Anthony Paradis Interview

[gsk8]

Canada's Anthony Paradis is now in his final season as a junior and recently took the bronze medal at Cranberry Cup. Since last season, he feels he has transformed from a self-described “messy skater” into a more consistent, technically secure competitor, while learning to embrace competition nerves. Learn more about Paradis—both on and off the ice!

Anthony Paradis continues to build in final junior year

Anthony Paradis For Canada's Anthony Paradis, the 2024-25 figure skating season wasn't just about landing jumps or winning medals—it was a year of growth,

www.goldenskate.com

Teaser : He talks about a costume transformation in his free skate over the season

Did you see his programs from Cranberry Cup? What do you think about him sticking with the short program from last season? Do you like it? What are your thoughts on the new free skate?

 

[4everchan]

I agree he is technically more sound. He is not the biggest jumper but his rotation is fast and when he does attack the jumps, they are landed. The 3A attempts in the LP are no longer pops... he rotates the jump and there is hope he will land it.

I really like the New World Symphony LP. If I am fine with crazy costumes for crazy music... for instance, what he is doing in the SP, I'd prefer something a bit more classical for the LP but I won't hold a grudge on him for having fun with his outfits. It's his trademark and kudos to him for embracing every detail of being a skater. Also, I understand better the hair now about the "wet look" and the cloud with the white shirt. Let's see how this evolves over the year as it progresses into a thunderstorm. Interesting concept.

Looking forward to seeing him develop again this year. Hoping for a steady 3a. I think he could manage a 4t in the future too, the way his rotation can be so fast and tidy but of course, the priority would be the 3a.

 

[jersey1302]

I think his free skate is really well done. I thought the lay out and the content and performance were very strong especially for this early in the season. He looks more composed and less frantic on the ice as well. If he can really trust in the program and feel is he will become a more tidy skater. Great start. I am really really hoping he gets his tech content down. I think his 3 A will become a more consistent jump. I REALLY hope he can get some quads down in the next year or two as well because that will be imperative to be competitive in going for world medals. His PCS for the future has a very high ceiling so putting the tech content will be the biggest challenge.

 

[Magill]

I'm happy to see he's staying loyal to his idols. Jason, Yuzuru and Rika make a very commendable bunch of greats to look up to for any young skater. Bravo!
Yet it makes me wonder if anyone pointed it to him that they all trained or train with Brian and Tracy at TCC. And while Rika is basically starting off after a long injury, so it is difficult to tell how it will work for her, I am pretty sure TCC was a perfect place for both Jason and Yuzu, and helped them both become the legends they are. In particular Jason was thinking about quitting the sport not seeing a future for himself in it without this elusive quad, and yet they - and particularly Tracy - managed not just to keep him in, but helped him become a single quadless and beloved powerhouse he is right now. I also know Gislain is not there any more but still...
I wonder if anyone knows if he has ever tried or thought of training with them in TCC, even if only adding them to his current coaches, as apparently he's so much after what they're so good in, and Toronto is not exactly in a different part of the world...?

 

[4everchan]

Toronto is a completely different part of the world for a young Québécois , not just the language but the education system is completely different.... TCC is actually not really where I would see Anthony.
Keep in mind that Yvan is a wonderful coach and had brought up some of the most recent best skaters in Canada ; Nic Nadeau won junior worlds silver and was the first and only Canadian to land a quad loop in competition. His 3axel was a thing of beauty. Injuries derailed his career but that's alright. Joseph Phan was such a great competitor too. Also brought up by Yvan. Jo went to TCC and it was very difficult for him. His mom went with him I believe but adapting there wasn't easy. He ended up with major knee injuries and retired. I feel his career was way better before he moved to TCC. Edward is also a great prospect raised by Yvan.

With Anthony, all these skaters have managed great results and on top of that, they all are very different in styles... and their respective styles, personal. Nic showed a lot of connection with the audience and was a true showman. Jo had awesome glide and skating skills, very well connected to music. Eddy is edgy and passionate. Anthony, do I need to elaborate ?

It's been a long time since the Fernandez, Kim, Cha and Hanyu years. I am not sure TCC is the place to go anymore and definitely not the place to go for Anthony.

Finally, TCC has Grayson and they seem invested in him as the next young Canadian prospect.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

 

[el henry]

Of course I love almost anything Anthony will do or has done, so thank you for the interview @gsk8

Well now I know why he has the greased hair. I knew there was a reason, Anthony always has a reason.

I am torn about training at TCC. It worked wonders for Jason, and wouldn't it be wonderful if Anthony could skate competitively as long as he has? (and yes I realize how much I am jumping the gun here). But I also have great respect for Coach Yvan and everything he has done for his skaters.

I just want Anthony to improve enough "technically" to have a senior career.

 

[4everchan]

Of course I love almost anything Anthony will do or has done, so thank you for the interview @gsk8

Well now I know why he has the greased hair. I knew there was a reason, Anthony always has a reason.

I am torn about training at TCC. It worked wonders for Jason, and wouldn't it be wonderful if Anthony could skate competitively as long as he has? (and yes I realize how much I am jumping the gun here). But I also have great respect for Coach Yvan and everything he has done for his skaters.

I just want Anthony to improve enough "technically" to have a senior career.

A lot of people forget that he suffered a very big injury that set him back. Last season, he was just building on.... I already see his jump stability has improved a lot, even during the early summer competitions. I am not worried about him.

I agree that TCC has been good for Jason and that some fans may want to see them as training buddies. However, at this point, I think Yvan is the best coach for Anthony and I dislike when fans make statements about coaching switches (except for the one or two evil coaches around I will not name). Anthony has been brought up by Yvan and more to the coaching/skater relationship, let's not minimize how they may have built a more "human" relationship. I was praising the 4 recent skaters Yvan has developed for their unique skating styles because often, coaches who bring up skaters from the start tend to have a "system" where everyone ends up skating the same way. To me, a coach who manages to develop skaters and allows them so much freedom in their expression, is a coach who adapts to his students and gets to know what works best for each one. And in my opinion, that's exactly why Yvan is the best coach for Anthony at this point.

 

[ladyjane]

How lovely to read about Anthony, a young skater I much admire. He might have been nervous last year at Nationals and took a 5 point deduction precisely as it had to be done and stayed calm (for the consequences could have been bad if he hadn't) and showed some real grit. And he won a medal anyway because his skating is so good. Having Jason and Yuzu to take inspiration from, is a perfect choice too. And I do love his commitment to costuming.

 

[4everchan]

How lovely to read about Anthony, a young skater I much admire. He might have been nervous last year at Nationals and took a 5 point deduction precisely as it had to be done and stayed calm (for the consequences could have been bad if he hadn't) and showed some real grit. And he won a medal anyway because his skating is so good. Having Jason and Yuzu to take inspiration from, is a perfect choice too. And I do love his commitment to costuming.

The 5 pointers was the year before in 2023-24 where he finished 3rd.... last year, he came second with a very good LP.

 

[ladyjane]

The 5 pointers was the year before in 2023 where he finished 3rd.... last year, he came second with a very good LP.

You are right of course, it's my memory making it seem a shorter while ago! I remember the good LP as well!

 

[Magill]

Oh, I did not mean he has to switch to TCC, just when it is so close and everyone he adores was/is training there it seems a natural option to consider. I don't know if it is a good or bad idea, but I do know, having visited both Toronto and Montreal, they do not feel like different parts of the world the way North America does to me, coming from a really different part of the world. Honestly, they are different, of course, and obviously they speak different languages but they do feel more similar to each other than different from US, not looking far, and of course they are in the same country. I guess this is a question of perspective. Maybe living and moving around quite a lot in Europe I got quite used to differences and they do not bother me that much, but I am pretty sure moving to Toronto from Quebec is still easier than doing the same from Japan or Spain, or Korea. And Anthony does speak pretty good English, unlike Yuzuru did, and still he managed doing that and benefited enormously, when being in a similar age. So I do not think it would be a major problem if Anthony decided to do that.
The main question is whether it would be beneficial to him and whether he would be willing to do that. I don't know. But I do not think anyone of us here knows, not that our opinions matter any way. Still as much as I respect human relationships between coaches and their students, I do not think changing coaches is disloyal to a slightest extent, and I dislike it when fans try to present it this way. Some coaching environments for some skaters work throughout their careers, for some others they do not, so at some point they have to move on to keep on growing. It is as simple as that. I see Anthony is trying out other coaches in training sessions, Raf and others, so maybe he feels his current training environment is lacking something, I don't know, I do not think anyone of us does.
And with all due respect to his current coach, I do not think his achievements can be compared to that of TCC, they are not close at all. Brian also has quite vast experience in handling rivalling skaters, and they actually did see it themselves as an advantage and not as a disadvantage to train together. So it seems to me there are no easy answers. Anyway, I would not push him to switch to TCC at all, that was not my intention, and if it was read this way, it was a misunderstanding. I was just curious if he ever tried it out as it seems a pretty natural option to consider to me.

 

[4everchan]

Oh, I did not mean he has to switch to TCC, just when it is so close and everyone he adores was/is training there it seems a natural option to consider. I don't know if it is a good or bad idea, but I do know, having visited both Toronto and Montreal, they do not feel like different parts of the world the way North America does to me,

that's your experience and perception of it. From having lived (not just traveled) in most of the big cities in Canada, that's not my perspective at all. Toronto and Montreal couldn't be more different from one another.

coming from a really different part of the world. Honestly, they are different, of course, and obviously they speak different languages but they do feel more similar to each other than different from US, not looking far, and of course they are in the same country. I guess this is a question of perspective.

Definitely is.

Maybe living and moving around quite a lot in Europe I got quite used to differences and they do not bother me that much, but I am pretty sure moving to Toronto from Quebec is still easier than doing the same from Japan or Spain, or Korea. And Anthony does speak pretty good English, unlike Yuzuru did, and still he managed doing that and benefited enormously, when being in a similar age. So I do not think it would be a major problem if Anthony decided to do that.
The main question is whether it would be beneficial to him and whether he would be willing to do that. I don't know. But I do not think anyone of us here knows, not that our opinions matter any way. Still as much as I respect human relationships between coaches and their students, I do not think changing coaches is disloyal to a slightest extent, and I dislike it when fans try to present it this way.

my argument had nothing to do about loyalty.

Some coaching environments for some skaters work throughout their careers, for some others they do not, so at some point they have to move on to keep on growing. It is as simple as that. I see Anthony is trying out other coaches in training sessions, Raf and others, so maybe he feels his current training environment is lacking something, I don't know, I do not think anyone of us does.

During the summer, it's very common for skaters and coaches to move around and experiment. Anthony wasn't the only one working with Raf during the summer. Eddy, also coached by Yvan did. Many Canadian skaters have worked with him and some even moved to him in the past, like Buttle or Gogolev. It's not something out of norms.

And with all due respect to his current coach, I do not think his achievements can be compared to that of TCC, they are not close at all.

Yvan has brought up his skaters though. Brian is more a finishing coach. Very different in my opinion. Anthony still has some technical ground to make before I'd (my perception) say he is ready for a finishing coach.

Brian also has quite vast experience in handling rivalling skaters, and they actually did see it themselves as an advantage and not as a disadvantage to train together. So it seems to me there are no easy answers. Anyway, I would not push him to switch to TCC at all, that was not my intention, and if it was read this way, it was a misunderstanding. I was just curious if he ever tried it out as it seems a pretty natural option to consider to me.

Thank you for clarifying what you meant. I don't see Anthony moving to TCC anytime soon but if he did, that's fine too. He knows what he needs best.

 

[4everchan]

And last thing about Anthony and TCC ? When was the last time a Canadian skater moved there and did well ? I cannot even remember...

 

[4everchan]

I just want Anthony to improve enough "technically" to have a senior career.

Anthony is quite clear : he wants to be a skater and he is for the long run.

Now, how will that be expressed is something to be seen. However, he could have a pretty long career as a "national" kind of skater if he doesn't acquire the content needed to get a more "international" career. There are quite a number of men who do keep skating and go to Nationals every year and will not, despite their wonderful skating, get to the GP circuit or worlds. Bruce Waddell is one of them. Antoine Goyette was another one. I think Anthony will get there with the 3A and right now, that's enough on the Canadian scene which has been plagued by early retirements and injuries. For Anthony, it gives him some time to develop his content and for us, it gives us a lot more time to enjoy his skating.

I also think he is smart : yes, nationally, he has been skating Senior for two seasons, earning medals in both championships, but he knows that he is more competitive as a junior internationally so he is using all his junior time up.

I think you can be reassured that the mind and the will are in the right place. The heart certainly is. Let's hope the body, the luck and the resources are there too.

 

[Magill]

that's your experience and perception of it. From having lived (not just traveled) in most of the big cities in Canada, that's not my perspective at all. Toronto and Montreal couldn't be more different from one another.

But have you ever lived outside of North America, like in Asia or in Europe, so you have a perspective of a really different part of the world?
For to me, I do not deny the differences, but they are not that big when compared to differences between North America and Europe or North America and Asia. That's all.

 

[4everchan]

But have you ever lived outside of North America, like in Asia or in Europe, so you have a perspective of a really different part of the world?
For to me, I do not deny the differences, but they are not that big when compared to differences between North America and Europe or North America and Asia. That's all.

I did spend a full summer in Europe. It felt closer to Montreal than to Toronto. In any case, perhaps this is something that only a Canadian/ Québécois can relate to. It's not very relevant to the topic by the way so I'd prefer we put this to rest and focus on Anthony. The skaters he admire and where they train is very secondary imho.

 

[Magill]

I did spend a full summer in Europe. It felt closer to Montreal than to Toronto. In any case, perhaps this is something that only a Canadian/ Québécois can relate to. It's not very relevant to the topic by the way so I'd prefer we put this to rest and focus on Anthony. The skaters he admire and where they train is very secondary imho.

It's not relevant at all until the difference between Quebec and Toronto is presented as bigger and more difficult to overcome than the difference between Toronto and Spain or Japan. That's all,

 

[lariko]

But have you ever lived outside of North America, like in Asia or in Europe, so you have a perspective of a really different part of the world?
For to me, I do not deny the differences, but they are not that big when compared to differences between North America and Europe or North America and Asia. That's all.

You have a Canadian providing you a lived Canadian perspective on moving between Canadian cities and you question its validity as an outsider? This is the kind of first-hand information/research that is unbeatable when looking at another culture.