Love of Skating Still Drives Weiss

Michael Weiss Photo by Paul Harvath

(12/28/04) - At some point in every athlete's career there comes a time when the training becomes too tough, the schedule too exhausting and the sacrifices too many. A time when it makes sense to say goodbye to the sport that has brought them so much.

For Michael Weiss, that time appears to be a long, long way off.

Weiss is currently training for his 12th State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships and is looking for his fourth gold medal at the event (he won in 1999, 2000 and 2003) in hopes of qualifying for the World Championships to be held in Moscow, Russia, in March. And in spite of his extended tenure in the sport, Weiss sounds like a rookie when he talks about the upcoming event.

“One more medal would be great,” Weiss said, “but it's the experience of going out there and competing … wearing that ‘USA' on your back and skating your heart out for a medal that is really exciting.

“I just want to go out there, have fun and skate hard.”

Last year, Weiss finished second at the U.S. Championships to Johnny Weir, who himself has gone on to win two golds and a silver in this year's Grand Prix Series. To beat Weir, and the other contenders, Weiss will need to display more consistency than he has in recent competitions.

Weiss began the season strong, placing third at Smart Ones Skate America despite breaking his blade just prior to the competition. He followed that up though with a fourth-place finish at NHK Trophy and another fourth-place finish at the Marshalls World Skating Challenge.

“My jumps just weren't where they had to be,” Weiss said. “In terms of training and practice, I'm feeling really good right now. I'm landing my quad toes on one foot, and that's really where I want to be going into nationals.”

Though he's working on improving his jumps, Weiss's artistry will play just as important a part in his performance. He readily acknowledges he was concerned about whether the new judging system might detract from the artistic side of the sport but has been pleasantly surprised to see it remains a significant factor in the judge's decisions.

Of course, the new judging system will not be in use in Portland. According to Weiss, though, that won't affect the way he, or any of the other athletes approach the competition.

“The skaters have to skate either way,” Weiss said. “My program isn't changing based on the scoring system.”

New scoring system or old, at this point in Weiss's career it all seems irrelevant. He's seen it all, and he knows what it takes to come out on top.

And he's preparing as he always has, the only way he knows how, for a chance to win.

“As long as I'm still competitive and have a shot at winning a competition, that spirit is what keeps me going.”