Australian skating news

[kwanfan1818]

Hopefully, the third time will be the charm for Australia...

 

[Aussie Willy]

No-one can really plan anything at this stage. There are too many unknown factors in play. The only thing ISA can do is continue planning to hold an event next year. If it doesn't go ahead so be it. I wouldn't be getting antsy or carrying on that they owe anything to anyone at this stage. They are in the same boat as everyone else.

I can't even plan for Nationals this year because there are so many issue which are actually out of the hands of the associations and dependent on government. At least ISA are giving consideration to the issues and communicating when they can.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Hopefully, the third time will be the charm for Australia...

Or if not and next year's Four Continents doesn't materialize for Sydney, maybe Australia can bid again in 2023 or 2024.

 

[misskarne]

Or if not and next year's Four Continents doesn't materialize for Sydney, maybe Australia can bid again in 2023 or 2024.

I would like to hope that if we could not host in 2021 due to the 'rona the ISU would simply allocate us the next available 4CC and not force us to go through the bidding process again.

The real sad point is that 2021 has the potential to be massively special for many reasons. The pre-Olympic season 4CC - you won't find many skippers there. A potential showdown in the men's between Hanyu, Uno, Jin, Brown, maybe Chen if he's not got school. The ice dance would have everyone come. And of course, our Aussie stars, finally getting to compete in a championship event on home soil.

If we end up hosting 2023 or 2024, so much of that is lost.

 

[Orm Irian]

According to his instagram stories, James Min was on the ice at O'Brien Rink in Melbourne today - there must have been points in the last week or so where he was wondering if shifting interstate was the best idea, but it'll be a few days yet before IceArenA opens up, so in the end it did.

 

[Aussie Willy]

According to his instagram stories, James Min was on the ice at O'Brien Rink in Melbourne today - there must have been points in the last week or so where he was wondering if shifting interstate was the best idea, but it'll be a few days yet before IceArenA opens up, so in the end it did.

Well he is not going to be allowed back in South Australia for a while, particularly at the moment

 

[misskarne]

According to his instagram stories, James Min was on the ice at O'Brien Rink in Melbourne today - there must have been points in the last week or so where he was wondering if shifting interstate was the best idea, but it'll be a few days yet before IceArenA opens up, so in the end it did.

How on earth are the Melbourne rinks open right now?

 

[Aussie Willy]

How on earth are the Melbourne rinks open right now?

Because only certain postcodes are locked down and the rinks are not in those postcodes. Skaters who live in the areas that are locked down shouldn't be leaving their houses. The clusters have only been found in certain areas. If things get worse then they will be.

 

[Orm Irian]

Well he is not going to be allowed back in South Australia for a while, particularly at the moment

And quite right too. At least, as you say, he didn't end up in full lockdown as a result of moving (yet). Fingers crossed for everyone in Melbourne though; this outbreak hasn't hit the turnaround point yet.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Just to get facts straight, 4CC is continuing to be planned as if the event is going ahead next year. If things change then they will be advised. It is a very difficult situation as there are so many unknown factors at this stage.

As for rinks in Victoria, they are now closed. Olympic at Oakleigh is still in the progress of renovation. It really will be like new once it is completed. So nice to see after so many years. Hopefully it will be all done by the time rinks are allowed to reopen.

 

[Sylvia]

According to her ISU bio, Victoria [Alcantara] previously trained with Katherine Firkin in Melbourne, who is listed as her choreographer this season, so I assume her relocation to Toronto and Karen Preston is fairly recent: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00107878.htm
Trivia: Firkin currently is working as a CBS news reporter in NYC; she previously was a 3-time Australian national medalist ice dancer & international competitor with Henri Du Pont: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00013037.htm

Katherine moved to the US from Melbourne at the start of the year [2019].

Katherine Firkin has written her first book, a crime novel:

Interview with Katherine Firkin, Author of 'Sticks and Stones' | The Nerd Daily

We chat to crime reporter and now author Katherine Firkin about her debut novel, 'Sticks and Stones'.

www.thenerddaily.com

https://twitter.com/KatherineFirkin

 

[Orm Irian]

I have no idea how they managed to swing this under current conditions, but judging by their instagram posts it looks like Brendan Kerry and Harley Windsor flew out of Sydney International together last night, headed overseas! From a comment on Brendan's post he at least might be headed for France - for a training camp, to be nearby and able to compete if Nebelhorn or Finlandia goes ahead, who knows? I'm just amazed that they managed to get out of the country...

 

[starrynight]

I'm just amazed that they managed to get out of the country...

They must have convinced someone to give them a special permit on the grounds that they need to go overseas so they can train?

I wonder if Harley has a try out with a new partner? That might be enough to give them a permit?

 

[misskarne]

I'm absolutely perplexed. We've heard of people with dying relatives who can't get out.

Much as I love them, if they got special treatment for being athletes I'm not thrilled.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

I have no idea how they managed to swing this under current conditions, but judging by their instagram posts it looks like Brendan Kerry and Harley Windsor flew out of Sydney International together last night, headed overseas! From a comment on Brendan's post he at least might be headed for France - for a training camp, to be nearby and able to compete if Nebelhorn or Finlandia goes ahead, who knows? I'm just amazed that they managed to get out of the country...

Good for them. Last I checked,Australia was a democracy,no?

-BB

 

[Aussie Willy]

Good for them. Last I checked,Australia was a democracy,no?

-BB

Hey how did you get your avatar to move?

 

[starrynight]

It might not be so much as getting special treatment for being athletes but the government wanting a return on its investment into them as athletes...

I guess little point developing a winter sports program and then letting it wither away due to keeping the athletes in the country.

I think they might be under the National Interest exemption.

People can get in and out of Australia - there’s just exemption grounds you need to qualify for.

Good for them. Last I checked,Australia was a democracy,no?

-BB

I don’t think that has anything to do with covid border closures. I think it’s the case that people are allowed to leave - just that they need it approved and need to have a really good reason for it. No doubt these two will need to stay in a quarantine hotel when they come back.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

Hey how did you get your avatar to move?

I believe the animated photo feature is reserved for this forum's most revered and respected posters.

However,you may want to attempt to upload a gif file.

-BB

 

[Aerobicidal]

Hey how did you get your avatar to move?

Download a GIF and set it as your avatar. It's no more difficult than any image file.

I would demonstrate it but I'm happy with my current one.

ETA: Beaten to the punch once again by the seasoned and hyperspeed typing of Miss Bottems.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

It might not be so much as getting special treatment for being athletes but the government wanting a return on its investment into them as athletes...

I guess little point developing a winter sports program and then letting it wither away due to keeping the athletes in the country.

I think they might be under the National Interest exemption.

People can get in and out of Australia - there’s just exemption grounds you need to qualify for.

Absolutely.

This is only scandalous to left-wing alarmists (who seem to be rather over-represented here).

-BB

 

[starrynight]

Absolutely.

This is only scandalous to left-wing alarmists (who seem to be rather over-represented here).

-BB

Being diligent about rona isn’t a left and right thing as far as I understand in Australia FYI.

My old parents swing hard right and they, along with all their friends, take the safety measures and border controls very seriously. Lol if anything, locking down the border (even between the states) and never letting anyone in or out ever again is probably appealing to them... but that’s another story.

 

[Aerobicidal]

Being diligent about rona isn’t a left and right thing as far as I understand in Australia FYI.

My old parents swing hard right and they, along with all their friends, take the safety measures and border controls very seriously. Lol if anything, locking down the border (even between the states) and never letting anyone in or out ever again is probably appealing to them... but that’s another story.

I would be leery of trying to debate Miss Bottems. In addition to her impeccable argumentation and analytical skills, she had a brief but torrid fling with Paul Hogan in the glory days between Crocodile Dundee and its sequel, so her knowledge of Australia is even more vast than her avatar skills.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

Being diligent about rona isn’t a left and right thing as far as I understand in Australia FYI.

My old parents swing hard right and they, along with all their friends, take the safety measures and border controls very seriously.

It certainly is the case in America,honey.

I do agree diligence should not be a political issue. Unfortunately,self-righteousness and alarmist theatrics are very much a political issue.

-BB

 

[starrynight]

Bogans versus responsible people is more how I’d paint it.

And you get bogans on every side of the political spectrum.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

I would be leery of trying to debate Miss Bottems. In addition to her impeccable argumentation and analytical skills, she had a brief but torrid fling with Paul Hogan in the glory days between Crocodile Dundee and its sequel, so her knowledge of Australia is even more vast than her avatar skills.

From your lips to god's ears,dear.

I assume Mr. Hogan has maintained his physique well into his 70s.

-BB

 

[Aussie Willy]

People can get in and out of Australia - there’s just exemption grounds you need to qualify for.

Not in Victoria at the moment they can't.

 

[Orm Irian]

They must have convinced someone to give them a special permit on the grounds that they need to go overseas so they can train?

I wonder if Harley has a try out with a new partner? That might be enough to give them a permit?

I was wondering just now if they might have a compassionate exemption to visit Katia's family.

 

[starrynight]

As a side note, I remember watching Gregory Merriman and Danielle OBrien compete at the Sochi games - but they retired soon after. I see that they are still active with skating - are they both coaching now?

 

[Aussie Willy]

As a side note, I remember watching Gregory Merriman and Danielle OBrien compete at the Sochi games - but they retired soon after. I see that they are still active with skating - are they both coaching now?

Yes they are. Not sure in what capacity but they are in Sydney. At Canterbury I think.

 

[Sylvia]

From a comment on Brendan's post he at least might be headed for France - for a training camp

Florent Amodio welcomed Brendan back to Vaujany ice in his Instagram story today. ETA that Kerry eked out a 4S in the clip and Nikolai Morozov is there too: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDI6XQGFlfq/

Harley seems to be in Vaujany as well ("Europe" in his latest IG story with mountain scenery).

As a side note, I remember watching Gregory Merriman and Danielle OBrien compete at the Sochi games - but they retired soon after. I see that they are still active with skating - are they both coaching now?

I remember seeing either one or both of them in the kiss & cry at Australian Nationals in recent years. Besides coaching, Greg is also into cars: https://www.instagram.com/gregmerriman88/