Patrick Chan

Wow... the Canadian Chinese community is so supportive. They started with $3,000 scholarship and the last scholarship was more than $40,000. And it interesting to hear Richard Wong challenging the rest of the Chinese community from different cities to up the fund-raising ante. Phew .. $200,000 training costs and expected to rise to $250,000? Does it include accommodation? Certainly without Canadian's skating association and a helping hand from the community, it is difficult to concentrate on training leading to Sochi. Sponsorship is not easy to come and unless one's parents is super rich, assistance is definitely required. Kudos to the Chinese community for stepping up to assist. I am sure Patrick will never forget the reaching hands, and will give back some day in his own way to the community who stood behind him with pride and encouragement.

spikydurian said:

Wow... the Canadian Chinese community is so supportive. They started with $3,000 scholarship and the last scholarship was more than $40,000. And it interesting to hear Richard Wong challenging the rest of the Chinese community from different cities to up the fund-raising ante. Phew .. $200,000 training costs and expected to rise to $250,000? Does it include accommodation? Certainly without Canadian's skating association and a helping hand from the community, it is difficult to concentrate on training leading to Sochi. Sponsorship is not easy to come and unless one's parents is super rich, assistance is definitely required. Kudos to the Chinese community for stepping up to assist. I am sure Patrick will never forget the reaching hands, and will give back some day in his own way to the community who stood behind him with pride and encouragement.

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Patrick is already paying back and much more is expected of him. The biggest gift he has given to the Canadian Chinese community is pride, pride in one of their own being so prominently successful. Patrick honours the community by being the best in the world in what he does which is also in the awareness of the public, making news with his winning World Championships, in his dominance, and in being named Athlete Of The Year by all the mainstream media in Canada. He represents the community well with his achievements in a non stereotypical career and his multilingual and multicultural Canadianness. The community is also very proud of his honouring Canada and being such a good Canadian in giving back via charitable works. All these come through in the speeches at the function which celebrated Patrick Chan.

Everybody loves a winner. The WCBAC gave him the first scholarship of $3000 when he won his first major international event. They showed their pride in him and offered encouragement. Then he went on to further success beyond all realistic expectations, getting more and more attention and support. When he soars, so does the pride, expectation, and support. Then also, I believe there is a "backlash" against the backlash of his recent media snafu, when he expressed his strong identification with his roots and gratitude for his supporters, the biggest being his parents. There were so many ugly attacks on him then, with many racist comments posted online from the public. I think the Chinese community is rallying around him now, thus making a media event with the celebration of their favorite son, whom they think should be one of Canada's favorite sons, as well as with the publicity for Chinese stem cell registration with Patrick's help. Clearly realizing Patrick's financial needs and the burden he feels he is on his parents, they are determined to contribute even more towards his training, challenging all WCBAC charters to raise funds for him, just as the Vancouver charter first did in 2009 and challenged the charter of his home province of Ontario to do the same. They raised $40,000 for him last year, and are aiming to surpass that this year. Meanwhile, the scholarship funds have increased substantially since the fundraising events for Patrick began.

Of course, the biggest goal and hope they have is for Patrick to win the first Olympic Gold in Men's figure skating for Canada. It would be tremendous pride for the community and the nation. Yeah, they are investing and Patrick has to find a way not to feel the pressure so much as to obstruct himself when the Big Days of the Big Event come. Such pressure caused him to mess up during the last Olympics and again when debuting the quads. He has learned much from these experiences and lessons and seems to be in good control of his mental state during competitions these days, so I hope he grows stronger and stronger mentally just as he keeps raising the technical bar.

Speaking of mental strength and technical bar, I am happy and confident that Patrick's problems with his 3A are over. I wrote before that his 3A issue was mental, as he was able to do them beautifully before but going to Krall to learn the quad by micro-managing the technique somehow got him insecure about his 3A, as Krall commented that his 3A technique was "interesting". I knew then the over concern with the technique got into his head and cost his confidence. Recently he said he was no more preoccupied with the technique but simply going with his feelings into the 3A. His nemesis has become his go to jump. :thumbsup:

Patrick is so blessed in this life, nice to see he is doing for others, as he should. Good for him.

Indeed. The flip side is the sense of obligation so as not to disappoint the country and the community which can weigh heavily on Patrick's mental state closer to Sochi. But he has been there in 2010 and hopefully, he knows how to handle the pressure. Mental strength is the most important when one is at the pinnacle of the sport. Some sports as in figure skating, even a small error is unforgiving.

They have raised $58,000 so far and more is coming!

BTW, I notice Patrick's hair is getting thinner. Does anyone else think so too?

Boeing787 said:

BTW, I notice Patrick's hair is getting thinner. Does anyone else think so too?

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Maybe he had a 'crew cut'? hopefully .....
I did notice shorter hair when at 4CC compared to Canadian Nationals.

Boeing787 said:

BTW, I notice Patrick's hair is getting thinner. Does anyone else think so too?

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It does look like his hairline is moving back. But he is also sporting one of his shortest-hair style. So I'm not sure about it. I hope not. Patrick has one of the thickest hair in men's skating. I like him having longer hair than what he has now.

It looked pretty thick to me at Skate Canada..........unless he started going bald right after that

Ravensque said:

It looked pretty thick to me at Skate Canada..........unless he started going bald right after that

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... caused by the Reuters drama! Added pressure = less hair
Boeing 787 .. see what you have started. Poor Patrick. We ubers having a go regarding his hair. But we all still love him 'hairful' or 'hairless'.

spikydurian said:

Boeing 787 .. see what you have started. Poor Patrick. We ubers having a go regarding his hair. But we all still love him 'hairful' or 'hairless'.

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Please don't kill the messenger... but I have a bad feeling that Patrick will become hairless someday. Just look at his balding uncle (his mom's brother). Generally the bald gene comes from the mother's side.

I like his short hair

Boeing787 said:

Please don't kill the messenger... but I have a bad feeling that Patrick will become hairless someday. Just look at his balding uncle (his mom's brother). Generally the bald gene comes from the mother's side.

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It's a distinguished trait in a skater! Kurt, for instance. (And with Kurt as your example, who needs another example?)

Olympia said:

It's a distinguished trait in a skater! Kurt, for instance. (And with Kurt as your example, who needs another example?)

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That I agree. It means he has high level of male sex hormone, which also makes him muscular.

It seems, unlike me, people are much more interested in what grows on his skull than what goes on inside.

A few more posts, Patrick will be known as the late blooming bald guy winning World Championships with 6 falls. hwell:

eta. Don't forget his stinky feet. With ubers like us, who needs haterz?!

We should be piling on how he's oozes sensuality, a real hunky sex on skates who completely captures our hearts forever, etc. etc. Geez, we're such amateurs. :disapp:

spikydurian said:

Wow... the Canadian Chinese community is so supportive. They started with $3,000 scholarship and the last scholarship was more than $40,000. And it interesting to hear Richard Wong challenging the rest of the Chinese community from different cities to up the fund-raising ante. Phew .. $200,000 training costs and expected to rise to $250,000? Does it include accommodation? Certainly without Canadian's skating association and a helping hand from the community, it is difficult to concentrate on training leading to Sochi. Sponsorship is not easy to come and unless one's parents is super rich, assistance is definitely required. Kudos to the Chinese community for stepping up to assist. I am sure Patrick will never forget the reaching hands, and will give back some day in his own way to the community who stood behind him with pride and encouragement.

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Saw a great piece on the Chinese business community in Canada stepping up to help with Patrick's training cost on the CBC news last night (Feb 19). There was great footage of a fundraising event & auction. Patrick spoke really well in his interview.

SkateFiguring said:

It seems, unlike me, people are much more interested in what grows on his skull than what goes on inside.

A few more posts, Patrick will be known as the late blooming bald guy winning World Championships with 6 falls. hwell:

eta. Don't forget his stinky feet. With ubers like us, who needs haterz?!

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I'd call this true love: we love him for who he is - stinky feet and thinner hair included!

SkateFiguring said:

It seems, unlike me, people are much more interested in what grows on his skull than what goes on inside.

A few more posts, Patrick will be known as the late blooming bald guy winning World Championships with 6 falls. hwell:

eta. Don't forget his stinky feet. With ubers like us, who needs haterz?!

We should be piling on how he's oozes sensuality, a real hunky sex on skates who completely captures our hearts forever, etc. etc. Geez, we're such amateurs. :disapp:

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It looks like Patrick fans are like Patrick - ever so honest that sometimes it hurts.

Besides, who doesn't want to be like Kurt who is so charming and sexy with or without hair?! That said, Patrick is still one of the male skaters who has thick and beautiful hair - Patrick on Oct.28, 2011

Bluebonnet said:

Patrick on Oct.28, 2011

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You and I see a full head of healthy hair but, once it becomes another internet meme, many will insist he's bald from looking at the same picture the same way they believe he always wins with 6 falls.

OMG.. what a Patrick HAIR FEAST!

Boeing 787, if your dubious theory of bald genes from mother-side is plausible, then Patrick is safe because I am sure Lap Chan is paternal uncle. In case you are not convinced, I see Mr Lois Chan has a head full of hair unless he's wearing a toupee!
BTW, Boeing 787, what were you referring - It means he has high level of male sex hormone, which also makes him muscular"? I thought Olympia was talking about hairs!
This I agree ...true love means 'loving Patrick warts and all'. Thin hair and stinky feet? Who cares ..

Bluebonnet, Indeed, Kurt is as charming and sexy as ever with or without hairs, and it's a privilege to be like him. And they like each other .... what a coincidence.

SF, not to worry. We are pragmatists like our hottie Patrick. Ubers like us last forever because we don't see him through rose-coloured glasses, we see him as he is. We know he is genuinely hot, elegant and technically near-perfect. That's why we are ubers in the first place.

spikydurian said:

[BTW, Boeing 787, what were you referring - It means he has high level of male sex hormone, which also makes him muscular"? I thought Olympia was talking about hairs!

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High level of male sex hormone makes a man muscular and lose his hair as well.