2018-2019 Canadian Ladies News and Updates!

[Tinami Amori]

Trying not to read too much in to twitter posts and pictures but Gabby still concerns me.

She is not starving her self, if that's what the concern is...

She is using an app, one of those "photo reshaping" to make herself look thinner...
https://www.fotor.com/features/reshape.html

...and she has been doing it for a long time, at least for almost a year..
now..
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuCv9nFjW3t/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuHwLN_nwWf/
august 2018 (no photos before that)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhZUkwTldH4/

 

[puglover]

I am a big fan of Gabby and thought she looked good physically just a month ago at the Nationals - at least through a television screen. My concerns come from wondering why she would want to use photo reshaping to make herself look thinner. She is a gorgeous young woman. I know the pressures on these beautiful young women to fit a mould is enormous and can be disorienting. Many mental issues are not based in reality but in the person's self perception. I believe Gabby has great support around her both from family and coaches and I am sure they are there for her.

 

[dramagrrl]

I am a big fan of Gabby and thought she looked good physically just a month ago at the Nationals - at least through a television screen. My concerns come from wondering why she would want to use photo reshaping to make herself look thinner. She is a gorgeous young woman. I know the pressures on these beautiful young women to fit a mould is enormous and can be disorienting. Many mental issues are not based in reality but in the person's self perception.

Forget "thinner" - if she is really using photo reshaping and believes that the resulting pictures make her look anything other than emaciated, there are definitely some disordered perception and self-esteem issues there. The resulting chorus of followers who then comment on how "glamorous" and "gorgeous" she looks in those pictures is also extremely disturbing to me.

 

[barbarafan]

She is not starving her self, if that's what the concern is...

She is using an app, one of those "photo reshaping" to make herself look thinner...
https://www.fotor.com/features/reshape.html

...and she has been doing it for a long time, at least for almost a year..
now..
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuCv9nFjW3t/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuHwLN_nwWf/
august 2018 (no photos before that)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhZUkwTldH4/

If this is the case then I am relieved about her state of physical health. She appeared as if she is a month or two away from passing away from some disease like cancer. If she does it for body image then she is not seeing what is in front of her and there is still a lot of work to be done to cure her of her mental and emotional problems. Keep on plugging.

 

[Coco]

I think her mom needs to cover her mirrors and take away all the cameras for a few months.

I'm glad that pic isn't real. I thought she really was that skinny...yikes!

 

[honey]

Aurora and Gabby get the remaining two spots for worlds:

https://twitter.com/skatecanada/status/1098979778801987585?s=21

 

[Colonel Green]

Aurora and Gabby get the remaining two spots for worlds:

https://twitter.com/skatecanada/status/1098979778801987585?s=21

Sad for Veronik (honestly, I’d be strongly tempted to send her over Alaine at this point), but if Gabrielle feels up to it, I’d say those two are the right choices.

 

[mag]

Sad for Veronik (honestly, I’d be strongly tempted to send her over Alaine at this point), but if Gabrielle feels up to it, I’d say those two are the right choices.

I am sad for Veronik as well, but Alaine is the National Champion so she has earned her spot. I hope Veronik can train safely over the off season and challenge for the podium next year.

I suspect there will be big shake up next year. I would not be surprised if Aurora stays in the top five, but I suspect the other four places will go to completely different skaters than this year.

 

[Coco]

Did they name alternates?

 

[Bonita]

Those photos of Gabby are truly disturbing. I know they are fake, but why would anyone think that looks good? She looks like a cancer patient or someone who needs to be admitted for anorexia treatment pronto. That crap is thinspiration and not healthy for anyone who has an ED. Speaking from experience!

 

[victorskid]

Article on Gabby's Worlds team selection with mention of Aurora but no mention of alternates: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/...ds-figure-skating-gabrielle-daleman-1.5029767

 

[blue_idealist]

Sad for Veronik (honestly, I’d be strongly tempted to send her over Alaine at this point), but if Gabrielle feels up to it, I’d say those two are the right choices.

It's hard to say. Gabby didn't skate like her old self at Nationals, at least not in the long program, but Veronik is missing half the jumps in a common ladies' arsenal. I prefer Veronik, personally, but it's a hard call. If Larkyn had gotten the minimums already I would have gone with Aurora, Alaine, Larkyn since Larkyn does have the full set of triples (except the axel).

 

[blue_idealist]

Those photos of Gabby are truly disturbing. I know they are fake, but why would anyone think that looks good? She looks like a cancer patient or someone who needs to be admitted for anorexia treatment pronto. That crap is thinspiration and not healthy for anyone who has an ED. Speaking from experience!

I was relieved to find out just yesterday that they were fake, and yeah, they do not look good. The fact that she thinks they do is problematic.

 

[Colonel Green]

It's hard to say. Gabby didn't skate like her old self at Nationals, at least not in the long program, but Veronik is missing half the jumps in a common ladies' arsenal. I prefer Veronik, personally, but it's a hard call. If Larkyn had gotten the minimums already I would have gone with Aurora, Alaine, Larkyn since Larkyn does have the full set of triples (except the axel).

Sorry, this may have been unclear based on phrasing, but I don’t think it was ever a question of sending Gabrielle or Veronik in a world where the former wanted to go. Gabrielle, whatever her problems, is so far ahead of the other ladies technically and reputationally that she was always going to get the second spot if she wanted it.

The up-for-grabs third spot was between Veronik and Aurora (and Larkyn, had she gotten the minimums and done well at 4CC). They went with Aurora, which I get.

Veronik has fewer jumps than Larkyn or Alaine, so her ceiling is lower, but as a practical matter she tends to execute her content much better than the others. Hence, she has the highest international free skate score of the season among our ladies. She beat both Alaine and Larkyn at 4CC.

 

[ChiquitaBanana]

It's hard to say. Gabby didn't skate like her old self at Nationals, at least not in the long program, but Veronik is missing half the jumps in a common ladies' arsenal. I prefer Veronik, personally, but it's a hard call. If Larkyn had gotten the minimums already I would have gone with Aurora, Alaine, Larkyn since Larkyn does have the full set of triples (except the axel).

It's too bad Larkyn hasn't shown she has all triples this season so to me, she still skates with a novice level skater content. She has other good qualities, she really looks like a mature senior skater but jumps are not.

 

[Erin]

Did they name alternates?

Article on Gabby's Worlds team selection with mention of Aurora but no mention of alternates: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/...ds-figure-skating-gabrielle-daleman-1.5029767

We usually only find out about Canada’s alternates when the ISU publishes the full list of entries, but at this point, I would assume it’s Veronik as the only other lady with the minimums who competed at Nationals and Larkyn, conditional on getting the SP minimum at the Cup of Tyrol. Skate Canada also doesn’t usually publicize the order of its alternates and in the past has gone based on who is more prepared at the time, but in this case, I can’t see why Veronik wouldn’t be the first alternate, having beaten Larkyn at both Canadians and 4CC.

 

[mag]

It's too bad Larkyn hasn't shown she has all triples this season so to me, she still skates with a novice level skater content. She has other good qualities, she really looks like a mature senior skater but jumps are not.

This! Larkyn has landed very few 3 lutzes in her career (maybe one or two clean ones?) and I don’t think has even tried any this season. I haven’t done an actual calculation but I would say she was less than 50% on the flip this season and even the toe has not been completely consistent. At Sections all her jumps in the SP we’re under rotated and and she had trouble with the salchow at Nationals.

I know there has been talk about her injuries, but the word is she has been training straight through since the summer without any time off. When you compare that to Veronik, there really is no comparison. Veronik may not have the flip back yet, but she certainly has done enough to be ahead of Austman on the sub list.

 

[ichiro]

I agree I haven't seen Larkyn attempt all triples this year, no 3Z and shakey 2ft 3F. Plus the amount of setup she takes on her jumps if very glaring when you compare her to Veronik.

I was just watching Veronik and Larkyn back to back. Yes Veroniks working herself out of injury. But she has shown more consistency than Alaine or Larkyn this year. I actually was thoroughly surprised at all her pre jump steps and transitions. I hope she regains all her jumps next year to be in the hunt again.

 

[4rkidz]

I’m glad that Gabby is going I hope she is feeling better too. I hope she doesn’t put too much pressure on herself and enjoys the journey of representing Canada again. I really like Cotop and am pleased she is getting the opportunity. Chartrand earner her spot and certainly has the capability to do well.

 

[alchemy void]

Damn. I really thought Mallet deserved a spot here.

 

[Rock2]

Forget "thinner" - if she is really using photo reshaping and believes that the resulting pictures make her look anything other than emaciated, there are definitely some disordered perception and self-esteem issues there. The resulting chorus of followers who then comment on how "glamorous" and "gorgeous" she looks in those pictures is also extremely disturbing to me.

ITA.
It's one thing (and I agree) to comment on pressures, but if you're going those lengths to seek approval, then we have a situation here. A circle of dysfunction between poster and followers that creates an alternate reality that becomes the benchmark for how we look at ourselves. What a mess.

I didn't know such a shaping tool existed and how it makes sense. Here in Canada we have a rising 18 yo tennis player, Bianca Andreescu. I checked her twitter a few weeks ago and this was her profile pic. I was like 'that's not her'

This is what she really looks like. Question answered....but...Houston, we have a problem here. I have not heard ONE WORD in media or social media about her looks so I'm not convinced these things start with so much external pressure.

 

[Seerek]

It's too bad Larkyn hasn't shown she has all triples this season so to me, she still skates with a novice level skater content. She has other good qualities, she really looks like a mature senior skater but jumps are not.

This does bring up the question as to whether (Czech Olympian) Zdenek Pazdirek has ever coached another elite singles skater before Larkyn (my memory is bad). Interesting to note: Pazdirek was the inventor of the Skate Spinner (tm).

 

[fsfann]

If Larkyn had gotten the minimums already I would have gone with Aurora, Alaine, Larkyn since Larkyn does have the full set of triples (except the axel).

Sorry, but that just isn't true. She tries 1 triple flip in the LP. That's it I think - maybe she tried two, but I don't think she has all year. She certainly doesn't have a lutz...and one flip just isn't enough to 'cut' it on the world stage...

 

[Japanfan]

She is not starving her self, if that's what the concern is...

She is using an app, one of those "photo reshaping" to make herself look thinner...
https://www.fotor.com/features/reshape.html

Even so, she must think she looks good in the photos, which is in itself concerning. As are the comments about how beautiful she looks.

 

[mag]

This does bring up the question as to whether (Czech Olympian) Zdenek Pazdirek has ever coached another elite singles skater before Larkyn (my memory is bad). Interesting to note: Pazdirek was the inventor of the Skate Spinner (tm).

I think he has had a few other skaters make it to challenge a number of years ago, but has only been Larkyn’s coach for a few years. She represented Connaught as a junior and I believe was coached by Keegan and Eileen Murphy. She has been landing the 2A, 3T, and 3S since her time at Connaught (maybe even the loop?) She moved to Coquitlam in the fall of 2016 and was coached by Kevin Bursey and Pazdirek. Bursey is now listed back at the Sungod club and I am not sure what happened there.

When I did a bit of snooping around the story is that it was Bursey who taught her the flip and Liz Putnam who trained her prior to 2018 Nationals. I heard that she worked with Larkyn after Sections and prior to Nationals this year - although she is not listed as a coach so I could be wrong.

Coquitlam used to be a competitive club with quite a few national level skaters and, until recently, had a number of international skaters training there. That seems to have fallen off over the last couple of years. Larkyn is the only one mentioned on their website although I know Ronald Lam trained there his entire career and I think he got as high as 14th at Worlds. He was coached by Bruno Delmaestro and Kelly Champagne.

 

[blue_idealist]

Sorry, but that just isn't true. She tries 1 triple flip in the LP. That's it I think - maybe she tried two, but I don't think she has all year. She certainly doesn't have a lutz...and one flip just isn't enough to 'cut' it on the world stage...

I didn't realize she had no lutz. I thought she'd attempted it in the Olympic year, but maybe I was mistaken.

 

[honey]

I didn't realize she had no lutz. I thought she'd attempted it in the Olympic year, but maybe I was mistaken.

She did try it last season (and I think also did put it in and landed it at a senior b post-nationals in 2017). She didn’t include it at all this season.

 

[overedge]

I think he has had a few other skaters make it to challenge a number of years ago, but has only been Larkyn’s coach for a few years. She represented Connaught as a junior and I believe was coached by Keegan and Eileen Murphy. She has been landing the 2A, 3T, and 3S since her time at Connaught (maybe even the loop?) She moved to Coquitlam in the fall of 2016 and was coached by Kevin Bursey and Pazdirek. Bursey is now listed back at the Sungod club and I am not sure what happened there.

He was also the club director/administrator and quit to take a similar position at the Sungod club. Larkyn was coached or co-coached by her mom when she was junior champion.

Coquitlam used to be a competitive club with quite a few national level skaters and, until recently, had a number of international skaters training there. That seems to have fallen off over the last couple of years. Larkyn is the only one mentioned on their website although I know Ronald Lam trained there his entire career and I think he got as high as 14th at Worlds.

Most of the international skaters hit their late teens/early 20s and retired or moved on. Lam has retired too. It's not anything to do with the club, it's just that particular age group all coming along at the same time.

 

[fsfann]

I didn't realize she had no lutz. I thought she'd attempted it in the Olympic year, but maybe I was mistaken.

I know..I remembered her at least trying it last year, but this year it was no where to be seen...and the flip was pretty sporadic at best.. It's too bad she just doesn't have the technical content, but that's what it is... :/

 

[Osmond4gold]

I didn't realize she had no lutz. I thought she'd attempted it in the Olympic year, but maybe I was mistaken.

I believe she was landing it in Colorado last year, while training with Christy Krall.