The Skating Lesson

[Debbie S]

For someone who works in marketing, Dave is incredibly clueless.

 

[cailuj365]

Wow, that's pretty mean-spirited. Dave is ridiculous. He frequently includes Ilia's name in the titles of videos as if he's going to talk about him, and then he puts in a throwaway, thinly veiled insult for 5 seconds of the video, and that's it. I'm glad he's off YouTube.

 

[Wyliefan]

Looks like the situation got resolved in a day, so he'll have to find something else to throw tantrums about.

 

[overedge]

It's a fundraiser, and the organization putting it on knows way more about skating, and has contributed way more to developing and honoring great skating, than Dave ever has. If he doesn't like who's on the bill, then he can stay home and STFU.

 

[On My Own]

How true is this again? Asking because there seem to be some people on here who are familiar with tcc.

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@Rafter @fan

 

[Rafter]

How true is this again? Asking because there seem to be some people on here who are familiar with tcc.

x.com

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@Rafter @fan

Sorry the only thing I’m aware of re: Med and her TCC days is that she was dating Hanyu.

The mailed boxes of drugs or “vitamins” wouldn’t surprise me though. IMO Russians will do anything to get ahead.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Sorry the only thing I’m aware of re: Med and her TCC days is that she was dating Hanyu.

The mailed boxes of drugs or “vitamins” wouldn’t surprise me though. IMO Russians will do anything to get ahead.

Lol I had to scroll to see what thread I was even in… All of this was a huge surprise.

 

[On My Own]

The mailed boxes of drugs or “vitamins” wouldn’t surprise me though. IMO Russians will do anything to get ahead.

But it means the TCC coaches would've been aware of it, so I'm curious.

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This is also a sketchy comment, and to put it mildly, Dave Lease isn't someone whose "investigative journalism" I trust all that much.

And also seems strange that someone can ship such drugs - which I'm guessing are banned by WADA because otherwise seems strange to mention it there - between countries like that without lifting a single eyebrow.

 

[fan]

How true is this again? Asking because there seem to be some people on here who are familiar with tcc.

x.com

x.com

@Rafter @fan

I had just had a baby, so I wasn’t visiting the club much then. Sorry, no idea.

 

[Rafter]

But it means the TCC coaches would've been aware of it, so I'm curious.

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This is also a sketchy comment, and to put it mildly, Dave Lease isn't someone whose "investigative journalism" I trust all that much.

And also seems strange that someone can ship such drugs - which I'm guessing are banned by WADA because otherwise seems strange to mention it there - between countries like that without lifting a single eyebrow.

Well Med could have had the boxes shipped to her apartment.

 

[On My Own]

Well Med could have had the boxes shipped to her apartment.

"Ask anyone from The Cricket Club"

It's Lease, so it's gossipy, sensationalised, and he doesn't care - but that's why I asked.

 

[Judy]

Sorry the only thing I’m aware of re: Med and her TCC days is that she was dating Hanyu.

The mailed boxes of drugs or “vitamins” wouldn’t surprise me though. IMO Russians will do anything to get ahead.

I can see that. I remember when I worked at a day/boarding school in Ottawa and a boarder told me she was expecting a courier package and was anxious to receive it checking with me everyday (I did do a million other things other then just receive courier packages) so I finally asked and she said vitamins (which she could buy here). I told the nurse and said yup it’s weight loss stuff - I don’t completely remember it. She took it and said she’d deal with it.

Not the same situation but … yup could see that.

 

[marbri]

I buy vitamins from NA to have shipped here. I can get a 240 day supply of magnesium glycinate for the same price a 30/40 day supply is here. And I can buy vitamins here at any drugstore or supermarket. I have a niece here who always gets us to pick up Melatonin when we are in Canada because they are sold there in higher doses than is allowed here and the ones here she finds ineffective.

I don't know what she was getting shipped but just pointing out that ordering vitamins from abroad isn't odd, at all.

 

[On My Own]

I think my main question really would be - did no one raise eyebrows at customs, if she really was getting something that'd be banned by WADA? At least that's what seems to be implied there.

Of course, "banned by WADA" needn't necessarily be illegal, and could indeed still be easily shipped. But still wondering.

ETA: Mind you with as little information as given, it could be anything. Could be just a ton of health supplements she would've needed to declare. While we can assume she doped in Russia, if we must, it seems unlikely she would still be able to follow the same regime in Canada, especially without getting caught.

She was also nursing an injury during this time, from what I recall.

 

[On My Own]

@Fairuza What do you think?

 

[rhapsody]

I think my main question really would be - did no one raise eyebrows at customs, if she really was getting something that'd be banned by WADA? At least that's what seems to be implied there.

Of course, "banned by WADA" needn't necessarily be illegal, and could indeed still be easily shipped. But still wondering.

ETA: Mind you with as little information as given, it could be anything. Could be just a ton of health supplements she would've needed to declare. While we can assume she doped in Russia, if we must, it seems unlikely she would still be able to follow the same regime in Canada, especially without getting caught.

She was also nursing an injury during this time, from what I recall.

Like you said, none of the PED dope is illegal so why would it raise eyebrows? I think right now it would since the box would be coming in from Russia but back then probably not-- customs aren't inspecting mailed parcels individually unless flagged for illicit substances.

https://drdoping.com/ ships all of their goodies around the world so I don't think it's a real issue.

 

[alice73]

Just came here to say that it’s disgusting how DL with his tweets dragged Neset/Markelov into this mess with “fake marriages.” Their relationship is genuine and their wedding was certainly real. Of all couples mentioned, they happen to have real love for each other. Why lump them into this? They are talented American ice dancers, and I hope the rumor mill, that DL started, doesn’t affect their first senior season. I’m no longer interested in his content. If he has any love for figure skating, it’s overshadowed by his love for gossip and lack of care for skaters’ feelings.

 

[Karen-W]

Just came here to say that it’s disgusting how DL with his tweets dragged Neset/Markelov into this mess with “fake marriages.” Their relationship is genuine and their wedding was certainly real. Of all couples mentioned, they happen to have real love for each other. Why lump them into this? They are talented American ice dancers, and I hope the rumor mill, that DL started, doesn’t affect their first senior season. I’m no longer interested in his content. If he has any love for figure skating, it’s overshadowed by his love for gossip and lack of care for skaters’ feelings.

Well, this is being discussed in the SafeSport thread, but there was certainly a rumor (not coming from DL) that appeared in the US ice dance discussion thread last March that NesMark had been secretly married for a couple years. Not sure if that's ever been verified, but if it is, then while it does seem like they are a genuine couple, it does call into question how naturally and organically that romantic relationship developed.

Additionally, they are close training partners with the other teams, so they're going to get questions about what they knew, when they knew it, whether or not they felt pressured to marry, etc - and those questions are absolutely necessary to determine the answers to some pretty major and illegal issues - human trafficking & immigration fraud are both felonies. You may not like them being "dragged into" the mess, but they're a part of that training group and, superficially at least, fit into a pattern that bears investigation.

 

[alice73]

Well, this is being discussed in the SafeSport thread, but there was certainly a rumor (not coming from DL) that appeared in the US ice dance discussion thread last March that NesMark had been secretly married for a couple years. Not sure if that's ever been verified, but if it is, then while it does seem like they are a genuine couple, it does call into question how naturally and organically that romantic relationship developed.

Additionally, they are close training partners with the other teams, so they're going to get questions about what they knew, when they knew it, whether or not they felt pressured to marry, etc - and those questions are absolutely necessary to determine the answers to some pretty major and illegal issues - human trafficking & immigration fraud are both felonies. You may not like them being "dragged into" the mess, but they're a part of that training group and, superficially at least, fit into a pattern that bears investigation.

I’m aware of the discussion in the SafeSport thread. I didn’t think what I had to say belonged there. I believe that each case should be looked at separately within its own context. N/M relationship isn’t part of the trend, though it may look like it on the surface. DL may not have started the rumor but he certainly picked up on it and used it to prove his point.

 

[cholla]

For all it's worth, Lauriault and Le Gac married when they were juniors. They are still going strong 10 years later. Just to say that, sometimes, there is nothing shady in youngsters marrying. It does not mean, of course, that no skaters marry for convenience. Some certainly do.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Holy moly, he has queen of mean Megan on the podcast. I think he actually called her the wicked witch of the north … my gosh all they do is tell you what’s wrong with every single skater even a world champion… they tell you what’s wrong with that person, they don’t uplift any skater, or anyone. I would say if you were a pair skater and you won all the gold medals don’t even listen and don’t listen if you’re a woman skater and have won every world title they’re still looking to find ways to complain about you, tear you down and tell you what’s wrong with you. I wish we could turn the tables and let’s tell what’s wrong with her lol.

And then let’s get Radford to participate as well and maybe even Vanessa James.

There is no end to where they tear down the world champions, Dee and Maxime …they tear down world champion Kaori, two time gold medalist Amber’s programs, Sarah’s programs, Bradies’ scores and on and on. Everybody. the only person that she’s has nothing bad to say about is her husband’s Japanese team, what a shocker.

She will tell you that your programs are dull, boring, that you skate in black-and-white, what’s wrong with your programs even if you’re a top level skater, and won titles. I don’t even understand. What’s the point of this podcast to tear everybody down? Even Czisny participates in this horror.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I came back to finish the podcast… I don’t know why, but at the end here she finally said one single thing I agree with. She said that Olivia and Tim and the Finnish team have the two best free dances in the world this year. And I do agree.

 

[CassAgain]

I thought she was great. She’s an equal opportunity critic. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing them discuss pairs mostly, adult skating, and a bit of the other events. Plus Bruno cameo.

 

[Karen-W]

I thought she was great. She’s an equal opportunity critic. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing them discuss pairs mostly, adult skating, and a bit of the other events. Plus Bruno cameo.

I agree. I thought she had some positive things to say about all the major teams and some fair critiques as well. Overall, I thought she was the best guest/co-host of TSL during the GP series.

 

[Sylvia]

Here's the link to watch, for those interested - 2024 Cup of China with Meagan Duhamel (just under 1 hour long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWUf-1DCBxI

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Interesting how we had such different takes from it, I thought the episode is nothing good …only about tearing people down and telling you what’s wrong with you. Nothing more.

And Bruno’s walk on was so highly edited Who knows what was going on there.

 

[skatfan]

I thought Meagan was fine. She doesn’t sugarcoat her opinions but she did say that Shaidorov should have won CoC, noted Amber’s improvements, shat on programs that FSU has also, and gushed over the two dance programs that we have.

I also was glad she noted that Grassl qualified for the GPF in weak fields with 4-5 skaters having higher point totals. That does need to be fixed.

 

[tony]

I also was glad she noted that Grassl qualified for the GPF in weak fields with 4-5 skaters having higher point totals. That does need to be fixed.

There's no fixing that, and that's always been the case since the start of the series nearly 30 years ago. You cannot do a combined point total from events because as we see, one technical panel goes < and 'e' crazy, and the next looks the other way completely. Grassl surely benefitted a bit from the latter but he wasn't the only one.

Shun Sato (by just a few points) and Adam Siao Him Fa (by a A LOT of points) were behind Grassl in the two-event overall scores. If anything, it was Adam winning France in a ridiculously skated event that got the most lucky by using that logic. But it is what it is. I wouldn't use Grassl as an example at all.

 

[skatfan]

There's no fixing that, and that's always been the case since the start of the series nearly 30 years ago. You cannot do a combined point total from events because as we see, one technical panel goes < and 'e' crazy, and the next looks the other way completely. Grassl surely benefitted a bit from the latter but he wasn't the only one.

Shun Sato (by just a few points) and Adam Siao Him Fa (by a A LOT of points) were behind Grassl in the two-event overall scores. If anything, it was Adam winning France in a ridiculously skated event that got the most lucky. But it is what it is. I wouldn't use Grassl as an example at all.

Well I think one could have each field fill 5 of the spots the way that they currently are, then have one spot reserved for the remaining skater with the highest point total. It could help to even out the discrepancies the fields. I know you’ll hate it but too bad.

 

[tony]

Well I think one could have each field fill 5 of the spots the way that they currently are, then have one spot reserved for the remaining skater with the highest point total. It could help to even out the discrepancies the fields. I know you’ll hate it but too bad.

Newsflash: If you dump Grassl with his 523 points because he was the 6th qualifier, the next-highest skater was Kao Miura with 519 points. Your logic puts Grassl right back in the Final.

And how lucky for Adam to qualify with 499 points and have his spot safe because he was one of the top-five you speak of.