2021/2022 Canadian Men: News and Updates

manhn said:
Keegan really looks great unshaven. He should really keep that look.
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I agree. It's a flattering look on him.

I'm hoping Keegan kind of goes "F*ck It" in the free program and goes for everything, quad lutz included. After the journey he's had, if anyone deserves a "F*ck It" moment, it's him.
And though I'm not holding out hope, I really want Roman to go out and show everyone the OTHER side of him that we didn't get to see in the TE.
 
kwanfan1818 said:
I don't know who's coddling anyone simply by refusing to pile on an athlete. There are skaters who would be raring to compete if you woke them in the middle of the night after a bender. There are skaters who are nervous competitors. Most seem to be somewhere in between, on a sliding scale.

If you want the former, it's got to be worthwhile for the parents to either fork up the $$$ for local training until you start forking up the $$$ to train them as you wish and dump them the minute they show vulnerability. Or it's got to be worthwhile for the parents to send them to an all-expenses paid academy when they are young, like the Vaganova Academy for ballet, where they weed out the kids they no longer want.

Until then, you get volunteers whose families and/or an involved sponsor can afford to get them to an elite level, and who may have more talent than nerves. Skaters who can be quite wonderful, but who owe you nothing.
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👆🏻 "they owe you nothing". Exactly this.
 
Habs said:
Go ahead and hate on Roman, but he earned his spot and deserves to be here.
He hasn’t skated well but there’s no guarantee Chiu or Phan would have either.
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So agree - wish all these arm chair critics would give it a rest! He not only has earned his post but he can do the elements and is a gorgeous skater with musicality and lines that are hard to beat. I think he will be beating himself up for this week he doesn't need all these horrible comments. Let me ask you - what have you done lately that even slightly compares (and being a keyboard warrior doesn't count!)
 
Terrible skate for Roman, but I don't think anyone is angrier about it than Roman himself. I'm not sure if he's already seeing one, but he could likely benefit from working with a sports psychologist.
And he's such a beautiful skater. Of 11 skaters of the first 2 flights Roman's PCS were ranked 3rd (so far), which says a lot about his quality.
 
rink_mom said:
And that has never happened to another athlete before? Or anyone in their career hasn't had a shitty week. Want to step up and show what you can do?
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You know I did use a ;) but to be serious a moment people critique skaters around here. Yes, I do think some are too harsh with him and it's clear it has struck a nerve with you BUT these comments are going to be posted and I really think what I posted doesn't rise to the level that I am required to send you my résumé ;)
 
The "Have you been to the Olympics? Can you skate a better program?" argument is complete nonsense. Of course 99.5% of posters here could not. (I leave the 0.5% as I am sure there are some elite skaters who are secretly registered on this board.) But a more legitimate argument would be asking them if they have had to perform under immense pressure in whatever their own career field or area of expertise might be, and I'm sure that there are people here who could answer yes to that question. It just depends on whether you automatically assume that competing in front of millions of people (television viewers included) is a pressure situation that couldn't be matched, or if you are willing to understand that there are also very high pressure situations in other areas of life that aren't so high profile.
 
dramagrrl said:
The "Have you been to the Olympics? Can you skate a better program?" argument is complete nonsense. Of course 99.5% of posters here could not. (I leave the 0.5% as I am sure there are some elite skaters who are secretly registered on this board.) But a more legitimate argument would be asking them if they have had to perform under immense pressure in whatever their own career field or area of expertise might be, and I'm sure that there are people here who could answer yes to that question. It just depends on whether you automatically assume that competing in front of millions of people (television viewers included) is a pressure situation that couldn't be matched, or if you are willing to understand that there are also very high pressure situations in other areas of life that aren't so high profile.
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That's exactly why I said "anyone in their career had a shitty week". It is valid to say if you aren't doing it you have no idea of the stress these kids put themselves under! Not just a comment for skating but for anything in life! He went out and kept trying - he didn't have a temper tantrum or just give up - that takes a lot to do. He knows it wasn't his best - why do all of these supposed skating fans feel the need to emotionally beat him up over it. Oh wait it is only the gold medalists like Simone Biles that are allowed to crack under pressure? I thought after all the press that got that maybe some people would have a little more compassion!
 
As I said over in the event thread, if not for the steps/levels I think he'd have had a personal best there, but in the circumstances who cares? Those were some of his nicest jumps ever, and the performance level was great (when he debuted this program I thought it was quite empty in terms of interpretation).
 
fan said:
yeah, they really need to pull him from worlds...
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I don’t see how they CANNOT pull him after this abysmal showing.
rink_mom said:
That's exactly why I said "anyone in their career had a shitty week". It is valid to say if you aren't doing it you have no idea of the stress these kids put themselves under! Not just a comment for skating but for anything in life! He went out and kept trying - he didn't have a temper tantrum or just give up - that takes a lot to do. He knows it wasn't his best - why do all of these supposed skating fans feel the need to emotionally beat him up over it. Oh wait it is only the gold medalists like Simone Biles that are allowed to crack under pressure? I thought after all the press that got that maybe some people would have a little more compassion!
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The stress these kids put themselves under? I’m sorry but if you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen.

Several skaters in the top 10, a few who are younger than Sad, are handling things just fine and they would be just as “stressed”.
 
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Though today was a bit lower than usual on the levels, Keegan's footwork and spins have always left points on the table - IIRC I've never seen a footwork sequence of his score higher then level 3, and I think the only spin of his that ever gets level 4 is the combination.

Also, have to love Mike(?) screaming 'Do it for Wyaaaaaatt' as he took his starting position.
 
Orm Irian said:
He must've been countering the jetlag with pure adrenaline there! It was a great performance, INXS would be proud. I hope he gets to crash and sleep now though...
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I'm actually a bit worried about him having a day to actually rest tomorrow (as much as he needs it). With him no longer running on adrenaline, his body may want to completely shut down for the day, and it could affect him the following day for the LP. I think the exhaustion will hit him then.
 
Although extremely different circumstances, Keegan’s situation conjures memories of Joannie. She had a fabulous SP. That was pure adrenaline. Her LP was not as inspired but she fought through it for a very very solid effort. I hope for something similar for Keegan.
 
Rafter said:
The stress these kids put themselves under? I’m sorry but if you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen.

Several skaters in the top 10, a few who are younger than Sad, are handling things just fine and they would be just as “stressed”.
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we are not all robots therefore we all react differently to different situations - and yes stress - they feel they are letting down their families who have sacrificed so much, their coaches, fans - themselves!

You clearly don't spend much time around elite athletes (or high level academics) - most of them are perfectionists which can work in your favour or it can eat you alive. If we are talking about age being younger can often be an advantage because you don't see it as your last chance.

No wonder so many kids quit sports in the teen years when they are all supposed to be perfect all the time and never have a bad day/week.
 
Rafter said:
An interesting thought but I doubt Skate Canada would ever do it. Because it’s not the “nice” thing to do.

I agree with your second paragraph. This “nextgen” group of Sadovsky, Nam, Orzel, etc is more like “lost gen”. Time to move on.
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Actually, Liam Firus (who was the silver medalist at the 2016 Canadian Championships) handed over a spot he earned in the 2016 World Championships, 'for the sake of the team' so that Nam Nyugen could skate in his place.

Nam, 5th in the world in 2015, had a very average season, and did not even place on the podium at the 2016 National Championships.

Unfortunately for Nyugen, Skate Canada, and especially Firus, Nam bombed in the short program in Boston, and did not even make the cut for the free skate.
 
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Rafter said:
The stress these kids put themselves under? I’m sorry but if you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen.

Several skaters in the top 10, a few who are younger than Sad, are handling things just fine and they would be just as “stressed”.
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Roman earned his spot at the Olympics with his performances at Nebelhorn and at Nationals. He was the legitimate and undisputed Canada #2 heading into the Games. There's no body of work argument sending him over another 'better' skater. He messed up his own chances with his skate today. No one is going to be more upset than Roman himself. Not sure how Wesley or Joseph or Nam would have skated instead but that's moot because Roman beat them at Nationals. It's not his fault there was no one better who rose to the occasion at the material times to snatch that spot from him.
 
Roman is one of my favourites and he legit earned his spot here, however 3 bombs of that magnitude are rare even for the nerviest skater. They were complete implosions, especially the last 2 programmes. The lutz, not his favourite jump, obviously deserted him here as he opted for the flip in the short, a change of plan.
Let's see whether they 'punish' him and don't send him to worlds or back him and help with with a 'redemption skate' at worlds. I would personally send Chiu (even though I prefer Phan as a skater) with his quads to worlds, let him get the international experience. Roman is staying another 4 years and can redeem himself next year If he's going to do so.
 
SLIVER said:
Roman is one of my favourites and he legit earned his spot here, however 3 bombs of that magnitude are rare even for the nerviest skater. They were complete implosions, especially the last 2 programmes. The lutz, not his favourite jump, obviously deserted him here as he opted for the flip in the short, a change of plan.
Let's see whether they 'punish' him and don't send him to worlds or back him and help with with a 'redemption skate' at worlds. I would personally send Chiu (even though I prefer Phan as a skater) with his quads to worlds, let him get the international experience. Roman is staying another 4 years and can redeem himself next year If he's going to do so.
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I agree. And the one different thing about this situation that it wasn't just one major bomb. It was three. No one is expecting perfection, but typically after a bomb, the skater comes out to redeem themselves and typically skates a "mediocre" skate or a "lights out" skate... not another bomb. And then to see the 3rd one, that was just painful. Can anyone give me an example where a skater has had 3 awful skates in a row? (or even two total bombs?). Again, if there is an injury or an illness, then this might make a bit more sense.
 
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