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Stojko feeling tired
But skating's Terminator admitted yesterday that competing at Skate America, his first meet since those bittersweet days of the Nagano Olympics, was exhausting -- physically and emotionally.
"A little bit tired, a little winded," Stojko said when asked how he felt heading into tonight's men's short program at Skate Canada.
Last week at the Joe Louis Arena, Stojko, in his first meet back since injuring his groin in a gallant silver-medal winning performance in Nagano, attempted a quad in both the short and long programs. Although unsuccessful on both occasions, the Richmond Hill skater sticks by his decision to try it.
This week at Skate Canada, given his increased level of fatigue, Stojko may drop the quad in the short and try the triple-triple jump combination.
Canadian ice dance stars Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, meanwhile, can't wait to hit the Riverside Coliseum ice for tomorrow's original dance and the free dance on Sunday. Both their programs are new and Bourne believes their new free dance, performed to the song Meet Her at the Love Parade, will captivate skating fans in much the same manner Riverdance did last season. A tall order.
TRYING TO TOP RIVERDANCE
"We were looking for something that would top Riverdance, something stronger, something better, faster. And I think we did it," the Chatham native said. "That's why we (didn't turn pro)."
Bourne, 22, said new choreographer Christopher Dean, of Torvill and Dean fame, played the song -- performed by the progressive house band D.A. Hool -- for the couple during the summer, and it clicked.
Whether the international judges buy into the new program is another matter. Judges tend to prefer classical music. Bourne and Kraatz, three-time world bronze medallists, weren't ready to conform quite yet.
"Nothing against classical music. Maybe at some point we'll do a classical number," she said. "But people expect us to be original."
Skate Canada is the dance team's first competition of the season. And with every fresh start, there is a renewed sense of optimism -- even after their feuding with the judges for much of last season (particularly after their fourth-place in Nagano).
"We'll never forget what happened, but we've moved on," Bourne said. "We are stronger because of it."
The team's strongest challenge this week likely will come from Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas of Lithuania. Stojko will be pushed by teammate Jeff Langdon and defending world bronze medallist Evgeny Plushenko of Russia.