Bourne and Kraatz break up
- Thread starter Antilles
- Start date
Here's what I was sent: (Sorry it's so long. I don't have a link)
Good Morning Bladers....actually no, it's a terrible morning. There was
a rumour posted on Skatingforums yesterday and this morning, it was
confirmed in the Hamilton Spectator by Steve Milton.
This is the article... I'm posting most of it as the Spectator is a
subscription website.
Bourne, Kraatz break up
'I just want the public to know it's not a mutual decision'
The greatest ice-dancing team in Canadian history is breaking up.
Reigning world champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz will honour
touring commitments until mid-December, then will stop skating together.
The couple turned pro after their emotional championship triumph in
March, the first global title ever by ice dancers representing North
America.
Skate Canada and the couple's agent will announce the partnership's
dissolution today.
It is an amicable parting, but it was Kraatz's wish, not Bourne's. She
wants to continue skating and will try to find an avenue to do so
hopefully, she says, with Stars on Ice.
Kraatz shocked Bourne two weeks ago when he told her that he did not
want to continue in pro skating. During an interview with The Spectator
at Copps Coliseum last week, he hinted that he wasn't sure the
partnership would continue."Things happened too suddenly," he said
between training sessions for Kurt Browning's Gotta Skate. "You strive
for something for so many years and you reach your ultimate goal and all
of a sudden 'That's it'. You're no longer part of the Canadian team, you
no longer travel to compete. I think competing is really what I'm
missing, I guess. And also a sense of direction."
Kraatz also said he wanted to pursue other interests. His partner and
their agent from skating giant IMG tried to get him to at least take
some more time to reconsider his decision, but Kraatz did not change his
mind.
"What I want to say to Canadian fans is that I am not really ready to
let go of skating," Bourne told The Spec late last night. "I want to
keep the doors open, whether it's for touring, or skating as a single,
or whatever.
"It's kind of like a marriage and now a divorce. It's like I want to get
married again."
After the couple were edged for the gold medal at the 2002 Worlds,
Bourne wanted the then-nine-time national champions to turn
professional. But she stayed in "amateur" skating for another year. "And
I'm glad we did," she said. "It's been a very difficult two weeks since
he told me. Victor wanted to do the 11 Stars shows in the spring
(through Canada). But I said it didn't seem right to have a farewell
tour when I didn't want to say farewell. It wouldn't be fair to
everyone.
"I feel sad for Canadians. I know they want to see us skate."
Canadians want to see them skate, and they want to thank them for an
amazing career, which crashed the generally all-European dance party.
Bourne and Kraatz were teamed together, almost by accident, 12 years
ago. He was born in Switzerland and was a superb skier as a juvenile
before turning to skating full-time. She was born in Chatham, Ontario
and spent the early part of her career as a pairs skater, before
switching disciplines.
>From the first two minutes of a tryout in Montreal, the pair clicked.
They had "soft knees", the deep fluid motion and innate cohesiveness
that marks all great skating partnerships.
By the early '90s they had, invented "hydroblading" in conjunction with
Elvis Stojko, choreographer Uschi Keszler and other Mariposa Club
skaters. The low-to-the-ice technique became their calling card and has
been copied by scores of other top skaters. Their Riverdance freeskate
of 1998 is rated among the best competitive programs of all time.
After a year in junior ranks, they won their first Canadian senior title
in 1993 and also won the 1994 and 1998 Nationals and 1997 Grand Prix
Final on Copps Coliseum ice. At Browning's show on that same ice
Saturday night, Bourne was carrying the emotional burden of knowing the
partnership would soon be dissolved.
"But the show in Hamilton was really thrilling for me," Bourne said.
"After doing that show I know I have to keep skating. I felt so alive.
"I was trying to imagine myself not skating, and it brought tears to my
eye. So I know I'll find a way to keep skating. It's such a shame it's
not with the same partner.
"I just want the public to know that it's not a mutual decision."
Bourne and Kraatz will headline their own show in London, December 5,
and instead of a triumphant launch to what could have been a long,
lucrative and history-reminding touring career, that event becomes a
bittersweet sendoff.
"It's not happy news," Bourne said last night. "For me it came as a
surprise. Two weeks ago it was a real shock, but I've had some time to
get used to it. It just seems like now was our chance to enjoy it,
perform without the pressure and really become creative.
"I wish Victor all happiness.I told him I respect him so much for being
honest with me.
"But I don't like it."
Good Morning Bladers....actually no, it's a terrible morning. There was
a rumour posted on Skatingforums yesterday and this morning, it was
confirmed in the Hamilton Spectator by Steve Milton.
This is the article... I'm posting most of it as the Spectator is a
subscription website.
Bourne, Kraatz break up
'I just want the public to know it's not a mutual decision'
The greatest ice-dancing team in Canadian history is breaking up.
Reigning world champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz will honour
touring commitments until mid-December, then will stop skating together.
The couple turned pro after their emotional championship triumph in
March, the first global title ever by ice dancers representing North
America.
Skate Canada and the couple's agent will announce the partnership's
dissolution today.
It is an amicable parting, but it was Kraatz's wish, not Bourne's. She
wants to continue skating and will try to find an avenue to do so
hopefully, she says, with Stars on Ice.
Kraatz shocked Bourne two weeks ago when he told her that he did not
want to continue in pro skating. During an interview with The Spectator
at Copps Coliseum last week, he hinted that he wasn't sure the
partnership would continue."Things happened too suddenly," he said
between training sessions for Kurt Browning's Gotta Skate. "You strive
for something for so many years and you reach your ultimate goal and all
of a sudden 'That's it'. You're no longer part of the Canadian team, you
no longer travel to compete. I think competing is really what I'm
missing, I guess. And also a sense of direction."
Kraatz also said he wanted to pursue other interests. His partner and
their agent from skating giant IMG tried to get him to at least take
some more time to reconsider his decision, but Kraatz did not change his
mind.
"What I want to say to Canadian fans is that I am not really ready to
let go of skating," Bourne told The Spec late last night. "I want to
keep the doors open, whether it's for touring, or skating as a single,
or whatever.
"It's kind of like a marriage and now a divorce. It's like I want to get
married again."
After the couple were edged for the gold medal at the 2002 Worlds,
Bourne wanted the then-nine-time national champions to turn
professional. But she stayed in "amateur" skating for another year. "And
I'm glad we did," she said. "It's been a very difficult two weeks since
he told me. Victor wanted to do the 11 Stars shows in the spring
(through Canada). But I said it didn't seem right to have a farewell
tour when I didn't want to say farewell. It wouldn't be fair to
everyone.
"I feel sad for Canadians. I know they want to see us skate."
Canadians want to see them skate, and they want to thank them for an
amazing career, which crashed the generally all-European dance party.
Bourne and Kraatz were teamed together, almost by accident, 12 years
ago. He was born in Switzerland and was a superb skier as a juvenile
before turning to skating full-time. She was born in Chatham, Ontario
and spent the early part of her career as a pairs skater, before
switching disciplines.
>From the first two minutes of a tryout in Montreal, the pair clicked.
They had "soft knees", the deep fluid motion and innate cohesiveness
that marks all great skating partnerships.
By the early '90s they had, invented "hydroblading" in conjunction with
Elvis Stojko, choreographer Uschi Keszler and other Mariposa Club
skaters. The low-to-the-ice technique became their calling card and has
been copied by scores of other top skaters. Their Riverdance freeskate
of 1998 is rated among the best competitive programs of all time.
After a year in junior ranks, they won their first Canadian senior title
in 1993 and also won the 1994 and 1998 Nationals and 1997 Grand Prix
Final on Copps Coliseum ice. At Browning's show on that same ice
Saturday night, Bourne was carrying the emotional burden of knowing the
partnership would soon be dissolved.
"But the show in Hamilton was really thrilling for me," Bourne said.
"After doing that show I know I have to keep skating. I felt so alive.
"I was trying to imagine myself not skating, and it brought tears to my
eye. So I know I'll find a way to keep skating. It's such a shame it's
not with the same partner.
"I just want the public to know that it's not a mutual decision."
Bourne and Kraatz will headline their own show in London, December 5,
and instead of a triumphant launch to what could have been a long,
lucrative and history-reminding touring career, that event becomes a
bittersweet sendoff.
"It's not happy news," Bourne said last night. "For me it came as a
surprise. Two weeks ago it was a real shock, but I've had some time to
get used to it. It just seems like now was our chance to enjoy it,
perform without the pressure and really become creative.
"I wish Victor all happiness.I told him I respect him so much for being
honest with me.
"But I don't like it."
WOW. I appreciate her honesty about it-saying flat out that she doesn't like it. Alot of times we hear of splits and we don't get the full story. It's sad-I really feel like they were the real medalists of the '98 Olympics-I still feel bad that they came in 4th.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
NO! They were the greatest Canadian ice-dance team. I was shocked to hear this news! 
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
If I remember correctly she was originally a singles skater... so she has the basics... I doubt we'll see any huge jumps/tricks from her...
maybe she'll do like Denis Petrov did in SOI and just play partner for a new feel... or like Renee Roca has in Brian's skating spectacular for the last two years
maybe she'll do like Denis Petrov did in SOI and just play partner for a new feel... or like Renee Roca has in Brian's skating spectacular for the last two years
Really a shame - especially since it wasn't a mutual decision. They fought for so long, finally got their world championship, and now can't take advantage of the benefits. Doesn't make much sense to me, but I'm sure there were solid reasons behind the decision.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
This is sad news indeed, but inevitable. Some partnerships continue for sometime in the professional ranks, some don't. Victor is getting married and I also thought Shae-Lynn had a steady beau.
Anyway, they will sure be missed. I wish them both the best.
Anyway, they will sure be missed. I wish them both the best.
This is a shock. I don't usually follow ice dancing, but I always made it a point to watch Shae-Lynn and Victor.......I first saw them skate at the 1996 World's Exhibition on television and have been a fan ever since.......it was a thrill seeing them skate during a COI performance two years ago..........42
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2003
This news is still so shocking to me even though I read about it at lunchtime today. They have been the ONLY dance team I have ever cheered on for as long as I can remember. Gosh they will be missed for sure. And now its REALLY sad that I have just seen them skate live for the first AND last time at Kurt's show over the weekend. Had I known that back on Saturday, I would have taken pictures at the show whether cameras were allowed or not. What a sad day.
BUMMMMMMMER!!! I had it in my mind that next year they would start skating with SOI in both the US and Canada and it would be the start of a whole new era in creativity for B&K. I know these things happen, we don't really know what goes on behind the scenes or in an individual's mind, and I'm sure Viktor did not make this decision without a great deal of consideration, but damn, I feel the same way as Shae: I DON'T LIKE IT!
Of course I wish them all the best in their individual endeavors. They're both so gifted. But even if they skate with new partners, they had a magical chemistry that I will sorely miss.
Rgirl
Of course I wish them all the best in their individual endeavors. They're both so gifted. But even if they skate with new partners, they had a magical chemistry that I will sorely miss.
Rgirl
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
I was shocked when I saw this but in hindsight it is not so much of a shock.
Victor has made it clear on a few occasions that pro skating is not really his thing and that he wanted to stay in amateur. Admittadly I didn't think it would lead to a break up, at least not so soon. I thought that he may give it a chance and then make a decision.
Fair play to Shae-lynn for being so honest, but great respect to Victor for having the strength of character to make this decision if it is what he feels is right for him and I wish them both all the best.
Victor has made it clear on a few occasions that pro skating is not really his thing and that he wanted to stay in amateur. Admittadly I didn't think it would lead to a break up, at least not so soon. I thought that he may give it a chance and then make a decision.
Fair play to Shae-lynn for being so honest, but great respect to Victor for having the strength of character to make this decision if it is what he feels is right for him and I wish them both all the best.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
Is Victor still an eligible skater? and, If so, will he be looking for a new partner? Anyone know?
Joe
Joe
