Blog > April 6, 2008

Hello everyone! I'm taking advantage of being sick and sitting in bed all day by writing a journal update. It's been way too long and I have much to talk about.

The Saga of Eliot continues with Nationals of course! Love is the best word to describe my experience of competing at my first Senior National competition. Although that word might sound quite outlandish in that sentence, I picked it on purpose so you would keep reading!

When I skated on my first practice ice I looked all around the spacious Xcel Energy Center, trying to soak in the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if I skated with a smile the whole time because I was truthfully so happy just to have qualified to compete in such a prestigious and competitive event. I knew I couldn't prepare myself for the new experiences that were to come, but I had trained my programs harder than ever before and desperately wanted to skate two great programs. Unfortunately my coaches and I decided not to include the triple axel in my programs due to it's recent inconsistency. As weird as this may sound, I consider each of my jumps as a person with it's own unique personality. Some examples include my triple salchow- the Mama's boy (or Dadda's boy I suppose) and my triple toe loop- the black sheep of the family. Well, as soon as my triple axel started to go wonky I realized that that jump was definitely the high maintenance member of the family. Going in to Nationals, I wanted to feel EXTREMELY confident and I knew that wouldn't be possible with a triple axel in my program.

To add to the excitement of the looming event, I later found out that I would be skating last in the Senior Mens Short Program. One part of me was thrilled. Another part of me was scared out of my mind. Little Eliot would be closing the Friday night event!

Watching my friends compete throughout the week made me even more excited to skate. I hated the fact that I'd be the last to be finish since the Senior Mens event didn't conclude until Sunday afternoon. On a side note, I want to congratulate Adam Rippon on winning the Junior Mens event (and on later winning the Junior World title)! Adam and I have known eachother since we were 12 and 13 years old at the 2003 Lake Placid Junior Nationals and I consider him a great friend. I am so thrilled that he has had such success this past year and I know he's worked hard.

Once Friday evening rolled around, I felt very nervous and anxious. I just wanted the whole competition to be over so I could get rid of all the butterflies in my stomach and all the bad thoughts running through my head. For the first time in my skating career, a whole year had focused on one competition. From the reporters asking me "How excited are you to skate in front of your hometown?" during the summer, to my family asking me "Should we be getting tickets?" in the Fall, no one would let me forget that Nationals would be in St. Paul. Trust me when I say that it was very overwhelming. Maybe you understand my feelings of wanting the event to be over a little better now!

While lacing up my skates for the short program I could hear the audience cheering for my competitors through the walls. Without seeing them, I could hear how energetic and enthusiastic the St. Paul people were. I walked down the hall with Ted's arm around me. The time had come for me to take center stage. I turned the corner and was greeted by thousands of people filling the Xcel Energy Center. Wowza that's a lot of people. Once on the ice I was in a very different world. One I had never been in before. When skating around the edges of the ice I could hear different people cheering my name. For some reason every voice was amplified. After the warmup was over, and the wait backstage concluded, I stepped onto the ice again, but this time I was alone. Representing the St. Paul Figure Skating Club in St. Paul, Minnesota, please welcome to the ice Eliot Halverson. My ears were met with thunderous applause that made my heart race. I knew it was time. I took my place and waited for the music to start. Just think, in under three minutes it'll all be over!

To be continued...

I know I haven't even started talking about the interesting parts yet, but this update was already getting very long. I haven't written in such a long time that I knew I just needed to get the first part out there until I finish writing the second part. I'm really sorry, but I PROMISE to finish very soon!

~Eliot