If you walked by Dana Zhalko-Tytarenko this week and did the double take, you're not alone.
“Everybody tells me that, I always hear it,” the 15-year-old from Ottawa said yesterday as she talked about her skating idol.
“Either they say I skate like Oksana Baiul or I look like Oksana Baiul.”
Now she's a champion like Oksana Baiul.
While the title isn't world or Olympic champ, it seemed to mean just about as much to Zhalko-Tytarenko, a delightful, incredibly sweet teenager who lived a young girl's dream this morning by winning the junior women's gold medal.
Even a couple of hours later, the joy was still very evident on her face.
It still hadn't sunk in.
“I don't think it will until I get the medal,” said Zhalko-Tytarenko, who will have the gold slipped around her neck during Sunday's medal ceremony.
These are the stories that you love to tell or write about, that make you feel a certain warmth inside. A year ago, Zhalko-Tytarenko finished 14th as a novice at the Skate Canada Junior Nationals. She arrived in Halifax aiming for a top-five finish. Winning a Canadian title? The thought didn't even enter her mind.
Then, after placing third in the short program, she went out and delivered the free skate of her young life. Zhalko-Tytarenko, who skated last in the field, had no idea what went on before her. So when the No. 1 went up beside her name on the scoreboard, her jaw dropped and the cheers began to rise from the Metro Centre seats.
Canadian champion? Who, me?
“I still don't really believe it,” she said as she entered the media room for more interviews in an Eastern Ontario blue and white track suit, her long brown hair a perfect match for the big brown eyes that had a special sparkle on this day.
Zhalko-Tytarenko became the first Canadian junior women's champion from Ottawa since Angela Derochie of the Nepean Skating Club did it in Moncton, N.B., in 1992. Derochie now lives in Halifax and is part of the security staff working at the Civic Centre, the practice arena for this competition.
Zhalko-Tytarenko's story reads like figure skating road map. Her parents, Michael and Natalie, put her into skating on the advice of doctors in Kiev after she developed severe appendicitis before her second birthday. The family moved to Canada when Dana was four and settled in Winnipeg. Her coach there was Heather Kemkaran, a two-time Canadian women's champion.
When her father's job (he's an aerospace engineer) took the family to Washington, D.C. four years later, Kemkaran directed Zhalko-Tytarenko to famed coach Don Laws, who became her coach during her time there.
Two years later, it was off to Ottawa and the Minto Skating Club, where Zhalko-Tytarenko worked with Erik Loucks and Gordon Forbes. This year, she was on the move again, but this time for her skating: Zhalko-Tytarenko went back to the same rink in the Washington suburb of Laurel, Md., this time under the guidance of former Soviet ice dance star Genrikh Sretenski and his wife, Julia (they were her secondary coaches under Laws during her previous time there).
It was in Laurel that Zhalko-Tytarenko believes “everything came together” for her.
“I learned how to work more,” she said. “I’ve always been a hard worker, I don’t waste any time on the ice. But I’ve learned how to make every minute count and how to work on the right things.”
Next up for her will be completing a full set of triples: She wants to have everything up to the triple lutz in her arsenal for next season. Whether she'll stay junior or move up to senior, she doesn't know.
Then again, it's not like she thought she'd have to make that kind of decision this week.
“I really didn’t expect what happened here. I was not planning on this,” said a beaming Zhalko-Tytarenko, who still considers herself very much a proud Canadian.
“We are in Washington now, but I still think of Canada as my home.”
Sunday, they will drape the gold medal around her neck, and Dana Zhalko-Tytarenko will finally know that it's all very real.
That, like another Ukrainian skater she so admires, she is a champion, too.
Kinda looks like her too, don't you think?
Showing posts with label Minto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minto. Show all posts
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
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.
They Pay Me For This?
Today is 'junior day' at Canadians, meaning it's the younger set's turn in the spotlight while the big guns cool their heels away from competition ice for a day.
Which means, for lot of them, the highlight of the day (of course, right?) is the opening press conference at the Metro Centre. What skater doesn't relish the thought of spending as much time as possible talking with us ink-stained wretches (to coin an old phrase)?
Fortunately, in this sport, that statement isn't too much of a stretch. One thing you have to say about figure skaters: With very few exceptions, they're wonderfully nice people who do a lot to make our job easier.
Put it this way: If someone asked me to put together a top 20 list of my favourite athletes that I've dealt with over the years, I'd bet half of them (at least) would be figure skaters. And I hope some of the ones who'd be on that list know who they are (they should).
Let's just say there are a lot worse things a guy could get paid to do for a living.
NEWS AND NOTES
*** Skate Canada CEO William Thompson announced yesterday that Sony has inked a four-year deal as a major association sponsor. That would explain the Sony Bravia signs on the rinkboards. Which begs the question: When can we get one of those HD beauties in the media room? TSN is shooting the event in high def, after all. And trust me, it doesn't get much better than TV in HD. Then again, we might never leave our little workspace.
*** Speaking of TSN ... the network plans to offer Internet streaming of the winning performances of all the senior free skates and short programs, and the free and original dance on TSN Broadband. All will be up and running by the end of the dance event Sunday.
*** They do a really neat thing at the welcome reception at Canadians. All the skaters are paraded in as provincial teams, just like at the Canada Games, each with a 'flag bearer' (okay, sign carrier). Annie Claire Bergeron-Oliver of the Minto Skating Club did the honours for Eastern Ontario.
*** Couldn't help feeling a twinge of sadness — as many no doubt did — when the late, great Osborne Colson's image was displayed during a video from last year's Canadians in Ottawa that was shown during the ceremony. Patrick Chan, his former pupil, no doubt misses Ozzie every day and thinks of him plenty. This event, and the sport in Canada, just won't be the same without 'the wizard of Os.' (as former Sun colleague Barre Campbell — brother of Skate Canada media manager Melanie — called Colson in a fab piece last year).
Which means, for lot of them, the highlight of the day (of course, right?) is the opening press conference at the Metro Centre. What skater doesn't relish the thought of spending as much time as possible talking with us ink-stained wretches (to coin an old phrase)?
Fortunately, in this sport, that statement isn't too much of a stretch. One thing you have to say about figure skaters: With very few exceptions, they're wonderfully nice people who do a lot to make our job easier.
Put it this way: If someone asked me to put together a top 20 list of my favourite athletes that I've dealt with over the years, I'd bet half of them (at least) would be figure skaters. And I hope some of the ones who'd be on that list know who they are (they should).
Let's just say there are a lot worse things a guy could get paid to do for a living.
NEWS AND NOTES
*** Skate Canada CEO William Thompson announced yesterday that Sony has inked a four-year deal as a major association sponsor. That would explain the Sony Bravia signs on the rinkboards. Which begs the question: When can we get one of those HD beauties in the media room? TSN is shooting the event in high def, after all. And trust me, it doesn't get much better than TV in HD. Then again, we might never leave our little workspace.
*** Speaking of TSN ... the network plans to offer Internet streaming of the winning performances of all the senior free skates and short programs, and the free and original dance on TSN Broadband. All will be up and running by the end of the dance event Sunday.
*** They do a really neat thing at the welcome reception at Canadians. All the skaters are paraded in as provincial teams, just like at the Canada Games, each with a 'flag bearer' (okay, sign carrier). Annie Claire Bergeron-Oliver of the Minto Skating Club did the honours for Eastern Ontario.
*** Couldn't help feeling a twinge of sadness — as many no doubt did — when the late, great Osborne Colson's image was displayed during a video from last year's Canadians in Ottawa that was shown during the ceremony. Patrick Chan, his former pupil, no doubt misses Ozzie every day and thinks of him plenty. This event, and the sport in Canada, just won't be the same without 'the wizard of Os.' (as former Sun colleague Barre Campbell — brother of Skate Canada media manager Melanie — called Colson in a fab piece last year).
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Joey Rocks The House
If you listened closely last night, you might have heard them cheering all the way from Labrador City.
Joey Russell, well on his way to becoming the biggest name the province has ever had in this sport (if he isn't already), drew a well-earned standing ovation during the men's qualifying session at the Metro Centre last night. Russell landed seven triples jumps — including a pair of impressive triple-triple combinations — in a fine display of improvement. His score of 117.63 was a personal best by nearly 13 points, a whopping improvement.
It was the performance of the night until Edmonton's Vaughn Chipeur went a tad better, posting a 117.94 score to win the night. Everyone goes back to zero, though, for Friday's short program.
Russell, who won the junior men's title a year ago at the Ottawa Civic Centre, has seen his star has continue its rapid ascent since he set up camp at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie under the tutelage of Lee Barkell — the same coach who guides the fortunes of Olympic bronze medallist Jeffrey Buttle.
The 18-year-old Russell should be a skater to watch in the years to come.
They're surely paying big attention back home in Lab City.
ON THE HOME FRONT
*** Ottawa's Sophie Knippel and partner Matthew Doleman of Dundas stand third after the compulsories in what is shaping up to be a tight race for the podium in the junior ice dance event. Two Quebec teams are within 0.30 points of the Knippel/Doleman duo heading into today's original dance.
*** It was a good day for three Eastern Ontario skaters in men's qualifying. Brennan Martin (11th) of the Minto Skating Club, and Kingston's Jamie Forsythe (12th) and Tyler Cochrane (13th) all advanced to Thursday's short program. Minto's Michael Elias (19th) was eliminated.
Joey Russell, well on his way to becoming the biggest name the province has ever had in this sport (if he isn't already), drew a well-earned standing ovation during the men's qualifying session at the Metro Centre last night. Russell landed seven triples jumps — including a pair of impressive triple-triple combinations — in a fine display of improvement. His score of 117.63 was a personal best by nearly 13 points, a whopping improvement.
It was the performance of the night until Edmonton's Vaughn Chipeur went a tad better, posting a 117.94 score to win the night. Everyone goes back to zero, though, for Friday's short program.
Russell, who won the junior men's title a year ago at the Ottawa Civic Centre, has seen his star has continue its rapid ascent since he set up camp at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie under the tutelage of Lee Barkell — the same coach who guides the fortunes of Olympic bronze medallist Jeffrey Buttle.
The 18-year-old Russell should be a skater to watch in the years to come.
They're surely paying big attention back home in Lab City.
ON THE HOME FRONT
*** Ottawa's Sophie Knippel and partner Matthew Doleman of Dundas stand third after the compulsories in what is shaping up to be a tight race for the podium in the junior ice dance event. Two Quebec teams are within 0.30 points of the Knippel/Doleman duo heading into today's original dance.
*** It was a good day for three Eastern Ontario skaters in men's qualifying. Brennan Martin (11th) of the Minto Skating Club, and Kingston's Jamie Forsythe (12th) and Tyler Cochrane (13th) all advanced to Thursday's short program. Minto's Michael Elias (19th) was eliminated.
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
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.
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.
Monday, January 15, 2007
The Gang's All Here
Here's what I love about Canadians.
(well, one of many things)
I go over the Delta Halifax to pick up my accreditation, and who do I see but Gatineau's own Valerie Marcoux and her dashing partner Craig Buntin, the three-time defending pairs champions. We exchange pleasantries like we've known each other for years. Well, because we have (10 and counting in Val's case).
I'm not down the hall a few steps and I run into some coaches (David Graham of Nepean) and skaters (Nepean's Brooke Paulin and Minto's Annie Claire Bergeron Oliver) I know from Ottawa, all with that smile of satisfaction you get when you've earned your way to the big show. Michelle Leigh from Barrie's haven of skating talent, the Mariposa School of Skating, wanders over to say hello. So does that charming two-time Canadian women's champion, Joannie Rochette, who's just arrived from Montreal a few days after turning 21.
See, it's not so big that it doesn't have that feel of a family reunion. Lots of folks you only see once or twice a year, but always let you know they're happy you're here, too.
That goes for the small group of us in the media who cover these events regularly (this is Canadians No. 15 for me). Haven't crossed paths with any of my fellow scribes yet, but the action gets rolling at the rink tomorrow.
The stories will soon begin to be written. Or get told.
Of that, I have no doubt.
(well, one of many things)
I go over the Delta Halifax to pick up my accreditation, and who do I see but Gatineau's own Valerie Marcoux and her dashing partner Craig Buntin, the three-time defending pairs champions. We exchange pleasantries like we've known each other for years. Well, because we have (10 and counting in Val's case).
I'm not down the hall a few steps and I run into some coaches (David Graham of Nepean) and skaters (Nepean's Brooke Paulin and Minto's Annie Claire Bergeron Oliver) I know from Ottawa, all with that smile of satisfaction you get when you've earned your way to the big show. Michelle Leigh from Barrie's haven of skating talent, the Mariposa School of Skating, wanders over to say hello. So does that charming two-time Canadian women's champion, Joannie Rochette, who's just arrived from Montreal a few days after turning 21.
See, it's not so big that it doesn't have that feel of a family reunion. Lots of folks you only see once or twice a year, but always let you know they're happy you're here, too.
That goes for the small group of us in the media who cover these events regularly (this is Canadians No. 15 for me). Haven't crossed paths with any of my fellow scribes yet, but the action gets rolling at the rink tomorrow.
The stories will soon begin to be written. Or get told.
Of that, I have no doubt.
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