2016-2017 State of Canadian Figure Skating | Page 88 | Golden Skate

2016-2017 State of Canadian Figure Skating

TGee said:
As I've been roaming through the positive energy for Canadian skaters in the fan fests over the past few days, I've started to think of my own wish list of suggestions for Canadian skaters for next year....

But...not wanting to take anything from that positive energy, and thinking that this is the time that skaters and coaches will sit back and mull things over [even those who still have a couple more skates at WTT], I'm wondering if it would be okay to start musing here....

For example, my thoughts for Kevin Reynolds...who is already talking about his plan forward to maintain his upward trend so I feel less guilty about making suggestions when the book is barely closed on Worlds...

- really commit to the plan to improve PCS, as he's mentioned in interviews, especially SS....it may improve his jumps and spin elements too [according to Toller Cranston's wisdom]
......spend at least a day a week this spring with the ice dancers at Champs; get to a ballet/dance instructor at least 3 times a week; try taking a mime or physical acting workshop; consider heading to Montreal to spend a couple of weeks with Marie-France and Patrice.
......bring back ACDC for the SP...the EX version was so great, that it deserves to come back as a solid competition program with that shows how Kevin can express and perform
......try someone new for the FS, maybe Shae Lynne who did the ACDC short/EX, or someone else who can bring out Kevin's expression
.....perhaps get some advice from the specialist who helped Kaetlyn figure out how to make her programs connect with and draw in the audience in the opening seconds to give her energy
.....go somewhere else for his competition costumes...the ones he has used have a 'home made' look on camera in the words of one real fashion expert [Nick Verros].....perhaps while he is in Montreal he can stop into Xpressions, and maybe do some modelling too -- he can reach an entire market their Montreal skaters wont.

- keep pushing up the tech score
.....keep working on the URs...try to get some time with Elvis Stokjo to keep the 3A and quads sharp....don't be shy to reach out to other coaching voices to help see things in a different way
.....as SS improve, work on jumping from increasing speed...just because one can jump a triple from about a dead stop doesn't mean one should do so often [not a snark..the combo he pulled off from nothing at the end of the Sochi team event FS still sticks in my mind]
.....look at opportunities to increase GOE with bullet points such as difficult entries, variations....goes in hand with improving PCS
.....find an expert spin coach ....levels and centring can go up
.
Click to expand...

poor kevin.. he has so much to do...

but i agree.. perhaps he should not go to university until the games are over.... because if you add school to this list, i doubt we will see a major improvement.

To your list, may I add : get out there!!! Kevin needs to be "understood" again by the judges. I don't mind that he is slower and his glide is not optimal... but his PCS were too low for the kind of performer he can be in terms of musical interpretation and selling a program. His footwork sequences are usually fun and engaging.

I mean if Boyang can get 86 PC... Kevin could too. So i hope he works on all these aspects but also, that he is sent to competitions were judges can understand better who he is and what he is offering. They certainly did when he won 4cc.
 
ice coverage said:
A few bits re the various team competitions:

As Mango says, the format and rules of WTT have been much discussed/debated for years -- and certainly also by non-Canadian fans (such as yours truly).

To be super-precise, the WTT Announcement mentions ISU World *Standings* for individual skaters.
(As opposed to ISU Season's World Rankings, in which V/M are #1. Congratulations to Tessa and Scott on their third world title :dance2:.)​

For the skaters subject to the WTT-related ban on shows, the ban ends on Apr 23 -- so Canadian SOI is *not* affected.
(Whereas the first U.S. SOI show is before Apr 23.)​

Because you are a stickler for accuracy, 4everchan:
The correct name of the U.S.-hosted team comp is Team Challenge Cup, and thus the correct initials are TCC.​

Will leave it there for now, although I have a different perspective (unrelated to being non-Canadian) on many comments in this thread about team comps.
Click to expand...

touché regarding asking for accuracy ice coverage ... i keep calling it the world team challenge LOL or WTC :) but i will try to remember... the thing is that i never took it seriously enough with the online fan polls to get invested in it... ugh.. but i stand corrected ;)
 
ancientpeas said:
You have given so much thought to this that I'm afraid to offer my suggestion for Kevin. That he finally resolve the "am I a man or am I a muppet?" Question. Cause seriously, someone needs to skate to this music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb3tHsCLWsI and who better than Kevin! It's an oscar winning song for crying out loud and from an OST so why hasn't anyone skated to it???? It fits nearly all the criteria for a warhorse. Maybe we can get Josh Groban to do a cover. It's nearly the perfect length for a short.

"If I'm a muppet I'm a very manly muppet.." :rock: :dance3:
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you cray cray :) :love:

cannot wait to watch another asian time competition with you doggie and dragon
 
ancientpeas said:
You have given so much thought to this that I'm afraid to offer my suggestion for Kevin. That he finally resolve the "am I a man or am I a muppet?" Question. Cause seriously, someone needs to skate to this music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb3tHsCLWsI and who better than Kevin! It's an oscar winning song for crying out loud and from an OST so why hasn't anyone skated to it???? It fits nearly all the criteria for a warhorse. Maybe we can get Josh Groban to do a cover. It's nearly the perfect length for a short.

"If I'm a muppet I'm a very manly muppet.." :rock: :dance3:
Click to expand...

:laugh2:

"If I'm a man, I'm Kevin Reynolds..."
 
4everchan said:
you cray cray :) :love:

cannot wait to watch another asian time competition with you doggie and dragon
Click to expand...

And whine and wine, just like the two guys in the balcony on the Muppet Show. But "Animal" was always my favorite. Fire tempered yet soft spoken, just like me ;)
 
4everchan said:
touché regarding asking for accuracy ice coverage ... i keep calling it the world team challenge LOL or WTC :) but i will try to remember... the thing is that i never took it seriously enough with the online fan polls to get invested in it... ugh.. but i stand corrected ;)
Click to expand...

I will not go (very far) into my own thoughts re the fan voting (at least not now :laugh:), but I imagine that the Canadian skaters took the Team Challenge Cup prize money pretty seriously.

For starters:

- Gabby, Nam, Meagan, Eric, Kaitlyn, and Andrew earned $15,000 each as members of the North American team that was the overall winner on the second day of TCC.​

Plus:

- Gabby and Nam earned an additional $7000 each as members of the North American team that placed second in the singles SPs on the first day.

- Meagan, Eric, Kaitlyn, and Andrew earned an additional $5000 each as individual winners of the pairs and dance comps (which consisted of FP and FD only).​

http://www.teamchallengecup.com/teamnorthamerica
http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2016/23073/results.html​

I also will quickly note that TCC literally rolled out the red carpet for all the skaters and made them feel special. Another good thing about TCC, IMO.


IIRC, the video shows all the Canadian skaters being interviewed on the red carpet. (As well as many other skaters.)
I have not rewatched the whole video, but for example, Gabby and Nam are seen at approx. the 6:00 mark.​

(Not saying that TCC was perfect in every way. Certain things about TCC were not to my liking. One example is that I hope that the mechanics of the fan voting will be handled much better next time.)
 
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ice coverage said:
I will not go (very far) into my own thoughts re the fan voting (at least not now :laugh:), but I imagine that the Canadian skaters took the Team Challenge Cup prize money pretty seriously. shortened for quick answer
Click to expand...

yup... not denying that.... always supporting our kids... money in fs is an important factor and if it helped nam relocating twice and gabby bedazzling her both costumes, i bow down to TCC. As I said earlier, I was very pleased that Weapo got a chance to redeem themselves there.
 
I don't think many of us took Team Challenge Cup seriously, but then it wasn't that bad?? Like, Shoma made it exciting with the 4F (and that is probably one of the only reasons anyone will remember this event). The antics of the team members, the promposal, Meagan/Eric & Kaitlyn/Andrew getting those big checks, Elena Radionova's fabulousness on the red carpet, Evegenia's out of this world scores (the trend carried to this season), etc. were fun to see. These things make figure skating seem more exciting and may interest more casual fans. I know for sure those Yuri on Ice fans will go nuts for WTT.
 
Seems we're talking apples and oranges here....

The TCC last year, wasn't billed as an ISU parallel to the Olympic Team event. It was more like an invitation cup with prize money. Spectator appeal is great, and I agree FS needs more events like these, and I like how the team format was able to incorporate skaters from smaller federations.

The WTT being run in Japan seems to have the cachet as the ISU's team event. And the requirements that skaters participate or cannot compete / do exhibitions makes it a serious thing. It's justified by the ISU policy objective of incenting and pushing the federations to round out their development programs to include all 4 disciplines. And the prize money is in part compensation for the loss of training time and exhibition time, as well as the cost to the feds to get skaters and coaches there.

In this case, the ISU should really be calling the shots on format at this point, even if Japan has been hosting it and took on the role of hosting it to get it going.

So, while I'll watch and cheer on the Canadians, and be pleased when they receive prize money, I'll still be looking forward to when the ISU World team whatever becomes a credible premier event like Worlds.
 
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Osmond4gold said:
Gotta love "les garçons" du Quebec. Bravo, bravo bravo!!! Très très bien fait! Incroyable! Okay, my face is full of saliva at this moment...like my phonetics teacher at Laval always said to me, and I should have taken her advice,...have a beer before you come to class.

Gabby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWA8OwthvHw

Kaetlyn, aussi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxZRx5RqO-E
Click to expand...

LOL Alain Goldberg is losing his voice over it... I have seen him getting emotional and excited but Gabby and Kaetlyn really took him to another level... Thanks for sharing that was so much fun to watch.
 
I'm sure this has already been discussed, but Alaine's short has been choreographed and she seems to love it, if twitter is any indication.
 
Daniel1998 said:
I'm sure this has already been discussed, but Alaine's short has been choreographed and she seems to love it, if twitter is any indication.
Click to expand...

Wish she'd shared a bit more info about what the music is and who did the choreography.....

But it's great to hear such positives from her.

She really cheered on the Canadian team at Worlds day in and out, and it was very sincere. Including her support for Kaetlyn and Gabby, her own interest in a 3rd berth notwithstanding.

Some others who missed having a spot at Worlds might have stayed home and brooded, but she's clearly been getting on with her plan for next season. Kudos for a good attitude.
 
https://vk.com/pchan31?w=wall-48301131_4948

:bow: to whole Canadian team who consists of great, poised, talented people and showed their best considering all circumstances.

Kudos to all 3 Pairs fighting hard, for Eric's effort to step on ice and skate for both of them; for Julianne and Charlie being back and starting to re-built themselves; for Liubov and Dylan who simply mesmerized me (and Luba is a fighter, after all!)

Biggest applause for Canadian Ladies for being my heroines and savious of whole segment (along with Mai and Karen) - not only for getting silver and bronze, but most for doing it in such fashion. I mean - not bad for being constantly nitpicked over basically everything and criticized (like other ladies are crystal consistent, always rotate and have clear edge take-offs...).

Great work from both Kevin and Patrick - to each on their own. They shown effort, determination, athleticism and artistry in their respective fashion. Glad to see them smiling and satisfied, because they have a lot of reasons to be proud.

And Ice Dancers - both real winners (Tessa/Scott) and my heart winners (WeaPo and PSquared). Programs which resonated within me the most, especially impressed and proud of WeaPo - smooth af in both dances and 'Aranjuez' shone like a diamond:love:. Tessa and Scott shown real class of competitors and multi-dimentional artists, this SD is already an icon.

congratulations to You All, having such great people, athletes in Canadian FS:cheer:
 
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