(October 5, 2004)

The weekend of Sept. 24-26 was quite an exciting one for Canadian figure skating.

Members of Skate Canada’s 2004-2005 National Team gathered in Montreal over the weekend to participate in the 2004 National Team training camp, which was held at both the Raymond Préfontaine Arena and the Maurice Richard Arena.

The training camp was designed to give Canadian National Team athletes an edge on the international competition this International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix season, in which the new ISU Code of Points judging system will be used, by monitoring their competitive programs and providing feedback.

On Sept. 24, the athletes performed their new programs for the upcoming competitive season in a closed session. Following the monitoring session, members of the National Team had a team dinner that was highlighted by special guest speakers 1988 Olympic bronze medallist Tracy Wilson, two-time Olympic silver medallist and 1987 World Champion Brian Orser and three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist Elvis Stojko, who have been mentoring the team as they prepare for the coming season and the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

On Sept. 25, fans were invited to purchase tickets to the monitoring session, during which the athletes continued to present their new programs for the season. The monitoring session also featured special guest appearances by Stojko and six-time Canadian Ladies Champion Jennifer Robinson, who both wowed the crowd with their show programs.

Elvis Stojko, Annie Bellemare, Cynthia Phaneuf, Jean Sebastien Fecteau, Jeff Buttle, Lesley Hawker, Aaron Lowe, Joannie Rochette
Special guests Elvis Stojko and Jennifer Robinson		Mira Leung, Emanuel Sandhu, Annie Bellemare
Patrice Archetto, Anabelle Langlois, Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon		Pascal Denis, Martine Patenaude, Jessica Miller, Ian Moram
Aaron Lowe, Megan Wing, Ben Ferreira		Mira Leung, Nicholas Young, Lesley Hawker
Photos: Susan D. Russell

The level of skating for this time of the year was outstanding, and all the National Team members showed that they put in a lot of hard work since the end of last season.

A total of 400 people attended the Sept. 25 monitoring session, with fans coming from as far as California to take in the event.

Fans were also presented with the opportunity to purchase a ticket to a special reception to kick-off the 2004-2005 season, which was held following the Sept. 25 monitoring session at the Auberge Universel. The reception was sold out, and the fans were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet the National Team athletes, as well as Stojko and Robinson, and have them sign autographs.

Jamie Salé and David Pelletier, the 2002 Olympic Champions and three-time Canadian Pair Champions, donated a spectacular signed lithograph for the event, which was won by Jennifer Sze, a university student who travelled from Toronto to attend the training camp and reception.

A total of $15,000 was raised over the weekend for the Skate Canada Athlete Fund, based on tickets sales, sponsorship money and donations. Event sponsors included BF Lorenzetti & Associates Inc., Premiere Insurance Underwriting Services Inc., American Home Assurance Inc., and AXA Assurance Inc.

Skate Canada extends its sincere appreciation to the event’s sponsors, special guests Tracy Wilson, Brian Orser, Elvis Stojko and Jennifer Robinson, officials, medical staff, announcers, volunteers and the fans for making the 2004 National Team training camp such a tremendous success.