2020-21 Canadian Pairs News & Updates

[barbarafan]

To what extent were you convinced that was their music instead of someone else on the ice running their programs?

I say that because.....barf.

I loved that music when Dube and Davison(don't know if I got that right)did it. I thought it was iconic but not sure how I would like it on another team.

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

I loved that music when Dube and Davison(don't know if I got that right)did it. I thought it was iconic but not sure how I would like it on another team.

Me too. Blower's Daughter is one of my all-time favourite Canadian Pairs programs. Love the Europsport coverage - they really gushed over Jessica & Bryce

Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison LP at 2008 World Championships (British Eurosport)

The music: "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice.

www.youtube.com

This performance has everything I love about Canadian Pairs when at their best. An ethereal quality, great unison, clean jumps, contemporary presentation and big beautiful lifts with ease.

 

[Andora]

"The Blower's Daughter" is always going to belong to Dube/Davison in my mind, at least as far as Canadian pairs go, but I think it will probably work well for MT/M.

Sale & Pelletier had a pretty good pro program to it slightly before D/D.

I'm sure I liked D&D's LP at the time, especially considering the sbs spin injury in 2007. Hard not to root for them & that program to come back. But Dube & Davison never quite reached the amplitude/level I'd hoped-- and looking back, I don't think it stands up.

Initially I thought it was "a choice" by MT/M, if true, but I think they'll do just fine with it.

 

[honey]

Sale & Pelletier had a pretty good pro program to it slightly before D/D.

This is the program I always associate with that song. This is their best pro program, IMO. I think D/D had a nice program and a moment at worlds when they were 3rd, but this S/P program is the classic piece for me.

I think it is a bit of a risk for M-T/M to try this, but somehow I think it could work? I think Kirsten could sell this well, but the magic will come if they can create something between them. I find M-T/M to have a nice easy rapport on the ice, but I think this piece needs more than that. If they can build on that interaction between them while they skate, I think this could be a decent choice for them.

 

[Colonel Green]

Liubov is officially a provincial coach.

 

[dramagrrl]

I'm sure I liked D&D's LP at the time, especially considering the sbs spin injury in 2007. Hard not to root for them & that program to come back. But Dube & Davison never quite reached the amplitude/level I'd hoped-- and looking back, I don't think it stands up.

While I agree that D&D never quite reached the heights I'd hoped for them, I loved them when they were on and I still think their version of "The Blower's Daughter" stands up. I loved it when they won Canadians with it in 2007 and was glad they kept it for the next season and were able to win a medal with it at Worlds in 2008. Beautiful choreo by David Wilson that really highlighted a lot of their strengths, and one of the programs of that decade that I keep coming back to.

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting here from the Programs/Choreographers thread:

Kirsten Moore-Towers & Michael Marinaro
SP: “Gimme All Your Love” by the Alabama Shakes
Choreographer: Julie Marcotte

Source: KMT’s Instagram

 

[Sylvia]

2 pairs have been named to the Canadian National Team: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/skate-canada-names-2020-2021-national-team.107539/

Kirsten Moore-Towers, 28, St. Catharines, Ont. & Michael Marinaro, 28, Sarnia, Ont.: https://skatecanada.ca/kirsten-moore-towers-michael-marinaro/
Coach: Bruno Marcotte, Alison Purkiss, Brian Shales
Choreographer: Julie Marcotte
2020-21 Music
Short Program: Gimme All Your Love by Alabama Shakes
Free Program: The Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice

Evelyn Walsh, 19, London, Ont. & Trennt Michaud, 24, Trenton, Ont.: https://skatecanada.ca/evelyn-walsh-trennt-michaud/
Coach: Alison Purkiss, Andrew Evans, Paul Macintosh
Choreographers: Alison Purkiss, Eric Radford
2020-21 Music
Short Program: Natural by Imagine Dragons
Free Program: Vai Vedrai by Cirque du Soleil

 

[barbarafan]

2 pairs have been named to the Canadian National Team: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/skate-canada-names-2020-2021-national-team.107539/

Kirsten Moore-Towers, 28, St. Catharines, Ont. & Michael Marinaro, 28, Sarnia, Ont.: https://skatecanada.ca/kirsten-moore-towers-michael-marinaro/
Coach: Bruno Marcotte, Alison Purkiss, Brian Shales
Choreographer: Julie Marcotte
2020-21 Music
Short Program: Gimme All Your Love by Alabama Shakes
Free Program: The Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice

Evelyn Walsh, 19, London, Ont. & Trennt Michaud, 24, Trenton, Ont.: https://skatecanada.ca/evelyn-walsh-trennt-michaud/
Coach: Alison Purkiss, Andrew Evans, Paul Macintosh
Choreographers: Alison Purkiss, Eric Radford
2020-21 Music
Short Program: Natural by Imagine Dragons
Free Program: Vai Vedrai by Cirque du Soleil

Are there no teams from Gauthier? What is going on there?

 

[Sylvia]

Are there no teams from Gauthier? What is going on there?

Criteria is posted in this thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/skate-canada-names-2020-2021-national-team.107539/

Skate Canada tweeted this TSN video of Walsh/Michaud today:

Q&A with Evelyn Walsh & Trennt Michaud (TSN)

www.youtube.com

ETA:

Skate Oakville is doing an Instagram live on September 10th as a fundraiser for their pairs program.
Here is the gofundme link: https://gf.me/u/yst3sq

DATE CHANGE: https://www.instagram.com/p/CE7SmG_j-Lk/

Hello everyone due to scheduling conflicts we unfortunately have to reschedule our online stream event to next Wednesday on September 16. The event will be held at 10 30 am EST . Sorry for any inconvenience and we will look forward to perform for you all next week . Thank you

 

[Colonel Green]

It's official-official (as opposed to TSL official), Justine Brasseur & Zachary Daleman are added to Skate Canada's NextGen pairs roster. Though Skate Canada hasn't yet bothered to do a composite image of them as a pair like they did for Brooke & Benjamin.

Justine squeaks into a final season of junior eligibility by ten days, so if Junior Worlds actually happens this year, they'd be eligible to take one of Canada's two berths there.*

* setting aside the issue of minimums, but the ISU (if they haven't already and I just missed it) is going to have to figure out some formula for waiving or getting around minimums this year if they're planning on holding ISU championships later, since there's nowhere for new teams or newly-eligible skaters to get them at present, especially at the junior level.

 

[Sylvia]

Aaaand we are live now: https://www.instagram.com/skateoakvillepairs/

ETA all the Canadian pairs that performed today in Oakville:

Chloe Panetta & Kieran Thrasher have been a new team for 2 weeks!

Kirsten Moore-Towers & Michael Marinaro - showed parts of both new programs (SP to "Gimme All Your Love" by Alabama Shakes & FS to "The Blower’s Daughter" by Damien Rice)

Cassandra Leung & Paxton Fletcher - 2nd year team moving to senior; SP to "Sound of Silence" (female cover)

Audrey Carle & Gabriel Farand - 2nd year junior team; skated their SP to a female vocalist (song ID?)

Here's a separate thread (since the showcase included more than just Canadian pair teams): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/skate-oakville-pairs-showcase.107582/

 

[cgh_11]

It's official-official (as opposed to TSL official), Justine Brasseur & Zachary Daleman are added to Skate Canada's NextGen pairs roster. Though Skate Canada hasn't yet bothered to do a composite image of them as a pair like they did for Brooke & Benjamin.

Do we know where they are training?

 

[Colonel Green]

Do we know where they are training?

Oakville with Marcotte and Duhamel.

Chloe Panetta and Justine both hitched their wagons and traveled west this summer after their previous partnerships ended.

 

[Sylvia]

Beyond The Rink Episode 5 // Featuring Trennt Michaud:

Beyond The Rink: Beyond The Rink Episode 5 // Featuring Trennt Michaud on Apple Podcasts

Show Beyond The Rink, Ep Beyond The Rink Episode 5 // Featuring Trennt Michaud - Sep 28, 2020

podcasts.apple.com

 

[skylark]

^^ What a great interview with Trennt. What a great person, and he is just like he seems on the rink. I really enjoyed listening. Also, this is only their 5th episode.

 

[Colonel Green]

Justine and Zach are Instagram Official now (and I guess not aware that Skate Canada had already announced this on its website several weeks ago):

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF79eGoDwzu/

 

[greenapple]

Lubov Ilyushechkina is back in Montreal and happy to be back on the ice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF-b6rkJ5_d/?igshid=j1h7typa8es8

 

[victorskid]

Lubov Ilyushechkina is back in Montreal and happy to be back on the ice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF-b6rkJ5_d/?igshid=j1h7typa8es8

And happy to be coaching "little kids" and doing choreography

 

[Colonel Green]

Coach Evans posted some throw training clips, one for Brooke & Benjamin and one for an adorable little baby pair team that has been showing up in his social media a few times lately.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGH3KCDDGh6/

 

[miffy]

Coach Evans posted some throw training clips, one for Brooke & Benjamin and one for an adorable little baby pair team that has been showing up in his social media a few times lately.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGH3KCDDGh6/

Aww the baby pair are so cute!

 

[jennysk8oboe]

I don’t know how to post a link, but am seeing engagement photos on Lubov’s Instagram! So happy for her!

 

[Sylvia]

I don’t know how to post a link, but am seeing engagement photos on Lubov’s Instagram! So happy for her!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGOULdTpKD5/

 

[Sylvia]

ISU bios updated for Skate Canada International (canceled earlier today ):

Lori-Ann MATTE / Thierry FERLAND
Coach: Ian Connolly
Choreographer: Julie Marcotte
SP: Awoo by Sofi Tukker
FS: Waves by Dean Lewis

Natasha PURICH / Bryce CHUDAK
Coach: Anabelle Langlois-Hay, Cody Hay
Choreographer: David Wilson, Joey Russell
SP: Never Tear Us Apart performed by Paloma Faith
FS: Fix You by Coldplay

Camille RUEST / Andrew WOLFE
Coach: Ian Connolly
Choreographer: Julie Marcotte
SP: Let Me Down Easy by Max Frost
FS: Leave a Light On by Tom Walker

Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD
Coach: Alison Purkiss, Andrew Evans, Paul Macintosh
Choreographer: Eric Radford, Alison Purkiss
SP: Natural by Imagine Dragons
FS: Vai Vedrai (from Cirque du Soleil)

Not yet updated with their program music (listed in their 2020-21 National Team profile - SP to "Gimme All Your Love" by Alabama Shakes & FS to "The Blower’s Daughter" by Damien Rice, choreo. by Juliet Marcotte): Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Michael MARINARO

 

[Colonel Green]

A photo posted by Benjamin Mimar from their training:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGgHjNyHTxj/

 

[Sylvia]

Coach Andrew Evans shares clips of Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar's SP (2-minute video via IGTV): https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGkbJgaj0A-/

Oct. 16th "Behind the Blades" feature:

Moore-Towers, Marinaro find perspective, hope during trying times

As the most uncertain of skating seasons dawns over the horizon, Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro have found a silver lining in these challenging times. Now back on the ice tuning up for a season that has more questions than answers due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the two-time...

skatecanada.ca

 

[Xsktrx]

Coach Andrew Evans shares clips of Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar's SP (2-minute video via IGTV): https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGkbJgaj0A-/

Oct. 16th "Behind the Blades" feature:

Moore-Towers, Marinaro find perspective, hope during trying times

As the most uncertain of skating seasons dawns over the horizon, Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro have found a silver lining in these challenging times. Now back on the ice tuning up for a season that has more questions than answers due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the two-time...

skatecanada.ca

Thanks for this. Some very impressive elements. Brooke and Ben look like completely different skaters now that they are together. Nice mature look. With no competitions going on it’s nice to see some of the skaters showing their stuff for we fans who are missing watching skating. Wish more coaches would share.

 

[shutterbug]

Some additional video of McIntosh/Mimar from coach Andrew Evans: https://www.instagram.com/p/CGvhH_XH39l/
And of their 3twist from coach Alex Sheldrick: https://www.instagram.com/p/CGqtkpeDShn/

If only they could compete.

 

[Colonel Green]

Lubov posted this from a Skate Ontario coaching certification workshop (where she won a quiz). Other participants include Trennt Michaud and Scott Moir:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGu5EumpljJ/

 

[Sylvia]

Here are the Senior & Junior Pairs officially listed as participating in CHAMPIONNATS « A » DE LA SECTION QUÉBEC (pdf link).
The event page states "Programs submitted by video will be judged from November 28 to 29, 2020 for the qualifying categories" [Senior/Junior].

Senior (4):
Camille Ruest / Andrew Wolfe
Lori-Ann Matte / Thierry Ferland
Deanna Stellato / Maxime Deschamps
Natasha Purich / Bryce Chudak

Junior (7):
Meghan Fredette / William St-Louis (new)
Chloe Panetta / Kieran Thrasher (new; based at Skate Oakville in Ontario)
Kelly Ann Laurin / Loucas Ethier*
Émy Carignan / Bryan Pierro
Esther Feinberg / Alexandre Simard
Rafaëlle Nadeau / David Riccio
Elizabeth Thibodeau Mailhot / Nicolas Frantz (new)

* on 2020-21 NextGen Team