The last time Skate The Nation had ever toured Canada was way back in 1998. Ever since then, STN had vanished and was no longer touring. But being the New Millenium, things have certainly changed. It was Brian Orser who had wanted to bring back the tour and that he did. However making some small changes along the way. For those who don't know, normally STN would tour across Canada, and would visit smaller venues. This year, stops are only made in Southern & Northern Ontario. Also the cast usually just included many of Canada's Professional & National Team Members. This time around, the tour has skaters representing not just only Canada, but World Wide - USA, Russia & China which definily makes The 2001 Skate The Nation Tour a nice mixed combination!
I was THRILLED to hear that once again Skate The Nation would be making a stop in my home town - Sudbury, Ontario.
April 5th, 2001 couldn't come soon enough! The antisipation and excitment I was feeling , FINALLY the day had arrived!
I have so much to say, I honestly don't know where to begin. We arrived at the arena shortly after 7:00pm. Our seats were EXCELLENT. Actually I think I managed to get better seats with the contest as compaired to the seats I was origionally going to sit. I had purchased my tickets the day they went on sale - however I was lucky enough to have won tickets through the pharmacy, so I ended up selling my origional seats, and sat in my winning seats. Once seated, we were presented with our programs and autograph poster which was included with the winning package (along with reception pass's that was held after the show. I will mention more on that later) I was disapointed slightly with the program but what can ya do? They were selling them for 5.00 bucks, so what more do ya want. We are so use to the full page colour photos , this time they downsized the photos to half the page. There wasn't even a page inside the program telling us the ACTS which I think I am so use to looking at when attending SOI. But hey a nice little momento to take home non the less :o)
On with the show ....... the show started at 7:30, lights went down and a huge ROAR from the audience was given. It wasn't completly SOLD OUT. However 88% of the arena was filled.
Openning Number
They were all dressed up in multi coloured costumes. For those who attended SOI in 1999, you will all remember them. They were the same costumes, but the music for the openning number was very different. Techno type music. Each skater were "spotlighted" doing some sort of trick, while the other skaters presented them, and doing some sort of movement on the ice. At one point in the number Jayson Denommee was right infront of me. After the number was over, and the skaters were in their pose - an annoucer introduced each skater, and once they were called, they all skated to the center ice, posed for the audience, and then skated off. One little note: sound sytem during the introductions was really low and not very clear. It was just a recording, and didn't sound very clear to hear. Good thing I knew who was who and needed no introduction.
Jayson Denomme (Tom Jones Medley)
He was wearing blue shirt and some nice black leather type pants - YUM!! "Shake Your Bom Bom Jayson ..." *hehe* As usual he got the crowd going, screaming, pointing to people on the ice. He did a little bit of ‘Carlton' "its unusual to be loved by anyone ..." GREAT program, enjoyed it through beginning to end!!
Angela Nikodinov - "To Love You More"
The first time I've seen Angela was at the 1999 Sears Open. To be quite honest, I wasn't at all much impressed with her presentation. However having watched her at US Nationals and at this years 2001 World Championships, she has really grown, and has a lot more strength. And her presentation has improved greatly. This piece of music was just perfect for her. And her artistry has improved quite a bit. She was wearing a lovley white dress which really shined on the ice.
Ina & Zimmerman - "My Baby You"
And I'm now a BIGGER fan of I&Z let me tell you! I certainly enjoyed the music, it was a great choice for them. John was a bit off and did have a fall during their side by side jumps. It happened at the other end of the ice, and I kinda had to bend my head over to the left of me to see. They did have some beautiful lifts and throws and well TV doesn't cut it, John Zimmerman is one HOT MAN!
Krylova & Ovsiannikov - "Cleopatra"
They have always been dramatic, and of course I wasn't surprised with what they presented. Angelika starting in the middle of the ice with a white sheet wrapped around her, and Oleg skating around her, then slowly unwrapping the sheet to reveal Angelika, in a costum I thought was rather interesting. They always have inovated lifts. Very entertaining and a great crowd pleaser!
Maria Butyrskaya - "Ave Maria"
Such a beautiful performances given by Maria. I've ALWAYS loved the song "Ave Maria" and I just get goose bumps each and evertime I hear ANY version of the song. And last night was no different. Such a lovley song, skated with such grace from Maria in a dazzling white costume.
Josee Chouinard - "Clown"
This program is definitly growing on me the more I see it performed. Changes in the costume had been made, but only minor changes. She no longer has the dimond shapes on her tights, which I think was a rather good idea, since I found them to be distracting. Oh and she minused the "white" make-up on her face, and just had black tears running down her cheak. "Lighting" was an additional plus, using a yellow spotlight to represent the butterfly on the ice. Which made the program more enjoyable to watch and understand. Josee is a delight to watch each and every time, and this program has pleantly of expression throughout the performance.
Brian Orser - "Against All Odds"
I've read a few reviews from others who attended STN in Southern Ontario and some have given some mixed feelings inregards to the program. However I for one JUST SIMPLY LOVED IT! And so did the crowd! The music is just PERFECT for Brian, he was looking rather SHARP. The ladies beside me were HUGE Brian Orser fans , I could tell because they were contantly yelling everytime he skated by. So at one point during his program as he made his way by us again, he looked right at them, with this HUGE smile on his face, and pointed their way. They were all giggly after that! His footwork always impress's me, always having such great speed. I applaude Brian for his wonderful performance. And he got a wonderful reception from the audience with a standing ovation!!
Alexie Yagudin - "Stand By Me"
I am not sure if so many people really know how Stand By Me got discoverd for Alexi. During a skating show in the USA called "Improve On Ice" where all the skaters are to pick music out of a hat, and have a short time to put together a program "Improv" and perform in infront of a LIVE audience the same day (night) Well Alexie picked the song "Stand By Me" and ended up putting a really great program together. And so many people just LOVED what they saw, and I guess Yags enjoyed the music so much, that he kept it, and has been performing it at others shows. Having seen it LIVE was just wonderful actually. He was very charming all the way through, playing with the audience. One point during the program he kinda skated across the ice and then slide and glided on the ice on his stomach and when he got up to continue to skate he was just FILLED with snowy ice on his shirt. It was near the end of the program in which had the crowd on their feet, but got a lot of SCREAMS from the ladies in the audience since he decided to take off his shirt. I suppose he was a tad bit chilly.... I said to my mom next to me " do we have another Candeloro? .." The crowd was incrediably loud, that Yagudin was teasing the crowd more and lifting his arms up to each section, kinda like "who can scream the loudest" He pointed to the one section he though was the loudest, and kinda just skated off the ice after the lights went dim.
Bourne & Kraatz - "OD From 2001"
OMG JUST LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!! Seeing the changes they did LIVE was just AMAZING! I honestly couldn't hold myself together while watching. You found me singing away ..... "how's a bout a little fun, fun , fun ..." blah blah - you get my drift? LOL I think my favorite part of this OD are their side by side line sequence, and actually the very beginning part of the program. Just how they start their dance with their little foot work on the spot I just LOVE! Their expression on BOTH Shae-Lynn & Victor are wonderful and throughout it all they look like they are having a WONDERFUL time! B&K haven't been to Sudbury in quite a few years. 1994 brought B&K to Sudbury when Skate The Nation first payed a visit. After their dance was over, the crowd was on their feet, and B&K were all smiles :)
INTERMISSION
Was a chance for me to visit a few of my Blader friends who were in the arena to just chit chat about what we just witnessed.
Group: "Fare the Well Love" / "Riverdance"
Right now, I'd just like to comment on how impressed I was with the choreography that was put into this show. Brian Orser did all the choreography in the group numbers and did a FANTASTIC job!! I hope we will get to see more from Brian in the future. First helping Elvis with his choreography, and now taking an extra step in putting it all together for the group numbers for STN! Everyone was all dressed in white and the music was really gentle and soft piece. I just absolutly LOVE it when skaters wear white. I don't know why?
The MEN were first to come out: Brian/Yags and Jayson and did a little bit of skating, with jumps etc...Jayson especially looked GREAT in white :) After the men cleared the ice, the pairs came in together then followed the women Josee/Angela/Maria. Then everyone joined in, and eventually ended in the center of the ice in a circle! Then the lights dimmed a bit, and out skated two bodies to center ice, as the other skaters cleared the ice - and the spotlights turned on and BOOM the place just went NUTTTTTTS!! SCREAMS from ever corner of the building. Bourne & Kraatz did part of their Riverdance which had EVERYONE in the building clapping along. Before we knew it, it was over. Just a small little tease of Riverdance.
Jayson Dennomee - "Hymm To Love"
We are so use to seeing Jayson skate to really upbeat kind of programs, however this time Jayson skated to something extreamly slow and emotional. He was wearing all blue, velvet I believe. I felt Jayson throughout this program and enjoyed it VERY MUCH!
Ina & Zimmerman - "Shine On Crazy Diamond" Pink Floyd
The beginning of this program was really quite neat. John lifted Kyoko and he was skating across and she moved her feet as if she was walking. It was rather neat. I thought throughout this program they shows ALOT of emotion. And I enjoy many of their unique lifts. During their program though there was an unfortunate insident actually. POOR POOR JOHN, I guess it wasn't his night. He fell again during this number not once but twice. The first time as he was skating at the end of the ice, and doing some sort of twizzle, he ended up getting his skate or something caught in the light cord that goes around the arena, and he ended up falling. Poor guy. I guess he was extreamly shaken up by that, because when he got to the center of the ice, to do the next move, he fell again on a simple turn. The crowd showed their encourgement and clapped to let them know its quite alright ... and after those little stumpled, they skated to a beautiful piece. I have to say again THIS TEAM ROCKS. I was SOOOOO impressed with them. Of course I've watched them on TV through the years being together, but seeing them LIVE just made me appreciate the two even more!!! And WOW JON IS SOOOOOOOOOOOO GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG he is sooooo beautiful and SOOOOOO incrediably NICE!!!!!! It was a real treat to see them skate, and meet both Kyoko & John!
Maria Butyrskaya - "Dance With Me"
What can I say about this program - it was sexy and full with spunk. Not to mention a great beat and temop. Having seen Tara skate to the same music, and seeing Maria skate to it last night, you can really see the difference in style. I prefer Maria's style, but that's just me.
Shen & Zhao - "Beethoven's Last Night"
What a pleasure it was to see this team skate. It was the first time , and hopefully it won't be the last. BOY can she FLY across that ice. Rob Black (CTV comentator) doesn't lie when he says this team has got the goods. Just they lack their artistic side which I am sure will improve within time.I've read some reviews about the costumes being worn in this number however I do believe they changed them, because they were both wearing white, and had a bit of silver trim linning around the neck and his arms. So the costume wasn't really distracting for me.
Krylova & Ovsiannikov - "Ave Maria"
Ave Maria being skated to TWICE in one night. How lucky for me. K&O are extreamly "dramatic" and having watched this number, I must say I was really drawn into this program from beginning to end. The music was just enchanting, and piecefull, and the emotion shown by Oleg & Angelika was breathtaking. She was wearing a stunning costume as well, white with a touch of light blue in her skirt. She honestly looked like an angel from heaven! I must say they have improved grately since turning pro.
Josee Chouinard - "Can't Fight The Moonlight"
All I've got to say about this number is .. she odd to be a Cyote. If you have seen this movie "Coyote Ugly" in which this song is from, then you'll know what I mean. I enjoyed this program from beginning to end. She was wearing a lovely blue outfit, short skirt and haulter top.
Bourne & Kraatz - "Love Story" (French Vocals)
First of all the costumes were simply GORGEOUS! Both wearing a deep purple colour. STUNNING dress Shae-Lynn was wearing, and Victor had his hair slicked back, and kinda looked like it was in a tiny ponytail, to keep the hair from getting into his face.
Emotion was shown by both Victor and Shae-Lynn. It really brought me into the program and I was inchanted. They were all over the ice, saw a few moves from "March With Me" program. And did a bit of hydroblading as well. I think MANY Bourne & Kraatz fans will love this program, and I am sure they will be unvieling it during Stars On Ice in the coming weeks.
Alexie Yagudin - "Gladiator"
I was a little unsure as to what he would do in the second half. A part of me was thinking he'll probably do Gladiator, since its just been a HUGE CROWD pleaser. Then another part of me though hmmmmm maybe he will spark something new. I guess he didn't really surprise me when he skated out with SWORDS in hands. YES he did Gladiator and I must say that music is growning on me more and more and more! I must say though seeing Gladiator with the lights was MORE effective than watching it at a competition with just the plain white TV lights! When he started his number, the ice was filled with redness, which made things really quite effective to go along with that erry openning music. Again the CROWD went CRAZY during his footwork part of the program and he was nailing his jumps pretty high, a few not so clean landings, a bit shaky! To me it looks like his ankle is well. However when I asked him how his ankle was really doing at the reception after the show, Yags did say it "not good, but GOOD for skating." Also I asked him if he is doing the CSOI and he said YES he is. And that he was sad that he missed 5 shows with the STN tour! He really wanted to do the entire STN tour! He was very charming, SMILES all the way, signed PLEANTY of autographs and was very sweet to all his fans. (More from the reception to come ...)
Brian Orser - "Sir Duke"
Wearing black pants and a white shirt, spotted with what looked like black/red paint on his shirt, had the crowd clapping from beginning to end. I must say I enjoyed this piece of music which works well with Brian. Just loved it from beginning to end.
Closing: Medley
The medley was a mixture of songs. Some techno, a bit of "Dance With Me" and a bit of Ricky Martin "Loaded" to end of the show. The costumes were the same costumes from last years 2000 SOI tour, all mixed colours oranges/reds blended together. It was done rather well, having all the skaters show their strengths in tricks/jumps. Again the choreography was a plus from Brian, and it had the crowd clapping throughout, and it looked to me like the skaters were singing away to Ricky Martin's song "Loaded" The skaters made their way to use sitting on the ice, to shake our hands, and we were lucky enough to have Shae-Lynn Bourne skate our way, and I was able to shake her hand, and told her it was a wonderful show. And she graciously said thank-you!!
What a FANTASTIC SHOW!!! I certainly was entertained for a full two hours, and enjoyed ever single minute of it. I would have to say the "Highlights" during the show were B&K's Riverdance. Just the way the audience EXPLOUDED when the spotlight went on those "famous" green costumes. I can NEVER get sick of Riverdance - NEVER! Also seeing Yags. I will be first to admit I am not a HUGE Yags fan however he has impressed me this year for his strength at World's and his effort to keep on fighting. Also his charm with the audience and the Canadian fans in general!
After the show it was time to head on out to the reception. All the contest winners recieved reception pass's which was held at the hotel the skaters were staying at 'Howard Johnson' in Sudbury.