Nationals Day One - Practice - Saturday, January 5

Todd took to the ice for his only practice session of the day at the HealthSouth facility this afternoon. He did a complete run-through of his long program and we were treated to the sight of what looks like a Lord of the RIngs that has been totally rechoreographed since we last saw it at the Grand Prix Final last month. Not only has the jump order been entirely rearranged, but the basic choreography (in betweens, footwork, spins, etc.) looks very different than before, with a lot more substance. On top of that, it looks like a new combination jump has been added to the program and, I might add, to Todd's repertoire, namely, a triple loop/triple toe. It came as some surprise during the run-through when that combination appeared instead of the anticipated solo triple loop. Although I have seen Todd do a triple loop/double toe on occasion (albeit not in competition) this is the first time I actually recall seeing him do a triple loop/triple toe. It was totally effortless, as though he's been working on this for some time.

At any rate, the jump order has been changed so that now the program opens with the quad, followed by the TA/TT, then the TLZ, then the TLP/TT, then the TF, followed by the 2nd TA, and finally the TS. In today's run-through, he managed the quad rotations but fell out of the landing, and the triple axel combination ended up as a solo triple axel with another 2 footed fall out (it looked as though he realized he was about to run out of room so he bailed out to avoid breaking his neck). However, a gorgeous triple lutz followed that, to be followed in turn by the surprising triple loop/triple toe. The flip ended up as double, but the second triple axel was a beauty (right on the crescendo of the music) as was the closing triple salchow. Prior to the end of the session, an excellent triple axel/triple toe appeared, as did a beautiful quad during the final minute of the session.

The men's practice sessions were rather sparsely attended, with the only other competitors being Parker Pennington, Evan Lysacek, Shepherd Clark and Rohene Ward.

Todd is scheduled for two sessions tomorrow, both in the Staples Center. He has a short program practice at 9:35 am and a long program practice at 3:40 pm. As reported earlier, the draw ceremony is tonight.

Nationals Day Two - Practice - Sunday January 6

Todd took the ice at the Staples Center for a short program practice session at 9:35 this morning. His run-through was not exactly perfect, but we decided that at this competition and in a pinch we'd take it. He fell on the opening quad/toe combination, but only after fully rotating the quad; however, from there, he went on to land a gorgeous triple axel and an equally nice triple lutz. If he could only do at least that much (namely, land those two remaining triples) after falling on the quad, we would go away happy. During the course of the session, after a number of attempts, a beautiful quad finally appeared, followed a short time later by a lovely quad/double toe.

To answer the short program question probably uppermost in everyone's mind, the music has most definitely been altered, either to mute or to totally eliminate the potentially offending lyrics. The opening bars of Carmina Burana still feature the vocals, but so muted that you can distinguish no syllables of the lyrics at all (the result is something resembling humming), while the lyrics (the chanting) that appeared later in the program have been eliminated entirely. A good job was done with this, as the music appears to have lost none of its effectiveness in the process.

All the senior men were present for this mornings sessions, including Michael Weiss (making what is really for him a very early appearance at a Nationals venue). And, as is not normally his wont at a practice session, he actually put it to good use by doing a complete run-through of his short program. The results weren't bad, but weren't exactly spectacular either. He 2-footed the Quad in his Quad/double toe combo, and landed both a clean triple axel and a clean triple lutz. However, the axel was so tilted in the air it was a major miracle that he managed to hold onto the landing - and he was able to do so only by leaning far forward on the landing. It was apparent that the triple axel was giving him fits and he spent a goodly portion of the remainder of the practice working on it, which seemed to result in as many falls and pops as it did successful executions. Quad work also resulted in a number of falls, pops and a few 2-foots, but no successful execution.

Meanwhile, Timothy Goebel decided to pretend he was a Russian and did a largely jumpless run-through of his program (choosing to do only the lutz). He looked okay in practice, but I have to confess I find it difficult to watch him when there are other skaters sharing the same ice.

We all stuck around the Arena after the morning sessions because only a pairs practice session separated the men's sp practice from the men's lp practice, and there really wasn't enough time to leave, do something productive, and return in time. It was 3:40 when Todd took the ice for his afternoon session. His run-through once again wasn't perfect, but was good enough to have won him the National title last year . After falling again on the quad (but it was fully rotated), he landed a triple axel/double toe, a triple lutz, triple loop (it looked like another skater's getting in his way caused an abrupt landing that prevented his tacking the triple toe onto the end of this), a triple flip, the 2nd triple axel (an absolute beauty) and then - a doubled salchow (grrrr....). Following this, he went back and, after a couple of botched attempts) landed the missed triple axel/triple toe; then worked on the quad until he'd successfully landed one of those, did a few triple salchows to prove he could do those too , and ended with a nice example of the triple loop/triple toe - Todd, in typical fashion, going back to fix what he'd missed in the run-through. All in all, not a bad session for him at all.

Michael Weiss continued to display both quad and axel problems during the afternoon session, but when it came time for his run-through gave a performance he'd probably be happy to take in the actual competition. He fell on the quad, but then went on to land a slightly wonky but clean triple axel/triple toe. Then, after a triple loop, his second triple axel ended with a two-footed fall out. He went on from there, however, to land the triple flip, triple salchow and closing triple lutz. Once again he was not observed to land a clean quad during the session.

I have to confess to not sticking around for Tim Goebel's group. We'd been in the arena all day and were both skated out and starved.

Todd has two sessions scheduled for tomorrow, a free skate practice at the HealthSouth facility at 12:20 pm, and a short program practice at 3:20 pm at the Staples Center.

Nationals Day Three - Monday, January 7

Instead of getting down to business right away with the usual practice reports, I have some "Hold on to Your Hats, folks!" kind of news! It looks like we may be seeing a new short program tomorrow night! No, not the music (been there, done that! ), but rather, the jumps we're going to see! Apparently Todd was given some strong advice by certain ISU judges after the Grand Prix Final to abandon the quad/toe combination in favor of the triple axel/triple toe combination he does so well (or can do so well), and he's actively considering taking that advice. I learned this after we'd had our socks knocked off (proverbially speaking) during Todd's short program run-through this afternoon. The music started, he did the opening bits of choreography, then came around the rink for what I thought was going to be the expected quad attempt, so of course I tensed up as usual (don't we all at that moment?) and then BAM! A triple axel instead, followed by a double toe. After thinking Huh?, I turned to Leanne and said "That was a triple axel." Not that I didn't think Leanne knew a triple axel when she saw one, but because I thought I was hallucinating and wanted her to correct me if I was. No correction came. When a double axel followed, there could be no doubt (although I have to admit a double axel on the crescendo of the music doesn't have the same effect as the former triple axel). A triple lutz still appeared as the solo triple out of footwork. This came completely out of the blue, folks, as Todd's music was the last to play during the session and in all the time that led up to it, he didn't warm up the triple axel/triple toe (which is probably why the combination came out as a triple axel/double toe during the run through), but concentrated on the quad instead. After the usual triple toes (about three of them), he started getting in the right number of rotations without falling, but usually a hand went down, or he fell out of it, or it was badly two footed. Finally he did manage to do a quad/double toe, but with a slight turn out on the double toe. Then his music started and there were no more quad attempts. From what I was given to understand, no decision has been made (or I should say, had been made as of late this afternoon) as to which way he's going to go on this. And we'll certainly find out for sure when it happens tomorrow night. Stay tuned, everyone.

The second big news item is what he was wearing for this practice session. Would you believe the Happy Shirt? The Shirt that most of us hoped never to see again, which I don't believe has been seen since he wore it for the opening segment of the 1998 COI tour. Just when you think something is safely buried...........

Thus the late afternoon practice session at the Staples Center. Earlier in the day, at 12:20 this afternoon, Todd had a free skate practice at the HealthSouth 2 rink - which has no seats for spectators! So we all had to stand outside behind the glass looking down at the rink. We couldn't hear the music and those on the ice couldn't hear us (which meant we could talk amongst ourselves without fear of disturbing the skaters). Todd chose not to do a complete run-through at this session, instead working on segments of choreography and assorted jumps and jump combinations. In the process we saw a lovely triple axel/triple toe and a triple loop/triple toe, but no quad. Before exiting the ice, he did acknowledge us by looking up and bowing in our direction.

Before the session started, Richard came up to us (meaning me, Leanne, Autumn, Kellie and Shelly) to ask if we'd caught the Today show segment and what did we think of it? I replied that we'd just barely caught it and I was able to absolve Richard of blame for not giving us warning of the segment, since he didn't know until that morning that it was going to be on at that time. We did learn that the interview had been filmed while Todd was in New York for the Tribute show in early October and that the segments at the rink were filmed after the Grand Prix Final.

Finally, this evening I took the Beanie Buddy that I would have thrown to Todd on the ice if the Staples Center were in least cooperative, put it in a bag with a good luck card and *handed* it to him. What can I say, we skate fans are a superstitious lot.

There are no practice sessions tomorrow per se, but Todd does have a warmup session (a Nationals peculiarity) at 5:20 pm. And, of course, the men's short programs are scheduled to begin at 8:30 pm. Leanne, Autumn, Kellie, Shelly and I intend to put the evening out of our minds by spending the day sightseeing in Hollywood.

I'll post my thoughts on what unfolds tomorrow night as soon as I regain consciousness.

Nationals Day Four - Tuesday, January 8

Well, I'm back from closing the bar and am but semi conscious after a long day which closed with maximum celebration, but, as you all must know by now, Todd is currently tied with Tim Goebel for the lead after the short program (the first time this has happened, they tell me, since figures were dropped at least), thanks largely to Tim's taking a major deduction for doing a faceplant during a footwork sequence.

The answer to the burning question of which combo was to materialize was answered definitively during the warm up this evening when Todd concentrated strictly on the triple axel/triple toe, with no attempts at a quad. We had still been left dangling in suspense after the warmup (or I should say practice session without music) this afternoon when he worked on *both* the triple axel/triple toe and the quad/double toe, landing both in the process. At any rate, when his short program performance finally took place, what we saw was one of the most beautiful triple axel/triple toes I've ever seen Todd do ("Not bad for an old man!" he said to me afterward). The double axel landed beautifully on the crescendo of the music and the triple lutz wasn't pretty but all of the sources I consulted insist it was clean.

Thus in the top six, as follows:

1. Todd
1. Tim
3. Matt Savoie
4. Johnny Weir
5. Michael Weiss
6. Derrick Delmore

Matt Savoie skated both cleanly and brilliantly, but with a less difficult triple flip/triple toe, was fated to finish behind Todd and Tim. Had Todd done the flip/toe himself, in all likelihood he would have finished behind Matt (afterward Richard said he really felt they'd made the right decision, when opting to go for the triple axel/triple toe). Meanwhile, Johnny Weir also skated a clean performance, while Michael Weiss basically fell apart, falling on his quad attempt and falling out of his solo triple axel.

So far this is proving to be one very odd Nationals. I did my best to extract the skate order for the free skate from Richard and received the following for the final group as a result of my probing:

13. Michael Weiss
14. Matt Savoie
15. Weir or Delmore
16. Goebel
17. Eldredge
18. Delmore or Weir

Todd has two practice sessions scheduled for tomorrow, an early afternoon one at the Staples Center and a late afternoon one at the HealthSouth Facility. I've been informed that he only intends to attend the practice at the Staples Center. And needless to say, your faithful reporter (meaning me) will be on hand to report on what ensues.

Fran (off to collapse in bed)

Nationals Day Five - Wednesday, January 9

For today's practice sessions, the men had been regrouped according to the freeskate order, so that Todd was now skating in the final group, along with Goebel, Savoie, Weir, Weiss and Delmore. He and Richard both appeared to be in an exceptionally good mood, a condition that did not change throughout the practice. In other words, while he could not be accused of leaving it all on the practice ice, he still had a very good session. While waiting for his music to start, he landed an absolutely gorgeous Quad/triple toe on only the third attempt. He also did a lovely triple axel/triple toe, as well as a nice triple lutz/triple toe. When his music came up, he began a run-through with a tripled quad attempt that he stepped out of, followed by a triple axel/wonky double toe, and then a beautiful triple lutz (which I wished I seen last night). The triple loop was supposed to be next, but he popped it and then immediately stopped to redo a boot lace. He picked up the run-through with a marvelous triple axel and then concluded the proceedings with a surprisingly lovely triple salchow. As is his custom when a run-through is for whatever reason less than complete, he went back after this to complete the elements he'd missed, first picking up the program at the missed triple loop taking it through the triple flip, thus executing beautifully the portion of the program the errant boot lace caused him to miss. He then concentrated for a bit on the missed quad, stepping out of it on his first attempt, but then landing a solo beauty right thereafter. He then did a triple loop/triple toe right as the practice session ended. Not bad for a day's work.

Michael Weiss had an odd kind of practice in that his run-through was actually very good, including a quad/triple, a triple axel/triple toe, and the second triple axel, but he looked unhappy when he finished and in fact he left the practice session halfway through without taking any final bow for the assembled fans. Hard to know what to make of this.

Timothy Goebel didn't seem to do a whole lot during this session but tie his boot laces. Must be saving himself for the competition. Matt Savoie looked very, very confident, the best we've seen him look all week, and aside from some disturbing triple axel problems, looked good. It's almost like he's riding the wave! Johnny Weir also looked good and had a very good run through.

It should be a very interesting competition indeed.

Fran, Leanne, Autumn and Shelly (exhausted but happy from the trenches)

P.S. To answer the question, what was Todd gesturing about in the Kiss and Cry when he made the circling motions, our best guestimate is that he was explaining to Richard and Olga why (because of the funky lutz landing which threw off his timing) the footwork sequence began where it did rather than where it was supposed to begin.

Nationals Wrap Up

What Do You Do When Your Favorite Skater Wins His 6th National Title?

You go to Disneyland, of course! Which is exactly what Shelly, Leanne and I did. After, I might add, closing the bar the night before (at least Leanne and I closed the bar, along with a very happy Eldredge/Callaghan camp! Shelly had the good sense to retire for the evening). Then, after closing another bar again last night, I continued the celebration by treating myself to a trip to the Zoo this afternoon. All of which is to say I've been so darned busy celebrating that I've been horribly lax in filing a report. Needless to say, a rather large and boisterous contingent of Edgers have been in delirium and celebrating themselves into stupors over the past two days.

It began at the medal ceremony when we all shoved ourselves to the front, the better to beam and yell our appreciation. A moment of hilarity did ensue when the festivities started with the calling of the name of the National Champion and said National Champion failed to appear. It was "Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2002 National Champion, Todd Eldredge!!" Wild applause, but no Todd. The announcer tries again, "Todd Eldredge!!" Repeat of wild applause, still no Todd. The announcer "Todd?" Looking toward the Zamboni entrance through which the medalists were to appear for their skate to the podium, we could see Michael Weiss, and looking in the opposite direction toward the skater's entrance we could spy Tim Goebel and Matt Savoie (who apparently hadn't been informed the entrance had changed for the medal ceremony). But no sign of Todd. Weiss shrugged, and returned a wave from Goebel. It was very, very funny. Finally Todd appeared and the wild celebration continued. Todd told me afterward that the organizers was a bit confused and in fact failed to give him sufficient advanced warning, so that when his name was called he hadn't even put his skates on yet! All in all, it was impressive, how fast he was able to get those skates on and himself out there!

Exhibitions are tomorrow (or I should say, later on today) at 2 pm. When I quizzed Todd on the subject night before last, he had no idea what he was going to skate, but said it can't be The Glory because he didn't bring the music for that with him. I would expect it would be Your Song, but we'll find out soon enough.

...

At any rate, from speaking briefly with some Chevrolet people tonight and observing their interaction with Todd, it does look like they are very pleased with him and quite happy to throw their support behind him. He was on hand to assist the Chevy people during the Gala with selecting the winner of the Chevy contest to go to the Olympics (this was done right before the Zamboni break).

And speaking of the Gala (or should I say Exhibitions?), even though he came out wearing what is now the Your Song costume, he proceeded to surprise us all by skating to the exhibition version of 1492, complete with two triple axels!, as well as a triple loop, a triple toe and a double axel. He doubled the triple lutz he was attempting (it looked like he ran out of room for it) and landed the first triple axel so close to the boards I was afraid we'd lose him then and there. But all in all, it was an admirable performance, one that garnered him a huge standing ovation.