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January 20, 2004

STARS ON ICE (Denver)

by Xrystal

Stars On Ice 2004 Denver Colorado

Well I had class until 3 and I was supposed to be there by 4 to watch the practice. So I had to get out of class early. I should have just stayed because I went by my mom’s work to pick her up to go and it took her about 30 min to leave. Oh well.

When we finally got to Denver I went and told a guy who worked at the Pepsi Center that I had passes to watch the practice. So he called someone and they said (although I had been told to be there BY 4:00) that we were not supposed to be there till 5:00. So we waited for an hour then no one came and on one came and on one came. Finally a lady who worked there took us back herself. Needless to say we only got to watch about 10 min of practice. I won’t talk about that, because for one I have been asked not too and for two I didn’t see much anyway.

I was also supposed to go to a meet and greet (which I thought was after the show) but had no idea who to talk to about where to go because no one from the show had talked to us yet. I saw a man walking in our direction so I was going to ask him for help but just as I was going to ask him he asked if I was Xrystal. He was the person who was supposed to take me to watch the skating but no one told him I was there! His name is Lonny and he is the security director. He apologized and said he would see if we could be compensated for it. I don’t know what he had in mind but he asked if I was going to any other shows. I told him I wanted to go to some other ones but I had school. I think he was going to make sure I got in to the practice at one of the other shows but since I wasn’t going he couldn’t do that.

I showed him my invitations to the meet and great and he said would it help matters if I got an escorted by the skaters. I said, “YES!” So he took my mom and me back stage. As we went Scott talked to us a bit but I’m not sure if I can say what we talked about so I won’t, but he was very nice!

Lonny took us to the back stage area and we sat on some couches in front of the locker rooms. Again I won’t really say much because I don’t know if I can really. I did see Ekaterina Gordeeva, Anton Sikharulidze, Jenni Meno and Yuka Sato. I told my mom, “look there’s Anton” but she couldn’t see him because of a lamp. She did get to see his back side though and we decided that was a good thing to see! Lonny came back and got us and we went up to the party with Meno and Sand, Alexei Yagudin, Todd Eldredge, Yuka Sato, and Ekaterina Gordeeva. Alexei was on one of those scooters that have a motor, so I held a door open for him while we were walking to the elevators.

I stood right next to Katia Gordeeva. I kept telling myself to breath and I just couldn’t stop looking at her. I didn’t want to stare but she was just SO beautiful and just had this sweet, caring feeling about her. Lonny introduced me by name to the skaters and told them kind of why I was there. He made them all say hi to me, it was great! I told Todd that I had talked to him at GPF and that he had been very nice. Katia kept looking at me. I’m not sure if she was just trying to figure out why I was with them or if she remembered me from Scott Hamilton and friends but I didn’t say anything to remind her. I hope she forgot about that!

As we were going up Lonny reached over and kind of pet Katia’s nose like you would a cat. It was so cute. She just got a big smile on her face. It reminded me of where in her book she said everyone would smooth out the wrinkles in her brow when she would look up at people. When we got to the top Lonny told us we could go ahead and join the party and that they skaters would be there in a min. So we went and sat down. I didn’t have a program yet because no venders had been open when we got there. So someone, I’m not sure who, gave us two programs (I later found out that they looked different from the regular programs. Mine says, “Special Guest Edition” on it). I had a picture of Alexei and I that I wanted him to autograph for me but when I got it out a very rude lady came over and yelled at me and told me they would ONLY sign the programs and to put it away NOW! So I didn’t get my autograph on the photo but oh well I can always try later.

We were kind of at a table that was away from everyone else and I heard someone say, “It’s ok you guys can get up and go to the skaters to get autographs” so my mom and I took the programs that they gave us and went to get more in the crowd. Well mean lady did NOT like that at all! She yelled at us again this time saying to go sit down. We told her that we were told we could walk around and she said we could go to a closer table but that we had to wait at a table and not go to the skaters. I think she thought she got paid to be extra bitchy. After not seeing the practices I almost told her off but I bit my tongue.

When Katia came over I got my picture taken with her. I also gave her a HUGE stuffed animal that I got for her. She said that she would come back for it after she singed autographs. I had so many things I wanted to ask or tell her and I forgot all but one of them. Oh well at least I got that out. She was very sweet and kept smiling. Poor Alexei looked SO tired. I was starting to wonder if he would be able to skate that night. Finally we got all the autographs and bitchy lady left so I was happy. My mom and I moved back to our table and when Katia was ready to leave she came over and took the stuffed animal. She didn’t say a whole lot but she was very nice.

After they left we got something to eat and while we were eating and a lady came over to use to say how sorry she was that we didn’t get to see the practice. (Word must travel fast there!) She worked with Smucker’s but she was very nice and she talked to us for a while. I asked her to take a small stuffed zebra to Anton since he wasn’t at the meet and greet. She said she would. Then I remembered I had make a CD for Katia with two songs I thought she should skate too. I hadn’t given it to Katia so this lady said she would take it for me. She was very sweet and stayed until we had asked all of our questions.

After we ate we went and found our seats. We had row two down in one of the corners. It was a nice seat. I took my camera along just waiting and hoping that I could get some good ones of Katia. Sadly my camera stopped working after just one roll of photos. But I just enjoyed watching the skating.

I enjoyed the show very much! I though they did a great job. Katia fell on her double axel (I could tell she was going to because she was leaning in the air) and then two footed another jump but I don’t remember what it was. I really liked her Red Scarf number! I also like A Sunday Kind of Love but I think I liked it better at Scott Hamilton and Friends.

Both Elena and Jamie had trouble with throws but did very well other than that. I liked most of the show. The announcer kept cracking jokes and it was fun. I really like Todd Eldrege’s When You Come Back To Me and also B&S’s Let Me Fall! I think those were my two favorite numbers. I also really liked the Sunscreen number. I really like that song.

I loved the “fun” numbers that the cast did also. I had forgotten how sexy Anton’s smile is! It was nice to see it again. I also couldn’t believe how much he reminds me of Sergei. During the finale to me it seamed like Katia and Anton should be skating together. I just couldn’t believe how much he was like Sergei!

I really liked Elena in the show too. Her hair is getting really long and she looked really good! I think that they are probably the best part of the main cast. Katia was a very special treat! It was nice to see her again.
I liked Alexei’s numbers. The were fun as always and had good foot work. I don’t remember him making any major mistakes. He got into the fun group numbers a lot. I got the feeling that he was kind of the “kid” brother of the group, always making jokes and stuff.

Ina and Zimmerman did great too. They looked like they were really having fun out there and I was glad to see that. They were doing more “pro” moves then amateur ones so I think they must be growing a lot in their skating!

Scott skated twice for the show also. I liked his programs. As usual he made us laugh. He got a standing ovation when he came out and again after this last number. Everyone loves their home town hero!
I didn’t really care for Meno and Sand number this year. I usually like it but to me this one was just kind of bla. I did like the on where Jamie was in it though.

Jamie and David did well. I liked their first number, Come Away With Me. I thought it was very beautiful. At the start of the show during, Timing Is Everything, David didn’t have his “timing” right. He couldn’t get his umbrella open in time so they got a little wet. It was cute to see.

I liked both of Todd E’s numbers but like I said before his When You Come Back To Me number was just awesome! I wish more skaters would skate to country music!

Yuka did a brilliant job. It is always such a treat to watch her skate. A couple of her dresses reminded me of butterflies and she just seamed to float above the ice when she skated like a butterfly.

I liked both of Anton and Elena’s numbers. And just whenever they were on the ice I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. They did great. Elena did fall on one through but did beautiful other than that. I like the group numbers that they were in because Anton smiled more in those. I girl could just die happy after seeing one of his brilliant smiles! I would like to see them do more “sexy” numbers. I think they could have fun with them. Maybe someday!

I think I covered most everything. Most of the night I was frustrated but the show was good and it was fun seeing Katia again.