2026 Canadian Nationals : Pairs' Long Program

[4everchan]

Wow!! I did not expect these results at all.
I’m so happy for Lia & Trentt
They peaked when it mattered and they are the future of Canadian pairs skating

But, Kelly Ann and Loucas won me over. They skate from their hearts and have just gotten better and better, as the season has progressed. Please note that this Pairs team is the best eligible for Olympics Pairs team that didn’t qualify for the Olympics. This speaks to the depth of our Pairs teams. Everyone keeps talking about the American Pairs teams missing out. Kelly Ann and Loucas are better than the American Nationals 3rd place team. They will be missed. I love seeing Kelly Ann rejoice with happiness

Ava & Yohnathan have many years to go. I thought they could sneak into the podium but Kelly Ann and Loucas were unstoppable. These two teams will enjoy going to 4CC together. My gut also tells me that Deanna and Maxime will be done after the Olympics. So, Yohnathan&Ava will get JWC, as well. But, Kelly Ann&Loucas may get Worlds too.

Deanna looked mad and you can see Maxime is actually terrified of her. Something doesn’t seem right between these two.

Team event - We could split Pairs now with Lia and Trentt getting the free skate portion if Canada qualifies for top five. I don’t see much of a gap between our top two Pairs teams

Deanna is sick with a stomach bug or food poisoning. Watch Deanna's dream the documentary on the Olympic network. I have only watched the first half but you will get their dynamics better. She's not mad at him . She's just very intense.

Team event, splitting pairs is not a bad idea but it will depend on many things.. SP needs to be done by Deanna and Max.

Deanna wants to continue. Maxime said he doesn't have another cycle in him. So it will be interesting to see what will happen.

I think that if they do well at the games, they will skip worlds for sure. However, if they don't they may try again to finish on a better note.

Lots of if s

 

[4everchan]

I do not think Deanna and Max should abandon their LP. First, I think it's great choreography and really suits them. Second, I think the vampire program has already had its peak moment and they won't be able to repeat or top it, so there's really only a negative comparison to be had.

I get why Lia and Trennt went back to Gladiator, but again, I really loved their LP this season and hope they bring it back to perfect it next year.

I agree. I think this LP is beautiful and more refined. They just need to be bubble wrapped and retrain their SBS patterns so they can perform well at the games.

 

[ladyjane]

I've just watched the Pairs FS with that surprising outcome. It started off slowly with Eliana and Thierry, but I am sure if they have a better year with no injuries they will improve, if not to a career internationally. I was completely charmed by Miyu and Tristan. She is so exuberant, he so steady. Great combination. Jazmine and Kieran can do better, still worthwhile to watch. Kelly Anne and Loucas had the skate of their lives. I loved the show of emotions at the end. Well done! Ava and Yohnathan did great. It will be good to see them at 4CC (with Kelly Ann and Loucas maybe). Just not enough for the podium, but that will come soon. I have always loved their Gladiator FS, so I was pleasantly surprised when Lia and Trennt went back to it. Maybe not a perfect skate but some elements were definitely very well executed. Their emotions were also a wonder to behold. So pleased for them. A shame about Diana and Maxime though. Thank goodness for their excellent short!

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Max being terrified of Deanna? I don't think so. And tbh I've seen Deanna look more mad in the K&C than she did yesterday, she looked more sad than anything. Yes she will be disappointed but I think she knows it could have gone way worse given the circumstances.
The free is great. And they had a great outing with it at SCI. The jumps were good there. Only a double Salchow, yes, but way better than what they did yesterday. So they have proven that they can do it, and I think they can repeat it.
I agree though that if pairs are split in Milan, Deanna and Max should do the short.
And for them being done after the season: I'm not sure Deanna will continue without Max. She'd have to find a new partner, and if there's nobody from Canada available, she'll have to at least sit out a year for either switching countries herself or for a partner to switch. And I don't know if she wants to go through this again.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Also, thinking about it... Considering the circumstances...Deanna and Max kind of did exactly what they had to do. She probably had more stamina on Friday and they skated great there and put out a short program that made sure they would at least place second.

 

[4everchan]

I am sure that Skate Canada would have sent them to the Olympics even if they had skipped the LP or even the event. I admire them for competing anyway.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

I am sure that Skate Canada would have sent them to the Olympics even if they had skipped the LP or even the event. I admire them for competing anyway.

I think Deanna will never WD if she's not at least missing a limb

 

[4everchan]

I think Deanna will never WD if she's not at least missing a limb

Let's not go there

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Let's not go there

Nooo OMG I don't want to jinx anything. I was just thinking back to 2023 when she had that RSV and could hardly breathe and still competed

 

[skylark]

Beautifully skated, Lia and Trennt! I'm so happy for them to claim the national championship. I hope (and imagine) they'll skate their Gladiator program at the Olympics. There's something about it that just is beautiful with their personalities.

To tell the truth, I was a little disappointed with Ted and (?)Kirsten when they over-talked Max and Deanna after their defeat, and didn't, in my opinion, give Lia and Trennt enough attention.

So well done, Lia and Trennt, and Kelly and Loucas!

 

[Sackie]

I just watched Kelly Ann/Lucas and Lia/Trennt back to back and I am not sure I would have not given Kelly Ann/Lucas 1st in the free skate. I know the scores were close but really think the skate of the night was for theirs.

 

[4everchan]

Beautifully skated, Lia and Trennt! I'm so happy for them to claim the national championship. I hope (and imagine) they'll skate their Gladiator program at the Olympics. There's something about it that just is beautiful with their personalities.

To tell the truth, I was a little disappointed with Ted and (?)Kirsten when they over-talked Max and Deanna after their defeat, and didn't, in my opinion, give Lia and Trennt enough attention.

So well done, Lia and Trennt, and Kelly and Loucas!

I didn't hear it the way you did. It is normal that they were talking about Max and Deanna because they had just skated and had a very poor performance for their standards. It's an upset to see them, former world champions, lose to another Canadian team, moreover with such a subpar showing. Kirsten was very laudatory about Lia and Trennt. She's known Trennt for a long time and supported him and Evelyn back then, when they didn't make the team in 2022. She was genuinely happy for them and it showed. I think talking about the favourites will always happen no matter what.

Anyway, that's how I heard it yesterday.

 

[4everchan]

I just watched Kelly Ann/Lucas and Lia/Trennt back to back and I am not sure I would have not given Kelly Ann/Lucas 1st in the free skate. I know the scores were close but really think the skate of the night was for theirs.

Technically, they were superior and they got the highest score. PCS wise, Lia and Trennt and Max and Deanna are still better. Kelly Ann and Loucas are still quite young. They need more refinement and speed. I agree however, they really had the performance of the night. In the end, they finished just a couple points out of first place in the LP.. so it's not like they were held down.

 

[discodisco]

Wow!! I did not expect these results at all.
I’m so happy for Lia & Trentt
They peaked when it mattered and they are the future of Canadian pairs skating

But, Kelly Ann and Loucas won me over. They skate from their hearts and have just gotten better and better, as the season has progressed. Please note that this Pairs team is the best eligible for Olympics Pairs team that didn’t qualify for the Olympics. This speaks to the depth of our Pairs teams. Everyone keeps talking about the American Pairs teams missing out. Kelly Ann and Loucas are better than the American Nationals 3rd place team. They will be missed. I love seeing Kelly Ann rejoice with happiness

Ava & Yohnathan have many years to go. I thought they could sneak into the podium but Kelly Ann and Loucas were unstoppable. These two teams will enjoy going to 4CC together. My gut also tells me that Deanna and Maxime will be done after the Olympics. So, Yohnathan&Ava will get JWC, as well. But, Kelly Ann&Loucas may get Worlds too.

Deanna looked mad and you can see Maxime is actually terrified of her. Something doesn’t seem right between these two.

Team event - We could split Pairs now with Lia and Trentt getting the free skate portion if Canada qualifies for top five. I don’t see much of a gap between our top two Pairs teams

Everyone will try to sugarcoat it and say that no, she's actually a lovely individual who just has high standards, and then point to the fact that her achievements are so incredible at her age and she's passionate, etc. But I wholeheartedly agree- she responds to him the same way Barbara FP, the Italian Ice dancer, did toward her partner. That's always struck me as the closest example. There is, indeed, a degree of Terror in Max after a poor skate.

I don't think there's a necessity to whitewash this pretty obvious fact just because her age defying achievements are so incredibly impressive

 

[discodisco]

I do not think Deanna and Max should abandon their LP. First, I think it's great choreography and really suits them. Second, I think the vampire program has already had its peak moment and they won't be able to repeat or top it, so there's really only a negative comparison to be had.

I get why Lia and Trennt went back to Gladiator, but again, I really loved their LP this season and hope they bring it back to perfect it next year.

Since their World title, things honestly haven’t gone well for Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps. Results have slipped, programs haven’t landed, and this season in particular has been rough. Part of that likely is Father Time—Deanna is remarkable for her age, but anyone over 40 knows that strength, bounce, and recovery just aren’t the same. On top of that, Max has been inconsistent and underwhelming on the jumps.

Given all that, the current free skate offers no safety net when things go wrong, and there’s little evidence it gives them a podium path. So why not try a Hail Mary? Keep the Carmina Burana short, but bring back the vampire free skate. It won’t stop time, but it might reconnect them with a period where confidence, momentum, and results were actually there.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Everyone will try to sugarcoat it and say that no, she's actually a lovely individual who just has high standards, and then point to the fact that her achievements are so incredible at her age and she's passionate, etc. But I wholeheartedly agree- she responds to him the same way Barbara FP, the Italian Ice dancer, did toward her partner. That's always struck me as the closest example. There is, indeed, a degree of Terror in Max after a poor skate.

I don't think there's a necessity to whitewash this pretty obvious fact just because her age defying achievements are so incredibly impressive

Agreed. Deanna has absolutely high standards. Not that she has to prove anything to anyone but the very reason she came back was to not have any regrets so I understand not wanting to ever leave anything on the table. And that just lends itself to a more intense vibe. And it’s an Olympic year with momentum being everything and a legit shot at a medal, so I understand not wanting to take the foot off the gas.

So thrilled for Lia and Trennt! They delivered when it mattered and are returning to form. Hoping for healthy peaked performances from our pairs but these are three solid pairs teams - wish we could send all three to Cortina.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Since their World title, things honestly haven’t gone well for Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps. Results have slipped, programs haven’t landed, and this season in particular has been rough. Part of that likely is Father Time—Deanna is remarkable for her age, but anyone over 40 knows that strength, bounce, and recovery just aren’t the same. On top of that, Max has been inconsistent and underwhelming on the jumps.
Given all that, the current free skate offers no safety net when things go wrong, and there’s little evidence it gives them a podium path. So why not try a Hail Mary? Keep the Carmina Burana short, but bring back the vampire free skate. It won’t stop time, but it might reconnect them with a period where confidence, momentum, and results were actually there.

I agree they should return to a program they feel comfortable with. The SP is new but I think their vampires FS is more “them” and there is confidence and visualization that can hopefully boost their performance that I’m not getting from this FS.

 

[discodisco]

Commentators mentioned that Deanna worked with Ralph Lauren for the red dress she wore at this LP. How does she "back out" of that deal (pun intended) and go with the Vampire?

Yeah I thought about that. I don't know, I think red works with vampires doesn't it?

 

[discodisco]

Max being terrified of Deanna? I don't think so. And tbh I've seen Deanna look more mad in the K&C than she did yesterday, she looked more sad than anything. Yes she will be disappointed but I think she knows it could have gone way worse given the circumstances.
The free is great. And they had a great outing with it at SCI. The jumps were good there. Only a double Salchow, yes, but way better than what they did yesterday. So they have proven that they can do it, and I think they can repeat it.
I agree though that if pairs are split in Milan, Deanna and Max should do the short.
And for them being done after the season: I'm not sure Deanna will continue without Max. She'd have to find a new partner, and if there's nobody from Canada available, she'll have to at least sit out a year for either switching countries herself or for a partner to switch. And I don't know if she wants to go through this again.

Oh I totally agree that I've seen much more of an 'Resting B...' face from Deanna in the past compared to yesterday...

 

[rain]

I agree. I think this LP is beautiful and more refined. They just need to be bubble wrapped and retrain their SBS patterns so they can perform well at the games.

And not be horribly ill.

I was disappointed that Kelly Ann and Loucas didn't do their Say Something FS. I thought that program was a really good step for them artistically.