All In The Family

Maybe it's something in the water at the Scarboro Figure Skating Club.
Whatever it is — and yes, it's much more than that, as you'll soon learn — the Toronto club has become quite the haven for national ice dance champions. And Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill, a very promising pair of teenagers, did their part to add to the title collection on Thursday afternoon at Pacific Coliseum.
When the first medals of these BMO Canadian figure skating championships were decided, it was Ralph and Hill seizing the junior dance crown, which kept a couple of rather impressive streaks going.
It was merely the third national title in a row for these two. They were tops in novice dance a year ago, and in pre-novice dance in 2006. But a triple crown? Yes, they're a little surprised by it all, given that their goal coming in was a top-three finish.
"It definitely was a surprise," said Ralph. "It's highly unlikely that anyone who's won two (prior) years in a row would place first. But we worked really hard, so we're really happy."
Ralph and Hill had an inkling something special might be in the cards when they won the compulsory dance. As it turned out, they swept all three phases of the competition and posted a 145.64 point total to outdistance silver medallists Karen Routhier of Stoneham, Que., and Eric Saucke-Lacelle of Pierrefonds, Que. (141.36), and Ottawa-born Sophie Knippel and Andrew Britten of Dundas, Ont., a new team who took the bronze (135.69).
Perhaps just as stressful for Ralph: The media interviews afterward. She had to fly solo while her partner headed back out to the ice to compete in the junior men's short program.
"He's normally the one who talks, and I'm the one who just smiles and nods," said Ralph (who did just fine on her own, by the way). "But we've done this for a long time. Ever since we started skating together (six years ago), he's done two disciplines so I'm used to it now."
The victory by Ralph and Hill also kept the national junior dance crown at Scarboro FSC. Their training mates, Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., did the honours a year ago in Halifax (they're skating senior in Vancouver this week).
So what's behind the Scarboro success?
"Our coaches are amazing," said Ralph. "There's a team of four — Carol (Lane), Juris (Razgulajevs), Jon (Lane) and Donna (Iijima) — and they each specialize in different things. Together, they work very well."
And yes, it was nice to keep the title in the club.
"Our club is like a big family," said Ralph. "It's just a nice feeling to win."