2022-23 Coaching, Country and Discipline changes

[Jumping_Bean]

Not sure how well-known this is, but Azusa Tanaka (JPN) seems to be searching for an Ice Dance partner (Ice Partner Search profile). She previously competed in Women's singles.


I don't think it was mentioned in this thread before, so just for completeness' sake, Daria Usacheva (RUS) switched from Women's singles to Ice Dance.

 

[4everchan]

They will not release previous INTERNATIONAL competitors for 2 years.... that is there policy... many of the teams you had mentioned often did not require releases.....
Beaudry and Sorneson did not require a release from Canada as they never skated for Canada internationally... a release was not required.

I know that FBS had not represented Canada internationally. But Laurence did represent Canada internationally on the JGP circuit. Did she have to wait two years to get a release? Maybe. I don't know.

The points I am making
1) Shiryaeva never represented Russia internationally... and is still not allowed to skate for Canada...
2) Many skaters have represented other nations... Did Chloe Choinard have to wait two years ? She skated with Ostiguy and was planning to switch to Austria right when covid hit... It doesn't seem like a 2 year wait.... and I am sure there are many in there. In the end Choinard has joined Nexxice and competed at worlds this weekend.
3) Unless there is a skater who is sitting out right now with frustration and feels like coming forward about it, it's not fair to make accusations. Can you provide any source from Skate Canada that says the delay is 2 years? Do skaters sign a contract about this? I mean, you are certainly aware that skaters competing internationally receive funding from Skate Canada. As a tax payer, I am Okay with some delays. Is two years too much? To make my head about this, I'd need to read Skate Canada's policies... are they available?

Just out of curiosity how long did USA take to release Deanna?

Look, I am not trying to absolve Skate Canada of being Skate Canada... they are far from perfect... but when bold comments are made, I tend to want to have concrete data... Otherwise, it just leads to rumours.

 

[4everchan]

Skate Canada requested the release of Beaudry/Sorenson they also requested the release of Laurent/LeGac.
Requests to skate Canada are turned down from other countries IF the skater represented Canada internationally . There is a 2 year wait.
Skate Canada imports with a one year wait from other countries ......

The athletes requested to be released, Skate Canada filled the paperwork.. just like it did for the pair skater Zabiiako... which never materialized in the end...

 

[4everchan]

No accusations it is fact. I have been intertwined with Skate Canada for over 16 years.
If you REPRESENTED CANADA INTERNATIONALLY at the world level at grand prix and championship events IT IS A 2 YEAR WAITING PERIOD.
My point is they benefit from the one year policy of other countries and the ISU policy and import repeatedly.
Many of the teams you mentioned never competed for Canada internationally at the senior level at Cahmpionship or Grand prix events.
Unfortunately at this time I can not tell you who they are holding back .

As a common fan, not intertwined with Skate Canada, i have no knowledge about their policies... They may be unfair... but If true, I bet there are plenty of other countries whose policies are not fair... It doesn't make it any better. At least, many Canadian skaters, needing release or not, represent other nations... so it's not such an impossible thing to achieve.

I am certainly not expecting you or anyone to disrespect the privacy of a skater who may be bogged down. If they have a problem with Skate Canada, they can open up about it... At this precise moment, a lot of sport associations are being scrutinized for all sorts of reasons... so it may be time for this skater to call up Pascale St-Onge.

 

[yyzskater]

No accusations it is fact. I have been intertwined with Skate Canada for over 16 years.
If you REPRESENTED CANADA INTERNATIONALLY at the world level at grand prix and championship events IT IS A 2 YEAR WAITING PERIOD.
My point is they benefit from the one year policy of other countries and the ISU policy and import repeatedly.
Many of the teams you mentioned never competed for Canada internationally at the senior level at Cahmpionship or Grand prix events.
Unfortunately at this time I can not tell you who they are holding back .

Considering how little support Skate Canada offers their skaters, its appalling that they would hold back skaters from switching. I can understand when a federation has invested heavily in a skater and doesn't want to lose out on that investment.

 

[labgoat]

Are we talking about Shiryaeva ? Because she has been in Canada with her family for a long time, has never competed internationally and doesn't need a release but Russia is not releasing her.

Cho and Adcock are skating for Korea, Hannah and Ye as well... there are a lot of skaters who are Canadian and skating for other countries like Jason Chan, or Charlotte Lafond-Fournier.... The Armenian dance team at the Olympics was made of two skaters from Montreal. Christina Carreira is Canadian... I mean, there are many Canadian skaters who are representing other countries, especially in ice dance, but also in singles like Edrian Paul Celestino and Mark Gorodnitsky and in pairs, with Francis Boudreault-Audet and Mervin Tran (Japan, for the first one, then Japan, Canada and USA for the latter )or Chloe Choinard (for Austria). And since you have mentioned FBS... well Skate Canada didn't prevent Laurence from skating for Denmark, same with Marie-Jade for France... And both these teams had to wait for their release AND couldn't compete for a while... I don't see how Skate Canada is being such a one-sided meanie...

I am not liking these accusations that Skate Canada is being unfair when so many Canadians have received their release and are now representing other countries, and some even winning medals... Is there a skater trying to get out and being bogged down? It's not cool throwing accusations without trusted information. Just saying.

There are more Canadians skating abroad than I realized. Thanks for the rundown.

 

[4everchan]

There are more Canadians skating abroad than I realized. Thanks for the rundown.

There could be more... that was just on top of my head. it is quite common in pairs and dance as expected...

 

[yesterday]

or Chloe Choinard (for Austria)

It's not part of the topic right now, but I guess she's actually "back" to Canada? Not sure how that works but she and Livio did not have a good start (pandemic, then injury) and split. He's back home since this season, skating with Sophia Schaller. Although they train at Marcotte part-time.

 

[4everchan]

It's not part of the topic right now, but I guess she's actually "back" to Canada? Not sure how that works but she and Livio did not have a good start (pandemic, then injury) and split. He's back home since this season, skating with Sophia Schaller. Although they train at Marcotte part-time.

yes... she and Livio split and she is "back" to Canada : she is now doing syncrho for Nexxice : they finished 4th at worlds this weekend.

 

[yyzskater]

I know so many parents at our rinks that already are thinking ahead in anticipation that their skater will not represent Canada and are just getting their ducks in a row to obtain a second citizenship, usually by descent. These skaters are pretty young, like 8-10 years old. But parents have seen how little Skate Canada supports the skaters so they figure they might as well go to another federation to get more opportunities, even if it's not more funding. Because many federations do not offer much funding, but its usually from countries that have very little skating in their country. Unlike Skate Canada, who has zero excuse, with their huge membership and government grants.

 

[4everchan]

I know so many parents at our rinks that already are thinking ahead in anticipation that their skater will not represent Canada and are just getting their ducks in a row to obtain a second citizenship, usually by descent. These skaters are pretty young, like 8-10 years old. But parents have seen how little Skate Canada supports the skaters so they figure they might as well go to another federation to get more opportunities, even if it's not more funding. Because many federations do not offer much funding, but its usually from countries that have very little skating in their country. Unlike Skate Canada, who has zero excuse, with their huge membership and government grants.

wow.. honestly, at 8 years old... seeking another citizenship, hoping your kid will be an elite skater good enough to reach TES minimums and able to represent X country later on... I find this a bit intense... If the plan is simply to train as long as possible in Canada, because the facilities and top notch coaches are there, and then, as soon as the kid is ready, move and represent another country, no wonder Skate Canada becomes over-protective of the elite athletes they are funding... I mean, many Canadians have access to dual citizenship through descent. People seem to think that Skate Canada is wealthy... I doubt it is...

 

[yyzskater]

They don't plan on training elsewhere. They plan on continuing to train in Canada with Canadian coaches, but represent another country in the future. Skate Canada hasn't invested in any of these skaters, so really, it's a matter of parents maximizing opportunities for their skater.

Regardless, a 2 year hold on a skater that want to leave when they expect 1 year from skaters who switch to Canada seems highly hypocritical.

 

[Seven Sisters]

Oona & Gage Brown to IAM

I.AM on Instagram: "Oona & Gage Brown, representing the 🇺🇸United States, are now part of the Ice Academy of Montreal in collaboration with their coaches, Joel Dear & Inese Bucevica. The skaters will share their time between New York and Montréal, w

2,046 likes, 54 comments - iceacademyofmontreal on April 3, 2023: "Oona & Gage Brown, representing the 🇺🇸United States, are now part of the Ice Academy of Montreal in collaboration with their coaches, Joel Dear & Inese Bucevica. The skaters will share their time between New York and Montréal...

www.instagram.com

 

[el henry]

Oona & Gage Brown to IAM

I.AM on Instagram: "Oona & Gage Brown, representing the 🇺🇸United States, are now part of the Ice Academy of Montreal in collaboration with their coaches, Joel Dear & Inese Bucevica. The skaters will share their time between New York and Montréal, w

2,046 likes, 54 comments - iceacademyofmontreal on April 3, 2023: "Oona & Gage Brown, representing the 🇺🇸United States, are now part of the Ice Academy of Montreal in collaboration with their coaches, Joel Dear & Inese Bucevica. The skaters will share their time between New York and Montréal...

www.instagram.com

YAAAASSSS!

They so need a refresh and the politicking clout

 

[reader3]

A much needed move and it's good news for the Browns'.

Here is their fanfest on GS: https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/threads/oona-brown-gage-brown.75444/page-9

 

[4everchan]

They don't plan on training elsewhere. They plan on continuing to train in Canada with Canadian coaches, but represent another country in the future. Skate Canada hasn't invested in any of these skaters, so really, it's a matter of parents maximizing opportunities for their skater.

Regardless, a 2 year hold on a skater that want to leave when they expect 1 year from skaters who switch to Canada seems highly hypocritical.

For some countries, citizenship will require to train in their new country.... Not sure what is more hypocritical... profiting of a great coaching system and the facilities of a country to seek for an alternate option to compete for already at 8 years old... or holding the athletes for a sufficient period of time to send the message that if you wanna skate for another fed, you will have to wait for it... Probably both are wrong but symptomatic of the current realities.

 

[Weathergal]

Oona & Gage Brown to IAM

I.AM on Instagram: "Oona & Gage Brown, representing the 🇺🇸United States, are now part of the Ice Academy of Montreal in collaboration with their coaches, Joel Dear & Inese Bucevica. The skaters will share their time between New York and Montréal, w

2,046 likes, 54 comments - iceacademyofmontreal on April 3, 2023: "Oona & Gage Brown, representing the 🇺🇸United States, are now part of the Ice Academy of Montreal in collaboration with their coaches, Joel Dear & Inese Bucevica. The skaters will share their time between New York and Montréal...

www.instagram.com

YAAAASSSS!

They so need a refresh and the politicking clout

A much needed move and it's good news for the Browns'.

Completely agree -- so happy to read this.

 

[4everchan]

If the move is welcomed for the Browns, I am just wondering how they will fit in at IAM. It's a big pond and there are many teams ahead of them, including from their own federation. (Or does that imply that one of the USA teams may retire). Some of you mention politicking... if IAM truly has such power, don't you think that it first comes from how a team ranks nationally? Politicking seems rather useless if a team is not on the ISU championships team.... of course, in the longer run, that may be a different story...

 

[el henry]

If the move is welcomed for the Browns, I am just wondering how they will fit in at IAM. It's a big pond and there are many teams ahead of them, including from their own federation. (Or does that imply that one of the USA teams may retire). Some of you mention politicking... if IAM truly has such power, don't you think that it first comes from how a team ranks nationally? Politicking seems rather useless if a team is not on the ISU championships team.... of course, in the longer run, that may be a different story...

I am actually thinking more internally. The USFS is not immune to the charms of IAM, or the other well known coaching centers. Oona and Gage live at home, train with their childhood coach, (who is evidently still involved, which is fine) and seem to have stalled within the US ranks. If they can climb up the ranks of the US skaters, the strongest fed for ice dance, that should help them internationally.

They needed a fresh set of eyes. I am pleased.

 

[Weathergal]

I am actually thinking more internally. The USFS is not immune to the charms of IAM, or the other well known coaching centers. Oona and Gage live at home, train with their childhood coach, (who is evidently still involved, which is fine) and seem to have stalled within the US ranks. If they can climb up the ranks of the US skaters, the strongest fed for ice dance, that should help them internationally.

They needed a fresh set of eyes. I am pleased.

I think Carreira / Pononarenko are also reaping the benefits of their move to IAM. And the benefits of Anthony being healthier, of course.

I like both teams a lot and felt, in particular with C/P that they were losing ground -- and in fact have lost ground to Green/Parsons (whom I also like LOL). I was worried that Brown / Brown might find themselves in a similar situation.