From Sea To Sea

You know it's that time again when I'm at an airport mid-January.
Pretty sure it's gotta be that time again when, just ahead of me in line, is none other than Colleen Karam, the friendly voice you'll hear whenever you put a call into the Minto Skating Club (oh, and rather proud mom of senior ice dancer Siobhan Karam, too).
And if it is indeed Canadian figure skating championships time — and it most definitely is — then that's why we're in Vancouver, sharpening up the blogging touch for another go at this favourite event of mine.
It's a week to be happy that the first person you see when you check into the Sheraton Wall Centre is none other than Shae-Lynn Bourne, one of this blogger's all-time favourites in this sport. I said it a year ago in Halifax, when this blogging thing first came to life, but Canadians is like old home week. A once a year reunion of sorts, with athletes and coaches and parents and fans renewing so many friendships and acquaintances — and making a whole bunch of new ones.
Like a delightful young girl named Rosa, with dimples to die for, who made a visitor from another province feel oh so welcome at Earls (a personal favourite eatery whenever I'm in western Canada) on his first night in Vancouver in seven years (and after a long flight from Ottawa, it was much, much appreciated, let me tell you).
Yes, it's been way too long since we all visited the gorgeous part of our fair land, a whole country away from where we were at this time a year ago. How long? Well, the Sheraton Wall Centre, which is our home away from home this week, didn't even exist the last time we were here, way back in 2001 for the world figure skating championships (still one of the best sports events I've ever covered, you should know).
And isn't it fitting that Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, who were on top of the world on a magical night seven years ago at General Motors Place, will be inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame on Sunday at old Pacific Coliseum, which will be the 2010 Winter Olympics venue.
While this week isn't quite an Olympic preview — we're still two years out from that mega-affair — it'll be an interesting stepping stone on the road to Vancouver 2010.
Best of all, it's great to be back on the Left Coast.
Now, on with the show ...