OK Time for my report... I will focus on Senior dance in terms of "skating report" because I already mentioned a lot of my thoughts about the earlier events.... but will give some general impressions about my day there
Disclaimer, I do this for fun and I love skating so I am like a little boy in a candy shop when I go to events. So I get really silly and chirpy.
First, I really really really have to love figure skating to trek all the way on transit to Pierrefonds. It's not a fun ride at all... it's so far that I can go visit my relatives who live OUT of Montreal and arrive there in less time than going to Pierrefonds which is ON the Island... You gotta take the subway until the FINAL stop... and then an express bus that runs ON the HIGHWAY... yeah... it's not easy... As I wrote earlier, I will be able to go to Worlds this year, walking... so this 90 minutes transit gig which means 3 hours return, isn't my favourite thing in the world. I have better plans for ACI : driving. (I just found out the Japanese entries for ACI and I feel so blessed... incredible to have two world champions coming to Montreal (Kaori and RR) and I may get to see them twice because of Worlds as well.
Once there though, it was awesome ! Did I mention it is free? You get to see all these amazing skaters for free... Thank you Patinage Québec ! I would have been fine paying pretty much the same as what I paid for ACI for such a well attended event. Of course, it helped that many international teams showed up at CQÉ, thanks to IAM. Also, there are always a lot of WDs, so I guess they cannot really start charging too much money and discourage all the friendly people to show up in the audience. It was so much fun to be watching the event with all the families of skaters and skaters themselves, cheering super loud. It's not always the case in "serious" competitions. I guess sharing this moment with all the fans was even more special since the last time I had been to a sportive event was 4CC, Short track speed skating in early 2020.. .just before, Worlds were canceled. Needless to say that I was already in a good mood, especially after I survived the bus route and made it just in time for the final flight of Junior Women, which I had planned to see !
The first person I saw at CQÉ was Max. As he is my favourite skater in a shallow way, I thought it was a good sign ! Everest was second. If Max is strong and muscular, Everest is very tall and elegant. Of course, you don't need me to notice these things... everyone who has eyes can just see it on the screen... but live, in 3D, right in front of you, things are better
I posted about the Junior Women already but let me add this : a few years ago, I wouldn't have wanted to time my arrival at the event to watch the final flight of the Junior Women of CQÉ. This time around, they were so good. It is over the time when our skaters would only try a couple triples. The women came in to play and they did well. Sure, they are not as good as the Japanese and Korean women that will monopolize most likely the top spots on the JGP circuit but that change is drastic and I feel that we are in a good direction. As I said, each one of the 6 women I saw has a style of their own and good potential. Crossing fingers for them to reach their goals healthy.
Junior pairs was something interesting. I really liked Beau Callaghan. She is super young and tiny but she shines. I didn't expect them to do a 2a... yet they did ! (Actually, none of the teams went for an easier double jump... so that was good too.) She gave me KMT vibes. I also liked Étienne. He has this presence on the ice. Lots of work for him to become a better partner but a strong single skater. Kieran is wonderful and superbly matched with Jazmine. I know some of the tricks are harder for them to get but they both landed their 2a today. It was just so out of synch that it received negative GOE but the jumps were there. Ariana and Charly are superstars. Brand new team. Watch out for them. SUPER potential with triples galore. I predict they could be junior national champions this year.
Senior pairs : This was a strong event. Max and Deanna : I love their program. I said why earlier but it's a judicious choice to go with Diane Dufresne's hit "donnez-moi de l'oxygène". It will really have an impact at worlds. The choreography is extremely well done. Every element is timed perfectly well with the music. The one thing I would like them to do better is speed and flow. Maybe it's just a perception thing. Maybe they go just as fast as Meagan and Eric for instance. However, I was expecting them to be faster which did not happen. Maybe all the teams went fast LOL. But yeah, I used to remember Meagan and Eric flying across the ice which is not a feeling I got today from anyone. (dance included) At the same time, this is figure skating, not speed skating, so whatever
I really liked Emma and Nic. I think they want assignments and are on a mission to get them. If they keep skating like this, they will get them. From knowing Nic's story, the injuries etc, one may think that doing pairs was a Plan B. At the same time, seeing how tall and strong he is and how well he showcases Emma, I feel that the skating gods had decided long ago that Plan A was going to be Pairs for Nic. They just made him go through a bit of a detour that made him even junior world vice-champion in singles
I really hope they do well and fight for the podium at National. It will be a bloodbath. There are 5 teams, perhaps more fighting for these 3 spots for worlds. Loucas and Kelly Ann have gone to work this summer. They have cleaned up their skating. The elements were always strong. They still are, but now, the entire program looks good. Very good !
Junior Dance : Not much to say for this event. I think I was less focused at that point maybe. I adored both Japanese teams. Everest and Jamie are nicely matched, though it will take a bit more time to project on ice chemistry. I was sad for the Carandiuc because they twizzled into each other. I really think they can go far. Earl and Auréa are an interesting case. I like them. He is ALWAYS smiling. They are having so much fun. I hate saying this but I feel she is too tall for him, or well he is too short for her. I will be happy to be proven otherwise.
Senior Dance : Here we are. Of course, the one team I really wanted to see because well..
you know. They WD. So no Mr Saul for me this time. However, the eye candy in ice dance is a joke. It's ridiculous. Maybe it would have been too much if the Lithuanians had competed anyway. It is very early in the season but it was fun to see new pairings, for instance Olivia and Tim. Also, after Paul's surgery, I was very excited when I saw him and Alicia warming up and looking super happy. I don't know if it's like this in all smaller rinks but at ACI skaters just warm up everywhere. It's interesting to see them do so and sort of contributes to a happy/friendly ambiance.
Here is a line or two on each team. Reverse order from results.
Kayleigh and Félix : new team. From where I was standing, I didn't see what happened to them. It was very strange. They were skating well and then it collapsed and they had to stop. Of course, that meant they received a heavy penalty but I felt sorry for him. A lot of the skaters cheered him on afterwards and were talking with him after they were done. So much support was given to them.
The Italians Leia and Pietro : gosh. Stunningly matched dance team. Again, maybe I should watch from closer because I didn't see exactly what happened to them but it's looked like one of their blades touched the other's and there was a domino effect. When you are that tall and elegant, it's a spectacular fall, and costly because it happened in the Pattern type step sequence.
Samantha and Daniel are not my favourite team. I felt a lot of work was needed in edge quality. They have good presence however. Her hair is fabulous ! She's also a good make up artist. She did their make-up right there at the rink haha !
Alyssa and Jacob. Their Flashdance medley was so much fun : not sure why they cannot get more points
give it to them
I feel they are close with the 3 teams that ranked ahead of them in the PCS department, yet they were scored a bit lower.
Holly and Jason : As much as I liked their RD last year, this one is a miss for me. Jason has a lot of attitude. He is quite passionate on the ice. However, with this Madonna program, I need Holly to shine more. I felt she was completely absent from this RD. Maybe it's too new for them. It was just very uneven. I was disappointed. They will not skate the FD : I am guessing the programs are just too new so in that sense, kudos for showing up and strong in the RD today.
Layla and Liam : I liked this new team very much. I think they will represent Great Britain right? Liam is a stunning partner. Some problems today but wow do I appreciate their skating and presence. I am looking forward to seeing them develop.
It is no secret that I have a special liking for Emmy and Jacob. They were previously with other partners and I liked their respective partnerships. When they paired up, I wasn't so sure. To me, Emmy is a huge talent. I felt that Jacob wasn't at her level. However, today, they skated very well. I am always afraid for Jacob's twizzles : he nailed them ! Bravo. I love their Rita Mitsouko program. It was on my wishlist for this year's them. Her dress is great. I hope they can increase their scores a bit so they don't get buried by the flock of talented young ice dance teams in Canada. I do think they are developing nicely though, it's starting to gel.
Lily and Nathan : the music operator couldn't play their music. That was the issue at first. Nathan gave them his phone and it worked out but it took a while. These two have a different aura. Not just because of their costumes and the million music cuts
BTW I am upset at those music cuts like everyone else. Two of these songs were on my wish list for this year, and they could have been put together nicely, but not with everything that came in between. So, I am a bit upset. At the same time, you know, in the 80s and 90s, this is what figure skating programs were all about : a billion music cuts, so they respect the theme to a T ! Seriously, they have a different aura because of their presence and the way they skate. I felt they were more precise than some other teams but less fast or powerful. Maybe it's just my impression but it was completely different in my eyes from the rink. I quite enjoyed their skating. I can see how they will keep scoring steadily higher with this style. Another good team !
Hannah and Ye : Best twizzles of the night !!!! They were so sharp and fast. Some have mentioned their speed. They are fast but so were the other top 5 teams. They project well. I am at home now, almost 3 hours after the event and I have a hard time remembering their program other than the elements. Twizzles A++, Choreo Step, stumble and lift laboured... those were my comments from the rink. The protocols confirmed I am not completely a fool when it comes to ice dance ! Yay me ! But for the program itself, I will need to watch it a few more times, or they will need to sell it better next time. Hear this : I think they project well and they are selling the performance, I am talking about something else : selling the program in this case would be highlighting and showcasing its structure. I wasn't sure what was what and what they were aiming to do. I couldn't follow. But this is probably just me : very amateur judge skills
I really like them so I hope this will evolve nicely.
One of my favourite performance, and that of the tech panel was Sandrine and Quentin. Their make-up game was also quite strong. I ADORED IT ! I hate their music. I love how they skate to it ! So much commitment. Precision. Details. I am baffled at how well they just transitioned into seniors. Last year, as juniors, I think it was their first year competing steadily on the circuit (I don't watch novices) (probably bad timing because of covid cancellations) So, for me, they are relatively new and exciting to watch. Huge potential. Well matched physically. Definitely well trained with athletic qualities. I would say to BB to watch out.
Olivia and Tim : that hair is something else. She is so flamboyant ! Tim is a bit more quiet. At least, for now. It will be something to gauge as they move forward because right now, I didn't feel the on-ice chemistry. This is the only time where i would have judged a team differently as a judge. I would have put them in 5th, behind the Koreans. Not far behind (they are actually not really far ahead)...but yeah. Of course, they are mature skaters and will be, in a few months, probably more in synch and score higher, but for now, it didn't work.
Christina and Anthony : I mentioned it earlier in the thread. I was SO looking forward to see them. One of my favourite teams. The best ranked team at this event. But no. It was dull. They won PCS on their level of skating of course, but talk about a non-existing emotional connection between the skaters and me
I was super sad because I wanted them to do so well. As I don't know them (first time watching them live) I cannot tell if they always skate like this or if it's just too early in the season. I will find out later.
Alicia and Paul stole the show tonight. They were so good. This team has gone through a lot. Alicia is still super young btw. When they paired up, they had quite a series of fluke falls and mistakes. And then, recently, the shoulder surgery. Tonight, they were stellar. I was so happy for them. I have been following them for a while and I am certainly biased when it comes to them but judges agreed so i am happy ! I am still undecided about going or not tomorrow. Seeing their FD live MAY entice me into another 3 hours of transit + 6 hours of skating day...
So yeah, this is very subjective of course as I am no tech panelist
My top 3 : Alicia and Paul, Sandrine and Quentin and Hannah and Ye. Special mention to Emmy and Jacob for the best music of the night !
I hope this wasn't too boring.
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