Paul and Islam: "No Matter What"

[miffy]

I am delighted for this team, I think they are true dancers and it really shows. Has it been confirmed they are going to Sochi?

 

[clarie]

I am incredibly pleased with the outcome. I've been waiting so long for P/I to finally make their mark and skate superbly when it counts. Congrats to them. They were wonderful, smooth, fast, light, and lines to die for. Like Tessa Alex has a lovely back and arms...very graceful.

 

[skatingfan04]

skatingfan04.... our faith has been vindicated !

Pratfall, there were times when it seemed like there were only a few of us who had any left. I guess we were right!

Thanks to everyone who was at the event for the first hand accounts, and thank you to whomever posted the videos. As of yet, the official Olympic team announcement has not been made. I believe it should come out within the next three hours. I'll try and post it when it does.

It's a shame we'll have to wait so long for the gala. I also would have loved to see the medal ceremony, as my three favourite ice dance teams of all time were part of it , but oh well. I guess we'll just have to make up for it by watching them in Sochi!!

 

[judgejudy27]

I am delighted for this team, I think they are true dancers and it really shows. Has it been confirmed they are going to Sochi?

Of course they are going. What would their basis for sending Gilles & Poirier to Sochi after being beaten soundly at Nationals by Paul & Islam. The stunning season of Gilles & Poirier, LOL!

 

[skatingfan04]

I, for one, an just glad that the judging was fair this year. That's all I ask from a competition.

I found a really short clip from the press interview after the FD. It's really short, but all three teams are there. P/I look so happy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCVFzzqy6v8&feature=youtu.be

 

[sequins]

I, for one, an just glad that the judging was fair this year. That's all I ask from a competition.

I found a really short clip from the press interview after the FD. It's really short, but all three teams are there. P/I look so happy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCVFzzqy6v8&feature=youtu.be

Thank u for that! Wow they are so emotional, brought tears to my eyes. I'm just so absolutely thrilled for them, they deserve it so much. I hope they enjoy every moment.

Also love Kaitlyn saying she and Andrew wanna be on that podium, beside Tessa and Scott. I so want that too. Ah what a team!

 

[miffy]

Of course they are going. What would their basis for sending Gilles & Poirier to Sochi after being beaten soundly at Nationals by Paul & Islam. The stunning season of Gilles & Poirier, LOL!

Well... I just wanted to make sure, there have been uncertainties in other countries and I couldn't find confirmation of the team. I think P/I should go 100%.

 

[Rafter]

So thrilled for Paul and Islam. They were absolutely exquisite in both programs! Love her new red dress for the FD as well (though I wish Mitch was in all black or all grey).

One thing that really stood out to me seeing G/P and P/I live is how much faster P/I were and with more flow, especially in the two footwork sequences. G/P as much as I liked their FD because it was something different, just seemed a bit slow and jerky to me. There was almost too much stopping and gimmicky stuff rather than actual dancing.

Alexandra almost gave me a heart attack though with the twizzles because she missed them in warmup.

Hope they have a great time in Sochi (and at Worlds!)!

 

[Rafter]

Well... I just wanted to make sure, there have been uncertainties in other countries and I couldn't find confirmation of the team. I think P/I should go 100%.

I will be beyond pissed if P/I aren't named to the team! They had better marks internationally than G/P this season and G/P didn't exactly light it up at Worlds last year!

 

[Proustable]

Well... I just wanted to make sure, there have been uncertainties in other countries and I couldn't find confirmation of the team. I think P/I should go 100%.

Fair enough.

There is not reason for P/I not to go. It's actually worth pointing out that G/P had their lowest scoring FD at Nationals yet and this is without a doubt their best FD.

 

[DORISPULASKI]

So thrilled for P/I - I hope there will be no screwing around by Skate Canada, and that will be in Sochi!

 

[Marta24]

Besides their international scores were very similar. G/P have the better SD score and P/I have the better FD score, so there's no reason to give the spot to G/P, especially since P/I beat them so convincingly. If the Canadian judges wanted to give the spot to G/P they could have done so by giving them higher PCS, but even in that department Alex&Mitch beat them in both segments.

I always had the feeling,that the Canadian federation would support Alex and Mitch, if they would pull it together and they finally did.

 

[skatingfan04]

I'm not worried about the Olympic team announcement. I've been watching Canadian nationals for a really long time, and I can't think of a time when the team hasn't consisted of the medalists from the national championships. And believe me, there have been instances where skaters with a much higher international standing than P/I have had bad skates at nationals and have been left behind as a result (remember Moore-Towers and Moscovitch a few years ago?). If anything, P/I have outscored G/P this season. There's no denying that the teams are close to one another, but nationals was the tie breaker, and P/I won it convincingly. Lets just sit back, relax, and wait for the photos of P/I in their team jackets.

A nice article from Skate Canada...
http://skatecanada.ca/AboutUs/NewsDetails/tabid/2157/sni[2797]/3176/language/en-US/Default.aspx

And this interview (nos sure if it's geoblocked outside of Canada):
http://www.tsn.ca/videohub/Default.aspx?collection=117&show=273033&section=Sports

By the way, I think we all owe ourselves a pat on the back. We sure picked an appropriate thread title, didn't we

 

[rvi5]

Sad for Piper/Paul, they looked so disappointed. But I guess someone always does. Perhaps like W/P, this will give them that extra motivation for 2018. I wonder if Canada can hold onto a third spot after V/M retire? If W/P continue, I guess that question may be answered by the likes of P/I and G/P, or perhaps others too.

 

[skatingfan04]

I believe the announcement ceremony is currently underway in Ottawa, but this article was posted on the Canadian Olympic Committee website today.

http://olympic.ca/2014/01/12/chan-virtue-and-moir-among-17-figure-skaters-to-sochi/

Time to pop the champagne, guys!

 

[kwanfan1818]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Marta24]

They have been officially announced!

I have to say Canada has a beautiful Ice Dance team: Tessa&Scott, Kaitlyn&Andrew, Alexandra&Mitch

 

[skatingfan04]

Darn, it turns out CBC was streaming the announcement ceremony the whole time. I only caught the last two minutes. If anyone finds a video, please share! I'd love to see the whole thing.

 

[skatingfan04]

Darn, it turns out CBC was streaming the announcement ceremony the whole time. I only caught the last two minutes. If anyone finds a video, please share! I'd love to see the whole thing.

Here we are...

http://www.tsn.ca/videohub/?collection=72&show=273076

 

[skatingfan04]

Just a few more tidbits for everyone...

The official Skate Canada announcement, along with a Vimeo vid featuring the entire Olympic team announcement:

http://skatecanada.ca/AboutUs/NewsDetails/tabid/2157/sni[2797]/3177/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Also, Alex and Mitch's bio pages have been put up on the Canadian Olympic Committee website (Yay!)

http://olympic.ca/team-canada/alexandra-paul/

http://olympic.ca/team-canada/mitchell-islam/

 

[skatingfan04]

I know I keep posting things, but I can't seem to help myself.

This has to be the sweetest thing ever (Alexandra posted the same photo)...

https://twitter.com/mitchislam/status/422728199525511168/photo/1/large

 

[Marta24]

I know I keep posting things, but I can't seem to help myself.

This has to be the sweetest thing ever (Alexandra posted the same photo)...

https://twitter.com/mitchislam/status/422728199525511168/photo/1/large

Those a beautiful rings. Kaitlyn and Andrew have the same ones.
I'm still on a high from this weekend. I've watched their FD at least 20 times.

 

[skatingfan04]

Those a beautiful rings. Kaitlyn and Andrew have the same ones.
I'm still on a high from this weekend. I've watched their FD at least 20 times.

Same here!

 

[LilJen]

Congrats to them!! hope they have a fantastic time in Sochi.

 

[skatingfan04]

http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=23&sid=5769&gid=124521

Not sure how many of you can see this, but it's an interview with P/I from yesterday from a local TV station in Ontario (where they're from). I saw it on TV yesterday. Enjoy!

 

[girlscouse62]

Just saw Euro dance marks. C/L won with 102.23 forFD. 171 overall. Gives whole new perspective for P/I's chances if they skate as well as they did at Nats.

 

[judgejudy27]

Just saw Euro dance marks. C/L won with 102.23 forFD. 171 overall. Gives whole new perspective for P/I's chances if they skate as well as they did at Nats.

With all due respect you cant take Nationals scores seriously. If we were to do that Weaver & Poje would be a lock for the Olympic bronze unless they fall three times, but we know sadly that is not the case.

 

[geoskate]

Has this video of the free dance been posted yet? It was just posted two hours ago by someone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgHpanAqkBc.

And the short dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNbo5ptrdZw

Hopefully they won't be removed.

 

[spikydurian]

Congrats to Paul and Islam for making it to Sochi. Their dancing is very elegant.

 

[bluestocking]

Thank you for posting those, geoskate I've been looking for them on YT without success. The lines and unison are to die for.