The Un-landed Everything

Chapter 9

It was finally my moment. My chance. My everything. I strutted onto the ice smiling my show girl smile I had seen on coach so many times. My music started and everything began…

Like I said, I don’t think while in my program, literally I’m thoughtless. I don’t know how I do it. Every little thought disappears until my mind is blank.

I zipped through my program, each one of my jumps clean and strong. My spins, they were well centered and in a great position. It was finally the last jump in my program, the triple Lutz.  

I began with stroking with more speed and grace than usual, and then I picked into the ice and leaped into the air. I felt the bitter air making my cheeks flush, and I closed my eyes for a second. Then I opened the once my blades skimmed the ice. I did one last small twizzle sequence, and then ended my program.

I looked up at the crowd. Everyone was smiling, and up on their feet clapping. A few goodies were thrown onto the ice, but I usually grabbed one or two and handed them to the sweepers (younger figure skaters who came around and collected the extra goodies).

I stepped off the ice giving one last wave to the crowd. Coach Patty hugged me so hard. Rowan and Kasey ran up to me and hugged me too. All four of us rushed over to the Kiss N’ Cry (where you get your scores).

Just before my scores flashed onto the screen I knew I had qualified for National’s. I could just sense it. For a minute or two I stared absent mindedly at the screen. My score was 38.72, this wasn’t real. There was no way. I just won first place.