2016-2017 State of Canadian Figure Skating

[Mango]

I think there may be some credibility to the rumour that Mackenzie Bent and Dmitre Razgulajevs have split. A friend of mine who visits their club did not see them there. Mackenzie also went to the US recently. This is at a time when most teams are getting in good practice for Challenge. We'll find out soon enough with start orders for Challenge being posted some time this week.

 

[Skater Boy]

At this point we see

Pairs Duhamel and Radford getting mixed reviews but still clearly the best Canadians. Key for them this year - consistency on the throw 3A if they get it they will start get some of the padding they need to hold of S and M and S and H and their tes/goes. I am not including the Russians right now - they seem to be out of the picture with pregnancy/injuries and injuries and age it seems. Seguin and Bilodeau had a rough skate recently but show huge potential so those two teams are the world hope; I and M seem to be a lock on the bronze with Kristen and Michael dealing with ehr concussion and his apparent weakness not only in skating but lifts/twists.

Dance: Okay I am not sure there will be such a battle with V and M the apparent leaders but apparently behind the French - we will see this weekend but I think the judges are favouring the French. Weapo need maybe a break or somethign to shock them into greatness. They lost the world gold by a fraction of a point and have gone down hill - maybe missing the grand prix final is a blessing as they did very well the last couple of years and then blew it at worlds. G andP are the team that could shock the word if the jduges open up their point purses.

Men - Despite Patrick's issues with lacking quads (sal) and the triple axel he still improves though not mark wise pcs and is trying to up the ante and he is still Canada's no. 1 by far with Nam still recovering from huge growth issues and maybe some emotional turmoil moving and all. Reynolds is fighting back which is good for Canada. Liam sadly is not progressing and with Balde skating solidly the real issue is who gets the second spot. Nam needs to show he can skate consistently and Reynolds needs to up the artistry and make sure those quads are rotated.

Ladies - really the three some battle right now is Gabby and Kaetlyn with Kaetlyn showing some of the promise we saw early on before injuries.
Kaetlyn could be the new hope for Canada's women. I have felt that all along over Chartrand and Daleman. She has a wonderful presence on the ice and big jumps to compete with Gabs. Now if Gabs and Kaet got consistent it would be interesting to see how they would do against the Americans.

 

[Mango]

Skater Boy are you doing an mid-season assessment? It's better to wait until GPF is done, but let me respond to you.

Duhamel/Radford have the highest mark of any pair this season. What are the mixed reviews? They've made progress with the throw 3A. They had two noticeable mistakes at Skate Canada - the foot down on the triple jump combo by Meagan and the fall on the throw quad. Those are fixable. What they didn't have were judging panels throwing PCS at them for just performing, as is the case with the European GPs. Séguin/Bilodeau are adding technical difficulty to their programs. You saw what happened with Tarasova/Morozov in the FS at Skate America when they also tried to up the tech. It's a part of the process. You've got the assessment of Luba/Dylan right for now. We'll see what shape Kirsten and Michael are in after Challenge.

Tessa & Scott are not going to be winning anything this year. I've come to understand their plan is to gun for the titles next year. This year is about getting used to the new rules, and new style du jour in ice dance, and get their competition legs under them. They let the nerves get to them in Skate Canada in front of a home crowd after two years of not competing. Weaver/Poje have not gone down hill - they stagnated. They needed a change, they and their coaches made one in going to Morozov and Russia. They're planning on peaking later because they changed their programs so much early in the season. Gilles/Poirier have been told to wait their turn while improving their tech. They've embraced that role for now.

Liam has improved slightly - he's gone from being under 200 to scoring about 210 now. He's up and down but in a new coaching situation. Like Elladj, I think he will improve too, but slowly. Kevin right now is #2 in Canada. That score and medal at Skate Canada sealed the deal.

Don't underestimate Alaine. She has been able to have strong programs, just not two in one competition (except at 2016 Nationals). At least wait until she performs at NHK to decide if you'd like to dismiss her entirely. She's had some good free skates this season and has this shot to prove herself after Gabby & Kaetlyn's successes. Kaetlyn's got her Worlds preview happening at GPF. Gabby is going to Challenge to exorcise her demons. Things are looking up for Canadian ladies.

 

[4everchan]

Thanks Mango. I was going to reply but you beat me to it and in good fashion...

Two things i'd like to add :
1) the mixed reviews on D/R are mostly those of forum fans.... they have not been made by the judges.
2) Patrick: can we cut him some slack with his triple axel? Both of his attempts were not only successful in the LP but were very nice and well rewarded by the judges. In both of GPs this year, he has fallen once in 6 attempts. I think we fans would be happy with that success rate, and I am sure Patrick is aiming for even higher success.... I can see that his approach to the jump is more organic this year.. Less cautious... just right up in the air... I am not an expert but they look pretty healthy to me.

 

[Mango]

Schedule and entries for Challenge are up: https://skatecanada.ca/event/2017-skate-canada-challenge/

As expected, skaters who haven't made the GPF are competing. Gabby, Piper & Paul, Nam Nguyen. Even Julianne and Charlie are signed up, but that was likely when they thought the had no hope for GPF. KM-T/MM are there, as well as Michelle Long and Liam Firus. No Mallet. Some juniors are skating up - I noticed Joseph Phan, Sarah Tamura, and Megan Yim.

 

[4everchan]

wish i had time to go.. it;s not far away... but i guess i'll see the stars at nationals

Schedule and entries for Challenge are up: https://skatecanada.ca/event/2017-skate-canada-challenge/

As expected, skaters who haven't made the GPF are competing. Gabby, Piper & Paul, Nam Nguyen. Even Julianne and Charlie are signed up, but that was likely when they thought the had no hope for GPF. KM-T/MM are there, as well as Michelle Long and Liam Firus. No Mallet. Some juniors are skating up - I noticed Joseph Phan, Sarah Tamura, and Megan Yim.

 

[TGee]

I think there may be some credibility to the rumour that Mackenzie Bent and Dmitre Razgulajevs have split. A friend of mine who visits their club did not see them there. Mackenzie also went to the US recently. This is at a time when most teams are getting in good practice for Challenge. We'll find out soon enough with start orders for Challenge being posted some time this week.

I don't see Mackenzie and Dmitre in the start order for senior dance.

I'm having mixed feelings about this. I really felt that she was doing well with her previous partner, but after his fall at junior worlds, the energy seemed to go out of more than that FD.

I didn't see her partnership with Dmitre as having as much potential, and I can understand that she would be at the point of moving on given their Challenger results this fall. And given Dmitre's dad is in the coach team at the Carol Lane School, she's going likely feeling the need to look at another coaching situation. Can understand her looking for coaching across the border. But would be very sad if she wasn't able to find a partnership that would keep her skating for Canada....

 

[TGee]

wish i had time to go.. it;s not far away... but i guess i'll see the stars at nationals

I'd like to make sure that everyone knows that Challenge is usually live streamed through DailyMotion.

I don't see anything up on that on the event website about that yet but hope that the tabs for livestream if and live results show up shortly.

But I do encourage anyone who can make it to Pierrefonds to go.

 

[4everchan]

streamed or not, i have a very busy week.... people think i spent my life here posting but i do work LOL hahaha i am not even sure i will be able to watch much of NHK either... at least last week was fun during COC. But thanks! The good thing about dailymotion is that most likely videos will be kept a while so perhaps i can catch up...

Pierrefonds takes me almost 2 hours to get to... YAY transit to the boonies.. it's almost as far as getting to Ottawa can you imagine??? However, if i were on holidays, i would definitely go... it's a nice little rink and it's fun to see the skaters from so close.... Go go go !!!!

I'd like to make sure that everyone knows that Challenge is usually live streamed through DailyMotion.

I don't see anything up on that on the event website about that yet but hope that the tabs for livestream if and live results show up shortly.

But I do encourage anyone who can make it to Pierrefonds to go.

 

[Mango]

I don't see Mackenzie and Dmitre in the start order for senior dance.

I'm having mixed feelings about this. I really felt that she was doing well with her previous partner, but after his fall at junior worlds, the energy seemed to go out of more than that FD.

I didn't see her partnership with Dmitre as having as much potential, and I can understand that she would be at the point of moving on given their Challenger results this fall. And given Dmitre's dad is in the coach team at the Carol Lane School, she's going likely feeling the need to look at another coaching situation. Can understand her looking for coaching across the border. But would be very sad if she wasn't able to find a partnership that would keep her skating for Canada....

Agreed on all points. The only thing about that visit to the US is that she saw her boyfriend - US junior ice dancer Michael Parsons. I don't think she'd train in the US unless she found another partner to compete with. Who's available? François-Xavier Ouellette? Our ice dance girls are seriously in need of partners. Maddie Edwards needs a guy as well. I still think some male singles skaters who are sick of it should consider ice dance. (Like Chiddy post-2018... )

 

[Mango]

Ooh I missed this.

Throw triple Axel by Meagan & Eric: https://www.instagram.com/p/BNE3xRDgMG4/

It looks better than what I saw at Skate Canada.

 

[4everchan]

MUAHAHA chiddy in dance people would be " but what about his triple axel?"

Agreed on all points. The only thing about that visit to the US is that she saw her boyfriend - US junior ice dancer Michael Parsons. I don't think she'd train in the US unless she found another partner to compete with. Who's available? François-Xavier Ouellette? Our ice dance girls are seriously in need of partners. Maddie Edwards needs a guy as well. I still think some male singles skaters who are sick of it should consider ice dance. (Like Chiddy post-2018... )

 

[4everchan]

OMG.. this is getting really good... WOW... I invite you to post it in their fanfest your turn LOL they seem to have reduced their prep for it too and it goes quite high...It is almost looking easy at this point... I am out of words! WOW!!!

Ooh I missed this.

Throw triple Axel by Meagan & Eric: https://www.instagram.com/p/BNE3xRDgMG4/

It looks better than what I saw at Skate Canada.

 

[Mango]

MUAHAHA chiddy in dance people would be " but what about his triple axel?"

But what about his twizzles? They're fabulous. He's already got a dance coach. Beautiful ladies are waiting, Chiddy.

OMG.. this is getting really good... WOW... I invite you to post it in their fanfest your turn LOL they seem to have reduced their prep for it too and it goes quite high...It is almost looking easy at this point... I am out of words! WOW!!!

I will! They posted a throw 3Lz before too. Much more comfortable with this now it seems. Even if they fall it shouldn't be so jarring, I think.

 

[4everchan]

But what about his twizzles? They're fabulous. He's already got a dance coach. Beautiful ladies are waiting, Chiddy.

Patrick is quite short to be an ice dancer isn't he? 5'7 I see him more in pairs... with Eric or Dylan

I will! They posted a throw 3Lz before too. Much more comfortable with this now it seems. Even if they fall it shouldn't be so jarring, I think.

Yup the 3lz is so easy now... I think it was a smart move to work on the 3A and keep the lutz.... less pressure... but now.. .what should they do???? they have two options...

using throw 3a for both short and long + 4S
using throw 3 a for short and throw quads (lz and S) for long... the 3lzTh is supposed to be a placeholder....

 

[Mango]

Patrick is quite short to be an ice dancer isn't he? 5'7 I see him more in pairs... with Eric or Dylan



Yup the 3lz is so easy now... I think it was a smart move to work on the 3A and keep the lutz.... less pressure... but now.. .what should they do???? they have two options...

using throw 3a for both short and long + 4S
using throw 3 a for short and throw quads (lz and S) for long... the 3lzTh is supposed to be a placeholder....

Find a short lady, then. Plenty around here.

Ultimate goal is throw 3A in the SP and throw 4S & 4Lz in the FS. Though she did make a joke about the 3A in the FS next season.

There are people in another thread wanting to devalue quads in pairs to discourage them.

That's nuts.

Meagan and other pair skaters have called out the ISU for how low the value of quads is in pairs vs. single skating.

But then again, anything that helps your favs win should be in... :sarcasm:

 

[4everchan]

Find a short lady, then. Plenty around here.

Ultimate goal is throw 3A in the SP and throw 4S & 4Lz in the FS. Though she did make a joke about the 3A in the FS next season.

There are people in another thread wanting to devalue quads in pairs to discourage them.

That's nuts.

Meagan and other pair skaters have called out the ISU for how low the value of quads is in pairs vs. single skating.

But then again, anything that helps your favs win should be in... :sarcasm:

well there's no reason they would stick with thr3lz... so i m not sure why he considered that?

and yes.. throw quads deserve more points..

 

[Mango]

well there's no reason they would stick with thr3lz... so i m not sure why he considered that?

and yes.. throw quads deserve more points..

I think he was doing theoretical calculations. As we know neither team maxes out their levels consistently. And if D/R feel threatened they can change up their throws, as you know.

Apparently the value of quads encourages skaters to stop skating like juniors... I mean try those dangerous quads and now we've got too many injuries and pairs is so boring.

 

[4everchan]

funny enough, meagan is the one being crazy with throws and the one not getting injured... anyways...

yes and it's not like they also always land the things.... aliona hasn't landed any throw in a very long time... two foots them all....

and i think one of their lifts keeps getting a level 3...

even their massive twist sometimes gets a level 2..

in any case, i like how she tweeted him back LOL and am looking forward to seeing them at nhk..

I think he was doing theoretical calculations. As we know neither team maxes out their levels consistently. And if D/R feel threatened they can change up their throws, as you know.

Apparently the value of quads encourages skaters to stop skating like juniors... I mean try those dangerous quads and now we've got too many injuries and pairs is so boring.

 

[TGee]

Alaina Chartrand has posted a photo from Pearson airport on her way to Japan....

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNFLX-bAJEQ/

I always find it surprising how small she is (155 cm or just over 5'1) since she has such a huge presence on the ice....