2025–26 Canadian Women: News and Updates

[Sasha'sSpins]

Yeah, it seems like there is a "Skating Activity" membership that is presumably cheaper than a full membership, but I've mostly heard of that in reference to certain more limited programs, like adult skating programs. I'm not clear if that would be enough to join their competitive/elite program, or if a full membership is needed for that.

Extremely random, but years ago I happened to meet the Cricket Club member who sponsored Yuna for her membership back in the day, so I had the impression that the normal full membership processes were being followed for her at that time. (But that was quite a few years ago, so things may have changed since then.)

Pretty sure training full time at the Cricket Club (or Granite Club) isn't cheap anyway, one way or another.

Goodness, it even sounds posh and exclusive! 'The Cricket Club'.

I feel the same about Maddie as I do with Amber, Bradie and yes, even Jason in his turn.

If no one else has stepped up, why are we in such an all fire hurry to be rid of the tried and true, hoping that they'll retire and go off into the sunset? Maddie especially in her event has been holding the line for the Canadian women's event for OVER a full Olympic cycle. Kudos to her, she's a warrior Ice Queen IMO, and kudos to all of the 'old guard' who are STILL beating most of their respective home ice youngsters!

 

[fsfann]

Not a Daleman Brigade member here, but Daleman did come oh so close -- a doubled Lutz cost her the Canadian title. Wonder if Skate Canada would've sent Daleman to Milano over Schizas had Daleman won. For what it's worth: Daleman's 4CC SP score was higher than all of Schizas's SP scores post Canadian Nationals. Their FS scores were comparable too, I'd say. Yes, you can't compare scores from one even to another, but just comparing the quality of their skates post Canadians, I'd say (yes, in retrospect) that Daleman would've been worthy of the big ticket events had she won.

Your thoughts...

This can be said about anyone... Schizas would have made the Olympics LP if she didn't have that little (costly) screw up on the 3-3 or if she did a 3Lo instead of the 2Lo.... Gabby needs a full season with proven success before I think she could be considered a contender... She has next season to work on her BOW.... can't consider competitions from 6-7 years ago, as she has been pretty absent for the last few seasons. I hope she comes out again next year stronger than ever and nails her GP competitions... If she's solid there and has a decent nationals, I could easily see her beating Schizas... But for this year, I don't have any doubt that we sent our best woman to the Olys and Worlds.

 

[chantilly]

Has Daleman been landing the triple lutz triple toe or has she been still competing with the triple toe triple toe? Haven't taken the time to see her.

Saw some instagram posts only of the triple toe, triple toe.

In general CDN women are not likely ever reaching the top ten without a couple of different and difficult and more consistent triple triple combos.

All of the US women and all of the Japanese have them. Some of those have a triple axel.

Also several European women have improved their consistency and technical skills.

Not to mention the Koreans who while inconsistent generally have more technical content than the CDN contenders at this point.

Not sure how they can climb their way up via coaching or training, but until they do we're likely in the same situation for at least one if not two more quads based on what I'm seeing.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I have faith in my Canadian ice cousins up North! Look at what a pleasant surprise Stephen Gogalev has turned out to be on the men's side! I've always liked him but I'm a total fan now! Anything is possible!

I'm still Team Maddie, she's my fave and fierce Canadian Ice Queen but I will always have my heart open for the next Canadian ice Princess-Warriors to come!

 

[marbri]

I think Maddie was absolutely the right choice to send to Worlds.

But it does frustrate me how she consistently throws away levels on spins and steps. Contrast that to Stephen this season who pretty much gets L4s on all of those. The points she leaves on the table on those elements would push her closer to the top ten. Stephen isn't the most impressive spinner and you can tell when he is spinning he is making sure to hang on to get those features to count for L4. Maddie should be doing similar. So I don't know if she needs to do more run-throughs and really drill those elements for them to become solid but at her level she should be more consistent with them for sure.

 

[Maximillian]

Just to throw my two cents in, but it seems to me that the period right now is pretty par for the course for Canadian women. They usually have a podium contender about every ten years or so, Osmond and Rochette might have been a bit closer but Rochette came about after a long drought (Chouinard did not win medals but she was definitely a contender). I'm fine with Schizas competing at Olympics and Worlds, though once upon a time, Daleman was the better skater. However, I will say that when I first saw Schizas 4-5 years ago, I assumed she would improve in all areas and she really has not at all. Her skating still looks small and there has been no development.

 

[Winnipeg]

I thought Madeline would be a contender when I first saw her. She looked beautiful on the ice (still does) and seemed to have potential to improve to a world competitive level. As noted above, for some reason, that did not happen IMHO and she has never achieved what I had mistakenly thought was her potential (i.e., she may have reached her potential a long time ago and my expectations were unreasonably high).

Sometimes maybe no matter the coaching a skater is only physically and/or mentally able to attain a certain level?

 

[Winnipeg]

One more comment - when I look at some skaters before their turn or in their starting pose, I see an eagerness, I can hardly wait to show you what I can do" on their face (eg Liu)...........but on Madeline I see what appears to be a tentative, almost scared look............just IMHO.

 

[chantilly]

It's truly a mental game as much as all the other things that come with figure skating.
They train their whole year for 7 minutes of performance at Worlds or Olympics.
It's do or die. That's not easy.

 

[honey]

I really do applaud her for getting through a university degree and going to school full time, but she certainly wouldn’t be the first skater who had their skating stall while trying to balance both full time. I am not exaggerating when I say that I think Nathan Chen might be the only one who thrived doing both full time.

I’ve always wondered if there would have been more development if there hadn’t been a full course load at the same time. It’s why I do kind of hope she gives it one more year, no school, 100% commitment to skating and improvement and see what happens.

 

[ChillSkate]

I really do applaud her for getting through a university degree and going to school full time, but she certainly wouldn’t be the first skater who had their skating stall while trying to balance both full time. I am not exaggerating when I say that I think Nathan Chen might be the only one who thrived doing both full time.

Agree with your take though Nathan did take 2 years off from Yale from 2020-2022 to focus on training for the 2022 Olympics.