1999 Sears Canadian Open

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The Report - December 4, 1999

Sears Canadian Open Champion
December 1999
(scowling his way onto the podium)

By Mary Lally

Here's my report, If you're looking for expert commentary, you won't find it here. <G>

Not only is the Toronto airport confusing so is the city especially the roadways and the signs (actually the lack thereof). Hopefully, we'll remember how to get to the arena next year because 2000 Skate Canada is set to be held there.

We eventually arrived at the Hershey Centre to find that the Men's practice session was already in progress. Todd had just started his run through of The 13th Warrior program.

This is Canada, so the Men's portion of the event was the highlight of this competition and was scheduled last in both segments of the competition. After all, it was the first meeting of Elvis, Kurt and Brian Orser in a competition. Oh yeah, there were two other guys in the event, Todd and Steven Cousins.

Ice Conditions: Very Good!

Short Program skate order:
1. Kurt
2. Elvis
3. Steven
4. Todd
5. Brian

For the afternoon SP we sat at the end of the rink next to kiss and cry. Kiss and cry was in the middle rather than on the side so our view was blocked.

Warm ups. Todd never learns. As he was skating by us he used his blade to flick aside some ice chips on the surface, I had a 1997 Skate America flashback. Thankfully nothing happened, but why tempt fate?

Todd skated his Cabaret SP but he intended to change the jump combination and solo jumps for this event to include a 3 Axel-3 Toe (or 2 Toe), 3 Lutz and 2 Axel. Todd barely hung onto to the landing of the 3 Axel and resisted the urge to put his hand. There was a relieved look on his face when he realized that he saved it. But he was now faced with adjusting the program because he had to add a Toe jump to his 3 Lutz and another solo jump to replace the 2 Axel. He ended up doing a clean 3 Lutz/2 Toe and a solo 3 Toe. His spins were awesome, centered and fast and they always get the crowd's attention and approval.

While this was a partisan Canadian audience, they do support all skaters and Todd got a well-deserved response from the audience.

The results were so ironic because the event was being showcased as the meeting of Elvis, Kurt and Brian, and who is in first place - Todd!

We were rather concerned when we learned the draw for the Interpretive Programs.
1. Steven
2. Brian
3. Todd
4. Elvis
5. Kurt

I've seen reports that Todd didn't use The Glory because of a time limit restriction, but since he used the same program at the Masters and didn't get a deduction and I'm assuming the time requirements were the same here. Even though fans and others were hoping he'd skate The Glory, Todd chose The 13th Warrior because that's what he wanted to skate. He wants to vary the programs he skates in a season to avoid too much repetition.

In the warm up he was having a heck of a time trying to land a 3 Loop which he eventually did land.

Because of the limit of four jumps of 3 or more revolutions in these ISU Opens, Todd had to modify T13W. He included the following jumps: 3 Axel- 2 Toe, 3 Lutz, 3 Toe, 3 Axel and a 2 Axel. We figured that 4 triple jump limit does not restrict repetition of jumps otherwise Kurt would have been docked points for repeating 3 Toes.

Mesmerizing would be the best word to describe Todd's execution of T13W. He really skates with the music and the choreography keeps you riveted throughout. And if the presentation weren't spectacular enough, then how about the second 3 Axel executed at the 3 minute mark to emphasize his stamina. And as always his closing combination spin brings the audience to their feet.

Now we had to wait to see how Elvis and Kurt skated.

Play that Funky Music is an enjoyable program, I would not call it one of Kurt's better programs and it really wasn't a good choice for an Open competition. When he finished the program and we looked on the scoreboard and saw the time, our jaws dropped - it was too short. What were the judges going to do? This was Kurt and they were in Canada. Fortunately the judges scored the program accordingly which brought on loud boos from the audience (I'm no fan of booing). The announcer felt obliged to make an announcement explaining that there were deductions because the music was too short.

Then when the final results were posted, I was still fixed on seeing Todd's name remain in the first position when I heard all these gasps. I turned to my neighbor and asked what's up -- Kurt had dropped from second to fourth place.

A brief award ceremony took place immediately following the event with the top 3 finishers in each discipline. When Todd returned to the ice he was looking very pleased, relieved and just generally happy, bopping around the ice and taking his place alongside the dance finalists. When Elvis took his turn and skated over to stand next to Todd they exchanged a quick congratulatory hug.

The announcer then invited the skaters to do a victory lap around the rink.

Todd made a point to recognize and wave at the fans holding the Todd pennants and signs rather than his previous attempts to pretend to ignore us. It came as a total surprise to us.