2026 Canadian Championships - Senior Pairs SP & FS

[overedge]

Despite what Ted says, I don't think the problem with this team is a lack of a common goal and understanding. I don't have any inside information either, but they've always seemed to be on the same page with what they're going to do and where they're going.

 

[Sally1214]

Well, I was NOT expecting THAT! Hard to know what to say. Don't know if whatever is wrong is fixable but sure wish them the best as they try to sort things out. Congrats to our new national champions.

 

[skategal]

Despite what Ted says, I don't think the problem with this team is a lack of a common goal and understanding. I don't have any inside information either, but they've always seemed to be on the same page with what they're going to do and where they're going.

It has to be an injury or illness.

The performances just show lack of training time to me and we know they would be training if they were able to.

 

[fsfann]

Without going back through the competitions from this Fall... Have they had any positive success with this Free Program? I feel - from my memory - that it has been a pretty disastrous program all year long. As someone else said.. It think they need to ditch it and go back to the vampire program.

 

[tangerine dream]

Very interesting. It was close enough that they could have given the title to S-D/D with components/pcs if they wanted to. I don't know what to make of that. If Skate Canada wants them to go back to the Vampire program they could just tell them that, they don't need to lose Nationals. OTOH I appreciate that they didn't fix the result.

Anyway, Laurin/Ethier were the highlight of the event for me.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

So the Canadian judges sure weren’t in hold up mode today.

 

[skategal]

Very interesting. It was close enough that they could have given the title to S-D/D with components/pcs if they wanted to. I don't know what to make of that. If Skate Canada wants them to go back to the Vampire program they could just tell them that, they don't need to lose Nationals. OTOH I appreciate that they didn't fix the result.

Anyway, Laurin/Ethier were the highlight of the event for me.

I don’t think their components/pcs were better than Lia & Trent today.

Deanna and Max were sloppy.

It’s the right decision.

 

[marbri]

I mean Deanna looks happy enough on the podium. I guess just relief and happiness you are finally going to the Olympics?

 

[skategal]

So the Canadian judges sure weren’t in hold up mode today.

Nor should they be.

It’s so close between the athletes in these comps.

It sucks but that’s sport.

 

[marbri]

I don’t think their components/pcs were better than Lia & Trent today.

Deanna and Max were sloppy.

It’s the right decision.

That Gladiator program is head and shoulders above whatever Lori Nichol decided to give Deanna and Max.

 

[tangerine dream]

Nor should they be.

It’s so close between the athletes in these comps.

It sucks but that’s sport.

I agree, but often politics gets involved to keep the "top" skaters at the top, especially in Olympic years. Good on SC for not doing that.

 

[Lana K]

Glad the judges went with Lia and Trennt! Even with the little bobbles, their skate felt a lot more cohesive and smooth than Deanna and Max. That FS really is a whole lot of nothing.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

I hate to say it but I think Julie Marcotte is a better choreographer for SD/D than Lori Nichol.

 

[fsfann]

So the Canadian judges sure weren’t in hold up mode today.

I just don't know how they could even attempt to hold them up when they didn't get a single jumping pass or throw...

 

[marbri]

I hate to say it but I think Julie Marcotte is a better choreographer for SD/D than Lori Nichol.

Honestly, I think Deanna also just has questionable taste at times because she signed off on that music and concept. I think Max just nods his head and says "yes, whatever you want". I mean her choices for Boston worlds weren't stellar.

For me their Montreal programs, both, were so perfect for them. When you look at their personalities ( or what I perceive to be their personatlies) what I really liked about the vampire program is she was intense and he was vulnerable. Max may be protective of Deanna and not want her to get hurt literally in training and life. But that doesn't translate to the ice, imo.

 

[marbri]

I just don't know how they could even attempt to hold them up when they didn't get a single jumping pass or throw...

Would be the very definition of taking the piss..

 

[Skate Talker]

I mean Deanna looks happy enough on the podium. I guess just relief and happiness you are finally going to the Olympics?

I think that's called class - not pouting and ruining the moment for the other 2 happy teams. I don't think Deanna is happy in any way at this moment.

 

[puglover]

I appreciated Deanna's attitude in particular on that podium. Clearly, a huge disappointment but I didn't see any sour grapes or pity me attitude - I felt she showed support for her team mates who out skated them. Like I said before "class".

 

[kemc]

The shock and awe that rippled through the arena after the final result cannot be overstated. Laurin and Éthier’s LP was a truly special moment.

 

[honey]

I must be in the minority but I think that red dress is horribly dated. That looks like a prom dress from the late 80s or early 90s. The red beaded material is ok, but the choker and one shoulder is giving Wilma Flintstone to me. Also, am I right in saying there was no mesh holding up that dress?! If so, kudos for someone making that possible. But she was tugging at it, pulling it up a ton, so it doesn’t seem like it fits all that well.

Not much you can say about their skate. There’s not much holding up a panel can do with two falls, zero triples even attempted and general mess all around.

I too suspect one or both of the have been injured for a while now. Something is just not there anymore for them. I really hope they let go of any thoughts of medals and just enjoy themselves. I’m sure they can skate better than they did today, but adding the pressure of trying to win a gold medal isn’t going to help whatever circumstances they are in with their training. I know readjusting the dream at this point isn’t easy, but that ship has sailed. Enjoy the Olympics, you have earned this.

I am surprised Lia and Trennt went back to Gladiator and not the tango. But it looked very nice today and flowed well. Her costume is new as well, and much better than the original. I remember the poorly matched mesh on the old one. This one fits her better as well. Was happy for them to have skated and handled things ok today and they deserved the win. The team event decision will be interesting.

 

[Sally1214]

Also, am I right in saying there was no mesh holding up that dress?! If so, kudos for someone making that possible. But she was tugging at it, pulling it up a ton, so it doesn’t seem like it fits all that well.

I had the same thoughts as you. She was tugging at the top a lot. SHE was not feeling it was fitting that well on her.

 

[Private Citizen]

Amazing that Laurin and Ethier would've been second overall if not for the fall in the short program.

It has to be an injury or illness.

Or age. She is 42, and he is 34. They are standard deviations above what's typical in the sport. It's a miracle they're even competing, especially at this level.

We've seen this year the limits of aging skaters: Jason Brown, Guignard and Fabbri, etc. Sometimes the body just says no, no matter how much you train or how much you want it. We've never seen anyone compete at this level at this age.

It's a testament that they've made it this far. Unlike some of the other long in the tooth skaters, this is their first and only Olympics. I don't think anyone would accuse them of staying in too long. But the kinds of issues they're having are typical of older skaters and to be expected. Changing the program probably won't fix the issues, but perhaps no harm in trying a "hail Mary" to turn around their fortunes. They won't be in the top 10 with a skate like this.

 

[marbri]

I have since read Deanna has been sick the last few days, hasn't been able to hold food down and it started just after they arrived so maybe food poisoning. Said the most difficult thing is the twist because of the pressure on her stomach in the catch.

I think that explains the disaster of a skate on her part especially and the fact I thought she actually looked happy enough and relieved on the podium to have at least landed in 2nd.

Still don't like the long though lol.

 

[viennese]

Deanna is elegant in the new dresses. I'm glad they are on the Olympic team.

 

[fsfann]

I have since read Deanna has been sick the last few days, hasn't been able to hold food down and it started just after they arrived so maybe food poisoning. Said the most difficult thing is the twist because of the pressure on her stomach in the catch.

I think that explains the disaster of a skate on her part especially and the fact I thought she actually looked happy enough and relieved on the podium to have at least landed in 2nd.

Still don't like the long though lol.

It’s nice to hear that this (in the sense that there is a bit of an explanation). With that being said, their season has not been as solid as past seasons. I don’t think they’ve had a solid performance of the new long program yet have they? (I think at best at least 3 mistakes in each performance?).

Just wonder if they should go back to the vampire program?

 

[skategal]

I have since read Deanna has been sick the last few days, hasn't been able to hold food down and it started just after they arrived so maybe food poisoning. Said the most difficult thing is the twist because of the pressure on her stomach in the catch.

I think that explains the disaster of a skate on her part especially and the fact I thought she actually looked happy enough and relieved on the podium to have at least landed in 2nd.

Still don't like the long though lol.

Interesting considering the twist was their best element last night.

Poor Deanna.

And what happened with Max?

Or just nerves because he knew she was so sick?

 

[Desperado]

Over the past years, Deanna and Max have had more competition performances when one or both were sick, than when they were both
healthy.

Pushing through leaves marks at any age.

 

[marbri]

Interesting considering the twist was their best element last night.

Poor Deanna.

And what happened with Max?

Or just nerves because he knew she was so sick?

Who knows, could be something going on with him as well as he looked really gassed at the end and I would have expected to hear more that he was sick yesterday, not her. Overall they just didn't seem in sync with each other at all last night. I haven't watched that much this season to know their pattern but considering how crazy far apart they got on those sbs 3S maybe the whole program they were wasting energy trying to find each other as well?

That aside I usually hold my breath with them when he is going into 3T and she is going into the 3S ( which they got extremely far apart on) and she often pitches forward on that throw she fell on. . So if they are off and/or sick I would expect all the jumping elements to be a miss. Their strengths are definitely their lifts and twist so not surprising they can still pull those off on a bad day.

 

[honey]

It’s nice to hear that this (in the sense that there is a bit of an explanation). With that being said, their season has not been as solid as past seasons. I don’t think they’ve had a solid performance of the new long program yet have they? (I think at best at least 3 mistakes in each performance?).

Just wonder if they should go back to the vampire program?

They skated it quite well at Skate Canada, winning the event over Hasse/Volodin. But yeah, every other outing as been a mess.

I don’t really think changing the program now would be a great idea. There just isn’t a lot of time. They stuck with the program this long, I don’t see it being ditched now.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Interesting considering the twist was their best element last night.

It is their first element, when they’d have the most energy, and if the impact was on the catch, it would affect what comes afterwards.