2020–21 Canadian Figure Skating

[DSQ]

I'm trying to find out more about this on Twitter and am I being a jerk or is it really annoying when people don't spell out the names of skaters in posts?

Like...if you're gonna post negative stuff about people at least have the courage of your convictions to spell out the full name so your content can be found. It's not like we won't know who E*ic R*df*rd is when we stumble across it.

They do it so it won’t show up in Twitter searches. But I think they also do it to make the persons name look like a slur. It’s really annoying.

 

[Mista Ekko]

It's too late for them to campaign for Beijing despite of their previous accolades and individual skills. (Don't even try to prop them up, Skate Canada. I'm watching you.) If it is to gain new experience and expand their artistic horizons, then that's cool. If they are truly trying to aim of an OG spot though....well I guess I'm here for the drama and the pettiness that will ensue.

How 'bout we wait and see

 

[anonymoose_au]

They do it so it won’t show up in Twitter searches. But I think they also do it to make the persons name look like a slur. It’s really annoying.

It is, not to mention cowardly - if you think you're in the right then own it.

I actually told someone off about it on Twitter, tsk. I always tell myself not to react and what do I do...I react.

But yes, you can disagree with what Eric is doing without demonizing the guy. There's no gray areas with these Twitter people, either you're wholly good or totally evil and it only takes one misstep to throw you into the latter category.

 

[Colonel Green]

It's too late for them to campaign for Beijing despite of their previous accolades and individual skills.

Why? Alexa & Brandon took over US pairs literally right out of the gate, and Vanessa & Eric are at least as talented as they are (moreso, if you’re judging by their trophy cases).

There’s obvious reason to wait and see on Eric’s physical condition, in particular, but assuming he’s anything like his prior form it’s quite reasonable for them to think they can make the Olympic team.

 

[Seven Sisters]

Why? Alexa & Brandon took over US pairs literally right out of the gate, and Vanessa & Eric are at least as talented as they are (moreso, if you’re judging by their trophy cases).

There’s obvious reason to wait and see on Eric’s physical condition, in particular, but assuming he’s anything like his prior form it’s quite reasonable for them to think they can make the Olympic team.

Agree with the Colonel here but I’m also wondering if the new pair will be able to get the ice time, etc., they will need to prepare, in light of the COVID restrictions in Canada. (If they will train in Canada, which of course we do not know.)

Canada has two pairs spots for the Olympics, right? Two outright—none of this having to “re-earn” at Nebelhorn? That certainly makes it more possible to potentially earn one.

 

[Colonel Green]

Agree with the Colonel here but I’m also wondering if the new pair will be able to get the ice time, etc., they will need to prepare, in light of the COVID restrictions in Canada. (If they will train in Canada, which of course we do not know.)

Canada has two pairs spots for the Olympics, right? Two outright—none of this having to “re-earn” at Nebelhorn? That certainly makes it more possible to potentially earn one.

Yes, there are two spots.

How the training will work is another thing to wonder about, but as with Eric’s condition you sort of have to assume that the people involved have thought about that.

 

[coldblueeyes]

If they return in a decent condition, I'd say they have a chance to earn a spot alongside M-T/M. I'm not sure where they'll land in the grand scheme of things. But if they're not looking to repeat Eric's past results, I guess they might find a place for themselves.

 

[withwings]

Who will coach Vanessa/Eric? I’m assuming D/R old coach Bruno Marcotte is out since he is Meghan’s husband. Vanessa/Eric - They are both in MTL i think and Richard Gauthier is out.. I don’t think there are any other strong pair coaches in Quebec. I wonder who will coach them

Meagan Duhamel...

 

[Supernovaimplosion]

It is, not to mention cowardly - if you think you're in the right then own it.

I actually told someone off about it on Twitter, tsk. I always tell myself not to react and what do I do...I react.

But yes, you can disagree with what Eric is doing without demonizing the guy. There's no gray areas with these Twitter people, either you're wholly good or totally evil and it only takes one misstep to throw you into the latter category.

Putting stars in names is a carry over from the old tumblr days. Post containing someone's name ended up in their tag, and fans would get mad/argue if there was a lot of hate in the tag- so people started writing stars in names that were negative about that person so as to not clog up the tag and let fans be in peace.
Or at least that's what I associate it with But this discussion is really off topic

 

[withwings]

If they return in a decent condition, I'd say they have a chance to earn a spot alongside M-T/M.

It is not written in the stone that MTM will get the spot even in the case if Eric/ Vanesa do not return. Nothing is static, everything is dynamic! W/T may improve in leaps and they beat MTM to suprise to themselves and everyone else.. Sometimes no rational thinking or logic leads us to make see the next chapter.

 

[coldblueeyes]

It is not written in the stone that MTM will get the spot even in the case if Eric/ Vanesa do not return. Nothing is static, everything is dynamic! W/T may improve in leaps and they beat MTM to suprise to themselves and everyone else.. Sometimes no rational thinking or logic leads us to make see the next chapter.

For sure, nothing is set in stone. But W/M really need to improve fast if they want to surpass MTM. I know the situation for training in Canada wasn’t the best, but their elements have regressed a lot, and I’m not talking about jumps. If they do make a case for themselves, I’ll be stoked.

 

[4everchan]

Ian Connolly coaches Matte and Ferland and if I am not mistaken worked with the Gauthier/Marcottes team before. That seems like a good option if they decide to train in Montreal. However, they would need a new choreographer... don't think Julie would do it.

 

[Colonel Green]

Ian Connolly coaches Matte and Ferland and if I am not mistaken worked with the Gauthier/Marcottes team before. That seems like a good option if they decide to train in Montreal. However, they would need a new choreographer... don't think Julie would do it.

Eric has been working as a choreographer, so I can imagine him doing that himself.

 

[Seven Sisters]

However, they would need a new choreographer... don't think Julie would do it.

Charlie White please! Or John Kerr!
I always found Duhamel/Radford’s programs really uninspiring. And it mystified me, because he is a musician

 

[4everchan]

gosh.. don't hear me wrong... but Walsh and Michaud are not a top 10 team at worlds yet... so if they get passed by ANYONE and do not get an Olympic spot, it will be because they aren't strong enough. Athletes want to surpass themselves and beat the best. I see them as strong contenders (if they fix some issues) for 2026... they were just lucky that things happened so that they could get the second spot a couple years in a row... If you look at previous years, when Lubov and Dylan were there or Charlie and Julianne + MTM and D/R a team like W/M would never have even qualified for worlds. Also, Camille and Drew are a question mark (injuries). Deanna and Max (USFS release needed). Matte and Ferland : their learning curve is ascending better than W/M... So they could even end up outside top 3, even without Eric and Vanessa.

Finally : would it be possible that Eric and Vanessa are simply teaming up to set themselves up for shows??? They may do a year of training for the games, but I could see how they would be appealing as show skaters... I don't think Meagan really wanted to compete... nor did Eric.. his back was dead... but Meagan clearly wanted to perform... and that would be a legitimate reason (being dumped for shows) to be upset. A team with credentials like they do, could have skated on tours for a long time...

 

[4everchan]

Charlie White please! Or John Kerr!
I always found Duhamel/Radford’s programs really uninspiring. And it mystified me, because he is a musician

ermmm he is a musician fair enough.... but not to a very high level, at least, in my opinion. A lot of people write music as insipid as his.. but do not have the platform to share it. As a pianist, he hasn't even finished a BMUS... which is below a basic level. I find it very nice that he is able to combine his passions by writing music for skaters (including himself) but he is no Mozart

 

[withwings]

gosh.. don't hear me wrong... but Walsh and Michaud are not a top 10 team at worlds yet... so if they get passed by ANYONE and do not get an Olympic spot, it will be because they aren't strong enough.

Yes, of course it IS so . BUT neither MTM are good and strong; their are lucking IT factor. imho Michael has no any personality on the ice and, for me at least, there is no sense of a pair at all, everything is so laboured . Also, Kirsten, since the time she has paired up with Marinaro, has lost her spark/magic which she had with Dylan. I always feel sad watching KMT because I cannot see any future in them.

 

[el henry]

I'm trying to find out more about this on Twitter and am I being a jerk or is it really annoying when people don't spell out the names of skaters in posts?

Like...if you're gonna post negative stuff about people at least have the courage of your convictions to spell out the full name so your content can be found. It's not like we won't know who E*ic R*df*rd is when we stumble across it.

Just jumping in to say reason number 219456 I avoid the land of hot takes for its hot takes. (love the vids and the photos) Like you said, if you don't have the courage of your convictions, then what's the point? To make sure that some dastardly deed doer doesn't show up in a Twitter search? As if anyone cares

Ok, jumping off now and not directed at your post, I commend the Canadians for bringing the drama.

I have never been one to pile on Meagan for her opinions. She has her opinions and good for her. At least she stands by them, unlike the asterisk Twitter brigade. If Eric is forming a new partnership, and did not at least give her a head's up or right of first refusal, seems like bad form to me, but I'm not a skater.

It is far from a given that Eric or Vanessa will be in good enough shape to compete for an Olympic spot. If Eric is doing this out of sympathy for Vanessa, well, okey dokey then, but I'm not convinced it will work.

My favorite Canadian pair, Deanna and Maxime, can't even compete yet internationally AFAIK, so it won't affect them

 

[Knebli]

context is everything when it comes to a new event. the team event in figure skating is "artificial" The olympic committee values more and more mixed events, so sports where man and women can participate together. So, they create a whole bunch of events or admitted some new events. For instance, mixed doubles curling: this format already existed (if i am not mistaken) but was admitted to the games. Then, they created events like luge team relay, and alpine skiing mixed relays, swimming mixed relays... All these relays are easy to conceive and do make sense because times are added up and there is a flow about how they work out... for instance, in luge, the athletes have to knock a plank upon arrival to let the next athletes go down the track... so it's like passing a baton. In swimming, there is no difference.. it's just a relay... but made up of 2 men and 2 women. Strategy might be interesting though as some teams decide to start and finish strong with men while others have put men first and finished with women, hoping the adrenaline would make them hang on to a huge lead.... etc.... In figure skating, the event is very artificially conceived with ranking points. Athletes may feel a bit more concerned if scores were calculated... but then, at the same time, ranking points made it very easy for the general public to understand the format. It also made it more likely to use strategy as ranking points are easier to evaluate in terms of who is competing (for instance, Canada making sure that Virtue and Moir skate both the RD and the FD as the Russians may be too close for the gold... not knowing that Patrick would actually win the LP.... etc)...

We have had only two events so far. In Sochi, I think only Russia cared about the team medal... they were at home. However, in Korea, the Canadian team, as it has been said earlier in the thread, made it a priority. I am sure that China would love a medal in Beijing and that Italy will work very hard for it in Milan 2026. In the end, it will bring more and more attention and earn more and more respect. Some may argue that it will never be as big as winning a gold in your own discipline. That's fair. Others will argue that being an Olympic champion is hard enough as it is to achieve, and that it is huge, no matter the event. I wonder if those athletes who win mixed doubles curling feel that the title is less of a big deal than winning with your traditional same gender foursome.

As we have seen throughout the years and events, figure skating is a very old-fashioned and traditional sport. All these changes take so much time to be accepted. As a matter of fact, some people still talk about the 6.0 scoring system... ermm hello??? it's been nearly 20 years that this change was made...

thank you....... you are so very kind to take the time to explain this in detail. This connection to other sports evolved landscape I should have grasped quicker. And yes, FS is old fashioned and thus change is needed. Bring it on. I will be an avid supporter moving forward to cheer on the survival of our amazing and difficult sport. Thank you Forever Chan.

 

[metconahay]

Why? Alexa & Brandon took over US pairs literally right out of the gate, and Vanessa & Eric are at least as talented as they are (moreso, if you’re judging by their trophy cases).

There’s obvious reason to wait and see on Eric’s physical condition, in particular, but assuming he’s anything like his prior form it’s quite reasonable for them to think they can make the Olympic team.

I agree that it should be the more talented pair that gets to go to the Olympics, no matter who that pair may be.

I think the Alexa/Brandon team-up was a different situation though and was perceived by the other American pairs as less of a problem. They basically consolidated two strong pairs that would have been fighting for Olympic spots into one. It's less of a situation where you had a solid #1 (KMT/Marinaro) and a clear #2 (Walsh/Michaud) that everybody assumed was going to go to the Olympics barring a surprise (i.e., Eric and Vanessa coming back).