Cactus Classic Competition 2002
Scottsdale, July 26-28, 2002

All Pictures are Thumbnails. Click on the Pictures to see a bigger version.

Picture taken during my Artistic Program

This Competition was a local one for me (the ice rink in Scottsdale is about 30 miles from my place) but my friend Andrea and I still got a hotel room next to the rink because our competitions were scheduled in a way that would have made it very hard to drive back and forth in between. And skating “chicks” together in a hotel room is always a lot of fun.

My first competition was the Adult Pre-Preliminary Freestyle (same as Pre-Bronze) and this would be the debut of my new program to the music “Dragon – The Bruce Lee story”. After our practice ice in the afternoon we went back to the hotel to get ready for the competition. My event was right before Andrea’s, since she started in the Adult Bronze group, so in Freestyle we did not compete against each other. We had a lot of supporters at the rink cheering for us and when the time came for me to get on the ice for the 5 minute warm-up my legs turned to jello and I got really nervous. I can’t really explain it but I did not have the control over my legs the way I am used to, so some elements look a little “improvised”. Overall I skated a nice routine with one two-footed landing and placed second in the Freestyle. Andrea won her Bronze Freestyle event and we were on a high for the rest of the evening.

I would like to thank: Chris & Paul and their kids; Cindy & Matt, Cindy & Barry, Rodney, Sarah, Ann & Eugene, Terry, Debbie, CJ & Jonah for taking time to come out to the Alltel Ice Den to cheer me on and for their kind words after my routine.

Myself, Andrea, Marcia and Karen (Marcia and Karen skated in Andrea’s group and placed 3rd and 2nd respectively)

Two Skating Diva’s goofing around
and having a great time !!!

Jana (our coach) Andrea, myself and Marcia

This picture was taken bei Matt right after
my routine, that's why I look so flushed

I am just testing if the trophy is made
out of real gold.. ;-) (and what
a surprise... it's not)

After all the chatting with friends and taking pictures we went back to the hotel to get ready for our practice and competition the next morning.I have to say that this was quite exhausting because we had to get up at 4:15 a.m. the next morning for a 5:45 a.m. practice session. We were very tired (I did not sleep well at all) and my legs felt like lead. I had a pretty good session though and did not want to wear myself out so I left the ice early to get ready (doing hair and make-up) for our event at 7:55 a.m. This was the Adult Bronze Artistic competition and since I was the only Pre-Bronze competitor entering an Artistic event I got the option to skate up to Bronze (it is allowed for a skater to skate up one level) and therefore was the same group as Andrea and Karen. And just as the night before I was the first skater on the ice (I am getting used to that) but nervous again, not as bad as the night before though. I skated a nice program with one missed jump (those legs just would not obey for the first jump? but then they were fine) and worked my "Diamonds are a girls best friend" routine with the judges and the crowd - smiling and flirting. (see the picture on top). I did place 3rd ? although people that watched thought I should have placed at least 2nd but in the end it's a matter of taste AND I think it was clear to the judges that I was a lower level skater. I any case I had a great time and again want to thank Chris and Cindy S. for cheering us on so early in the morning!

Divas Kerstin and Andrea before
the Artistic event

Andrea (2nd) Karen (1st) and myself (3rd)

Andrea was very excited to see so many Canadian skaters and of course we had to pose
in front of the Canadian Flag (no other Germans though – so no flag for me LOL).

“Satine” and Chris outside the Alltel Ice Den
in Scottsdale after the Artistic event.
Chris also gave me the flowers – Thanks Chris !!!

My trophies (the taller one is the 2nd place – LOL)

This little stuffed animal was thrown on the ice after my freestyle routine....
that was very cute - I felt like Sarah Hughes picking up stuff from the ice after her routine ;-)

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