2018-19 Canadian figure skating

[4everchan]

Ya why talk about that competition when we can discuss this one, where our Canadians were properly rewarded for their efforts.

what a pretty photo....

 

[Osmond4gold]

and I agree with bill here... let's not talk Sochi in here there are plenty of that kind of talk elsewhere... I agree to move on

Ummm...that was my request bud. So long Sochi!!!

 

[4everchan]

Ummm...that was my request bud. So long Sochi!!!

oh hi bill sorry O4G same difference... we agree that we have moved on from underscored to world champion

 

[BillNeal]

what a pretty photo....

I get the feels watching this reaction again. Such a team, even for those that didn't skate but still cheered all the way .

 

[4everchan]

I get the feels watching this reaction again. Such a team, even for those that didn't skate but still cheered all the way .

which has already over 1 M views... 222 people thumbed it down....

 

[BillNeal]

which has already over 1 M views... 222 people thumbed it down....

Those people were thumbing down the judges who keep underscoring their FD .

 

[Osmond4gold]

Those people were thumbing down the judges who keep underscoring their FD

I'm with ya, Pollyanna!

 

[BillNeal]

I'm with ya, Pollyanna!

I think you know the real culprits who :disagree: don't deserve a mention in this thread

 

[Osmond4gold]

I think you know the real culprits who :disagree: don't deserve a mention in this thread

Yes, I can think of a few who shall remain nameless. I am sure it was an Olympics from:dev2: for some.

 

[StephenGfan]

which has already over 1 M views... 222 people thumbed it down....

but with 6.8k likes<3 and 22k likes on their individual non team one<3

 

[icetug]

Those people were thumbing down the judges who keep underscoring their FD .

Or were simply frustrated with the info: "This video is not available in your country" (cause it's not in mine)

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Or were simply frustrated with the info: "This video is not available in your country" (cause it's not in mine)

That’s a great use of the thumbs down feature

FTR: Almost every time I publish a video to Youtube I give it a thumbs down just because it’s funny to me

 

[NoNameFace]

Really shows. Saw her live at Skate Canada 2016. Fast, excellent ice coverage, huge 3F-3T, and nice projection to the audience. Even before skating her SP, I could see that she was the class of her warm-up group. She also looked gorgeous in her Edith Piaf dress and scarf . Fortunate enough to see her nail that program live and give her a well-deserved standing 'O.' Was so proud considering the difficulties she had to overcome at Skate Canada the season prior.

I think also that Kaetlyn's ability to captivate audience's attention in these first bits of a program is taken from fitting choreography and some kind of mature synergy between how she looks and how she expresses. Her programs I feel usually have quite strong emphasis on capturing the mood of the music or character portrayed, but with some twist that is non-literal - I really like that her explosive, powerful skating leads programs and choreography, that choreographers (Jeff, Lance) are making programs to suit what Kaetlyn has best, not exactly conforming her into particular character's image/aesthetic, but trying to come up with something Kaetlyn could make hers, regardless of people's opinions. And what I love even more is that her programs embody dynamism and energy successfully, that they are catchy, but sophisticated, refined.

 

[NoNameFace]

I also just watched Stephen Gogolev's Woodkid SP from Minto - he looks so much more mature already! Wow, he kinda grew overnight . And the program is also grown-up, stylish, bit quirky and modern - very good choice for me. I like musicality, nice balance in choreography between slow and paced moments, the entry into second spin on point with stomping/clapping in music. Spins in general impressed me, so did jumps, that was some quick rotation!

 

[Osmond4gold]

I think also that Kaetlyn's ability to captivate audience's attention in these first bits of a program is taken from fitting choreography and some kind of mature synergy between how she looks and how she expresses. Her programs I feel usually have quite strong emphasis on capturing the mood of the music or character portrayed, but with some twist that is non-literal - I really like that her explosive, powerful skating leads programs and choreography, that choreographers (Jeff, Lance) are making programs to suit what Kaetlyn has best, not exactly conforming her into particular character's image/aesthetic, but trying to come up with something Kaetlyn could make hers, regardless of people's opinions. And what I love even more is that her programs embody dynamism and energy successfully, that they are catchy, but sophisticated, refined.

I am always AMAZED at your posts NoNameFace, as I know English is not your first language, but your ability to express and articulate your viewpoints in another language is a gift I wish I had. As always, thanks for your input!

 

[chuckm]

SP : Kaetlyn finished 5th, behind Wagner who had an < on her combo and Asada who fell on a << 3a... Kaetlyn was clean in the SP and "could" have easily been put in 3rd.

LP: when looking at protocols, one sees that yes, she did have a fall and a pop, but her TES was still higher than Marchei and Suzuki (who had issues themselves, espeically Akiko with < ) who beat her on PCS... Nothing against the skaters... just saying that it was convenient to keep Kaetlyn as far as possible in both the SP and LP...

Akiko SUZUKI was frequently hit with URs, but her performances were deeply felt and breathtakingly delivered and she always received very high PCS scores. And I recall Marchei's Sochi FS as the best she'd ever done, and it, too was dellivered with passion and conviction. Their high PCS scores were well-deserved.

Perhaps if Kaetlyn hadn't had a fall, her PCS scores might have been higher. When a skater is a relative newbie competing against veterans, a clean performance is a must.

 

[NoNameFace]

I am always AMAZED at your posts NoNameFace, as I know English is not your first language, but your ability to express and articulate your viewpoints in another language is a gift I wish I had. As always, thanks for your input!

Well, I wish my written French was that good to elaborate n FS topic, but I cannot have everything
Thanks a lot for your kind words, but I mostly benefit from people's input here and elsewhere - BillNeal's post made me think about that aspect of Kaetlyn's skating and then I just well, trust my guts and go with it

 

[Osmond4gold]

Akiko SUZUKI was frequently hit with URs, but her performances were deeply felt and breathtakingly delivered and she always received very high PCS scores. And I recall Marchei's Sochi FS as the best she'd ever done, and it, too was dellivered with passion and conviction. Their high PCS scores were well-deserved.

Perhaps if Kaetlyn hadn't had a fall, her PCS scores might have been higher. When a skater is a relative newbie competing against veterans, a clean performance is a must.

She was not awarded in her Team SP program as she should have been. As Carol Lane says about the sport, ''reputation scoring rears its ugly head once again''. The rest of the comp. including the LP results was predictable, even though she had the 3rd best TES overall in the comp. in both programs. Not to worry, as she has more than proven her critics wrong as the most decorated female skater of the Olympics/Worlds in the past 5 years, keeping in mind she was out of the sport for almost 2 years in that time. Moving on here chuckm, and I hope you can as well.

 

[Tanager]

In celebration of how rad Canadian skaters are, here are some super rad Instagram posts from this summer:

Kevin Reynolds giving a really lovely explanation of why he's coming back for one more season. Go Kevin! After 2018-19, I hope he transitions away from this sport with all the good feels of satisfaction and completeness.


Meagan Duhamel's really wonderful post about what it's like to transition away from life as an elite competitive skater after 20 years. Of all the many things Meagan excels at, I think she would also be amazing at helping other elite athletes find their passion beyond competitive sport (through Canada's Game Plan programme for example). Go Meagan!


Kaetlyn poking fun at herself in the most amazing way possible on Canada day (make sure you scroll through all three photos!). Way to own it and rock it, World Champion!

Feel free to add your own examples of why and how Canadian skaters rock

 

[NoNameFace]

For me, paradoxally, every time in last quad Canadian skaters have proved their worth in competition (domestic or international), going a bit way beyond their previous results, their skills - it was a 'rock' moment. And I really don't think in numbers/scores or edge calls - for me it was more about proving out to the world this belief these skaters have had in themselves, how strongly their team believed in them, their material, their chances (to do well, not exactly to win things).

Kaetlyn's two Worlds medals and double Olympic medallist, being back from severe injury and sitting out couple of seasons - what got me was her readiness in the most important events, often facing adversity and pre-judgements about her skating/performance.

WeaPo's Worlds bronze medal this year after couple of disappointing seasons, after Kaitlyn's injury this very season - them, going also a bit against all odds, with old FD, but with even more passion and conviction.

Gabrielle's bronze medal at 2017 Worlds - a great example of persistence and hard work towards biggest aims. In a season when she was always fourth, always missing very little to podium - well, she earned it in the most important time.

Meagan/Eric's individual Olympic bronze - apart from being individual and team medallists, what impressed me the most was style they achieved it all in, 4 strong programs, memorable performances coming after season full of twists, changes of FS. All also in face of adversity and doubt.

Tessa/Scott - probably the most 'rocking' example of them all for me, that coming from person who believed in them, their material, but did not believe ID judging before Olympics. Apart from winning that individual gold, the most admirable, impressive thing about this last season was how they managed to transform their programs (FD in particular) and at the same time - perception of audience about them; for me they have showed a lot of openness in individuality, to morph theme/music that is deemed cheesy, overacted, cheap/tacky into something special, unique to them.

I'd also say that Keegan and Kirsten/Michael in Milan showed a lot of spirit that 'rocked', skating best they could and getting spots for Canada. I was impressed by them. Another non-specific results example for me are Piper and Paul - other team would probably back off and try to fit into the crowd with their repertoire/style, but not them; I love their originality, devotion, doing something different each season, transforming themselves into characters fully. They are gems of ID scene and I hope their next season will bring them more recognition and results.