2016-2017 State of Canadian Figure Skating | Page 46 | Golden Skate

2016-2017 State of Canadian Figure Skating

TGee, I'm also a very big fan of a lot of the current Canadian skaters (and many past one)--and of many skaters in general. I noticed your comment here and (and perhaps others from someone else in the thread, I can't recall), which kind of made it sound like this discussion thread was really intended for fans from Canada. I've been reading the thread, as I do most threads in the Edge, but not really commenting because I wasn't sure if that was the intent/understanding when the thread was created. (Also didn't comment because I read GS far more than I comment because my schedule often means I have time to quickly read some things but not to comment. LOL)

I was a bit confused because I never thought that, for example, the Russian ice dance thread was just for fans who live and/or are from Russia or the US Men's thread was just for Americans, etc. So I'm glad to see that it was my misunderstanding because, as I mentioned, I really like a lot of Canada's skaters,......



Sorry I guess this is my too-long way of saying that I think Canada has a lot more fans than it may appear on these boards. I'm sure I'm not the only one who might not always show it but am very interested and supportive of them. Looking forward to Canadian Nationals in a few weeks (and crossing my fingers for a working stream)! :hap10:

Hi Weathergal,

I really appreciate your letting me know that that at times I/we can sound like this is a Canadian fan spot. And I totally agree with Osmond4gold in saying that we do want to welcome all kinds of contributions and analysis from anyone genuinely interested in Canadian skating.:cool2:

And a bit of the history might be in order.... there aren't a lot of Canadians relatively speaking on the GS or the other boards. And some of us have felt pretty beleaguered due to relentless critiques from a few folks who profoundly dislike almost everything about Canadian skating, judging and any given Canadian skater. So, those who have stuck around have hung out for the most part at the fan fests, but the only one that is constantly active is Patrick's.

There was a risk of other news creeping into Patrick's space (guilty), so we started thinking that there needed to be a place for Canadian skating as a whole.

In fact, we'd thought about starting it as a fan fest, and Mango even asked the mods if a "big" country like Canada could have one. But we were met with silence, and Mango started the thread on the Edge.

I'd argue that it's been a good thing for it not to be just a fan fest. :think: We've had some fairly serious discussions about some of the strengths and weaknesses of the way Skate Canada is supporting skaters and developing talent among other things. We've also been able to think through what's working and not at the novice and junior levels. And we've brought some attention to some of our promising juniors and middle ranked teams.

But because the fan fests aren't that active, but also because many of us would like to follow the highlights on the national team as a whole, we post the a lot of the things that might otherwise be found in the Fests.

It's great to know that there are other low profile fans out there...there are a few very loud folks who feel quite the opposite, so it's really nice to have it said.:cheer:

If you can find working streams for nationals, please feel welcome to share them here and on the event thread. The lower profile events will be on Skate Canada's DailyMotion channel. In Canada CTV and TSN have the broadcast rights. I'm still trying to figure out how I'll see the final flights part of the SPs that will be broadcast on TSN, as they will only be shown on TSN 2....and our household gets TSN 1,3,4,5 as I found out during Skate Canada International.
 
Last edited:
TGee where did you find the broadcast schedule for TSN? I've been looking for it for a while now. If that's true that some of the SPs are on TSN2 then that's terrible. Most of the country doesn't get TSN2. Ugh I wish CBC could broadcast everything. I like Kurt and Pj. :)
 
I have all TSNs... but will be there live ;) i need to make room in m pvr so I can record everything as I like to see the difference between live and tv... i was shocked with how good tv can be on many skaters.... the ones i disliked the most live still looked quite decent on tv...
 
On TSN's website.


2017 Canadian National Figure Skating Championships Schedule

Friday, January 20, 2017 Women's and Ice Dance Short Program 3:30 - 7:30pm et TSN
Friday, January 20, 2017 Men's and Pairs Short Program 7:30 - 10:30pm et TSN3/5
Saturday, January 21, 2017 Ice Dance and Women's Free Skate 1 - 3:30 pm et CTV
Saturday, January 21, 2017 Pairs and Men's Free Skate 7:30 - 10 pm et CTV
 
On TSN's website.


2017 Canadian National Figure Skating Championships Schedule

Friday, January 20, 2017 Women's and Ice Dance Short Program 3:30 - 7:30pm et TSN
Friday, January 20, 2017 Men's and Pairs Short Program 7:30 - 10:30pm et TSN3/5
Saturday, January 21, 2017 Ice Dance and Women's Free Skate 1 - 3:30 pm et CTV
Saturday, January 21, 2017 Pairs and Men's Free Skate 7:30 - 10 pm et CTV




Thanks! Was about to post when I saw that you got there first...

And it looks as though TSN will be broadcasting more than just the final flights for the short dance and short program given that they have 8 hours of programming scheduled for those. So, it seems that for the first time in a long time, the senior events will be broadcast in their entirety. :yes2: This is really important because many of our top juniors compete as seniors at nationals.

By the way, for those who would like to access on a mobile device, if you have a cable, satellite or other account, CTV and TSN both have GO apps. Once you've logged in the first time with the account number and password for your service provider, you will be good to go.

Sorry for creating any confusion. I saw an announcement / news release last fall from CTV's parent organization about being the broadcaster for both Skate Canada International and Nationals. Was really upset that TSN 2 was the choice for SCI.....Even as a satellite user who should get all regions, TSN 2 is not accessible. The release implied the same for nationals, and I hadn't seen anything different.

I guess there must have been some complaints on the original plan... Note I see that on the Skate Canada site that the broadcast schedule is still listed as TBA.

By the way, Skate Canada hasn't yet added the livestream tab for the non-broadcast novice and junior events to the event page here, but it's likely to pop up soon...https://skatecanada.ca/events/2017-canadian-tire-national-skating-championships/

BUT, we expect the livestream for those to appear on DailyMotion here ...https://www.dailymotion.com/skatecanada
 
I have all TSNs... but will be there live ;) i need to make room in m pvr so I can record everything as I like to see the difference between live and tv... i was shocked with how good tv can be on many skaters.... the ones i disliked the most live still looked quite decent on tv...

If your PVR fails, you should be able to get the replay on the CTV and TSN GO apps for a while. Not sure how long they stay available though...

Agree about the difference between live and TV.....It can be very difficult to see the speed and flow on TV, but live the difference between skaters is stark.
 
Last edited:
Just noticed that the start orders for the seniors short programs and short dances seem to still be based on seeding from the national ranking system, but with randomness within flights. But the juniors are totally based on a random draw.

I wonder if there will need to be a decision at the AGM to bring the seniors process in line with the ISU protocol now in place.
 
Kaetlyn's facebook page seems to indicate that she's made improvements to her long program with the help of Jeff Buttle.
Excited to see what she's changed.
Nationals needs to come quicker!!
 
Kaetlyn's facebook page seems to indicate that she's made improvements to her long program with the help of Jeff Buttle.
Excited to see what she's changed.
Nationals needs to come quicker!!

That suggests on choreography, transitions, stroking and interpretation but she needs to make sure she has a clean edge on the lutz and land that triple loop :) That is not Buttle's forte.
 
seems like you are still catching up on COC skater boy ;)

at GPF, kaetlyn did land her 3Loop and nobody on the tech panel complained about her lutz ;)

That suggests on choreography, transitions, stroking and interpretation but she needs to make sure she has a clean edge on the lutz and land that triple loop :) That is not Buttle's forte.
 
That suggests on choreography, transitions, stroking and interpretation but she needs to make sure she has a clean edge on the lutz and land that triple loop :) That is not Buttle's forte.

Gosh skaterboy, you have been so Pollyanna-ish towards Gracie and Polina, in a season that wasn't, coming to their defense while waiting for a triumphant return ...I applaud you for this. Yet, so negative when it comes to someone who has proven herself this season as a contender, who is building on each competition and looking to further improve and refine.

Bizarre. :scratch2:
 
Last edited:
There's no doubt in my mind that Kaetlyn's team is working on her loop troubles. When I saw her at SOI last year, she was trying to the 3Lo in her exhibition which I admired since it was always one of her weak points. She had a stepout that day; she didn't get a warm up and it's off season so I was impressed that she was trying.
 
Keep in mind that from what I've heard, Kaetlyn didn't ever do a 3Lo in competition- she only added it when coming back from her injury a couple years ago.
So it's natural to be struggling with it a little.

Kaetlyn's lutz edge is admittedly suspect, but it's not really a big problem under the current judging system. Medvedeva's had a flutz for years and isn't called on it, and Kaetlyn herself gets away with it most times, and when she doesn't, it's usually a !, which isn't that big a deal.

If Kaetlyn can keep developing consistency on the other jumps like she has this year, the judges will start to routinely turn a blind eye to the lutz edge, like they have with other skaters. It's probably unfair, but that's how you play the system. And to win these days, you have to play the system.
 
Last edited:
Keep in mind that from what I've heard, Kaetlyn didn't ever do a 3Lo in competition- she only added it when coming back from her injury a couple years ago.
So it's natural to be struggling with it a little.

Kaetlyn's lutz edge is admittedly suspect, but it's not really a big problem under the current judging system. Medvedeva's had a flutz for years and isn't called on it, and Kaetlyn herself gets away with it most times, and when she doesn't, it's usually a !, which isn't that big a deal.

If Kaetlyn can keep developing consistency on the other jumps like she has this year, the judges will start to routinely turn a blind eye to the lutz edge, like they have with other skaters. It's probably unfair, but that's how you play the system. And to win these days, you have to play the system.

Fair comment....

but I am hoping that bit by bit the incentives will move towards clean spiky lutzes, and truly reward skaters that go for the spectacular quality jumps.

Not to say that Kaetlyn doesn't have, huge crisp jumps in general, but I'd like to see a lutz of the same quality.

More generally, I feel that it's doing injury to the sport in general, including in Canada, to let skaters "get away" with less than ideal edges, travelling spins or other errors we see tolerated in ISU events at present. But agree that in the interim, any skater who doesn't have a layout to maximize what she can earn under the current reality isn't going to make it on the podium.
 
if you wanna play six degrees :) Bruno Marcotte would referee hockey games at the local rink when I was a kid... and I was the score keeper ;) I saw him only a few times though but yeah... so that makes me one or two degrees of separation away from so many Canadian skaters.... so close yet so far ;)
I just noticed this now. Fun fact: Nathan's aunt was my very first synchro coach 13 years ago, so you can thank her for my username. ;) Six degrees of separation in figure skating!
 
Fair comment....

but I am hoping that bit by bit the incentives will move towards clean spiky lutzes, and truly reward skaters that go for the spectacular quality jumps.


Not to say that Kaetlyn doesn't have, huge crisp jumps in general, but I'd like to see a lutz of the same quality.

More generally, I feel that it's doing injury to the sport in general, including in Canada, to let skaters "get away" with less than ideal edges, travelling spins or other errors we see tolerated in ISU events at present. But agree that in the interim, any skater who doesn't have a layout to maximize what she can earn under the current reality isn't going to make it on the podium.

100% agree. There are few lutzes out there right now that I really admire for having that crisp outside edge, and I would like those skaters to be rewarded more than they are.
However, the reality of the sport is that there are many injustices and ways to work the system to score better by hiding your flaws and emphasizing your strengths, and that's something all skaters must currently keep in mind.
 
Last edited:
Gosh skaterboy, you have been so Pollyanna-ish towards Gracie and Polina, in a season that wasn't, coming to their defense while waiting for a triumphant return ...I applaud you for this. Yet, so negative when it comes to someone who has proven herself this season as a contender, who is building on each competition and looking to further improve and refine.

Bizarre. :scratch2:
To be fair to Kaetlyn I believe she is underrated much like another skater who just happens to be Canadian - Joannie Rochette. I admire Kaetlyn for not going with an old stand by, old school coach. Ravi Walia - who was once of the most awkward looking skaters I have seen - at least Laurent Toebel used his awkwardness for comedic effect. I love the fact I have friends with old videos, youtube et al.

Kaetlyn coincidentally like Joannie Rochette, Josee Chouinard and Liz Manley has huge power, huge jumps, great speed and a wonderful glowing personality with great in-betweens that I don't think get proper respect by us or the judges. Kaetlyn may not be the traditional ice princess but she has elegance and power and she has really worked on those spins too. I personally think Kaetlyn has been undermarked because well she is fighting back I guess but really the girl has it all when she is on - she is like Gracie Gold and I wish the judges would reward her properly. (okay I meant Gracie before the fall from grace so to speak). I just hope Canada sends her even if she has a bad skate at their nationals and places third. She really is their best hope. Sorry Gabs and and Alaine your crown seems to be slipping further and further away.
 
It's nice to see more posters in this thread. With Nationals coming up the excitement is building. And with the 150th birthday of Canada this year Canadians are going to be partying most of the year. So please join us for the fun. :)

It's been a while since we caught up with what the Canucks are up to eh. Some quick links I am coming across as I catch up after holidays.

Patrick and little brother Nathan doing SBS triple Axels: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOh1jkOh_o5/
Veronik Mallet is back on the ice after two months: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOX2a3EDp7J/
West Edmonton Mall crew (I still can't believe they skate in a mall :eeking:): https://www.instagram.com/p/BOp58arD-Gd/

Meagan rang in the new year by cross-country skiing: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOu5gC7AxZc/
Eric celebrated in Madrid with Luis: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOsx5EBDbYl/
WeaPo being adorable as always: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOuyZqmlC_w/
The always stylish Ms. Virtue: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOug0i8gP73/
Alaine and Bennet :luv17:: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOvAQqgBNxF/ & https://www.instagram.com/p/BOtWoGmD8Yz/

Tessa & Scott represent Quebec now but Scott hasn't forgotten where he comes from. Here he is mentoring novice ice dancers Lily Hensen / Nathan Lickers: https://twitter.com/IldertonSkating/status/814907858932342784

Piper and Paul disco-ed into the holidays: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOPZNgTg9So/
Scarboro FSC is having a send off for Nationals with these guys and a few others on January 7. It's free to attend. Details: https://www.facebook.com/3591980974...19524.105085.359198097441317/1503609486333500

Hmm little brother Nathan looks a lot bigger and stronger than PChiddy.
 
Back
Top