Day 3 in a nutshell
Today, was another good day, because I finally, after 6 years at Dortmund.... finally I found the VIP entrance. Not saying I am a VIP..., but it was amazing to finally be able to skip the stairs, that terrorized my knee at the first two days.
Therefore, thank you very much for introducing me to the VIP entrance, no more pain - yay!
Today, is also a good day, because it is Friday and therefore, I can go out now and get drunk. But wait, first I do not drink and second, going out? What´s that?

That is so yesterday!
Anyways, let´s get serious shall we?
Old & new
When you go to figure skating events, you kind of expect to find something there, something that you can not get in TV. For me, it is the interaction with skaters, coaches and friends - people who I do not see every week like my colleagues here, who do figure skating for a living.
While this is of course a pity, as I would love to follow the sport more active at the ice rinks around the world, it has a big advantage too and that is, that I might see improvements and changes much better, as there is such a long time between the skates.
While this part will play a big role in my column, I still want to mention a few skaters now, just by name though. The first skater is
Annika Hocke, she won today and two years ago, at Berlin I spoke to someone from her coaching team and we chatted about her and I was told, that she would have a bright feature and ya, she was incredible fun as a kid already, you know the type of kid, that is wild and naughty and doesn´t care if people laugh or smile or do whatever they do, no she just skated with a huge smile every time that I saw her.
This kid has now grown up and she won the NRW Trophy by more than five points in front of Lea the smile, as I like to call
Leo Johanna Dastich. Both have something that is really important and maybe they do have it, because the pressure is not there yet, the pressure that Weinzierl, Schott or Hecken have to face. The pressure, to become the next Katharina, which is so unfair in my opinion - but that´s Germany, everyone expects that you become the next Steffi Graf, Katharina Witt or Magdalena Neuner...
Yet, you need to allow me to say that Annika kind of, reminds me of Katharina - the open mouth, the huge expression, always skating for the person you look at, it´s exactly what Katharina always did and also the styling, it has something of her. Good thing is, Annika is off ice just as fun as on ice - so this is not just a show face, that she puts on.
As for the juniors competition in general, well it was at times really a bit tough, tough because not every skater had it´s best day and especially my Fins..., I do not know what is happening to the girls over there.
Jenny, Doris, Lilli and
Alexandra.... you are so amazing, I love your arms and the grace in your movements, but ouch - my heart was bleeding whenever you fell and I will not stop going to the NRW Trophy before I had my winner from Finland, last year was close with Anni and no, I have not forgotten the Drama about Sera, where are you by the way

I miss you in 2015! And Karoliina has WD too, so sad...
The blue jacket guy is so ready for a Finnish girl on top of the podium, I promise to learn a figure skating element, if you skate to one next year or maybe at the Bavarian Open, which reminds me of Jenni Saarinen, what happened girl...!
Oh well, before I become whiny like a little boy, let´s talk about something else shall we? Ya!
Anastasia Schneider! This girl is such a joy, wow! I so love the way she skates, she is really looking for the interaction with the crowd, she is such a beauty and I was a bit sad, that she left so early at the VC, we still did some pictures with Lea and Annika, but I guess I was not much of a gentleman - I should had brought her some flowers, she so deserved them!
Last year, she came third at the advanced novice and guess what, this year at the Juniors! I wrote about her already back then, and I will do so again this year. I just love skaters who are into performing, who really understand that there are people watching and she is performing for them and she has really unique ways of doing some of her elements, for instance the flying camel, how did she do that. She pulled her leg down, without losing the grip on the blade - that is so impressive and she can make wonderful "camera shots" while on the ice. A really beautiful and clever skater, always able to give you a good shot and look into your eyes, while using the music for her great arms and hands.
Last but not least, a word about this girl from Taipei,
Amy Lin. What can I say, well, it makes me so happy, how she skates. This girl is so proud to be on the ice, it is amazing and you can see this in every motion and emote she does. She is proud to be on the ice, proud to be able to entertain us, proud to show her elements like that fantastic double Axel - triple toe and these spins... wow!
I said this before already about "exotic" skaters last year, at the JGP. I love skaters who are proud to skate for their country, proud to show their elements to the public it needs to be a part of this sport and the good thing is, Amy was not just here - no she actually performed and competed very well!
Thank you so much young lady, so much!
Of course, as always, much more happened, but I need to try and get more than four hours of sleep now, so I will just keep this for my final review.
Thanks to all the skaters and I want to send my special "shout" to
Paula, because I loved her FS and outfit so much and it was a great program, thank you and all the other skaters from today!
P.S.
Tomorrow is the seniors day, with live commentary me thinks and my wonderful
Inga 
, please support Inga´s legacy guys, her fan thread is coming soon and you can then tell her many positive things there. GN