If you just can't wait until Vancouver 2008 ...
In our final post from wonderful Halifax, we promised to return for more blogging fun at next year's Canadian championships. But that, you'll admit, is a helluva long time away.
So in the interim, check out my new skating blog, Breaking The Ice. The first post there sums up what you'll find in that space.
A little something to tide you over until next January.
The link's off to the right under 'skating links.'
Hope you can join me there.
Showing posts with label Canadians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canadians. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
Until We Meet Again ...
My plane back to Ottawa is about to warm up on the runway.
(after a fabulous salmon lunch at McKelvie's, and a trip to The Book Room, Canada's oldest bookstore, which has been in Halifax since 1839).
Yes, it’s time to leave the Maritimes, this remarkable city (still very much my favourite in Canada to visit) and the best hosts you could ever ask for in our fair land.
(I felt truly honoured when one of the fabulous volunteers at Canadians — a former Ottawa resident who now happily, and luckily, calls Nova Scotia home as a Radio-Canada employee — said I would fit in very well as a Maritimer).
Reality check? You bet.
And with that, the Halifax Chronicles reaches its end, as well.
The blog started out as an experiment. A test to see whether this might just be the right way to connect with a group of people in today’s day and age.
Without a doubt, the answer was a resounding yes.
So many folks, I’m told, took this ‘alternative’ route to follow the tale of these Canadian championships. And, I must admit, I was literally overwhelmed by the positive feedback the blog received throughout the week. Many thanks for the kind words, and a hearty thank you to those who contributed to it all with the stories they were so willing to share.
As Christopher Mabee would put it ... I had a blast out there.
So much so, that I can say now that the blog isn’t just an experiment anymore. It is a living, breathing thing that, I surely hope, has plenty more tales to spin in the years ahead.
Safe travels, everyone.
2008 in Vancouver ... let’s call it a date, okay?
(after a fabulous salmon lunch at McKelvie's, and a trip to The Book Room, Canada's oldest bookstore, which has been in Halifax since 1839).
Yes, it’s time to leave the Maritimes, this remarkable city (still very much my favourite in Canada to visit) and the best hosts you could ever ask for in our fair land.
(I felt truly honoured when one of the fabulous volunteers at Canadians — a former Ottawa resident who now happily, and luckily, calls Nova Scotia home as a Radio-Canada employee — said I would fit in very well as a Maritimer).
Reality check? You bet.
And with that, the Halifax Chronicles reaches its end, as well.
The blog started out as an experiment. A test to see whether this might just be the right way to connect with a group of people in today’s day and age.
Without a doubt, the answer was a resounding yes.
So many folks, I’m told, took this ‘alternative’ route to follow the tale of these Canadian championships. And, I must admit, I was literally overwhelmed by the positive feedback the blog received throughout the week. Many thanks for the kind words, and a hearty thank you to those who contributed to it all with the stories they were so willing to share.
As Christopher Mabee would put it ... I had a blast out there.
So much so, that I can say now that the blog isn’t just an experiment anymore. It is a living, breathing thing that, I surely hope, has plenty more tales to spin in the years ahead.
Safe travels, everyone.
2008 in Vancouver ... let’s call it a date, okay?
A Halifax High Five
The curtain has come down for another year.
One more Canadian championships officially in the books, one more set of memories to file away — perhaps for as long as we live.
Scrapbooks, photos, videos and yes, even blogs. We all choose different ways to remember times such as these. Just ask Shae-Lynn Bourne: Four years after she and Victor Kraatz ended their competitive careers following their biggest triumph (a world championship in 2003 in Washington, D.C.), many of their biggest highlights have been preserved on a website that is a symbol of today’s generation: YouTube.
“I didn’t even know there was a YouTube,” Bourne remarked with a laugh after spending hours sifting through some of the moments she shared with Kraatz and skating fans around the world.
Now, whenever she needs a reminder, it’s a click of a mouse away.
It's true that, when we look back upon events such as these, it’s always the performances of the champions that seem to come to mind first. And make no mistake about: Jeffrey Buttle, Joannie Rochette, Jessica Dube (that admitted AC/DC fan) and Bryce Davison, and Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon — deservedly earns spots in our hearts.
But in keeping with the ‘alternative’ them of this blog, here’s five things I’ll cherish from a week spent in Nova Scotia.
A personal Halifax High Five, if you will.
1) His name, somewhat appropriately, often said a lot about what people thought about his chances at this event. Mabee he will, Mabee he won’t. But Christopher Mabee took a major step toward stardom in Halifax. Not only did he earn his first ticket to the world championships, Mabee showed he could get it done when the lights shone brightest. And nobody here was a better showman (Great Big Sea for a show program? In Halifax? Just brilliant, young man), or seemed to enjoy himself more on the ice. In other words, there are no maybes — or 'ordinary days' — anymore.
2) Full disclosure: Mrs. Doherty thinks the blog “really rocks.” That being said, this list wouldn’t be complete without Lesley Hawker’s name on it. More than perhaps anyone at this event, she embodies the spirit of what her sport — any sport — should be about. That, no matter how many times people say it can’t happen, if you follow your heart, if you never stop trying, your biggest dreams really can come true. At 25, Hawker is still going strong and keeps skating for all the right reasons. Hopefully, for a few more years yet. Yes, Mrs. Doherty, you rock, too.
3) It’s the story Hollywood just loves to tell. Girl falls in love with skating as a young child, and dreams of becoming a champion. The road is long and winding but, in the end, she makes it. Dana Zhalko-Tytarenko lived that story in Halifax. Just last year, the 15-year-old from Ottawa finished 14th as a novice. Today, she went home with the junior women’s gold medal in her suitcase. The utter joy — and yes, shock — Zhalko-Tytarenko showed as she talked about the unexpected win was my feel-good story of these Canadians. Even on Sunday night, she was still giddy about it at the closing banquet. Are you listening, Hollywood?
4) When I think of the favourite people I’ve met in 15 years of covering this sport, Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz always come quickly to mind. Not just for the titles they won and the amazing performances they gave us every time they stepped on the ice, but just for being who they are. Figure skating is so much richer for having had them be a part of it. Seeing them back together again for the Hall of Fame induction was an absolute treat for all of us. Knowing both will still be around rinks for years to come, sharing their passion with the next generation ... that’s the best thought of all.
5) A funny video during Sunday’s closing banquet asked the question: What is a Haligonian? Here’s my answer. The same thing they’ve always been. Some of the most warm, welcoming people you will ever meet in this country. Halifax is a wonderful city with a soul that every town and city across Canada would do well to emulate. Then again, my ‘most trusted Halifax source’ and her partner in ‘entertaining’ prose tought me that many years ago. Tell you what, Halifax. Any time you want to bring this event back to your city, I’m there. That's a promise.
One more Canadian championships officially in the books, one more set of memories to file away — perhaps for as long as we live.
Scrapbooks, photos, videos and yes, even blogs. We all choose different ways to remember times such as these. Just ask Shae-Lynn Bourne: Four years after she and Victor Kraatz ended their competitive careers following their biggest triumph (a world championship in 2003 in Washington, D.C.), many of their biggest highlights have been preserved on a website that is a symbol of today’s generation: YouTube.
“I didn’t even know there was a YouTube,” Bourne remarked with a laugh after spending hours sifting through some of the moments she shared with Kraatz and skating fans around the world.
Now, whenever she needs a reminder, it’s a click of a mouse away.
It's true that, when we look back upon events such as these, it’s always the performances of the champions that seem to come to mind first. And make no mistake about: Jeffrey Buttle, Joannie Rochette, Jessica Dube (that admitted AC/DC fan) and Bryce Davison, and Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon — deservedly earns spots in our hearts.
But in keeping with the ‘alternative’ them of this blog, here’s five things I’ll cherish from a week spent in Nova Scotia.
A personal Halifax High Five, if you will.
1) His name, somewhat appropriately, often said a lot about what people thought about his chances at this event. Mabee he will, Mabee he won’t. But Christopher Mabee took a major step toward stardom in Halifax. Not only did he earn his first ticket to the world championships, Mabee showed he could get it done when the lights shone brightest. And nobody here was a better showman (Great Big Sea for a show program? In Halifax? Just brilliant, young man), or seemed to enjoy himself more on the ice. In other words, there are no maybes — or 'ordinary days' — anymore.
2) Full disclosure: Mrs. Doherty thinks the blog “really rocks.” That being said, this list wouldn’t be complete without Lesley Hawker’s name on it. More than perhaps anyone at this event, she embodies the spirit of what her sport — any sport — should be about. That, no matter how many times people say it can’t happen, if you follow your heart, if you never stop trying, your biggest dreams really can come true. At 25, Hawker is still going strong and keeps skating for all the right reasons. Hopefully, for a few more years yet. Yes, Mrs. Doherty, you rock, too.
3) It’s the story Hollywood just loves to tell. Girl falls in love with skating as a young child, and dreams of becoming a champion. The road is long and winding but, in the end, she makes it. Dana Zhalko-Tytarenko lived that story in Halifax. Just last year, the 15-year-old from Ottawa finished 14th as a novice. Today, she went home with the junior women’s gold medal in her suitcase. The utter joy — and yes, shock — Zhalko-Tytarenko showed as she talked about the unexpected win was my feel-good story of these Canadians. Even on Sunday night, she was still giddy about it at the closing banquet. Are you listening, Hollywood?
4) When I think of the favourite people I’ve met in 15 years of covering this sport, Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz always come quickly to mind. Not just for the titles they won and the amazing performances they gave us every time they stepped on the ice, but just for being who they are. Figure skating is so much richer for having had them be a part of it. Seeing them back together again for the Hall of Fame induction was an absolute treat for all of us. Knowing both will still be around rinks for years to come, sharing their passion with the next generation ... that’s the best thought of all.
5) A funny video during Sunday’s closing banquet asked the question: What is a Haligonian? Here’s my answer. The same thing they’ve always been. Some of the most warm, welcoming people you will ever meet in this country. Halifax is a wonderful city with a soul that every town and city across Canada would do well to emulate. Then again, my ‘most trusted Halifax source’ and her partner in ‘entertaining’ prose tought me that many years ago. Tell you what, Halifax. Any time you want to bring this event back to your city, I’m there. That's a promise.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
It's Always Something
Marie-France Dubreuil has called it her 'bonus' competition.
The chance to skate in the 2006 world championships in Calgary, just weeks after a frightening fall on a rotational lift crushed the Olympic medals dreams of Dubreuil and her partner, Patrice Lauzon.
Following that logic, maybe we should think of Canadian title No. 5 as Dubreuil's 'bonus' championship. She revealed after their free dance that a painful leg injury she suffered Monday — a complication of an inner ear problem — nearly forced the world silver medallists to withdraw from this week's nationals.
The 32-year-old from Montreal contracted a virus about 10 days while she and Lauzon were still at their training base in Lyon, France. She continued to train, but suffered through dizzy spells.
“I thought it was because of the virus, but something in my inner ear shifted,” she said. “Every time I moved my head, I would have vertigo and it was horrible. I didn’t realize it was in my inner ear, I thought it was the virus. I kept trying to train but I was so dizzy at one point I almost fainted because of the vertigo.”
Dubreuil collapsed to the ice at one point, injuring her left knee and ankle.
“Monday night, wasn’t sure going to come (to Canadians),” said Dubreuil. “But I found a doctor who specialized in inner ear (problems), and at the last moment he did a manipulation and he fixed it.”
But for 48 hours, she could only sleep sitting up.
“The first few practices here, I couldn’t do any head movements and I could barely walk on my leg,” said Dubreuil. “I had a really hard time dealing with this and training at the same time.”
Dubreuil has been doing physiotherapy while in Halifax, and plans to see a doctor in Montreal next week.
“My leg was a little bit shaky today,” she said. “But I’ll take care of it. But the main thing is to be at our peak for worlds and not here at Canadians.”
Said Lauzon: “The worst that could happen is the (refining of their programs) that we wanted to do before Four Continents (in February) will have to wait until before we go to worlds.”
Dubreuil and Lauzon were still clear winners here, their jazzy free dance to Etta James' My Life earning a standing ovation from the Metro Centre audience.
“We took a lot of pleasure skating and gave a lot of pleasure to the people watching,” said Dubreuil.
The chance to skate in the 2006 world championships in Calgary, just weeks after a frightening fall on a rotational lift crushed the Olympic medals dreams of Dubreuil and her partner, Patrice Lauzon.
Following that logic, maybe we should think of Canadian title No. 5 as Dubreuil's 'bonus' championship. She revealed after their free dance that a painful leg injury she suffered Monday — a complication of an inner ear problem — nearly forced the world silver medallists to withdraw from this week's nationals.
The 32-year-old from Montreal contracted a virus about 10 days while she and Lauzon were still at their training base in Lyon, France. She continued to train, but suffered through dizzy spells.
“I thought it was because of the virus, but something in my inner ear shifted,” she said. “Every time I moved my head, I would have vertigo and it was horrible. I didn’t realize it was in my inner ear, I thought it was the virus. I kept trying to train but I was so dizzy at one point I almost fainted because of the vertigo.”
Dubreuil collapsed to the ice at one point, injuring her left knee and ankle.
“Monday night, wasn’t sure going to come (to Canadians),” said Dubreuil. “But I found a doctor who specialized in inner ear (problems), and at the last moment he did a manipulation and he fixed it.”
But for 48 hours, she could only sleep sitting up.
“The first few practices here, I couldn’t do any head movements and I could barely walk on my leg,” said Dubreuil. “I had a really hard time dealing with this and training at the same time.”
Dubreuil has been doing physiotherapy while in Halifax, and plans to see a doctor in Montreal next week.
“My leg was a little bit shaky today,” she said. “But I’ll take care of it. But the main thing is to be at our peak for worlds and not here at Canadians.”
Said Lauzon: “The worst that could happen is the (refining of their programs) that we wanted to do before Four Continents (in February) will have to wait until before we go to worlds.”
Dubreuil and Lauzon were still clear winners here, their jazzy free dance to Etta James' My Life earning a standing ovation from the Metro Centre audience.
“We took a lot of pleasure skating and gave a lot of pleasure to the people watching,” said Dubreuil.
Bonus Tickets
Skate Canada followed protocol in naming its team for the 2007 Tokyo world championships.
But there were some slight changes for next month's Four Continents Championship in Colorado Springs.
Vancouver's Mira Leung has elected to skip the event, so former national champion Cynthia Phaneuf of Contrecoeur, Que., goes in her place. She joins three-time Canadian champion Joannie Rochette of Ile-Dupas, Que., and Lesley Hawker (a.k.a. Mrs. Doherty to regular readers and fans of this blog) of Barrie, Ont.
In ice dance, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., based Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje have elected to skip Four Continents and instead will use the world junior championships (Feb. 26-March 4 in Oberstdorf, Germany) as their warmup for the Tokyo worlds.
Lauren Senft of North Vancouver, B.C., and Winnipeg's Leif Gislason head to Colorado Springs in their place.
The rest of the world junior team includes Toronto's Patrick Chan, Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., and Joey Russell of Labrador City, N.L. (men); Myriane Samson of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. (women); Carolyn MacCuish of Burlington, Ont., and Andrew Evans of Caledon East, Ont., and Amanda Velenosi of Laval, Que., and Montreal's Mark Fernandez (pairs); Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., and Barrie's Joanna Lenko and Mitchell Islam (ice dance).
But there were some slight changes for next month's Four Continents Championship in Colorado Springs.
Vancouver's Mira Leung has elected to skip the event, so former national champion Cynthia Phaneuf of Contrecoeur, Que., goes in her place. She joins three-time Canadian champion Joannie Rochette of Ile-Dupas, Que., and Lesley Hawker (a.k.a. Mrs. Doherty to regular readers and fans of this blog) of Barrie, Ont.
In ice dance, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., based Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje have elected to skip Four Continents and instead will use the world junior championships (Feb. 26-March 4 in Oberstdorf, Germany) as their warmup for the Tokyo worlds.
Lauren Senft of North Vancouver, B.C., and Winnipeg's Leif Gislason head to Colorado Springs in their place.
The rest of the world junior team includes Toronto's Patrick Chan, Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., and Joey Russell of Labrador City, N.L. (men); Myriane Samson of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. (women); Carolyn MacCuish of Burlington, Ont., and Andrew Evans of Caledon East, Ont., and Amanda Velenosi of Laval, Que., and Montreal's Mark Fernandez (pairs); Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., and Barrie's Joanna Lenko and Mitchell Islam (ice dance).
Over To You, Vancouver
So it is hello B.C. after all.
Skate Canada has just announced Vancouver will be the site for the 2008 Canadian championships.
Dates for the event: Jan. 16-20, 2008.
It's the fifth time Canada's third-largest city will play host to the nationals, but the first since 1997. The 2001 world championships were also held in Vancouver.
The venue for next year's event will be Pacific Coliseum, also home base for the figure skating competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
“It's a great opportunity for our athletes to have a home country experience prior to the 2010 Games,” said Skate Canada CEO William Thompson.
Canadians has been shortened to five days because of the expected elimination of the senior qualifying rounds from the 2008 schedule. Senior qualifying for both men and women will be done at the East/West Challenge event in December.
Vancouver must conduct a test event at the Coliseum prior to 2010, but it has to be international in nature. If history means anything, that event should wind up being the 2009 Four Continents Championship. Salt Lake City used the 4Cs as its test event prior to the 2002 Winter Games.
Skate Canada has just announced Vancouver will be the site for the 2008 Canadian championships.
Dates for the event: Jan. 16-20, 2008.
It's the fifth time Canada's third-largest city will play host to the nationals, but the first since 1997. The 2001 world championships were also held in Vancouver.
The venue for next year's event will be Pacific Coliseum, also home base for the figure skating competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
“It's a great opportunity for our athletes to have a home country experience prior to the 2010 Games,” said Skate Canada CEO William Thompson.
Canadians has been shortened to five days because of the expected elimination of the senior qualifying rounds from the 2008 schedule. Senior qualifying for both men and women will be done at the East/West Challenge event in December.
Vancouver must conduct a test event at the Coliseum prior to 2010, but it has to be international in nature. If history means anything, that event should wind up being the 2009 Four Continents Championship. Salt Lake City used the 4Cs as its test event prior to the 2002 Winter Games.
Hello, My Name Is ...
We were due for a big surprise at these Canadian championships.
But this one ... well, this was right off the map.
Everyone pretty much knew who would get the first two available Canadian ice dance spots for the world championships in Tokyo. Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon of Montreal would win their fifth national senior ice dance title, and rising stars Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of London would secure their first world team berth.
Check and check.
No. 3? Wide open, it seemed, with Chantal Lefebvre of LaSalle, Que., and Moscow-born Arseniy Markov considered the front runners, followed closely by Lauren Senft of North Vancouver, B.C., and Winnipeg's Leif Gislason.
Both faltered in today's free dance. And in more than just a bit of shocker, first-year team Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje emerged with the prized third ticket to Japan.
Who are these guys?
Glad you asked.
Poje formerly skated with Alice Graham out of the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club. They were ninth as seniors last year, after winning a Canadian junior bronze in 2005.
Weaver is an American from Houston, Tex., whose only previous partner was Charles Clavey. They are previous U.S. junior medallists.
When both were in need of partners during the summer, friends of coaches paired them up. They are based at the K-W Club with coach Paul MacIntosh. Their programs were choreographed by former Canadian world and Olympic team members Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe.
While Weaver and Poje won two bronze medals on the Junior Grand Prix circuit during the fall, they came here with no visions of grandeur.
“We were happy to be in seventh after the (Golden Waltz compulsory), to be completely honest” said Weaver, 17. “Golden is probably our weakest program because we only had two months to train it.
“Then we said, we can get better as we go on, and it turns out we did.”
As the other contenders faltered in the free dance, Weaver and Poje kept watching their names climb up the leaderboard.
“It was unreal,” said Poje, 20, of Kitchener, Ont. “It was kind of like dreamlike. I went into the competition not thinking we would place where we are and all of sudden, (we went) higher and higher. We just sat there in amazement.”
Said Weaver: “We’re just really, really happy. It’s like ‘pinch me’ ... we don’t know it’s really happening. It’s just great fun for us.”
Now Weaver will begin the process of obtaining Canadian citizenship, so she will be eligible to compete for this country at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
“I think Canada’s great,” she said. “It’s really fun for me. Right now, I’m just on Cloud 9. It’s just a great experience. I love my country, USA, but I’m really happy to be here in Canada.”
She's going in the opposite direction of Tanith Belbin, who was born in Canada but got U.S. citizenship just in time to skate with Ben Agosto at the 2006 Turin Games.
“This is a little tradeoff for us,” said Poje with a grin.
One that's working quite well for one and all, thank you very much.
But this one ... well, this was right off the map.
Everyone pretty much knew who would get the first two available Canadian ice dance spots for the world championships in Tokyo. Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon of Montreal would win their fifth national senior ice dance title, and rising stars Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of London would secure their first world team berth.
Check and check.
No. 3? Wide open, it seemed, with Chantal Lefebvre of LaSalle, Que., and Moscow-born Arseniy Markov considered the front runners, followed closely by Lauren Senft of North Vancouver, B.C., and Winnipeg's Leif Gislason.
Both faltered in today's free dance. And in more than just a bit of shocker, first-year team Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje emerged with the prized third ticket to Japan.
Who are these guys?
Glad you asked.
Poje formerly skated with Alice Graham out of the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club. They were ninth as seniors last year, after winning a Canadian junior bronze in 2005.
Weaver is an American from Houston, Tex., whose only previous partner was Charles Clavey. They are previous U.S. junior medallists.
When both were in need of partners during the summer, friends of coaches paired them up. They are based at the K-W Club with coach Paul MacIntosh. Their programs were choreographed by former Canadian world and Olympic team members Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe.
While Weaver and Poje won two bronze medals on the Junior Grand Prix circuit during the fall, they came here with no visions of grandeur.
“We were happy to be in seventh after the (Golden Waltz compulsory), to be completely honest” said Weaver, 17. “Golden is probably our weakest program because we only had two months to train it.
“Then we said, we can get better as we go on, and it turns out we did.”
As the other contenders faltered in the free dance, Weaver and Poje kept watching their names climb up the leaderboard.
“It was unreal,” said Poje, 20, of Kitchener, Ont. “It was kind of like dreamlike. I went into the competition not thinking we would place where we are and all of sudden, (we went) higher and higher. We just sat there in amazement.”
Said Weaver: “We’re just really, really happy. It’s like ‘pinch me’ ... we don’t know it’s really happening. It’s just great fun for us.”
Now Weaver will begin the process of obtaining Canadian citizenship, so she will be eligible to compete for this country at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
“I think Canada’s great,” she said. “It’s really fun for me. Right now, I’m just on Cloud 9. It’s just a great experience. I love my country, USA, but I’m really happy to be here in Canada.”
She's going in the opposite direction of Tanith Belbin, who was born in Canada but got U.S. citizenship just in time to skate with Ben Agosto at the 2006 Turin Games.
“This is a little tradeoff for us,” said Poje with a grin.
One that's working quite well for one and all, thank you very much.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Can't Scuttle Buttle
Let's see now.
Jeffrey Buttle sits out three months waiting for a stress fracture in his lower back to heal. Has to pass on the entire fall season, meaning he won't compete for real until the Canadian championships.
Then the guy goes out and hangs up the highest men's score — a whopping two-program total of 232.83 — ever recorded by a Canadian skater.
Tell me again how there were supposed to be doubts about where he was at?
“For him to come out after three months and put out two solid performances, that just shows you what kind of competitor he is,” said silver-medal winner Christopher Mabee, who should know — he's Buttle's training mate and good buddy.
“He really wants it, so he went out and got it.”
Did he ever. Seven triple jumps later, Buttle blew away the field for his third straight Canadian title. Even when he popped a triple Axel, Buttle was wily enough to throw in a second triple flip later.
So, Mr. Buttle, whaddya think?
“The back definitely feels good,” he said with a laugh.
“I’m definitely happy with the way it went. Obviously, it wasn’t perfect, and I think conditioning definitely played a role in that. I felt fine going into the second (triple Axel), but obviously there was a mental block. I’m happy that, after the Axel, I knew that because I singled it, I could add another triple later on. A little bit of number playing, maybe, in the program.”
Not that he was hurting for points. His 153.98-point score for the program was 11.7 better than former champ Emanuel Sandhu, who wound up with the bronze, and more than 20 higher than Mabee posted.
Buttle admitted later he felt comfortable — sort of — that it would hold up, even with Sandhu and Mabee yet to skate.
“I had an inkling (it was good enough),” he said. “But I had seen how Chris had been training at home, doing clean programs, clean run-throughs. He was only three points behind and I knew what I was capable of, so I definitely didn’t think I had it in the bag. (But) I felt pretty confident it would hold up.”
The music for Buttle's entrancing free program, from the movie Ararat, is a tribute to the Armenian coach, Rafael Arutunian, who guides his fortunes along with Lee Barkell at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont. Given what Buttle has been through this season, it was kind of appropriate.
“It’s about a struggle, and I was definitely feeling a bit of a struggle at the end of the program (tonight),” he said. “But I fought through that.”
Chris Mabee had it right. That's just what champions do.
Jeffrey Buttle sits out three months waiting for a stress fracture in his lower back to heal. Has to pass on the entire fall season, meaning he won't compete for real until the Canadian championships.
Then the guy goes out and hangs up the highest men's score — a whopping two-program total of 232.83 — ever recorded by a Canadian skater.
Tell me again how there were supposed to be doubts about where he was at?
“For him to come out after three months and put out two solid performances, that just shows you what kind of competitor he is,” said silver-medal winner Christopher Mabee, who should know — he's Buttle's training mate and good buddy.
“He really wants it, so he went out and got it.”
Did he ever. Seven triple jumps later, Buttle blew away the field for his third straight Canadian title. Even when he popped a triple Axel, Buttle was wily enough to throw in a second triple flip later.
So, Mr. Buttle, whaddya think?
“The back definitely feels good,” he said with a laugh.
“I’m definitely happy with the way it went. Obviously, it wasn’t perfect, and I think conditioning definitely played a role in that. I felt fine going into the second (triple Axel), but obviously there was a mental block. I’m happy that, after the Axel, I knew that because I singled it, I could add another triple later on. A little bit of number playing, maybe, in the program.”
Not that he was hurting for points. His 153.98-point score for the program was 11.7 better than former champ Emanuel Sandhu, who wound up with the bronze, and more than 20 higher than Mabee posted.
Buttle admitted later he felt comfortable — sort of — that it would hold up, even with Sandhu and Mabee yet to skate.
“I had an inkling (it was good enough),” he said. “But I had seen how Chris had been training at home, doing clean programs, clean run-throughs. He was only three points behind and I knew what I was capable of, so I definitely didn’t think I had it in the bag. (But) I felt pretty confident it would hold up.”
The music for Buttle's entrancing free program, from the movie Ararat, is a tribute to the Armenian coach, Rafael Arutunian, who guides his fortunes along with Lee Barkell at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont. Given what Buttle has been through this season, it was kind of appropriate.
“It’s about a struggle, and I was definitely feeling a bit of a struggle at the end of the program (tonight),” he said. “But I fought through that.”
Chris Mabee had it right. That's just what champions do.
Mabee, He Did
There are no maybes about Christopher Mabee anymore.
The young man from Tillsonburg, Ont., stared the big spotlight down tonight in the men's free skate and yes, it is true — he wobbled at a few moments. But this is the new Chris Mabee, as he reminded us again tonight.
So when the Canadian men's team was finally set for the world championships in Tokyo after one dandy night of skating, the list included Mabee's name for the first time.
Relief? You bet.
“I had two big errors,” said Mabee, 21, who popped a triple Axel and triple Salchow. “I just really questioned whether it was enough, and I’m so happy that it was because I’m really ready to go to worlds.”
Jeffrey Buttle, his good friend and training mate at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont., surely agreed.
“I’m really happy for him,” said Buttle. “He’s been capable of that for the past couple of years, so to see him go out there and put down two solid performances like that was really good.”
After Buttle, Shawn Sawyer of Edmundston, N.B., and Emanuel Sandhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., all brought the house down with terrific performances, it was all on Mabee, who skated in the final start position.
“Did I feel nervous? Yeah, I did,” Mabee admitted. “Especially after sitting in a room by myself, all the doubts started creeping in. I tried to keep them away and think about what I had to do to give a good performance.”
The magic number to make the team was about 125 points. But Mabee posted 133.63 for his wildly entertaining program, snagged himself another standing ovation, and climbed past Sandhu into the silver medal position. Mabee totalled 209.31, Sandhu 207.49.
The result stung Sandhu, whose medal collection at Canadians, up until now, included three gold and six silver medals as a senior.
“It hurts a little bit, because I was hungry for my title back, I was hungry for a gold medal,” said Sandhu. “I put in the work and I felt I could do it. I was practising like a champion all week and I competed like a champion today. I didn’t compete like a champion yesterday (in the short program) and that’s what took me out of the title position.”
The young man from Tillsonburg, Ont., stared the big spotlight down tonight in the men's free skate and yes, it is true — he wobbled at a few moments. But this is the new Chris Mabee, as he reminded us again tonight.
So when the Canadian men's team was finally set for the world championships in Tokyo after one dandy night of skating, the list included Mabee's name for the first time.
Relief? You bet.
“I had two big errors,” said Mabee, 21, who popped a triple Axel and triple Salchow. “I just really questioned whether it was enough, and I’m so happy that it was because I’m really ready to go to worlds.”
Jeffrey Buttle, his good friend and training mate at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont., surely agreed.
“I’m really happy for him,” said Buttle. “He’s been capable of that for the past couple of years, so to see him go out there and put down two solid performances like that was really good.”
After Buttle, Shawn Sawyer of Edmundston, N.B., and Emanuel Sandhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., all brought the house down with terrific performances, it was all on Mabee, who skated in the final start position.
“Did I feel nervous? Yeah, I did,” Mabee admitted. “Especially after sitting in a room by myself, all the doubts started creeping in. I tried to keep them away and think about what I had to do to give a good performance.”
The magic number to make the team was about 125 points. But Mabee posted 133.63 for his wildly entertaining program, snagged himself another standing ovation, and climbed past Sandhu into the silver medal position. Mabee totalled 209.31, Sandhu 207.49.
The result stung Sandhu, whose medal collection at Canadians, up until now, included three gold and six silver medals as a senior.
“It hurts a little bit, because I was hungry for my title back, I was hungry for a gold medal,” said Sandhu. “I put in the work and I felt I could do it. I was practising like a champion all week and I competed like a champion today. I didn’t compete like a champion yesterday (in the short program) and that’s what took me out of the title position.”
Passing The Torch
Almost from the day they were paired, the whispers began.
Junior Grand Prix champs, world junior silver medallists, Canadian junior champions ... it all happened so quickly. And every big leap Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison began to suggest that it just might be true.
That they would be the next ones.
Maybe even (gasp) the next Jamie Sale and David Pelletier.
Isn't it ironic then, don't you think, that the 2002 Olympic gold medallists played a hand in Dube and Davison finally seizing something that had at one time seemed so inevitable: Their first Canadian senior pairs crown.
“We’re almost speechless. This is a real surprise for us,” said Davison, 20, of Cambridge, Ont.
About a month ago, it seemed a real longshot to them. They missed a month of training when Dube had suffered a right knee injury that needed surgery on Sept. 25.
As Christmas approached, the clock was ticking against them. Dube and Davison were wondering if it would run out before they reached Halifax.
But a three-day session they spent with Sale and Pelletier in Edmonton just before Christmas turned out to be just what the doctor ordered.
“It opened our eyes to how ready we really were,” said Davison. “We were kind of running around, I guess you could say like chickens with our heads cut off. They screwed our heads back on, and helped us get ready for nationals.”
Sale and Pelletier also added a bit of flair to their programs, flair that veteran skating observers surely noticed in today's free skate final.
“They added detail, basically,” said Davison. “It’s more the way we present to each other, and the chemistry they display on the ice that we’re trying to take from them. The little things, like the way I present my hands to Jessica, those are the little things we’ve learned from Jamie and David.”
When it was over, when they had dethroned three-time champions Valerie Marcoux of Gatineau, Que., and Craig Buntin of Kelowna, B.C., the Dube and Davison camp knew it had one important phone call to make right away.
“I think Annie (Barabe, their coach with Sophie Richard and Yvan Desjardins) already called them to tell them the news,” said Dube, 19, of St. Cyrille de Wendover. Que. “I think (Sale and Pelletier) are very happy for us.”
Junior Grand Prix champs, world junior silver medallists, Canadian junior champions ... it all happened so quickly. And every big leap Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison began to suggest that it just might be true.
That they would be the next ones.
Maybe even (gasp) the next Jamie Sale and David Pelletier.
Isn't it ironic then, don't you think, that the 2002 Olympic gold medallists played a hand in Dube and Davison finally seizing something that had at one time seemed so inevitable: Their first Canadian senior pairs crown.
“We’re almost speechless. This is a real surprise for us,” said Davison, 20, of Cambridge, Ont.
About a month ago, it seemed a real longshot to them. They missed a month of training when Dube had suffered a right knee injury that needed surgery on Sept. 25.
As Christmas approached, the clock was ticking against them. Dube and Davison were wondering if it would run out before they reached Halifax.
But a three-day session they spent with Sale and Pelletier in Edmonton just before Christmas turned out to be just what the doctor ordered.
“It opened our eyes to how ready we really were,” said Davison. “We were kind of running around, I guess you could say like chickens with our heads cut off. They screwed our heads back on, and helped us get ready for nationals.”
Sale and Pelletier also added a bit of flair to their programs, flair that veteran skating observers surely noticed in today's free skate final.
“They added detail, basically,” said Davison. “It’s more the way we present to each other, and the chemistry they display on the ice that we’re trying to take from them. The little things, like the way I present my hands to Jessica, those are the little things we’ve learned from Jamie and David.”
When it was over, when they had dethroned three-time champions Valerie Marcoux of Gatineau, Que., and Craig Buntin of Kelowna, B.C., the Dube and Davison camp knew it had one important phone call to make right away.
“I think Annie (Barabe, their coach with Sophie Richard and Yvan Desjardins) already called them to tell them the news,” said Dube, 19, of St. Cyrille de Wendover. Que. “I think (Sale and Pelletier) are very happy for us.”
Fire And Ice
There's a kick in the pants, and then there's this.
When Anabelle Langlois was feeling down in the dumps during the summer, seriously pondering whether there was still a place for her among the best in Canadian pairs skating, a former world champion told Langlois exactly what she needed to hear.
About as bluntly as you can put it.
“Barb Underhill told me I had to get the bitch inside of me back,” said Langlois, 25, of Hull, Que. “That’s what she thought I lost. It kind of shocked me in the beginning when she said that, but I know what she meant.
“I needed to get that fire going again.”
The fire was back this week in Halifax. And, not coinicidentally, Langlois is going back to the world figure skating championships after she and Cody Hay of Grande Prairie, Alta., achieved the necessary third-place finish to make the Canadian world team. They actually finished second in today's free skate final, but wound up third overall behind new Canadian champs Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, and three-time (and now former) pair kings Valerie Marcoux and Craig Buntin.
Langlois went to worlds three times with former partner Patrice Archetto, their best finish being fifth in 2003 in Washington, D.C. But last season was just like starting over for her, as she teamed up with Hay, who was just up from the junior ranks (they became friends when both were training at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton).
While they finished fourth at last year's Canadians in Ottawa — a fine start for a new team — Langlois said she felt herself paying too much time worrying about how Hay would adapt to the senior ranks.
“I think I tried to shelter him and, in the end, I forgot how I wanted to be in competition,” said Langlois. “I almost stopped after last year because I felt so uncomfortable by the end of the year. Not because of him, but in competition, I felt so out of place.
“But people would tell me, you’re a great pairs skater, one of Canada’s best. It would make me cry when they’d say that because I didn’t feel it anymore.”
Even Hay noticed the change.
“When I was training with Anabelle and she was skating with Patrice, that’s something I always noticed about Anabelle,” said Hay, 23. “She always had a fire inside. She was the one that was driving.
“When I started skating with her, I was so new and she felt like she had to lead me along. She kind of let that (fire) go and was more nurturing. She was trying to bring me along easily. But this summer, it started to come back after her talk with Barb. It was less ‘you can do it, you’re going to work through it,’ and more ‘you’re going to do this.’ ”
The old Anabelle was back this week. And now Hay gets to enjoy a new experience — the world championships in Tokyo.
“This was our goal and we’re both really excited about it,” he said.
When Anabelle Langlois was feeling down in the dumps during the summer, seriously pondering whether there was still a place for her among the best in Canadian pairs skating, a former world champion told Langlois exactly what she needed to hear.
About as bluntly as you can put it.
“Barb Underhill told me I had to get the bitch inside of me back,” said Langlois, 25, of Hull, Que. “That’s what she thought I lost. It kind of shocked me in the beginning when she said that, but I know what she meant.
“I needed to get that fire going again.”
The fire was back this week in Halifax. And, not coinicidentally, Langlois is going back to the world figure skating championships after she and Cody Hay of Grande Prairie, Alta., achieved the necessary third-place finish to make the Canadian world team. They actually finished second in today's free skate final, but wound up third overall behind new Canadian champs Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, and three-time (and now former) pair kings Valerie Marcoux and Craig Buntin.
Langlois went to worlds three times with former partner Patrice Archetto, their best finish being fifth in 2003 in Washington, D.C. But last season was just like starting over for her, as she teamed up with Hay, who was just up from the junior ranks (they became friends when both were training at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton).
While they finished fourth at last year's Canadians in Ottawa — a fine start for a new team — Langlois said she felt herself paying too much time worrying about how Hay would adapt to the senior ranks.
“I think I tried to shelter him and, in the end, I forgot how I wanted to be in competition,” said Langlois. “I almost stopped after last year because I felt so uncomfortable by the end of the year. Not because of him, but in competition, I felt so out of place.
“But people would tell me, you’re a great pairs skater, one of Canada’s best. It would make me cry when they’d say that because I didn’t feel it anymore.”
Even Hay noticed the change.
“When I was training with Anabelle and she was skating with Patrice, that’s something I always noticed about Anabelle,” said Hay, 23. “She always had a fire inside. She was the one that was driving.
“When I started skating with her, I was so new and she felt like she had to lead me along. She kind of let that (fire) go and was more nurturing. She was trying to bring me along easily. But this summer, it started to come back after her talk with Barb. It was less ‘you can do it, you’re going to work through it,’ and more ‘you’re going to do this.’ ”
The old Anabelle was back this week. And now Hay gets to enjoy a new experience — the world championships in Tokyo.
“This was our goal and we’re both really excited about it,” he said.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Three's A Charm
Once upon a time, an elegant figure skater from Quebec brought home three Canadian women's titles, and earned the admiration of one young dreamer who shared her heritage.
Joannie Rochette couldn't have been prouder to match her idol tonight.
“That feels pretty good,” a relieved Rochette said after she sweated out a third straight triumph in the senior women's event. “Josee Chouinard did it, too, and she’s my idol in skating ... I’m really glad that I was able to win this. It’s very gratifying.”
It was probably closer than the final score, too. Vancouver's Mira Leung pushed hard to upset the champ and, with a six-triple jump skate that was nothing short of terrific, she almost got it done. Rochette, meanwhile, made enough errors, including two blown jumps, to have a lot of folks — including herself — wondering whether the crown was about to fall off her head.
“Thank God,” Rochette said, when the numbers went her way — 113.76 for the free skate and 170.65 overall, good enough to outlast Leung (159.59).
She admitted afterward it was the toughest test of her reign yet.
“Definitely, I'll tell you that,” said Rochette, 21, of Ile-Dupas, Que. “It’s after an Olympic cycle, and things change a lot after it. You can feel it, the newcomers coming up. (It was) the hardest one, but one that I feel I had to work hard to get.
“It feels good to have. Of course, I know (my) competition is getting closer behind me, but that adds value to my title.”
As the titles keep piling up, it is quite likely little girls everywhere in Quebec will start seeing Rochette as their skating idol. The same way the champ once looked at Chouinard.
Even if she finds that thought a little strange to fathom.
“I don’t see myself as Josee or anyone else,” said Rochette. “I’m a different person. But I do get some letters from (younger) girls, and that's great. You never realize they look up to you like they do. I just hope that I can be a good role model for them, too.”
Joannie Rochette couldn't have been prouder to match her idol tonight.
“That feels pretty good,” a relieved Rochette said after she sweated out a third straight triumph in the senior women's event. “Josee Chouinard did it, too, and she’s my idol in skating ... I’m really glad that I was able to win this. It’s very gratifying.”
It was probably closer than the final score, too. Vancouver's Mira Leung pushed hard to upset the champ and, with a six-triple jump skate that was nothing short of terrific, she almost got it done. Rochette, meanwhile, made enough errors, including two blown jumps, to have a lot of folks — including herself — wondering whether the crown was about to fall off her head.
“Thank God,” Rochette said, when the numbers went her way — 113.76 for the free skate and 170.65 overall, good enough to outlast Leung (159.59).
She admitted afterward it was the toughest test of her reign yet.
“Definitely, I'll tell you that,” said Rochette, 21, of Ile-Dupas, Que. “It’s after an Olympic cycle, and things change a lot after it. You can feel it, the newcomers coming up. (It was) the hardest one, but one that I feel I had to work hard to get.
“It feels good to have. Of course, I know (my) competition is getting closer behind me, but that adds value to my title.”
As the titles keep piling up, it is quite likely little girls everywhere in Quebec will start seeing Rochette as their skating idol. The same way the champ once looked at Chouinard.
Even if she finds that thought a little strange to fathom.
“I don’t see myself as Josee or anyone else,” said Rochette. “I’m a different person. But I do get some letters from (younger) girls, and that's great. You never realize they look up to you like they do. I just hope that I can be a good role model for them, too.”
That's One Sweet Reward
It was a headline that just begged to be written.
“Mrs. Doherty goes to Tokyo.”
(you know, kinda like that old movie, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington)
Alas, for Lesley Hawker, Canada's two women's tickets to the world championships in Japan are going to Joannie Rochette — now a three-time champion — and teen dynamo Mira Leung, who won the night in the court of public opinion (the standing ovation being the ultimate statement in that regard).
But Hawker is hardly going home empty-handed. There's a second straight bronze medal to savour, and another opportunity to skate in Sunday's closing gala. Her best overall performance at Canadians, with a boatload of personal best scores to prove it. Probably a trip to the Four Continents Championship in Colorado Springs, too.
Still ...
“A trip to Tokyo on the world team. That’s what I wanted,” said Hawker, who had a Metro Centre crowd wanting for her so badly tonight. “But I gave it everything I had here, so that’s the best that I can ask for.”
“I’m going to get there. Jo and Mira are a great team to send (to worlds), and hopefully they can get three spots for us for next year.”
More than ever, Hawker is certain her day is coming to come.
“Don’t worry, this is not going to be a habit. I promise,” she said with a laugh. “I’m close. I need to keep pushing the technical (side), and really go home and keep smoothing things out. I like where I’m heading as a skater.”
The technical boost might well come in the form of a triple Axel. Hawker has been working on them, and wants to put one in her program. Sooner rather than later.
“It's been a dream of mine for a long time ... I'm really happy with the way it's coming,” she said. “I’m going to go for it. You need to — the Japanese girls are doing them now.”
The 25-year-old left the media zone with a smile on her face and her skating dreams still very much alive. And a favourite treat awaiting her as a reward for a job well done. Chocolate bars, precisely lined up in her hotel room, and ...
“Oatmeal cookies!,” she said. “If I have oatmeal cookies and tea, I’m in heaven. I’m an easy girl to please.”
Bon appetit, Mrs. Doherty. You've earned it.
“Mrs. Doherty goes to Tokyo.”
(you know, kinda like that old movie, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington)
Alas, for Lesley Hawker, Canada's two women's tickets to the world championships in Japan are going to Joannie Rochette — now a three-time champion — and teen dynamo Mira Leung, who won the night in the court of public opinion (the standing ovation being the ultimate statement in that regard).
But Hawker is hardly going home empty-handed. There's a second straight bronze medal to savour, and another opportunity to skate in Sunday's closing gala. Her best overall performance at Canadians, with a boatload of personal best scores to prove it. Probably a trip to the Four Continents Championship in Colorado Springs, too.
Still ...
“A trip to Tokyo on the world team. That’s what I wanted,” said Hawker, who had a Metro Centre crowd wanting for her so badly tonight. “But I gave it everything I had here, so that’s the best that I can ask for.”
“I’m going to get there. Jo and Mira are a great team to send (to worlds), and hopefully they can get three spots for us for next year.”
More than ever, Hawker is certain her day is coming to come.
“Don’t worry, this is not going to be a habit. I promise,” she said with a laugh. “I’m close. I need to keep pushing the technical (side), and really go home and keep smoothing things out. I like where I’m heading as a skater.”
The technical boost might well come in the form of a triple Axel. Hawker has been working on them, and wants to put one in her program. Sooner rather than later.
“It's been a dream of mine for a long time ... I'm really happy with the way it's coming,” she said. “I’m going to go for it. You need to — the Japanese girls are doing them now.”
The 25-year-old left the media zone with a smile on her face and her skating dreams still very much alive. And a favourite treat awaiting her as a reward for a job well done. Chocolate bars, precisely lined up in her hotel room, and ...
“Oatmeal cookies!,” she said. “If I have oatmeal cookies and tea, I’m in heaven. I’m an easy girl to please.”
Bon appetit, Mrs. Doherty. You've earned it.
Mabee He Will
Christopher Mabee didn't exactly show up in Halifax with thoughts of a Canadian championship dancing in his head.
But he'll have a hard time fending off that sentiment now.
Mabee had the Metro Centre crowd in the palm of his hands with a bouncy, exhilirating — and, oh yes, clean as a whistle — performance that brought 'em to their feet after he was done. Suddenly, the perennial bridesmaid from Tillsonburg, Ont., has a national title clearly in his sights.
“It's always been in my head, it's always been a goal of mine,” admitted Mabee, 21. “It's very close right now, but my focus isn't on winning, it's getting the performance done. Then you'll receive the reward afterward.”
Mabee surely got his last night — first from the audience, which enveloped Mabee (who couldn't stop smiling) with a standing ovation. Then the judges handed him 75.68 points, a personal best by a whopping seven points.
“I had a blast out there,” said Mabee, who seems to earn a standing ovation at just about every Canadians he enters. “I finally put it out in competition like I know I can.”
For three years now, Mabee has been chugging close to the medal podium: Sixth in 2004, then fifth, then fourth. With a 10.47-point edge over third-place Emanuel Sandhu and nearly 12 over the rest, Mabee is looking good to secure one of Canada's three men's berths for the world championships in Tokyo. He seems completely relaxed on the ice, and has found the right comfort zone mentally.
“I tell myself to be confident in myself,” said Mabee, who's drawn the final start position for Saturday night's free skate final. “Know that I can do it, don't just tell myself that I think I can ... that's when doubts creep in. I think that's what I did during the short program. I went out and said 'I know I can do this clean.' ”
While Mabee held court with the media, his friend Jeffrey Buttle stood off to the side, waiting his turn. Buttle couldn't stifle a grin or two while Mabee spoke, then gave him a warm hug afterward.
“We're pretty much best friends, we hang out all the time,” said Buttle, 24, the two-time defending champ from Smooth Rock Falls, Ont. “I didn't see (Mabee's skate), but I heard (the ovation) and I watch him every day and he does it well.
“That was really cool to skate after that.”
Despite falling on a triple Axel, Buttle posted a 78.85-point score to build a slim lead over Mabee, his training mate at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont. Given the fact he's missed most of the season recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back, Buttle admits a third title would be particularly sweet.
“It would mean a lot, especially considering the circumstances this year,” said Buttle, who declared himself in “the best shape of my life” after being off the ice for three months because of the injury. “It would be a big confidence booster for me (to win again).”
His good buddy Christopher Mabee, no doubt, can tell him how much that can mean.
But he'll have a hard time fending off that sentiment now.
Mabee had the Metro Centre crowd in the palm of his hands with a bouncy, exhilirating — and, oh yes, clean as a whistle — performance that brought 'em to their feet after he was done. Suddenly, the perennial bridesmaid from Tillsonburg, Ont., has a national title clearly in his sights.
“It's always been in my head, it's always been a goal of mine,” admitted Mabee, 21. “It's very close right now, but my focus isn't on winning, it's getting the performance done. Then you'll receive the reward afterward.”
Mabee surely got his last night — first from the audience, which enveloped Mabee (who couldn't stop smiling) with a standing ovation. Then the judges handed him 75.68 points, a personal best by a whopping seven points.
“I had a blast out there,” said Mabee, who seems to earn a standing ovation at just about every Canadians he enters. “I finally put it out in competition like I know I can.”
For three years now, Mabee has been chugging close to the medal podium: Sixth in 2004, then fifth, then fourth. With a 10.47-point edge over third-place Emanuel Sandhu and nearly 12 over the rest, Mabee is looking good to secure one of Canada's three men's berths for the world championships in Tokyo. He seems completely relaxed on the ice, and has found the right comfort zone mentally.
“I tell myself to be confident in myself,” said Mabee, who's drawn the final start position for Saturday night's free skate final. “Know that I can do it, don't just tell myself that I think I can ... that's when doubts creep in. I think that's what I did during the short program. I went out and said 'I know I can do this clean.' ”
While Mabee held court with the media, his friend Jeffrey Buttle stood off to the side, waiting his turn. Buttle couldn't stifle a grin or two while Mabee spoke, then gave him a warm hug afterward.
“We're pretty much best friends, we hang out all the time,” said Buttle, 24, the two-time defending champ from Smooth Rock Falls, Ont. “I didn't see (Mabee's skate), but I heard (the ovation) and I watch him every day and he does it well.
“That was really cool to skate after that.”
Despite falling on a triple Axel, Buttle posted a 78.85-point score to build a slim lead over Mabee, his training mate at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont. Given the fact he's missed most of the season recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back, Buttle admits a third title would be particularly sweet.
“It would mean a lot, especially considering the circumstances this year,” said Buttle, who declared himself in “the best shape of my life” after being off the ice for three months because of the injury. “It would be a big confidence booster for me (to win again).”
His good buddy Christopher Mabee, no doubt, can tell him how much that can mean.
Maritime Pride
They're mighty proud of Joey Russell in Newfoundland and Labrador. But his well of support runs much deeper than just his home province, as he's quickly finding out.
Every time Russell skates at the Canadian championships here in Halifax, the Metro Centre fans keep showing him that he's a favoured son all across Atlantic Canada. And Russell will tell you, quite frankly, that he's taken aback by all the fuss.
“There’s a certain amount of pride that comes with being from Labrador,” said Russell, a poised 18-year-old from Labrador City. “Not only Labrador, but Newfoundland and the Maritimes. I never expected an audience reaction like that one out there (today). Everyone is great in Canada and everyone is supportive, but when you’re back home in the Maritimes, it’s that much more, and they’re so happy to see you do well.
“The immense support I get, not only from Newfoundland and Labrador, but Nova Scotia and P.E.I. and New Brunswick ... they’re all helping me be my best.”
Russell was just that in tonight's senior men's short program. With a 59.84-point score, the first-year senior stands an impressive seventh going into Saturday night's free skate final.
“It’s always a blessing when you skate a good program but even if I didn’t, all I wanted was to look like I belonged with most of the guys out there,” he said.
That he did, though Russell knows he doesn't quite have the ammunition yet that he needs to contend with the best of the best yet. But give him a triple Axel and perhaps a quad — jumps he aims to conquer in the next year or so — and the young lad from Labrador will be in the hunt for a Vancouver 2010 Olympics berth.
Maybe someday he'll even put himself on the same plane as Newfoundland and Labrador's biggest sports heroes, the 2006 Olympic champion Brad Gushue curling rink.
“Two of the guys on that team (Mark Nichols, Mike Adam) are from my home town,” said Russell. “They’re just a huge, huge inspiration to everybody, not only athletes, not only curlers. But everybody in our sport looks up to those guys and we all think they’re the most amazing people.
“Coming from such a small town, it’s going to make me think it’s possible for me someday.”
Every time Russell skates at the Canadian championships here in Halifax, the Metro Centre fans keep showing him that he's a favoured son all across Atlantic Canada. And Russell will tell you, quite frankly, that he's taken aback by all the fuss.
“There’s a certain amount of pride that comes with being from Labrador,” said Russell, a poised 18-year-old from Labrador City. “Not only Labrador, but Newfoundland and the Maritimes. I never expected an audience reaction like that one out there (today). Everyone is great in Canada and everyone is supportive, but when you’re back home in the Maritimes, it’s that much more, and they’re so happy to see you do well.
“The immense support I get, not only from Newfoundland and Labrador, but Nova Scotia and P.E.I. and New Brunswick ... they’re all helping me be my best.”
Russell was just that in tonight's senior men's short program. With a 59.84-point score, the first-year senior stands an impressive seventh going into Saturday night's free skate final.
“It’s always a blessing when you skate a good program but even if I didn’t, all I wanted was to look like I belonged with most of the guys out there,” he said.
That he did, though Russell knows he doesn't quite have the ammunition yet that he needs to contend with the best of the best yet. But give him a triple Axel and perhaps a quad — jumps he aims to conquer in the next year or so — and the young lad from Labrador will be in the hunt for a Vancouver 2010 Olympics berth.
Maybe someday he'll even put himself on the same plane as Newfoundland and Labrador's biggest sports heroes, the 2006 Olympic champion Brad Gushue curling rink.
“Two of the guys on that team (Mark Nichols, Mike Adam) are from my home town,” said Russell. “They’re just a huge, huge inspiration to everybody, not only athletes, not only curlers. But everybody in our sport looks up to those guys and we all think they’re the most amazing people.
“Coming from such a small town, it’s going to make me think it’s possible for me someday.”
One For The Home Side?
Halifax can claim at least a piece of one of the junior ice dance medals.
Ottawa's Sophie Knippel, who won the bronze with Matthew Doleman of Dundas, Ont., was born in the Nova Scotia capital.
Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., won the gold, while the silver went to Barrie's Joanna Lenko and Mitchell Islam.
*** Edmonton's Aaron Van Cleave, who won the junior pairs bronze medal with Sarah McCoy of Calgary, didn't have much time to celebrate. Less than 2-1/2 hours after their pairs free skate, Cleave was due to hit the ice for the senior men's short program. That's a busy day.
*** Speculation is in overdrive among us media types about where this event is headed next year (the 2008 site will be announced Sunday). We pretty certain it's heading west after three years in the east. A few of us had Winnipeg (which last played host to Canadians in 2001) and its sparkling MTS Centre as the frontrunner, but we've since figured out curling's Brier is there next year. So scratch the Manitoba capital. Calgary held worlds just last year and Edmonton was the Canadians host in 2004. Hmmm, that means Alberta's probably out, too. Which makes us ask: Come Sunday, will it be hello B.C.?
*** It's a grey, rainy day outside (so much for that bitter cold. For today, anyways). Should mean a boom in sales for those Skate Canada-logoed sou'westers you can snap up for ten bucks inside the Metro Centre. No souvenir in this building says Nova Scotia quite like it.
Ottawa's Sophie Knippel, who won the bronze with Matthew Doleman of Dundas, Ont., was born in the Nova Scotia capital.
Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., won the gold, while the silver went to Barrie's Joanna Lenko and Mitchell Islam.
*** Edmonton's Aaron Van Cleave, who won the junior pairs bronze medal with Sarah McCoy of Calgary, didn't have much time to celebrate. Less than 2-1/2 hours after their pairs free skate, Cleave was due to hit the ice for the senior men's short program. That's a busy day.
*** Speculation is in overdrive among us media types about where this event is headed next year (the 2008 site will be announced Sunday). We pretty certain it's heading west after three years in the east. A few of us had Winnipeg (which last played host to Canadians in 2001) and its sparkling MTS Centre as the frontrunner, but we've since figured out curling's Brier is there next year. So scratch the Manitoba capital. Calgary held worlds just last year and Edmonton was the Canadians host in 2004. Hmmm, that means Alberta's probably out, too. Which makes us ask: Come Sunday, will it be hello B.C.?
*** It's a grey, rainy day outside (so much for that bitter cold. For today, anyways). Should mean a boom in sales for those Skate Canada-logoed sou'westers you can snap up for ten bucks inside the Metro Centre. No souvenir in this building says Nova Scotia quite like it.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Cheers To You, Mrs. Doherty
Yes, that was me.
I made Lesley Hawker cry.
I'm the (choose you own adjective) guy who, after the “awful” (to use her word) short program that crushed her Olympic dreams in Ottawa last year, asked Hawker the dreaded 'so, that's not what you expected' question (perhaps you saw it on a CBC mini-documentary that aired just before the Turin Games). Then watched her dissolve into tears before saying emphatically 'I'm so much better a skater than that.'
Mrs. Doherty, I'm happy to report, was in much better spirits tonight.
She skated the short program of her 25-year-old life. And, after being bathed in her second-ever standing ovation at Canadians (and oh, how the only one of the night was so richly deserved), she talked about how that devastating night at the Civic Centre motivated her so much.
“I do not like to make the same mistake twice,” she said. “I like to learn from them.”
This is one spunky lady, you should know, without an ounce of quit in her.
“I'm from tough stock,” she said with a big grin. “I'm the oldest of 10 children. You don't just quit because you fall on your butt a couple times, that's for sure. My parents say when you start something, you want to finish it.
“More than one of my old coaches, and the one I have now (Richard Callaghan), said to me, 'you don't want to go out like that.' You want to show them you can go out on top.”
She just might. With an exquisite skate to music from Les Miserables (“my all-time favourite musical”), Hawker earned a personal best score of 53.57 — the No. 2 performance of the night behind two-time defending champion Joannie Rochette of Ile-Dupas, Que., who totalled 56.89.
Hawker also squeezed a hair in front of Vancouver teen Mira Leung — who was pretty terrific herself with a joyful skate to Pink Panther music — to grab temporary hold on the second Canadian women's ticket to the world championships in Tokyo. Although it's a tenuous edge over Leung, who scored 52.50. Former national junior champ Myriane Samson, of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., is also in the mix at 51.94.
But Hawker, who married Jamie Doherty in June (and became Mrs. Doherty), seems to have the mental strength she needs this time to fight for that coveted world berth in Friday night's free skate final.
“That kind of stuff doesn't come overnight,” she said. “I'm surrounded by people who are willing to be real patient with me and work with me, perservere if you will. Now, it's all starting to show.
“When I skate, I don't skate for medals. I don't skate for anyone else. (Skating) makes me happy. And when you're nervous, you're not happy doing it. I just want to enjoy myself out there and be as good as I can be.”
A standing ovation was the icing on the cake. Hawker's first at this level came at her first Canadians in 2002 in Hamilton.
“I drew inspiration from that,” she said. “A couple of days ago, I thought about it and remembered that was a great moment, and that it would be nice to have one again. But they do say standing ovations can be addictive, so I'll have to be careful about that.”
Then Mrs. Doherty smiled that 100-watt smile of hers.
I'll take that moment over last year's any day.
I made Lesley Hawker cry.
I'm the (choose you own adjective) guy who, after the “awful” (to use her word) short program that crushed her Olympic dreams in Ottawa last year, asked Hawker the dreaded 'so, that's not what you expected' question (perhaps you saw it on a CBC mini-documentary that aired just before the Turin Games). Then watched her dissolve into tears before saying emphatically 'I'm so much better a skater than that.'
Mrs. Doherty, I'm happy to report, was in much better spirits tonight.
She skated the short program of her 25-year-old life. And, after being bathed in her second-ever standing ovation at Canadians (and oh, how the only one of the night was so richly deserved), she talked about how that devastating night at the Civic Centre motivated her so much.
“I do not like to make the same mistake twice,” she said. “I like to learn from them.”
This is one spunky lady, you should know, without an ounce of quit in her.
“I'm from tough stock,” she said with a big grin. “I'm the oldest of 10 children. You don't just quit because you fall on your butt a couple times, that's for sure. My parents say when you start something, you want to finish it.
“More than one of my old coaches, and the one I have now (Richard Callaghan), said to me, 'you don't want to go out like that.' You want to show them you can go out on top.”
She just might. With an exquisite skate to music from Les Miserables (“my all-time favourite musical”), Hawker earned a personal best score of 53.57 — the No. 2 performance of the night behind two-time defending champion Joannie Rochette of Ile-Dupas, Que., who totalled 56.89.
Hawker also squeezed a hair in front of Vancouver teen Mira Leung — who was pretty terrific herself with a joyful skate to Pink Panther music — to grab temporary hold on the second Canadian women's ticket to the world championships in Tokyo. Although it's a tenuous edge over Leung, who scored 52.50. Former national junior champ Myriane Samson, of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., is also in the mix at 51.94.
But Hawker, who married Jamie Doherty in June (and became Mrs. Doherty), seems to have the mental strength she needs this time to fight for that coveted world berth in Friday night's free skate final.
“That kind of stuff doesn't come overnight,” she said. “I'm surrounded by people who are willing to be real patient with me and work with me, perservere if you will. Now, it's all starting to show.
“When I skate, I don't skate for medals. I don't skate for anyone else. (Skating) makes me happy. And when you're nervous, you're not happy doing it. I just want to enjoy myself out there and be as good as I can be.”
A standing ovation was the icing on the cake. Hawker's first at this level came at her first Canadians in 2002 in Hamilton.
“I drew inspiration from that,” she said. “A couple of days ago, I thought about it and remembered that was a great moment, and that it would be nice to have one again. But they do say standing ovations can be addictive, so I'll have to be careful about that.”
Then Mrs. Doherty smiled that 100-watt smile of hers.
I'll take that moment over last year's any day.
Leaders Of The (Younger) Pack
It's always been the natural order of things in the figure skating world.
You hold a Winter Olympics, then wait for the expected retirements to start rolling in.
Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon obviously didn't get the memo.
And to hear one of their young contempories tell it, nobody's the least bit unhappy that the four-time Canadian champions didn't pack it in to make way for the next generation.
“We're so lucky to have them,” said Tessa Virtue, 17, of London, Ont. “As amazing as they are on the ice, they're even more incredible off the ice.
“We really appreciate all their help and advice.”
Virtue and her partner, Scott Moir, would probably be celebrating their first Canadian senior title this week if Dubreuil and Lauzon had moved on. With a 34.98-point score for their Golden Waltz compulsory today, they were head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
But while others might suggest Virtue and Moir should be miffed that their turn is being put on hold by the No. 2-ranked team in the world, they say it simply isn't so. Even if Dubreuil and Lauzon are still there when the Vancouver 2010 Games roll around.
“People thought that we would be a little angry that they were staying,” said Moir, 19. “But we'll definitely be glad if they stay another four years. They're such great, great skaters and do such good things for our country.
“Our goal is to be world and Olympic champions someday. Whether it happens before they retire, we don't know.”
Dubreuil, 32, and Lauzon, 31, look at all the younger skaters battling the make their mark in the ice dance discipline and can't help but smile.
“We feel a little bit like parents,” said Dubreuil. “We know we're the veteran team here and we feel excited about what is under us.”
They'll be the champions for a fifth time by Sunday. With a 41.16-point compulsory score, that's pretty much assured. But they've got much bigger fish to fry before this season is over.
“Our goal this year is to win worlds, and everything we do is done in that regard,” said Lauzon.
You hold a Winter Olympics, then wait for the expected retirements to start rolling in.
Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon obviously didn't get the memo.
And to hear one of their young contempories tell it, nobody's the least bit unhappy that the four-time Canadian champions didn't pack it in to make way for the next generation.
“We're so lucky to have them,” said Tessa Virtue, 17, of London, Ont. “As amazing as they are on the ice, they're even more incredible off the ice.
“We really appreciate all their help and advice.”
Virtue and her partner, Scott Moir, would probably be celebrating their first Canadian senior title this week if Dubreuil and Lauzon had moved on. With a 34.98-point score for their Golden Waltz compulsory today, they were head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
But while others might suggest Virtue and Moir should be miffed that their turn is being put on hold by the No. 2-ranked team in the world, they say it simply isn't so. Even if Dubreuil and Lauzon are still there when the Vancouver 2010 Games roll around.
“People thought that we would be a little angry that they were staying,” said Moir, 19. “But we'll definitely be glad if they stay another four years. They're such great, great skaters and do such good things for our country.
“Our goal is to be world and Olympic champions someday. Whether it happens before they retire, we don't know.”
Dubreuil, 32, and Lauzon, 31, look at all the younger skaters battling the make their mark in the ice dance discipline and can't help but smile.
“We feel a little bit like parents,” said Dubreuil. “We know we're the veteran team here and we feel excited about what is under us.”
They'll be the champions for a fifth time by Sunday. With a 41.16-point compulsory score, that's pretty much assured. But they've got much bigger fish to fry before this season is over.
“Our goal this year is to win worlds, and everything we do is done in that regard,” said Lauzon.
Same Old Song And Dance
Siobhan Karam and Joshua McGrath are right where they want to be at the Canadian figure skating championships.
In more ways than one.
The Minto Skating Club duo finds itself in fifth place after today's senior compulsory dance. Keep it up, and the second-year seniors — who finished seventh at home in Ottawa last year — are right in target to hit their goal this week in Halifax.
“We want to get on the national team, and skate our best, as always,” said McGrath, 21.
Their seventh-place finish a year ago meant no senior Grand Prix assignments in the fall. But Karam said that wasn't exactly a bad thing.
“We've been together so long, if we compete once in a year or 10 times a year, it still feels the same,” she said. “It really doesn't make a difference. It just gave us more time to train.”
It wouldn't be a Canadians without a Karam and McGrath travel adventure story. At least Karam, who owns one of the best smiles in figure skating, can grin about it now.
“We're used to that,” she said.
Karam's flight from their training base in Detroit was delayed and she missed her connection to Halifax. So she found herself stuck at the airport in Newark, N.J., for nine hours. She finally got here after 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
“I just did homework,” she said. “I brought all my books, thank God. If not, I would have wasted my whole day.”
Did she run out?
“Oh no, I could do it forever,” said Karam, 20, a third-year student at the University of Windsor, although she admits the extra study time has her ahead of the game.
“We have 40 hours a week of homework,” said McGrath, also in third year.
McGrath's flight was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, but his was delayed, too. So rather than endure a long airport wait, he went back home and hopped on the plane the next morning. He got here Wednesday afternoon.
“We just changed our practice time, so it all worked out,” said Karam.
Now they can focus on making it all work out on the ice.
So far, so good in that area. And it could get better. With 29.00 points in the bank, Karam and McGrath are just 1.82 out of the bronze-medal position now occupied by Chantal Lefebvre of LaSalle, Que., and Moscow-born Arseniy Markov, who represents the Prescott Figure Skating Club. In between them, in fourth, are Lauren Senft of West Vancouver, B.C., and Winnipeg's Leif Gislason (30.70).
Worth noting: Canada can send three ice dance teams to the 2007 worlds in Tokyo.
In more ways than one.
The Minto Skating Club duo finds itself in fifth place after today's senior compulsory dance. Keep it up, and the second-year seniors — who finished seventh at home in Ottawa last year — are right in target to hit their goal this week in Halifax.
“We want to get on the national team, and skate our best, as always,” said McGrath, 21.
Their seventh-place finish a year ago meant no senior Grand Prix assignments in the fall. But Karam said that wasn't exactly a bad thing.
“We've been together so long, if we compete once in a year or 10 times a year, it still feels the same,” she said. “It really doesn't make a difference. It just gave us more time to train.”
It wouldn't be a Canadians without a Karam and McGrath travel adventure story. At least Karam, who owns one of the best smiles in figure skating, can grin about it now.
“We're used to that,” she said.
Karam's flight from their training base in Detroit was delayed and she missed her connection to Halifax. So she found herself stuck at the airport in Newark, N.J., for nine hours. She finally got here after 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
“I just did homework,” she said. “I brought all my books, thank God. If not, I would have wasted my whole day.”
Did she run out?
“Oh no, I could do it forever,” said Karam, 20, a third-year student at the University of Windsor, although she admits the extra study time has her ahead of the game.
“We have 40 hours a week of homework,” said McGrath, also in third year.
McGrath's flight was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, but his was delayed, too. So rather than endure a long airport wait, he went back home and hopped on the plane the next morning. He got here Wednesday afternoon.
“We just changed our practice time, so it all worked out,” said Karam.
Now they can focus on making it all work out on the ice.
So far, so good in that area. And it could get better. With 29.00 points in the bank, Karam and McGrath are just 1.82 out of the bronze-medal position now occupied by Chantal Lefebvre of LaSalle, Que., and Moscow-born Arseniy Markov, who represents the Prescott Figure Skating Club. In between them, in fourth, are Lauren Senft of West Vancouver, B.C., and Winnipeg's Leif Gislason (30.70).
Worth noting: Canada can send three ice dance teams to the 2007 worlds in Tokyo.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Junior Achievement
The medal picture in the junior ice dance event came into rather clear focus this afternoon.
With an impressive victory in the original dance, Vanessa Crone of Aurora and Unionville's Paul Poirier put a virtual hammerlock on the battle for the gold medal. With a 77.03 overall point total, Crone and Poirier stretched their lead to 3.4 points over Barrie's Joanna Lenko and Mitchell Islam. That's a mountain in ice dance.
Lenko and Islam, meanwhile, are 3.74 points in front of third-place Sophie Knippel of Ottawa and Matthew Doleman of Dundas, who in turn are 4.11 better than the duo in fourth, Quebec's Karen Routhier and Eric Saucke-Lacelle.
In other words, you can pretty much guess the composition of the podium when the medals get handed out after Friday morning's free dance.
The first medals of the 2007 Canadian championships will be presented Thursday morning, after the junior men's free skate. The leaders in the chase for the medals after today's short program: Jean-Simon Legare of Beauport, Que. (54.25 points); Vancouver's Jeremy Ten (53.28), and Moscow-born Elladj Balde of Pierrefonds, Que. Nathan Last of the Nepean Skating Club stands 13th.
ON THE HOME FRONT:
*** Maybe this is finally Dana Zhalko-Tytarenko's turn. And what a place for it to happen for her. The petite 15-year-old from the Minto Skating Club has put together a strong competitive season from start to finish, but spent much of it playing bridesmaid. She finished second behind Nepean's Brooke Paulin (by a mere 0.03 points) at the Eastern Ontario Sectionals in November at the Nepean Sportsplex, and just missed a medal at the Eastern Challenge in Moncton, N.B., in December, winding up fourth behind clubmate Annie Claire Bergeron-Oliver by just 0.89 points.
But Zhalko-Tytarenko warmed to the big stage at the Metro Centre today, skating a confident short program to put herself in third place behind B.C.'s Kathryn Kang and Cecylia Witkowski. Kang scored 41.16 points, Witkowski 40.60 and Zhalko-Tytarenko 38.14. The Minto skater holds a 1.3-point edge over fourth-place Karine Chevrier of Pincourt, Que.
The free skate final is Saturday morning, and Zhalko-Tytarenko will close the show. She has drawn the final start position in the last of four flights.
Zhalko-Tytarenko, who was born in Kiev, switched her training base to Laurel, Md. this season. She is now coached by former Soviet ice dance star Genrikh Sretenski.
Bergeron-Oliver, who's battled an assortment of injuries this season, stands ninth after a solid skate today. With a 35.05-point total, she is less than two points away from cracking the top five. Bergeron-Oliver placed seventh in her junior debut at Canadians at home in Ottawa last year.
The third Minto skater in the event, Alexandrine Chong, placed 14th in the short.
*** You no doubt have noticed the look of this blog has changed. I thought the old template was a little tough on the eyes, so I changed it to something that's cleaner and (I hope) easier to read. Your comments on the new look are welcome, as always.
With an impressive victory in the original dance, Vanessa Crone of Aurora and Unionville's Paul Poirier put a virtual hammerlock on the battle for the gold medal. With a 77.03 overall point total, Crone and Poirier stretched their lead to 3.4 points over Barrie's Joanna Lenko and Mitchell Islam. That's a mountain in ice dance.
Lenko and Islam, meanwhile, are 3.74 points in front of third-place Sophie Knippel of Ottawa and Matthew Doleman of Dundas, who in turn are 4.11 better than the duo in fourth, Quebec's Karen Routhier and Eric Saucke-Lacelle.
In other words, you can pretty much guess the composition of the podium when the medals get handed out after Friday morning's free dance.
The first medals of the 2007 Canadian championships will be presented Thursday morning, after the junior men's free skate. The leaders in the chase for the medals after today's short program: Jean-Simon Legare of Beauport, Que. (54.25 points); Vancouver's Jeremy Ten (53.28), and Moscow-born Elladj Balde of Pierrefonds, Que. Nathan Last of the Nepean Skating Club stands 13th.
ON THE HOME FRONT:
*** Maybe this is finally Dana Zhalko-Tytarenko's turn. And what a place for it to happen for her. The petite 15-year-old from the Minto Skating Club has put together a strong competitive season from start to finish, but spent much of it playing bridesmaid. She finished second behind Nepean's Brooke Paulin (by a mere 0.03 points) at the Eastern Ontario Sectionals in November at the Nepean Sportsplex, and just missed a medal at the Eastern Challenge in Moncton, N.B., in December, winding up fourth behind clubmate Annie Claire Bergeron-Oliver by just 0.89 points.
But Zhalko-Tytarenko warmed to the big stage at the Metro Centre today, skating a confident short program to put herself in third place behind B.C.'s Kathryn Kang and Cecylia Witkowski. Kang scored 41.16 points, Witkowski 40.60 and Zhalko-Tytarenko 38.14. The Minto skater holds a 1.3-point edge over fourth-place Karine Chevrier of Pincourt, Que.
The free skate final is Saturday morning, and Zhalko-Tytarenko will close the show. She has drawn the final start position in the last of four flights.
Zhalko-Tytarenko, who was born in Kiev, switched her training base to Laurel, Md. this season. She is now coached by former Soviet ice dance star Genrikh Sretenski.
Bergeron-Oliver, who's battled an assortment of injuries this season, stands ninth after a solid skate today. With a 35.05-point total, she is less than two points away from cracking the top five. Bergeron-Oliver placed seventh in her junior debut at Canadians at home in Ottawa last year.
The third Minto skater in the event, Alexandrine Chong, placed 14th in the short.
*** You no doubt have noticed the look of this blog has changed. I thought the old template was a little tough on the eyes, so I changed it to something that's cleaner and (I hope) easier to read. Your comments on the new look are welcome, as always.
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