RI, NJ, NY

Please forgive me for taking so long to update this past weekend’s shows. It was very odd, because this weekend Irina, hoop girl, wasn’t there for medical reasons...she is totally ok, just had to take the weekend off. This is the first time in 7 years that I have not performed my duties as Hoop Boy, and it was rough! I did my best and got through all three shows with no problem. Shizuka and Kimmie were not there because of the Japan Open, so we had Peter and Naomi skate. Great people, and I really miss having them on tour. Peter is by far one of the most amazing skaters I know. He can do a simple one foot exercise with doing a loop, bracket, pull repeat that just blows me away! The picture on the website here is Irina doing her catwoman number that has her rolling in this wheel of death...at least that is what I call it!

We were also lucky enough to have Victoria Petrenko, Victor’s 9yr daughter skate a routine with her daddy. The audience dug it, and she was really good. Heck, at that age I would have been FREAKING out being in front of all those people!

Everything is going well on tour. My neck is a bit stiff, but I can’t complain too much. My head has healed well and the hair has grown over it all. My latest issue is that my graff skates finally gave out on my again!!! The quality has not been there the last few years with heels falling off, one to two month break down time, and just lots of things to pad around. I finally had enough Tuesday when it was tagging me on the right tibia where I broke it in ’98, so I called up my buddy Joe Frei at Brian’s Sports and moved into a Jackson boot. NO, not the hinge. Needless to say the next day I had minimal pain, just sore from the old skates, and could do the triples needed for the show. Hopefully they will hold up much better than the graff. Bummed, because I have been in them for close to 10 years with great success at the beginning. I leave tomorrow for Columbus and Chicago’s shows.

Till then, be well.

Dan