- Joined
- Nov 2, 2015
I wish you and Blueberryhill the best onsite experience ever! :agree:
Do you mind if I quote your post on my blog?
Thanks so much Vivley! Of course you have my permission to quote anything I post here in Patrick's fan fest!
I want to contrast this 2016 experience with the one in 2014. Then, it was just before sochi. I was exceedingly nervous in anticipation of Patrick's quest for the OGM. I found at that Nationals, there was a palpable tenseness in the air. I had front row seats in the end zone which meant that every time the skaters came around there was a chance for direct eye contact. (I wouldn't sit there again. ) I saw Patrick up close and felt he was tense and somber, his eyes were always downcast. This Nationals, aside from the disappointment with doubling the quad sal, imo, he is skating with a different mindset. Yes, he's in competition mode but he's also skating as an artist who wants to paint a canvas on ice and his body was relaxed. (I notice that especially in his arm movements. )
For me, this time I'm here to enjoy great skating. I decided to leave my dslr at home and concentrate on what's happening in the moment as oppose to trying to capture images (there so many amateur and pro photographers who are much better than me anyways). I wasn't able to spend as much time there yesterday as I would have liked but I really enjoyed the entire men's practice. Seeing all of them just fly up and down the ice and I actually enjoyed looking for skating skills as opposed to the big jumps. :clapper: