All the Best of Luck and Skating to Ashley and Tim in ... let's see .... about 2 hours! at 4CC.
I was in the arena, 4th row, at Nationals FS, and being an Ashley/Tim uber from the get-go in late 2016, I am so thrilled. My daughter and son-in-law were with me. Before the last 2 groups of pairs, he asked me (after I'd alerted them to the positives of several of the couples) ... "okay. But which pair is your favorite?" I said A/T. And against many odds and challenges, they've now shown how beautiful they are, what a unique pair, and how absolutely dedicated they are to improvement step by step and progress over time.
I have to highlight one of the extremely interesting things: During those first 2 weeks after the injury, following concussion protocol, all Ashley could do was visualize the programs step by step as she planned to skate them at Nationals. Tim joined her in this. I hope they continue this practice, because I'm convinced it played a part in their performance. Having said that, let's never forget that they seized their moment and made it theirs.
Funny story: when the final group skated out for their warm-up, I was chatting, reading program/one eye on the ice, when this tall skater in a white warm-up jacket streaked past me, and my lizard brain went, "who's that?" It took me a couple of seconds to realize it was Ashley. Just in that moment, speeding across the ice, she was breathtaking. Needless to say, that word continues in my mind with all that followed.
I've written a lot about Ashley and Tim in the U.S. Pairs 2018-19 thread in the Edge. Join us there if you're inclined!
After the plague of lift issues for the teams preceding them, it made me extra tense for their lift elements at Nationals, but they came through strongly. Great comeback for them.
Even before K/K skated, there were several pairs who had wobbly lifts right in front of me, and it was very unsettling. Given that lift troubles seemed to be in the air, it's even more wonderful how A/T came back with flying colors. They did not let any doubts deter them.
Also, (as Ice Desk commentators noted), as soon as Ashley and Tim began, I had this feeling of okay, they're going to do this, they're going to win it. They're going to give us something special. On top of that, they gave us a feel-good, inspiring finish of the event. I'm so proud of them both.