January 13, 2004

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for visiting my site. I just got back from Nationals and have all kinds of news I would like to fill everyone in on. I will start with Nationals.

If you have seen the results, you will probably notice I wasn't in the top 8 like last season. It was kind of a shock to me and to a lot of others. I showed up in Atlanta with a sprained left hip, and had blood in my left hip flexor. I was advised by a doctor to take it very slow, and possibly not compete in the event.

To think I had worked all year and was in a place that I maybe wouldn't be able to compete was very frustrating for me. I was having a very hard time landing jumps with the motion that your free leg needs to push back so hard and so quickly. Every practice I felt like every jump I did was way off. I would either fall of flip out of them. Some practices were surprisingly good, but others were extremely bad.

I had work done on it. I also some cortisone put into it to make it through the week.... And I have to say considering the circumstances it held up very well.

I skated my best. I didn't quit and that's all I could have asked for of myself. I was a true fighter and that's what I needed to do for myself, my coaches, and all the supporters who help me out.

I went out there in the short and had a disaster. I had to overcome the fact that I was in 13th and pull my head together to do a decent long-- in which I certainly did. I did the best long that I have competed all season, and I was very proud of myself. I wasn't able to do the triple Axel or even a double in the long program because again the hip was just too sore. I did everything else and moved up to 12th.

I didn't end in the place I wanted, but for all I was working with I'm happy with the outcome. My coaches and I got a lot of great feedback on my skating, my programs, and what my future has in hold for me. I need to just get better let my hip heal and come back stronger than ever.

There were quite a few people who came up to me and told me that I remind them of Brian Boitano...... that was an amazing compliment. So overall I had a great experience.

Now I am taking time off, getting my hip to heal, and then back to the ice to start learning new tricks. For now, I'm just taking one day at a time. I am getting back on track. I'm in a good place in my head and happy that I ended the season on a high note.

I thank everyone who supports me, and helps me out in so many ways :)

All my love,

Nick