Behind the Blades for Safe Sport: Gabrielle Daleman

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After a very long and exciting season and then being asked to be in Stars on Ice I was ready to come home and regroup for the Olympic year. Stars on Ice was a dream come true for me and working with the incredible cast with so much talent had me over the moon. I was heartbroken when I had to leave the tour due to an illness. I am now recovering and looking forward to getting my new choreography for the upcoming season.

My journey as a young skater was not always easy and achieving the success I had this season didn’t come without tears of happiness and of sadness. All those tears, good and bad, helped me along my journey.

Being bullied as a young girl has given me courage and taught me perseverance. When athletes face the challenge of being hurt or when an illness strikes we have very little resources left to fight through it because we give everything every day in our training. Being bullied because I couldn’t read or spell correctly was terrible but it gave me the strength to fight through it with my skating.

Now being sick it is giving me the courage to work through this so I can go back to the sport I love and the place I call home. Skating has given me so much in my life and I am grateful for all of it. I get to travel the world doing what I love.

Having a Learning Disability, ADHD and Anxiety has been a challenge but through my freedom on the ice I get the relief I need to get away from my struggles and soar. So many people have their own struggles and we need to be kind to each other. We never know what someone is going through.

Skate Canada supports Safe Sport and we can all be a part of that by being understanding, tolerant and inclusive. I am proud to be a champion for Safe Sport and would love to see more being done in arenas around Canada to show kids that every effort is important, whether we are skating for fun or at a competitive level. Bullying, harassment and abuse should not be tolerated. We must appreciate each other for who we are and understand people have limitations. No one should ever be made to feel bad simply for who they are. We need to teach kids at the grassroots level about these important messages. This will help them to build the skills in life needed to get through the good but especially the bad times.

Take the time today to tell someone in your life that what they do is important and to never give up on what they love. Work hard, follow your dreams and don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not good enough because you are!!!

Next Gen Award Celebrates Canadian Legend Toller Cranston

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TORONTO, ON: Today, Skate Canada and the Canadian Olympic Foundation announced a unique athlete award to honour one of figure skating’s greatest artists. Named after the late skater who helped revolutionize the sport, the Toller Cranston Memorial Fund Athlete Award was created to celebrate young skaters who display exceptional artistry on ice at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the novice and junior categories.

As an Olympic medallist, Cranston was world renowned for innovation and artistry. In a sport that has evolved to favour technical difficulty and feats of athleticism, Cranston was known for his freedom of expression and dramatic showmanship on the ice.

Off the ice, Cranston was a world-renowned artist. His paintings—colourful, flamboyant and intricate—are sought by collectors all over the world. He viewed painting as an extension of skating and the subject matter of his paintings often revolved around skating and skaters.

Established shortly after his death in 2015, the Toller Cranston Memorial Fund was set up as a way to show appreciation for the artistry he brought to the world of figure skating and to financially assist young skaters who possess the same artistic values and style as he did.

“Toller had a vision for skating that was before his time. He brought art to the ice and changed the dynamic of the sport. We can see his influence in the balance of artistry and athleticism in our Canadian team,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “Skate Canada commends the Canadian Olympic Foundation for keeping Toller’s legacy alive through this memorial fund and for inspiring a younger generation of skaters to value the art of figure skating.”

On June 25th, 2015, friends and family of the skating community gathered at the Art Gallery of Toronto to honour Toller’s memory and launch the Toller Cranston Memorial Fund. On this evening, funds were raised through individual donors and donations continue to be made in Toller’s name through the Canadian Olympic Foundation. Among the speakers was his sister Phillippa Baran.

“My brother Toller always believed that figure skating had unlimited potential for artistic vision and freedom of expression,” said Baran.

“By committing himself to constant innovation he redefined the sport and he became an inspiration to other skaters to explore their own capacity and potential. Toller would be honoured and humbled to know that the artistry of young skaters is being recognized through this Award.”

This year, 14 skaters were selected to receive the award. Each winner will also receive a free pair of industry-leading boots and blades courtesy of Jackson Ultima Skates. The awards were presented by former competitors, family and friends of Toller’s from coast to coast at various Skate Canada awards banquets.

Skate Canada and the Canadian Olympic Foundation are proud to announce the Toller Cranston Memorial Fund Athlete Award winners for 2017:

Brandon Day, Junior Men, Quebec
Bruce Waddell, Junior Men, Ontario
Corey Circelli, Novice Men, Ontario
Dawson Nodwell, Novice Men, Alberta
Triena Robinson, Junior Women, Alberta
Katrine Denis, Novice Women, Quebec
Natalie Walker, Novice Women, Ontario
Evelyn Walsh & Trennt Michaud, Junior Pair, Ontario
Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha, Junior Dance, Quebec
Katerina Kasatkin & Corey Circelli, Novice Dance, Ontario

Guest Blog: Paul Dore reflects on father’s legacy one year after his passing

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It’s been almost a year since my father passed away. In that time, several people – athletes, coaches and others from the skating community – have told me stories about how much he personally helped them. Many people are familiar with my father’s contributions to skating throughout the course of his career and are aware of his leadership positions. To me, these two elements help define leadership. The ability to not just have a vision for an entire organization, but also to quietly be aware of the people participating in that vision at all levels and help them succeed with their individual goals. He understood that the more individuals succeed, the more room the sport has to grow and benefit all participants.

Last year, Skate Canada established the David Dore Mentorship Fund to provide an opportunity for a leader in the skating community to participate in the 2017 Ice Summit in Ottawa. The recipient will attend  the summit (all expenses paid) and be able to shadow and participate in a one-on-one Q & A session with a Skate Canada leader.

No one becomes a leader overnight, it’s more an accumulation of experiences and being exposed to mentors. When my dad became President of the Canadian Figure Skating Association (before it became Skate Canada) in 1980, he made a speech outlining his vision of how the organization could develop and grow over the next few decades. This vision came from his many years as an athlete, judge and volunteer. Those years built within him a tremendous respect and appreciation for volunteers and the many people that work tirelessly behind-the-scenes, from the club level to sectional organizations to the national level.

My dad’s first mentors in skating were his coaches, who not only taught him technical skills, but instilled a passion for the sport that would last his entire life. As a judge, he continually sought out more experienced officials and had ongoing discussions with them about how he could improve. My dad spoke often about the many people that taught him leadership skills as he made his way from president to Directer General of Skate Canada. As he retired from Skate Canada to become the Vice President of the International Skating Union, it was important to him to pass along all the experiences he learned to others. He was constantly looking for more mentors and more knowledge.

So, what does this fund mean to me personally? In a letter, my dad wrote, “I have seen life as a journey of exploration. On the road you meet many people – some who can help you directly, some from whom you can learn, but in all cases mentors have been my greatest resource.” I’ve now been involved with skating for almost 30 years as an athlete, coach and television broadcaster. In a similar way to my father, the sport has provided mentors that have significantly impacted my life – from my coaches as a skater all the way up to those I worked with in Sochi for the 2014 Olympic Games. This fund is a way to keep alive what he accomplished in the past, but also, it’s a continuation of his legacy to help those that have the same passion for the sport as my father. To aid in supporting the Skate Canada leaders of today and tomorrow.

If you are one of those leaders, find out more information and apply through the links below.

David Dore Mentorship Fund: https://info.skatecanada.ca/hc/en-ca/categories/115000157183-Skate-Canada-Fund

Podcast Interview: http://www.openkwongdore.com/2017/03/13/episode-29-david-dore-mentorship-fund/

Canadian athlete Paul Poirier looks to secure seat on ISU Athletes’ Commission

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Next week will mark a competition of a different sort for Canadian ice dance star Paul Poirier.

Poirier, the charismatic five-time Canadian medallist with partner Piper Gilles, is looking to land a spot on the ISU Athletes’ Commission when secret-ballot voting takes place at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki.

Announced last fall, the Commission will be made up of five athletes – one each from singles/pair, ice dance, synchronized skating, short track and long track speedskating disciplines.

Poirier will be one of the three names on the ice dance ballot.

“This is something I am extremely passionate about,” says Poirier. “I want to promote the dialogue and listen to my fellow athletes around the world to help advance our sport. We need that dialogue to be more open and consistent throughout the year.”

If elected, Poirier says he will have regular conversations with his follow Commission members to discuss issues relating to ice dance, and the sport in general. He will also serve as a liaison between the athletes and the Technical Committee when addressing rules and competition matters.

“I believe we need to do more to leverage our sport,” he adds. “We need to be more engaged with the practitioners – the athletes, the coaches, the choreographers – and allow them to create their best work. Right now, all everyone is doing is trying to maximize points, and it’s why so many programs look the same.”

“We at Skate Canada couldn’t be more honoured to endorse Paul’s bid for a seat on the ISU Athletes’ Commission,” says Debra Armstrong, Skate Canada’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Paul is a world-class athlete and a tremendous ambassador for our sport, here in Canada and around the world.  We have no doubt Paul will excel in this role if he is elected, and will do everything he can to promote our athletes and our sport.”

Their artistic flair and exceptional ability to connect with the audience have made Gilles and Poirier undeniable crowd-pleasers in recent years. In fact, the step-sequence from their 2015-16 short dance will be added to the ISU repertoire as a new compulsory dance after the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

If he is elected to his new position, Poirier wants to get to work right away.

“I want to encourage decision-making that will allow athletes to create their best work,” adds Poirier. “I’ve always tried to be vocal when it comes to the public decisions of the sport. I hope my fellow athletes see I want to be part of that dialogue.

“What do we all want ice dance to be? We need to have those conversations to answer that question.”

“This isn’t about what I think will make the sport better. It’s about what we, as athletes, believe will make the sport better.”

Canadians to celebrate part of national identity with Canada 150 Skating Day

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OTTAWA, Ont. –  It will be a day to embrace what skating means to Canadians.

Whether in an arena or on a backyard rink, pond, canal or river, skating is tightly woven into the social fabric of Canada and part of who we are. On December 10, 2017, Canada 150 Skating Day will offer a unique opportunity for all Canadians to unite and celebrate this timeless piece of our nation’s culture and heritage.

The Government of Canada and title sponsor Rogers Communications teamed with Skate Canada at historic Rideau Hall on Saturday to officially unveil Canada 150 Skating Day.

The Governor General of Canada, His Excellency David Johnston, was joined by Official Ambassadors of Canada 150, representatives from Skate Canada and Rogers Communications along with hundreds of dignitaries and guests to officially unveil the December 10th event.

The announcement included a demonstration by skaters from Minto Skating Club as well as a free public skate on the Rideau Hall ice rink.  Also joining the festivities were children from the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club, Catholic Centre for Immigrants (CCI Ottawa) and Refugee 613, an Ottawa organization assisting Syrian refugees.

 

Canada 150 Skating Day will be one of the final events in the year-long celebration marking Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.

To promote the diversity, inclusion and healthy lifestyle that skating represents, an integral piece of the Canada 150 Skating Day legacy will be the introduction of community skate banks, allowing children without equipment the opportunity to take part – not only on December 10th, but for years to come. These skate banks will exist in communities right across the nation, providing helmets and skates to children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to skate.

“We would like to thank the Government of Canada and Rogers for supporting Canada 150 Skating Day, and for helping establish skate banks at our Skate Canada clubs in communities across the country,” said Skate Canada CEO Debra Armstrong. “These skate banks will touch Canadians in communities from coast to coast to coast who may not have equipment to learn to skate, allowing them to embrace the joy of skating.”

“Skating is an iconic winter activity that is part of our country’s sporting heritage,” stated The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

“On December 10, 2017, let’s glide in to winter by skating together! Embrace the cold with your family and friends and participate in Canada 150 Skating Day. I also challenge all municipalities to join the celebration and host a Canada 150 Skating Day for everyone to take part in!”

On December 10th, Canadians are encouraged to participate in Canada 150 Skating Day on rinks, canals, rivers and ponds across the country as communities come together to celebrate this unique part of our national and cultural identity.

More information on Canada 150 Skating Day will be released as the event approaches.

Photo Credits:  MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall, OSGG

A Song For Elizabeth: New Brunswick synchronized skating team honours teammate with emotional program in Calgary

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If you aren’t watching closely, it’s easy to miss the poignant, split-second tribute to the girl who used to fill what is now an empty spot in their line.

As the Riverview intermediate team steps on to the ice at the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships, each girl gently touches a pair of size 7 skates tucked safely under the arm of coach Janna MacLellan.

What follows is a song for Elizabeth.

It’s been eight heart-wrenching months since that July night when 15-year-old Elizabeth Landers lost her life in an ATV accident just steps from her home in Quispamsis, NB. The tragedy brought the synchro communities to its knees in New Brunswick and Edmonton, where Elizabeth skated until her family moved east two years ago.

In this season of heartache, the Riverview program, every movement from start to finish, is choreographed for the young shining light taken without warning. Wearing black costumes adorned with lime green accents – Elizabeth’s favourite colour – the team performs its moving tribute to Aerosmith’s Dream On.

“This is their way of grieving and coping,” says Suzanne Landers, Elizabeth’s mother, as tears well up in her eyes. She stops to compose herself before continuing.

“It’s everything – the colours, the words, the theme, what they are doing and how they are doing it. Every movement is for Elizabeth. It’s very touching.

“But it’s also hard. I’m here, I’m in the room with the girls and she’s not there. But I feel the love and support, and now I realize how much she meant to so many people.”

Mere seconds after qualifying for the national championships at the Atlantic regionals, the team called Landers on speakerphone and asked her to join them at nationals.

They didn’t have to ask twice and Landers, her heart still heavy in this most trying of years, is at the national championships, cheering on the team her daughter lived for.

““I had to be here,” adds Landers, a devoted supporter of synchronized skating. “This week, I feel closer to Elizabeth. It’s almost like she is here with us.”

In Calgary, Suzanne is sharing a hotel room with Hailey Cassidy, her daughter’s teammate and closest friend. This week, these moments, are for them to remember, and celebrate, Elizabeth’s life.

“It was comforting to know that so many people want to hear her story through the program,” says Cassidy. “This isn’t about us; it’s about her. This is Elizabeth’s story.”

This weekend, as they told that story at the national championships, the entire WinSport Arena was on their feet before Riverview stepped on to the ice for their two programs. They gave another standing ovation as the team was introduced, and rose as one yet again when the emotional, powerful program ended.

“My healing is through skating,” says Landers. “But now I know that I have to share Elizabeth with others, because they are hurting as well. Synchro is a family, and I feel all the love and support in New Brunswick, in Edmonton, across the country. I am extremely grateful, and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.”

“She was such a wonderful girl, and the loss of Elizabeth devastated a lot of us,” says Lisa Bonderove of the Skate Canada Alberta/NWT/Nunavut Section.

“She will be missed by a lot of people, but this is a week to remember Elizabeth and celebrate her life.”

At the regional championships in Newfoundland earlier this winter, the signs seemed to be everywhere. The team passed by Elizabeth Park. The arena was painted green. In their dressing room, they found a plastic green hand clapper, left behind by someone else. As the team was going on the ice, they noticed a green ribbon from a previous team had fallen to the ground. Following their program, there was another as the team stepped into the Kiss and Cry.

Elizabeth is not here, but she is everywhere.

Her name remains on the team roster. Following their win at the Atlantic Championships, in yet another emotional moment, the team accepted a medal for Elizabeth. The first thing they did was hand the medal to Suzanne.

This week, the entire Canadian synchro family is rallying around Suzanne Landers and the team from the small community in New Brunswick.

“Having Suzanne with us gives us strength and reminds us why we are doing this,” says MacLellan.

“It’s helping our girls, but it so much more than that. This was Elizabeth’s story, and we want to tell it, and tell her, ‘we love you, and we miss you.’”

This week, green has never been more golden.

Behind The Blades with Kaitlyn Weaver

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*Crunch, crunch, crunch*

weaver3The unmistakable sound of fresh packed snow underneath my boots is like music to my ears. “Aaah, winter…” I think to myself. “It’s back.” But much has changed since Andrew and I have been blanketed by November’s powder.

This year, winter found us in Moscow, Russia, our part-time training base for the 2016/2017 figure skating season. After a disappointing finish to last season, my partner and I took the time to go back to the drawing board in the Spring, shut the world out, and understand what it was that WE needed. And as the pre-Olympic season was looming, THAT was the time to make any drastic changes. And drastic changes we made. We enlisted living-choreographic-legend Nikolai Morozov to our coaching team, and relocated to New Jersey, with the knowledge that much of our training would also take place in the other Great White North: Russia. To outsiders, it seemed scary. And a piece of me was definitely scared too, to tell the truth. But with change comes growth, and with necessity, fear becomes obsolete. Andrew and I were positive that we needed to challenge ourselves with something new. “Big risk, big reward” we thought, and we’re working hard to make it so.

weaver-1Relocating to Jersey from our previous long-time training location of Detroit, Michigan wasn’t too difficult. Being within a stone’s throw of New York City is nothing short of inspiring, and we feed off the energy and possibility that the area has to offer. But when it came to Russia, we weren’t sure what to expect.

Armed with warm layers, protein bars, and Google translate, we traveled to Moscow eager to embrace this new aspect of our skating. And so far, it has been a success. The training centre is beautiful, the rink attendants and other coaches treat us fairly and with kindness, and having friends in the city has made an immeasurable impact. Although I had a basic understanding of the Russian language and cyrillic, Andrew and I have learned so much together, and that helps make this city feel like a second home. We can get around, order at restaurants, and hold a polite conversation. Don’t get me wrong, there are (lots of) times that I just want to walk into a Timmy’s and order a coffee and a pack of Timbits without thinking twice, but all-in-all, we are doing well.

weaver2Soon it was time for our first competition, also to be held in Moscow: Rostelecom Cup in the beginning of November. And conveniently, the official hotel was just minutes down the road from our training centre dorms. I have to admit, I felt a little defensive when I overheard other competitors complaining about Russia’s snowy weather .. I felt, like in Canada, winter has to be understood and embraced and loved rather than loathed! But no matter, the competition was quite a success. Two great outings of our new programs— representations of a new life in the dance team of Weaver/Poje and the seedlings of a fresh energy and momentum due to find its peak at the Olympics in Pyeongchang, 2018. The Russian audience, never short of passion and enthusiasm, welcomed us with warmth and energy. We left happy, invigorated, and motivated to continue our growth in the birthplace of ice dance, and also back in our new home of New Jersey with our glowing hearts never letting go of their Canadian roots.

While we can’t wait to return home to our beloved Canada, this season is the definition of adventure and growth, and as an athlete, it’s what I live for. We are always striving to make our country proud and we hope you enjoy joining our journey.

See you on the ice!

Behind The Blades With Michelle Long: Skate Canada International

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long4Flashback to 2003, Hershey’s Center Mississauga, Skate Canada International: As an eager eleven-year-old and lover of figure skating, I was so excited when I found out there was a big skating competition coming to town. Without knowing much about the competitive side of the sport, I went with my mom, sister and a friend to attend the official practices at Skate Canada International 2003. I remember sitting in the stands, watching, in amazement. My favourite part was when the practice was over. We would rush down, over to the boards, to ask the skaters for their autograph. I was so new into the sport that I only knew a few of the skaters (mostly Canadians) but I didn’t care. I still wanted their autograph because, in my eyes, they were famous!

Skate Canada International has always had a special place in my heart. I believe that having the opportunity to watch such a high level competition, at such a young age, really inspired me to be a competitive skater! Now, attending events like this later in my skating career have definitely not hindered their magic. I still get excited to watch some of the best skaters in the world compete, but now instead of asking for their autographs, I am able to converse and learn from them.

long3One of the highlights of my weekend was actually being able to be a fan, sit back, relax and enjoy the skating! Usually, I am most interested in the ladies event, since that’s what I compete in. I have to give a shout out to both of our Canadian ladies, Kaetlyn and Alaine, for both skating fierce short and free programs. Once their event had finished, I was able to sit with Kaetlyn, chat, and watch some world class skating!

I was so impressed with the level of athleticism and performances from the Canadian team. Some of my favourite moments were Kevin’s quad-filled free program, Megan and Eric’s throw triple axel and Piper and Paul’s post free dance celebration!

long5A friend of mine made a donation to the Skate Canada Athlete Fund, and bid on an opportunity at Skate Canada International for a backstage ‘behind the scenes’ tour with Elvis Stojko. I was fortunate enough to be brought along for this amazing experience. I was shown around the dressing rooms, warm up area, data rooms and media centre. I got to see some of the skaters warm up and getting ready for the Gala on Sunday. The coolest part was seeing the press conference area. It is so much larger than what you see on television. There was a large head table for the athletes, and surrounding that were smaller tables and chairs, filled with photographers, video cameras and microphones, something I had never scene before, nor was prepared for. Elvis also had some great advice for me as someone aspiring to be at an event of this calibre one day. He spoke with me about his experiences with the media, how to prepare for interviews and how to overcome obstacles. These were all very valuable lessons that I hope to be able to put into action one day! long2

Over the course of my weekend, I was able to get out and talk to some of the fans. I also ran into some familiar faces. Many skaters from my training centre were in attendance, as well as many of the regular skating fans and veteran competition goers. It was great to hear the positive comments from the fans and to see their enthusiasm. I was also given some advice on what to bring to a competition:

1. Wear your team colours: Red and White, Go Canada Go!
2. Bring a flag: from your home town, country, or favourite skater’s country!
3. Something to keep track of the scores. A program, or good old-fashioned pen and paper work well!
4. Bundle up: sometimes those rinks can get chilly, bring along your Skate Canada sweaters, scarves and mittens!
5. Your skating stories: everyone in the audience has one, listen to someone’s story and share yours!

All-in-all, the fans were super supportive and cheered the skaters one whether they were having the performance of a lifetime, or needed some help to continue. The number of times the audience started clapping in time to the music during footwork was amazing! Everyone, young and old, found themselves immersed in the experience and were able to get involved! It was also incredible to witness the younger skaters carry the same joy as I did when I was a youngster.

The greatest feeling was being able to see the sparkle in their eyes. It’s amazing to see the next generation inspired and as excited like I was.

long1

Behind The Blades with Meagan Duhamel: Skate Canada International

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Another Skate Canada International has come and gone and as we say good-bye to Mississauga and the Hershey Centre, we are left with some amazing memories. Mississauga did a great job playing host to the 2016 Skate Canada International and everyone I talked to enjoyed the events at the Hershey Centre. And how could you not? There were numerous personal best performances, sold out crowds and enthusiastic media coverage of the event.

International skaters love to come to Canada for events because the crowd always welcomes them as their own. It doesn’t matter where you are from, you will receive support and love from the Canadian audience.

SCI Gala Practice (Meagan Duhamel)It was fun to reconnect with some of my old skating friends this week as well. Hao Zhang, Yuko Kavaguti, Alexander Smirnov, Eric, Dylan and I have all been competing together for a very, very long time. It was fun to all be at the same competition together, us “old” pair skaters, still fighting and still pushing the sport forward.

And how can a Canadian not be completely inspired by last week’s skating? Katelyn and Alaine managed to throw down two amazing programs each, and they showed the World that Canadian Ladies are a force to be reckoned with. Liam Firus achieved a new personal best long program score, and that’s only a shade of what he is truly capable of achieving. That score will only continue to go up from here. Kevin Reynolds came back to Grand Prix competition after a few years away and made a huge statement with his short and long program that earned him a bronze medal. I love watching Kevin seize opportunities like he did in Mississauga, it always makes me so excited and it’s something that I have come to expect from Kevin.

Patrick showed us what he does best: beautiful, effortless, seamless skating combined with musicality and complex choreography. He always leaves all the other skaters in awe of his basic skating ability. This week, Patrick also showed that he wants to be back on top of the skating World, by attempting a new quad jump for the first time, the quad sal. We saw him land it in practice and it won’t be long before he’s nailing a 3-quad long program, which will be more then enough for him to contend with the crazy quad faze that is going on in men’s skating.

The dance teams were also all beautiful. Alex and Mitch shone as they showcased gorgeous programs and costumes at the Hershey Centre. They have beautiful attention to detail, something I always admire with them. Piper and Paul put their stamp on the ice dance world this week in a big way! They have worked hard and it showed. Their programs are mature, intricate and powerful. I’m just making a guess here, but I think they will surprise a lot of people this season. Their 110-point free dance proved that.

It seemed like most people at the Hershey Centre came to watch the return of Tessa and Scott, and they lived up to the buzz. I thought they created two uniquely beautiful programs this year, and they have managed to step back into competition so no one would not be able to guess that they’ve been away from the sport for a few years. So respectable.

And my favourite, the pairs event! It was a strong event, with many teams battling for a spot on the podium, and potentially a spot in the Grand Prix Final. Britany and Josh skated very well and they will use this event as a stepping stone to future international competitions, as well as the Canadian Championships. Lubov and Dylan also had a good event, winning their first Grand Prix medal with bronze. Although they had some errors, they still pulled big scores, showing nicely choreographed programs and strong pair elements. And then there was us ….

Eric and I showed up at SCI 2016 with a mission in our short program: The Throw Triple Axel. We worked hard tweaking our short program after Finlandia Trophy to ensure the triple axel would be assessable and the program would be preformed with high energy and sharp movements. In practice, our throw triple axel has gained consistency. I’d say it’s at an 85% success rate at home, and during the practice sessions at SCI, so we felt like our odds were good. I had a good feeling all day leading into the short program. I felt calm, confident and sure of myself and our ability to hit a great short program. I had to remind myself, and Eric, before we skated that “When we land that triple axel, let’s try to stay calm so we don’t make any silly mistakes afterwards”. Well, I did land the triple axel, but I didn’t quite stay so calm after, there was some stumbles and a lack of complete “Smoothness” but I’ll take it for October.

The energy that builds in our short program, set to music from Seal, is crazy and the crowd knew what we were planning on doing, which along with a triple axel throw, also included a side-by-side triple lutz, another high-risk manoeuvre. In addition to having a blast during our short program, we were so pleased to see that we set a new personal best score of 78.3. We are already thinking about how we can reach 80 points for our next Grand Prix, NHK Trophy.

Resetting after such a big moment is very, very difficult. We focused a lot on the short program coming into this event, and with that being a huge success, I did have a thought going into the long of “What are my goals?” We just hadn’t thought about it too much, because our focus was on the short program coming in. I feel like we zoned in well and focused to deliver a strong long program. Sadly, I took an uncharacteristic, terrible fall on the quad throw at the beginning of the long program, but we reset well and still managed a strong, emotional performance. We know we can develop more nuances in our long program, and deliver better quality side-by-side jumps (each of them received minus 1s for the most part). This will be a big focus as we prepare for the NHK Trophy.

It was announced that next year Skate Canada International will go back west, to Regina, Saskatchewan. I have no doubt that Regina will do an incredible job organizing this event, and that the hard-core skating fans (I’m one of them!!!), and local individuals from Regina, will come support all the skaters.

Thanks for joining me, and everyone else from Skate Canada in Mississauga this week. Can’t wait to see you all in the near future!

Behind The Blades with Kaetlyn Osmond: Skate Canada International

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My bags were packed, I was ready, and I was off to the airport to begin my short journey to Mississauga for Skate Canada International! Only my short journey became a little bit longer than expected. Two hours delayed leaving Edmonton, a short flight, a quick trip to the hotel, and the registration process complete: I had the perfect amount of time to collapse onto my bed and sleep for my early morning trek to the rink.

Practice Day. This day involves getting the lay of the rink and know where everything is. I scout out where I want to do my warmups, where the dressing rooms are, and where we get on/off the ice. Knowing all these things allows me to feel more relaxed when I am doing what I have to do. It lets me focus on what my job is. The practice day includes two practices. It also includes a few media interviews, and the opening press conference, and of course, the draw for the short program.

kaetlyn1Competition days! To be completely honest, I am the most boring person on competition day. My alarm clock goes off at 5:30am. I had to be super quiet not to wake my roommate who was competing later that night. I did my hair. I put my makeup on. Grabbed my skates and my dresses, then left my room to eat and catch the early bus to the rink. At the rink, it is always the same process. Warmup, skate, cool down, and catch the bus back to the hotel. Then it is a much-needed rest up before I compete. There is a nice nap involved, card games, colouring, a little walk outside to freshen up, and then some food to fuel up. The time between practice and competition is really finding ways to distract myself, while still staying relaxed and ready.

About an hour before it is time to head back to the rink, it is time to get ready. Time to redo my hair and makeup, while watching my tv show choice of the competition: this time, it was Supergirl!

kaetlyn3When it is all over, I enjoyed the rest of the event as much as I could. I was beyond happy with how well I had done. I was amongst so many other amazing skaters that I love to watch. There were so many friends and fans in the stands that I wanted to be a part of. So, that is exactly what I did. I became a part of the crowd. I watched the remaining events with Elvis Stojko, his wife, Gladys, and my national team member and friend, Michelle Long. The next morning, I got to hang out with the other skaters for the gala and just have fun, enjoying celebrating the event we just finished. The gala is always my favourite part of the event. It is a time to celebrate, skate, and thank every single fan for coming to the competition and continuously supporting the sport.

Then it was just time to head home.

It is amazing how fast the competition week goes. So much anticipation to get there. Then all of a sudden it is time to go home and train for the next event. Though, I will always celebrate with my friends when I get home. This time, it was with a giant bowl of delicious coffee.

kaetlyn6

Week in Skating Photos: Motivation Monday

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Although our Mondays may seem similar to this (video).

 

Let’s look forward to things that make us smile

Alodia first skating lesson #alodia #canskate

A photo posted by Roxanne Tunacao (@roxie_tunacao) on

 

Whether it is thinking about pizza,

Coach Sarah’s Creative Pre-Can Pizza! @saraheastwood_ #skatingfun #CanSkate

A photo posted by Sherwood Park Skating Club (@sherwoodparkskating) on

 

Or spending time with good friends.

Fly ducks, fly!?⛸#toepick

A photo posted by Fitness | Family | Faith (@tandresen) on

 

Grab a cup of coffee or a bottle of Gatorade to keep you going.

 

A little progress each day adds up to big results (video).

Big sister @jajabella1 encouraging her little brother to skate! #love #skating #canskate

A video posted by Ame (@ame2608) on

 

Share your passion with others.

 

It is easier when you have someone to lean on.

First night at CanSkate! #canskate #futuregirlfriendmaybe #lovesthegirls

A photo posted by Janis Kane (@kanejanis) on

 

And don’t be afraid to try something new.

 

Tag #CanSkate and #SkateCanada on Instagram and Twitter and you can be featured on our blog.

Have you seen last week’s Week in Skating Photos: Thanksgiving Edition?

Follow Skate Canada on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more pics all week long!

Week in Skating Photos: Thanksgiving Edition

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Time to give thanks for all the little things that bring us joy.

Great first day for our Pre-CanSkaters!! #csc #cranbrookskatingclub #cranbrook #skatecanada #precanskate

A photo posted by Cranbrook Skating Club (@cranbrookskatingclub) on

 

We hope you ate a lot this weekend to make you wobble, (video)

and wore your favourite Thanksgiving sweater.

And so begins another year!?⛸? #futurehockeymom #skating #canskate #lookatthatface

A photo posted by Britt Dawn (@stitchesandsprinkles) on

 

Thankful for big smiles and big helmets.

 

We are thankful for good friends,

Not only was I impressed with Mateo trying so hard, the helpers were so patient with the little ones. #canskate

A photo posted by Marcia George (@marcia.jayne) on

 

good mittens and good skates.

 

(Those mittens will come in handy this week)

Patrick Chan surely got a pretty pair of mittens to take home from #Finland ? ⛸#fintrophy16

A photo posted by Finnish Figure Skating Assoc. (@skatingfinland) on

 

Congratulations to our Canadian skaters who competed on the weekend.

#fintrophy16 ladies competition press meeting w/ Mao Asada (2nd), @annapogorilaya (1st) and @kaetkiss (3rd) #figureskate #competition

A photo posted by Finnish Figure Skating Assoc. (@skatingfinland) on

 

From our skate family to yours, we hope you had a great long weekend and an awesome Thanksgiving.

Skating season is BACK! I am so excited to get some little munchkins up and movin’! ⛸

A photo posted by Carmen Stiles (@carmenstiles) on

 

Have a wonderful day!

 

Have you seen last week’s Week in Skating Photos: New Beginnings blog? Tag #SkateCanada and #CanSkate to be featured in our next blog.

Follow Skate Canada on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more pics all week long!