The Clouds Have Lifted

As I sit here at the first Canadians of a new quadrennial, I can't help thinking about how far this sport has moved beyond its darkest moment.
I refer, specifically, to the chill that surrounded the 2003 nationals in Saskatoon — and I'm not just talking about the -30C temperatures that greeted us on the Prairies for most of that week. It was the first Canadians after Salt Lake City 2002 and the worst judging scandal figure skating had ever seen (we'll spare you a recounting of the details of the Jamie Sale-David Pelletier mess, which has been told more than enough).
Anyways, let's just say not a lot of positive feeling was floating around Saskatoon that week.
Fast forward to this week and Halifax, where Canadians is getting a bright new makeover in terms of presentation. There's a flashy new logo and lots of buzz already about Vancouver 2010, which will be our first 'home' Olympics in 22 years.
Oh, yeah ... more spots for the world championships are at stake this week then we've seen in years. Three of everything except the women's discipline, which gets two. In other worlds, almost the largest team possible that will wear the red and white maple leaf in Tokyo in March.
Now that's something to shout about. And in a very good way, too.

NEWS AND NOTES

***Amelie Lacoste of Delson, Que., who finished fifth in the senior women's event a year ago, withdrew on the weekend. Lacoste has been battling a foot ailment for much of the season, which led to her dropping out of a scheduled Junior Grand Prix assignment in the Czech Republic in October. A few weeks before Christmas, she was hopeful she'd skate here in Halifax, but the injury clearly didn't respond in time.

***Kanata's Mandy Valentine, a former Canadian novice women's champ who's been battling injuries for much of the past two seasons, also dropped out of the senior event. She has been training in Vancouver with coach Joanne McLeod for much of this season.
As a top 12 finisher last year, Ashton Tessier of the Minto Skating Club was exempt from the qualifying round.
***Skate Canada will announce the site of the 2008 Canadian championships on Sunday, after the conclusion of this event. Expect a western venue, given that the last three nationals have been held in London (2005), Ottawa (2006) and Halifax.