Men's Roster: (short program skate order) Tim Goebel
Rudy Galindo
Viktor Petrenko
Michael Weiss
Todd Eldredge
Ilia Kulik

This competition is being judged using the new OBO system (don't ask us to explain it), and the short program was performed under normal ISU rules. These are the new short program rules, which allow for four triples (or three triples and a quad). The program for the event included the new rules - again, an example of how seriously these events are being taken by the skating community.

Tim Goebel skated first with his Zorba short program. He opened with a triple lutz that he two-footed and sort of fell out of. He then did a triple axel/double toe. A servicable but pedestrian performance. His required elements ranged from 4.9 to 5.2, and presentation ranged from 5.1 to 5.4.

Next was Rudy Galindo, skating to a disco medley complete with vocals. (We're not sure if this is approved under the new ISU guidelines, since in previous years, vocals were not permitted in the short program.) He opened with a splat on the triple axel, landed a triple loop, left out one of the required footwork sequences, but did conclude with a really nice combination spin. The judges handed out required element scores ranging from 3.5 to 4.7, and presentation scores from 4.5 to 5.5.

Viktor Petrenko took the ice next, skating his waiter/Harlem Nocturne program. He skated much better than he did at the Grand Slam last weekend - one of his better performances, in fact. He landed a triple axel/double toe, and you could tell he was really pleased. He also landed a triple toe, and a double axel. It was a wonderful performance. His required element scores ranged from 5.1 to 5.5, and presentation scores from 5.5 to 5.8.

Next up was Michael Weiss, skating what is most likely his new short program to a Van Halen medley (instrumental only). He landed a triple axel, triple salchow/triple toe combination, and a triple lutz, the maximum triples allowed in the new ISU format. A very nice program, although he'll need to up the ante on the technical content as he goes into the regular competitive season. His required element scores ranged 5.5 to 5.8, and presentation 5.4 to 5.8.

Todd Eldredge was up next, wearing a simple costume of black pants and black shirt (not the same shirt he wore last weekend at Grand Slam). It might even be the Secret Agent Man outfit from the COI tour. He skated to Wilkommen, from the Broadway musical Cabaret. He did a triple axel/double toe combination, a triple lutz, and a double axel - a more classic short program from the old rules. He had a very nice footwork section. It was clearly a new program, but it shows tremendous promise.

The last skater was Ilia Kulik, skating to a jazzy piece. Someone commented it looked like a Sandra Bezic number, so it might be a new Stars on Ice routine. He started with a triple axel (hand down), triple lutz (shaky landing, but clean), a nice double axel - another old regulation short. He had really good footwork, and his forward sit spin is really improving. His required element scores ranged from 5.0 to 5.5, and presentation from 5.4 to 5.8. His failed combination definitely impacted his technical scores.

The ranking after the short program is:
1. Todd Eldredge
2. Michael Weiss
3. Viktor Petrenko
4. Ilia Kulik
5. Tim Goebel
6. Rudy Galindo
More tomorrow from Daytona Beach, FL!

Dateline, Daytona Beach, FL: 10/4/98 - The interpretive free skate portion of the competitoin began with Timothy Goebel skating to some sort of snappy piece of music. He attempted the quad salchow, but fell on it, and popped the triple loop, but landed the triple flip and a triple toe. A respectable performance, but not awe-inspiring. He received technical merit scores of mostly 5.2s (and one 5.3), and for presentation, mostly 5.2s with one 5.1 and one 5.3.

Rudy Galindo followed, skating to Over the Rainbow from the Wizard of Oz. He landed a triple toe/double toe combination, and a double axel, a single loop, and a single axel. Midway through the number, he brought out a scarf, which netted him a deduction for props, which are not allowed in ISU competition. Technical scores ranged from 5.1 to 5.4, and presentation ranged from 5.4 to 5.6.

Ilia Kulik was next, skating to his new tango program. He began with a huge double axel, then landed a gorgeous triple lutz, and a triple toe, but he popped his flip and a second triple toe. Technical scores ranged from 5.4 to 5.7, and presentation ranged from 5.6 to 5.8.

Todd Eldredge took to the ice next, skating to his new Gethsemane. He skated flawlessly, landing a triple loop, triple axel, triple toe, and triple lutz/double toe combination. He received a huge standing ovation, the first of the night - the applause thundered through the last 40 seconds of the program.

Although Todd did receive a 6.0 for presentation for his free skate at Skate America in 1997, where he skated with a dislocated shoulder, he considers the 6.0 earned in this competition to be his first real 6.0.

Viktor Petrenko was up next, skating his Beatles medley. He landed a triple toe, fell on the triple axel, doubled the salchow, and then landed two nice double axels in a row. His technical merit scores were 5.5s and 5.6s, and his presentation scores ranged from 5.7 to 5.9.

Michael Weiss ended the competition, skating his When a Man Loves a Woman program. He landed a triple flip/double toe combination, triple axel, triple salchow, and a backflip. The backflip is allowed under the new rules for the ISU Open interpretive free skate, but does not count as a jump. His technical scores ranged from 5.6 to 5.9, and his presentation scores ranged from 5.5 to 5.8.

The final standings for the Keri Lotion Figure Skating Classic men's program were:
1. Todd Eldredge
2. Michael Weiss
3. Viktor Petrenko
4. Ilia Kulik
5. Rudy Galindo
6. Timothy Goebel