Weiss finishes in Top 6 at Worlds

March 25, 2004

Michael Weiss

Michael Weiss finished sixth in the 2004 World Championships at Dortmund, Germany and helped the U.S. secure three positions for next year’s World Championships.

Michael, three-time U.S. Champion and two-time World Bronze Medalist, skated well but two-footed his quad toeloop in combination with a triple toeloop. Michael landed seven triples in his demanding program. The final group of men skaters was a dynamic pairing with all six maintaining or staying within the top six in the final rankings.

“It wasn’t easy to skate in that group,” Michael said. “The last group was so tough. It was an honor for me to be with them. Normally I would have done a clean program, but I was a bit nervous today. My big mistake was that I did my first Axel as a double. After it I really fought, and now I’m glad the season is finished.”

Michael will compete in the Marshall’s World Skating Challenge on April 6 in Providence, R.I., and that will end his skating season. He is taking off from the Champions On Ice spring tour to pursue new business ventures.

“I’m laying the groundwork this spring and summer for life after skating,” Michael said. “Right after Worlds I’m switching my focus with that and working with Christopher Morrison for a week.” Morrison is acclaimed as a dynamic presenter on a wide array of topics ranging from personal development to team building. Michael is developing a program where he will give motivational speeches.

“Christopher and I will be working together and he will give insights to motivational speaking. We will gear it toward different audiences. We will plan on scheduling two speeches a month. After my skating career is over I will do it on a regular basis.”

Michael is planning to take a week off to vacation in Florida with his family.

“Then I am going to enjoy my spring and summer and do a lot of things I’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t because of my training. I like to work around the house and build things. I am looking forward to spending the next several months with my family. It’s been a good year and I expect a better one next year.”

Weiss Goes For World Medal

March 24, 2004

Michael Weiss reflects on his career and sees peaks and valleys. He’s goal-oriented and his goal on Thursday is to add to his two Bronze Medals he has accumulated at the World Championships.

Michael is in fifth place and confident he can earn another medal with a solid free skate performance.

Prior to Worlds, Michael saw the movie “Miracle” about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. “Herb Brooks told his team that on any given night, the U.S. had a chance on any given night to win, even if the mighty Russians were to win nine times out of 10 games. “It was very inspiring to me. I thought about how that works in figure skating, too. A skater might beat you nine times out of 10, but all you need is that one time to win.”

Weiss characterized skaters in two groups. “There are skaters who seem to be good every night and every competition, and those who pull out that one great performance.

“I have always been the type of skater who builds toward the end of the year. Some can go out and perform at a certain level and train at a high level year round. I’m the type to build toward the end of the season.

“The Worlds competition is another example of that. I’m at the point that I’ve skated enough competitions and Grand Prix events, and now I just want to skate well at Worlds and Olympics while preparing for Nationals.

“I’ve been trying to motivate myself and be completely prepared for Worlds. The last five weeks I haven’t compromised anything for training. If there ever was a decision between training and practice – whether to get off the ice or not – I made sure never to take the easiest route out. It's been a long yea, r and I was sick at three competitions this season.

“We’ve been putting in extra time and effort. That’s what I mean by saying it’s draining and impossible for me to do that kind of training the year round.

“I’ve worked a lot on spins. We called in Bobbi Shire from the University of Delaware. I’ve been focusing on my spins the last few weeks. I wanted to make sure they are an asset and part of the program that's remembered and not blended in. We worked on speed and position.

“I worked on the spins half an hour a day, over and over. We worked to find more efficient rotation and the sweet spot on the blade quicker. We also worked on different positions. The more time you put in on something the more it pays off."

March 23, 2004

Michael skates great short program!

Michael Weiss

Michael Weiss delivered his best short program of the year at the 2004 World Championships in Dortmund, Germany Tuesday and put himself in position to challenge for another world medal.

Michael is in fifth place entering the free skate on Thursday.

It was a confident program performed to “Henry V” by Michael. He two-footed his quad toeloop but had smooth sailing the rest of the way.

Michael’s landing on the triple Axel was excellent and his final jump of the program, was a solid triple Lutz. His technical marks were as high as 5.7 and his artistic marks as high as 5.8.

Michael has had better success with his quad toe in practice. "I was disappointed I two-footed the quad. I have a problem with two-footing it, but I've been doing it well in practice all week,” Michael said.

If Michael and one other American, possibly Johnny Weir who is in sixth, can total 13 or less, the U.S. can send three skaters to the World Championships last year.
“It's in the back of your mind," said Weiss, who is trying to help the U.S. team earn the three spots. "But in the forefront of my mind is the long program. You skate yourself into a position. If I had landed that flip in qualifying, I might have scored better.”

Michael stumbled out of his triple flip in qualifying.

March 22, 2002

Michael leads U.S. men in qualifying

Michael Weiss finished fifth in the second of two qualifying groups at the 2004 World Championships in Dortmund, Germany. He is the top U.S. skater among three competing.

Michael skated an excellent program that had only a couple of miscues. The biggest error was a stumble out of his triple flip, his final jump of the program. Until that point, Michael’s program, skated to a medley of patriotic music, was strong. He slightly two-footed his opening quad toe-triple toe combination and then landed five other clean triples.

Michael landed a triple Axel in combination with a double toe loop but did not hit hit a solo triple Axel, changing it into a double.

Michael said missing the last jump most likely weighed heavily on the judges.

“I have nobody to blame but myself. If I landed the triple flip I would be in a lot better position right now. It was a bad mistake to step out of it. Making a mistake on the last jump rests in the judges' minds.

“I usually land that (flip), so I was a little shocked. I need to use that energy and aggression now for the short program.”

The men’s short program is scheduled today. Michael is skating in the next to last group.

The qualifying counts for 20 percent, today’s short program 30 percent and free skate on Thursday is worth 50 percent.

Michael going for third medal

March 21, 2002

Michael Weiss is in Dortmund, Germany this week, hoping to add another World medal to the two Bronze medals that he already haswon.

Michael, who says he feels good going into the competition, begins the week with the qualifying round Monday. He is in the Qualifying Free skating A group. The qualifying round begins at 2 p.m. Dortmund time.

"The World Championships are such a thrill," Michael said. "Just being there, representing your country, is something to be proud of. "I have been training hard and hope to do well," he added.

Michael won the Silver Medal at the U.S. Championships earlier this year.

Competition schedule
(All times Dortmund local time)

Monday, March 22
10 a.m. — Men's Qualifying Rounds A/B
6:30 p.m. — Opening Ceremony and Pairs Short Program

Tuesday, March 23
1 p.m. — Compulsory Dance
6:30 p.m. — Men's Short Program

Wednesday, March 24
10 a.m. — Ladies Qualifying Rounds A/B
6:30 p.m. — Pairs Free Skate

Thursday, March 25
1 p.m. — Original Dance
6:30 p.m. — Men's Free Skate

Friday, March 26
1 p.m. — Ladies Short Program
6:30 p.m. — Free Dance

Saturday, March 27
1 p.m. — Ladies Free Skate

Sunday, March 28
2:15 p.m. — Exhibition Gala

 

Television Schedule

Event	Date	Time	Network
Men's Short and Pairs Short Program	March 25	7-9 p.m.	ESPN2
Men's Free Skate and Pairs Free Skate	March 25	9-11 p.m.	ABC
Men's Short and Pairs Short Program (Repeat)	March 27	4:30-6 p.m.	ESPN
Ladies Short Program and Original Dance	March 27	6-8 p.m.	ESPN
Ladies Free and Free Dance	March 27	8-11 p.m.	ABC
Ladies Short Program and Original Dance	March 28	12:30-2:30 p.	ESPN2
World Championships Exhibition	April 3	4-6 p.m.	ABC
Men's Free Skate	April 3	9-11 p.m.	ESPN
Ladies Free and Free Dance	April 4	9-11:30 p.m.	ESPN
World Championships Exhibition (Repeat)	April 10	4:30-6:30 p.m.	ESPN
Times listed are EST