2023 Adult Championships - Adult Gold Women I - “Say You’ll Be There” & “Wannabe”

2023 Adult Championships - Adult Gold Women I - “Say You’ll Be There” & “Wannabe” (14th place - 25.09) Skaters are separated into age classes based on our ages as of February 1. Due to this rule, I knew that I was going to turn 36 on April 13 while competing in age class I, which is meant for ages 21-35. As the oldest skater in the group, I knew I’d have an unavoidable disadvantage. I embraced this challenge by deciding that my theme for this season was “go big or go home.” I decided to skate to my all-time favorite group: The Spice Girls. Conveniently, my free skate event was scheduled on my 36th birthday. In a group of 18 skaters, I placed 14th with a respectable score of 25.09. This performance was my 15th IJS competition and I received my 4th-highest technical score of 10.59. Many of the total scores were extremely close. I was ecstatic to get two level 1 spins called and I think the opening spin was the best camel I’ve EVER done in competition. With the exception of a wobble during the second spin, I’m happy with my skate. Some friends may remember that at the 2022 Adult Championships, I had to clean up the ice AFTER I finished competing. I got a deja vu this year when I had to clean up the ice BEFORE I started competing. A spectator said she was surprised that it didn’t impact my performance. I explained that I’ve been skating competitively for 32 years and I’m prepared for truly any scenario. The show must go on! Thank you to my coach Gloria Leous for putting me on the ice at our first Adult Champs together. Thank you to the audience for singing to me when I finished skating (I wonder who could have possibly arranged this… cough Lori Fussell *cough*). Thank you to Cara Scudner for creating my Geri Halliwell-inspired costume and for providing a special tossie: a pin that says “I’m the grandma.” Watch this to the very end. Ironically, I skated back-to-back with Emelyn Haynie: the youngest competitor in the entire Adult Champs. She was born in 2002 when I was a high school freshman and the Spice Girls had already parted ways to pursue their solo projects. As I exited the ice, I believe that I said this to Emelyn: “You only get one first Adult Championships and this is yours. Enjoy this moment.”