2024 Canadian National Skating Championships - Calgary, AB - 8-14 January

[Elizabeth]

Day 3 is an evening of Synchronized skating competition [daytime practices for the seniors are underway for their competition which begins tomorrow]

[Elizabeth]

The top 3 after the SP and FS for the Jr Synchronized teams:
Les Suprêmes
NEXXICE
Nova

The winners of the gold also set a new National Record in the process.

"Podium" photo of the gold medalists


Meanwhile, in the senior event, after the SP the results for the 3 teams competing are quite close:
1 - Les Supremes 74.80

2 - Nexxice (SR) 72.24

3 - Nova 71.81

[Elizabeth]

Photographic proof that Roman arrived safely, along with his skates, and got to practice.


After his last 2 attempts to compete (in Europe), that itself is a feat

[Elizabeth]

Day 1 of Senior competition with short programs for all except the three Synchro teams who will skate their free programs.


The rink is ready


First up - the Sr. Women SP - 3 groups of 6 women:
1 Nour-Houda Foura QC
2 Julianne Lussier QC
3 Natalie Roccatani ON
4 Rose Théroux QC
5 Cristina Lyons ON
6 Katherine Medland Spence ON

7 Breken Brezden MB
8 Justine Miclette QC
9 Marie-France D'Amour QC
10 Marie-Maude Pomerleau QC
11 Audréanne Foster QC
12 Uliana Shiryaeva BC/YK

13 Hetty Shi ON
14 Fée-Ann Landry QC
15 Sara-Maude Dupuis QC
16 Fiona Bombardier ON
17 Kaiya Ruiter AB/NT/NU
18 Madeline Schizas ON

[kittykins]

Hi all. For some reason I can't get onto the results/starting order page. It stays on the ticket page. Are others having the same problem?

[Elizabeth]

I have been able to access it - I use Firefox browser (as recommended several years ago by Fred .

The links from this page are all .pdf documents: https://skatecanada.ca/2024-canadian-na ... nd-results
It's not like the ISU results page which is "Live".

The full Women SP results


The top 3
1 - Madeline Schizas (ON)

2 - Kaiya Ruiter (AB/NT/NU)
3 - Sara-Maude Dupuis (QC)

[Elizabeth]

The second event of the day was the Rhythm Dance - the results:


The battle is on for the podium spots, especially in light of the two withdrawals.

1 - Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier

2 - Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain Le Gac
3 - Alicia Fabbri & Paul Ayer


Bev Smith article: https://bevsmithwrites.com/gilles-and-p ... -progress/

[Elizabeth]

The third event of the day, following the Opening Ceremonies, was the Sr. Pairs SP.

The results:


1 - Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps

2 - Lia Pereira & Trennt Michaud
3 - Kelly Ann Laurin & Loucas Éthier


The next event was the Free Skate in Sr. Synchonized skating.

The results:


LesSupremes

Nova
Nexxice

[Elizabeth]

The final event of the day was the Men SP. It was a disappointing night, unfortunately.



1 - Wesley Chiu

2 - Aleksa Rakic
3 - Anthony Paradis

The detail sheets (protocols): https://cssterminalserv.skatecanada.ca/ ... SP1DRO.pdf

I wonder if we will see Stephen withdraw before the FS - he certainly appeared to be injured/in pain.


I started watching skating at 5 a.m. and watched all of the Euro's competition and all of the Canadians - in fact for a while I was watching both simultaneously!! Time for sleep

[Elizabeth]

Bev Smith's article on the Women SP: https://bevsmithwrites.com/schizas-rule ... ty-intent/

I really do wonder if we will see Stephen Gogolev in the FS?
From the Mixed Zone as posted on X (formerly Twitter):

Following Stephen Gogolev’s laboured short program performance to “The Sound of Silence” by Distributed-Immortalized” in which he managed no successful triple or quadruple jumps, his coach Lee Barkell advised that the 2023 Autumn Classic bronze medalist is nursing a “flare up in his back” which started four days ago. Gogolev did not practice today and only landed doubles in the warm up. Barkell said they are assessing his health “minute by minute” and “the intention is to keep going” and “keep him in a good mindset.” He scored 53.80 in the SP and sits in 13th place.
Gogolev is reportedly getting ongoing physiotherapy in Calgary.

Skate Canada's press release after the first day of Senior competition: https://skatecanada.ca/2024/01/senior-c ... pionships/

[Elizabeth]

The overview of the final day of competition


Sadly, the Men's field is down to 13 for the Free Skate tonight:


The first event of the day (which overlapped the Free Dance at Europeans) was the Women FS. It was not particularly well skating and the results were a bit of a surprise
The medalists:
Kaiya Ruiter

Madeline Schizas
Hetty Shi

The overall results:


Bev Smith's article: https://bevsmithwrites.com/a-medal-jugg ... ens-event/

[Elizabeth]

The 2nd event of the day was the Free Dance.

Final results:
1 Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier ON 86.78 (1) 136.17 (1) 222.95
2 Marie-Jade Lauriault / Romain Le Gac QC 78.00 (2) 122.50 (2) 200.50
3 Alicia Fabbri / Paul Ayer QC 77.75 (3) 117.86 (3) 195.61
4 Lily Hensen / Nathan Lickers ON 66.12 (7) 110.50 (4) 176.62
5 Molly Lanaghan / Dmitre Razgulajevs ON 69.86 (5) 105.62 (6) 175.48
6 Nadiia Bashynska / Peter Beaumont ON 75.64 (4) 99.38 (8) 175.02
7 Emmy Bronsard / Jacob Richmond QC 66.85 (6) 105.88 (5) 172.73
8 Haley Sales / Nikolas Wamsteeker BC/YK 63.95 (8) 101.68 (7) 165.63
9 Alyssa Robinson / Jacob Portz AB/NT/NU 61.61 (10) 95.96 (9) 157.57
10 Sandrine Gauthier / Quentin Thieren QC 61.91 (9) 92.90 (10) 154.81
11 Charlie Anderson / Luke Anderson ON 44.23 (11) 73.84 (11) 118.07

WD Marjorie Lajoie / Zachary Lagha QC
WD Laurence Fournier-Beaudry / Nikolaj Soerensen QC

The medalists:
Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier

Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain Le Gac
Alicia Fabbri & Paul Ayer

Podium photo

[Elizabeth]

The third event was the Pairs Free Skate.

The results:



The medalists:
Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps

Lia Pereira/ Trennt Michaud
Kelly Ann Laurin / Loucas Ethier


Bev Smith on the Pairs: https://bevsmithwrites.com/stellato-dud ... -and-away/

[Elizabeth]

As if it wasn't cold enough both outside and inside the arena, Danielle Earl, the photographer who is freezing in the arena, just posted this Emergency Alert she received during the Men FS!



The lighting in the arena has already made the stream viewing a bit challenging. I hope they don't go out altogether!! We just have to get through the final 10 Men FS...

[Elizabeth]

And the lights stayed on to the end of the Men FS.
The results:


The medalists:
Wesley Chiu
Aleksa Rakic
Anthony Paradis

Anthony Paradis had a skate problem and quickly asked the Referee to give him the 3-minute delay of program deduction, managed to get the repairs done, and got a medal!!

Bev Smith's article on the Men FS: https://bevsmithwrites.com/wesley-chiu- ... ian-title/

[happyheini]

As if it wasn't cold enough both outside and inside the arena, Danielle Earl, the photographer who is freezing in the arena, just posted this Emergency Alert she received during the Men FS!



The lighting in the arena has already made the stream viewing a bit challenging. I hope they don't go out altogether!! We just have to get through the final 10 Men FS...

I kept thinking what effect the extreme cold spell here in Alberta would have on the event and the skaters in particular, I saw a lot empty seats, when I watched some of the dance finals.

[Elizabeth]

The attendance was VERY low and there were complaints from some participants/coaches that it didn't feel like a national championship

I think that there was many reasons but one that I saw mentioned was that there were no all-event tickets made available through Ticketmaster and each event was separately ticketed - someone mentioned that the full senior event would have cost them $600 (including very high Ticketmaster fees, as I recall).

With all of the other possible events/activities happening in Calgary, I suspect one inside a cold arena (based on comments and views of bundled up spectators) would have not attracted any but the most avid fans.

Having no TV contract and no associated TV advertising of upcoming events undoubtedly would deter the more casual fans from considering attending.

I spotted a few of the folks we normally attend events with but I'm sure many, myself included, opted to save our $$ for Worlds in Montreal.

The level of the skating, particularly in the senior singles, was low and a bit concerning going forward.

[Elizabeth]

A video from On Ice Perspectives of the debut of Anthony Paradis's free program back in July of last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb0bIYjLGLA
The description below the video explains the program concept.

Sadly, he had to take a 5 point deduction on his performance at Canadians yesterday due to a skate/boot issue that caused him to (efficiently) take a 3 minute break in program. Thankfully, he still ended up on the podium.

Internationally, he has only competed at the Junior level this season so is not eligible for upcoming Senior international championship events (4CC/Worlds) but I'm looking forward to seeing more of this unique skater in the coming years. I have been keeping an eye on him for a few years.

[Elizabeth]

The Skate Canada press release about Day 2 of Senior competition: https://skatecanada.ca/2024/01/new-defe ... pionships/

[Elizabeth]

The Gala was streamed this afternoon with commentary by Ted Barton & Nam Nguyen. Performers included:
Bashynska & Beaumont
Justine Miclette
Roman Sadovsky
Lanaghan & Razgulajevs
Sara-Maude Dupuis
Conrad Orzel
Hensen & Lickers
Hetty Shi
Laurin & Ethier
Fabbri & Ayer
Anthony Paradis
Maddie Schizas
Perreira & Michaud
Luariault & LeGac
Aleksa Rakic
Wesley Chiu
Kaiya Ruiter
Stellato-Dudek & Deschamps
Gilles & Poirier

The Finale was choreographed by Kaetlyn Osmond.

During the intermission Ted & Nam had an extensive conversation about moving forward - what needs to be done to improve things for the skaters, increase attendance, etc. Nam had some very interesting comments.

Ted "let slip" that Canadians 2025 will be in Laval, QC but said that hasn't actually been announced yet.

[Elizabeth]

And article from Bev Smith on Dance team Fabbri & Ayer: https://bevsmithwrites.com/fabbri-and-a ... k-the-ice/

[Elizabeth]

An audio interview with photographer Danielle Earl about her week at Canadians: https://www.thisweekinskating.com/episodes/