Michael delivers strong free skate

Bofrost Cup 2002

Michael Weiss wasn’t totally happy with his fourth place finish at the Bofrost Cup (Nation’s Cup) Nov. 10 at Gelsenkirchen, Germany, but he was pleased with how he fought back to just miss the medal stand.

Michael was seventh after the short program and then drew the No. 1 start for the free skate. Things didn’t look promising but Michael delivered a strong free skate to put the final medal in doubt until the end of the competition. In fact, Mike received several second-place votes from some of the judges.

"I did as good as I could in the free skate," Michael said. "I did all my triples – triple axel, flip, loop, toe loop and salchow. The program felt good."

It was Michael’s second Grand Prix event of the season.

The Nation’s Cup also was the first time Michael competed with a different coach. Don Laws, who coaches Michael full-time, was with Michael in Germany. "It certainly was a different feeling. Audrey has been with me for so long.

"I felt very comfortable with Don," Michael said. "After the short program Don was very supportive and reassuring. He told me I was making progress and to continue working on my jumps and long program. He was very positive."

Michael said he was disappointed with drawing the first starting spot but reasoned, "I did it to myself. If I had skated better in the short program I would have been in the final group and then things might have been different."

Michael skated in the exhibition following the men’s competition.

"It actually felt good," Michael said of skating the free skate and then coming back a short time later with an exhibition program. "I got some good crowd response. I did some things with my new blades and they liked that. It was fun."

Michael heads to Paris for the Trophee Lalique competition Nov. 14-17.

It will be Michael’s third and final Grand Prix event of the season.