Brian fans are in for a treat as she's going to have him on the cover of the June issue!

-At the press conference afterward Brian was said to have made some quips about 'how it'd only taken him 20 years to win an event with his figures' LOL!