Journal

November 1, 2007

Konichiwa readers! (Hello)

It's a good thing that I am pursuing a career in figure skating instead of journalism. However, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share the experience of my first trip to Japan with all of you. So here we go!

The 2007 International Counter Match was incredible. What an honor it was to be invited to compete with top US and Japanese skaters. I love to travel, so for me this was a great experience. And actually winning the event, and getting to go with my friends and training mates, made it all the better!

It was a whirlwind trip. I was told on the Thursday before we left that Evan had dropped out and I was going. We left on the next Wednesday before sunrise and didn't arrive in Japan until Thursday afternoon. Fortunately I was traveling with Ryan Bradley and Rachael Flatt, so when we weren't sleeping we kept each other fully entertained. (It didn't hurt that we got to fly business class either!)

We arrived in Japan and checked into the hotel. They put us in the Shin Yokohama Prince Hotel. I had the most amazing view of Yokohama from my window on the 26th floor. Friday, we had practice and got our first taste of the phenomenon that is figure skating in Japan. We were leaving the rink and there was a small crowd waiting outside the rink, for autographs and pictures. It wasn't anything more than there would be at nationals. It was manageable and flattering, as always. Little did I know what was yet to come!

Then came Saturday. I arrived at the rink and started my warm up as usual until a camera crew started to follow me around. I suppose this is all par for the course, but I am fairly new to the course so it is still a little weird to me. The crowd started to arrive, and the excitement was building inside me. I could not wait to skate and perform for them. The audience was great they were so receptive and appreciative of everything we did. I couldn't believe how supportive they were of Team USA.

I loved this format of competition. It was great to truly be part of a team. We travel to internationals as part of Team USA, but usually we are competing for personal success. This time we were a team. It was amazing to be on the ice and have three of my closest competitors cheering for me through every movement of my program, knowing that each of our efforts would contribute to our victory.

After the competition was over, we really found out how much Japanese fans enjoy skating. We got back to the hotel and arrived to a mob of people waiting for us in the lobby. I couldn't believe how many people knew who I was and wanted pictures and autographs. It was pandemonium. There was screaming and lights flashing everywhere! We even had a couple of people chase us down the street. On Sunday after the Exhibition they had to put up barricades and had police there as we exited the rink. I felt like a rock star - sort of.

We closed out our trip by having dinner as a team. It was only fitting that we went to a Japanese restaurant. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I was most excited about this because I adore sushi! At this point, we had all bonded and had almost become a mini family. I am sure we annoyed the staff because we were having so much fun, laughing and carrying on loudly, like true Americans!

However, we did give the staff a good laugh at the end of the evening. Everyone had piled into the bathroom because someone had discovered that there was a button on the toilets that made a flushing sound. It did not actually flush the toilet, it just made the sound. I think this really summed up my experience in Japan. Excitable skating fans, great friends, amazing food and scenery, and a toilet that made a flushing noise. I love Japan!

Jeremy

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Hey Everyone,

Again it has been far too long... So I guess I'll just dive right into this! This past season was a very fun and eventful one.

Nationals was full of ups and downs. This was my first year at nationals at the senior level, and it was a much different experience than I have had in the past. The television cameras and the crowd add a completely new element I have never had to deal with before. Unfortunately, I let all these variables get to me in the short program. I didn't have the best go of it and actually ended up higher than I expected.

After that little mishap I at least knew what to expect going into long, and it allowed me to be able to relax and enjoy my performance. My long was incredible. I was not the best I could have skated, but it's be far the free-est I have ever felt competing. I felt so relaxed and had so much fun! The best part of it was sitting in the stands and seeing my name in first for over an hour. My goal all season had been to make the world team. I didn't think that was possible after my short. Sitting up top and seeing my name in first for so long I thought that I may have actually done it. Now all of you who watched, or followed along online, know that I didn't make the world team this past year, but I will this year. ;)

Getting fourth at nationals allowed me the opportunity to go to Four Continents. Four Continents was at my home rink which was very cool, but a little strange. I was worried about having to compete at the World Arena because I thought it was going to be hard to get into the vibe of the competition because I am there every day. It was actually not like that at all. It was the same rink, but it took on a whole new persona having such amazing skaters and officials. I loved it!

It was amazing to get to skate and socialize with some of the best skaters in the world. My short was by far the best that I have ever skated. I did a completely clean program and earned my first ISU personal best. :) My long was good... It wasn't great, but for sure it was something to be proud of especially since it earned me my first major international medal!!!

I am extremely proud of the accomplishments that I made this past season, but I expect that these were just small steps to a bigger and better career! I received 2 Grand Prix assignment this season. Skate Canada and NHK Trophy. I am so excited because I am finally one of those skaters I used to watch on TV when I was younger. I would sit in front of the TV and dreamed about being there someday, but I didn't think that it would actually one day happen. And Now it has!

I apologize that this all didn't come sooner--I would have been much more detailed and entertaining. I promise to keep in touch much more often so as not to squander any more details!

Thank you all so much for your continued support!

Jeremy

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Hey everyone!

Happy holidays! I hope everyone is enjoying themselves and having a great time during this joyous and magical season.

So, the Midwestern Sectionals went very well and I won! I skated personal bests for both of my programs! I also broke 200 for the first time!!!

I am going to Grand Junction this week for a couple shows! I am very excited. They have a brand new rink, and I am honored to be their guest skater!

I also get to spend a couple of days with my dad to celebrate Christmas with him.

Other than that I am just preparing for nationals. I'm working very hard and I'm excited to make my Senior National debut!

Happy Holidays once again!

Jeremy

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Hey Everyone!

Sooooooooo I feel the need to apologize for having gone so long without updating my journal! I hope you all can understand that I really haven't had much to write about in the past year until just recently. The whole of last year was basically a disaster, but I learned so much. I'm at a really good point right now that I don't think I could have gotten to without having the season I had last year. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.

I guess I last left you before I went to Nebelhorn Trophy. I had a blast. Despite my skating, it was such a great experience. I wouldn't take back for the world! The town was gorgeous and everyone was so nice. My team was great; I had a lot of fun with them, and made a few friends in the process. :)

After that was Sectionals. Sectionals were an even bigger nightmare than I could have ever imagined! After missing every element in my short at Nebelhorn, my coaches and I decided to go back to my junior short program for sectionals. My short was actually pretty good! I did my triple Axel-triple toe combo and was in fourth going into the long. My long was horrible I remember thinking my season was over before I finished my program. I had to keep training through Nationals though because Ryan Bradley was injured for most all of the season.

I was invited to do a show in Clinton, New York this past April. (A quick shout out to everyone there!) They put on a great show and I am so honored to have gotten to be a part of it! I have also been invited back this year! So I am looking forward to that again!

Ok... now I believe I have gotten to the beginning of my season. I apologize again if I am a bit scattered I have SO much to write, but I'm trying to keep it short. I don't think its working lol :)

This year, I did two preseason competitions, Denver Invitational and Skate Dallas. I only did short in Denver. I was the first time I put out my new short program to "Dead Already" from the American Beauty Soundtrack. It was... ummm... well let's say it wasn't so great, but I got it out there and the response from the judges was great!

Then I went to Dallas to try to put out my quad in both programs. My short again didn't go so well. I popped my quad (the whole purpose of doing this competition), but my actual program, the choreography and footwork, were very solid and I was pleased with that. I just recently watched my long program from this competition and I can confidently say that it was the lowest point in my skating career! Hitting the bottom of the valley makes summiting the peaks that much better! So here's to hitting rock bottom!!! LOL

I went to Las Vegas with my family for my 21st birthday in June!!! Tons of fun, but I hurt my knee while I was there... I was skating when I hurt it! Come on now I know what you all were thinking! I'm a good kid... for the most part lol :) Because of that, I had to withdraw from Broadmoor Open. I stated skating again that week and learned about being a rhinoceros from my good friend Angie Lien. Again, everything happens for a reason!

My turning point this year was when I went to the Mishin Seminar in Virginia. I went the week before Liberty Summer competition, and it was the best decision I have ever made in my life! I got so much out of that seminar. He gave me so much confidence in myself, which is what was missing last year. I had no confidence, I didn't think I belonged in senior, and I was scared to death every time I went out to compete. Its one thing to hear how good you are from your friends and family, but it's another to hear it from one of if not the greatest coach in the world.

Then on to Liberty. I actually got a stomach virus on Monday. I finally felt ok enough to eat something Tuesday night and got food poisoning! Let me tell you how great I felt!!! So, for me anything that I could accomplish would be amazing! In hindsight, my short program wasn't great, but I felt like I had jumped over a HUGE hurdle! I did my triple triple for the first time, and my spins, footwork, and choreography were right on. I debuted my long at Liberty, and it went better than I expected! Overall, I felt that Liberty was solid. It was a great steppingstone for the rest of my season.

I was monitored for an international at Liberty and my monitoring session went really well. I was later told that I wasn't going to receive one because of the inconsistency that I had shown the past year. I had Colorado Champs. A little over a week after I found that out. You had better believe I went there to prove them wrong and make them rethink their decision. I skated very well in short and long, and recorded my personal best to that point. I guess I was good enough to make the Selection committee decide I was worth sending!

On to Finland! Finland was amazing! The city was beautiful (the little bit of it I saw). It was a very short trip. We got there Thursday evening, practiced Friday, competed Saturday and Sunday left Monday morning. We had a small team, only two others both of whom happened to be good friends of mine. It was great getting to travel with two of my good friends it was a really great support system! I had two very solid performances... I made a few little mistakes, but overall I was very happy! And to my surprise (very much to my surprise) they were good enough to win! After my long I was on the phone so I was only half watching the last boy. I heard his score and that he was in second, but being the master of deduction that I am I didn't realize that I was in first. I had to ask both my coaches and the rest of my team to confirm that I had won.

I've had a great season so far. I'm just working hard now and getting ready to kick some butt at sectionals and continue the success that I've had so far this year. Thank you all so much for all of your support, and I promise to keep you all posted on my life more often! :)

Jeremy

Tuesday, July 25, 2005

Hey, everybody!

It has been quite a year for me! Winning Nationals was the most incredible thing I have ever done in my life. I have always had the potential to be a good skater but I had never followed all the way through. To see all my hard work finally pay off defies description.

In April, I was asked to skate in Champions on Ice at the Pepsi Center in Denver. I have such mixed feelings about the whole experience. It was so cool to be there with world and national and Olympic champions and medalists. It was humbling and intimidating and FREAKIN' AMAZING!!! I actually didn't skate very well but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. The funniest thing about skating at the Pepsi Center was that a few weeks before the show, my family and I went to see a Nuggets game. We were sitting up above, and I was marveling at how big the arena was. I told my parents that I thought USFS should host an event there because I thought it would be awesome to get the chance to skate there... be careful what you wish for, right?!?!

After Champions on Ice, I was invited to skate in the Aspen Skating Club's annual spring show. It is always fun to go back to my home town and my home club and to get to see the kids there. They are all so happy and excited to be skating and they love everything about it! I'm not going to lie; I also like the attention. It's like, I do a single axel and the rink goes crazy! While I was in Aspen I started a fund for competitive male skaters in the Aspen Skating Club. I wanted to give back to the club that gave me my start and my love for skating. The fund is really small right now but I wanted to help in any way possible. I hope that as my career progresses I can add more and more to it so that it really becomes something.

I got two brand new programs for my senior debut at Broadmoor Open. My short program is called I'm A-Doun by Vanessa Mae. I got the chance to work with Chris Dean for my short program. He is so much fun to work with; he is such an incredibly talented man. I came to the rink not knowing what to expect and right away it was like BAM "This is what I want you to do - now go". He basically had my program choreographed before I got there. I love this program. It is something different for me, and I think it really challenges my skating abilities... mainly in the footwork area, LOL. :)

My long program was three different pieces by William Joseph. Damon Allen choreographed this program. I love working with Damon. He has done my programs for the past three or four years. I feel that we have similar skating styles, so we can work off each other easily. That is another reason I like working with Damon - I get my input and I get to choreograph. This program was a big departure for me because the music was more classical, which fits my style, but I really don't enjoy skating to it because I like to be more creative and different (if that makes any sense at all).

Broadmoor Open was a good experience. I won the short program. I had absolutely no expectations going into Broadmoor, so winning the short was very exciting for me. I also won the Jump event later that day. I landed 2 triple axels, 2 triple flip triple toes, and a quad sal - the first I've ever attempted in competition!

Before Broadmoor we decided that the long program was not a good fit for me, and that after the competition we were going to change it. So, all things considered I suppose that my long program wasn't all too bad, LOL. I didn't skate anywhere near the best of my abilities, but I still placed third. Since Broadmoor I have gone back to my long program from last season. We added music and adjusted the program to fit the new scoring system. I'm really excited about this program I have such a passion for the music, and I really feel that it will translate to my audience (I hope so anyways).

I have been off the ice for the past two weeks. I strained my quad tendon in my knee where it attaches to my knee cap. The doctor told me that if I did not allow it to heal it could rip off of my knee cap, requiring surgery. Needless to say, the decision to take time off was a rather easy one! My knee is starting to feel a lot better. I have a lot more range of motion, but it still hurts to put all my weight on it. Today was actually my first day back on the ice. I'm not allowed to jump or do back sit spins, but I'm happy just to be on the ice at all. After skating today my knee is a little bit sore, but it's more in the quad than it is in the tendon, so I'm hoping that's a good thing!

I can't wait to start full-on training again. I really want to make an impact at Neblehorn Trophy (my first international). That is all I have for now. I hope that everyone is enjoying their summers 'cause I know I am!!!

Thank you all again!

Jeremy