2017-2018 Canadian Road to the Olympics | Page 5 | Golden Skate

2017-2018 Canadian Road to the Olympics

Mango

Royal Chinet 👑🍽️
Record Breaker
Joined
Apr 5, 2016
4everchan I started reading that post and I was, but where's our man KEEGAN? I would love to see him at the Olympics! He is such a bright personality that even if he didn't rank top 10 (who knows about that 4Lz+3T) he'd still entertain the heck out of the viewers. I hope he has a great season of summer training and comes out swinging while keeping that momentum through to March. At the very least I hope to see him have a fantastic time at 4CC.

Anyone going to Stars on Ice? Such interesting photos are coming out! It looks like one of the group numbers will be to Bruno Mar's 24K Magic.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTU1FIClmZv/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTUQRu6AD3q/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTSANfphAlb/ (Meagan is a boss. :cool:)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTRtJmLgo3y/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTUqQ8JlxOZ/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTUQzVZlZ1M/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTSDu0IAo5j/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTWz39agwa4/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTXGtdig75-/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTXp6H9A8Zv/

The show starts on Friday so expect more videos, photos, and info coming shortly. :)
 

4everchan

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 7, 2015
Country
Martinique
4everchan I started reading that post and I was, but where's our man KEEGAN? I would love to see him at the Olympics! He is such a bright personality that even if he didn't rank top 10 (who knows about that 4Lz+3T) he'd still entertain the heck out of the viewers. I hope he has a great season of summer training and comes out swinging while keeping that momentum through to March. At the very least I hope to see him have a fantastic time at 4CC.

Anyone going to Stars on Ice? Such interesting photos are coming out! It looks like one of the group numbers will be to Bruno Mar's 24K Magic.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTU1FIClmZv/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTUQRu6AD3q/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTSANfphAlb/ (Meagan is a boss. :cool:)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTRtJmLgo3y/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTUqQ8JlxOZ/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTUQzVZlZ1M/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTSDu0IAo5j/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTWz39agwa4/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTXGtdig75-/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTXp6H9A8Zv/

The show starts on Friday so expect more videos, photos, and info coming shortly. :)
i had saved him for the end :) gotta check who reads the posts in full
 

Ic3Rabbit

Former Elite, now Pro. ⛸️
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 9, 2017
Country
Olympics
well, here is how i see things ;)

Nam Nguyen : got up to 5th in the worlds... grew up 3 feet taller and had to relearn everything from scratch... wasn't doing well in toronto, moved to california and came back to Canada.... now that he has been at YRSA, not only he has recuperated his jumps and readded the 4T, (4S was already back) he is working on the 4F and has increased his speed : I would say that he has done well considering his growth spurt and two coaching changes.

Nic : was injured... still managed a 4Loop at Nationals... he has a gorgeous 3A.... used to have 4t and landed 4Lz in training. We will see what the summer does for him because this season is not a reflection of what he can do.

Roman : still growing, still learning.. instead of popping the big jumps now, at least he is rotating them... we will see...

Among these 3, Roman seems a bit less competitive RIGHT NOW... but that could change quickly.

Add to this list of youngsters : Conrad Orzel, 4t, 4lz, great 3A... needs to work on skating skills and choreo

So, as you said, that up and coming group needs growing up but one of these guys could have by Nationals, developed further ahead of the others and clearly a contender for the second spot...

Middle age guys : it is true... we don't have a lot of guys in that group.... Bennet Toman is 20 (just turned 20)... beautiful skating skills, but jumps are not all there yet though he does in his programs, 4t, 4ts and very nice 3A. I wouldn't place him as a favourite for the top 2... but I could see him land in the top 4-6 and get to go to 4CC and gain some more experience.

Where it gets interesting is in the 24-26 age group....
Patrick, always improving at each competition despite always trying to upgrade his layouts! KUDOS!!! I don't think anybody expected him to be able to add that much content to his programs... and yet, doing so, he has matured his skating style... even people who didn't like him before, and there are way too many IMHO, are admitting how beautiful his programs are and how nice his big jumps are when landed.
Kevin, is for me, the biggest question mark among ALL Canadian men... Capable of the best and the worst... I know Kevin is at University and my first question to him would be, "are you planning to take the semester off to focus on the games or are you going to try to manage everything?" If he is in school, I don't think he will improve enough to be competitive for the games... he may qualify but he would be a weak second man... Why : he needs more speed and power and stamina, which is normal after the kind of injury he had... He peaked at worlds... he was very good there... but judges didn't give him much credit PCS wise.... he has been away from sight and hasn't improved his skating skills... but IMHO he shouldn't be in low 7s... sorry. To get to 8s, he would need to compete a lot and be consistent... we will see.

Liam and Elladj : as much as I like their smooth skating, I do not think they will be factors next year to qualify for the games. They are both struggling with what we call now basic jumps 3a and 4t.... Elladj used to have a gorgeous 3A.. perhaps he was recuperating from injury this year but at Nationals he was quite underwhelming.

For me, the most exciting skater from this group, and the one I think will make the Olympic team is Keegan Messing. Who knew I would grow to like him that much... I am surprised myself but I saw him twice live last year and he was so fun to watch. He is super fast, his spins are incredible. He rotates very fast and has great jumps. What he needs : a bit more experience and belief that he is the one going to the games with Patrick... We will see if his brand new and gorgeous 4lz-3t will help him there.

Where I disagree with you Jammers is that the way the schedule is done next year, almost all these men could receive an assignment, meaning that they will have a chance to develop and do better.

I believe Conrad will stick to Juniors... so that's done

As I have explained earlier, the Olympics are too close to 4CC which means that 5 men even are guaranteed a berth. I would think that 1-2 men will go to Olympics... and that 3-4-5 but most likely 4-5-6 will go to 4CC.... I think the plan will be for man #3 to be the substitute so no 4CC, and will then get a berth for Worlds, especially if man #3 is Kevin... or if Men #1-2 are Patrick and Kevin (most likely retiring after games). So in that scenario, 5-6 men would go to ISU championships/olympics next year.

This means that the federation will need to get these guys out there so they can get their TES minimums. One of the issues in the past is that very few skaters from Canada were getting Senior B assignments but this is changing....

in the end, yes, maybe the 5-6 older guys, which I can see 2 or 3 as competitive at this point may retire after the games/wc 2018... but then, with the great opportunities lined up for Canadian men next year, and the depth within the younger boys, it could lead to developing those younger men right in time for 2019... by 2022, they could all be at their peak...

I think the situation here is not bad at all...

:clap: yes Keegan!!! Have loved him since he skated for US! i want him and Pat on the Olympic team!
 

4everchan

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 7, 2015
Country
Martinique
bad news for Eric and Meagan...

more than ever we need Julianne and Charlie to get healthy and better... i don't think that at their age, and with this serious injury, we should expect Meagan and Eric to do 4 events (team + pairs) in 10 days
 

NanaPat

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2014
Country
Canada
I have a question about Keegan Messing. Does anyone remember a program where he had some kind of problem (maybe costume?), skated over to the judges to ask for a rewind, was told no, then finished his program at double-time, managing to get all the elements in? I looked at a few videos, but couldn't find anything.

Please, someone tell me I'm not hallucinating about this.
 

shiroKJ

Back to the forest you go.
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
I just read about Eric's herniated disc :( I hope everything goes well for them next season and he doesn't aggravate the situation. Maybe they should consider skipping the GP series?
 

4everchan

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 7, 2015
Country
Martinique
I have a question about Keegan Messing. Does anyone remember a program where he had some kind of problem (maybe costume?), skated over to the judges to ask for a rewind, was told no, then finished his program at double-time, managing to get all the elements in? I looked at a few videos, but couldn't find anything.

Please, someone tell me I'm not hallucinating about this.
yes

it was at ACI.. i was in the audience... he had laces issues.. he thought they would rewind the music.. they didn't ... so he had to speed up, do all the jumps and so on.. it was insane.. he was insane... without that incident, he would clearly have been on the podium at ACI..
 

silverskates

Spectator
Joined
Apr 23, 2017
I have a question about Keegan Messing. Does anyone remember a program where he had some kind of problem (maybe costume?), skated over to the judges to ask for a rewind, was told no, then finished his program at double-time, managing to get all the elements in? I looked at a few videos, but couldn't find anything.

Please, someone tell me I'm not hallucinating about this.

yes

it was at ACI.. i was in the audience... he had laces issues.. he thought they would rewind the music.. they didn't ... so he had to speed up, do all the jumps and so on.. it was insane.. he was insane... without that incident, he would clearly have been on the podium at ACI..


It was really unfortunate, but I remember being VERY impressed that he was able to do so much in the remaining time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSG4_AsF5Xk
 

TGee

Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 17, 2016
as shared by beki :
Gabby is working on a backflip..

Canada has a new Surya ;)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTZC5orFfgp/

With a Bronze at Worlds 2017, and many kudos for her performance qualities, Gabby is in a place where she can own her history and skills as a gymnast. Why should the men have all the gymnastics fun in the exhibitions...?

By the way, am I right to recall that there will be some kind of demonstration extreme or gymnastic type skating event at end of the 2018 Olympics? My general reaction is "why can't they it alone?", but clearly there are a few federations [France, Korea] that feel strongly that skating should develop in this direction....

Uhm, so the thought just cropped up that Gabby might just go in there and show them that some skaters can do it all.........
 

4everchan

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 7, 2015
Country
Martinique
i agree TGee.

I hope for Gabby to make her own history :) I mentioned Surya because I don't know if other ladies have done the back flip...
 

NanaPat

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2014
Country
Canada
yes

it was at ACI.. i was in the audience... he had laces issues.. he thought they would rewind the music.. they didn't ... so he had to speed up, do all the jumps and so on.. it was insane.. he was insane... without that incident, he would clearly have been on the podium at ACI..

It was really unfortunate, but I remember being VERY impressed that he was able to do so much in the remaining time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSG4_AsF5Xk

Thank you, 4everchan and silverskates. It was nice to know that my memory isn't failing me and to see the video again. Keegan is a good candidate for deliberate backloading!
 

liv

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Love to see Gabby do that. It's been too long since we saw anyone do some backflips... I know EB does them (over people, even, lol) but it'd be nice to see it again (loved it when Brian and Scott did them together) and this time by a girl who can definitely do anything on the ice. Have fun at them, Gabby.
 

Mango

Royal Chinet 👑🍽️
Record Breaker
Joined
Apr 5, 2016
I am not sure if it's been shared elsewhere on here but Stars on Ice Toronto has been rescheduled due to the Raptors 2nd round playoff series. It will now be on May 4.
https://twitter.com/starsonice/status/858033066568290304

I hope Eric can heal up for the Olympics. I am guessing he needs surgery? :( Very unfortunate timing for this.
 

blueberryhill

On the Ice
Joined
Nov 2, 2015
Mango, since you brought up Stars on Ice, is there any more info on Julianne and Charlie? I'm surprised they're not be replaced. And Kaitlyn and Andrew have been on the tour for a number of years now. Why not this year?
 

Skater Boy

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Looks like the road is mighty bumpy for the Canadians. The men look rather fragile. Aging Chan. Nic, Elijah and Reynolds coming back from injuries and dealing with consistency issues. I agreel Balde and Liam are not much threats. Liam is not even a Jeff Buttle and now a days youu can't really compete without a quad and even then look at Chan not competitive with the best men. So Liam sadly is a faded memory of hope. Not even Jason Brown is a force to be reckon with without the quad. Roman is not ready and Nam really needs a dramatic improvement - once so much hope and then he grew and not a little a lot. Wow. It really messed up his skating; I am not sure he can get back on the right track. He would need the Quad toe and sal, programs he can sell and a lot more speed, velocity, power or my word - amplitude. Kevin and Nam are the faves for second but they can be beaten. They need to own that spot. I still think Paddy will go to the olympics even with a melt down.

But the pairs what a fiasco. Perhaps Duhamel can skate with Moscovitch? Poor Eric. Bad timing and the world seems against them at least the skating world including the posters here. Yes, ,they aren't of the same line or style of Gordeeva and Grinkov or M and D or B and S or even Sale and Pelletier or the Chinese who quite honestly look a little bit a like - lyrical skaters. But I give them credit for being different. They just don't get the love of Savchenko and whoever she chooses as her lackey lol or the Chinese. It might not be fair but it is reality. Canada's pairs are a bit ofa mess I and M show promise but her jumps are a huge issue (kind of like Brasseur and Eiser though I and M are far more lyrical and less power). Seguin and Bilodeau - oh my such promise but it is slipping out of their grasp. Injuries and time are not good. Really Moscovitch Moore Towers were a better hope but what can one do. MT and M just don't have enough power or strength - mainly him but without a healthy or strong Canadian team they are destined for great mediocrity and who knows who will be on the team. D and R could be iffy.

Dance is Canada's most solid. It is clear Gilles and Porier, Weaver and Poje and Virtue and Moir are Canada's dance team. Even with errors they are heads and shoulders above all other Canadian teams especially with all last year's retirements.

Ladies well it seems like Daleman and Osmond are shoo ins to go though I anticipate winning again on the world stage will be much harder. The third sp ot most l ikely will be Chartrand but she is nto showing it. you would think at WTT she would have really wanted to show it and done a bettter job of regaining the wo rld's attention that it is not clear in Canada who is the top. But it is Daleman and Osmond. Chartrand is not with those two. She has been slipping all year.
 

4everchan

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 7, 2015
Country
Martinique
hi hi skaterboy

i appreciate your post... yes.... i think you are pretty much up to speed at this point... but let me remind you something : you told us yourself in the other thread that you tend to see the glass half empty, you even told us why... I respect your process and want to offer you :ghug:

However, let's try to see the glass half full because otherwise, the year will be long...

Men : let's talk about Patrick's improvement! WOW!!! so many doubted he would ever land the 4S and IMHO it's his most beautiful jump (after the 3flip)
Let's talk also about the future.. the kids !!! WOW!!!! Conrad, Nam, Nic, Roman, Benett just turned 20, there is Gogolev too... we could talk about Joseph Phan, and my little favourite Celestino who may not have the big jumps yet but is a mini Patrick in beautiful skating and elegance on ice ...

Ladies : let's rejoice ALL YEAR until the next WC that we have the current Silver and Bronze medal winners. It's up to them to live to the the pressure of repeating... it's up to Chartrand to redeem herself... i wouldn't worry so much about WTT

Pairs : fine... it looks tough with Eric being injured but one thing is sure... even without a medal, Canada has 4 great top ten worthy top pairs... let's see how things go here... injuries can heal... Lubov is better with jumps.. Michael is better with lifts.

Dance : well, let's just shut up and enjoy here :)

can we try to be more glass half full please?
 
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Mango

Royal Chinet 👑🍽️
Record Breaker
Joined
Apr 5, 2016
blueberryhill I'm sorry I don't know anything more about Julianne & Charlie's situation. Their social media accounts have been quiet since Worlds ended. Based on this mysterious silence I can only guess there's an injury or a concussion. They are very unlikely to split. Actually, it's more likely one of them will retire than them splitting due to differences or something. But I highly doubt anyone's gonna retire right before the Olympic season.

Kailtyn & Andrew decided to forgo Stars on Ice to get a head start on their season: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTc7GUTAiP1/
They'll be in the audience in Toronto. I think that's probably a smart decision because at least for 2 years they've had to scramble to change their SD entirely in early autumn. And maybe starting earlier means they'll have more consistency early on and will peak at the biggest events.
 
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