Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sørensen are released by Denmark to represent Canada

[manhn]

I think that's what everyone said when VM returned and all that happened was everyone retired

And Skate Canada got a gold medal in ice dance out of it. One would think Skate Canada would not mind if the Danes have a similar career as V/M.

Didn't Trank/Vol do some domestic Russian events during their one-year hiatus? Could the Danes do events like BC Summerskate?

 

[Erin]

Didn't Trank/Vol do some domestic Russian events during their one-year hiatus? Could the Danes do events like BC Summerskate?

They can do any domestic events they want - it's only international competitions that are the problem. Quebec Summer Provincials would probably be more likely though

I expect at a minimum to see them at Skate Canada Challenge and they would definitely have to be at Canadians to see where they stack up against the other Canadian teams in order to be considered for the 4CC and World teams.

 

[manhn]

I couldn't remember the names of the eastern events. I go to BC Summerskate every year, lol.

 

[Cherub721]

Meh
Another Big Federation team
We need less of those and more diversity!

I don't really understand this. It's still the same team, same coaches, same choreographers. If anything, it might suit your tastes that they'll take up a slot a Canadian team would have taken, and that will open up a slot for one more OES team to qualify to the FD at Euros/Worlds.

And besides, they should have stayed for another season, get the bronze at the Europeans, then switch the countries and get a medal at 4cc, becoming the first and only team to medal at both.

In theory. They and Guignard/Fabbri have seemed on the edge of the Euro podium for a while now, but it hasn't happened. The Danes were only 9th this year. A few years ago they were 9th in the SD at Worlds!

 

[kwanfan1818]

There were always lots of good teams in Canada such as Paul/Islam, Orford/Hill, Paradis/Ouellette but all of them retired when Virtue/Moir made their comeback, presumably because their wasn't a lot of incentives to stay competing

That was a different situation,: until V/M decided to return, there was a realistic multi-way fight for the bronze and a spot on the World and Olympic teams. Once V/M were back, it would have taken injury or disaster for a team other than V/M, W/P, or G/P to get the spots.

As long as W/P are in, we're back to a multi-way fight for that last spot, which means opportunity, not a locked door. If W/P retire in the next two years, then there will be two.

With 2019 4C's in Anaheim, I'd expect the top teams in Canada to be there, even if it makes much more sense to split the championships for at least the third spot to get more teams more WS points.

 

[Vagabond]

Who would have trained them during a decade or so of living in Denmark, with no guarantee that this would culminate in citizenship for Laurence? There was never a viable alternative for her, and I imagine the Danish federation's quick action with this release is a reflection of this.

As I said, their reasons for not living in Denmark were understandable. Their decision, however, came with a certain price, namely no path to citizenship within the necessary timeframe. We've been here before with Gorsha Sur, Denis Petukov, and Peter Tchernyshev, all of whom would have had to have lived in the U.S. for longer than they had, and Mervin Tran, who would have needed to live in Japan,

Most countries have exceptions for exceptional service or contribution to the country, even if the applicants haven't met the residency requirements, which are a minimum duration, not just "they live and train in [country]." Canada made these exceptions for Weaver and Gilles, who did not meet them in time for the Olympics.

I don't know that it's necessarily true that most countries have such exceptions, but, insofar as I can determine, Denmark does not.

https://www.justlanded.com/english/Denmark/Denmark-Guide/Visas-Permits/Citizenship

Even when countries have such exceptions on the books, they won't necessarily grant them just because someone is a top-level athlete. Japan and the United States, for example, do not (or rather, the Diet and Congress, respectively, don't deem being a top-level athlete sufficient grounds to confer citizenship).

 

[Tesla]

Even when countries have such exceptions on the books, they won't necessarily grant them just because someone is a top-level athlete. Japan and the United States, for example, do not (or rather, the Diet and Congress, respectively, don't deem being a top-level athlete sufficient grounds to confer citizenship).

And before someone chimes in with "but Tanith," she got citizenship expedited because her path got curtailed by 9/11. People who applied after her got their citizenship before her.

 

[mackiecat]

Why are you comparing them to skaters who live in USA. Canada isn't a USA

 

[kwanfan1818]

I don't know that it's necessarily true that most countries have such exceptions, but, insofar as I can determine, Denmark does not.

Denmark no longer does. It used to, but I think it was @maatTheViking who explained that Denmark tightened its immigration policies because of backlash against the last few decades of immigrants.

I hardly claimed that every country that has policies to accept immigrants based on being exceptional grants citizenship to athletes or much at all. That doesn't mean there aren't laws and processes for granting exceptions.

Canada doesn't need an exception to grant residency, the prerequisite for citizenship, to athletes: they are codified into an existing economic class, the self-employed person in the Federal program:

The bad news is that Federal processing times for business applications is listed as 35 months.

I know Quebec has its own set of rules, although immigrants to Quebec have to meet Federal standards as well, and I don't see, at a cursory glance, anything having to do with athletics in Quebec, which is ironic, since they probably have the best athletic subsidies in Canada.

However, if he is already not a PR, he almost surely would get residency sooner in the Family Reunification program in Quebec, which includes common law spouses. Their website says they're processing applications from the beginning of February and are meeting a 25-day metric.

 

[PRlady]

My young American friend and colleague moved to Toronto with his Canadian wife about three years ago. Six months ago, our small affiliate in Canada wanted to make him executive director, and they still had to wait another half year for his work visa to be granted even though he's been married for four years. In other words, it seems to take a while.

This is of more than academic interest to me, with an Israeli spouse, about to move to the US this year, and already talking to an immigration lawyer about how long it will take him to get a Green Card.

Theoretically no-one should fall in love with the citizen of another country, it's too complicated.

 

[Carolla5501]

A good attorney is key in the US. I had a former co-worker who needed a Green Card. She had been working on it for years before we got her hooked up with a good immigration attorney to get the process moving along.

 

[Aussie Willy]

They were my stand outs from Euro and had one of the best choreographed programs I saw this season. Good luck to them.

 

[shuilee]

Good! They've been underscored for years. Absolutely no reason why they're way down in 9th at Euros.

Now that they skate for Canada, I think they'll finally get fair marks. Watch for them to make a HUGE jump in world standings like P&C in 2015 season.

 

[nuge]

I'll be interested to see what happens.

There were always lots of good teams in Canada such as Paul/Islam, Orford/Hill, Paradis/Ouellette but all of them retired when Virtue/Moir made their comeback, presumably because their wasn't a lot of incentives to stay competing. I'm not sure of the details, but I have heard people say there aren't as many international opportunities for skaters out.

V/M please retire now you're the best ever nothing else to prove

 

[Deleted member 40371]

Canadian dance is going to be a Hunger Games to rival Russian ladies!

If there is a hungry games in Ice dancing, it is in US. After V/M retirement, Canadian ice dancers are not that well positioned, W/P are shadow of themselves, G/P are good team but not great. Danadians has the potential to be Canada #1, however it is still middle of the pack race. Canada hasn't had the same conveyor-belt of teams coming from juniors as US and Russia, granted Russian teams self-destruct. I think there will be a middle of the pack fight like in Russia, but not the hunger games you are predicting.

 

[Twilight1]

If there is a hungry games in Ice dancing, it is in US. After V/M retirement, Canadian ice dancers are not that well positioned, W/P are shadow of themselves, G/P are good team but not great. Danadians has the potential to be Canada #1, however it is still middle of the pack race. Canada hasn't had the same conveyor-belt of teams coming from juniors as US and Russia, granted Russian teams self-destruct. I think there will be a middle of the pack fight like in Russia, but not the hunger games you are predicting.

Hunger Games as in just getting out of Canada, just making the world team. Canada also still has the capacity of 3 teams at World's next year without Virtue & Moir.

 

[skatingguy]

Hunger Games as in just getting out of Canada, just making the world team. Canada also still has the capacity of 3 teams at World's next year without Virtue & Moir.

I think @Domshabfan point was that getting out of the US is harder. Look at the 3 teams that will likely finish 4th to 6th at US Nationals next year and I think those 3 teams are better than the 3 teams that will finish in the same positions at next year's Canadians

 

[VGThuy]

I don't know about you guys, but every time I see their names, I get the Door's "Spanish Caravan" stuck in my head.

 

[Twilight1]

Doesn't negate my point that survival of the fittest will come into play. We are talking about Canada not the US. Who makes the Canadian team will be interesting to watch, trying to compare that reality is an attempt to minimize the quality of ice dance in Canada. Even without Virtue and Moir we are in fine shape.

Frankly I find it more interesting than the same 3 teams making the team for the US every year. But that is besides the point.

That said, Russia is in a renaissance and I think with Bukin and Ponomarenko 2.0, they will also be fine.

The next 4 years will be fascinating to watch. But snarking on who is better right now means nothing when we don't know what will happen moving forward.

Laurence and Nikolaj are a welcome addition to Skate Canada and I wish nothing but the best for them moving towards Beijing.

 

[aka_gerbil]

That said, Russia is in a renaissance and I think with Bukin and Ponomarenko 2.0, they will also be fine.

Ponomarenko 2.0 and partner compete for the US.

 

[Dobre]

That said, Russia is in a renaissance and I think with Bukin and Ponomarenko 2.0, they will also be fine.

Random.

The only dance country in the world outside the U.S. with young teams ranked ahead of Carreira & Ponomarenko is Russia. Zero reason for them to go there, IMO.

Canada is good at hanging onto champions who slide in the international standings. I will give the Canadian skating culture kudos for that. Reminds me of old-school Romanian gymnastics, in which you would have at least one top member of the old guard stay in to lead the team. There was a vacumn in Canadian ice dance. It was probably inevitable that it would be filled. The more remarkable thing, though, is that Weaver & Poje are still competing & open to doing so on a season-by-season basis. May they skate brilliantly in Milan. And best wishes to Fournier-Beaudry & Sorenson.

 

[Deleted member 40371]

Hunger Games as in just getting out of Canada, just making the world team. Canada also still has the capacity of 3 teams at World's next year without Virtue & Moir.

Hungry games to rival Russian ladies was the comment. Canadian ice dancer are good, but they are in no danger to straight away have a medal chance after getting out of the nationals.

 

[Twilight1]

I am aware where Ponomarenko is . I just think it is funny that Bukin and Ponomarenko will be against each other again in ice dance.

Hungry games to rival Russian ladies was the comment. Canadian ice dancer are good, but they are in no danger to straight away have a medal chance after getting out of the nationals.

Some people may care about world medals, but Canada is in a state of rebuilding after our historic 2018 Olympics. I would hardly count our teams out for Beijing.

 

[manhn]

I want Weaver and Poje to have at least one more season as the head skaters of the Canadian Team. I cannot see anyone else take that position, except either Osmond or Daleman. When W&P eventually announce their retirement, I demand CBC and CTV do weepy fluff pieces for them. For them and for us.

 

[Wyliefan]

Hungry games to rival Russian ladies was the comment. Canadian ice dancer are good, but they are in no danger to straight away have a medal chance after getting out of the nationals.

The reference was to nationals. It's Russian nationals that are referred to as "Hunger Games" for ladies. And with W/P, G/P, F-B/S, S/F, and L/L, Canadian nationals is likely to follow suit for dancers.

 

[Twilight1]

The hard luck kids full of heart. So glad they won a couple World medals. And I want sappy fluff for them too.

Would love to see them on the podium one last time with C&L. Hard to see it happen with the US crowd that will probably get silver and bronze in Milan but C&L bronze could happen in Milan...

 

[Twilight1]

Could this team compete in 2019 World's? Or are they on a rebuild until 2020?

 

[lyneyuki]

Could this team compete in 2019 World's? Or are they on a rebuild until 2020?

They have to sit a year out internationally and their last international competition was Euro 2018. So they'll be able to go to 4CC and Worlds in 2019 assuming they qualify at Canadian Nationals.

 

[skategal]

According to Nik's Instagram stories, he has received his ⎌Canadian Permanent Residency.

One step closer to Canadian citizenship!

 

[Erin]

According to Nik's Instagram stories, he has received his ⎌Canadian Permanent Residency.

One step closer to Canadian citizenship!

I'm surprised he didn't have it before this given how long he has been living in Canada. But I'm glad he has it now.