It started out as just another rather uneventful bus ride back from Pacific Coliseum into downtown Vancouver.
Just a bunch of weary skaters, coaches, officials — and, oh yes, one Skate Canada blogger — anxious to get back to their hotels after another long day at the rink.
Then, as we rolled down hotel alley (a.k.a. Burrard St.), we noticed a big commotion caused by a rather large crowd that had blocked off a lane of traffic in front of the Hyatt Regency.
"Isn't Jennifer Aniston shooting a video near here?" someone asked.
Naturally, gratuitous rubber necking instantly ensued. This was, after all, Rachel Green of Friends fame we were talking about.
(and yes, she is in Vancouver for a movie shoot. So, too, apparently, is Keanu Reeves, who I'm told was at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds — where the competition and practice rinks are located — at some point in the last few days. But I digress ...).
"Is that her in the toque?" another curious voice wondered.
I must confess I thought I might have seen the back of her head.
But alas, not one of us could say they knew for sure.
Well, except this voice I heard.
"I'm telling everyone I saw her," she said, to a chorus of laughter.
Hey, that's our story and we're sticking to it.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Dance Picture Getting Clearer
The last dance, you'd think, should be the decisive dance.
But original dance day might turn out to be the real "moving day," the moment went the composition of Canada's world team became almost crystal clear.
No real surprise at the top. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, who came to the 2008 BMO Canadian figure skating championships as overwhelming favourites to secure their first national senior ice dance crown, pretty much made that a lock Thursday night at Pacific Coliseum. With a whopping personal best, the London, Ont. duo moved their overall total to 105.33 points — 17.19 better than second place Kaitlyn Weaver of Houston, Tex., and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont. (88.14).
It was also an especially good night for Weaver and Poje, who took a large step toward their second straight worlds appearance with a strong original dance. Their margin over fourth-place Mylene Girard of Repentigny, Que., and Liam Dougherty of Whitehorse (84.59) is nearly four points — massive ground to make up in a single free dance.
In between, in third spot, are Vancouver-based Allie Hann-McCurdy of Orleans, Ont., and Michael Coreno of Delhi, Ont. (87.22), who still have a bit of work to do to seal the third Canadian ice dance ticket to the 2008 worlds in Gothenburg, Sweden.
There's also a tight group behind Girard and Dougherty. Reigning junior national champs Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont. and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont. (84.35) and Ottawa's Siobhan Karam and Kevin O'Keefe of Limestone, Maine (84.11) are within a point of the fourth-place team.
Moir likes to see the level of battle going on to decide who'll join he and Virtue in Sweden.
"It's exciting to know that we have good teams coming up behind us," said Moir. "Canada's got real depth in ice dance."
We'll know for sure after Saturday's free dance final.
But when all is said and done, it just might be what went on Thursday night that goes the longest way toward telling the final tale.
But original dance day might turn out to be the real "moving day," the moment went the composition of Canada's world team became almost crystal clear.
No real surprise at the top. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, who came to the 2008 BMO Canadian figure skating championships as overwhelming favourites to secure their first national senior ice dance crown, pretty much made that a lock Thursday night at Pacific Coliseum. With a whopping personal best, the London, Ont. duo moved their overall total to 105.33 points — 17.19 better than second place Kaitlyn Weaver of Houston, Tex., and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont. (88.14).
It was also an especially good night for Weaver and Poje, who took a large step toward their second straight worlds appearance with a strong original dance. Their margin over fourth-place Mylene Girard of Repentigny, Que., and Liam Dougherty of Whitehorse (84.59) is nearly four points — massive ground to make up in a single free dance.
In between, in third spot, are Vancouver-based Allie Hann-McCurdy of Orleans, Ont., and Michael Coreno of Delhi, Ont. (87.22), who still have a bit of work to do to seal the third Canadian ice dance ticket to the 2008 worlds in Gothenburg, Sweden.
There's also a tight group behind Girard and Dougherty. Reigning junior national champs Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont. and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont. (84.35) and Ottawa's Siobhan Karam and Kevin O'Keefe of Limestone, Maine (84.11) are within a point of the fourth-place team.
Moir likes to see the level of battle going on to decide who'll join he and Virtue in Sweden.
"It's exciting to know that we have good teams coming up behind us," said Moir. "Canada's got real depth in ice dance."
We'll know for sure after Saturday's free dance final.
But when all is said and done, it just might be what went on Thursday night that goes the longest way toward telling the final tale.
The Pride of Saskatchewan
It's a bitterly cold night in tiny Wawota, Sask. (minus-34 with the wind chill), and bones are no doubt shivering in this Prairie town.
We're thinking, though, that a warm breeze emanating on the West Coast might just do plenty to help its 620 residents forget about Old Man Winter's icy grip.
They're the pride of Wawota and now, on a night they'll likely never forget at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers became junior pairs silver medallists at the BMO Canadian figure skating championships. It capped a meteoric rise for this young duo, who placed 14th in their previous two cracks at nationals.
They almost wrote the ultimate fairytale finish, as it turns out. Lawrence and Swiegers won the free skate and finished a mere .06 points (129.07) behind the gold-medal winners, Monica Pisotta of Barrie, Ont., and Michael Stewart of Mississauga, Ont. (129.13). The bronze went to Christi Anne Steele and Adam Johnson of Chatham, Ont. But afterward, a crowd of media only had eyes and ears for the almost-Cinderellas, the couple that hails from a club that's populated with a mere 20 or so skaters.
So 14th to almost national champions in a year. What gives here?
"We were still young last year and still learning a lot," said Lawrence, 17. "We'd only been together for only a year and a half ... But we took what we learned last year and then we just went home and trained really hard. We looked at what we needed to work on and improve upon and just focused on that."
They did it so well that Skate Canada handed them a Junior Grand Prix assignment in Chemnitz, Germany. They finished fourth there and have been riding that momentum ever since, arriving in Vancouver as Western Challenge champions.
"We got some more experience in Germany, so we just know how to handle things a little better and it worked well for us," said Lawrence.
A fabulous throw triple Lutz showed the kind of potential and room to grow that they still have. And on this night, they weren't going to play the 'what if' game about that tiniest of margins that separated them from the gold.
"Nothing we can do about it now," said the 5-foot Lawrence with a smile. "We've just got to be happy with what we did, and I think we're both really happy with it.
"I was just so proud of us. Knowing the score or the what ifs or what we could have done ... that's not going to affect us."
Added Swiegers, 20: "We're just really excited about how we skated. We went out there and did what we really can do."
It's been quite the adventure already for the only pairs team in all of Saskatchewan, and for a coach (Patricia Hole) going down this road for the first time herself.
"We're her first pair team," said Lawrence. "We're all just learning together."
They'll move up to senior next year — "We just feel it was time for us to do it," said Swiegers — and they'll do it in Saskatoon, site of the 2009 BMO Canadian championships.
"That's going to be great to have it in (our) home province," said Lawrence. "I think it will be fabulous."
Folks there, too, are much more likely to have heard of Wawota (Lawrence describes its location this way: "It's in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan. Two hours southeast of Regina, two hours from U.S. border and an hour from the Manitoba border").
In the figure skating world, though, Wawota — which celebrates its centennial later this year — just got put on the map in a major way. And we can only imagine the cheers two of the town's youngest residents will receive after they make the long trip home.
Reason enough to get the big party started a little early, don't you think?
We're thinking, though, that a warm breeze emanating on the West Coast might just do plenty to help its 620 residents forget about Old Man Winter's icy grip.
They're the pride of Wawota and now, on a night they'll likely never forget at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers became junior pairs silver medallists at the BMO Canadian figure skating championships. It capped a meteoric rise for this young duo, who placed 14th in their previous two cracks at nationals.
They almost wrote the ultimate fairytale finish, as it turns out. Lawrence and Swiegers won the free skate and finished a mere .06 points (129.07) behind the gold-medal winners, Monica Pisotta of Barrie, Ont., and Michael Stewart of Mississauga, Ont. (129.13). The bronze went to Christi Anne Steele and Adam Johnson of Chatham, Ont. But afterward, a crowd of media only had eyes and ears for the almost-Cinderellas, the couple that hails from a club that's populated with a mere 20 or so skaters.
So 14th to almost national champions in a year. What gives here?
"We were still young last year and still learning a lot," said Lawrence, 17. "We'd only been together for only a year and a half ... But we took what we learned last year and then we just went home and trained really hard. We looked at what we needed to work on and improve upon and just focused on that."
They did it so well that Skate Canada handed them a Junior Grand Prix assignment in Chemnitz, Germany. They finished fourth there and have been riding that momentum ever since, arriving in Vancouver as Western Challenge champions.
"We got some more experience in Germany, so we just know how to handle things a little better and it worked well for us," said Lawrence.
A fabulous throw triple Lutz showed the kind of potential and room to grow that they still have. And on this night, they weren't going to play the 'what if' game about that tiniest of margins that separated them from the gold.
"Nothing we can do about it now," said the 5-foot Lawrence with a smile. "We've just got to be happy with what we did, and I think we're both really happy with it.
"I was just so proud of us. Knowing the score or the what ifs or what we could have done ... that's not going to affect us."
Added Swiegers, 20: "We're just really excited about how we skated. We went out there and did what we really can do."
It's been quite the adventure already for the only pairs team in all of Saskatchewan, and for a coach (Patricia Hole) going down this road for the first time herself.
"We're her first pair team," said Lawrence. "We're all just learning together."
They'll move up to senior next year — "We just feel it was time for us to do it," said Swiegers — and they'll do it in Saskatoon, site of the 2009 BMO Canadian championships.
"That's going to be great to have it in (our) home province," said Lawrence. "I think it will be fabulous."
Folks there, too, are much more likely to have heard of Wawota (Lawrence describes its location this way: "It's in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan. Two hours southeast of Regina, two hours from U.S. border and an hour from the Manitoba border").
In the figure skating world, though, Wawota — which celebrates its centennial later this year — just got put on the map in a major way. And we can only imagine the cheers two of the town's youngest residents will receive after they make the long trip home.
Reason enough to get the big party started a little early, don't you think?
All Those Years Ago
You see Jamie Sale and David Pelletier in a hallway outside the media centre at Pacific Coliseum and the thought instantly rushes to mind.
Seven years!
Has it really been that long, you wonder, since these two darlings of Canadian figure skating became world pairs champions, right in this very city on a magical March evening across town at General Motors Place?
"Makes us all feel kind of old, doesn't it?" Sale says with a grin when the same thought is thrown her way.
(ok, me definitely more than you two, I'd say)
But there it was during a video presentation here on Wednesday night, the elation in the faces of two proud young Canadians and the deafening roar that greeted the string of marks, confirming the brilliance many of us had just witnessed. That yes, we had a new set of world champions, another chapter to add to the rich figure skating lore in our land.
You all know most of what followed. The sordid saga of the Salt Lake City Olympics a year later, which finally played out with the gold medals rightfully and most deservedly around their necks.
They've since become husband and wife.
And, just a few months back, parents to a lovely young son named Jesse.
Now they're back in Vancouver. To do a little television work for CBC. To skate during Sunday's closing ceremony. And, perhaps most appropriately of all, to receive induction into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame, in the city in which they thrilled a nation with one of their greatest triumphs.
Yes, it really has been seven years.
But come Sunday, perhaps, it might just seem like yesterday again.
Hey, I'm up for turning back the clock if they are.
Seven years!
Has it really been that long, you wonder, since these two darlings of Canadian figure skating became world pairs champions, right in this very city on a magical March evening across town at General Motors Place?
"Makes us all feel kind of old, doesn't it?" Sale says with a grin when the same thought is thrown her way.
(ok, me definitely more than you two, I'd say)
But there it was during a video presentation here on Wednesday night, the elation in the faces of two proud young Canadians and the deafening roar that greeted the string of marks, confirming the brilliance many of us had just witnessed. That yes, we had a new set of world champions, another chapter to add to the rich figure skating lore in our land.
You all know most of what followed. The sordid saga of the Salt Lake City Olympics a year later, which finally played out with the gold medals rightfully and most deservedly around their necks.
They've since become husband and wife.
And, just a few months back, parents to a lovely young son named Jesse.
Now they're back in Vancouver. To do a little television work for CBC. To skate during Sunday's closing ceremony. And, perhaps most appropriately of all, to receive induction into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame, in the city in which they thrilled a nation with one of their greatest triumphs.
Yes, it really has been seven years.
But come Sunday, perhaps, it might just seem like yesterday again.
Hey, I'm up for turning back the clock if they are.
Ask And You Shall Receive
If you were in Quebec City last fall for HomeSense Skate Canada — or followed along from afar via our Chronicles of Le Colisee — you might recall this request from one of last posts from that weekend.
Give us more Marc Ferland.
You know, that former Canadian novice champion with the fabulous pipes, who opened and closed the proceedings in Quebec with two stirring renditions of O Canada (well, I know they gave me the chills).
So guess who did the honours in tonight's official opening ceremony for the BMO Canadian figure skating championships at Pacific Coliseum? None other than Mr. Ferland himself.
Now, we'll admit the reaction to his powerful voice wasn't quite as overwhelming here — you're always appreciated more in your home province, right? — but we're certainly hoping this is the beginning of one of those new traditions Skate Canada has been introducing.
Kind of like this blogging bit, for example.
Of course, we always hoped, when this all started, that the good folks with the association with merely read this stuff.
We never thought they'd actually take our suggestions, too.
Ah, the power of the blog. Well, we can at least dream, right?
Give us more Marc Ferland.
You know, that former Canadian novice champion with the fabulous pipes, who opened and closed the proceedings in Quebec with two stirring renditions of O Canada (well, I know they gave me the chills).
So guess who did the honours in tonight's official opening ceremony for the BMO Canadian figure skating championships at Pacific Coliseum? None other than Mr. Ferland himself.
Now, we'll admit the reaction to his powerful voice wasn't quite as overwhelming here — you're always appreciated more in your home province, right? — but we're certainly hoping this is the beginning of one of those new traditions Skate Canada has been introducing.
Kind of like this blogging bit, for example.
Of course, we always hoped, when this all started, that the good folks with the association with merely read this stuff.
We never thought they'd actually take our suggestions, too.
Ah, the power of the blog. Well, we can at least dream, right?
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."
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."
That Hit The Spot
It's been a Vancouver tradition for some 80 years and still counting. And what better way to start my day, I thought, than with a hearty breakfast at the famed White Spot restaurant.
The chain, which is no doubt well doubt known to every Vancouverite, was birthed back in 1928 by Nat Bailey, a U.S.-born restaurateur who's also well known to many in local minor baseball circles here (perhaps you've heard of Nat Bailey Stadium?).
Anyways, a friend who's a Vancouver native recommended the White Spot breakfast and it didn't disappoint (I hit the West Georgia St. location, a brisk morning's walk away from the Sheraton Wall Street). But the chain is perhaps best known for its Triple O burgers, which apparently are even sold in Hong Kong and Bangkok these days (they're also dishing them out in steady numbers here at Pacific Coliseum).
I'm told it's the sauce — a combination of mayonaisse and red relish — that makes a Triple O, well, a Triple O. And that there's just nothing like it, especially to anyone who calls this city home.
***
Signs of the 2010 Olympics are in evidence everywhere you look here.
Of course, there's the countdown clock in from of the Vancouver Art Gallery (785 days away, if you're wondering). And, as I've learned, that big hole in the ground on Granville St. next door to the big Sears store is part of the deal, too.
It's supposed to be the site of the main station for the expanded SkyTrain rapid transit system that will service, among other things, the Vancouver airport and the Olympic venues in the Richmond area.
Which explains a lot to me. Kinda figured right away, though, that there was a whole lot more than sewer replacement going on there.
The chain, which is no doubt well doubt known to every Vancouverite, was birthed back in 1928 by Nat Bailey, a U.S.-born restaurateur who's also well known to many in local minor baseball circles here (perhaps you've heard of Nat Bailey Stadium?).
Anyways, a friend who's a Vancouver native recommended the White Spot breakfast and it didn't disappoint (I hit the West Georgia St. location, a brisk morning's walk away from the Sheraton Wall Street). But the chain is perhaps best known for its Triple O burgers, which apparently are even sold in Hong Kong and Bangkok these days (they're also dishing them out in steady numbers here at Pacific Coliseum).
I'm told it's the sauce — a combination of mayonaisse and red relish — that makes a Triple O, well, a Triple O. And that there's just nothing like it, especially to anyone who calls this city home.
***
Signs of the 2010 Olympics are in evidence everywhere you look here.
Of course, there's the countdown clock in from of the Vancouver Art Gallery (785 days away, if you're wondering). And, as I've learned, that big hole in the ground on Granville St. next door to the big Sears store is part of the deal, too.
It's supposed to be the site of the main station for the expanded SkyTrain rapid transit system that will service, among other things, the Vancouver airport and the Olympic venues in the Richmond area.
Which explains a lot to me. Kinda figured right away, though, that there was a whole lot more than sewer replacement going on there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)