I was planning to go to LA, because it's the last stop of the tour, and I miss my NA friends very much, specially our fearless leader, LOL. I also have everything done, airline ticket, hotel, and show ticket.
But I start to feel worry, and I don't want the Krasnoder show to be my last memory of this season, so I decided to make a try for Belgorod, because it supposed to have 2 shows, would be more worth for such a long travel for me.
It was a shock when they cancel May 13 show few days ago before my departure, but since we have all the trip plan done and I also already pay for the tour, so I decided still to go, and I am very happy that I make the right decision.
This time, I travel with my Japanese friend Sayuri, it is more fun to travel with friend, and I got a lots of help from my friend too.
We are lucky to stay in skater's hotel, but we didn't see any skater around the hotel and started feel worry, but when we went out and see the Ice Age official bus stop in frond of the hotel, then we feel relief.
The good thing started when I saw Alexei checking out from the hotel, he look wonderful! Wearing the black/graey jacket, pull black luggage, definitely in a very cheerful mood.
Thanks for the Russian girls help, we could attend the master class before the show, Alexei was not there, but it is still fun to be in the backstage, to see the skaters coming in, walking and talking around, warming up.
Although we were suppose to attend the master class only, but we could still stay there, so we got to see the practice!
Alexei finally coming out for practice before the show, Oh! My goodness! I missed this so much! It's always a heaven to see him in practice.
He wore the black jacket in the beginning, but after few seconds, he took off the jacket, he wore a sweater that we see often recently.
I am so happy to see him full of big smile during the whole practice, that is the most screen that me and all of us want to see from him, he was playful and joking with friends, he seems very interesting about Petroa and Tikhonov's program, he try to do side by side spin with them, he is so lovely and cute!
I think in Belgorod, most of the skaters were there, but many of celebrities were not there, which is fine for me, so they change the opening, usual Alexei was together with Irina, but this time, he stand in the opposite alone, and Irina stand in front of us. He is a boy who can not stand still for just a few seconds, LOL, he did some beautiful footwork before opening in the dark, I think it's a extra gift that he gave to the fans, LOL.
Belgorod has the wonderful audience that every skater would like to meet! They are very enthusiasm, very loud!
I was lucky to have the ice seat in center ice!
The ice seat in the long side in Belgorod is very different. Usually, there's some space between ice seat and rink, so people could walk through, but for our seat, we were almost sit in the edge of the rink! There's nearly no space between us and ice! That is almost like a dream so see skaters so up close! I never experience this before, it is like in a dream!
It make the feeling more then "shock" to see his powerful and magic skating almost in front of us! We are lucky!
Even before Ilia announced his name, people already start to scream when they saw him warm up in the corner, the roof almost crash when he came out, because the roars were so loud! I feel so happy and pride for him!
The long rest before the show must be good for him, so he skated great for Overcome. Full of passion and emotion! I was surprised for myself that I could still breath and even keep taping him!
He bring people into his world by his skating, I always feel impress that people roar like crazy when he coming out, but the place went to silent when he start skating, I feel people was hold their breath during his performance, only brash scream when he landed his jumps. When he skate, we were in another world with him. This is his magic!
About Winter, honestly, I am so hoping to see that beautiful black open to chest shirt! I can't say that I feel disappointed when he came out with that famous original Winter costumed, but I was lucky enough to see his Winter for many times, so I wish I could see a different costume for once, it's certainly notthing to do with his bare chest with the black shirt! Please believe me!
But it is still kind to wire when he didn't with the original velvet pants just with the ordinary black pants. I can not believe my eyes when he stand almost in front of us to start his opening pose! I will never forget this moment!
I always like to listen his breathless speech after his performance, he always look so cute!
I guess because he close the show, so he had to hurry back to the backstage to put on that light pink shirt for the final, so we don't get his Thanks speech this time.
Always love to see him playing with the girls, he must feel very good to be surrounded by all those beautiful girls! LOL.
I like Kalinka, every time is different, all the skaters always look have great fun is this number, the audience would feel skater's joy, so everyone is happy too.
I heard that skaters went to Germany after the show, I wish Alexei and all the skaters will not feel too tire about the long travel, and bring all the happiness to all their fans!
I am very happy that I made the trip and watch Alexei's great performance.
(Message edited by AYching on 18/05/2008 03:31:19)
!LOL
the Winter program needs the full Winter costume to recreate the Winter experience each time. Nothing else will quite do the job.