2016-17 Retirements

[CaroLiza_fan]

Sorry to see "Old Man" Menshov go. I'll never forget when he wore his girlfriend's face on one of his costumes. Speaking of, is Maria Artemieva still competing?

Well, she was a regular podium finisher in the Senior B's last season. So I really hope Maria is going to continue competing for a few more years.

She may not be able to challenge for a slot in the bigger competitions any more, but she is still a very good skater and very competitive! :agree:

CaroLiza_fan

 

[cathlen]

Hayleigh Bell and Rudi Swiegers announced their retirement: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=882014721927486&id=719318761530417

 

[Crossover]

Hayleigh Bell and Rudi Swiegers announced their retirement: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=882014721927486&id=719318761530417

Sorry to hear that. Best wishes to their future.

 

[SarahSynchro]

Nicole orford and Asher Hill are retiring.

https://www.facebook.com/nicole.orford.3/posts/10154264710793482

 

[el henry]

Nicole orford and Asher Hill are retiring.

https://www.facebook.com/nicole.orford.3/posts/10154264710793482

The link doesn't work for me (maybe because I am not Nicole's friend?)

Asher's announcement on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGu7cQrg9j1/?taken-by=asherkwacie

Waaaaaah!

:sad21::sad21::sad21:

 

[SarahSynchro]

The link doesn't work for me (maybe because I am not Nicole's friend?)

Asher's announcement on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGu7cQrg9j1/?taken-by=asherkwacie

Waaaaaah!

:sad21::sad21::sad21:

Oh yes, you're probably right. let me quote Nicole's announcement:

"Asher and I had an amazing year, and we are both so thankful for the second chance at skating we were given. That being said, we would like to announce our retirement from competitive skating.

Of course this was a very difficult decision to make, having dedicated my life to skating for so many years, but I know in my heart this is the right decision and I am excited to see where life takes me beyond skating.

I am so thankful for all the incredible opportunities afforded to me by this sport, and there is no doubt I will continue to be involved in the skating community in some capacity. Skating has given me so much, through hard work and dedication I was able to achieve most of my dreams and goals. I have been able to travel the world, gained invaluable life experiences, made priceless memories and life long friends, and had the honour of representing my beautiful country.

I would like to thank all of my family, friends, coaches, mentors, Skate Canada and the fans, for your support this past year and in other years with previous partners. Most of all I would like to thank Asher for helping me find my passion, joy and love for skating again. Even though our partnership was far too short, we accomplished so much in that time, and I couldn’t be more proud of us!"

 

[el henry]

^^^ so sweet, thx.

Of course Asher uses more of his sense of humor, saying among other things:

"Through dedication and hard work I have been able to achieve so much in this beautiful sport. I've made lifelong friends, travelled the world, gained invaluable life experiences, priceless memories, and a posterior that can’t find pants that fit;"

 

[4everchan]

^^^ so sweet, thx.

Of course Asher uses more of his sense of humor, saying among other things:

"Through dedication and hard work I have been able to achieve so much in this beautiful sport. I've made lifelong friends, travelled the world, gained invaluable life experiences, priceless memories, and a posterior that can’t find pants that fit;"

his posterior doesn't need pants i will miss them....

 

[sarama]

Asher and Nicole had something magical, I felt they could have been a top team together. Maybe if they had partnered together earlier, things would be different now, and this is what really makes me sad

 

[cathlen]

Nicole orford and Asher Hill are retiring.

https://www.facebook.com/nicole.orford.3/posts/10154264710793482

So it's confirmed

 

[Skater Boy]

I truly hope they made the decision based on themselves but life being life this the year teams or skaters decide often depending on their age or stage in career - am i going for the olympics or not. Otherwise one year before the olympics is too close and the tendency is just go for it, it is only one more year. But even without Virtue and Moir they had a tough climb to get to the top 3. The notion of skating for the joy of skating is awesome but money, future (career, living, debt, family, friends, school all come into play). i mean what you tell the press is one thing but inside = how can you not look at the fact you have Virtue and moir former oly champs, Weaver and Poje world medallilsts and a dynamic team with some experience in Gilles and Poirier that you can sort of tell under the right circumstances judges are willing to move them up that are well above the next set of Canadians. We mean probably two or three falls ahead.

 

[SarahSynchro]

Yes, it must be very difficult to be in that position: talented enough to be top five within your country but practically no chance to make it to the Olympics or Worlds or 4CCs, especially when you're in your mid 20s and "real life" is creeping up on you. Skating for the love of skating can only take you so far, I'm afraid, considering the extreme sacrifices and small fortune of money needed to keep the dream going.

 

[sarama]

Yes, it must be very difficult to be in that position: talented enough to be top five within your country but practically no chance to make it to the Olympics or Worlds or 4CCs, especially when you're in your mid 20s and "real life" is creeping up on you. Skating for the love of skating can only take you so far, I'm afraid, considering the extreme sacrifices and small fortune of money needed to keep the dream going.

You are absolutely right, but in Nicole and Asher's case I think they should have pushed for a little longer because 4CCs in 2018 were definitely within their reach, and maybe even worlds in Milan.
Honestly I don't understand what they were expecting....maybe more financial support from the fed? Because last season went well for them, I don't think they could have done any better, so I'm a bit confused about this decision.

 

[SarahSynchro]

I'd be interested to learn how funding from Skate Canada is allocated to the members of the national team, because I honestly have no idea how it works. The USFSA envelope system seems to make more sense in terms of understanding who gets what.

 

[blue eyed birds]

The short answer is that Skate Canada doesn't fund most of the national team members -- at least not those who also receive funding from Sport Canada.

High Performance Grant (offered to top five finishers in each discipline) -- "Current athletes receiving funding from the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program are ineligible to receive the High Performance Grant."

Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program List (for 2015-16 season; see significant overlap with 2015's national team)

 

[cathlen]

Sad news. Joshua Farris has retired from competetive skating:
https://www.facebook.com/figureskat...78550292537/10154942735507538/?type=3&theater

More: http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2016/07/01/187300788

 

[loopy]

I just finished it. I hope he continues to improve. I'm so sad for him but I hope that he increases his joy at coaching and is able to stay positive as he recovers.

 

[Crossover]

Sad news. Joshua Farris has retired form competetive skating:
https://www.facebook.com/figureskat...78550292537/10154942735507538/?type=3&theater

More: http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2016/07/01/187300788

Oh my gosh....:sad4:

 

[ranjake]

Very sad; I adore his skating. Wishing him health and continued improvement.

 

[grotesm1]

I'm sorry to hear Joshua Farris is retiring. He is one of my favorite skaters. He had great technical ability, and his presentation and transitions were always outstanding. I will miss him. Wishing him a complete recovery and all the best in the future.