Hi Everyone! I'm back! What a fun night! This years SOI is SO MUCH better than last years! I'm glad IMG/Bezic and Co are back on track.

I'll keep the review short--just wanted to report on Kristi! Her family sat nine rows down from us and guess who was there? Bret! I also saw Christy Kasgaard-Ness and Linda Leaver in the same row.

Although I was really excited to have Kurt Browning back on the tour, I really kept my eyes on Kristi thru out the group ensembles. She's so polished, precise, and professional! I noticed that when the individual skaters were showcased one by one during the opening number (Strobe Nanafushi) Kristi was the only one who jumped! Landed a beautiful double axel! She also skated a little duo with Katia (Demain) which was nice, but uneventful.

Kristi's "Bridge Under Trouble Water" was fantastic. It really covers the ice, too, something you really don't notice from the SOI broadcast. She nailed a great triple lutz (and all in all had the hardest jump of the night! Ilia doubled his triple axel, but did the triple lutz too so I guess she shared the hardest triple of the night!) Just before her sit-spin she had a bobble, kind of like when you catch your footing on carpet and slip a bit, but it didn't take away from the rest of the routine. She landed her triple loop (right in front of our section!) *and* her toe loop! I was so happy for her! But jumps aside, I really liked this routine. So did the audience. (Note, Oakland always has a rowdy crowd! San Jose will be more mellow) It's so nice to know that the crowd knows *good* skating when they see a routine like that. Sail on silver girl!

Kristi was cute in the Steven's Cousin segment. It was fun watching her "dance" on ice with Lulu. Nothing too eventful, but fun!

Smooth was FANTASTIC! It comes right after Kurt's "Play That Funky Music"--which is a crowd pleaser (and I will travel anywhere to see Kurt in those Brickhouse pants, hee hee) so when the song Smooth started, the crowd really went wild. Kristi was smart to choose this song! I bet it will win the Grammy! (Go Carlos! Another Bay Area native!) She nailed her flip and her toe loop. And, much to my surprise, I really liked the dress she wore better in person than on the TV. It is really a bright fushia pink and sparkly and fun. I like it now! The choreography for this routine is mind boggling and Kristi really skates it hard. She seemed really happy w/herself when it was over. I'm not sure if she wiped her brow or not (as if to say "wooh! Glad I got thru that!) because she was facing the other side when she did it, but I think she did. (sorry, it's getting late!)

The finale was fine. Nothing too exciting Kristi wise, BUT when  the skaters took their final bow and went to greet the audience, Kristi skated up to the row where her family was and greeted them! She also nuzzled noses with her fiance and gave him a kiss! That was sweet!

Maybe I'm biased (maybe? that's an understatment) but Kristi was the highlight of the show. Other stand out performances: Czardas by Bechke and Petrov!! The pair elements that these two do year after year just never cease to amaze me. I'm really going to miss them. :( Rene Roca and Gorsha Sur skated a very beautiful piece, too!  I really liked their routines. Kurt's Raggideon is much better live than on TV and it was GREAT having him back again. He was funny!

Most of the skaters were "on" tonight. Scott landed a triple toe loop, but doubled everything else. Oh well, his smile (and strategically placed rhinestones on his leotards) are worth any triple jump! Kurt landed everything, no falls! Chen Lu, unfortunately did a single axel and a double toe loop! I was a little disappointed, I hope Chen Lu gets her skating back in order! Tara landed all of her jumps, except for a fall on a triple loop. For as many times I have seen Tara skate live, this was the first time I ever saw her miss a jump! She looked very embarassed. Ilia landed a lot of triples, too, but his landings weren't as smooth as they were after Nagano. Katia, poor thing, fell pretty badly on some foot work and doubled/toe footed/fall outed on her triple loop. She was good skating w/Ilia, though. I think she is happiest skating pairs.

Kristi did get one of the loudest receptions of all!! ( I think Scott received the loudest. Tara, Kurt, and Bechke/Petrov were right up there as well)