At the Rink

[Angela]

All posts taking place in DeVito Park Rink, managed by Natalya Ignatieva-Rampal and Phillipe Rampal will be posted here.

[Angela]

Christian was getting ready to get the hell off the ice. After nearly two hours of being out there going through pretty much everything, he felt burnt out and more than a little foolish for spending that much time skating. When he finally came off the ice surface and went over to his skate bag, intent on taking off his skates and just sitting around, he spotted Aleksei Ugarov. "Hi."

Aleksei grinned. He'd only been there for the last ten minutes, stretching and warming up his muscles. Observing his competitor wasn't a bad idea either. "Great to see you, Chris. You look like you were working hard out there. Water?" he offered, holding up an unopened bottle that was next to Chris's bag.

"Thanks," Chris said as he took the water bottle. He unscrewed the cap. "Working too hard," he muttered, before taking a gulp of water. "I've been to the Olympics before, I don't know why I'm nervous about it now."

Aleksei chuckled. "Maybe it's because you're, well, kind of a favorite since the field is so limited. I mean, no one wants a Russian to win," he said with a shrug. "Timofei is being treated like the next big thing in mens' skating. I can't imagine how Britain would be treating you."

He shook his head. "They're ignoring me," Christian said. "I think if I was an ice dancer they'd really care. Torvill and Dean to live up to, all that. But, em, not really. Skating isn't really popular anyway."

"That's a shame. I remember watching Robin Cousins in 1980 and thinking how awesome he was," Aleksei said with a sigh. "It's too bad British skating hasn't really lived up to his achievement. Buty hey, you have a chance, I'm sure that with the pressure off you'll be on fire," he said with a shrug.

"British skating just has flashes in the pan as far as talent and success goes," Chris replied with a shrug. "I put enough pressure on myself; I don't need the British Federation to do it for me. I'm more worried about pairs. More serious about that. Singles skating is just...an experiment."

Aleksei nodded. "I think it's that way for Tima too. I think he uses singles as an outlet to skate to things that Brandi wouldn't want to," he said with a snicker. "Brandi actually wanted to skate to heavy metal for their free skate. I said no. That's death to any skater." He shook his head. "Not that I like metal myself."

Wrinkling his nose a bit, Chris wondered, "What idiot would want to skate to crap like that?" He paused. "Not saying Brandi is an idiot, but, ah..."

Aleksei sighed. "I know. I like her a lot, but sometimes... I wonder what I ever see in her. But anyway, I'm sure you and Alice will be spectacular in Torino."

"Love is blind?" Christian suggested. "Or deaf, in the case of heavy metal music?"

Aleksei nodded. "I think both, considering our first date she wanted to see 'Saw II.' I about lost my lunch over that." He grimaced at the memories.

Christian stared at Aleksei. "A horror movie?" he asked, sounding half-horrified and half-amused at the idea. "A wonderful way to start a relationship, that..."

Aleksei smiled and nodded. "Tell me about it. Especially when you consider that one of my favorite people in the world was murdered almost six years ago." He sighed and shook his head.

"I still don't understand seeing a horror movie on a first date. How about dinner?" Christian shook his head. Not like he enjoyed movies, but he sure as hell wouldn't drag some girl on a date to a *horror movie* of all things...

Aleksei laughed. "Yeah, I know, I'm the same way. Course I would have loved to have taken her to see the ballet 'Carmen,' but Pittsburgh stopped using the orchestra for their ballets. Can you believe it? Doesn't seem like it's worth seeing now."

"Huh," Christian said, blinking. "Isn't...that the whole point? Live dancers, live orchestra? I only saw a ballet once, it was Swan Lake, and Alice made me go with her years ago. Protested the whole way there."

Aleksei cracked up. "You're serious? In Russia we're brought up with ballet."

"And in Scotland we're brought up on rugby and football," Christian quipped. "More sports than arts."

"Well, I mean, skaters are brought up on ballet before they even skate," Aleksei explained. "But I understand. Our sports are hockey, football, tennis, usually."

Christian nodded. "I've never had to take ballet, thank God," he said. "Works for the lassies but us, not so much."

Aleksei nodded slowly, not understanding this Western idea that male skaters should not do ballet. For him, skating and ballet were inseperable. Ballet helped with the movements. Such a world-class team like Alice and Chris, when Chris did not do ballet? Goodness, Alice apparently had enough dance talent for the both of them, because they were one of the best pairs Aleksei'd ever seen. "Well, never too late to start, it couldn't hurt," he finally said.

Christian lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I never thought I needed it. Alice is the one with all the dance experience," he pointed out.

Aleksei nodded. "Ah I see. Well, different countries and all that," he replied with a shrug.

"Non-controlling sports federations too," Christian added almost as an afterthought to Aleksei's comment. "'Course no one pays attention to skating in Britain, like I said."

Aleksei laughed. "Yes, I can vouch for that. I got bronze at Nationals and they're still debating on whether to send me or Arcadii. They're worried I don't have what it takes. Arcadii has better competitive history in the senior ranks."

"But he's just a kid," Chris said, after taking another swig of his water. "D'ye know when you'll find out if you're going? I hope before airfare goes much higher, it's already nuts."

"They're actually supposed to call this afternoon, so cross your fingers. I think what I've got on my side is this season. Arcadii didn't place as well as I did. So we'll see where that takes us."

"I think you'll make it. We'll see what happens. Let me know. Curiosity killed the cat, 'ken, but I'm curious anyway." He cracked a smile. "Change citizenship and compete for Great Britain? God knows we have absolutely no depth in any of the fields. Bit sad."

Aleksei laughed. "Well, who knows. I might retire before I change Federations. I'll skate for Russia using my Gershwin work, or I'll die of old age trying!" he said with a laugh.

Christian smiled faintly. "Gonna take ye another thirty years to get to the Olympics?" he joked.

Aleksei laughed again. "Yeah, perhaps. I can just see myself in whatever city, in 2036, I'll be skating pairs with a walker!" he said, changing his voice to make himself sound old and hunching his back.

Trying to stifle a laugh, Chris snorted. "I'll be laughing my ass off at ye if that's the case," he said.

Aleksei laughed and nodded. "Tell me about it. Well, I'd better get to work! I'll see you later?" he suggested. With a wave, he headed to the ice.