I haven't followed Gabby recently. Has she changed coaches? She had big jumps and was a beautiful performer. As far as the younger ladies training quads and 3A's. Canada might need to look at the US Juniors. They are a MILE ahead of the Juniors from the past and I think it's because they hired Russian Coaches. Either that or, BEG Patrick Chan to become a fulltime coach. He had a full arsenal of big jumps and I think he'd be a great motivator.
my point is not about 3/3 and quads... my point is about development. Prior to Joannie, a woman with all triples (except 3a) was rare in canada. Joannie lacked 3-3... back then, it didn't help that her 3Teu3S counted as a sequence and not a combo. Many girls did not have all triples... then we had alaine, gabby and kaetlyn : all triples, some more stable than others, and 3-3 combos... but below them, there was not much depth, with girls with all triples and 3-3.
I believe Gabby is still with Lee Barkel. However, Lee left TCC for the Granite Club (both are "tony" private clubs in Toronto). So the coach would be the same, but not the environment or training partners. Gabby trained with Javi before the move and his retirement.
We'll have to see what happens with young Isabeau. She really looks like the future and along with Lindsay and 16 year old Alysa, I think we're in fine shape. Isabeau is extremely flexible and has been doing very well on the Junior Circuit. We'll see how things go when the JGPF gets here but, I wouldn't say there is a "HUGE GAP"
Ahem, the reason they finished behind Davis/Smolkin, when Lajoie/Lagha are demonstrably better skaters at this point in their relative careers, was not due to any element at all. It was due to the utterly blatant Russian politicking for the daughter of coach Eteri, who I would venture to say is one of the most powerful figures in Russian skating today. I fully expect to see this brand new team continue to leapfrog inexplicably (performance and program-wise) up the standings. I would not be remotely surprised to see them gifted the third Russian spot to the Olympics. And I fully expect them to land at least in the middle of the top 10 by next year at the latest. If you think it's about talent and skill, I have bridge in Brooklyn you can buy shares in. I have a feeling they'll even be able to out-politick Annabelle Morozov and partner (who I think actually have more potential).
Patrick is now a part of the coaching team for a Novice young boy named Travis Trang.
Just came across the boy's performances at the Sectionals, things seems to go well with them all.
Don't worry, when Davis and Smolkin start leap frogging some of the American teams, we will no longer be the only ones noticing it and mentioning it.
I guess I just need to hope for some optimistic things to the young man no matter what his final decision will be. 
Yeah, Skate Canada was really tough for Lajoie/Lagha - a team that have different styles of expression (she is dazzling showman ship, he is more informed by his years of competitive piano competitions, IMHO), but equally committed to expression. Very well matched - one partner is not carrying the other at any one time in their programs.
The problematic side is as long as Zach actually wins something internationally, all the complaining pieces would definitely be nowhere found, or at least, would decrease strongly.
♂
People, on the one hand, just have more reasons to complain when the skaters are on the building stage internationally. Just like they did with Patrick when he won his first national title in 2008 and then finished 9th in the world. (At that time, many believed that Skate Canada disrepected Jeff by pushing up a newbie like Patrick, even though he was the Grand Prix France Champion back in 2007 - 2008 season). On the other hand, a year later, all the critism just declined because he won his first 4CC title in 2009 and also brought home his first ever Worlds silver medal. That's what I've always disliked about the off-ice community of this sport, including many of the spectators who always give themselves the right to bash one skater in a particular situation, but also ask for sympathy for others who are their faves but in the same situation. Honestly, every athletes want their trophy room to be piled up from years to years. But at the end of the day, they are all human and definitely, no one wants to flop, but becoming a champion is somehow a destiny, also.Here's my thought process on that. I also grew up doing skating and Royal Conservatory of Music piano training (along with other activities, didn't have the typical social life of most kids because I didn't "hang out" after school). In no way did I reach Zach's skating or piano expertise (went to a regular day school), but I spent over a decade in skating and musical training.
I LOVE Hawayek and Baker and I was furious at how shafted they were at Worlds last season. Their FD was a masterpiece — that one-foot step sequence was absolutely stunning. Their skating skills and expression are top notch — edges, speed, smooth as silk across the ice.
I think that the LaLas are more in the “up and coming team” category though. I’d say the more relevant comparison would be to Carreira/Ponomarenko, who are similar in age and development level. To me Hawayek and Baker are much more senior/established.
