2023-24 Canadian Figure Skating

[4everchan]

Well.. I hope that Skate Canada finally gets the message
1) send our skaters to more challengers and senior Bs
2) always fill the home spots.. even if it is to give experience to a younger athlete.

Considering the number of women competing in senior categories and the so few opportunities.. yeah... enough said.

 

[Sackie]

Exactly 4ever. If our skaters don't get sent out how can they get a score on the SB list. And just sending them to only one event does not give them any chance to learn and grow. Just think what Sarah Maude's 4CC Free Skate score might have been had she been seen more by international judges, like say at SCI 2022. Instead she is getting sent this year and she probably would be more prepared for this event if she had been sent last year when no one would have been expecting anything from her.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

If Trennt and Lia are going to reach higher rankings, it will need some choreographic/interpretation drastic improvement... This year ... it needs to be addressed for them to reach higher levels. I think they can do it and I hope they will !!!!

Have they reached out to choreographers other than their coach? Surely, they've already picked music for this season. I haven't yet heard that anything was announced.

 

[4everchan]

Have they reached out to choreographers other than their coach? Surely, they've already picked music for this season. I haven't yet heard that anything was announced.

no idea... and they are not yet listed at any of the summer events.

 

[TallyT]

Well.. I hope that Skate Canada finally gets the message
1) send our skaters to more challengers and senior Bs
2) always fill the home spots.. even if it is to give experience to a younger athlete.

I've seen this sort of comment in other nations' threads so it seems to be more widespread than just Canada (and Japan, definitely mentioned as a problem there), why do people think the federations are not doing this? It would make so much sense.

 

[4everchan]

I've seen this sort of comment in other nations' threads so it seems to be more widespread than just Canada (and Japan, definitely mentioned as a problem there), why do people think the federations are not doing this? It would make so much sense.

For Japan, it happened last year... but they usually did send their skaters... I mean... i saw Yuzu, Mai, Rika H... many others at ACI so yeah...

For Canada, it's always been a real problem.... the main factor is probably that most of the challengers are in Europe ... so it's a big deal to send athletes for those competitions.

 

[Sackie]

It has become more important for Canada to send out skaters to Challengers and SR Bs because they are not getting the GP assignments that we used to. I remember when CAN use to have at least one entry in all disciplines in most GP events. And sometimes we had 3 entries in the same event and not just at SCI. Skaters who were finishing 4th and 5th at Nationals were getting 2 GP events - and not only hosts picks. Now even medaling at Nationals does not mean you will get sent out.

 

[4everchan]

It has become more important for Canada to send out skaters to Challengers and SR Bs because they are not getting the GP assignments that we used to. I remember when CAN use to have at least one entry in all disciplines in most GP events. And sometimes we had 3 entries in the same event and not just at SCI. Skaters who were finishing 4th and 5th at Nationals were getting 2 GP events - and not only hosts picks. Now even medaling at Nationals does not mean you will get sent out.

our skaters don't get assignments, so without enough spots at worlds, GPs or challengers, they cannot make the season's best lists... look at Conrad... if he came from, let's say, Italy or Estonia, he would have competed until he gets ranking points and a decent score. Japanese fans are right to complain when their athletes do not get challengers, but at least, they get GPs.

 

[Cutting the ice]

It is very expensive to send skaters and their entourage to Europe and I am assuming Skate Canada's bank account is not as full as that of the USA or Japan. This is a very expensive sport and participation at the local level (important for funding the elites) isn't what it used to be. So in a small way, I understand Skate Canada's failure in this regard - but without sending them, figure skating in this country will continue to wither. So, a downward spiral perhaps without solution.

The question I would like to know is why there are not more Senior B's / Challengers in North America - or eastern Asia for that matter. The rule about the number of countries needed to qualify for ISU points, clearly favours the European region. ISU should develop another formula so that skaters outside of Europe have equal chance to get points and ISU minimum scores. Cheaper to send judges overseas that skaters.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Skate Canada has released its Selection Guidelines for Senior International events: https://skatecanada.ca/wp-content/u...enior-Challenger-and-International-Events.pdf

A significant drop in minimum scores for the men (11 and 7 pts respectively), and significant increases for pairs (5 pts) and ice dance (4 and 10 pts). Basically no change for the women.

Skaters who have achieved scores above the new thresholds at Nationals and/or in international competitions respectively:
Men:

Conrad Orzel​

Wesley Chiu​

Stephen Gogolev​

Roman Sadovsky​

Aleksa Rakic​

Matthew Newnham​

Women:

Madeline Schizas​

Kaiya Ruiter​

Fiona Bombardier​

Sara-Maude Dupuis​

Gabrielle Daleman​

Justine Miclette​

Lia Pereira* (unlikely to compete in singles)​

Pairs:

Stellato/Deschamps​

McIntosh/Mimar​

Pereira/Michaud​

Laurin/Ethier​

Ice Dance:

Gilles/Poirier​

Fournier Beaudry/Soerensen​

Lajoie/Lagha​

Lauriault/Le Gac​

Lanaghan/Razgulajevs​

Bashynska/Beaumont​

Fabbri/Ayer​

Hensen/Lickers​

Gauthier/Thieren​

​

Notable teams who are principally currently no longer eligible under the updated rules (though exceptions can be made, and Makita/Gunara have scored above the international threshold in the past):
Proft/Nadeau (off by 0.19)
Derenisky/Eberl
Makita/Gunara (off by 0.37)
Bronsard/Richmond

I'm going to hold my tongue because what I want to say is not particularly nice, but let's just put it like this: I'm not very happy with the changes in pairs or ice dance, particularly in pairs.

 

[yesterday]

Interesting points.
When I look at other sports like skijumping where the World Cup and the stage below, Continental Cup, are very much Europe focused, teams from other continents often use a "base" in Europe from where they can manage to save travel costs and are able to deal with other problems and can attend many more events which they couldn't otherwise.
As far as I know, it's (roughly) the same in alpine skiing, biathlon etc.

I wonder if something similar would be possible for SC? Rent a house near a European training rink for some weeks and use this to host a group of skaters who can go to several challenger from there.
Maybe also have one group for the first half, then switch with a second group to have that chance for as much athletes as possible?

 

[ladyjane]

​

Notable teams who are principally currently no longer eligible under the updated rules (though exceptions can be made, and Makita/Gunara have scored above the international threshold in the past):
Proft/Nadeau (off by 0.19)
Derenisky/Eberl
Makita/Gunara (off by 0.37)
Bronsard/Richmond

I'm going to hold my tongue because what I want to say is not particularly nice, but let's just put it like this: I'm not very happy with the changes in pairs or ice dance, particularly in pairs.

I am sad, very sad, not to see Proft/Nadeau so much. I had hoped for more, they impressed me a lot those few times we could see them last season. So, I'm not happy with the changes in pairs and dance either!

 

[Jumping_Bean]

I am sad, very sad, not to see Proft/Nadeau so much. I had hoped for more, they impressed me a lot those few times we could see them last season. So, I'm not happy with the changes in pairs and dance either!

It's incredibly disheartening to see them increase the domestic thresholds by so much - 165 internationally would have been in the top 24 in Season's Best, and even taking off ~5 points for domestic (over) scoring would have still had Proft/Nadeau in 30th - 31st in SB, placing them high on the replacement list for GP assignments.

But like this, they won't even get sent out for any international competitions, not even getting a chance to make a name for themselves.

 

[ladyjane]

I wasn't impressed with them for nothing. Very disheartening @Jumping_Bean, and I'm not even Canadian. I just like their skating!

 

[4everchan]

Skate Canada has released its Selection Guidelines for Senior International events: https://skatecanada.ca/wp-content/u...enior-Challenger-and-International-Events.pdf

A significant drop in minimum scores for the men (11 and 7 pts respectively), and significant increases for pairs (5 pts) and ice dance (4 and 10 pts). Basically no change for the women.

Skaters who have achieved scores above the new thresholds at Nationals and/or in international competitions respectively:
Men:

Conrad Orzel​

Wesley Chiu​

Stephen Gogolev​

Roman Sadovsky​

Aleksa Rakic​

Matthew Newnham​

Women:

Madeline Schizas​

Kaiya Ruiter​

Fiona Bombardier​

Sara-Maude Dupuis​

Gabrielle Daleman​

Justine Miclette​

Lia Pereira* (unlikely to compete in singles)​

Pairs:

Stellato/Deschamps​

McIntosh/Mimar​

Pereira/Michaud​

Laurin/Ethier​

Ice Dance:

Gilles/Poirier​

Fournier Beaudry/Soerensen​

Lajoie/Lagha​

Lauriault/Le Gac​

Lanaghan/Razgulajevs​

Bashynska/Beaumont​

Fabbri/Ayer​

Hensen/Lickers​

Gauthier/Thieren​

​

Notable teams who are principally currently no longer eligible under the updated rules (though exceptions can be made, and Makita/Gunara have scored above the international threshold in the past):
Proft/Nadeau (off by 0.19)
Derenisky/Eberl
Makita/Gunara (off by 0.37)
Bronsard/Richmond

I'm going to hold my tongue because what I want to say is not particularly nice, but let's just put it like this: I'm not very happy with the changes in pairs or ice dance, particularly in pairs.

explains why proft-nadeau are doing all the summer events possible.... I believe that if they do well enough, they will be sent... they should also get ACI... I cannot believe they wouldn't get ACI... crazy stuff...

Makita-Gunara : this sucks...

 

[TontoK]

It's incredibly disheartening to see them increase the domestic thresholds by so much - 165 internationally would have been in the top 24 in Season's Best, and even taking off ~5 points for domestic (over) scoring would have still had Proft/Nadeau in 30th - 31st in SB, placing them high on the replacement list for GP assignments.

But like this, they won't even get sent out for any international competitions, not even getting a chance to make a name for themselves.

As an American, I get frustrated with USFSA management of the sport here.

But then I look north and I am completely mystified. Resetting the eligibility goalline to knock out a promising pair like Proft/Nadeau by such a tiny margin... when that leaves only four eligible pairs in such a tradition-rich event... I honestly think Skate Canada might be even dumber.

 

[4everchan]

We will have to wait and see how this affects the national team selection. For instance, Makita Gunara would lose their funding based on that.... I cannot imagine Skate Canada doing this to them, as they like them....and pairs... well... it's so hard to have depth in that discipline, and it seems that whatever happens, Thierry may be out of Canada or at least, if he does still represent Canada, out of the circuit for the fall.

So yeah... without support, teams quit.

 

[4everchan]

and just like that...

here is the national team... pretty much, those with the scores achieved listed above for dance and pairs... Singles : only 4 per category.

Men:

Conrad Orzel
Wesley Chiu
Stephen Gogolev
Roman Sadovsky

Women:

Madeline Schizas
Kaiya Ruiter
Fiona Bombardier
Sara-Maude Dupuis

Pairs:

Stellato/Deschamps
McIntosh/Mimar
Pereira/Michaud
Laurin/Ethier

Ice Dance:

Gilles/Poirier
Fournier Beaudry/Soerensen
Lajoie/Lagha
Lauriault/Le Gac
Lanaghan/Razgulajevs
Bashynska/Beaumont
Fabbri/Ayer

Skate Canada National Team

The National Team comprises those athletes who meet the following criteria: Top three in senior singles, pairs, and ice dance disciplines at the 2025 Canadian National Skating Championships Assigned to a 2025/2026 ISU Grand Prix event at the ISU Grand Prix Selection meeting Competing in...

skatecanada.ca

 

[almiranara]

i'm sorry, but i really don't get L/R getting support from skate canada over many more younger deserving teams

 

[4everchan]

i'm sorry, but i really don't get L/R getting support from skate canada over many more younger deserving teams

They get the scores needed. I guess that's what matters. Of course, it could be nepotism but even there, with achieved scores, good luck accusing them of nepotism.