by TF
The Hershey's show was SO much fun. I had to trek from NYC to New Haven the night before an early class, but it was completely worth it. As always, the following review is far from letter-perfect since I went to enjoy the skating.
We got to sit in the first row near the corner of the skater's entrance and kiss-and-cry and saw a lot of skaters and jumps, etc., up close. The competitors were scored men against women, but I really didn't pay much attention to that silly dynamic. I *think* that Todd, Michelle, Sarah and Tim got the most applause when everyone was first introduced. But the audience really supported everyone! (Costume note: I think that everyone stayed in costume except Michelle, who was introduced in her silver flag outfit but change into the gold.)
During the first practice, there was a lot of jumping (and some falling), with Angela and Jenny doing less jumps. Mike hammed it up.
Johnny Weir skated to a classical piece? And he was very good. It was the first time I've seen him live.
Sasha Cohen did her "Hernando's Hideaway" exhibition, and I think had one fall. I still don't get the same feeling of wholeness and finish from her as I get from a few other female skaters - especially in person, unless it was just a slightly off night -- but she's still really good and definitely has spunk : )
(I may have the order of the next four skaters wrong.)
Matt Savoie skated to a vocal song about the tide (it wasn't actually "Ebbtide," was it.?), and it really was great. I think he fell or something, but he's got some nice innovative moves and overall a very pleasing, languid, slightly "old school" style. Great lift on his jumps!
Angela Nikodinov skated to Alicia Keys's "A Woman's Worth." She had a few good moments, but by and large it didn't work very well. She completed the first triple successfully and then started doubling. It's such a shame that she presumably gets so nervous; I really feel for her. Timmy was at the boards ala Frank Carrol, presumably in his absence.
Michael Weiss skated to a classical piece and, I believe, had a jump problem. But it was very enjoyable. And even thought it didn't seem to fit the music, his new move with the weird blades is cool LOL
Jenny Kirk wore a white costume akin to her black, competitive "skeleton" costume and skated to a song with vocals that I didn't recognize. I'm sorry, but although I really like her, I can't recall if it was that she fell or, perhaps also because of her injury, was just slightly less on with all of the elements than most of the ladies....
Elvis Stojko and Ann Patrice McDonough did exhibitions, which was a great surprise. Elvis did a bit of speedy footwork and some great jumps and, even though there was a good deal of hamming and slowing down - I really enjoyed it. He does know how to work a crowd. And he did a really neat move where he sort of spiraled around on the ice on his hands - you'll just have to see it. Ann skated to "All I Ask of You" from "Phantom" and was very lovely. I believe she fell once.
The second singles practice was very fun to watch, with even more big jumps coming out of Tim, Sarah and Todd. Michelle prepares in a much more zen-like fashion, it *seems*, concentrating more on the landing / extension out of jumps than doing all of the three rotations in the practice. And Todd "scolded" the ice after a particularly hard fall LOL Someone later told me it was a quad attempt. At one point, Sarah was skating by with a very determined look on her face, and someone called out to her to smile. Robin started laughing, and then she did :) Richard Callaghan and Danny Kwan were hanging out at the boards.
As other people have noted, the ice was getting VERY wet at this point. For the second half of the competition, the skaters were often getting drenched or skating into puddles. Todd mimicked swimming in it, Michelle thought twice of hugging a stuffed monkey that had landed in a big puddle LOL, and poor Matt Savoie fell and slid during his final bow. (Maybe this also contributed to the few problems in the later programs?)
The pair-pair and dance-pair practice after that and seemed to be very friendly with each other. Lots of hugs and high-fives. (The skaters all seemed pretty chummy in the K&C, too.)
Lang and Tchnernyshev did their steamy competitive free (Paris Nights whosit whatsit?), and it was very nice. Just not as good as they have done it in the past. Peter fell out of his opening death drop, and apparently Naomi had a bobble at the end, but I didn't notice.
Kyoko Ina & John Zimmerman did their "Shenandoah" medley, and it was just gorgeous. The audience *loved* the big and innovative moves. Standing O?
Todd Eldredge skated a new, extended version of his "Carmina Burana" / Vangelis (?) short program, and I just adored it. So many wonderful moves, and more tension, have been added to it. The audience also gave it a great response, and he received one 6.0 for presentation. But I truly think he deserved more. His skating, perhaps more than anyone else's, looks even better in person. Standing O.
Michelle Kwan skated to "Fields of Gold," and it was just gorgeous. She had a combo problem (either doubled a jump and then tacked on another jump or double the first in an intended combo), but every move was so perfectly finished and carried through and lovely. I think she might have sacrificed some speed in doing it, though. Multiple 6.0's for presentation, one 5.6 "out of line" with the other scores for technical. And she and Todd were really goofing around again in the K&C, wiping each other's faces (don't ask me LOL) Standing O.
Timmy Goebel skated his jazzy competitive program.? (I truly should know what it is lol) Some great jumps (such perfect looking revolutions in the air), but there still is some to be desired, at least with the movements in this particular program. But still very good : ) Partial standing O.?
Sarah Hughes skated her new exhibition. I'm not sure of the title, but it's the one about never saying goodbye. It was a lovely program and included a number of triples and a combo. There are still some split-second gawky moments in my opinion, but by and large she skates very prettily (and I don't mean "pretty" in a bad or belittling way). I think she is exhibiting even more "presence / confidence" than before. Someone said that she got two 6.0's for presentation, I think? Partial standing O.
The Men's Team won. The skaters ultimately came out again to throw T-shirts into the audience, shake hands, act goofy, etc. And we saw Jenny Kirk, Matt Savoie (I think maybe they were both traveling with one of their families), Elvis Stojko and Todd Eldredge as we left the arena. The train back to NYC was filled with skating reporters and fans, so that was an unusual experience!
I had a great time.
"TF"
