Canadian Men of the 90s

[coppertop1]

Who remembers the Canadian men of the mid 90s? Any idea where they are now? Aside from Elvis Stojko.

I remember
Jeff Langdon: Looked to be Stojko's heir in 1997. Finished third at the 1998 Canadians when Sandhu finished second. Langdon finished 12th in Nagano and 8th at Worlds that year, and after was derailed by injury. He's now coaching
Sebastien Britten: Now a coach and sought after choeroegrapher
Stephan Yvars: Coaching. He's Alicia Pineault's coach
Colin Thomson Junior Champion in 1996. He seemed to have vanished
Ben Ferreira: Went to words a few times. Retired in 2006. Any idea on what he's doing?
Jayson Denomee: I think he retired in 2005
Jean Francois Hebert
Marcus Christensen: I think he retired in 1996

 

[briancoogaert]

I loved Sebastien Britten's skating, especially at 1994 Olympics !

 

[coppertop1]

I did too. Such a shame he couldn't do that that 3A, he'd have gone far. I love his choreography, all about connecting to the music, and to the audience and attention to detail. If I was a skater, I'd definitely get him to do my choreography.

 

[mag]

Ben Ferreira: Went to words a few times. Retired in 2006. Any idea on what he's doing?

I have heard than Ben is coaching in the Edmonton area.

 

[Cant Skate]

I have heard than Ben is coaching in the Edmonton area.

Yes he is. He does alot of dartfish work with Kaetlyn and a few other skaters at Ice Palace. He also travels around alot putting on seminars.

 

[WildRose]

I have heard than Ben is coaching in the Edmonton area.

He is indeed, Ben and his wife Jadene are both very successful coaches (Jadene is a very talented choreographer & stylist). Ben consults with the St. Albert and Ice Palace Clubs (including working with Kaetlyn on her jumps). He and his wife also do workshops and seminars across the country. Here's a link to their website:

http://www.skatingsuccess.com/About-Us.html

• "Currently Ben consults with the St.Albert Skating Center and the Ice Palace FSC in Edmonton where he provides Dartfish consulting services for skaters such as the 2013 Canadian Ladies Champion Kaetlyn Osmond. Since 2002 Ben has been a demonstrator/facilitator at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie Ontario and has been a demonstrator/facilitator of G2C seminars in Canada and the United States."

 

[coppertop1]

That's great! Ben was such a likeable guy. He never once complained

 

[screech]

I wish more skaters would go to Sebastien. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but IMO Joannie was at her best the one season she spent with him.

And don't forget that Ravi was a national medallist in the 90s as well.

 

[coppertop1]

I loved Joannie's Firebird routine. Definitely one of my favourite routines. And Roxanne Rheauot's free skate was beautiful. Definitely a great choreographer

 

[honey]

I loved Joannie's Firebird routine. Definitely one of my favourite routines. And Roxanne Rheauot's free skate was beautiful. Definitely a great choreographer

Not taking anything away from Sebastien as a choreographer, but Rochette's Firebird was choreographed by David Wilson.

It's funny to see this thread, because just the other day I stumbled across a video of Sebastien's 94 Olympics sp on YouTube. LOVE that program, some of the best choreography in the entire event.

It's too bad he wasn't able to master the triple axel, but he's a skater that I could watch over and over again regardless of the jumps.

 

[coppertop1]

My bad. You're right. I fully agree with you. I could watch him over and over. It's a shame he never could do the triple axel.

 

[blue_idealist]

I'll always remember Jeff Langdon's heartbroken face in the K&C when he dropped to 7th (9th in the free, I believe) overall at '99 Nationals.

 

[screech]

The thing I always remember about Jeff Langdon is he used to do a spread eagle on a straight line instead of curved as most do. It always stuck out for me.

 

[coppertop1]

Poor Langdon. He was replaced by Sandhu, who never lived up to his potential. First that ankle injury, then he injured his knee at the 2000 Canadians. He never got back on track

 

[Japanfan]

Poor Langdon. He was replaced by Sandhu, who never lived up to his potential. First that ankle injury, then he injured his knee at the 2000 Canadians. He never got back on track

I always had a soft spot for Langdon. He was, as they say, a "good ambassador" for the sport.

As to Sandhu, well, it's sad that he had personal demons getting in the way of him being the best he could ever be. He was always entertaining in interviews. I remember one time he said there was a ghost in his hotel room!

I recently read that he had moved to Ontario to work as a coach, after being away from the sport for time modelling and doing other things. Sorry not to have the link available.

 

[mag]

I thought Sandhu was working with Plushenko at his school?

 

[Seerek]

Two Canadian men of the 90s now coaching top flight singles skaters:

Ravi Walia (Kaetlyn Osmond)
Yvan Desjardins (thanks to @barbarafan for correction) (Nicolas Nadeau, Joseph Phan)

 

[barbarafan]

Two Canadian men of the 90s now coaching top flight singles skaters:

Ravi Walia (Kaetlyn Osmond)
Stephane Yvars (Nicolas Nadeau, Joseph Phan)

Nicolas & joseph are coached by Yvan Desjardins aren't they?

 

[kittysk8ts]

I thought Sandhu was working with Plushenko at his school?

Yes, he is. And he worked in Mishin's group prior to that

 

[Seerek]

Nicolas & joseph are coached by Yvan Desjardins aren't they?

thank you, mixed the two up. Yvan did compete in mid 1990s too.

 

[barbarafan]

thank you, mixed the two up. Yvan did compete in mid 1990s too.

How did he do... Had not heard of him until Nadeau came into prominence.

 

[barbarafan]

Yes, he is. And he worked in Mishin's group prior to that

He works with Plushenko but not full time..He also works in Ontario. I believe he was doing choreo. for Adelina Sot.at Plushenko's school as well.

 

[The Accordion]

Thanks for all this! Fun to remember and I loved so many of these guys - especially Sebastien Britten. I wonder what it is like for Sandhu working in Russia when the climate is so hateful to the LGBT community.

 

[WildRose]

Sandhu just did a seminar in the Edmonton area - I believe he's based in Vancouver.

 

[coppertop1]

I can't believe I left out Ravi Walia. Finished as high as fourth at Canadians in 1997. Of course, he's now coaching our own Kaetlyn Osmond.