2020–21 Canadian Figure Skating

[Colonel Green]

Was Nam having training or injury issues? His free skate content was markedly lower than what he has attempted in the past. Regardless, not his best event.

Roman is doing the same thing Keegan was trying for years by backloading the second quad (and, more dangerously, also making the second one the combination). I think he really needs to reconsider that layout, because it too often doesn’t work and when it doesn’t the whole second half derails).

 

[4everchan]

I am also worried for Nam. No lutz... Some strange choices in there like the 2a? I hope he didn't injure himself... He looked fine on the 4S... maybe the 3a fall was painful.... For Roman, I have still to look at his skate. I am not sure I want to after seeing the scores. I wouldn't compare him to Keegan about the backloading. I mean, perhaps Roman should put his quad combo right at the beginning.. fair enough... BUT for me, as much as I adore his skating, spins, presentation etc and still believe he could be the best Canadian skater post Chan, he has rotation issues.... it wasn't a big factor in the SP, though he lost all positive GOE on his combo, which lowered his score significantly... BUT in the LP, his score card is a hot mess.... Next time people start complaining that Roman hasn't been selected for big events, there will be WTT to add to 4C about bad international outings... scores in the low 130s are miserable at this level.

This being said, let's blame the lack of competition this year for our boys' problems.

 

[Supernovaimplosion]

Didn't Roman say he wanted to add a second quad to the sp next season?? He wants to push the envelope but I'm not sure that the Olympic season is best for that

 

[Supernovaimplosion]

Also Roman's fall on the quad was so perfectly timed with the music

 

[Colonel Green]

Didn't Roman say he wanted to add a second quad to the sp next season?? He wants to push the envelope but I'm not sure that the Olympic season is best for that

I don’t recall him saying that, and I would be surprised if he tried it, because he can’t do quad-triple combinations.

 

[Supernovaimplosion]

I don’t recall him saying that, and I would be surprised if he tried it, because he can’t do quad-triple combinations.

I watched again and he says in the vlog for virtual challenge his goal is 2 quads in the sp but he didn't say when

 

[4everchan]

I watched again and he says in the vlog for virtual challenge his goal is 2 quads in the sp but he didn't say when

well... that's pretty much everyone's goal nowadays we will have an answer when we see him compete his new sp. the layout will tell it all. with two quads in the sp, he would probably have to start with the combo and finish with the 3a

 

[RatedPG]

I just watched Romans skate and all I have to express is ; I now know for sure Keegan was the correct choice to send to Worlds. I think Roman is too confident with 4S in the second half. He can land 4S so well during run through. But, I think for competitions it is too much to ask for him to land one in the second half. When he does land it, it usually is UR too. Also, he is yet to land the lutz toe combo in the second half of a program from I’ve watched. I think he needs to land more combos in the first half when he has more energy. That way, he loses less points if he screws up his single jumps in the second half. I think the Canadian men placed 10th and 11th. This leaves the door open for that second spot. I still have faith in you Roman

 

[4everchan]

yup ... our boys did so badly that with their ranking points for finishing last and second last, they earned less than italy with only one competitor.... sometimes, it's worth staying up in the middle of the night to watch competitions in asia... i will remember forever screaming of joy in my house at 3-4am for patrick's chopin at 4cc... but last night, i am filing a complaint to the skating gods, so they at least give me my sleep back

 

[Amei]

yup ... our boys did so badly that with their ranking points for finishing last and second last, they earned less than italy with only one competitor.... sometimes, it's worth staying up in the middle of the night to watch competitions in asia... i will remember forever screaming of joy in my house at 3-4am for patrick's chopin at 4cc... but last night, i am filing a complaint to the skating gods, so they at least give me my sleep back

I kinda like the badly timed skates for me where I end up watching after the event, I can check the score sheets and mentally prepare myself for what happens and can bypass disaster skates

 

[4everchan]

I kinda like the badly timed skates for me where I end up watching after the event, I can check the score sheets and mentally prepare myself for what happens and can bypass disaster skates

well... i admit that i still haven't watched Roman i saw Nam and Shoma and then i thought... ok.... two of my 3 faves had issues... I will watch the rest tomorrow morning.... then, i saw the score cards... and well... still haven't watched the final flight of the lp

 

[Yeslekyelnats]

And your point is?!! I know Keegan lives in the freaking US. I also remember him skating for the US. And your other point is moot. I'm done with this stupid conversation. Please move on.

Woah?? Was that directed at me? Maybe I missed something I was just responding to the quarantine part saying he wouldn’t have had to? You don’t need to quarantine in the US if you have been vaccinated and if you haven’t you only need to quarantine 10 days if you don’t want to take a test with a negative result 3-5 days after. Even then it isn’t a formal quarantine like Canada they are just recommendations. that’s all I was responding to.

Nothing about him used to be skating for the US

 

[Colonel Green]

An okay free skate for both Alison and Gabrielle. The latter seems to have more fight than in the past, but the jump landings are all tough now.

 

[Supernovaimplosion]

It was funny and sad to watch team Canada cheer when it was announced they were in 6th place
Alison was definitely the best dressed lady, both her dresses were gorgeous. I didn't know what to expect from her but I thought she did quite well.

 

[4everchan]

I think this was a good event for the team. Athletes got some competing done... it was much needed. For Gaby : i admire her courage.
1) She went for a much harder layout than in the past in the LP. 3z-3t + 2a+3t (planned) compared to 3t-3t and 3s/2a seq. When she gets used to it, she will have made up the BV gap she had on girls who do not do quads/3axels
2) in the LP, she went for the triple jumps. She approached them with speed and power. The fear is gone. She just needs adjusting on the landings now, which was her weakness when she started out. I think she could regain her top Canadian lady status in the next year... it will be a big fight between her and Madeline. I would put Alison in there as well, if she starts to perform and emote. When I watch her skate, I think about Satoko... she has exquisite skating... but Satoko manages to get high PCS with the little extra details and refinement in her execution and performance. Alison needs to work a lot on this. I know it is possible. Gabby herself used to be all power, speed and jumps and is now a much better all-around skater.

Matte and Ferland : fine. they finished last... but they are young and do not have much experience at the international senior level. I think that if they fix their twist, the jumps will come (they are there... they just didn't happen this weekend)... the rest is very high quality. The throws and lifts WOW. Thierry is a very strong partner. I love watching him. Lori-Ann needs a bit more confidence. Confidence comes with experience.

 

[blue_idealist]

I think this was a good event for the team. Athletes got some competing done... it was much needed. For Gaby : i admire her courage.
1) She went for a much harder layout than in the past in the LP. 3z-3t + 2a+3t (planned) compared to 3t-3t and 3s/2a seq. When she gets used to it, she will have made up the BV gap she had on girls who do not do quads/3axels
2) in the LP, she went for the triple jumps. She approached them with speed and power. The fear is gone. She just needs adjusting on the landings now, which was her weakness when she started out. I think she could regain her top Canadian lady status in the next year... it will be a big fight between her and Madeline. I would put Alison in there as well, if she starts to perform and emote. When I watch her skate, I think about Satoko... she has exquisite skating... but Satoko manages to get high PCS with the little extra details and refinement in her execution and performance. Alison needs to work a lot on this. I know it is possible. Gabby herself used to be all power, speed and jumps and is now a much better all-around skater.

Matte and Ferland : fine. they finished last... but they are young and do not have much experience at the international senior level. I think that if they fix their twist, the jumps will come (they are there... they just didn't happen this weekend)... the rest is very high quality. The throws and lifts WOW. Thierry is a very strong partner. I love watching him. Lori-Ann needs a bit more confidence. Confidence comes with experience.

While Gabby still skates a good program, spins and field moves etc., her jumping is too bad at this time for her to become the top lady again, IMO. I believe she'll fall consistently behind Allison and Madeline, and perhaps Emily, too.

 

[4everchan]

While Gabby still skates a good program, spins and field moves etc., her jumping is too bad at this time for her to become the top lady again, IMO. I believe she'll fall consistently behind Allison and Madeline, and perhaps Emily, too.

i disagree. right now, yes. her jumps are not good. But you have to look at what is missing : in her case, she has too much power to secure safe and clean landings. She was like that when she first got to the scene (15-16 years old) ... I believe that, as she has managed to fix this particular issue in the past, that she will be able to fix it again. Emily? really? No offense but Emily has a lot on her plate if she wants to compete again at big events. BTW Alicia Pineault is back on the ice now, after her surgery. Who knows ? Maybe she will come back strong.

Madeline is the best skater right now... but even with a very good performance at worlds, her content is not competitive. Will she pack her LP with harder jumps next year, and manage to land them all? It's always a fine balance....

qui vivra verra

 

[chuckm]

Gabby may have skated somewhat better than expected in the FS, she did not rise out of 10th place. And her PCS scores dropped. She got an 8 in the SP for Skating Skills, but that dropped to 7.8 in the FS, and the rest of her PCS scores for the free were in the mid 7s. Gabby's overall PCS scores weren't much higher than Negrello's, who was skating at her first major senior international, and lower than Gutmann's; they were higher than Alison's, but then presentation has never been Alison's forte.

 

[Skater Boy]

I

I think this was a good event for the team. Athletes got some competing done... it was much needed. For Gaby : i admire her courage.
1) She went for a much harder layout than in the past in the LP. 3z-3t + 2a+3t (planned) compared to 3t-3t and 3s/2a seq. When she gets used to it, she will have made up the BV gap she had on girls who do not do quads/3axels
2) in the LP, she went for the triple jumps. She approached them with speed and power. The fear is gone. She just needs adjusting on the landings now, which was her weakness when she started out. I think she could regain her top Canadian lady status in the next year... it will be a big fight between her and Madeline. I would put Alison in there as well, if she starts to perform and emote. When I watch her skate, I think about Satoko... she has exquisite skating... but Satoko manages to get high PCS with the little extra details and refinement in her execution and performance. Alison needs to work a lot on this. I know it is possible. Gabby herself used to be all power, speed and jumps and is now a much better all-around skater.

Matte and Ferland : fine. they finished last... but they are young and do not have much experience at the international senior level. I think that if they fix their twist, the jumps will come (they are there... they just didn't happen this weekend)... the rest is very high quality. The throws and lifts WOW. Thierry is a very strong partner. I love watching him. Lori-Ann needs a bit more confidence. Confidence comes with experience.

I wish I could be so positive but I cn see the positive spin. It is just that many thought they would be fifth over all and many hoped Roman, Nam and Gabby in particular would fair much better. It was possible with their quds nd improved skating skills Nam and Roman could hve even beaten Jason. SF - they have had some rough times. and it isn't getting better. I would say this is not the olympic team and not the olympic set up which is more favorable to Canada. I know Madeline is the future but I am not sure Gabby will regain her past glory. I t is sad to see the former world bronze medallist struggle so badly - her scores would not qualify for the FS. and where is that amazing 3T3T???

 

[Colonel Green]

It is just that many thought they would be fifth over all and many hoped Roman, Nam and Gabby in particular would fair much better.

Roman and Nam definitely had a disappointing event (though Roman had a really strong short program at least, which is something he really needed), but I don't think anybody was expecting Gabrielle to perform better than she did here. This was probably her best event since 2019, in fact, though that's a sad reflection of how rough it's been for her.

Unrelatedly, Alison's performance squeaked her onto the top 24 season's best list, so there are now two Canadian ladies on it in addition to the three host spots we have at SCI.