7 Best Canadian Skates of All Time

[Sonata]

How about Wilson and McCall 88 Olympics free dance.

Yes! This was a huge feat, first Canadian couple to make the podium in an era of Soviet domination. And just a piece of trivia - they skated to Roxanne for their OD - 20 years before Virtue and Moir (yes I know, not the same version - just kind of a cool full circle moment in Canadian ice dancing)

Wilson & McCall (CAN) - 1988 Calgary, Ice Dancing, Original Set Pattern (US ABC)

Calgary, Alberta, CANADA - 1988 Winter Games, Ice Dancing, Original Set Pattern ("Tango") - Tracy Wilson and Robert McCall of Canada remained in 3rd Place af...

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[overedge]

How about Wilson and McCall 88 Olympics free dance.

How about it? The list would be wrong without it. Not just because they made the podium, but because it's a fantastic piece of work. IIRC it was used in later ISU training sessions as an example of what a good free dance looks like.

 

[Sonata]

I just realized 1988 was not 20 years ago, it was 30. I just wish it were 20

The list IS wrong without it. But again, they ignored anything before 1993... including the 1988 Olympics in their home country.

 

[Vagabond]

What are some of your memorable Canadian performances? I feel like all of their picks are in the last 10 or 15 years though. I’ll probably go back and watch performances from decades past.

In addition to ones mentioned previously, Donald Jackson's Free Skate at the 1962 World Championships is one of the best skates of all time, regardless of country.

Broadcast footage
Seen from the "opposite" side of the rink (I don't think I've ever seen this version before.)

Great speed, deep edges, tremendous height on the jumps, insanely difficult jump entrances, jumps in both directions, a gorgeous delayed double salchow, and the first triple lutz ever done in competition, about a decade before anyone else even attempted one.

??

 

[Sonata]

In addition to ones mentioned previously, Donald Jackson' Free Skate at the 1962 World Championships is one of the best skates of all time, regardless of country.

Broadcast footage
Seen from the "opposite" side of the rink (I don't think I've ever seen this version before.)

Great speed, deep edges, tremendous height on the jumps, insanely difficult jump entrances, jumps in both directions, a gorgeous delayed double salchow, and the first triple lutz ever done in competition, about a decade before anyone else even attempted one.

??

That was cool to watch. The announcer (Dick Button?) actually says it’s one of the best performances of all time!

 

[Vagabond]

Yes, that was Dick Button doing some of the commentary.