January 2006
January 16, 2005:
We are now in the new year and I'm looking forward to a great start to bigger and better things. I'm really excited by what this year will bring. I just got my new freeskate and I absolutely love it! I'm skating to "Art on Ice" by Edvin Marton. I have the same short program but it feels new to me, too. I feel like my skating is opening up and I''m just loving the ice.
This year has already brought changes. I now have a new coach. He is only here temporarily but he is helping me to get control of my skating and workouts. I'm making some changes that have been for the better and I'm really excited to move forward. I'm ready for this new year and looking to become the best skater I can be. My training schedule is changing and I'm hoping to see a lot of progress this year. I've had to make some very difficult and emotional decisions in regards to my skating that most 13 year olds don't have to make. It has been hard and yet I have to look to what is best.
I'm putting my programs on the ice at the Omaha Winterfest competition this coming weekend and will get some feedback to see what I need to work on or change. I'm excited to compete. It feels like it has been so long.
This year I also hope to stay focused on what is important with my skating. My goals are to become more flexible, get consistent with my double axel, triple salchow and triple loop. I also plan to get my triple flip. Besides jumps, I want to become faster and more powerful on the ice and also work on my ballet for better posture and grace.
I've also recently gotten involved in a great cause. I'm volunteering with the Operation Ukraine project here in Omaha. It's an organization that helps the many orphans in the Ukraine. We are working with an orphanage in Artemivsk, Ukraine with kids from infants to age 16. You just can't even imagine the needs these kids have. Please go to www.operation-ukraine.org to check it out. I will write more about it later.
Another project I'm working with is the Soldier's Angels program. It's so cool. When you sign up for a soldier you get to send encouraging words to someone who is defending our freedoms in Iraq. I love the soldier I write to. He is very brave and I'm so proud of him. The soldiers love to receive letters of encouragment and to just hear from us. We can also send gifts. You can click on the link on my front page to check it out.
Ok, enough for now. I have to get to bed because I have an early day tomorrow. I'll write tomorrow again.
God bless,
Sarah Kidd 
January 19, 2005:
Hello again! Today I can say that tomorrow I compete. 
I'm so happy to have that opportunity. Today I will have an hour practice in the early afternoon and then rest. In the evening I may do an official practice ice and just stroke around, do a few elements and then get off the ice, go home and rest so I feel fresh tomorrow. Last night my mom and I went to the competition ice and watched some of my friends do their official practice ice. It was fun to be there and hang out with them. My dress did not arrive on time so my mom and I are hoping to get over to Deb's shop (The Winning Edge) to pick one up I can wear and do a little stoning with my neighbor friend, Kim. My Greek dress needs to be cleaned some how. We are not sure how to do that. If anyone knows, please email us. That dress will work fine for one of my programs. The red/black dress would work but the skirt is too short so my mom is going to find someone to redo the skirt so I can wear it again sometime. Anyway, I'm really excited to compete again. I love it! I have alot of friends from the neighborhood that are going to come and watch too. It will be so awesome to have people who really want to come and watch me skate. Their support will help me relax and have fun while out on the ice.
Ok, guess I need to get busy and get ready for the day. I"ll update soon.
Love,
Sarah Kidd
January 23, 2006:
Winterfest was a blast! I loved competing and I loved the excitement! I think this competition was the most fun I have ever had. First of all, my short program went well and I placed 4th in the Intermediate level. I was happy with my skate. But my freeskate was the best! There were 15 skaters in the Intermediate FS and it was so much fun! Aleksandr is awesome and he is such a pro when it comes to putting a skater on the ice. I felt relaxed and ready to go. I was in the last warm up group and skated first. My warm up was short and went well. I couldn't wait to compete. When the announcer said my name everyone was screaming and I was laughing because I couldn't believe the cheering squad I had. It was awesome! I felt great on the ice and loved every second of the program and didn't want it to end. I did my double axel and triple loop but they were cheated. But, hey, so what! This was the first time I have ever skated Intermediate and the first time ever trying a double axel and triple loop in competition. I loved it! During my footwork the crowd was screaming and clapping and I just couldn't help but laugh. It was so fun! I had a critique with two out of state judges. Aleksandr Zaitsev and I sat outside with them and we talked for quite awhile. They asked me how long I had my program and I told them two weeks and they were amazed! That made me feel good. They told me they liked my speed and how solid my jumps were and my smoothness. They did not care that my double axel and triple loop were cheated and said this was the competition to take the risks and put the jumps on the ice and to put a new program out. There is time to get the jumps clean. They said they liked my energy and aggressiveness on the ice and enjoyed the footwork. I don't know if they even said anything negative except that I was rushed in a couple places and my spins could be held a little longer...to be able to see it longer. I was happy with the critique and just felt so glad to have had the chance to sit down with two judges and see how my new program looked on the ice.
Ok, I'll write more later. I am being called for dinner and need to finish up some schoolwork. I just wanted to write about how much fun I had on the ice this weekend.
Love,
Sarah Kidd
January 28, 2006:
Today I had a great lesson. I landed some really good double axels and triple loop. I worked on my triple salchow and had a hard fall on my elbow but am alright. I just have a bruise. I'm not consistent with that jump yet. I'm really loving my time on the ice right now. I'm happy with Aleksandr and what he has done for me. I wish he could stay here but he needs to go back to Russia soon. We are doing some thinking about what we will do in the future for my skating. We could possibly move back to the southern California area. I think my time may be done here. We are praying about it and just working each day as it comes.
I have also started my Russian language lessons with my new Power-Glide curriculum. I like it a lot. Misha's great grandpa has a girlfriend that also teaches Russian and I may take from her a little. She could help tutor me in my Russian studies. It helps having Russian friends too. If I have a question I only need to ask them. If you want to learn some Russian just go to www.Russnet.org and check it out. There are some good links there for learning the language.
Last night my mom and I plus some friends went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner and had a lot of fun. We all ate too much and of course had fried ice cream. YUMMMMMM! It's fun to get out once in awhile.
Today I think I am going to rest. I plan to just listen to music, draw some sketches of skate dresses, read some and watch TV. I'm tired after the week so need to relax.
Until later,
Sarah Kidd
January 30th, 2006:
Today I saw the birds flying in formation NORTH! It's the end of January and the birds think it is spring because we have not had a winter here. I can't believe it has been so warm here. I miss winter!
I had a great lesson today. I landed 4 or 5 clean triple salchows today out of 4 or 5. In other words my triple salchow was awesome today! It was so fun! I like triples better than doubles! My double axels were good too. My triple loop wasn't it's usual form today but my legs started getting tired. I had a lot of fun on the ice today.
My mom put up my canopy today. It's beautiful! But, while putting it up she fell and hit her head on my desk and has a huge knot on the back of her head. It was a really hard fall and scared me. She seems ok now though. The bed looks great!
I have watched Europeans about 3 times now! I love Evgeny Plushenko! He is so awesome! I've also watched Nationals several times and I love Matt Savoie's skating! He is such a beautiful skater and seems like such a humble guy.
Ok, I'm going to rest now. I have a headache and the outside of my landing knee is hurting some from so many jumps so I need to stretch. I'll write soon.
Love,
Sarah Kidd
