2024 Canadian Nationals Senior Free Dance

[iluvtodd]

Gee, I hope we get to meet some of the Canadian fans here when we attend Worlds in Montreal!

 

[ladyjane]

This part of the competition really often moved me to tears, and not just in the last group. I thought Alyssa and Jacob were great, Lily and Nathan were just wonderful (one of those teary programmes for me), Amy and Jacob also really were worth the watch, I love Nadiia and Peter but they had a rather big mishap, Alica and Paul did it again, I was so impressed and teary again, Marie-Jade and Raimon are always spectacular and Piper and Paul were just fantastic (I really love that programme). And commentary by Kirsten en Kaitlyn was good again.

 

[slider11]

Piper and Paul have a perfect package this year. Not relying on some glitzy movie theme but really just telling a moving story with incredible technique and poignant expression. This has the potential for a world gold.

 

[SmileHappy34]

Congratulations on repeating as national champs Piper Gilles and Paul Pourer.

Well done all skaters.

Great job medalist .

 

[Trillium]

Why are there such few people? Are people just not interested in figure skating in Canada anymore?
It's a really small crowd if I imagine that most skaters have some friends or family with them.

At the last minute I made the trip to Calgary. It was not a wise choice. There are no hotels within walking distance, the weather has not gone above minus 30 and windchills are below minus 40. Last night there was a province-wide alert regarding the risk of power blackouts. Yes this is Canada, but there are simply not enough people from the East willing to travel here in the winter.

 

[Trillium]

The distinct lack of any kind of crowd makes me so sad. There are other places that could host that would fill the arena, I think, at least for the long programs. When I went to nationals in Victoria it was packed to the doors. It's got to suck for the skaters.

My thoughts exactly. This crowd was the smallest I have ever seen at Nationals. There was so little energy in the arena.

 

[rain]

At the last minute I made the trip to Calgary. It was not a wise choice. There are no hotels within walking distance,

I think they need to start thinking about hosts with a less North American mindset (i.e. everyone has a car and drives). I know I don't enjoy driving in a strange city and feel far more comfortable walking to the venue as long as there's a decent hotel in the area, and I think there are a lot of people like me. Plus parking is generally a nightmare.

 

[Trillium]

Try leaving your car unplugged for 12 hours straight in -31 degrees weather, lol. Mom and I went for the whole day because my husband gave us a ride. It is seriously dangerous if you left the facility in the dark, with windchill in -40s, and the car didn't start. Plus, the roads are as icy as the skating rink itself. Honestly, I was surprised so many people turned up rather than the opposite.

I totally agree. It was tense getting an Uber or taxi each night. The front desk lady at the hotel where I was staying said the wait time for a battery boost was 72 hours.

 

[lariko]

At the last minute I made the trip to Calgary. It was not a wise choice. There are no hotels within walking distance, the weather has not gone above minus 30 and windchills are below minus 40. Last night there was a province-wide alert regarding the risk of power blackouts. Yes this is Canada, but there are simply not enough people from the East willing to travel here in the winter.

Yeah, but if everything is being held in the East, why do we always have to pay for the plane tickets? Montreal is hard to fly to vs Toronto, for example and far more expensive. In Missasuaga, the hotel was a walking distance in the balmy fall weather, but surely not in -30, it was like 20 minutes. And Vancouver arena is even harder to get to than CoP and run-down. The facility itself is great. We love it, anyway.

Plus, we finally have contract for new Arena to replace Saddledome, so that will be near hotels etc, but I dunno if they would ever give it up for a figure skating event.

 

[Seven Sisters]

I think they need to start thinking about hosts with a less North American mindset (i.e. everyone has a car and drives). I know I don't enjoy driving in a strange city and feel far more comfortable walking to the venue as long as there's a decent hotel in the area, and I think there are a lot of people like me. Plus parking is generally a nightmare.

I completely agree. Being able to stay in a hotel within walking distance of the rink, with at least some dining options nearby, is the first factor I consider when deciding to go to a competition.

Isn’t there a rink somewhere in the Maritime provinces—I forget exactly what city, but Nationals was there once—where there is an enclosed walkway with shops and food that connects the rink to the hotel? This would be more my speed

 

[4everchan]

I completely agree. Being able to stay in a hotel within walking distance of the rink, with at least some dining options nearby, is the first factor I consider when deciding to go to a competition.

Isn’t there a rink somewhere in the Maritime provinces—I forget exactly what city, but Nationals was there once—where there is an enclosed walkway with shops and food that connects the rink to the hotel? This would be more my speed

of course there are rinks in the Maritimes... hockey rinks for sure .. .all over the country.

Worlds were held in Halifax in 1990...

 

[Trillium]

Yeah, but if everything is being held in the East, why do we always have to pay for the plane tickets? Montreal is hard to fly to vs Toronto, for example and far more expensive. In Missasuaga, the hotel was a walking distance in the balmy fall weather, but surely not in -30, it was like 20 minutes. And Vancouver arena is even harder to get to than CoP and run-down. The facility itself is great. We love it, anyway.

Plus, we finally have contract for new Arena to replace Saddledome, so that will be near hotels etc, but I dunno if they would ever give it up for a figure skating event.

I agree that all competitions cannot be held in the East. I just think there needs to be better planning regarding the location of the competition facility. Although the Thunderbird arena is outside downtown Vancouver, there is a hotel on-site, public transit options are available and it is an easy drive from downtown. I had considered coming to Junior Worlds last year and changed my mind when I looked at the logistics. Renting a car in the winter in Calgary was not an attractive option for me.

 

[lariko]

I agree that all competitions cannot be held in the East. I just think there needs to be better planning regarding the location of the competition facility. Although the Thunderbird arena is outside downtown Vancouver, there is a hotel on-site, public transit options are available and it is an easy drive from downtown. I had considered coming to Junior Worlds last year and changed my mind when I looked at the logistics. Renting a car in the winter in Calgary was not an attractive option for me.

Well, we love it my mom lives in Victoria and she had one heck of a time getting to the arena in Vancouver from the ferry. There is a bus that goes to the facility in Calgary, number 8. COP is easily accessible from downtown Calgary and there are a few hotels along the transcanada right there

 

[4everchan]

Well, we love it my mom lives in Victoria and she had one heck of a time getting to the arena in Vancouver from the ferry. There is a bus that goes to the facility in Calgary, #8. COP is easily accessible from downtown Calgary and there are a few hotels along the transcanada right there

Victoria is difficult access... the few times I went there it was not easy.... so I can imagine the other way around is NO fun either.

I haven't visited Calgary (except its airport) but yeah... I think the Prairies in the winter may be a bit less appealing for the Easterners.

I agree 100% though that Nationals shouldn't always be held in the East. However, the last time they were held in Québec, it was in 1989.

Wiki says that Nationals were held in Québec for a whopping 6 times since the 1900s.... So you know, the perception that they are always in the East... maybe we should look carefully at the data

PS Calgary has hosted Nationals 6 times... just as many times as the entire province of Québec

 

[lariko]

Victoria is difficult access... the few times I went there it was not easy.... so I can imagine the other way around is NO fun either.

I haven't visited Calgary (except its airport) but yeah... I think the Prairies in the winter may be a bit less appealing for the Easterners.

I agree 100% though that Nationals shouldn't always be held in the East. However, the last time they were held in Québec, it was in 1989.

Wiki says that Nationals were held in Québec for a whopping 6 times since the 1900s.... So you know, the perception that they are always in the East... maybe we should look carefully at the data

PS Calgary has hosted Nationals 6 times... just as many times as the entire province of Québec

That's because we don't have as many cities in the West. I mean, going to Quebec is like going abroad for the rest of the country with a different language, so it's understandable. Not that crazy about going to Montreal tbh. Hopefully it won't be canceled this time.

 

[4everchan]

That's because we don't have as many cities in the West. I mean, going to Quebec is like going abroad for the rest of the country with a different language, so it's understandable. Not that crazy about going to Montreal tbh. Hopefully it won't be canceled this time.

Montreal is wonderful you will have a good time. I am sure.

About the cities that have hosted Nationals in Quebec, Noranda, Lachine (a Montreal Burrough now, back then a town) and in 1989, the last time held in Quebec , Chicoutimi.... I doubt many people traveled to Chicoutimi nor Noranda in the winter HA ! Just look where they are on the map...

At the same time, Laval has perfect facilities to hold Nationals (went to Skate Canada there a few years back) and there are plenty of rinks all over the place. It doesn't have to always be Ottawa/Toronto/Vancouver.

 

[lariko]

Montreal is wonderful you will have a good time. I am sure.

About the cities that have hosted Nationals in Quebec, Noranda, Lachine (a Montreal Burrough now, back then a town) and in 1989, the last time held in Quebec , Chicoutimi.... I doubt many people traveled to Chicoutimi nor Noranda in the winter HA ! Just look where they are on the map...

At the same time, Laval has perfect facilities to hold Nationals (went to Skate Canada there a few years back) and there are plenty of rinks all over the place. It doesn't have to always be Ottawa/Toronto/Vancouver.

Yeah, Vancouver wasn't our choice. Kelowna was okay, but too small for the major competition in terms of facilities. Like, on Sunday we had to grab a cab because the bus wasn't running yet, lol.... I loved Missasauga, very simple.

 

[IceDancingQueen]

haha... I hate it so much... but they did so well with it.. that I have to give them a pass plus their RD has the best music ever.

Agreed! This piece is so overused but I thought they skated that beautifully. Jacob seems to have really improved. I just love Emmy - I just want her to win everything!