Cat's Lair 2001 Silicon Valley Open Pages

August 18, 2001

This morning I watched some pre-preliminary and preliminary girls. I forgot my notepad and I couldn’t hear the announcer say the girls names anyway. So I didn’t get any notes, but just sat and enjoyed the skating. It was the artistic program and one of the girls skated with a ribbon, ala Katia Gordeeva and Sasha Cohen. She did a really, really nice Ina Baur while fluttering her ribbon. But she didn’t like the way she skated and she cried afterward which just broke my heart. Poor little skatie girl. Other standouts included a beautiful program to Moonlight Sonata, a very spunky girl skating to a Shania Twain song and a beautiful program to Over The Rainbow.

I only saw two Intermediate Ladies, but they were both very good. Catherine Riley of the Utah FSC skated to Scarlet Pimpernel. Yeah, I love this music! I have been dying for someone (TODD, TODD are you listening) to skate to it. She did a good job and had a really lovely layback spin.

Then I saw Heather Cristobal of the Peninsula SC. Heather is the little sister of the reigning Junior Ladies National Champion, Joan Cristobal. Well Heather skated great! She landed everything and a kitchen sink. I didn’t take notes but she landed at least two double/double combinations and a double loop. She has very nice extension and line; in fact her style is very much like her big sister’s. She had the biggest grin on her face throughout her program. Joan started jumping up and down and hugging everyone in sight after her sister skated. I asked Joan if it is harder to watch than to do and she laughed and said yes.

Joan by the way is now competing as a senior and will be in the competition tonight. Seems like not to long ago Joan was an intermediate, they grow up so fast.

It was a very sweet morning I must say.