My son is going to Junior Nationals

[cati]

Yes, when you have more than one child it does make it rough - with school and all. I can definately relate to that. And with a new job (I just started a new job in August) so I do understand.

I would be one that would be sooo nervous I would be hiding my eyes through the whole performance and then peaking through my fingers..... LOL

Good luck with the coach situation. I, too, believe everything happens for a reason and I am a true believer that you "don't sweat the small stuff"..... Although, I believe going to the Nationals without a coach may pose a small problem....LOL. No, in all seriousness, I truly believe it will all work out.

Lets us know how it goes. This is going to be so much fun hearing about his accomplishments.

Good Luck.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Just a bit of an update. We're now less than a week away from the trip to Arizona. My brother travels quite a bit and came through with his frequent flyer miles for 2 plane tickets. Unfortunately, DH and DS were only able to get into the host hotel for 2 nights. They do have reservations secured at the Residence Inn and we just keep checking to see if they have any cancellations at the other hotel. The last time we called though, they were still overbooked by 21 rooms. I guess they already factor in that people will cancel.

The coaching situation has been resolved. He was picked up by another coach at his new skating club. It's someone that he's worked with before and is very comfortable with. The only bad thing is that due to the short notice we received, his new coach cannot go to the competition with him. He is extremely well connected though and was able to hook us up with a coach from the Scottsdale area. This little snafu has not seemed to bother my son at all, so we're just going with it.

The club he belongs to had a send-off dinner this past Friday night for all the skaters who would be attending Junior Nationals. They have 12 in all. Each skater had an opportunity to exhibit their program and the club gave them fleece jackets and money to help out with expenses. I was pretty amazed.

I was contacted by the sports editor of our local town paper and he wants to do an article on my son for a December issue. At first I didn't think DS would agree. Being a boy figure skater in the eight grade can come with some peer critisizm. He's really excited about it though. His school has been very supportive and will mark his absenses as "excused". Attendance has become a real issue in the schools lately, so I was happy to hear that.

According to the schedule, he'll be competing in a qualifiying round of 12 skaters on Wednesday 12/3. He'll have to come in the top 6 in order to move onto the finals. He's the lowest ranked skater in the competition, but as his new coach says, "ice is slippery and anything can happen". He is going into this with the most positive attitude that I've ever seen on him. He plans on making the most of his time there and who can ask for anything else.

I'll keep you posted and thanks for the pixie dust.

Tammi

 

[Melora]

WOW..Congratulations!!!!

You must be so proud!!!!

 

[rbuzzotta]

This is just so exciting. There is a boy here from Wakefield that will also be attending Nationals but I think it is the beginning of the year. He is always in the local paper and seems to be a well adjusted young man. I enjoy reading about his progress.

Best of luck to your son...........so what if he is placed last......it is an awesome opportunity and just think about how many others he was better than to get to where he is!!! The coach is right....ice is slippery and anything can happen!!

Go for the gold!!! Good luck.........

 

[KathyFP]

What an honor!!!!

We wish him the best!

 

[TammiMcMan]

There is a boy here from Wakefield that will also be attending Nationals

RBUZZOTTA: He is actually a member of the same skating club as us. He's an amazing skater and an all around nice kid. He skates at the Novice level, so he'll be attending the US National Competition. It's the same event that's televised, but they usually only show the Senior skaters.

DS is hoping for the best, but he is basically thrilled just to be going. I only wish that we had a bit more time to prepare. It would have been great to have a professional costume made for him and fine tune his choreography, but we're going with what we've got and we'll hope he skates his best.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I just wanted to update everyone on my son's competition. It was webcast live, but I couldn't watch it. I get way too nervous and figured that I'd somehow "jinx" him. I'll get to see the video when they return home. He ended up skating the best routine he's ever done. It was clean and he landed all of his jumps. My husband said that there was a huge smile on his face when he finished and took his bow. He couldn't have been prouder or more happy with himself. Unfortunately, the other skaters were performing much more difficult jumps and he did not finish in the top 6, so he won't be moving on to the finals. He was just happy to have skated clean and he didn't come in last.

They spent the day yesterday visiting the Grand Canyon and today and tomorrow they have seminars and off ice training. Saturday night is the big athletes party and he's really looking forward to that. It was a great experience for him and he's gained so much confidence because of it. Now I just hope they get back to Massachusetts safe and sound. Their flight comes in early Sunday evening and hopefully the airport will be cleaned up from the 12-18" of snow that they're predicting.

Thanks to everyone for their kind thoughts.

Tammi

 

[cati]

Way to Go To Your Son!!!!! I am so happy for him. What an accomplishment. I know you must be so proud you are about to pop, and rightly so. Good luck to him in the future, sounds as if we may be hearing more from him as he gets older!!

 

[Robinrs]

Tammi, I know you're proud of your "little man". I can almost see that smile!

What an awesome experience! I know this will catapult him to wherever he wants to go!

And just think, WE knew him WHEN!!

Thanks for sharing this awesome experience with us!

 

[NHAnn]

Wow, another big FS fan checking in here...I missed all the earlier posts....
so pleased to hear about your son's successful performance! That's SO wonderful!! Congrats to him and blessings to your whole family during the holidays.

 

[tmq2766]

I just came across this thread.....
Congratulations to your son!!!!!! You must be soooo proud of him.
My DD9 has been skating since she was 3 (2 months after turning 3) so I can understand about getting so nervous during competitions..... I get teary eyed everytime she competes.
We have our first competition for her synchro team tomarrow.
She skates individuals and team.... It does not matter how many competitions she has been in they are ALL very emotional for me.

Give him big hugs and tell him to keep up the great work!

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Good for him, Tammi! I have goosebumps! A clean skate when it counts!!