[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Cat's Lair 2001 U.S. Worlds Diaries

Index	23-Mar-2001: Ladies Short
Updated: 30-Mar-2001 Cover Page Pre-event We will be driving up to Vancouver on the 16th & 17th. The diary entries will start after that. 18-Mar-2001 Getting Started 19-Mar-2001 Pairs Short 20-Mar-2001 Men's Short 21-Mar-2001 Ladies Qual, Group B Pairs Free Ladies Qual, Group A 22-Mar-2001 Men's Free 23-Mar-2001 Ladies Short 24-Mar-2001 Ladies Free	Yeah, yeah I know the Ladie's Free Skate was days ago. Probably nobody is even checking these diaries anymore. But what the heck! I am driving, actually Richard is driving, I am riding, from Vancouver to California I have nothing but time to write this last diary entry. I am afraid I don't have many notes, and I have none of the final flight, but I figured you got to see them on tv anyway. But here are my notes, memories and various observations from the Ladies' Free Skate. If you are at all familiar with Catslair then you know that we are were purring with pleasure when Michelle won her fourth world title. Well okay we were jumping up and down and crying and yelling hooray. But now we are just purring. Oh and before I describe the skating, I must tell more of the adventures of Marshall the Wonder Baby. I saw Sale and Pelletier Saturday, and pestered them for an autograph. Jamie admired Marshall and was amazed when I told her that he had been in the audience throughout the pairs competition. While we were talking David noticed Marshall's shoe was untied and reached over and tied it for him. So now Marshall has had a World Champion tie his shoe. Denmark - Mikkeleine Kiekgaard She landed five triples including a double axel/triple toe combination, a triple loop, an unidentified triple and another triple/double combination. She did a beautiful spiral which she held for a full circle and a Charlotte with her hand touching the ice. She is graceful and personable and just lovely to watch she got a standing ovation and I wish she had a triple lutz. Belarus - Julia Soldatova If you didn't know you would never have guessed that this girl was a bronze medallist just two years ago. She popped both lutzes, fell on the triple loop and then fell on another jump. She did a double axel/triple toe and a sort of Charlottte spiral, bending about halfway down. She ended up 20th, which I think is good enough to guarantee Belarus one spot at the Olympics. Finland - Elina Kettunen She landed a triple lutz, triple loop, another triple, a triple sal, and a double axel/double toe. She is very graceful and musical and she has very pretty spin positions. Japan - Fumi Suguri Well I wanted her to move up and didn't think the judges would let her, after she was rooked in the quals and short. But the point was moot when she missed some jumps. But she did make the top ten and earn Japan two spots at the Olympics so I hope she is proud of that. She skated to the Planets, the program she skated at Four Continents. She did a triple lutz/double toe then doubled something, then landed a double axel, another triple, a triple flip/double toe combination and a triple sal. Unfortunately she fell on the triple loop. She has a huge death drop with way good height. She also has a beautiful spiral and layback spin. She was 7th. Switzerland - Sarah Meier Landed triple lutz/double toe two other triples, a triple loop. She doubled something. I can't read my notes here very well, but it looks like she landed a double sal and then a triple sal, also a double axel, then a double jump and a split jump. She has very pretty and fast spins and an especially lovely layback. She finished in 12th. Italy - Silvia Fontana I don't have any notes on Silvia. But I know she landed one triple lutz and missed another one. She skated to a musical version of the song Time To Say Goodbye. It wasn't her usual bubbly and bouncy style, still it was lovely and expressive. She does spirals with her leg held up by her side, and spins the same way. Good footwork. She was so happy with herself after she skated and cried for joy in the kiss and cry. Her tenth place finish is her highest ever at Worlds and gives Italy two women at the Olympics for the first time in as long as I can remember. France - Vanessa Gusmeroli Skated her new Legends of the Fall program, which is very pretty. She messed up a few jumps, but I have no notes for her. She did that great series of spins, including a reverse spin that I describe in detail in the qualifying report. USA - Sarah Hughes She landed two triple lutzes, which I had not seen her do before. She also landed that attention grabbing triple sal/triple loop. She skated better than in Boston, faster and with better expression. I think since less was expected of her in Vancouver, she could relax and have fun with the program. Despite the excessive hand sticking up in the air this program is timed well with footwork, leaps and spirals that match the music. Sarah is adorable and smiles a lot, but her presentation is young. I don't have a better way to describe it. That is not a bad thing by the way, Sarah is young, and her lack of maturity will fade away. But for now she needs others to make mistakes to make the podium. Of course others did make mistakes and Sarah ended up with the Bronze medal. USA - Angela Nikodinov Most people are amazed at the way in which Angela landed her jumps in Vancouver, but what amazes me is her major leap forward in presentation. She really expressed the music well, was wonderfully graceful and carried herself like a ballerina throughout her Sleeping Beauty program. There is one point in the program where she blows a kiss and it is a lovely moment. Anyway she was tearing through her program, when she fell, I think on the sal. She missed another jump after that and ended up fifth. Of course fifth in the world is a major accomplishment when most people have written you off for dead. Good going Angela and I sure hope you make the trip to Salt Lake City, you have really earned it. USA - Michelle Kwan If you haven't seen this for yourself on tv, what are you doing reading this for? Go fire up the VCR and watch. If I were to describe what makes Michelle special in one word it would be smooth. She has this flawlessly smooth style with each element flowing into the next. She makes everything look easy, light and soft. It's as if she were floating up into the air and floating back down again. When she really hits that magic Michelle quality, everyone else should just do the "Ï'm not worthy dance." Needless to say I was entranced throughout Michelle's program. I wanted her to do well, not to win, because I was convinced that the judges wanted Slutie to win and she would no matter what. I wanted Michelle to skate well for herself so she could be proud of herself. So many people have said so many cruel things about her all year, and have written her off as no longer being competitive. I just wanted Michelle to reach inside of herself and skate for the pure joy of it. When she landed the triple/triple toe combination tears started falling down my cheeks. By the time she landed the second triple lutz I was sobbing. I told my friend Ann I didn't care what the judges had to say, Michelle had skated her best and that was all that mattered. Then I walked out of the arena before her scores came up. She was solid gold to me, and it turned out that was the color of the medal she received as well. Russia - Irinia Slutskaia For Marshall's sake, and for my own. I watched the last three competitors on the monitor in the arena concourse. Slutie looked sloppy to me, but Slutie always looks sloppy to me. I just don't get the fuss over her. Her jumps are high, but cheated. Her spins are fast, but travel. She has no line, her back crossovers are so hunched over we should call her Quasimodo. She is cute and bubbly and smiles a lot, but she is not graceful and very unmusical. She is just not in Michelle's league and that is all there is to it. And this night even the judges knew it. The press has all said that she lost on the artistry, but her technical marks were lower than Michelle's as well. Slutie jumps higher, but Michelle jumps better with better flow going in and out the jumps, correct edges, clean revolutions and Michelle's doesn't telegraph her jumps half way down the rink. So Michelle beat Slutie on both marks, and quite deservedly. Silver for Irinia. Russia - Victoria Volchkova Coming after this duel of the Gods, Victoria could not expect much recognition. She has really high jumps, you could fit Kyoko Ina upright under Volchková's lutz. But the rest of her program is ... missing. She needs some connecting steps. I guess she was sixth. Russia - Maria Butyrskaia Speaking of Russians I just don't get! Why is this woman considered such a great artist? She makes faces and poses that is why. Anyway she skated well for her I suppose. Her jumps came to a complete dead stop, but she landed most of them. If she hadn't blown the qualifier she would have gotten the bronze, I am very glad she blew the short because she doesn't belong on that podium. She ended up fourth overall.

Index

23-Mar-2001: Ladies Short

Updated: 30-Mar-2001

Cover Page

Pre-event

We will be driving up to Vancouver on the 16th & 17th. The diary entries will start after that.

18-Mar-2001

Getting Started

19-Mar-2001

Pairs Short

20-Mar-2001

Men's Short

21-Mar-2001

22-Mar-2001

Men's Free

23-Mar-2001

Ladies Short

24-Mar-2001

Ladies Free

Yeah, yeah I know the Ladie's Free Skate was days ago. Probably nobody is even checking these diaries anymore. But what the heck! I am driving, actually Richard is driving, I am riding, from Vancouver to California I have nothing but time to write this last diary entry. I am afraid I don't have many notes, and I have none of the final flight, but I figured you got to see them on tv anyway. But here are my notes, memories and various observations from the Ladies' Free Skate.

If you are at all familiar with Catslair then you know that we are were purring with pleasure when Michelle won her fourth world title. Well okay we were jumping up and down and crying and yelling hooray. But now we are just purring.

Oh and before I describe the skating, I must tell more of the adventures of Marshall the Wonder Baby. I saw Sale and Pelletier Saturday, and pestered them for an autograph. Jamie admired Marshall and was amazed when I told her that he had been in the audience throughout the pairs competition. While we were talking David noticed Marshall's shoe was untied and reached over and tied it for him. So now Marshall has had a World Champion tie his shoe.

Denmark - Mikkeleine Kiekgaard: She landed five triples including a double axel/triple toe combination, a triple loop, an unidentified triple and another triple/double combination. She did a beautiful spiral which she held for a full circle and a Charlotte with her hand touching the ice. She is graceful and personable and just lovely to watch she got a standing ovation and I wish she had a triple lutz.
Belarus - Julia Soldatova: If you didn't know you would never have guessed that this girl was a bronze medallist just two years ago. She popped both lutzes, fell on the triple loop and then fell on another jump. She did a double axel/triple toe and a sort of Charlottte spiral, bending about halfway down. She ended up 20th, which I think is good enough to guarantee Belarus one spot at the Olympics.
Finland - Elina Kettunen: She landed a triple lutz, triple loop, another triple, a triple sal, and a double axel/double toe. She is very graceful and musical and she has very pretty spin positions.
Japan - Fumi Suguri: Well I wanted her to move up and didn't think the judges would let her, after she was rooked in the quals and short. But the point was moot when she missed some jumps. But she did make the top ten and earn Japan two spots at the Olympics so I hope she is proud of that. She skated to the Planets, the program she skated at Four Continents. She did a triple lutz/double toe then doubled something, then landed a double axel, another triple, a triple flip/double toe combination and a triple sal. Unfortunately she fell on the triple loop. She has a huge death drop with way good height. She also has a beautiful spiral and layback spin. She was 7th.
Switzerland - Sarah Meier: Landed triple lutz/double toe two other triples, a triple loop. She doubled something. I can't read my notes here very well, but it looks like she landed a double sal and then a triple sal, also a double axel, then a double jump and a split jump. She has very pretty and fast spins and an especially lovely layback. She finished in 12th.
Italy - Silvia Fontana: I don't have any notes on Silvia. But I know she landed one triple lutz and missed another one. She skated to a musical version of the song Time To Say Goodbye. It wasn't her usual bubbly and bouncy style, still it was lovely and expressive. She does spirals with her leg held up by her side, and spins the same way. Good footwork. She was so happy with herself after she skated and cried for joy in the kiss and cry. Her tenth place finish is her highest ever at Worlds and gives Italy two women at the Olympics for the first time in as long as I can remember.
France - Vanessa Gusmeroli: Skated her new Legends of the Fall program, which is very pretty. She messed up a few jumps, but I have no notes for her. She did that great series of spins, including a reverse spin that I describe in detail in the qualifying report.
USA - Sarah Hughes: She landed two triple lutzes, which I had not seen her do before. She also landed that attention grabbing triple sal/triple loop. She skated better than in Boston, faster and with better expression. I think since less was expected of her in Vancouver, she could relax and have fun with the program. Despite the excessive hand sticking up in the air this program is timed well with footwork, leaps and spirals that match the music. Sarah is adorable and smiles a lot, but her presentation is young. I don't have a better way to describe it. That is not a bad thing by the way, Sarah is young, and her lack of maturity will fade away. But for now she needs others to make mistakes to make the podium. Of course others did make mistakes and Sarah ended up with the Bronze medal.
USA - Angela Nikodinov: Most people are amazed at the way in which Angela landed her jumps in Vancouver, but what amazes me is her major leap forward in presentation. She really expressed the music well, was wonderfully graceful and carried herself like a ballerina throughout her Sleeping Beauty program. There is one point in the program where she blows a kiss and it is a lovely moment. Anyway she was tearing through her program, when she fell, I think on the sal. She missed another jump after that and ended up fifth. Of course fifth in the world is a major accomplishment when most people have written you off for dead. Good going Angela and I sure hope you make the trip to Salt Lake City, you have really earned it.
USA - Michelle Kwan: If you haven't seen this for yourself on tv, what are you doing reading this for? Go fire up the VCR and watch. If I were to describe what makes Michelle special in one word it would be smooth. She has this flawlessly smooth style with each element flowing into the next. She makes everything look easy, light and soft. It's as if she were floating up into the air and floating back down again. When she really hits that magic Michelle quality, everyone else should just do the "Ï'm not worthy dance." Needless to say I was entranced throughout Michelle's program. I wanted her to do well, not to win, because I was convinced that the judges wanted Slutie to win and she would no matter what. I wanted Michelle to skate well for herself so she could be proud of herself. So many people have said so many cruel things about her all year, and have written her off as no longer being competitive. I just wanted Michelle to reach inside of herself and skate for the pure joy of it. When she landed the triple/triple toe combination tears started falling down my cheeks. By the time she landed the second triple lutz I was sobbing. I told my friend Ann I didn't care what the judges had to say, Michelle had skated her best and that was all that mattered. Then I walked out of the arena before her scores came up. She was solid gold to me, and it turned out that was the color of the medal she received as well.
Russia - Irinia Slutskaia: For Marshall's sake, and for my own. I watched the last three competitors on the monitor in the arena concourse. Slutie looked sloppy to me, but Slutie always looks sloppy to me. I just don't get the fuss over her. Her jumps are high, but cheated. Her spins are fast, but travel. She has no line, her back crossovers are so hunched over we should call her Quasimodo. She is cute and bubbly and smiles a lot, but she is not graceful and very unmusical. She is just not in Michelle's league and that is all there is to it. And this night even the judges knew it. The press has all said that she lost on the artistry, but her technical marks were lower than Michelle's as well. Slutie jumps higher, but Michelle jumps better with better flow going in and out the jumps, correct edges, clean revolutions and Michelle's doesn't telegraph her jumps half way down the rink. So Michelle beat Slutie on both marks, and quite deservedly. Silver for Irinia.
Russia - Victoria Volchkova: Coming after this duel of the Gods, Victoria could not expect much recognition. She has really high jumps, you could fit Kyoko Ina upright under Volchková's lutz. But the rest of her program is ... missing. She needs some connecting steps. I guess she was sixth.
Russia - Maria Butyrskaia: Speaking of Russians I just don't get! Why is this woman considered such a great artist? She makes faces and poses that is why. Anyway she skated well for her I suppose. Her jumps came to a complete dead stop, but she landed most of them. If she hadn't blown the qualifier she would have gotten the bronze, I am very glad she blew the short because she doesn't belong on that podium. She ended up fourth overall.

Updated: 30-Mar-2001