While waiting back at the Hyatt to go to the exhibitions, I finally ran into Stefan Lindemann (I'd been trying to get a hold of him all week). For those of you who don't know, I have a web site for him
here.Exhibitions
I didn't take pictures, because I was up in the balcony and knew they wouldn't turn out, and I didn't take notes, either, but there were some pretty memorable happenings that took place. Some exhibitions in the past have been kind of boring, but not this one! The opening was really cool; a bunch of local skaters came out and did various tricks while a montage played on the Jumbotron. The montage showed scenes from past Worlds (mostly last year's) and included dozens of different skaters, including some who didn't compete this year (like Lipinski, Schewczenko, Schwarz/Mueller). It was really neat to see.
As for the actual show...I won't mention everyone, just the highlights. Sarah Hughes did her "Fosse" number just as well or better than she's ever done it. This is a great program for her and really highlights her strengths. Probably because of Alexei Yagudin's absence, Yunfei Li got to skate here, which he had to be thrilled about. He's got to be one of the most flexible guys out there. Anissina and Peizerat skated to a song called "Susanna", and it was great! Gwendal started off pretending to talk on the phone and ended that way, too. If I remember right, the whole program was about him trying to get back together with "Susanna". She lifted him at least once in the program, then, as an encore, they did their signature lift from their "Man in the Iron Mask" program (which is still my favorite program of theirs). Sale/Pelletier's program was really cute, but I don't remember the song.
And then there was Evgeni Plushenko. I still can't believe he did what he did! I never thought anyone could actually outdo Philippe Candeloro. The music was "Sex Bomb", and although he started off fully clothed, he ended up wearing nothing but a flesh-colored bodysuit and a gold thong! At one point in the program, he ran up about 10 stairs into the audience (I hope he didn't wreck his skate blades) and started grinding with some lady! The whole program I was thinking, poor little kids in the arena, having to see this!! LOL It was really funny, but it was also really WEIRD...I have to wonder if they'll even show this on TV!
For the finale, two dozen or so local skaters came out, dressed in yellow, green, red, blue, and black bodysuits; they did tricks again while another montage played, and at the end positioned themselves into the shape of the five Olympic rings. Then the show skaters came back out, first the ladies, then the men, pairs, and dance, and finally, there were fireworks! I know there were some in Helsinki, but I don't remember there being any last year...very cool. The whole thing gave me goosebumps. :)
A few hours later, all the skaters had their closing ceremony/banquet to go to, so I waited downstairs in the Hyatt lobby while they came down to wait for their bus. I hated looking like a groupie, but it was so much fun to see them all so dressed up - some of them looked like they were headed to the Emmys! Barbara Fusar-Poli and Silvia Fontana looked gorgeous, and Todd Eldredge was all decked out in a black suit and tie. I should have taken more pictures; as it was, I only took a couple.
While downstairs and kinda off to the side, I saw Sarah Hughes' parents and sister again. Remember that earlier, I'd told them I wasn't nervous 'cause I knew she was going to do well? Well, her mom comes up to me and says, "you were right! I thought about you when she was skating; I told myself "Kelly says she's going to do well!" LOL It's nice to be right. :) I gave them some pictures, which they seemed to like, even though I'd taken them from the balcony.
I was downstairs again later when the skaters started coming back from the banquet, and when I saw Viktoria Volchkova and Julia Soldatova, I didn't even recognize them at first! (Julia's a brunette again, by they way.) They both look so different off the ice. When Angela Nikodinov and Naomi Lang came back, I gave Angela some pictures, and although Angela seemed to like them, Naomi was even more excited, LOL! Geez, I hope my pictures of her and Peter come out so I can send some to them. I also gave some pictures to Mikkeline Kierkgaard (who is just the cutest thing you'd ever want to see), and she and her mom and coach (or whoever was with her) sounded happy that I'd send them more. They seem really nice.
I guess that's pretty much it...Sale/Pelletier and Bereznaya/Sikharulidze were on my flight out of Vancouver, but I didn't talk to them, partly because they were in first class and I wasn't, and partly because I was pretty much out cold the entire flight. :-) I'm sure they were pretty tired, too.
Until next time...Au revoir!!