Gabby Captures the Silver in Austin Bluebonnet

Gabby seems to have broken the Austin Curse. For one reason or another the past few years Gabby has had a terrible run at Austin. She will do well at other places but Austin - just not doing well. This year, however, Gabby made it to the medal round and captured Silver in the Juvenile Long Program. Oh, yes!!! YES! Gabby felt really good after skating the short program and although she came in 6th out of 11 in that event she felt good. She felt she skated strong and she was "in the zone". She was an excellent competitor and did not cry - she held it together and tool solice in that *she* knew she did well and she skated strong. I think she might have turned a corner in that department. I thought she did well in the short program and enjoyed it. I always do and I learned a long time ago - do not second guess the judges. As Gabby progresses I watch her and other skaters and I learn about positions and edges and I look at it a bit more critically and I see what they see. And, I think Gabby does to. She knows when she skates cleanly and strongly. It is really something to watch her fly around the ice. I don't mean - skate around the ice - she is flying around the ice and one can see she really enjoys it.

So, the program she skated on Saturday last, was the long program to the music of Patch Adams. Gabby's jumps were strong and her extensions were exquisite. She really took charge of that program and skated it very very well and she came away with the silver. I think the difference between the gold and silver was very close and came down to one of those intagibles. They both did very well. In fact, all the top skaters swept the medal round were from Texas Gulf Coast. That's a first in recent memory.

This is the second competition of the season and Gabby is doing well and most importantly - steady. The next competition coming up is Cape Cod for Theater on Ice Nationals, and then Philladelphia and then Dallas Regionals. This year is going to be really something and it's all okay as long as Gabby is having fun. Seems like it to me. Right now, she's upstairs snoring away. Poor thing is skating each and every day and adding strength conditioning and ballet to the regular ice time. She's really starting to grow all over the place. She is stretching and getting taller and getting more muscles. I'm glad she is taking the ballet - this will help her muscle elongate so that the strength does not build muscle mass and bulkiness. Who would want to see a lumpy skater? ha,ha.

Take care,

J.