From: wmc@photon.com (Bill Cornette)
Subject: Observations on Nationals
Organization: Photon Research Associates, Inc.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 22:25:36 GMT

	Well, I survived all eight days in Phoenix.  I see that the
results have been posted to the net, so here are some observations
and comments:

	- The ice at the American West Arena was installed Saturday
night after a Martin Luther King concert -- and on Sunday (first day
of practice) and Monday, it was still very soft and thin.  The Zams
(and they used two at a time) were not cutting, just pouring on the
water.  I heard that Nancy Kerrigan complained about the quality, but
I understand that it improved by mid-week. I know that the first
practice Nancy was at on Monday, she spent most of it on the side
lines talking to coach/Peggy Fleming/Dick Button and tugging on her
leggings and pants.

	- I heard some complaints on the size of the ice at the Arena
(85 x 200), but this is a pretty standard size.  The Colisueum ice
was very long (85 x 223), the Tower ice was the same size as the Arena,
and Oceanside is 95 x 200.  No competition was held at Oceanside (practice
only) and with cold, hard metal benches, I was happy about that.  
Practice and compulsory competitions were at Tower and practice and Novice
competitions were at the Coliseum.

	- Many people voiced the opinon that Nancy was given the gold.
Her long program was certainly ho-hum with nothing new or interesting.
Scott Davis really set the Arena afire with a very nice short and an
outstanding long program.  He definitely deserved first.  Calla and Rocky
had some new stuff to show off and similarly earned the gold.  Meno and
Sand were excellent also, but I felt that they needed to mature as a
pair.

	- I cannot for the life of me understand how Roca and Sur were
allowed to compete!  They performed beautifully and earned the gold, BUT
he doesn't even have a green card yet, much less his US citizenship,
just an intention to get it.  I realize that the US desparately wants
a competitive ice dancing couple, but we shouldn't allow someone to
compete who cannot represent us at the World's.  I know that this matter
is still undecided, but it should have been decided before letting them
skate.

	-  Michelle Kwan, a 12-year old, skated at the Senior level and
came is 6th or 7th (I don't have the protocols in front of me).  She is
going to be somebody to watch.  The talk about the ice said that Frank
Carrol (her coach) didn't want her skating at the Senior level, but
her parents had her tested while Carrol was out of town.

	- Troy and Dawn Goldstein skated Senior Pairs and Dance, and
Troy skated Senior Men and Figures.  They had a great ability to connect
with the audience, but they did't appear to connect with the judges.
He got one standing ovationa and the pair got another.  Quite impressive.

	Well, that's all for now.
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William M. Cornette         Photon Research Associates, Inc.
(619) 455-9741              10350 N. Torrey Pines Road, Suite 300
FAX (619) 455-0658          La Jolla, California  92037
wmc@photon.com
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