My Nationals Story
Hi, everyone!
Nationals was a combination of fun, disappointment, and inspiration for me. I'll start with the disappointment, and get that out of the way first!
About a week and a half before we left for Nationals, I was skating really good. My coach and I were planning on putting the triple lutz combination in the long program, and the flip. Then disaster happened. I went up on a triple lutz and drove the blade of one boot into the top of the other boot, and sliced my foot open. It was really gross and bloody, so my mom and I took off to the emergency room, and I got 5 stitches on the top of my foot. I was told I couldn't skate until the stitches came off, which would be in 5 to 7 days. I couldn't even walk the first couple days, it hurt so bad! I borrowed a cane from my aunt, and basically just hobbled around the house. I finally got back on the ice 4 days before I left for Spokane, my timing was off on all of my triples. At Nationals I still couldn't feel the timing, so I didn't do very good. I can promise you right now that I will put on a better show the next time I get there!
The Novice events were over early in the week, so I got to attend some seminars and learn a lot of interesting things. I also got to see a lot of friends I've made over the years from different parts of the country, so that was a lot of fun! We went to see all the Junior and Senior Men's practices, and I learned a lot about ice dance, which I never really paid attention to before. I'm actually kind of interested in trying it out, but I don't think any of the girls at my rink ice dance, so I'll have to find some way to learn. Watching the Senior Men's final was great. I really respect Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek, and it was great to see them live.
Anyway, Nationals was a great experience. I learned a lot, and I am really excited to take what I learned and use it to be a better skater. I'm really looking forward to this season coming up, and right now I am busy trying to pick good music and am resting my back because I have a recovering tailbone injury. In the meantime, thanks for coming by my website!
Grisha
Team 2010 - The Novice Competitors at Nationals
Me warming up for the competition(photo by Michelle Wojdyla for US Figure Skating)
I got to meet Kurt Browning!
Me and my friends signed lots of autographs that week!