March 2, 1999
Previous Entry
Hi, I am sorry that I haven't written for so long! Life has been pretty
hectic lately. Well, the last time I wrote was way back in November! I am
sorry about that.
Well, after New Englands I really began preparing for Easterns. They were in
Florida, and we arrived on Tuesday afternoon. My practices there all went
very well. I had added a triple loop into my short and long program, and was
a little bit nervous about trying it.
The short program was on Wednesday night. I had drawn fourth to skate. The
whole day I was really nervous and worried about my program. I knew that if I
had even one mistake I could be out of it for nationals. I skated a clean
short program, and was very happy! It is such a relief to get the short
program out of the way at a really important competition. After the short I
was in first place.
The long was on Friday. I think that the problem with this program was that I
was too relaxed if you can believe it! Before easterns I was really thinking
about the short because I had added the loop. But, at easterns my long was a
disaster!! I only landed three triples cleanly, which was really bad for me.
I dropped to third after the long. I think that easterns was a really good
experience for me. I had a great time in Florida, swimming in the pool with
my friends, and going to the beach.
When I got home after Easterns my coaches told me that it was really important
for me to take easterns as a learning experience. What happened was that I
fell on my first jump, triple lutz and then I lost my focus. I hadn't been
falling on it in practice, so it took me by surprise that I had fallen in the
competition. Then, I hadn't really thought about the next couple jumps and
didn't attack. Starting shortly after easterns to prepare for nationals I
started double run-throughs of my long program. This was something that I had
never done before, but I think that it helped me a lot.
I arrived in Salt Lake City on Sunday. My practices started on Monday.
Monday and Tuesday I had really bad practices for me. I think that this was
because I was a little overwhelmed by being at nationals, and seeing all my
competitors.
My short program competition was on Wednesday. I drew last to skate. Earlier
this year, and all last year I was having problems skating late in my flights.
It is always hard for skaters to wait after their warm up, and I found it hard
to wait for my turn to skate. Usually my favorite place to skate is first. I
like this position because I can just go on the ice right after warm-up and
not know how the other skaters have skated. Well, after a competition I did
this Summer in Lake Placid, one of my coaches Mary Scotvold and I talked about
ways that I could skate last and not do poorly. Now, after the warm-up I take
my skates off and go to a quiet area where I am alone with her and jump
around and think about only me and not the other skaters. This is what I did
after the warm up at nationals.
When it was my turn to skate a funny thing happened. My coach, Evy, told me
wipe my blades when I stepped onto the ice. As I did this I felt my blade cut
my finger. I skated around a little bit to get ready for my turn to skate,
and then I looked down at my hand. Blood was gushing out and I kept on trying
to wipe it away. My coaches told me not to worry about it, and I tried to get
it out of my mind.
I skated a clean short program, which I was really happy about! After the bad
practices I had been experiencing earlier in the week it felt great to be able
to go out and do a good short. When I ended my program I looked down to my
finger and I saw that blood was all over my dress and tights! I was happy that
I didn't let my finger distract me while I was skating! After the short I was
in second place.
The long was Friday, and I drew to skate last again! I wasn't as nervous for
the long as for the short. I was planning seven triples in my long, and had
been practicing them well at home. I began my program with a step out on my
triple lutz. Unlike at easterns I didn't let this minor mistake get to me. I
continued with a triple salchow, a triple flip, a triple loop, a triple toe
double toe, a double axle half loop triple salchow, and a triple toe. When I
finished my program I was extremely happy. I had done as a good as I could do
at nationals! My marks came up and I was placed in third place.
Right after our group ended the top three skaters had to go to a press
conference. This was fun because I had never done anything quite like this.
Then, the top four had to be drug tested, which was no so fun!! We stayed for
the senior ladies long, and unfortunately my mom and I both got sick. We
returned home on Sunday afternoon.
I got new skates last week. I am working on trying to break them down, and on
the artistic side of my skating. I am also working on my spins, and stroking.
In school I am making up tests that I missed during nationals. It was fun to
come home and see the news paper articles on me, and go back to school and
have everyone congratulate me. I am looking forward to getting my new
programs, and competing again soon!
Best Wishes,
Jennifer Kirk
