In the ice dance event, the podium placements were a repeat of last year. Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon (QC) won the national title for the third time, while veterans Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe (BC) won their third silver. Chantal Lefebvre and Aresniy Markov (EO) claimed their second bronze in their second season together as a team.
The Compulsory Dance (CD) of the event was the Midnight Blues, the newest of the CDs. The dance was invented by Roy Bradshaw, Sue Bradshaw, Mark Bradshaw, and Julie MacDonald and was first performed in 2001 in Vancouver, Canada.
Dubreuil and Lauzon took the lead in the CD, followed by Wing and Lowe (second) and Lefebvre and Markov (third). Fresh from the junior circuit and in their fourth season together, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (WO) placed fourth.
Original Dance (OD)
The event continued with the Original Dance (OD) with the “Rhythm Combination,,” which is being used for the 2004-2005 season. Couples can choose any two or three of the following rhythms: Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep, and/or Charleston.
Performing to Singin’ In The Rain, Dubreuil and Lauzon displayed an excellent diagonal step sequence with lots of position changes, as well as two level 4 rotational lifts. With a score of 65.51, the reigning champions easily maintained their overnight lead with a total cumulative score of (106.57).
Wing and Lowe performed their OD to a Slow Foxtrot and Charleston, using Just In Time and That’s A Plenty, and produced two good level 4 rotational lifts. The veteran team also executed a good diagonal step sequence with continuous work on one foot, as well as a playful side-by-side step sequence that was in perfect sync. The 2004 Canadian silver medalists earned a score of 57.43, placing third after the OD, but maintaining second place overall (95.74).
Lefebvre and Markov put out an excellent side-by-side step sequence in which the first half was performed on one foot and was in sync. The new team also displayed two good rotational lifts, as well as a complex diagonal step sequence. Though they placed second in the OD with a score of 58.05, the team stood in third overall (95.07), trailing Wing and Lowe by less than one point.
Competing in their first senior championships, Virtue and Moir exhibited nice diagonal and side-by-side footwork, as well as two good level 4 rotational lifts. The 2004 junior champs earned a score of 56.33, placing fourth in the OD and overall (88.68).
Free Dance (OD)
Performing to Winter Vision by Scott Fitzgerald and Taboo by Peter Gabriel, Dubreuil and Lauzon opened with one of their two complex twizzle sequences, followed by a difficult straightline-rotational combination lift, and a good dance spin. Their routine also included a level four rotational lift, a good circular and diagonal step sequence, three more difficult lifts, and a good combination spin. The two-time and reigning Four Continents silver medalists earned a score of 111.07, placing first in the FD and overall (217.54).
Wing and Lowe put out an entertaining performance to Zorba the Greek, displaying a nice dance spin, followed by a level 4 curve lift, and a level 4 reverse rotational lift. The two-time and reigning Four Continents bronze medalists also produced two difficult twizzle sequences as well as four more level 4 lifts (one in combination) to earn a score of 98.85, placing second in the FD and overall (194.59).
Fresh off the junior circuit, Virtue and Moir performed to Piazzolla’s Adios Nonino, producing difficult lifts, twizzle sequences, and good spins. The 2004 Canadian junior champs placed third in the FD (95.67), maintaining their fourth place position overall (184.35).
Performing to a selection of techno-ish music, Lefebvre and Markov began with a good dance spin, followed by a level 4 rotational lift. However, the team experienced problems on the first twizzle sequence as well as the final level four combination lift. The new team placed fourth in the FD (93.01), but managed to maintain third overall (188.08).
Lauren Senft and Leif Gislason (BC) finished fifth, followed by Martine Patenaude and Pascal Denis (QC), who were sixth.
Skate Canada has named Dubreuil/Lauzon and Wing/Lowe to the World team, and Virtue/Moir and Karam/McGrath to the World Junior team.
Dubreuil and Lauzon announced that next season would be their last before retiring. The team plans to compete (and hopes to medal) at both the 2006 Olympics in Turin, as well as 2006 Worlds, which will be held in Calgary.
Lefebvre and Markov aren’t eligible to compete at the upcoming Four Continents Championships or Worlds. Markov is from Moscow and hopes to receive his permanent residency card so that the team can compete in the Grand Prix series next season, as well as worlds.
