2016-2017 State of Canadian Figure Skating

[TGee]

A couple of vids from Skating ISU that I missed:

Ladies Small Medals Ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a28G-ymH-I

Meagan & Eric Post-LP Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTjL03o-Q0g


For those who are geoblocked from CBC's website, here's yesterday's interview with Roman and Conrad that aired during the Worlds Exhibition Gala, 1080p: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5h6kc6

Siberia82 you are a star....Ensuring the videos are here for now and future. Posting to youtube. Getting stuff to the fests...

It's so great that we're developing a whole group of GS posters to complement each other's interests and skills, not to mention to share the load in making this thread a happening place with great info!

 

[Mango]

So at the end of Worlds if we count all the medals our novice to senior ranked skaters (excluding synchro) have won the numbers are as follows:

Medals count
21 gold, 18 silvers, 17 bronze = 56 medals in total

Not bad for a country with a population less than that of California.

Great skating and lots of hard work by our athletes. Well done!

Next competitions featuring Canadian skaters: Triglav Trophy and World Team Trophy

Stars on Ice is starting April 28. Some skaters are doing club shows as well. You can find their scheduled appearances here. Apart from that I know that Central Ontario is having their ice show May 13 at the Powerade Centre. More info here.

 

[TGee]

Skaters with indigenous identity in Canada

Harley Wilson of Australia, who has indigenous heritage on both his parents sides, has been receiving a great deal of profile as the first skater of indigenous identity to win an ISU championship.

It's made me wonder about whether there are up and coming Canadian skaters of indigenous identity, or if there are past Canadian skaters with indigenous identity that was not well profiled.

What I was able to find out was that certainly there are First Nations and Inuit skaters participating in clubs in their local communities.

Here is a CBC feature from 2015 about Joannie Rochette joining Chisasibi skaters in James Bay in their annual ice show.

And that Iqualuit has had a skating club for several years that sends skaters to the Arctic Winter Games, and to section events in Eastern Ontario. Certainly, we can't assume that the skaters have indigenous identity, it seems some do. Here's a CBC North post from last spring about a delegation from Iqaluit travelling down to EO's Spring Festival competition. I checked this year's entries and they will be participating again...from STAR 1 on up. :agree:

 

[Osmond4gold]

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.

First we have heard it appears Daniel...as you know, she is never far from our thoughts and bless her for being so supportive of her teammates at worlds. Any deets... (deets, I sound like my teenagers, and my son now Lves wearing my clothes, ...retro, as he calls it, and says he gets nothing but compliments at school...hmmm).

 

[Skater Boy]

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.

Well I am sure there was some brooding not that you or I would ever see. Let's be honest twitter, snapchat, fb usually is all about what we want the world to see and know. But the most important thing is she has a good shot now of going to the Olympics for Canada. Now she has to close the widening gap between her and Kaetlyn and Gabby.

 

[Skater Boy]

Was anyone else pleasantly surprised that Roman and Conrad were interviewed during this afternoon's CBC broadcast of the Worlds Exhibition Gala? Is this the first time the network brought in junior-level skaters to the studio during a senior-level event?

Nice surprise for extreme skating enthusiasts but probably not so much for anyone else (and their friends and families) I means not to be snippy or rude but they aren't even the top junior skater so to speak (not world placement but as seen by most - Nadeau).

 

[Skater Boy]

i cannot watch the whole dance event today.... sigh... i may catch the final flight...

i am not really sad for patrick... i thought he would end up 4th ... that's what i was ready for... 5th is fine.... but his pcs were too low... and i never liked him doing half loop combo... and that cost him about 10 points today... so i hope he comes up with another plan next year LOL

on the positive side

for patrick : gorgeous opening quads, one of each... this guy can land the most beautiful jumps... <3

for kevin : despite the lowball pcs... like really low ball.... and a couple carrots kevin went from 12 to 9.... one more spot from him (or patrick) and we would have a full team at the olympics....

It will be a bloodbath at nationals next year for the second spot.... assuming everyone is healthy and that patrick is on top... kevin could have to fight with keegan, nic, nam, roman.... etc... it will be intense but they know ahead of time... and may the best guy goes to the games.

For you Canadian fans I think the C boys did well - both oddly undermarked for pcs. Chan is for some reason not getting the pcs sp or lp that he deserves - which mathetmatically is impossible the way the scoring system is working and is. Reynolds needs a new coach and yes focus on pcs. Chan is good enough that even with errors he deserves to be higher than Hanyu at his best but we aren't seeing that any more and worse not much of a diffentation between him and Chen and Boyang. 10 pts may sound like a lot but that is two jumps. Reynolds needs to have some amazing, thematic program that maybe can utilize his unique look which seems to shine through no matter what he wears. Then even if he cheeses it up sell that program. I mean it works for Javier. Though I can't imagine Kevin being seen as sexy or flirtatious. I will be curious to see if Tracey Wainman and co can change Nam quickly - get him to develop three different quads, improve his speed and and get him a great look and style. He is too old and way too tall to be cute. Maybe he can Evan Lysacek his programs? Yo Vera have an extra overpriced designer outfit for Nam? Evan like Nam is tall and lanky and was all Wanged out.

 

[4everchan]

Well I am sure there was some brooding not that you or I would ever see. Let's be honest twitter, snapchat, fb usually is all about what we want the world to see and know. But the most important thing is she has a good shot now of going to the Olympics for Canada. Now she has to close the widening gap between her and Kaetlyn and Gabby.

you can say that... but sometimes, some athletes are more fake or genuine than others...

at Nationals, I heard Alaine talk to one of her team members... she was right next to me. She is a tiny little girl, you would be surprised because she skates so big. She is very simple, down to earth, genuine and supportive. Of course, the 2-3 minutes conversation I overheard doesn't define a lifetime behaviour... but I'd bet she was very proud of her teammates. The reality is that year after year, our women are doing better and better to solidify the two spots and now even bring 3 spots to Canada.... it is amazing that this is the Olympic year as Alaine has never been so I am sure that she was rooting very hard and being very supportive of both Gabby and Kaetlyn there...

Also, Kaetlyn and Gabby (one of them at least) squealed when they hugged on the worlds podium... that felt great and genuine as well.

RIVALRY CAN BE HEALTHY... except on Real housewives of figure skating

 

[Sackie]

In re-watching some of the men I asked myself if maybe Chan does things to well. Maybe if he pulled back some on the in between stuff and went for adding at least 1 more quad he might put himself in better standing. Cause after watching some of the others that are doing multiple quads, the in between stuff just does not seem to matter with the judges. There are some of them that hardly do any steps or transitions into their jumps at all - yet this seems to be over looked simply because they are doing the quads. This is especially true in the short where it didn't seem like the big names that were going for 2 quads didn't lose any GOE for not doing any steps into their solo jumps. Yet Chan seems to do everything he can and doesn't get rewarded as much as he should. He has to rely on the others making mistakes for him to place well.

 

[siberia82]

Nice surprise for extreme skating enthusiasts but probably not so much for anyone else (and their friends and families) I means not to be snippy or rude but they aren't even the top junior skater so to speak (not world placement but as seen by most - Nadeau).

I'd assume that the network would prefer to invite Nadeau because his over-all placement at Junior Worlds was the highest among the Canadian men, but it wouldn't have been convenient to bring him to the CBC studio because he had performed in an ice show in Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac the night before, and I'm pretty sure he's not willing to travel around 1040 km to Toronto for a short interview. Nicolas himself wasn't interviewed on Canadian (or even French Canadian) television after he won the silver medal at last year's Junior Worlds, which should give you an idea of how extremely rare it is for a junior-level figure skater to be given the opportunity to say a few words on a national broadcast.

 

[Osmond4gold]

I am just back from Ladies Power Ratings (or the Russian Front)...does anyone have any Advil? But I stand by every word and willing to die (for a second time) on that hill! Yes, Lazarus, Jesus and I, have much in common. Word from the frontlines, when we overcome a non-believer, 10 others appear. This may be a rough year folks, just that you know, with our ladies on top of the world. For those of us still nursing war wounds from the season, my advice is to pick your battles, carefully. And, most importantly, support each other when in agreement!

 

[cheerknithanson]

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.."

Hahahaha. I got a better idea! "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band! I had the idea for nearly 3 years for a SP he could do.

Oh and FP? "Time for Miracles" by Adam Lambert.

 

[4everchan]

In re-watching some of the men I asked myself if maybe Chan does things to well. Maybe if he pulled back some on the in between stuff and went for adding at least 1 more quad he might put himself in better standing. Cause after watching some of the others that are doing multiple quads, the in between stuff just does not seem to matter with the judges. There are some of them that hardly do any steps or transitions into their jumps at all - yet this seems to be over looked simply because they are doing the quads. This is especially true in the short where it didn't seem like the big names that were going for 2 quads didn't lose any GOE for not doing any steps into their solo jumps. Yet Chan seems to do everything he can and doesn't get rewarded as much as he should. He has to rely on the others making mistakes for him to place well.

if he wants to win... fine... but it doesn't guarantee a win... .and it wouldn't be Patrick anymore... I prefer a beautiful masterpiece and a 5th place by Chan, than a watered down chan quad fest .... but i see your point... the issue is not chan's style it is that judges do not reward pcs properly anymore

 

[4everchan]

I'd assume that the network would prefer to invite Nadeau because his over-all placement at Junior Worlds was the highest among the Canadian men, but it wouldn't have been convenient to bring him to the CBC studio because he had performed in an ice show in Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac the night before, and I'm pretty sure he's not willing to travel around 1040 km to Toronto for a short interview. Nicolas himself wasn't interviewed on Canadian (or even French Canadian) television after he won the silver medal at last year's Junior Worlds, which should give you an idea of how extremely rare it is for a junior-level figure skater to be given the opportunity to say a few words on a national broadcast.

yup.. i think conrad got invited because he is 4everchan's son LOL... just kidding

 

[4everchan]

Hahahaha. I got a better idea! "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band! I had the idea for nearly 3 years for a SP he could do.

Oh and FP? "Time for Miracles" by Adam Lambert.

what about music from Le petit prince.. he has similar hair

 

[Sackie]

if he wants to win... fine... but it doesn't guarantee a win... .and it wouldn't be Patrick anymore... I prefer a beautiful masterpiece and a 5th place by Chan, than a watered down chan quad fest .... but i see your point... the issue is not chan's style it is that judges do not reward pcs properly anymore

Oh I agree - but if he wants that Olympic Gold medal he may just have to play the game like the others. It really is too bad that the judges do not reward PCS properly anymore. It seems like as soon as you start doing multiple quads your PCS takes a jump - so I have a feeling even if Chan did water down his content he still would get high PCS if he were doing quads. It worked for Nathan. He was nowhere before he started doing multi quad programs. But I agree it is not Patrick's way. Just like Stojko never changed his style just to suit the judges - and he lost an Olympic Gold because of it.

 

[siberia82]

Skating ISU finally uploaded the Ice Dance Small Medals Ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uift2pHlTQ

Ladies Victory Ceremony: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5h5jz4

Ice Dance Victory Ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qefWJLamzfs

yup.. i think conrad got invited because he is 4everchan's son LOL... just kidding

With our beloved King being so far away from Toronto, your son was the obvious choice to be interviewed. If anything, Roman was included on the show because he's siberia82's princeling.

 

[4everchan]

With our beloved King being so far away from Toronto, your son was the obvious choice to be interviewed. If anything, Roman was included on the show because he's siberia82's princeling.

i am sure they thought... well... siberia will be mad since we won't fly in nic... let's invite roman then but here is the thing all 3 and Joseph deserve to be shown and heard... they are fabulous!

 

[Daniel1998]

Alaine Chartrand SP- Libertango (Piazzolla)
Choreo by Shae-Lynn Bourne

 

[4everchan]

Alaine Chartrand SP- Libertango (Piazzolla)
Choreo by Shae-Lynn Bourne

oh yes baby!!!!