Patrick Chan

[4everchan]

hi guys... i brought the unicorn back

 

[Shedi0806]

I think this is beautiful nevertheless:

https://youtu.be/tRgTymPSgsE?t=6249

:2thumbs:

 

[4everchan]

this is Skate Canada's banquet... i share this here.. you can fast forward to the moments you want... but here are some highlights

1) tribute to Brian Pockar (Tracy's tears)
2) our skaters giving the awards to the volunteers, and the speeches given by those who are retiring... I couldn't help crying when Patrick was chocking up...
3) interview with Patrick (Ted Barton).
4) Andrew Poje in all his splendour

When I saw the video was almost 3 hours long I thought I wouldn't watch it.. however there is a long pause for dinner etc you can just fast forward.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

this is Skate Canada's banquet... i share this here.. you can fast forward to the moments you want... but here are some highlights

1) tribute to Brian Pockar (Tracy's tears)
2) our skaters giving the awards to the volunteers, and the speeches given by those who are retiring... I couldn't help crying when Patrick was chocking up...
3) interview with Patrick (Ted Barton).
4) Andrew Poje in all his splendour

When I saw the video was almost 3 hours long I thought I wouldn't watch it.. however there is a long pause for dinner etc you can just fast forward.

Patrick is not a crier, but when he does cry, it's about other people and being grateful for them. It's got nothing to do with his on-ice performances or accomplishments. ONCE he cried after a skate (2015 SC), but that was in gratitude to Kathy for being there for him before the skate. It's a side of him that we haven't seen as often. Some skaters cry after every clean performance, but not Patrick. Patrick would get excited but not teary. His tears recently show that the people around him mean the most to him and not any of his accomplishments. Because he doesn't cry often (as far as what fans know/see), I know these tears are real and that his words come straight from his heart. (I'm not saying that skaters who cry often after performances are not sincere in their emotions or that they're less grateful; I've just noticed that Patrick never reacted like that). He cries more selectively, and for off-ice reasons. I'm simply very impressed that Patrick's deepest gratitude is for the people in his life and not more superficial things like medals or fame. I'm glad he has come to this understanding. :yes: Thank you for posting this! Skate Canada seems like such a warm and healthy environment for skaters to be in!

ETA: Nice to see Joannie again! I miss seeing her on the ice, but she's got plenty else to do.

 

[4everchan]

yup... i totally agree with you. Patrick feels things deeply and cries out of gratitude and love for his entourage. It's heartfelt, just like his skating. I relate a lot to this. It shows he is aware of all the sacrifices he has made but more importantly, all the sacrifices others have made for him to succeed. He is very aware that nothing is possible on your own.

I have always thought Patrick as being one of the most genuine athletes. Big heart, big smile. He is truly an amazing human being and I am glad he intends to coach because he possesses all the qualities to do so (and of course knowledge)...

I have to admit that I am worried though. As you guys know, I am not an exclusive uber Chan fan I adore Patrick but I have followed skating since 1988 and I have had my load of favourite skaters... including Browning, Chouinard, Yagudin, Buttle, Lambiel, Lu Chen, Joannie, etc but I am worried now... The skaters I have loved over the years all had superior skating skills. They all mastered the blade. I am worried about the retirement of Patrick means the end of good skating for a while. I appreciate some of the younger skaters, even calling Joseph Phan "mini-chiddy", but yeah... as I said.. I am worried.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

OT for this thread, but what is your opinion on Deniss Vasiljevs? He is coached by Lambiel and they are two peas in a pod. I love him as a skater and as a person. His programs have a strong artistic aspect and he loves to perform for the audience. His FF is quite active these days and I enjoy it very much. Kind fans there provide translations and info from Latvian/Russian media, and Deniss also speaks good English. He has nice skating skills and spins and is working on the quad. He loves to learn and cook and draw. Quite an amazing young man! :yes: When many skaters struggled in the LP at 2018 Worlds, he ended up 6th with 2 clean programs without a quad.

 

[4everchan]

I have noticed him of course but I don't know why, I am not head over heels yet about him... there is something that hasn't yet made me a crazy fan... maybe it's th technical level.. i am not sure... i should rewatch his programs.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

It has been so refreshing to hear Patrick’s thoughts on his career outside of an interview context, via his two recent speeches. Patrick has always given candid interviews, but there’s something different and special about him simply saying what he chooses to say. Because he’s not responding to an interviewer’s questions (as well-considered and well-phrased as those questions may be), Patrick has the freedom to say whatever he wants, in whatever order he wants, and for however long it takes. With this freedom, he speaks straight from his heart. He has delivered these speeches smoothly and confidently, while I often thought he sounded somewhat nervous during interviews, searching for the right words to express himself. These words in his speeches are fully his words, and not words journalists have gotten out of him through their questions or story lenses. There is no lens in the speeches other than Patrick being Patrick and sharing his thoughts and feelings. That’s a beautiful thing! :yes:

Having said this, he nonetheless gave a great answer to Ted Barton about how he had a very human experience this year and learned to have comfort in vulnerability and not fear making mistakes and be comfortable in his own skin. The "perfect moments picture" isn't a complete picture. The true picture of life has flaws in it.

 

[m0001]

this is Skate Canada's banquet... i share this here.. you can fast forward to the moments you want... but here are some highlights

1) tribute to Brian Pockar (Tracy's tears)
2) our skaters giving the awards to the volunteers, and the speeches given by those who are retiring... I couldn't help crying when Patrick was chocking up...
3) interview with Patrick (Ted Barton).
4) Andrew Poje in all his splendour

When I saw the video was almost 3 hours long I thought I wouldn't watch it.. however there is a long pause for dinner etc you can just fast forward.

Thanks for sharing the video with us! Patrick speaks at 2:02 and 2:20 in this video.

 

[4everchan]

It has been so refreshing to hear Patrick’s thoughts on his career outside of an interview context, via his two recent speeches. Patrick has always given candid interviews, but there’s something different and special about him simply saying what he chooses to say. Because he’s not responding to an interviewer’s questions (as well-considered and well-phrased as those may be), Patrick has the freedom to say whatever he wants, in whatever order he wants, and for however long it takes. With this freedom, he speaks straight from his heart. He has delivered these speeches smoothly and confidently, while I often thought he sounded somewhat nervous during interviews, searching for the right words to express himself. These words in his speeches are fully his words, and not words journalists have gotten out of him through their questions or story lenses. There is no lens in the speeches other than Patrick being Patrick and sharing his thoughts and feelings. That’s a beautiful thing! :yes:

Having said this, he nonetheless gave a great answer to Ted Barton about how he had a very human experience this year and learned to have comfort in vulnerability and not fear making mistakes and be comfortable in his own skin. The "perfect moments picture" isn't a complete picture. The true picture of life has flaws in it.

i think you are 100% right. Patrick is a planner. When he organizes his own thoughts and words, he speaks from his heart and can choose exactly how he wants things to happen. In interviews, he often had to react quickly and as he is not a guy with pre-made answers, his genuine self sometimes came across as too genuine.... to me it was one of his qualities however. ( interviews are so boring nowadays with people answering questions the same way at all times... with some sort of false modesty) In any case, these retirement speeches gave us a Patrick we want to hug and cherish forever. I hope we are not done hearing from him. Some athletes just vanish after retirement so I am a bit worried. We are still 20 pages away from our goal on here LOL

 

[vivley]

Hi all,

I hope you are well and enjoying SOI! I can't believe a month has gone by so fast, but I have just officially announced on my site that I will be taking a hiatus from blogging. What will I be doing? Juggling learning front end development (courtesy of Google) and my ever more demanding day job, as well as my family. In other words, taking care of life.

So I will miss you all, but please feel free to write or PM me. I wish you all a fantastic summer!

Viv

 

[4everchan]

Hi all,

I hope you are well and enjoying SOI! I can't believe a month has gone by so fast, but I have just officially announced on my site that I will be taking a hiatus from blogging. What will I be doing? Juggling learning front end development (courtesy of Google) and my ever more demanding day job, as well as my family. In other words, taking care of life.

So I will miss you all, but please feel free to write or PM me. I wish you all a fantastic summer!

Viv

i have already replied to you elsewhere but let me add this here :

THANK YOU SO MUCH. You are a true inspiration and you made the last couple years of following Patrick exciting with your blog. It is an infinite source of Chiddy treasures. All the best to you and congrats !

 

[m0001]

Thanks so much again vivley for all your hard work! Have a wonderful summer!

 

[4everchan]

i live very downtown, near a park which has live events (mostly music but also circus) all summer.... today, there was a band playing music when i was passing by to get to the subway.... and I thought.. oh i know this song and... then... i got very sad.. and then i remembered Patrick.... they were playing Dust in the wind...

i had to refrain to go into a tear tantrum .... lol

i walked away instead of enjoying the music.... could not take it

 

[m0001]

i live very downtown, near a park which has live events (mostly music but also circus) all summer.... today, there was a band playing music when i was passing by to get to the subway.... and I thought.. oh i know this song and... then... i got very sad.. and then i remembered Patrick.... they were playing Dust in the wind...

i had to refrain to go into a tear tantrum .... lol

i walked away instead of enjoying the music.... could not take it

Haha, before finishing reading, I thought you would say you heard Hallelujah.
BTW, is this place near Place des Art?

 

[4everchan]

Haha, before finishing reading, I thought you would say you heard Hallelujah.
BTW, is this place near Place des Art?

yup but not quite

 

[4everchan]

it is so real... Patrick is making pots instead of GPs... this year will be tough ....

 

[4everchan]

and i had to fetch this thread far far far away... in another galaxy... news about patrick will be sparse... i hope i won't have to dig this thread on page 8th at one point

1) i would like to thank blueberryhlll for my new avatar... waldo chan and the unicorn have found each other back.. but this time, patrick shows the unicorn his gold medal and the unicorn leans down, meaning : finally, we have waited 27 years for this one... and we all knew you would be getting it. Our mission is over chiddy ... you can leave, peaceful and tour Canada and inspire minichiddies all over the place. I will always follow you...
2) here is an article... Patrick and I have the same taste in cities... Vancouver > Toronto... sorry folks.. you may have TCC and its stars... but Vancouver has the ocean, the ever lasting spring with cherry blossoms, the beaches, the mountains, the fresh air, the stars!!!!! and chiddy https://www.thestar.com/sports/2018...all-in-love-with-vancouver-sorry-toronto.html

 

[skatingfan4ever]

Thanks, 4everchan, for fetching Patrick's thread. You know those long and detailed posts I promised to do here after the Olympics? Well, I haven't done them yet, mainly because I took a long break from GS and figure skating fandom and have put my energy into other things. They are next on my agenda, but I won't post them until I'm happy with them. Just know that they're a labor of love. There are going to be at least 3 posts, maybe 4.

For now, I'll post something fun. Skate Canada did a Throwback Thursday post on their Facebook page of when Patrick became Novice Mens Champion in 2004, when he was 13. Look at these adorable pictures!!! :luv17::luv17::luv17:

 

[4everchan]

very cute

looking forward to reading you

no pressure... everything we do about patrick is indeed a labour of love... i mean i went to natonals because of him only and i am so glad i did