2020–21 Canadian Figure Skating

[Roo87]

the issue with Alison this year : no triple-triple... and without that, with a skater who is not known on the senior circuit, the cut off for the free may be out of reach...Gabby is on a come back trail, she would have a pcs benchmark as former star of the sport, and her 3t-3t doesn't worry me at all... it will be back when she needs it the most.

Gabby has been posting a lot of skating videos on her instagram lately, including many beautiful 3t-3t's, I think she would have been mostly prepared for Nationals and would have earned a world spot. I think she has the Olympics in her mind, and if she works hard enough she will get it.

 

[abbykitty]

I love Gabby, but one of the major lessons she needs to learn is how to still give a performance and commit to her choreography and emote even when she makes mistakes. Of course it sucks when the jumps aren't there and things aren't perfect...even when things in training are going well. But it doesn't help matters when you shut down and become a stone-faced robot after missing a jump.

her PCS carried her to a bronze at Challenge, and she showed a bit more fight than in past performances....but she can really learn from some of the lower ranked skaters like Michelle Long who still gave a beautiful performance despite botching most of her jumps. It's not the end of the world when you make a mistake, and many skaters have won major competitions, even Olympics/Worlds with less than perfect performances.

I'm reminded of Kaetlyn Osmond at Skate Canada 2015, her first competition right after coming back from her near-career ending injury where she fell/stepped out of every single jumping pass, and probably wanted to skate off the ice after her 2nd or 3rd fall...yet still gave an amazing performance with good speed and energy and still performed to the audience without giving up:

https://youtu.be/q5GV5w-2xRo

She gave an interview later saying that instead of expecting absolute perfection, she started focusing on making each jump/element excellent and that shifted her mindset to allow her to not put so much pressure on herself and let go of mistakes. I hope Gabby learns this at some point, and knows that she still has amazing qualities to her skating even when she's not 100%.

 

[4everchan]

Gabby has been posting a lot of skating videos on her instagram lately, including many beautiful 3t-3t's, I think she would have been mostly prepared for Nationals and would have earned a world spot. I think she has the Olympics in her mind, and if she works hard enough she will get it.

she just posted a very big 3lzrippon-3toe on instagram... this is what people need to understand... athletes train for the big event.. to peak at the right moment.. challenge was just a small event to put a "check" on for a girl like gabby... she is a on a very long and big recovery curve... and she would have been readier in february for Nationals, which is 2 big months after Challenge... I believe in her..

and to the poster above .. yes.. Gabby doesn't emote as much after mistakes... but when she is on, she is exciting to watch... and i have been also surprised by how moved i have felt watching her live in a couple occasions when she was on or in shows... so ... it's there... and we have to trust the process.. she is getting better and better and we have to give her a chance.. not everyone will be a great performer/communicator after several mistakes... and comparing to Kaetlyn.. well.. there is ONLY ONE Kaetlyn... nobody can really be compared to her when it comes to show joy of skating despite mistakes... What I can say about Gabby's Challenge though is that the speed and power was still there in the long... maybe not as much emotion as we would need to really call it a great performance but the intensity was there.. at least, i felt it...we all feel different things

 

[Colonel Green]

Top six senior free dances (skate order):

 

[Colonel Green]

The IAM teams all came with quirky programs this year.

Lajoie & Lagha's free dance is fast-paced almost all the way through. It must be exhausting.

 

[Flying Feijoa]

Lajoie/Lagha probably have the best rendition of samba-dancing parrots on ice (so far - maybe a new warhorse is born?)
The programme really suits them as a team.

 

[Colonel Green]

Scott Moir did a radio interview and mentioned that he's going to open an elite international training center in the London area, so that's something to look forward to.

 

[mrrice]

Skate Canada stated that there was a possibility, if the event continued as planned, that they would not send skaters

I read this on the Wiki page. Have they made their final decision?

 

[4everchan]

Skate Canada stated that there was a possibility, if the event continued as planned, that they would not send skaters

I read this on the Wiki page. Have they made their final decision?

nope... there is an update expected from the ISU on January 28th... if Worlds go on, Canada would need to make a decision then

 

[Skater Boy]

I love Gabby, but one of the major lessons she needs to learn is how to still give a performance and commit to her choreography and emote even when she makes mistakes. Of course it sucks when the jumps aren't there and things aren't perfect...even when things in training are going well. But it doesn't help matters when you shut down and become a stone-faced robot after missing a jump.

her PCS carried her to a bronze at Challenge, and she showed a bit more fight than in past performances....but she can really learn from some of the lower ranked skaters like Michelle Long who still gave a beautiful performance despite botching most of her jumps. It's not the end of the world when you make a mistake, and many skaters have won major competitions, even Olympics/Worlds with less than perfect performances.

I'm reminded of Kaetlyn Osmond at Skate Canada 2015, her first competition right after coming back from her near-career ending injury where she fell/stepped out of every single jumping pass, and probably wanted to skate off the ice after her 2nd or 3rd fall...yet still gave an amazing performance with good speed and energy and still performed to the audience without giving up:

https://youtu.be/q5GV5w-2xRo

She gave an interview later saying that instead of expecting absolute perfection, she started focusing on making each jump/element excellent and that shifted her mindset to allow her to not put so much pressure on herself and let go of mistakes. I hope Gabby learns this at some point, and knows that she still has amazing qualities to her skating even when she's not 100%.

I agree. Gabby needs to buid her confidence and skate with passion Especially the drive of Celine Dion. She just needs to be fiery mistakes or not and maybe with more fire, more depth, more energy vigor, mor who cares i am just going to do it, I am going to power my way through - she will get the height and rotations on her jumps. I still think right now she is Canada's best hope - good or bad. I hope "it's all coming back to her ...now".

 

[Skater Boy]

I am cuiious still if there is a worlds who does Canada send and how do they decide with no nationals and really no international competitions other than Keegan's quasi international Skate America bronze.

The dance is easy I suppose Gilles and Porier, the Danadians and L squared especially since Liam and Caroline didn't skate this year and had been struggling last.

Pairs well, MTM M are obvious and because no one else is thatt spectacular I monitor Trennt and Evelyn but lien towards them for best chance.

Men - I have no idea Roman looked really good at the Challenge but I was impressed with Nam - pretty consisent but for two bad pops he could have won and he is upping his artistry. I wish his jumps had continued since he has been doing these basic quads for a while. keegan has the complete package but all the Canadianss seem to lack quads - Cory has none. But Roman, Nam and Keega itis too close to call. Rowan did beat nam but Nam was p icked for 2020 worlds and he has been pretty solid. Keegan may have the best scoring or placement capacity. All three are pretty close

Ladies there are two spots. Not overly hopeful or excited but Madeleine and really Alilison has not looked that good thouguh I appreciate she won silver at the challenge. I would be tempted to go with Gabby and really monitor her and maybe provide her a psychologist and some specialists to help her.

Gabby really needs to show it's all coming back to her...if she can be a top 8 skater along with the men then Canada maybe has an outside shot at a olympic bronze in team. outside because China will be tough.

 

[HeadBanger]

Whomever we send, I'm sure Skate Canada will just pick their favourites and work backwards on a rationale to justify it

And ultimatly, that's all they can do. There is no way to do it on merit in a year like this.

 

[Skater Boy]

Whomever we send, I'm sure Skate Canada will just pick their favourites and work backwards on a rationale to justify it

And ultimatly, that's all they can do. There is no way to do it on merit in a year like this.

Can I ask who are Skate Canada's favorites?

 

[haribobo]

I think you could go with Madeline and Alison on merit since they medaled at Nationals last year and were top 2 at Challenge this year. Also Roman won Nationals last year and Challenge this year so he makes the most sense, although Keegan's SA was good too.

 

[4everchan]

i dont think alison is ready... with her SP, without a consistent 3-3 and lower pcs because she hasn't competed much internationally, she may not make the cut for the LP

 

[chuckm]

Why does Alison skate to mushy romantic music? Her all-business deadpan face is at odds with her material. That's why her PCS scores are low.

 

[Skater Boy]

I think you could go with Madeline and Alison on merit since they medaled at Nationals last year and were top 2 at Challenge this year. Also Roman won Nationals last year and Challenge this year so he makes the most sense, although Keegan's SA was good too.

But Nam was the pick for the worlds and perhaps has the highest scoring cpacity now that his artistry has improved a lot - he had two major pops in the freeskate which cost him beating Roman. It really is just too close to pick for the men. Roman has had also the most inconsistency issues lately. Keegan has not reached he brilliance of his 8t place but he has the whole package including spins. Nam has really sow a more artistic traditional side. roll a dice.

 

[Roo87]

Gabby doesn't have the minimums for worlds, so unless they change the rules, she can't go.

 

[Colonel Green]

Gabby doesn't have the minimums for worlds, so unless they change the rules, she can't go.

There’s a number of people currently assigned to Worlds who can’t go for that reason. The ISU is going to have to make accommodations if Worlds does happen, for that reason.

 

[4everchan]

we should find out soon anyways....if i am not confused...there is an ISU meeting coming up this week