2016-2017 State of Canadian Figure Skating

[mrrice]

After reading reports that Canadian crowds routinely start leaving before a competition is over, while skaters are still competing on the ice, just to get a head start on traffic, I will never attend a competition in Canada.

Chuckm, Maybe I just hit all the good events but, I have never seen that happen. You must remember that people who are from out of town may have taken public transportation to the event. We had to leave the La Ronde Amusement Park near Montreal before Gino Vannelli's concert ended because it started late and our buses were reserved for a certain pick up time. Buses and Trains have schedule's to keep and they don't care about skating or anything else. There's a real possibility that the event was running behind schedule.

 

[blueberryhill]

Glad we've finally found a solution everyone can endorse. :agree:

Let's all toast to that with Patrick Chan Ice Wine!!!

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

..... and I'm Canadian.

:furious:

And to think some people think this looked like a good time :hopelessness:

That does it!!!! I'm going out to buy a leaf blower

 

[mrrice]

Let's all toast to that with Patrick Chan Ice Wine!!!

KABOOM!!!!!! I agree 100% :agree:

 

[TGee]

And lots of fans left during Kevin Reynolds' SP on the first day including many of the Japanese fans, some stayed for the performance and left before the score was even announced and he's Canadian. It's unfortunate that some people will do that but they don't represent everyone else. I stayed until the very last announcement for all the skaters on all three days and I'm Canadian.

It's nothing to do in my experience with bias against another country, or even general rudeness from what I've seen.

I've seen the same at nationals on certain nights or at the gala, depending on the venue. For some folks, especially those who have other commitments, 45 minutes getting out of a parking lot to stay for a skater they are not invested in may not be justifiable.

When we go, we go for the full time for all disciplines, but when I see the empty seats around us for the short program due to folks skipping some of the tickets in their package, I'm more concerned than about a few weary folks who for whatever reason can't hang to the very end.

And seeing a significantly empty venue for a GP event like Skate America, for whatever reason, presents a much less positive image of the sport on TV than a few empty seats in a full house at the end of an event.

 

[mrrice]

:furious:

And to think some people think this looked like a good time :hopelessness:

That does it!!!! I'm going out to buy a leaf blower

Holy Cow............Madison Chock is

 

[blueberryhill]

KABOOM!!!!!! I agree 100% :agree:

Thank you Mrrice! My first KABOOM!!!!!! I'm so honoured!!! And everybody notice that I used the CANADIAN spelling on honour!

 

[chuckm]

No one in the rink at Skate Canada saw sloppy skating from Alaine Chartrand.

The issue isn't whether viewers/fans see the sloppy skating, it's that the ISU judges see it, and note that it is not improving from one competition to the next. Looking at the FS protocol, Alaine had a good 3z+3t to start off the FS; it got 1.10 + GOE. The followup 3S was good. But the next 3 jumps were all double-footed: 3fe< (-1.6) worth only 1.92 points; 2a+1lo+3s (-1.4), worth only 7.62; 3z< (-1.5) worth only 3.12. The 3lo got 0 GOE. Double-footing costs a lot of points and so do edge calls. Alaine would help herself a lot if she worked on those issues.

If you'd like to talk about questionable skating, go watch Gracie Gold at Skate America or Mirai Nagasu at Skate Canada.

I KNOW Gracie did not skate well at SA. She didn't start her training for the season until August and wasn't competition ready.

Mirai had already medaled at Lombardia (bronze) and SC Autumn Classic (gold) and just had a bad competition at SC. She needs to deal with her UR issues and her lack of expression when she skates.

 

[mrrice]

Thank you Mrrice! My first KABOOM!!!!!! I'm so honoured!!! And everybody notice that I used the CANADIAN spelling on honour!

I did notice that and I thought it was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bravo..

 

[Krunchii]

Chuckm, Maybe I just hit all the good events but, I have never seen that happen. You must remember that people who are from out of town may have taken public transportation to the event. We had to leave the La Ronde Amusement Park near Montreal before Gino Vannelli's concert ended because it started late and our buses were reserved for a certain pick up time. Buses and Trains have schedule's to keep and they don't care about skating or anything else. There's a real possibility that the event was running behind schedule.

Actually it was ahead of schedule! All of the events managed to end about 10-15 mins ahead of schedule thanks for the organizers. However a lot of the Japanese fans were just exhausted from the time difference and had attended morning practice, that means they were in the arena for more than 10 hours a day at a time. The one sitting beside me was lightly slapping her cheeks in between to try to stay alert. I don't blame them for wanting to get back a little earlier. My seat had cold air blowing down and I actually have a cold right now, I was sick on the day of the gala but I had to be there because I wanted to high five everyone at the end. I'm still mentally exhausted phew.

 

[Mango]

The issue isn't whether viewers/fans see the sloppy skating, it's that the ISU judges see it, and note that it is not improving from one competition to the next. Looking at the FS protocol, Alaine had a good 3z+3t to start off the FS; it got 1.10 + GOE. The followup 3S was good. But the next 3 jumps were all double-footed: 3fe< (-1.6) worth only 1.92 points; 2a+1lo+3s (-1.4), worth only 7.62; 3z< (-1.5) worth only 3.12. The 3lo got 0 GOE. Double-footing costs a lot of points and so do edge calls. Alaine would help herself a lot if she worked on those issues.

I KNOW Gracie did not skate well at SA. She didn't start her training for the season until August and wasn't competition ready.

Mirai had already medaled at Lombardia (bronze) and SC Autumn Classic (gold) and just had a bad competition at SC. She needs to deal with her UR issues and her lack of expression when she skates.

So Gracie isn't competition ready, but gets scores close to Alaine for the stuff she puts on ice and you have no problems with that generous scoring?

And Mirai wins these amazing medals at Challenger events and has "a bad competition".

But Alaine is sloppy for having some technical issues? Alaine did slightly better at Autumn Classic, but in comparison, Mirai bombed.

But you know what? I am not going to go into the State of US ladies skating thread and poop on these ladies. Because I know this early in the season most everyone's programs and stamina are a work in progress. I guess you can apply selective judgement, but I don't engage in such practices.

 

[mrrice]

Actually it was ahead of schedule! All of the events managed to end about 10-15 mins ahead of schedule thanks for the organizers. However a lot of the Japanese fans were just exhausted from the time difference and had attended morning practice, that means they were in the arena for more than 10 hours a day at a time. The one sitting beside me was lightly slapping her cheeks in between to try to stay alert. I don't blame them for wanting to get back a little earlier. My seat had cold air blowing down and I actually have a cold right now, I was sick on the day of the gala but I had to be there because I wanted to high five everyone at the end. I'm still mentally exhausted phew.

This happens a lot, especially when skaters are from other countries or in my case, other states. When I was Guard Captain at C.S.U.N. ( Where I met Bebe Liang ) sorry about the name drop. Our entire music department attended The Monterey Jazz Festival to watch our Jazz Band Compete. Unfortunately, the festival takes place at an outdoor fair grounds and the orchestra and winter guard both compete indoors. So, the Jazz Band basically came off stage, changed into their Tux's and Dresses and all 373 of us loaded up the buses and left well before the competition ended. You could hear the crowd moan in disappointment, but sometimes it just can't be helped.

https://res-2.cloudinary.com/simple...7620_7445f914-6b76-46b5-bc0f-bb1157a4c726.jpg

Here's me, introducing my students after winning Nationals and before leaving for Japan and Korea to attend Worlds. This Routine is performed by the new members and the Captains only as this was new Parents night. When we got to Japan we were given a schedule and we had to stick to it or we would have been lost in the very crowded city of Nagoya. We were watching the solo dancers and our chaperone came into the arena and told us it was time to go and we waited for the current dancer to finish and then we ALL got up and left even though the competition was not over. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjwAj9O5rNQ

 

[Osmond4gold]

After reading reports that Canadian crowds routinely start leaving before a competition is over, while skaters are still competing on the ice, just to get a head start on traffic, I will never attend a competition in Canada.

Than this Intervention has been successful! Now about those negative posts on the Canadian thread board,...

 

[mrrice]

"Than this Intervention has been successful! Now about those negative posts on the Canadian thread board,..."

This may be the biggest KABOOM of all time!!!!!!!!

 

[chuckm]

So Gracie isn't competition ready, but gets scores close to Alaine for the stuff she puts on ice and you have no problems with that generous scoring?

Gracie wasn't scored that well for her at Skate America. But Gracie usually skates much better than that---check her 2015 international events. Gracie was 5th at 2016 4CC and 4th at Worlds. Gracie's basic skating doesn't have major issues and the ISU judges recognize that. She still gets relatively good PCS scores because her SS scores remain high.


If you look at Alaine's 2015 international events, they weren't good except for CoR. She was 11th at 2016 4CC and 17th at Worlds. And the basic skating issues were much the same---double footing and edge calls in addition to the 3a disasters.

And Mirai wins these amazing medals at Challenger events and has "a bad competition".

But Alaine is sloppy for having some technical issues? Alaine did slightly better at Autumn Classic, but in comparison, Mirai bombed.

But you know what? I am not going to go into the State of US ladies skating thread and poop on these ladies. Because I know this early in the season most everyone's programs and stamina are a work in progress.

Exactly.
Mirai does have basic skating issues which she addressed successfully towards the end of last season, hence her silver at 2016 4CC and her 10th place at Worlds.

The idea is to peak later in the season, for the major competitions. Historically, Alaine has done relatively well in the GP and at Nationals, then faded later in the season.

 

[4everchan]

"Than this Intervention has been successful! Now about those negative posts on the Canadian thread board,..."

This may be the biggest KABOOM of all time!!!!!!!!

not big enough i guess

 

[blueberryhill]

4everchan wasn't even in the rink

Yes, he was. 4everchan was sitting next to Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

(For explanation see post #20 in the Your opinion on Skate Canada thread.)

 

[Daniel1998]

Well, to get things back on track...
Not too much Canadian action this week in Russia but Seguin and Bilodeau will look to lock up a berth in the GPF.
I don't doubt they'll win silver, but does anyone think it will be possible to beat S/M if they're clean and the latter have some hiccups?
Also curious to see where W/P are, as they're competing against C/B and B/S. I have no idea how that top three is going to shake down, though the way the Americans scored last week I'd expect them to win here. B/S and W/P will be an interesting head to head matchup, especially in Russia.

 

[Mango]

Gracie wasn't scored that well for her at Skate America. But Gracie usually skates much better than that---check her 2015 international events. Gracie was 5th at 2016 4CC and 4th at Worlds. Gracie's basic skating doesn't have major issues and the ISU judges recognize that. She still gets relatively good PCS scores because her SS scores remain high.


If you look at Alaine's 2015 international events, they weren't good except for CoR. She was 11th at 2016 4CC and 17th at Worlds. And the basic skating issues were much the same---double footing and edge calls in addition to the 3a disasters.
Exactly.
Mirai does have basic skating issues which she addressed successfully towards the end of last season, hence her silver at 2016 4CC and her 10th place at Worlds.

The idea is to peak later in the season, for the major competitions. Historically, Alaine has done relatively well in the GP and at Nationals, then faded later in the season.

Gracie's skating skills also land her on her butt. She got an edge call on her flip at Skate America. No issues at all, right? Then again, being fourth at Worlds in her home country after a sizeable lead in the SP and losing out to Ashley Wagner hurt her more than anything else. Despite all the success you mention she was extremely disappointed. Maybe her fans should encourage her to have a healthier mentality rather than gloating over her past results.

I look at Alaine and see the jump she's made in points. Scoring in the 180s regularly now. Last year she beat Medvedeva in the SP at Rostelecom, this year she's beating Mirai Nagasu, Rika Hongo, and a few others overall. She's looking to improve herself instead of regressing. She chose a free program that makes her feel fierce and she's having fun with it. That speaks about her healthy mentality.

All of that 'addressing' done by Mirai went out the window in the free skate at Autumn Classic. Didn't come back in time for Skate Canada. I don't believe it's gone, but you have to face the facts as they are. We're already seeing a better Alaine, but not a better Gracie or better Mirai as of the GP. Neither of these three could capitalize on their prior successes at Worlds so there is no point in discussing peaking. A Four Continents silver does not equal a Worlds silver.

Anyways, stop disrespecting Canadian skaters.

 

[Mango]

Well, to get things back on track...
Not too much Canadian action this week in Russia but Seguin and Bilodeau will look to lock up a berth in the GPF.
I don't doubt they'll win silver, but does anyone think it will be possible to beat S/M if they're clean and the latter have some hiccups?
Also curious to see where W/P are, as they're competing against C/B and B/S. I have no idea how that top three is going to shake down, though the way the Americans scored last week I'd expect them to win here. B/S and W/P will be an interesting head to head matchup, especially in Russia.

Ooh you just reminded me that I forgot to do my coming up next week preview.

So this week we will see Julianne Séguin/Charlie Bilodeau and Camille Ruest/Drew Wolfe competing in pairs, Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje in ice dance, and Elladj Baldé in men at Rostelecom Cup.

Julianne and Charlie will have a hard time beating the Germans. The only way it may be possible is if they are clean and the Germans make errors. Their top score this season is ahead of the Germans' score at Nebelhorn but that was a debut competition so I'm expecting the Germans to score closer to Duhamel/Radford at Skate Canada. Don't count out any Russian pairs either. Ruest/Wolfe are debuting on the GP.

Kaitlyn and Andrew are skating to Michael Jackson :eeking: so this is going to be interesting. This will be their debut under new coach Nikolai Morozov. My personal opinion, but I think they may come in second or third. Bobrova/Soloviev apparently need a gold or silver to go to GPF. Who knows how Chock/Bates will do with the quick turn around.

Elladj...well, I like his "Sound of Silence" program. Just going to enjoy his skating without big expectations. Hope he gets an invite to the gala so he can have a ball and do some back flips, preferably over some skaters.