Well I just came back from North Bay after attending Skate The Nation and let me tell you WHAT A SHOW IT WAS !!!! I'm on a total FIGURE SKATING HIGH I can't even begin to tell you how much I can't WAIT to see this show again tomorrow!! The show was simply FANTASTIC !! I figure I would share a few "highlights" from the show now while its all fresh in my mind !!
First of all my seats were pretty ok considering I just purchased them a week ago. This arena is pretty, pretty cozey. Attendance was not to bad as well - sure there was a few seats empty but overall I'd have to say that attendance was pretty good considering the size of the arena !
Group Numbers ~ again I applaude Brian Orser for the FANTASTIC JOB he's done once again choreographing these group numbers !! ALL the group numbers were very entertaining to watch !!!
Highlight Performances For Me :
Ina & Zimmerma ~ I can't stress enough how HAPPY I am to see this team skate LIVE again! Actually to be quite honest it was I&Z that really made me make the final decision to travel to North Bay to see the show even though I had tickets for the Sudbury Show. I was really disappointed to read on their Official web site that the ONLY city they would NOT be skating at was in Sudbury !!! But hey that happens in this type of sport so I decided to take the trip to North Bay so I can see the 2002 World's Bronze Medalist !! And let me tell you I was so entertained. Honestly I would have to say the highlight for me tonight was seeing Kyoko & John !! Both their programs were skated beautifully and I am just in awww with their inovated lifts and moves that they come up with. WOW WOW WOW !!! I EXTREAMLY enjoyed their "Elvis" program which they recieved a STANDING OVATION !!! Also during Alexie's "solo" number during the second half of the show John was acting as bar tender! I'm sure he can shake a real "smooth" martini *hehe*
B&S ~ I was extreamly happy to see them be apart of the STN Tour ! It was really WONDERFUL to see them do their "Chaplin" exhibition number LIVE. What such a cute number but I have only one complaint - it was TOO SHORT !!!! Its unfortanate that Elena & Anton weren't able to do yet another solo number aside from their "Chaplin" number as well as the group numbers they were skating in. But oh well I guess considering they were a last minute addition to the tour since they were taking the place of S&Z from China - I guess I shouldn't complain all that much. Again though it was really really NICE to see them skate again and they were given a huge applause as well as a standing ovation!
Jennifer Robinson ~ dazzling as ever! Was so great to see her skate once again !! I just adore her skating - and she did a really lovely job tonight. Skated two really wonderful programs. Would have to say her second program tonight was skated to a "tango" medley sorta with a bit of "techno" beat. Sorry not sure the name of the song - however it was very "sexy" for Jennifer and different !! A really enjoyable program and a crowd favorite as well !
"Special Guest Skater - Jeffrey Buttle" ~ During the second half of the show Canada's Bronze Medalist Jeffrey Buttle was "special guest" skater! Of course I was anxiously awaiting his performace and definitly wasn't disapointed. Ok I'm REALLY bad with identifying songs that are unfamiliar with me so I honestly don't know what he skated too - all that I DO now is that it was just a fanatstic performance filled with emotion and terrific JUMPS !! - all dressed in black with a bit of grey !!! This guy is definitly going to be the next Canadian Champion - you wait and see !!! Definitly a HUGE HUGE applause and screams from the audience for Jeffrey Buttle !!
Yagudin !! Let me first tell you that I was just in total AMAZED to see how much energy he has. Like someone had said .. he's like an energized bunny - he keeps going and going and going. The man ALWAYS skates his 120% during EVERY program!! I don't know how he does it but its just AMAZING to watch!! I was rather excited to see his programs LIVE that I've watched endlessly all season and let me tell you they are just totally AMAZING to see LIVE!!
"Overcome" ~ when the music starts I don't know about you but I get goosebumps just LISTENING to the music intro!! He wasn't wearing his new costume just blank pants/shirt and of course the black gloves !!! I just absolutly LOVE this routine - and I ESPECIALLY enjoy the part where he is on the ice doing all those SEXY moves!! YUM YUM YUM !!!!
"Group Number - Yags In Salior Suit" ~ All I can say is I'd love to be the one to pinch his butt in that costume - LOL What a cute little tush he has *hehe* It was really really great seeing this number - such a cute little number.
MITIM ~ Its too bad we didn't get to see the whole entire number but WOW to what we did get a peak of. The man's footwork is just AMAZING to watch !!!
"Winter" ~ Aside from "Gladiator" I'd have to say that this is by far my FAVORITE program he has done - second to Gladiator. Definitly amazing! Definitly had the crowd on his feet at the end of his program !!!!! Lots of applause for Yags which was really nice to see. You can really tell that the man just loves to skate and is a real "showman" A CROWD pleasure for sure !!!
Well that's all I have to say for NOW about tonights show in North Bay! Tomorrow (April 16th) is yet another day ! Will be attending the show here in Sudbury!! Until Then !!