Top spot
Wiess struggles, but takes lead after short program
Posted: Thursday February 11, 1999 11:14 PM
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Weiss: "The short program is just getting through it and having fun, and I think I did that." AP |
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Maybe Michael Weiss is better off chasing No. 1 than being in the top spot.
Skating as the favorite for the first time, Weiss turned in a less-than-perfect and somewhat lackluster short program Thursday night at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. He was first with all nine judges, but that was more out of reputation than repertoire.
"Obviously, it's a real different role for me this year, I'm sitting in a little bit different position going into the short program," Weiss said. "It was different for me, but it was fun. There was a lot more pressure on me, and I just wanted to go out and skate a nice, solid program, get into the rhythm of the program, and I felt like I did that.
"I had to fight for a couple of landings on things, but that's what made it fun."
Timothy Goebel, the first American man to land the quadruple jump in competition, was second in the short program, worth one-third of the total score. Trifun Zivanovic was third.
The men's free skate is Saturday afternoon.
"Winning here is in the back of my mind, but I don't think it's going to happen," Goebel said. "Second or third, I'd be happy with a trip to worlds."
Weiss finished second to five-time U.S. champion Todd Eldredge the past two years and is the overwhelming favorite to win his first title this week. Though Eldredge kept his eligibility -- allowing him to compete at nationals, the Olympics and the world championships -- he's only competing in a select few pro-ams and isn't defending his title.
Wearing a psychedelic-looking gold, orange and brown lion-print T-shirt and charcoal leather pants, Weiss looked like the same old rebel with an attitude who enjoyed shaking up the staid world of figure skating. But when his medley of "Van Halen" tunes started, it was Weiss who looked a little flat.
He was tilting like the Leaning Tower of Pisa on his opening triple axel, just managing to save the landing. He slipped and got off-balance on his circular footwork, and it looked like he didn't complete the element. But Weiss said he did finish it.
And though his triple flip-triple toe loop combination was solid, it won't be enough to compete with the Russians at the world championships next month.
No big deal, Weiss said, he thought everything went just fine.
"The short program is just getting through it and having fun, and I think I did that," he said.
And he showed some flashes of the skater who came close to knocking off Eldredge twice, punctuating the guitar riffs with little hops and playing to the audience like he was skating in a show. As he slid to center ice to finish the program, he pumped his fist and mouthed the word "Yow" -- right in time with Van Halen's lead singer.
"It's a little bit different going in as the favorite, I'm used to going in as the underdog," he said. "Obviously it's a good position to be in, though. I went out and skated the way I wanted to and I'm sitting where I want to be right now."
Goebel, who withdrew after the short program last year because of a lingering hip injury, was solid, but he's still lacking the flair he needs to win. Skating to "Zorba," he at times seemed to be going through the motions instead of having a rousing time at a Greek wedding.
He seemed to get a little more enthused with his footwork, flying across the ice as the music got faster and the audience started clapping. And technically, he was fine. He was a little shaky on the landing of his triple axel, but he saved it, and his triple flip-triple toe loop combination was huge.
He ended with a flourish, sliding across the ice on one knee and pumping his fist as the music ended. It was sweet redemption for Goebel, whose last competition was a disaster. He finished 12th at the Cup of Russia in November, his worst finish in more than three years.
"Cup of Russia was an absolute disaster for me and an absolute low point," he said. "It definitely feels good to be closer to the top instead of dead last."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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