Canadian Pairs 2018/2019 Season News and Updates

[Sylvia]

Beverley Smith's article on Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud (August 31): https://bevsmithwrites.com/walsh-and-michaud-stepping-it-up/

 

[starrynight]

Any news on Charlie Bilodeau or Julianne Seguin?

I'm surprised two such good skaters have been left drifting for this long.

 

[Colonel Green]

Any news on Charlie Bilodeau or Julianne Seguin?

I'm surprised two such good skaters have been left drifting for this long.

Charlie indicated he wanted to take his time, and Julianne isn't even decided on whether she's going to continue or not (it seems like the way this played out was depressing for her, understandably).

 

[kwanfan1818]

It music to my ears that Walsh and Michaud are working with Paul Macintosh on skating skills

 

[pointbleu]

Mark Bardei has gotten his release from the Ukraine so Brasseur/Bardei can now be sent abroad. Great news for them!

 

[barbarafan]

Mark Bardei has gotten his release from the Ukraine so Brasseur/Bardei can now be sent abroad. Great news for them!

When did this happen?

 

[pointbleu]

When did this happen?

Yesterday

 

[barbarafan]

Yesterday

interesting.....and yet not named to team.

 

[danafan]

interesting.....and yet not named to team.

She's only skated junior internationally and nationally before. I don't think it's likely they would name a skater or a team to the national team who hasn't even skated senior before.

I think it's very likely they will get an international before nationals to get a chance to get the minimum tech scores.

 

[barbarafan]

She's only skated junior internationally and nationally before. I don't think it's likely they would name a skater or a team to the national team who hasn't even skated senior before.

I think it's very likely they will get an international before nationals to get a chance to get the minimum tech scores.

I certainly hope so ...When you only have 3 teams listed...why wouldn't you? At least they would get funding to fill in those special lessons they might need to smooth any problems they have.

 

[Sk8mom123]

When did this happen?

I certainly hope so ...When you only have 3 teams listed...why wouldn't you? At least they would get funding to fill in those special lessons they might need to smooth any problems they have.

its so true to bad there isn’t more funding to those developing. It’s an expensive journey getting your foot in the door for funding

 

[million$momma]

its so true to bad there isn’t more funding to those developing. It’s an expensive journey getting your foot in the door for funding

From what I understand, there has been a recent increase with NextGen funding. Novice and Junior skaters are receiving more funding then ever before. The push is to develop and encourage younger skaters.

 

[barbarafan]

From what I understand, there has been a recent increase with NextGen funding. Novice and Junior skaters are receiving more funding then ever before. The push is to develop and encourage younger skaters.

I definitely agree with that statement. They seem to have a great team looking after next gen and I love the seminars they are holding with multiple top coaches..A few quads were completed with the young guys which were close.

This seems to not have caught on for the people looking after seniors....There are young teams there too.

 

[jmtfti]

It's also worth noting that National Team membership is a fairly restricted source of funding, since Sport Canada is the primary font, and every year plenty of skaters not named to the National Team receive Sport Canada funding. Where National Team status matters financially is for those skaters who don't already qualify for Sport Canada funding. In other words, if you're on Sport Canada's roster, you're not receiving that particular Skate Canada funding (though there are other stipends available from SC as supplemental funding). Luba, for example, did receive National Team funding when she was still awaiting her Canadian citizenship, but Dylan received his from Sport Canada.

If Bardei does not have Canadian citizenship, he will need to rely on Skate Canada funding going forward, but otherwise their path will be about the same as that of any new team that doesn't have strong reputations individually. (In the past a split partner already receiving funds has sometimes been able to secure Sport Canada funding in a new partnership.) They do show promise, and I hope they'll get an international soon, but it's reasonable to me that some caution is being exercised for now. Even Matte/Ferland, who at least do have some years of experience and junior national hardware, didn't get included in the wide-open National Team pairs ranks with their move up to senior.

 

[kwanfan1818]

The criteria posted in the National Team thread gives Skate Canada the discretion to choose skaters outside the Top 5 seniors from last year's Nationals if 1. They've been assigned a GP 2. Or part of "new partnerships of current and former national team members."

Brasseur/Bardei don't qualify for #2, and since they have no GP minimum from last year and don't qualify as a split couple, they'd only qualify for a host spot at Skate Canada, but there's no TBD for them to fill. Unless one of the Canadian teams withdraws and B/B replace them at SC, they can't qualify for the National Team this season under the published rules.

 

[Rock2]

I have say after this week's event in SLC I'm searching for a reason to avoid having to say that it's likely just not going to happen for R/W. I'm running out of reasons and I'm pretty much to that point.

I'm heartbroken. Just awful skating and programs. Even if one of them was sick or something unsual had happened this week I'm just not feeling it with them anymore. Le sigh.

 

[greenapple]

If Bardei is not a Canadian citizen he is not entitled to Skate Canada funding. Has he lived there long enough to gain citizenship?

 

[Sylvia]

The first mention of Bardei having paired up with Brasseur was back on Sept. 30, 2017:

Good news! Justine Brasseur is coming back with Mark Bardei in junior pairs. They are registered to Québec Section A.

My reply at the time:

Thanks! Great to hear that Bardei, who competed with Renata Oganesian for Ukraine, has decided to continue (an article from April linked in the OES News thread had mentioned he was likely retiring: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/oes-news-2017-2018.101536/page-2#post-5114790 ).

So Bardei must have moved to Canada sometime in the summer of 2017?

 

[barbarafan]

I have say after this week's event in SLC I'm searching for a reason to avoid having to say that it's likely just not going to happen for R/W. I'm running out of reasons and I'm pretty much to that point.

I'm heartbroken. Just awful skating and programs. Even if one of them was sick or something unsual had happened this week I'm just not feeling it with them anymore. Le sigh.

Rough outing for sure..Not good with US geography...is there any altitude probs there...Harley and Ekaterina seemed to be struggling towards the end of program as well.

 

[barbarafan]

If Bardei is not a Canadian citizen he is not entitled to Skate Canada funding. Has he lived there long enough to gain citizenship?

You do not have to be a citizen to get funding, only to skate in Olympics. If he gets permanent residency he gets funding if on National team.

 

[Cant Skate]

Thank goodness Camille wasnt seriously injured when that lift came down...yikes that was scary!

 

[dramagrrl]

Rough outing for sure..Not good with US geography...is there any altitude probs there...Harley and Ekaterina seemed to be struggling towards the end of program as well.

Yes, definitely altitude issues. Several skaters looked like they were dying by the end of their programs. Nam posted a gif on Twitter that basically implied that he felt the pain of the altitude during his skates as well.

 

[barbarafan]

Thank goodness Camille wasnt seriously injured when that lift came down...yikes that was scary!

she was holding her arm and rubbing it as she left the ice...I hope it isn't serious.

 

[Rock2]

My understanding is that the run-throughs at home aren't terribly consistent for R/W and that falling on a lift isn't all that uncommon for them in training. Yikes.

 

[barbarafan]

My understanding is that the run-throughs at home aren't terribly consistent for R/W and that falling on a lift isn't all that uncommon for them in training. Yikes.

Is it from a reliable source? Their lines and connection is so beautiful.

 

[Rock2]

Is it from a reliable source? Their lines and connection is so beautiful.

ya very reliable

 

[Winnipeg]

I still cannot fathom why Seguin and Bildeau parted ways.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I think it's perfectly understandable as described: he didn't think things were working for him and wasn't willing to stay in the partnership, and she was shocked when he broke it off, because she didn't realize there was an issue.

 

[Rafter]

I have say after this week's event in SLC I'm searching for a reason to avoid having to say that it's likely just not going to happen for R/W. I'm running out of reasons and I'm pretty much to that point.

I'm heartbroken. Just awful skating and programs. Even if one of them was sick or something unsual had happened this week I'm just not feeling it with them anymore. Le sigh.

Agree the programs and skating were awful. Embarrassing long program skate, so I don’t know how SC can justify sending them to SCI.

I watch Ruest and I don’t think she’s a “pair girl”. She looks stiff kneed and scared out there.

 

[Rafter]

Is it from a reliable source? Their lines and connection is so beautiful.

Lines?!? Ruest hardly ever points her toe so I disagree that the lines are beautiful.