Well, I had the time of my life at the Skating Show on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Not just because the show itself was a blast, but before the show I saw the entire cast on the Boardwalk filming an intro for the show. I watched them film, and play on the beach, and got some fabulous pictures and autographs. It was just an incredibly exciting day.
The cast of the show was Nancy Kerrigan, Oksana Baiul, Victor Potrenko, Nicole Bobek, Todd Eldredge, Michelle Kwan, Tara Lipinski, Barbara Underhill and Paul Martini, Elvis Stojko, Steven Cousins, Lilly Lee, Phillipe Candellero, Shae Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, Gary Beacom and Gia Guddat, with Scott Hamilton acting as M.C. (During the show every time Scott came out to announce someone (I and other audience members) shouted "Skate Scott, skate."
On the Boardwalk I chatted with Michelle Kwan's mother. My husband and I told her how much we enjoy both her daughter's skating. I said that I just loved the Peter Pan number that Michelle did in the Campbell's tour. She said that Michelle had gotten a chance to ride some rides on the Boardwalk and that they had teased Michelle about this being her vacation. Michelle didn't think it was much of a vacation, since she had been working all day. Oh, and Michelle loves cotton candy.
I got Michelle and Tara's autograph. They are both sweet little girls, just like they look. Tara was actually surprised that I wanted her autograph, nice to see she isn't jaded. I got Elvis' autograph and Victor Kraatz'. He was surprised that1 recognized him. I told Victor that I loved his and Shae Lynn's skating and he was very sweet. He told me that he was very proud of their new routine and he hoped I would like it (I did).
During the filming I saw Steven Cousins was wearing a bathing suit, drool city let me tell you. I told him that he should always skate like that and he laughed and said that the judges would kill him. He was carrying a surfboard and I asked him if he could surf, he said he had just learned and that David Hasselhoff had to rescue him.
Though I could flirt with Steven and chat with Elvis, when Scott Hamilton came by all I could do was stammer out a request for an autograph. I wanted so much to say something to him, anything, but I got all tongue tied the minute he got near me. I got his autograph though.
Before the show we got to watch everyone warm up. The rink was tiny, so it was hard for some to do triple jumps, nevertheless a lot of triples were done that night. In fact I saw Oksana do the first triples I have seen hear do in months. Watching the warm ups was fantastic, and a great picture taking opportunity. Because the rink was so small a couple of people almost hit the wall and Michelle actually did hit it. It looked pretty bad, but she skated fine in the show, so I guess she was ok.
The show itself was fabulous. Almost everyone had a least one new routine, all themed to summer, and a lot of Beach Boys songs were used. Michelle, Nancy and Nicole did two new routines. Michelle skated to California Girls and Nicole skated to Surfing USA. Only Victor Potrenko, Oksana and Elvis did only their Campbell's tour routines.
Michelle's opening number was a beautiful artistic routine that really showed off how far she has come artistically. Everyone always complains that Michelle isn't artistic enough, but this routine was just breathtakingly beautiful.
For me the highlight was getting to see Underhill and Martini. I have long been fans of theirs and I have never seen them live before. They are just incredible, they put so much emotion into their skating that they just pull you right in. I was spellbound watching them, it was wonderful. When they did their spectacular lifts the audience gasped. The same was true when Nancy and Nicole went into their famous spirals: everyone went wild.
Bourne and Kraatz blew me away with their evocative and unique style. Everytime I see them I like them even more than before. I think they are the best thing to hit ice dance since Torvill and Dean. Like Underhill and Martini they put a lot of feeling into their skating and just have tremendous chemistry. They have the most incredible edges, their blades don't make a sound, it is like they are floating just above the ice.
Tara Lipinski was adorable, a living doll. Her routines were wonderful. Nicole stole the Campbell's tour I thought, with her stunning performance. Here she was a lot of fun, very charming and whimsical, and skated beautifully. Todd Eldredge has improved so much he is like a different person. He is personable, more artistic and musical, 100% improvement. And on this teeny weenie ice rink he did a triple axel, amazing!
Nancy and Steven both did fun routines with a lot of dance moves. Nancy seemed kind of stiff in the first number, but was really good in the second. She did a triple that hit the moon and it was great to see the big grin on her face.
The show is going to be shown on TV (ABC) sometime in Oct. They didn't say the exact date. I know you guys will love it. I hope they don't edit out the best parts.
Having the time of my life,
Antoinette
