2021–22 Canadian Figure Skating
- Thread starter Colonel Green
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- Jul 6, 2020
I think the judges were a bit generous with them considering all the mistakes. The judges also seemed a bit hard on JR. Although, it’s not like Canada was expecting to medal here. I wonder if they will both go to worlds?
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- Oct 20, 2017
Considering most skaters end their careers in the Olympics…I think it be surprising if both go to worlds…if I were the back up teams, I’ll be preparing just about now…there is a possibility neither will go….
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- Oct 20, 2017
I think Walsh/Michaud could possibly place better than James/Radford…but considering this is an Olympic year, there are bound to be withdrawals, so maybe they can place in the top 10 somewhere…this might be a pretty optimistic outlook though…
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- Jul 17, 2018
I think that now…like, today…is the time for James & Radford to announce their retirement. With a lovely statement explaining how they gave it their best shot, against all odds resulting from their ages, short time frame etc, and acknowledging that they fell a bit short. Thank you all for supporting us, etc.
And most importantly, saying that they look forward to watching the First Alternates, Walsh & Michaud, represent Canada at Worlds.
This would go a long way to repairing their bridges in the Canadian skating community.
And most importantly, saying that they look forward to watching the First Alternates, Walsh & Michaud, represent Canada at Worlds.
This would go a long way to repairing their bridges in the Canadian skating community.
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- Mar 7, 2015
on French CBC, the commentators said they are "considering' another season. They are proud of what they did but they know they didn't have enough time to reach their full potential as a pair.
Also, I noticed they were much slower than earlier this season. I am not sure that they will consider their Olympics as their peak level... but probably that's the goal they had in mind... So at this point, it sounds right they would be "considering" continuing to develop what they have set in motion or could just call it a career as well for reaching the Olympics.
Regarding Walsh and Michaud, I am not one of these who think they are so much better than MTM or JR. They showed a lot of promise in the past but have plateaued.
People are so worried about losing spots for Canada.. It may happen but I think it's reasonable to think our teams can finish with the 28 points required to keep both spots... no matter what teams are sent, I believe they will achieve that. Not better,... not worse... I also don't think that Sui-Han and T-M will go to worlds... the Italians may not either. It's a brand new competition anyways...
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- Oct 20, 2017
I'm actually not as concerned with keeping spots after some reflection...MTM did a complete miss in the short program and still ended up 10th, that would have been sufficient enough...and if they don't end up going, then I think Walsh and Michaud and whoever else goes do have chance at keeping spots as other pairs will also miss Worlds as well...for men, if Keegan does go, then he should probably do enough to keep 2 spots and if he doesn't, then maybe we shouldn't have 2 spots as we don't really have another skater right now, again I do expect a few people not to go...for the ladies, we certainly have a chance to gain 2 spots if Schizas comes in fresh and is able to do what she did in the team event (plus some other reasons I will not get into)... the only discipline we may end up losing a spot in is ice dance (which is shocking) and that will largely depend on who goes and who doesn't go to worlds...
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- Mar 7, 2015
Ice Dance : if only one team that placed above Piper and Paul and FBS does not show up, we are almost back to 3 spots... and that is assuming our teams stay at the ranks they had at the games, with the mistakes they both had.
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- Oct 20, 2017
The equation changes if they don't show up to Worlds though which is a possibility, they aren't exactly young...and probably at the end of their careers...is either team retiring this year???...I haven't been following too much, I don't think they will make it to the next quadrennial either way...
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- Mar 7, 2015
FBS are aiming for Montreal 2024. Keegan is aiming for WTT 2023 (and 20 Nationals) and J/R are "considering" another season.
That's al I have heard of yet... So no idea about Piper and Paul : I hope they have one more worlds in them because that's not how I wanted to see them go... too many mistakes.
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- Jul 6, 2020
Can we stop with the manufactured outrage against JR? This is a sport. Anyone is allowed to compete. If the other teams don’t like it then maybe they should have done better. I’m tired of this elitist attitude about who should be allowed to compete.
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- Jul 17, 2018
Absolutely! Everyone should compete and understand that if competitors are in your path, you will need to beat them if you want to advance.
No one is entitled to claim any place in the pecking order, it has to be earned.
But the James/Radford pairing seems to have ruffled many feathers and Eric’s reputation, especially, has taken a hit. I’m sorry for that and would like him to return to being known for being an admired, respected former competitor. I think this would be a good first step.
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- Mar 7, 2015
I don't think his reputation has suffered a hit outside of specialised circles. Eric and Vanessa also gained fans they didn't have in their previous partnerships. They were really well portrayed by both the French and English media in Canada.
Did they perform as well as with their previous partners? No. Did people expect them to beat what D/R or even J/C took years to achieve in less than a year together? I doubt it. Even with less than perfect skates, they are still showing what they are working on.
Looking at the protocols, it's clear they have lost a lot of points with levels. That lowered their base value a lot. Level 4 elements are hard to achieve for new teams. When looking at their LP at these games, they did perform well what they were able to achieve but one element. I would say, mission accomplished. Let's not forget they missed weeks of training due to Covid and we can see what that can do for pairs (looking at Minerva and Nolan's disaster LP for instance).
So I do hope they go to worlds, I even hope they will consider coming back for one, and perhaps even 2 more seasons and end their career at home worlds in Montreal.
Yes, Maddie got the 3/3. But after that: 3f<, 2s, 2a, 2a+3t<, 3lo+2t+2lo<<, 3lo<(fall)Madeline got her 3lz-3t combo... that's all that mattersone step at a time. She said she was tired from doing both competitions. She loved the team event, but she probably needed to take a couple days off before the individual and rest, away from the media frenzy. I am proud of her, and not worried at all... she's very strong with the loop usually so seeing most of her problem happened there, at the end, in the second half, doesn't worry me one bit. She will go home, relax, and be ready for worlds. The silver lining, nobody here will be able to comment on Madeline apparently getting no calls, she did when she deserved them. Bravo Madeline ! What a learning experience this has been !
I still don't like Maddie's Madama Butterfly interpretation. I understand that the music at the beginning is all about the party which precedes her (fake) arranged wedding to Pinkerton. But Madeline skated that part with a broad grin, which is not the way a 15-year old Japanese girl would await her marriage. At that time, Japanese women were taught to be demure, not lascivious; a shy smile with head bowed would be the most you'd expect. And at the actual wedding party, Cio-cio San's uncle, a shinto priest, interrupts the celebration to put a curse on her for having converted to Christianity. All the guests leave in horror and Cio Cio San is in tears. So that was not really a happy time at all. Her happiest time is during the love duet, but that music wasn't chosen for the program. The next selection was Un bel di vedremo (one fine day he will come) which is wistful, but not appropriate for broad smiles. The rest of the story is tragic, as Pinkerton returns, but is too ashamed to face Cio Cio San, so has his American wife explain to her that they will take her son back to the US with them. Cio Cio San kills herself.
I have seen this opera at the Metropolitan Opera several times when I lived in NYC, and I've also seen it on TV (PBS). I just wish when skaters choose opera music, they could at least do some research on the libretto (wikipedia is an easily reached source of this kind of information).
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- Mar 7, 2015
Great, we agree ! Maddie is very capable of getting her 3-3 combos. Also, the tech panel will make her pay when she doesn't turn her jumps around, just like anyone else, and the reason she usually doesn't have that issue is that she simply skates better most of the times, not because the TP favoured her and not others. All good here.
Regarding the opera lesson, thanks for your input but you could have saved yourself some time typing it all : I am a professional musician with a specific expertise in such repertoire. Thank goodness most of the times, figure skaters do not attempt to portrait the full story of a 3 hour opera on the ice in a 4 minute program... Yup, Maddie is focusing mostly on one mood of the opera, yet the music evolves to more dramatic sections... but you know, in most of 19th century opera women are sick, are suicidal, get sold, get beaten up or even murdered..I prefer that figure skating doesn't portray these stories and skaters focus on the parts of the music they like. Imagine all these girls skating to Carmen... why don't they all die at the end of their programs? They don't... they focus on the nice music of Bizet with the Spanish flair. I have more reservations for skaters using Mozart's Requiem for instance like Nathan and Anna this year : there is definitely nothing appropriate about using a Requiem for a crowning moment. Nathan was a smart man changing up his program for the Olympics. Made me happy.
My opinion : it's a figure skating competitive program, not an opera on ice exhibition.
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Madama Butterfly is probably the most tragic of Puccini's operas. At least a skater should be aware that the opera is a tragedy, and broad ecstatic smiles are inappropriate. You may be a musician, but I have had years of acting experience and am really turned off by bad characterizations. A skater shouldn't select such dramatic music unless he/she is willing to do a little research to get the most out of the music. It does touch on "Interpretation", one of the PCS categories.
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- Mar 3, 2018
Interpretation doesn’t and has never required you to express the exact story of the work in question.
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