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2008 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships - Highlights

Junior's Compulsory Dance, Pairs Short Program, Ladies Short Program,

Original Dance, and Senior Compulsory Dance

January 17, 2008
Article by Rosaleen Kaye

2008 Canadian Nationals Jan 16-20, 2008 Vancouver (BC), CAN DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 FULL RESULTS

The 2008 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships are being held Jan 16-20 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, BC. Approximately 190 skaters total will be competing in the Junior and Senior division of the event.

The top five skaters in each discipline will be named to the respective Junior or Senior National teams. Results will also be used to determine who will represent Canada at the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships, Four Continents Figure Skating Championships (4CCs), and World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

The first day of the event kicked off on Jan. 16 with the Junior's Compulsory Dance, Pairs Short Program, Ladies Short Program, and Original Dance, and concluded with the Senior Compulsory Dance.

Junior Ice Dance (Compulsory Dance)

The Compulsory Dance (CD) this year for Juniors is the Cha Cha Congelado. The Cha Cha Congelado was created by Bernard Ford, Kelly Johnson, Laurie Palmer, and Steven Belanger. It was first performed in Richmond Hill, Ontario in 1989. This dance includes some very quick steps, as well as long deep edges.

Kharis Ralph (15) and Asher Hill (16) of Toronto, who are making their Junior debut this season, placed first in the CD with 28.66 points. The 2007 novice champions skated a strong dance which showed very expressive upper bodies while maintaining good timing and flow throughout the dance.

Karen Routhier (16) and Eric Saucke-Lacelle (18) of Quebec, who were fourth last year, showed excellent interpretation of the music and timing, and are currently in second with 27.79 points.

In third are Sophie Knippel and Andrew Britten (BC/YT) with 25.89 points. The 18-year-olds, who have only been training together since April 2007, showed excellent speed and flow, as well as a lightness to their movement.

Anna Stanislavska and Dylan Fieldhouse (EO) are in fourth with 25.16 points, followed by Tarrah Harvey and Keith Gagnon (BC/YT) who have 25.06 points.

Junior Pairs (Short Program)

The pairs short program proved to be a very competitive event, with teams vying for the two spots to Junior Worlds next month in Sofia Bulgaria.

Monica Pisotta (16) and Michael Stewart (20) of Central Ontario placed first in the short program with 46.62 points. The team, who are in their last year of Junior eligibility, showed excellent speed, flow, and musical interpretation throughout their routine to Fire On Ice. They completed a throw triple toeloop (one of only to two teams to complete one), as well as synchronized side-by-side double Axels.

Paige Lawrence (17) and Rudi Swiegers (20) of Saskatoon placed second with 44.91 points. The team showed marked improvement and maturity since two years ago when they finished 14th in 2006 and 2007. Skating to music from The Mission soundtrack, they connected well with each other and the audience and Swiegers showed a gentleness in how he presented his partner. He fell on his jump in the side-by-side double Axels, but this didn't effect the rest of the program which included a good double twist, throw triple toeloop, and level 3 straightline footwork.

In a close third with 44.20 points, are Christi Anne Steele (16) and Adam Johnson (19) of Western Ontario. The team, who placed fifth last year at this event, showed good speed and confidence in their routine to Assassin's Tango, but lacked the real tango expression. Their routine, however, featured a good double twist and two level four spins.

Olivia Jones (14) and Donald Jackson (21) of Quebec are fourth with 44.19 points. The JGP Lake Placid champions showed great expression of the music to Rich Man's Frug, pleasing the crowd with their connectivity and high energy.

Sara Jones (12) and Jeremy Sandor (18) of Quebec are in fifth place with 43.17 points.

Junior Ice Dance (Original Dance)

The Original Dance (OD) for both Juniors and Seniors for the 2007-08 season is the Folk-Country dance.

Ralph and Hill maintained the lead after placing first in the OD with 43.75 points (76.01 total). The team performed an African folk dance which contained fantastic synch and expression throughout. Their routine included a good level 4 midline (non-touching) step sequence with perfectly matching twizzles and a fast level 4 rotational lift.

Routhier and Saucke-Lacelle are in second overall with 72.49 points after finishing second in the OD (44.70 points). The team skated close together throughout their OD to Russian Gypsy music, while exhibiting very nice expression and flow throughout. While they received negative Grades of Execution (GOE) on their level 4 midline (non-touching) step sequence for an off synch twizzle, the team otherwise earned a level 4 on their second midline step sequence and both lifts.

Knippel and Britten performed their Russian folk dane to Dark Eyes, staying in character throughout. The team showed good speed on their opening level 4 dance spin, and earned a level 4 on both their lifts. They placed third in the OD with 44.27 points and remain in third overall with 70.16 points.

Stanislavska and Fieldhouse remain in fourth overall (67.19 points), followed by Harvey and Gagnon (66.98 points).

Junior Ladies (Short program)

Rebecca Addison of Central Ontario was the winner of the ladies short program with 43.41 points. The 16-year-old displayed an easy flow and lightness in her routine to The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, showing very good expression throughout. She landed a triple Salchow-double toeloop combination, a double loop, and a double Axel. The 2007 Novice silver medalist also produced a good level 3 straightline footwork sequence and level 4 combination change spin.

Less than a tenth of point behind is Kelsey McNeil with 43.33 points. The teen from New Brunswick showed exceptional spins in her routine to I Could Have Danced All Night, and expressed the character and flow of the music beautifully. The 15-year-old executed a triple toeloop-double toeloop combination, a double Axel, and a double loop, as well as a good level 4 spiral sequence and level 3 straightline footwork.

Vanessa Grenier of Quebec is in third place with 42.75 points after her performance to The Way Old Friends Do. The 15-year-old produced two good level 4 spins, but struggled with her triple Salchow-double toeloop combination. The 2007 Novice bronze medalist otherwise delivered a double Axel, a double loop, and nice level 3 layback spin.

Amanda Velenosi, who is also competing in the Senior Pairs division with Mark Fernandez, placed fourth in the short with 42.63 points. The 16-year-old nailed her opening double Axel, but then made mistakes on her triple toeloop-double toeloop combination. The teen from Quebec also had problems with her flying sit spin, but otherwise produced a beautiful level 3 layback spin.

Kirsten Moore-Towers (WO) opened her soft and lyrical routine with a very good triple Salchow-double toeloop combination followed by a good double loop and double Axel. However, the 15-year- old received low levels on her spins and footwork and is currently in fifth place with 41.90 points.

Jessica-Amy Sergeant is in sixth (40.72 points), followed by Vanessa Juteau (QC) who has 40.49 points.

The top five Junior ladies are all first year Juniors.

Vanessa Crone, who is currently in 12th place, is also competing in the Senior Ice Dance division with Paul Poirier (who is skating in the Junior's men division).

Senior Ice Dance (Compulsory Dance)

The Compulsory Dance (CD) of the event was the Yankee Polka, which consists of two sequences and was created by James Sladky, Judy Schwomeyer and Ron Ludington. It was first performed in 1969.

Tessa Virtue (18) and Scott Moir (20), who skated last, were clearly in a class by themselves. The team showed excellent precision in their steps and timing and are in first place with 40.04 points.

Allie Hann-McCurdy (20) and Michael Coreno (23) showed very good character in their polka, displaying a lightness and fun of the dance. The earned 32.62 points for a second place finish.

Kaitlyn Weaver (18) and Andrew Poje (20) exhibited power, speed, and very good flow in their dance, and are currently in third place with 32.54 points.

Newcomers (partnerships) Siobhan Karam/Kevin O'Keefe and Mylene Girard/Liam Dougherty are currently in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

The event continues with the Junior Free Dance, Men's Short Program, Pair's Free Skate, and the Senior Original Dance.