Canadian Tire National Skating Championships - Ottawa - 6-13 Jan. 2022

[Elizabeth]

This being an Olympic year, the schedule has been changed so that the Senior events take place first, followed by the Novice and Junior events.
The detailed scheduled (as of yesterday, 13 Dec. 2021):
https://skatecanada.ca/wp-content/uploa ... Dec-13.pdf

All event tickets are on sale already and single day tickets will go on sale on Friday of this week: https://skatecanada.ca/2021/12/all-even ... pionships/
I have bought my all event tickets and will keep my fingers crossed that I will actually be able to attend!

[happyheini]

Hoping for you, Elizabeth. You may be the only one of us to attend and of course we know, we will be treated to full reports and juicy tidbits.

[Elizabeth]

The start orders for the short programs at Canadians have now been posted: https://skatecanada.ca/2022-canadian-ti ... /#tab-id-3

An overview of the schedule of competition: https://skatecanada.ca/2022-canadian-ti ... /#tab-id-2

I have received my "mobile" tickets - since I don't own a "smart phone" on which to display them, I have downloaded & printed off the .pdf files with QR codes as instructed by the box office.

It appears that CBC TV and CBC Sports live stream will have limited coverage of Canadians - the current schedule for both shows:
Saturday, January 8 - 4 p.m. ET - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Ottawa
Sunday, January 9 - 1:30 a.m. ET - CBC Sports Late Night: Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Ottawa
Sunday, January 9 - 1 p.m. ET - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Ottawa
Sunday, January 16 - 1 p.m. ET - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Ottawa - GALA


There will be streaming of the novice and junior events on the Skate Canada DailyMotion channel: https://www.dailymotion.com/skatecanada

[kittykins]

Hoping for you, Elizabeth. You may be the only one of us to attend and of course we know, we will be treated to full reports and juicy tidbits.

I'm also attending.

[Elizabeth]

Hoping for you, Elizabeth. You may be the only one of us to attend and of course we know, we will be treated to full reports and juicy tidbits.

I'm also attending.

Look forward to seeing you next week, all being well

[kittykins]

Hoping for you, Elizabeth. You may be the only one of us to attend and of course we know, we will be treated to full reports and juicy tidbits.

I'm also attending.

Look forward to seeing you next week, all being well

Thanks Elizabeth...me/you too! I was just to go see Holiday on Ice here, got a ticket for Christmas from my sister, and we were going to go together. Then it was cancelled or "rescheduled" for "sometime later in the winter" and I don't know if I'll be able to attend. Hopefully Ottawa will be a go! Yes, I'm going with Uni-world. Nice that it's so convenient for you in terms of location.

[Elizabeth]

According to the latest announcement from the Chief Medical Health Officer of Ontario this afternoon, it appears that the attendance at Canadians will be limited to 1,000 (he said 50% or 1,000, whichever is less for sporting events). If more than 1,000 tickets have already been sold, I wonder who will be given the "sorry, you can't come" message?!?!

In the good news, however, CBC Sports has updated that streaming information to show that all of the Senior events as well as the Novice & Junior will be available by live stream: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/wint ... /broadcast

Fri Jan 7
12:00 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Senior Women's Short Program
2:45 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Senior Ice Dance Rhythm Dance
5:30 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Senior Pairs Short Program
6:50 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Senior Men's Short Program

Sat Jan 8
10:30 AM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Senior Women's Free Program
1:45 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Senior Ice Dance Free Dance
4:00 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships (this is the same as the CBC TV broadcast)
5:15 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Senior Pairs Free Program
6:45 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Senior Men's Free Program

Sun Jan 9
1:30 AM CBC Sports Late Night: Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Ottawa (this is the same as the CBC TV broadcast)
1:00 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships (this is the same as the CBC TV broadcast)
6:00 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Gala

Mon Jan 10
11:00 AM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Novice Pattern Dance
1:35 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Novice Women's Short Program
3:55 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Novice Men's Short Program
6:15 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Rhythm Dance

Tue Jan 11
11:20 AM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Pairs Short Program
1:40 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Novice Dance Free Dance
3:15 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Novice Women's Free Program
6:20 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Novice Men's Free Program

Wed Jan 12
10:30 AM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Women's Short Program
1:00 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Men's Short Program
3:45 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Pairs Free Program
6:05 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Free Dance

Thu Jan 13
9:40 AM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Women's Free Program
12:25 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Men's Free Program

Sun Jan 16
1:00 PM Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Gala (this is the same as the CBC TV broadcast)

[kittykins]

According to the latest announcement from the Chief Medical Health Officer of Ontario this afternoon, it appears that the attendance at Canadians will be limited to 1,000 (he said 50% or 1,000, whichever is less for sporting events). If more than 1,000 tickets have already been sold, I wonder who will be given the "sorry, you can't come" message?!?!

Hopefully not us, lol! Thanks for the update on the streaming. I'm very glad to hear that!!

[Elizabeth]

Well - now no one, even the media, will be able to attend

Just announced:

[happyheini]

...as you had predicted....

[Elizabeth]

...as you had predicted....

I feel badly about the lack of audience support, of course.

The important thing, however, is for all the athletes (and coaches & officials) to stay well - there is so much on the line for many of them, moving forward. Not the least of which is the issue of vaccinations, testing, travel, quarantine, etc. related to the Olympics.

[kittykins]

RATS!!!! I just got the e-mail from Angela a while ago. Thankfully there will still be live streaming. Westjet let me cancel my flight easily.

[Elizabeth]

RATS!!!! I just got the e-mail from Angela a while ago. Thankfully there will still be live streaming. Westjet let me cancel my flight easily.

I had heard today that Westjet was having to cancel some flights due to lack of staff because of infections and/or quarantining due to contact. I had thought of you when I heard that news. Now it's a moot point.

[kittykins]

RATS!!!! I just got the e-mail from Angela a while ago. Thankfully there will still be live streaming. Westjet let me cancel my flight easily.

I had heard today that Westjet was having to cancel some flights due to lack of staff because of infections and/or quarantining due to contact. I had thought of you when I heard that news. Now it's a moot point.

Ho boy, well, it was meant to be. I don't think I was on one of the scrapped flights, but I wasn't happy with my flight times anyway. I would have had to drive to the airport around 4 a.m. to leave before 6:00 a.m. and then get back just before 1:00 a.m. on the way back. I'll actually get to sleep! LOL

[Elizabeth]

New restrictions beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday are just being announced in Ontario - it's not clear if Canadians will even be able to take place under them....

Stay tuned....

[Elizabeth]

At the moment, there is an updated detailed schedule for the senior and junior events available: https://skatecanada.ca/wp-content/uploa ... Senior.pdf

It has today's date on it but, for some reason, the Gala has not been removed.

The "summary" schedule as posted on the event website currently says:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6
SENIOR OFFICIAL PRACTICE DAY

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7
12:00 -SENIOR WOMEN SHORT PROGRAM
14:45 – SENIOR ICE DANCE – RHYTHM DANCE
17:30 – SENIOR PAIRS SHORT PROGRAM
18:50 – SENIOR MEN SHORT PROGRAM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8
10:30 – SENIOR WOMEN FREE PROGRAM
13:45 – SENIOR ICE DANCE – FREE DANCE
17:15 – SENIOR PAIRS FREE PROGRAM
18:45 – SENIOR MEN FREE PROGRAM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9
JUNIOR OFFICIAL PRACTICE DAY

MONDAY, JANUARY 10
15:00 – JUNIOR ICE DANCE – RHYTHM DANCE
16:05 – JUNIOR PAIRS SHORT PROGRAM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11
14:00 – JUNIOR ICE DANCE – FREE DANCE
19:45 – JUNIOR PAIRS FREE PROGRAM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12
13:15 – JUNIOR WOMEN SHORT PROGRAM
16:40 – JUNIOR MEN SHORT PROGRAM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13
10:50 – JUNIOR WOMEN FREE PROGRAM
14:10 – JUNIOR MEN FREE PROGRAM

[Elizabeth]

An article about the current issues for skaters (and other athletes) hoping to compete in Beijing and the need to avoid COVID: https://www.wsj.com/articles/olympics-f ... 641240920?
This is a concern for the Canadian & US skaters set to compete this week and hoping to be selected to the Olympic teams.

Skate Canada has been more restrictive than USFS which has allowed fans in the stands.

Fingers crossed for all of those competing, especially those selected to the Olympic teams!

[Elizabeth]

The media are apparently doing pre-competition interviews (virtually). Some news from Bev Smith on Twitter:

Vanessa James and Eric Radford both tested positive for COVID, she Dec. 23, he Dec. 26. Back on the ice Monday (yesterday), not 100 % sure they will compete at nationals this week. But are aiming for it. More later.

Deanna Stellato & Maxime Deschamps were reported to be in the same boat a few days ago

Even if they were to compete and be chosen for the Olympic team, any athletes would have to have negative tests in order to travel to China.

[Elizabeth]

Ted Barton posted this photo on Twitter:


He said:

My broadcast location for Canadian Nationals. I will be joined remotely by Kevin Reynolds Men, Kaetlyn Osmond Women, Meagan Duhamel Pairs and Kaitlyn Weaver Dance. Elladj Balde and Patrick Chan as well.

[Elizabeth]

In the media interviews participants said that they were encouraged but not required to provide a negative PCR test in order to compete in Ottawa.

Skate Canada CEO Debra Armstrong's response to media regarding Nationals protocol:

Testing is encouraged however the availability of PCR tests is limited. Very strict COVID protocols are in place to ensure athletes/coaches safety. Only accredited individuals can enter arena, full vaccination required.

[Elizabeth]

This is one of the stories posted after some of our Canadian skaters had a “media call” today:
From: https://www.thestar.com/sports/skating/ ... ials.html

Recent positive COVID-19 tests have James, Radford unsure if they’ll skate at trials
Canada’s top-ranked pair team this season revealed on a conference call that they’d tested positive within three days of each other over the Christmas break.
By Lori EwingThe Canadian Press
Tue., Jan. 4, 2022

The final few weeks of Olympic preparation are pressure enough, says figure skater Eric Radford.

Now Canada’s elite athletes have the spectre of COVID-19 threatening to derail their Olympic dreams before they even get to Beijing.
Radford and pairs partner Vanessa James are recovering from COVID-19 that could keep them out of the Canadian championships and Olympic trials this week in Ottawa. And the fact they’ve already had the virus might make them two of the lucky ones.

“Preparing for any competition, and especially the Olympics is difficult enough,” Radford said. “It’s one of the most stressful times of an athlete’s life. Vanessa and I — and I think every athlete is probably thinking and feeling the same thing right now — there’s this invisible minefield laid out in front of you over the next few weeks, as you try to dodge COVID and not become positive in the next couple of weeks, while trying to train for one of the biggest moments of your life.

“There are already stories rolling in about COVID dashing Olympic dreams. I hope athletes are being as vigilant as they possibly can over these next couple of weeks.”

James, who’d planned to visit family over the Christmas break, had a positive PCR test on Dec. 23. Radford began feeling symptoms on the 23rd, and tested positive three days later, on Boxing Day. The two have been in isolation since the 23rd, and were only able to get back on the ice together Monday.

“It’s a strange thing to say, but it’s almost better timing that we got it now … possibly preventing a positive test heading into Olympics,” Radford said. “A lot of all of these athletes are all in the same boat. And we all are hoping and wishing the best for everybody else.”

Toronto’s James, and Radford, from Balmerton, Ont., said they’ll decide by Thursday whether or not they’ll compete this week, but are hopeful they can still be selected to the Canadian team based on results this season.

A major factor is being in isolation for the past 10 days, where it was nearly impossible to train at the level required by an elite athlete a month out from the Olympics. While James had virtually no symptoms, Radford said he felt like he had a cold, with a headache, body aches and stuffed nose.
The crush of COVID-19 cases caused by the new Omicron variant that is spreading like a prairie wildfire has seen the cancellation of Canada’s mixed doubles curling trials and the IIHF world junior hockey championships in Alberta. Canada’s bobsled team has 11 athletes and three coaches in isolation in Latvia, while Canada’s women’s hockey team had to shelve its pre-Olympic exhibition season due to an outbreak.

A threat that was barely on the radar a month ago has become like an Olympic event in itself. Athletes lucky enough to avoid COVID could be the ones winning medals.

The 2020 Summer Olympics, of course, were pushed back a year due to COVID-19 with the Canada being one of the loudest voices in that decision. Would James and Radford support a similar postponement?

“I can’t speak to the athletes who’ve been training for almost four years for this event,” said James, who teamed up with Radford last spring. “I know that a lot of athletes want to get it done now, people who are going to retire … I’m hoping the Olympics will be held, but I’m hoping also and I’m sure that the competent people, doctors, epidemiologists, all the federations and the IOC are working to make sure that all of the athletes are safe and I put my trust in them, so we’ll see. I’m hoping that it will be a safe event if it is held.”

Radford said there was a similar level of anxiety ahead of the Tokyo Games, which were held with relative success last summer, albeit a year late.

“There’s always so much uncertainty with such a huge event, and even more so trying to throw an Olympics in a COVID era,” said Radford, who won two world titles with former partner Meagan Duhamel. “As athletes, we have to put our trust in the organizers, trust in their decision whether or not the Olympics can or should take place safely.”

The Canadian championships will be held this week in front of no fans in Ottawa. Media will cover the event virtually. But making matters dicey, skaters aren’t required to provide a negative test result to compete. And a positive test this week could potentially keep an athlete out of the Olympics because of the time crunch around pre-travel testing protocols.

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Canada’s top-ranked ice dance team and the reigning world bronze medallists, said they can only put their trust in their national sport organization to keep them safe.

“We know how big of a deal this is, and our Olympic dream could be taken away within days if something like this happens,” Gilles said, the emotion evident in the rise of her voice. “But we can’t really look at it, because if you do that we’re gonna drive ourselves absolutely crazy, and it’s not good mentally.

“If it happens, it happens. But I think we’re taking every precaution that we can right now, and, and really looking at and focusing on the things that we can control in our environment, (such as ) what type of masks we’re wearing.”

The skaters all said they planned to drive to Ottawa to avoid risky travel, and then maintain distance at the rink from people outside their personal bubbles.

The U.S. Olympic figure skating championships are being held in front of a crowd this week in Nashville. Everyone attending the event must provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result take within three days of entering the arena.

Canada will announce its Olympic figure skating team Sunday.

[Elizabeth]

Some quotes from a media call with Moore-Towers & Marinaro:

Kirsten Moore-Towers: “Training has been going well. The first half of the season didn't go as we'd hoped or planned so we took a long look at ourselves to figure out which direction we need to go in order to make sure this doesn't happen again.”

Michael Marinaro: "After reflecting and getting down to work for the past 4 weeks, we're feeling awesome and grateful that we can perform this week.”

KMT: “I think for the most part, what we came up with was mindset and mental approach. Our elements were great in practice, it was just in competitions. I started working with a different mental prep coach and got advice from Meagan Duhamel for her experience.”

KMT: "We’re super bummed that the crowd was removed from Nationals but we understand why. We’ve been super careful and haven't seen anyone at all. We have different changing rooms, wearing masks wherever we go – really limiting ourselves to the grocery store and home.”

KMT: “There was too much focus on Vanessa and Eric in the first half of the season and at this point, we've resolved ourselves to focus on just us as a team. This week is a personal journey for us, we do have some new goals - extremely personal ones.”

KMT: “It’s not how we would have wanted our last Nationals to go. We would have loved to skate for our family and friends and a Canadian audience. We’re still looking to make a moment and I’m overwhelmingly grateful for the years we've been able to skate for a Canadian audience.”

[Elizabeth]

Bev Smith's story on Radford & James: https://bevsmithwrites.com/covid-clouds ... pionships/

[kittykins]

Oh my word! What crazy times! I was really hoping to see Vanessa & Eric skate together and hopefully they'll be able to compete. Thanks for all the info.

[Elizabeth]

An update on Keegan Messing, thanks to International Figure Skating magazine

In a conference call with Keegan Messing this morning, he said it took 33 hours to travel from Alaska to Ottawa, with one 8-hour layover in Seattle and a second in Toronto for 16 hours. He, his wife, child and coach are now in Ottawa but his skates are MIA at this point. Official practices start Thursday so here's hoping he has his equipment by then.
Keegan said he is approachng nationals with a good mindset but keeping his nerves under control will be key.
We wish him the best of luck this week!

Here's Bev Smith's story: https://bevsmithwrites.com/keegan-messings-odyssey/