March 4, 2010
So I’ve decided that instead of packing for Junior Worlds I would write a journal entry. Hopefully my mom doesn’t read this because she let me skip school so I could pack… Sorry Mom!
I’m going to start off with Nationals because I’ve a slacker and haven’t updated in a while. Nationals was AMAZING!!!! My goal heading into the competition was to finish in the top 8 and I knew that I would have to skate really, really well to accomplish that. It had been sort of difficult transitioning from the junior long to the senior long in only one short month, but Lindsay had been pushing me really hard so I definitely felt prepared. I planned on going there, focusing only on myself, and skating well. My practices were all strong and I felt like I fit in with the “Big Dogs”, not like a new senior. Therefore, when I went out to compete it wasn’t nerve wracking and scary. I actually had a great time! My short program, however, wasn’t exactly as I would have like it. I only made one mistake, stepping out of the triple flip, but because I had been skating clean shorts almost everyday, it was kind of a let down. The good thing was that I finished the short in eight. That made up for the frustration with not skating clean. Long program was solid, but not perfect once again. The morning of the long I landed the MOST amazing triple axel of my life. Then, in the program… not so good. I feel alright about it though, being happy that I was still able to put it out in the program and get more experience with it. Finishing in 7th was one of the most exciting moments in my skating career. I had exceeded my expectations by skating from my heart and focusing only on myself.
Now we have Jr. Worlds!!! At the beginning of the season I didn’t really expect to be on the Jr. World team. I had only competed in one Spring international and hadn’t had any other international experience. I think being assigned to the team is a result of my hard work and I’m so excited to go and represent the United States. It has been a dream season for me so far and its all icing on the cake from here. Practice has been going very strong and I’m skating the best I have ever skated in my life. All the pieces are coming together and I’m at a very good place in my life right now. I can’t wait to get there!!!
Well that’s all for now. I should probably get back to packing since I leave tomorrow!!! Talk to you all soon!
Grant
