Results Are In: It's A Perfect Start

Justin, Sarah, Joe and Kathy share laughs before the competition.

In about three hours, Justin and Sarah will take two first places in their first ice dance competition. But right now Pink's song, "You Are Perfect," is playing on the radio. I ask them if they're nervous.

I'm pretty sure I won't get an answer right away because they're both grooving to the melody, moving their shoulders in unison to the right, then the left, in the back seat of the car. It's Friday evening. We've just pulled into Chili's parking lot to get something to eat. The chorus hits its crescendo and the two join in.

"Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel like you're less than, less than perfect. Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel like you're nothing, you're perfect to me!"

Clearly, they're in the zone, that heightened state of consciousness where artists and athletes ignore all pressures, intensely focus on the task at hand and deliver their best performance. It's often referred to as a "perfect moment" or "being in the flow" or "just jammin."

The two finally break from their jam session long enough to answer my question. While still grooving and in unison, they shake their heads no: they're not nervous.

"I think we're going to be amazing," Justin says, after they finish the chorus.

According to the judges, they were amazing enough to capture first place in both dances - the Canasta and the Rhythm Blues. Because no other ice dancers entered the Ice Skating Institute (ISI) District 18 competition, they "competed against the book," which is the standard set in the ISI rulebook.

Winning first place against the book means they did well. When skaters place second to the book that means there are some areas that need improvement.

"Your Blues was as good as your Canasta," Coach Jim tells the two after they skated both dances. Earlier, during their lesson that day, Justin and Sarah were worried about skating well the Rhythm Blues dance.

Coach Jim said it paid off that he followed them around the rink during their lesson, reminding them in all the areas where they weren't in harmony to keep in concert with each other.

"They were in unison in all those spots," he said.

A video of their Rhythm Blues performance is coming. I will post it on this blog when it's ready. 

Meanwhile, you'll have to take my word for it: They were "perfect to me!"