James/Radford announce partnership
- Thread starter Mista Ekko
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- Nov 9, 2009
Lots of respect to the French federation!
This hasn't always been the case for other skaters in the past with releases
This hasn't always been the case for other skaters in the past with releases
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2018
Marcotte family reunions will be interesting
I missed her & her leotards so much! 
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
I heard that Meagan and Eric were supposed to skate at Stars on Ice in October and in post Olympic shows. If that’s true, perhaps the situation isn’t as great for Meagan as you imply.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
I feel sorry for Meagan. She was evidently blindsided and thought she and Eric would be doing shows. I’m less concerned, frankly, about Vanessa’s unfinished business.
not so much respect from me.
These were highly unusual circumstances. Even the French fed could see the PR disaster from stopping Vanessa from skating with Eric, particularly since Vanessa was born in Canada and has ties to the country.
Lots of respect to the French federation!
This hasn't always been the case for other skaters in the past with releases
not so much respect from me.
These were highly unusual circumstances. Even the French fed could see the PR disaster from stopping Vanessa from skating with Eric, particularly since Vanessa was born in Canada and has ties to the country.
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2014
I said it all yesterday, that I imagine Vanessa and Eric could be beautiful skating together!On "That Figure Skating Show"
They will train in Montreal
There are practice clips
This is looking good
The practice clips show an already great-looking triple twist, a pair of SBS jumps, and, I think, a throw.I like what Eric said, that in figure skating, it's been about planning for the next year or quad, lay everything out in advance. This opportunity with Vanessa simply manifested itself. That's exciting, and it's full of wonder for both of them ... you can see it on their faces. Vanessa is just glowing. It all started with them doing some stroking together while they were doing Battle of the Blades and wowing the hockey players with their speed.
Eric: "the biggest thing for me is just it's like a feeling of exploration."
Also, they've picked their program music, Julie will choreograph one program, and Guillaume and Sam will do one. They're starting on the long program next week! And their plan is to compete as much as they can, starting with Quebec summer provincials.
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- Aug 12, 2014
I do feel for Meagan. Like I felt for Caitlyn Yankowskas when Coughlin left her for Caydee Denney. And like I felt for Ashley Cain, when Caitlin Yankowskas came to nationals 2012, already working with Marina Zoueva, and they picked off Ashley's partner, Joshua Reagan, because he was a balletic skater. Ashley has never spoken publicly about it. This is figure skating. It happens. And I can't get over the feeling that Eric, in particular, will be freed to explore new feelings and new ways of skating, with Vanessa.
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- Jan 19, 2018
Eric Radford sits on the Board of Directors at Skate Canada for the 2020-2021 year. Even though, he won't run again come elections this May, I can't help but wonder what kind of influence his position of leadership within Skate Canada had or will have on his comeback. You can say one thing has nothing to do with another but I disagree. Whether intentional or not, when you are in a position of power and your colleagues and decision-makers are also in positions of power (an opportunity that none of your current competitors had) then it inevitably has an impact (regardless if it intentional or not). Just something to think about.
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2012
Despite being pretty excited about this new pairing and looking forward to seeing them 'for real' (in a competition), I also feel sorry for Meagan. She really felt betrayed (I've seen her Instagram post in one of the other threads when there was as yet only talk and speculation), and I can understand that.
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- Feb 2, 2019
Meagan's take:
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
Agreed. Partnerships form. Partnerships dissolve. People deal with these things the best they can.
The only issue hanging out there for me is the Cipres issue. What did she know, and when did she know it? To my mind, that's never been satisfactorily addressed. The Morgan "thing" was studiously ignored during the interview with Dylan and Asher.
Will the answer impact how I view her as an athlete? Probably not.
Will the answer impact how I view her as a person? Maybe.
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- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
yup... figure skating partners are business partners... considering their success and the lack of success among other north american pairs at world and olympic levels, meagan and eric may have had a very long show career ahead of them... it's a huge loss of revenue for Meagan, and also, a loss of opportunities to travel, create, and do what you have worked for all your life.
So, I feel for her, especially since she found out after the facts.
However, if Eric wants to compete with Vanessa, then in the end, it's his choice. He is also risking his show career and income. He is going to lose a close friend (at least for a while). If they earn their spot on the Olympic team, I won't feel sorry for anyone if they skated well enough to earn it. I can nod in partial and even full agreement with a lot of comments about how badly the communication with Meagan was handled, but give me a break with the "it's Evelyn and Trennt's spot.... " it never is until it is earned...and it has NOT been earned by any team yet... Even Michael and Kirsten do not have their tickets... Funny how very few complained about this topic when Charlie and Lubov joined forces though they were immediate threat to the younger teams... And as a matter of fact, they were outskated at Nationals and the partnership dissolved... So, can we just let sport be sport for once and cut down the drama about who is "supposed" to go to the Olympics??? And by the way, it's not like Evelyn and Trennt are podium material for 2022... with their age and experience, they would be expected to be contenders more for the 2026 games, IF they improve and build up on their great potential.
So, I feel for her, especially since she found out after the facts.
However, if Eric wants to compete with Vanessa, then in the end, it's his choice. He is also risking his show career and income. He is going to lose a close friend (at least for a while). If they earn their spot on the Olympic team, I won't feel sorry for anyone if they skated well enough to earn it. I can nod in partial and even full agreement with a lot of comments about how badly the communication with Meagan was handled, but give me a break with the "it's Evelyn and Trennt's spot.... " it never is until it is earned...and it has NOT been earned by any team yet... Even Michael and Kirsten do not have their tickets... Funny how very few complained about this topic when Charlie and Lubov joined forces though they were immediate threat to the younger teams... And as a matter of fact, they were outskated at Nationals and the partnership dissolved... So, can we just let sport be sport for once and cut down the drama about who is "supposed" to go to the Olympics??? And by the way, it's not like Evelyn and Trennt are podium material for 2022... with their age and experience, they would be expected to be contenders more for the 2026 games, IF they improve and build up on their great potential.
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- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
Feeling for Meagan, who had an oral contract to do shows, is different to me than Alexa and Brandon, and every other skater who has switched partners during their competetive career.
Also, it appears Brandon for example, consulted with Haven, talked to her, and arrived at an agreement. The responsible and mature thing to do.
My opinions of skaters as people does affect my opinion of them as athletes (and not just skaters, it does in all sports. My beloved Eagles had a quarterback who I believed in engaged in unforgivable behavior. I found no pleasure when they won with him at QB.) There is no such thing as “pure athletics” for me.
In the end, Vanessa and Eric are gonna do what they’re gonna do, but I for one at this point have little excitement about their journey. Maybe more facts will come out to change my mind.
Also, it appears Brandon for example, consulted with Haven, talked to her, and arrived at an agreement. The responsible and mature thing to do.
My opinions of skaters as people does affect my opinion of them as athletes (and not just skaters, it does in all sports. My beloved Eagles had a quarterback who I believed in engaged in unforgivable behavior. I found no pleasure when they won with him at QB.) There is no such thing as “pure athletics” for me.
In the end, Vanessa and Eric are gonna do what they’re gonna do, but I for one at this point have little excitement about their journey. Maybe more facts will come out to change my mind.
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- Jun 21, 2003
Wow!! I would have thought that Eric would have had discussions with her? Especially since they were friends. That certainly sheds a different light on things. At any rate, I hope any and all hurt feelings will be resolved. I understand Eric wanting to compete again.
In the meantime, Duhamel is getting supportive responses. Battle of the Blades partner Wojtek Wolski replied with: "Looks like I'm coming out of retirement, putting the dream team back together."
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- Sep 22, 2019
I'm neutral at the moment... Neither Vanessa or Meagan's skating skills matched Eric's so I guess nothing changes there. I wasn't a huge fan of either Duhamel/Radford or James/Cipres stylistically. Feeling moral ambiguity about Vanessa re: her silence on Morgan's actions. But I tend to root for veterans (Brezina, Voronov, Zoe Jones, Savchenko of course...) and if James/Radford do a SBS Lz or quad throw/twist I will be impressed 
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
FSU poster Tony just posted that he “went to the source” (presumably Meagan) and (1) Duhamel and Radford were scheduled to skate in SOI Japan this spring until February, when cast was changed to domestic skaters only; and (2) they were committed to SOI in Canada/US this fall, Covid permitting.
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- Nov 14, 2018
I feel sorry for Meagan. Eric is entitled to skate with whoever he wants (though if they did have an oral agreement for shows then that gets tricky) HOWEVER it is just common frigging decency and basic respect to at least talk to and inform your partner. Even if he didn’t want to skate with Meagan, whilst that would sure be hurtful for her, it would be his choice. To not even take the time to tell her his plans is utterly disrespectful. He “assumed” she wanted another baby - maybe ASK her?? This is a train wreck, and nothing to say of who he has paired up with who I have zero time for, as well as her tone deaf statement thanking the FFSG for their support 
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- Sep 22, 2019
I know he's probably tongue-in-cheek but I wonder if it would be possible for them to go on SOI together?
Perhaps a guest appearance by Wojtek might be appreciated by Canadian SOI fans who also follow BOB.I actually think it would be a big hit, especially since they won.I know he's probably tongue-in-cheek but I wonder if it would be possible for them to go on SOI together?
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