Canadian Ice Dance 2016-17 season news & updates

[Sylvia]

Video links from the Margaret Garrison show performances of Gilles/Poirier and Paul/Islam (and others) this past Saturday are posted here: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...nefits-galas-2016-edition.98568/#post-4791970

Special shout out to Mackenzie Bent who organized a show in Uxbridge last month to raise funds to support Syrian refugee families settling there - photos by Sean McKinnon of the Canadian ice dancers in action:
Bent/Razgulajevs: https://www.instagram.com/p/BER8jhhxc6h/
Orford/Hill: https://www.instagram.com/p/BElF0sUSKyN/
Poulin/Servant: https://www.instagram.com/p/BEig7h5yK3e/
Jake Richardson (solo): https://www.instagram.com/p/BEa6PSsSK2D/

 

[Michelle]

This is upsetting. Orford and Hill were my favourite new team of last season. They have so much promise. Its really unfortunate that figure skating is such an expensive sport that a team of this quality has to quit because of financial reasons.

 

[mag]

This is upsetting. Orford and Hill were my favourite new team of last season. They have so much promise. Its really unfortunate that figure skating is such an expensive sport that a team of this quality has to quit because of financial reasons.

Before we go further, it should be noted that it was a poster here who suggested the retirement was because of financial reasons. Orford and Hill have not, to my knowledge, given a reason.

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ That was me. It should be noted that neither Nicole Orford nor Asher Hill has said anything publicly yet about retirement, AFAIK, so we shouldn't assume the reason is only financial if this news turns out to be true.

 

[mag]

^^^ That was me. It should be noted that neither Nicole Orford or Asher Hill have said anything publicly yet about retirement so we shouldn't assume the reason is only financial if this news turns out to be true.

We certainly do have a tendency to run away with things around here!

 

[SamuraiK]

O no, why? Canada lost so many ice dance teams this season.

Consequences of having such a deep field and so few spots/opportunities for major competitions, heck even minor comps considering Canada rarely sends their skaters to senior Bs. No motivation for the second tier teams to keep going.

 

[doritos]

Consequences of having such a deep field and so few spots/opportunities for major competitions, heck even minor comps considering Canada rarely sends their skaters to senior Bs. No motivation for the second tier teams to keep going.

Essentially, I believe this is what it came down to, from what I was told. With such a deep field, that 3rd spot for 2018 was becoming extremely competitive amongst the present group. The chance to go to the Olympics became diluted with the return of V/M, and the host pick for Skate Canada 2016 has basically been taken. The odds of obtaining a Senior B or GP assignment were not guaranteed, so with the money and time commitment required to skate at such a competitive level, was it worth it for the off chance of going to Obsertdorf or Autumn Classic?

I wish them both the very best in the future, whether it be on or off the ice. They were both lovely to watch and represented Skate Canada very well, both together and with previous partners. I appreciated the opportunity to watch them over the years.

 

[princeton123]

Well, it's certainly going to be a free-for-all after 2018 when V/M and W/P retire.

 

[Moustaffask8r]

Well, it's certainly going to be a free-for-all after 2018 when V/M and W/P retire.

Who knows maybe they will be the Plushenko of ice dance and will keep coming back!!!

 

[Dobre]

The odds of obtaining a Senior B or GP assignment were not guaranteed, so with the money and time commitment required to skate at such a competitive level, was it worth it for the off chance of going to Obsertdorf or Autumn Classic?

I wish them both the very best in the future, whether it be on or off the ice. They were both lovely to watch and represented Skate Canada very well, both together and with previous partners. I appreciated the opportunity to watch them over the years.

Yes, depth is probably an issue. But it is HIGH time that the Grand Prix in dance was opened up to more couples. The limited number of couples is making it harder and harder for young teams to move up, new teams to break in, and injured & split teams to make comebacks. Teams with the ability to finish in the top ten at Worlds (Monko & Khaliavin overall last season and Paul & Islam in the SD last season as well) should not be completely out of the picture after one rough season with one GP withdrawal. And brand new teams with the ability to finish as high as Muramoto & Reed at Worlds and 4CC's in their opening season should be able to get in on their own merit, without needing a host country behind them. Maybe teams in this position needn't have guaranteed placements, but there should be enough openings available that they could be a logical selection. Right now, they aren't. Not with at least two GP finalists, two European medalists, and Junior Worlds gold medalists in the lineup for at the maximum a handful of open spots.

I can't imagine why Orford & Hill wouldn't have done enough to merit a Challenger event though. Last year, yes, but they were successful enough to defeat Thomas & Eaton at Autumn Classic. And Thomas & Eaton won a Challenger last season.

I'm very sad if this retirement announcement proves true. They did have a magical connection for a new team. I was truly looking forward to seeing that connection develop with time.

 

[Sylvia]

Pj Kwong interviewed Gilles/Poirier in Boston a day after they finished competing at Worlds: http://www.openkwongdore.com/2016/05/09/episode-7-piper-gilles-paul-poirier/

... So – at basically the moment that the 2015/2016 season ends – I talk to Piper and Paul about their creative process and the timetable that goes with it. It was something I wanted to explore given the fact that these two are among those leading the charge in terms of innovation on the ice.

 

[The Accordion]

Orford and Hill - noooooooooooooooooo! So many tears!!

 

[legjumper]

I am in INFINITY DEPRESSIONS about Orford/Hill and am holding on to any shred of hope that the rumor might not be true (or that their financial fortunes might reverse, at least). They were easily the most magical and polished of the second-tier Canadian teams, and in just one season together they were able to finish fifth in a stacked field. If only they would have held out past 2018.....

 

[barbarafan]

I am in INFINITY DEPRESSIONS about Orford/Hill and am holding on to any shred of hope that the rumor might not be true (or that their financial fortunes might reverse, at least). They were easily the most magical and polished of the second-tier Canadian teams, and in just one season together they were able to finish fifth in a stacked field. If only they would have held out past 2018.....

Have they been supported properly? by Skate Canada and Carol Lane...Skate Canada has its little pets and Piper and Paul seem to be one of them...That 3rd Canadian spot ...lots of competition......I didn't see Mitch and Alex with b's and C's either.

 

[shah]

I hate it when good teams have to retire because of lack of funds :/. Nicole and Asher .

(I refuse to believe it and hope it'll turn out to be a rumour ...)

 

[wickedwitch]

I still don't understand why they weren't assigned a challenger series event. That would have given them a chance to get a non-SC GP event this season.

So I can't blame them if they felt they got no support from their federation.

 

[Rogueskater]

Although I don't know for sure, I feel that it is pretty loud and clear to all the senior teams this year that the power in charge of assigning GP, Challenger, & Senior B assignments that these will be going to Virtue/Moir, Weaver/Poje & Gillies/Poirier. That way they can pile on the points. Doesn't matter that other teams have met the bench marks set out by Skate Canada of 130, there will be no guarantee that any of them will see any international competition or support. Might as well put the bench mark at 170. My belief is that this is why many seniors are stopping or on the bubble about retiring this year. In my opinion, Skate Canada is being very short sighted. How many Olympics is enough for a team? Their greediness is costing us big time.

 

[jenji124]

How many Olympics is enough for a team? Their greediness is costing us big time.

As many as they want to do and are capable of doing. Nothing greedy about this. It's up to the other teams to raise their talent and skills. It's not the responsibility of V/M in this case to bow out because they've been there before and it's someone else's turn.

 

[princeton123]

How many Olympics is enough for a team? Their greediness is costing us big time.

Costing us what exactly? V/M have the best chance of any of these teams of bringing home a medal in 2018.

Since when has the Olympics been a matter of charity?

 

[Zazy]

Although I don't know for sure, I feel that it is pretty loud and clear to all the senior teams this year that the power in charge of assigning GP, Challenger, & Senior B assignments that these will be going to Virtue/Moir, Weaver/Poje & Gillies/Poirier. That way they can pile on the points. Doesn't matter that other teams have met the bench marks set out by Skate Canada of 130, there will be no guarantee that any of them will see any international competition or support. Might as well put the bench mark at 170. My belief is that this is why many seniors are stopping or on the bubble about retiring this year. In my opinion, Skate Canada is being very short sighted. How many Olympics is enough for a team? Their greediness is costing us big time.

I hate seeing all these splits too but you're being irrational. Skate Canada sent 8 different teams to Senior Bs or Challengers last year, and there's no evidence to say they'll stop sending teams to these events. And while SC certainly has its favourites, what do you want them to do - refuse to give former Olympic champions a Skate Canada spot?

Mid-cycle is a natural time for teams to re-evaluate and decide if they want to continue two more years. Obviously V/M coming back might be a factor in their decision but there can be a whole host of other factors involved in a split and there's no point blaming one team or the federation for all of them.

 

[Moustaffask8r]

I hate seeing all these splits too but you're being irrational. Skate Canada sent 8 different teams to Senior Bs or Challengers last year, and there's no evidence to say they'll stop sending teams to these events. And while SC certainly has its favourites, what do you want them to do - refuse to give former Olympic champions a Skate Canada spot?

Mid-cycle is a natural time for teams to re-evaluate and decide if they want to continue two more years. Obviously V/M coming back might be a factor in their decision but there can be a whole host of other factors involved in a split and there's no point blaming one team or the federation for all of them.

Is this a team returning or SC wanting them to come back to secure a medal and more spots on worlds and Olympic? If Chan hadn't came back this year...Canada would be sending only one man to Worlds next year...

 

[Moustaffask8r]

As many as they want to do and are capable of doing. Nothing greedy about this. It's up to the other teams to raise their talent and skills. It's not the responsibility of V/M in this case to bow out because they've been there before and it's someone else's turn.

The worse thing to compete against is politics .... Or when it seems that no matter what, decision is already made! That's what's killing ice dance. Might has well mail out the results some times! Public, skaters and parents are tired of it

 

[analia]

O/H really a wonderful team. Maybe they can re-team-up after 2018. That will make some financial sense.

 

[Dobre]

The worse thing to compete against is politics .... Or when it seems that no matter what, decision is already made! That's what's killing ice dance. Might has well mail out the results some times! Public, skaters and parents are tired of it

Then they should pay attention because no one was successfully predicting results at 90% of the dance competitions this season.

Canada has a track record for keeping their top athletes longer than many countries. As well as past their peak. I think of it a bit like the Romanian gymnastics team. (There was always a leader on the team from the previous Worlds or quadrennium: Szabo, Ponor, etc.) However, I feel like this is an unusual situation because there really is no weakness at the top of Canadian dance that Virtue & Moir needed to fill. Weaver & Poje moved right up as soon as V&M retired, and while W&P did finish third at Worlds last season, they won the GPF & 4CC's & were extremely close to Papadakis & Cizeron at World Team Trophy. Then this season were again winning everything prior to V&M's announcement. So while I don't doubt that Skate Canada was/is 100% supportive of Virtue & Moir coming back, I don't see this as the same scenario, for example, as Elvis staying in through 2002. I'm sure V&M's close followers have a stronger idea about their motivation, but I do feel like it must be essentially coming from them.

 

[marbri]

I don't think SC asked V/M to come back at all. In a recent article they said when they told Marie France and Patrice they wanted to compete they asked them why. I think it's a personal thing for them, they feel they have more to show, or they want to at least try. When they announced Skate Canada's response was basically that ice dance field in Canada is strong, I´m sure their return will motivate the rest and just wished them luck. In interviews with V/M they are saying that they want to prove to Skate Canada they are worthy to be there. Just doesn't sound to me like Skate Canada came knocking on their door. I think they are going to have to work their asses off to prove to their own federation they belong.

 

[Moustaffask8r]

I don't think SC asked V/M to come back at all. In a recent article they said when they told Marie France and Patrice they wanted to compete they asked them why. I think it's a personal thing for them, they feel they have more to show, or they want to at least try. When they announced Skate Canada's response was basically that ice dance field in Canada is strong, I´m sure their return will motivate the rest and just wished them luck. In interviews with V/M they are saying that they want to prove to Skate Canada they are worthy to be there. Just doesn't sound to me like Skate Canada came knocking on their door. I think they are going to have to work their asses off to prove to their own federation they belong.

sometimes what you see or what is said is not always the real thing! Time will tell....

 

[Sylvia]

Here are the 2 Virtue/Moir GSD threads if anyone wants to use them:

News of their return: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/index.php?threads/virtue-moir-coming-back-to-competition.98008/

Articles: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...-passion-for-skating-in-other-articles.98079/

I've posted info on Skate Canada's new National Summer Series initiative here: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...ompetitions-new-national-summer-series.98591/

 

[marbri]

sometimes what you see or what is said is not always the real thing! Time will tell....

Well I'm not going to debate with people who clearly have a dog in the fight as I'm not privy to what info they have. I just don't see why they would encourage this particular team to return when during their last few years of competition they seemed more than happy to hand it over to W/P and G/P. Both teams seem to get a lot of support from SC whereas personally I find some of the teams behind them more interesting so while some seem to feel V/M are causing all these splits and retirements I wonder why W/P and G/P get a pass to 2018. What am I missing that makes these two teams unbeatable within Canada?

 

[princeton123]

I mean, if you want to get into it, Kaitlyn and Andrew have been around just as long as V/M and are in fact older than they are...

 

[pani]

I think the problem is that after all this team's out from junior's and didn't have results they want in senior level. For example Firrus and Lum had two chances at B-competition's, but didn't have good results.
The problem is this teams coudn't take place over WP, GP and PI, so it's hard to dind motivation. Even PO had such low marks at WCh in SD, so what could we wait from other low ranked teams from Canada?