2016-2017 State of Canadian Figure Skating | Page 19 | Golden Skate

2016-2017 State of Canadian Figure Skating

TGee said:
Not off topic at all in my view. This thread's OP states that we can look all the way down to Pre-Juvenile and include discussion of how the Skate Canada system is working.

Looking across a number of changes rolled out since Sochi, Skate Canada has evidently decided to both require and incent coaches and skaters to increase the difficulty of elements and skills at earlier ages and developmental levels.

As Canada's national federation Skate Canada has to work not only within ISU, but also Sport Canada policy. Funding comes from Sport Canada the federal sport authority, including funding for national team members.

The challenge for Skate Canada is that ISU is very age based, while Sport Canada like its UK and Aus equivalents, is focused on Long term athlete development models and "own the podium" programs that emphasize coaching and designing competitions to biological/development stages rather than calendar age. This emphasis on biological age is based on the evidence of modern sports science according to the documentation.

The science is saying that skating is a sport, like diving and gymnastics, that requires a high level of specific skill acquisition before peak growth and puberty. Which means introducing more difficult elements earlier throughout the system.

So, at the lowest levels Skate Canada is in the middle of a fairly radical reworking of the system with more frequent in club assessments for many more elements, absolute judging standards in competition, but later and less emphasis on ranking.

For Novice and Juniors where there are ISU norms that need to be respected, Skate Canada has chosen to give bonus points or certain elements that Skate Canada believes need to be mastered earlier for long run success. That way the required elements and judging stay comparable to ISU norms (just need to drop the bonuses) but there is a domestic incentive system to get these elements in earlier.
Click to expand...

I saw that this year with the National Summer Series too. The pre-novice and novice skaters' results had no element of PCS involved for NSS rankings.

From watching the younger skaters live, I totally see why the bonus system exists. None of the junior girls were doing 3-3 combos, only one novice girl managed a combo ending in a triple jump. Similar situation with the junior men. Many of the juvenile girls could barely do doubles. Setting up a system to reward harder technical elements is good. Encourage those kids to improve and reach an internationally competitive level.
 
Having seen her yesterday I have to say Gabby is gorgeous. I hope her jumps work out and she listens to you guys about the SP combo. :)

By the way, Skate Alberta/NWT has posted videos of their sectionals here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0P-mG9CZyOoUyoF1cfdZTQ

I wish that Purich/Portz video had some audio because their results aren't up and I'm curious to see how they did.
 
Quick post to do a summary of Rostelecom and medals update.

Weaver/Poje started off their season with some wobbles, having overhauled the SD. Some lovely moments in the FD. Need a bit more work to become polished. They are in the mix for a Grand Prix Final berth with their bronze here but they likely need a gold at Cup of China to advance. Too many factors in the GPF spots for ice dance for any conclusions to be made right now. They look happy with Morozov, and Morozov looks happy with them, and that's my biggest positive.

Julianne and Charlie likely lost their chance for a spot in the Grand Prix Final with their performances and fifth place here. Definitely not at their best. But now they'll have more time to work on things for Nationals, Four Continents, and Worlds. It's important for them to do well in the 2nd half of the season and be healthy as they missed the big events last season with injury. I think they also need to decide if they'll keep the SBS 3Lo in the SP.

Ruest/Wolfe made a strong debut on the Grand Prix with their sixth place finish. They had some great moments in their programs. Their results were higher than those of Jones/Reagan at SCI so they may be able to finish fifth at Nationals (or fourth if Kirsten and Michael are still out of action). It was nice to see them invited to the gala as well. Hopefully they can add more technical difficulty to their programs as they get more comfortable.

Elladj put out two performances he can be proud of. Hopefully these results improve his confidence. And good to see him try out a quad. That back flip in the gala :rock:

Medals count
11 gold, 8 silvers, 8 bronze = 27 medals in total

I like that fact that each time I do an update the total number goes up. :agree:
 
Mango said:
Quick post to do a summary of Rostelecom and medals update.

Weaver/Poje started off their season with some wobbles, having overhauled the SD. Some lovely moments in the FD. Need a bit more work to become polished. They are in the mix for a Grand Prix Final berth with their bronze here but they likely need a gold at Cup of China to advance. Too many factors in the GPF spots for ice dance for any conclusions to be made right now. They look happy with Morozov, and Morozov looks happy with them, and that's my biggest positive.

Julianne and Charlie likely lost their chance for a spot in the Grand Prix Final with their performances and fifth place here. Definitely not at their best. But now they'll have more time to work on things for Nationals, Four Continents, and Worlds. It's important for them to do well in the 2nd half of the season and be healthy as they missed the big events last season with injury. I think they also need to decide if they'll keep the SBS 3Lo in the SP.

Ruest/Wolfe made a strong debut on the Grand Prix with their sixth place finish. They had some great moments in their programs. Their results were higher than those of Jones/Reagan at SCI so they may be able to finish fifth at Nationals (or fourth if Kirsten and Michael are still out of action). It was nice to see them invited to the gala as well. Hopefully they can add more technical difficulty to their programs as they get more comfortable.

Elladj put out two performances he can be proud of. Hopefully these results improve his confidence. And good to see him try out a quad. That back flip in the gala :rock:

Medals count
11 gold, 8 silvers, 8 bronze = 27 medals in total

I like that fact that each time I do an update the total number goes up. :agree:
Click to expand...


i think he did a back flip combo ;) not just ONE :)
 
Checked out Camille and Drew's exhibition from the Rostelecom Cup and came across this great local feature done before they left by a local TV station in Rimouski, Quebec (Camille's home town).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu-8DHXe30g

The interview is in French, but there is enough skating that I expect it would be okay for non-francophones. Drew really shows that French immersion schools can get kids from Alberta to fluent and natural French....

And I believe that it's Drew singing as well. He looks so much older with a toque on.... ( I recall that he is trained in vocal performance, but couldn't find a reference.)
 
they're so cute :)
TGee said:
Checked out Camille and Drew's exhibition from the Rostelecom Cup and came across this great local feature done before they left by a local TV station in Rimouski, Quebec (Camille's home town).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu-8DHXe30g

The interview is in French, but there is enough skating that I expect it would be okay for non-francophones. Drew really shows that French immersion schools can get kids from Alberta to fluent and natural French....

And I believe that it's Drew singing as well. He looks so much older with a toque on.... ( I recall that he is trained in vocal performance, but couldn't find a reference.)
Click to expand...
 
Dropping a line to note that Skate Canada Eastern Ontario Sectionals are this upcoming weekend November 12-13th. I think that video is unlikely as JB Video has this competition....

Regrettably, the section hasn't created a separate page. Then announcement, entries and results links are on this page...

http://skate-eos.on.ca/index.php/events/

Only pre-Novice ice dance entries are listed at this point which seems odd given the longstanding strength of ice dance in the section. But there is only pre-Novice dance on the schedule. Perhaps some teams had a bye to Challenge....?

There are several up and coming skaters in the section, but Alaine Chartand in the senior women's event is the only current national team member who is entered to compete.

I won't be in Napanee for this myself. Would really welcome a report if someone else makes it there.
 
Makes sense to have them all together. It will likely be that way in the future anyway because their will only be one Skate Ontario instead of the four sections there is now. Did they have a choice this year of staying at their home sectionals or going in together in one place?
 
Oh Canada, as a depressed US Citizen, I thought I'd try my best to get in a good mood so, I watched the Rick Mercer Report. He went rock climbing with Jann Arden. It made me smile. I absolutely love it when Jann is a guest on his show and this episode is no exception.

Rick and Jann go Rock Climbing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GooGbE7lfpQ

Canadians that live in Toronto, how often, if ever, do you travel into buffalo or other states in the US?
 
Last edited:
mrrice said:
Oh Canada, as a depressed US Citizen, I thought I'd try my best to get in a good mood so, I watched the Rick Mercer Report. He went rock climbing with Jann Arden. It made me smile. I absolutely love it when Jann is a guest on his show and this episode is no exception.

Rick and Jann go Rock Climbing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GooGbE7lfpQ
Click to expand...

On a skating theme, and hoping to turn up a smile, our current vice-regal head of state (as opposed to head of government), Governor General the Rt. Hon David Johnson has posted this season's schedule for the rink at Rideau Hall. There is a lottery for reservations, with a few first come first served spots beyond that.;)

http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15335

But if you miss out in the draw, the Rideau Canal always beckons....

http://inanutshell.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/skating-on-the-rideau-canal.jpg

And some folks think I'm overstating it when I say that learning to skate is an essential social activity here....:scratch2:
 
trains said:
Makes sense to have them all together. It will likely be that way in the future anyway because their will only be one Skate Ontario instead of the four sections there is now. Did they have a choice this year of staying at their home sectionals or going in together in one place?
Click to expand...

Central Ontario didn't have a choice. They were told to go with Western Ontario, except for juvenile ice dance. It works out for some kids because they're doing both singles and ice dance.

TGee is Alaine actually going to be there? Skaters with byes just register and don't actually have to compete, normally.
 
Mango said:
Central Ontario didn't have a choice. They were told to go with Western Ontario, except for juvenile ice dance. It works out for some kids because they're doing both singles and ice dance.

TGee is Alaine actually going to be there? Skaters with byes just register and don't actually have to compete, normally.
Click to expand...

Yup, your right. She's in the entries, but not in the start list....so she is using her bye.

Thought I'd checked that.

Sometimes the skaters with byes go, more or less as a sim....

But if it were Skate Ontario, the bye would have been noted on the entry list.....

While I am still concerned how the provincial level section will impact the sections outside of Central Ontario, I am hoping that aggregation will enable resources to be able to be put into better communication...
 
TGee said:
Yup, your right. She's in the entries, but not in the start list....so she is using her bye.

Thought I'd checked that.

Sometimes the skaters with byes go, more or less as a sim....

But if it were Skate Ontario, the bye would have been noted on the entry list.....

While I am still concerned how the provincial level section will impact the sections outside of Central Ontario, I am hoping that aggregation will enable resources to be able to be put into better communication...
Click to expand...

I honestly wonder what's going to happen to Northern Ontario. They are so small and most of their skaters are not junior or senior. It's really going to end up being that only the cream of the crop from Ontario get to go to Challenge. It's likely the late bloomers get left behind, but competition will go up a notch.
 
Mango said:
I honestly wonder what's going to happen to Northern Ontario. They are so small and most of their skaters are not junior or senior. It's really going to end up being that only the cream of the crop from Ontario get to go to Challenge. It's likely the late bloomers get left behind, but competition will go up a notch.
Click to expand...

I am hoping that Ontario will get more slots than smaller sections.

I know that will raise the ire [can hear my Western Canadian relatives in my mind as I dare to write this], but in my view there is a real problem in getting the talent developed if a section that represents one third of the Canadian population gets one tenth of the slots at Challenge.

I understand the provincial level drivers that have required all the various sports authorities to amalgamate at the provincial level, but it won't help Canada "own the podium" if strong skaters can't get competitive experience outside of Ontario once the summer series is over.....
 
[/SUB]Other sections had 4 sectional entries each and Quebec had 8. The four Ontario sections had 4 each = 16. Seems sensible that Skate Ontario should keep 16 spots for Challenge
 
Last edited:
TGee said:
I am hoping that Ontario will get more slots than smaller sections.

I know that will raise the ire [can hear my Western Canadian relatives in my mind as I dare to write this], but in my view there is a real problem in getting the talent developed if a section that represents one third of the Canadian population gets one tenth of the slots at Challenge.

I understand the provincial level drivers that have required all the various sports authorities to amalgamate at the provincial level, but it won't help Canada "own the podium" if strong skaters can't get competitive experience outside of Ontario once the summer series is over.....
Click to expand...

I would be ok with this if there is some way of ensuring that if there aren't enough top level athletes in Ontario then the spots Ontario has get to spread around the country. I think that system already exists, if I'm not mistaken, for Challenge. Skate Canada and Skate Ontario are going to have to figure out if they can indeed get more spots after amalgamation. Many of the top singles skaters come from Ontario so there are some arguments to be made for it. That reminds me, they did announce that there was going to be an information session or meeting for skaters, coaches, and other interested parties about this merger during COS Sectionals. Maybe we'll hear more after sectionals are over.
 
Last edited:
Canadians....Where is Keegan Messing these days? I was just thinking that he's the only Canadian top 6 that I have yet to see this season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

gsk8
  • Sticky
2027 Canadian Nationals: General Info and Pregame Chat
Replies
0
Views
390
gsk8
gsk8
gsk8
  • Locked
2026-27 US Figure Skating National Qualifying Series
Replies
0
Views
900
gsk8
gsk8
gsk8
  • Sticky
2026 Finlandia Trophy: General Info and Pregame Chat
Replies
0
Views
171
gsk8
gsk8
gsk8
  • Sticky
2026 Skate Canada International: General Info and Pregame Chat
Replies
0
Views
239
gsk8
gsk8
gsk8
2026 Austin Autumn Classic (NQS) | Sep 24-27
Replies
0
Views
157
gsk8
gsk8
Back
Top