Canadian Pairs 2017/2018 Season News and Updates

Carol Lane did a great pairs program for Paige Lawrence and Rudy years ago. She seems, or her team, to be able to think out of the box and maybe that could help separate them and make them stand out.
 
Carol Lane did a great pairs program for Paige Lawrence and Rudy years ago. She seems, or her team, to be able to think out of the box and maybe that could help separate them and make them stand out.

Interesting. I never really think of Carol Lane other than in conjunction with Gilles & Poirier. This might be an interesting pair up. Lance Vipond has done great things with Osmond and now Messing. Let's be honest, any one other than Julie Marcotte right now.
 
Does anyone know what the story is with the Richard/Bruno school? They seem to be still working together but not with all skaters. I wondered if Bruno/Meagan might co-coach when she moves on from show skating. Just wondering if that might affect the choreographer options. I do like both MMT/MM's programs this year, especially the free but agree they could possibly gain more attention.
 
Pillay choreographed Moore-Towers/Marinaro's first season programs -- the "Cell Block Tango" short and free from Chess.
 
Does anyone know what the story is with the Richard/Bruno school? They seem to be still working together but not with all skaters. I wondered if Bruno/Meagan might co-coach when she moves on from show skating. Just wondering if that might affect the choreographer options. I do like both MMT/MM's programs this year, especially the free but agree they could possibly gain more attention.
My understanding is that before D/R stopped working with Gauthier, he and Bruno worked together with their pairs teams at one rink, and Bruno also worked with singles skaters at another rink. This season, D/R trained at the rink with his singles skaters. I don't think the arrangements changed for any of the other teams. If the North Koreans do come back this summer to train I think she'll work with them at least. She was coaching them at the Olympics after their event to help them prep for Worlds since Bruno left right away. And she said that they've been invited to go to North Korea to coach.
 
McIntosh and Toste were absolutely delightful at Nationals. So much star power! Since apparently it’s not taboo to pronounce Gogo as the savior of men’s skating, when will M/T be eligible for seniors? :shuffle:

Give them a break. They haven't done their first junior event yet! They got great potential but before talking about senior, I want to see what they will do at Jr ISU events! (and I didn't say "if")
 
My understanding is that before D/R stopped working with Gauthier, he and Bruno worked together with their pairs teams at one rink, and Bruno also worked with singles skaters at another rink. This season, D/R trained at the rink with his singles skaters. I don't think the arrangements changed for any of the other teams. If the North Koreans do come back this summer to train I think she'll work with them at least. She was coaching them at the Olympics after their event to help them prep for Worlds since Bruno left right away. And she said that they've been invited to go to North Korea to coach.

One thing I do not understand..When DR said they were going to see John Kerr for choreo. they then said Zimmerman was joining their team but on their BIO he is not mentioned. I thought that was where Gauthier was eliminated as coach.
 
Give them a break. They haven't done their first junior event yet! They got great potential but before talking about senior, I want to see what they will do at Jr ISU events! (and I didn't say "
This is going into crunch time..I am trying not to be excited about Pouliot/Simard yet as they are just getting a handle on novice elements so we still don't know about triples for her or how she will grow in the next few years. They have progressed gangbusters but still so many whatif's
 
I saw that too but it could just be a try out. I wouldn't count on that anyways...her intagram story today shows her in a hospital bed with her leg all trussed up so.... :fragile:

I doubt that she would be skating with Matthew den Boer as for he does not have experience at the sr level and also the height/size difference would be a bit extreme.

From what I have heard the pairs skaters in Calgary have all been partner swapping while waiting for tryouts. Ive also heard it was Chudak that she was skating with when the accident happened so I don't think that partnership would ever form.

Hope she makes a full recovery. This season will most likely not be happening for her.
 
Does anyone else think that Nic Nadeau should become a pair skater?

Maybe but I'm not sure he could share the spotlight on the ice. I've wondered about Sadovsky becoming a pairs skater. Some of these taller guys should look at Radford. He ditched singles and look at him now. The problem is there's so few good girls and even fewer who want to do pairs.
 
I have grown more and more skeptical about the potential of a pair if both skaters aren't good jumpers and have consistency in landing those jumps.
 
I think it really takes more than just the skating/ jumping skills to be a good pairs skater or ice dancer. The interpersonal part is so important. I suspect that is part that Natasha Purich struggles with and I have no idea about Nic or Roman. You need to be able to share the spotlight, communicate well, have empathy and understanding, a good sense of humour, and I think most of all understand that you are on a shared journey.
 
Oh, I agree - it takes many things along with jumping. Without the jumps, the results plummet. Meagan and Kirsten have been kind to my stomach lining. We know Julianne can jump so hopefully she can put her injuries behind her.
 
I think it really takes more than just the skating/ jumping skills to be a good pairs skater or ice dancer. The interpersonal part is so important. I suspect that is part that Natasha Purich struggles with and I have no idea about Nic or Roman. You need to be able to share the spotlight, communicate well, have empathy and understanding, a good sense of humour, and I think most of all understand that you are on a shared journey.
Yes I do agree. A partnership is a very different mentality and it’s so much more than just jumps. That said it seems to me it gets harder to find solid partnerships at the senior level because having the ability and consistency in jumps is important and makes a difference in the success of the team. I wonder how many of the juniors moving up will have solid triple jump abilities. Looking forward to seeing the teams moving up this season.
 
Canadian Pairs in the Top 24 SB, which have been updated with 2018 Worlds scores are:

  • 3-Duhamel/Radford (retired)
  • 11-Moore-Towers/Marinaro (also 6th at Worlds)
  • 12-Seguin/Bilodeau
  • 17-Ilyushechkina/Moscovitch (retired)
Ruest/Wolfe are 33, and Kolodziej/Deschamps are 38.
 
Here is an interested thought I heard. A pair skater has to be consistent with their triple jumps while only training the jumps 20% of the time. A single skater will train jumps 70% of their training time. Since pairs have to work of a variety of elements, they have to good at always hitting the planned jumps. A throw jump for the girl is a totally different feel than the same jump done in a side by side.
 
Here is an interested thought I heard. A pair skater has to be consistent with their triple jumps while only training the jumps 20% of the time. A single skater will train jumps 70% of their training time. Since pairs have to work of a variety of elements, they have to good at always hitting the planned jumps. A throw jump for the girl is a totally different feel than the same jump done in a side by side.

Except pairs generally are training only two triples while singles skaters are training 5 or 6. (Or do pairs continue to train other triples?)
 
Except pairs generally are training only two triples while singles skaters are training 5 or 6. (Or do pairs continue to train other triples?)
With how tech content is constantly being upped, they definitely train more. Fedor Klimov recently posted on instagram a video of him doing some jumps, and it included a triple flip. There's the videos I posted from KMT as well that show her and Mike doing SBS flips, as well as her doing different triples (though the videos are from 2 years ago)
 
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A bunch of things to comment on here so I won't go too in depth on each point, but here's my run down:

MT/M
  • Mike has worked hard and come a long way. He has two footed his jumps but like Radford that comes and goes with nerves. Plenty of whistle-clean attempts on his resume. He's becoming much stronger in competition now so I expect this to cease being a big issue
  • Mike skated junior singles, as did MT. If memory serves he had darn near 4 triples. The possibilites for this team technically are almost limitless
  • They probably won't think about TES direction until new rules/scores come out for next season. Some changes prob forthcoming
  • Although she's in shape, I don't see MT being strong enough to land quads. Gut feel. I hope they don't hurt themselves trying
  • You want one of your sbs jumping passes to be a lock. Not sure if 3F, 2A+1L+3S happening next season...but hopefully someday. I'd prioritize TES upgrades on the 3Tw and replacing the 3STh
  • With more solid skates in front of judges, I see their PCS trending easily into the mid 8s and possibly higher next season
  • I thought Pillay did their Sweet Dreams short this year...?
  • I'm cool with them continuing to use Julie but I'd like to see some real exploration to help these two find an identity. That means, no jazz, no pop tunes, nothing 'French'. There's a big ocean of music out there. Use it.
S/B
  • So crushing how they lost almost the entire cycle due to injuries
  • They have work to do to rebuild their reputation and get the high 8 PCS they are capable of
  • They have world medal potential IMHO
  • Their pair elements are excellent, so I'm not sure what the complaint is. They have upgraded their lifts and they can do 3Tw4 with GoE. Their elements are fine.
  • I see them adding 3L or 3Z next year with 3S+2T+2T for the LP
  • She is not in shape, much like how KMT a few years ago wasn't in shape due to lack of training because of concussion issues. I hope nothing else is going on. I hope they have a great summer of training and just reboot their whole careers next year. I fear one more concussion from her and its curtains for them. Other teams should be standing by.
R/W
  • Tons of potential here. I'm sure they know this but this summer it's 3Tw or bust. Figure it out, guys. Your careers depend on it.
W/M
  • The general impression of this team is pretty meh but don't count them out. I think they have ambitious goals.
  • 3Tw is getting around; let's see what a good off season of work does for them
  • They need a second sbs element. I'm sure they'll train a second triple with 2A+2A+SEQ as the backup if that fails
  • The biggest advancement they need is packaging. Michaud can move and skate to anything so you need to focus on how to bring her to the foreground along with what style works well for them as a pair. Junior programs are completely unremarkable but that's OK, it's junior. She needs complete packaging reboot that screams senior lady. She's done pairs for two years now and has done well with the skills. Time to make a move. Packaging is the only thing that will get them noticed because there isn't anything exceptional to get excited about on TES side; having said that, if they are consistent they will be competitive. I don't know their financial situation but hopefully a top level choreographer is in the budget. I'm expecting to be pleasantly surprised by them in the fall.
 
Except pairs generally are training only two triples while singles skaters are training 5 or 6. (Or do pairs continue to train other triples?)

Duhamel and Radford still continued to train all of the triples (except for the axel of course). I have seen her attempt triple loops in competition practices and double axel-triple toes even though neither would be competed.
 
Duhamel and Radford still continued to train all of the triples (except for the axel of course). I have seen her attempt triple loops in competition practices and double axel-triple toes even though neither would be competed.

Interesting, I had no idea.
 
Duhamel and Radford still continued to train all of the triples (except for the axel of course). I have seen her attempt triple loops in competition practices and double axel-triple toes even though neither would be competed.
My favourite thing I've seen them practice is a throw where she does a second jump right after it (like throw triple salchow-double toe). It would be really cool if something like that was allowed in competition. Unfortunately I can't find the video of it right now.
 
MT/M
  • Mike has worked hard and come a long way. He has two footed his jumps but like Radford that comes and goes with nerves. Plenty of whistle-clean attempts on his resume. He's becoming much stronger in competition now so I expect this to cease being a big issue
  • Mike skated junior singles, as did MT. If memory serves he had darn near 4 triples. The possibilites for this team technically are almost limitless
  • They probably won't think about TES direction until new rules/scores come out for next season. Some changes prob forthcoming
  • Although she's in shape, I don't see MT being strong enough to land quads. Gut feel. I hope they don't hurt themselves trying
  • You want one of your sbs jumping passes to be a lock. Not sure if 3F, 2A+1L+3S happening next season...but hopefully someday. I'd prioritize TES upgrades on the 3Tw and replacing the 3STh
  • With more solid skates in front of judges, I see their PCS trending easily into the mid 8s and possibly higher next season
  • I thought Pillay did their Sweet Dreams short this year...?
  • I'm cool with them continuing to use Julie but I'd like to see some real exploration to help these two find an identity. That means, no jazz, no pop tunes, nothing 'French'. There's a big ocean of music out there. Use it.
I like your list, it's a good one, and I am very excited to see further growth from this team. Such good people, both. :cheer2: And, yes, I am a shameless über. ;) :saint:
 
Duhamel and Radford still continued to train all of the triples (except for the axel of course). I have seen her attempt triple loops in competition practices and double axel-triple toes even though neither would be competed.

Meg discussed this more in here TSL recap of the Olympic pairs event. Some highlights:

*She liked keeping her singles skills up. So if she's feeling good and had extra ice time to burn she'd do some singles after the pairs training
*3L is her favorite triple and she can do 3L+3L+COMBO in practice. But the loop is Eric's least consistent jump so they never competed it.
*Meg was seriously considering going for the 3rd CAN ladies spot for Korea. What stopped her was not being 100% sure her body would hold up training two events and the lack of a 3/3 that she could skate the short with to qualify for the free. 3T is too painful for her foot (loose bone fragment in her foot causes shooting pains) and 3L/3L isn't reliable enough.
*IIRC she said she had choreo done for a singles short, but I don't know what music she was planning.
 

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