I agree regarding the team event. I think that it gave a close-up perspective and lead-in of many of the main competitors, a very good primer for those who were not familiar with the sport, but as well, a fuller feeling of the games for those who do. With everyone watching the Olympics, it is important for the sport to be there as much as possible. Exposure-wise, the sport needs more skating with an audience, more events with an audience and more face-time with an audience, not less as Sinkquanta is proposing.
Regarding the petition, I signed it and sent it with a covering letter in to Skate Canada. I received a confirmation of receipt. I know that my letter means nothing if others don't do anything, but at least I know that I did everything I could. No doubt the letter is no more than a number, but I hope that it is part of a significant number. My assessment of the new management at Skate Canada from the noises being made by Dan Thompson and Leanna Caron is that it is aware that the sport has to be turned around. To that end, it has started a process to double the number of young skaters streamed into its elite track (Dan Thompson interview at Skate Canada broadcast), created a new marketing executive position to promote the sport (website) and committed itself to trying to promote skating for the sake of skating as a pastime at all levels to all Canadians (Caron in her interview during Worlds broadcast). Bottom line is Skate Canada wants to broaden the sport's base and it is promising to put its energies toward doing that with its new leadership. If they are being honest (I believe this particular management team is), they know only too well that Sinky's proposals are going to work against their own work to grow the sport in Canada and restore it to a place of esteem. Surely, it would be nice for them to know that people who follow the sport care enough to tell them their feelings. The petition is not in vain.
