U S Figure Skating National Championships, Nashville ~ Where are the Jays

three of us in the arena with our required masks on

about to begin

This was the fourth national championship that Cierra and I have attended (started in 2017). We were both looking forward to attending in Nashville from the first time it was announced that it would be the host for 2022. This year we added my cousin Kathy to the mix and we all enjoyed ourselves. Between omnicron, flight cancellations and winter storms there were questions if we would all get there or not. Happy to report we all saw all of the events of our championship weekend tickets. Well, that wasn't all good - Cierra was supposed to miss the skating spectacular but her return flight was cancelled so she flew back on Monday and missed part of a workday. Going I had a delayed flight and ended up with a flight attendant crew from 3 different cities, but hey I made it!

Our Championship weekend ticket package started with the ladies finals on Friday evening. Had a couple of hickups for the finals - 2 ladies came down with omnicron and instead of walking to the event we had to get an uber. Walking a mile (ish) on icy and snowy sidewalks did not sound good to any of us. However, the skating was good and a favorite of ours won the event after skating beautifully.

Isabeau Levito who came in 3rd as she came out for warm up

Mariah Bell in a spin

Mariah Bell receiving a standing ovation at end of skate

The US Figure Skating Association has changed/strengthened the rules to qualify to go to Nationals resulting in fewer contestants. It was really noticed with the pairs and dance teams. Historically there were so many that most of Saturday afternoon would be the lower ranked teams skating. This year there were about half the teams so only the really good ones and they did not start till the afternoon. Sooo. Brunch on Saturday was the plan. We went to a restaurant not too far from the arena where the skating was held. Kathy and Cierra enjoyed lattes and nice breakfast dishes while I had iced tea with my meal. The restaurant had a French spin on southern food and decor. After our meal we had a little time to kill so we walked over to Broadway where all the action is in the evenings - bars, honky tonks. We got a laugh at how some people were dressed and saw a couple of cute things in store windows then it was time for our skating marathon to begin!

On to pairs. US is not noted for having great pairs teams, but there are 2 really good teams. Unfortunately, one half of one of the teams came down with covid. Guess it would be good to note here that the athletes and coaches were all tested daily thus some competitors dropped out in the middle of competing. Anyway, the team (Cain-Gribble and LeDouc) that did compete looked good and I for one am hoping they win a medal in Beijing. Photos of Cain-Gribble an LeDouc are below.

More pairs skating photos. The bottom photo gives you a good feel for how close to the ice we were.

After the pairs competition ended, it was time for the second round of the dance team competition. Here, the US has several very good teams and we saw some good skating. In my opinion, dance can be a hard discipline to recognize the little details that can separate top teams. I have my favorite teams here and they did well.

Kaitlyn Hawayek and Jean Luc Baker

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue

End of their dance - their final US Championships

Caroline Green and Michael Parsons expect to see more of them in a year

Madison Chock and Evan Bates - they won

Due to Covid, the contestants had to put their medals on their partners

Now we had some time on our hands since it was a couple of hours or so till the final competition of the day - mens short program. One of our uber drivers had pointed out the old train station and said it had a neat old clock and stained-glass windows. Also said it was now a Marriot Hotel (The Union Station Nashville Yards Autograph Collection) since the snow was now quickly disappearing thanks to rain and warm temperatures, we headed to it to explore.

Outside of the hotel

Grand Lobby per website - they were setting up for a wedding

the arena is in the background

We wandered into Assembly Food Hall a couple of times because it was close to the arena and it gave us choices. Including during this break. We ate things like falafel, vegetarian tacos, pork buns, ice cream and had a nice meal at 60 vines. 60 Vines was a free-standing restaurant up on the top floor. Pictures below are from there.

My dessert - an olive oil cake

Cierra's dessert

The skating for the day continued with the men's short program. If you follow skating at all, you know that it was a phenomenal competition. I think every man there brought his best game to the arena. It was a great evening to be there in person, because we got to see a lot more men than you saw on TV. When you are giving the men with lower rankings standing ovations for their performance and not just the top ones - you know everyone has brought their "A" game and we were in for a treat! Unfortunately, I can't tell my pictures from the short and the long programs. So, the pictures are mixed below. Oh couple of notes. How good were the short programs you ask? Well, a man I don't know and lowly ranked almost pulled off a quadruple axel. No one in the world has successfully completed one in competition. Also a note, the young man below- you have probably never heard of him before this competition. Well Cierra predicted he could be a dark horse - said he has done well in Junior Competitions and has skated some at her rink and he is the real deal. She was right he came in second his name is Ilia Malinin (my 2 Russian knowledge folks debated correct way to say his last name) and still in high school.

jumping Ilia

More of Ilia

Jimmy Ma who skated well to his relief

this and next are of Jason Brown

Vincent Zhou

another of Jason Brown

Nathan Chen mid jump - long program

The week end ended with the skating spectacular which is so much more than you see on TV. Always a local group of some type and then a variety of top and fan favorite skaters. This year, they also announced the Olympic team and gave them each a guitar. You get to see a different side of the skaters. Below are some pictures from the event.

These next pictures are from Hawayek and Baker's performance - a fun farce on swan lake. I think both of them are bit of comedians.