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

[Elizabeth]

Stories coming out of the Nashville about the lack of requirements for mask wearing in the hotel, including by staff, make me fear for the athletes there and even more grateful that Skate Canada is taking precautions, unlike USFS apparently. One example: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/o ... 104281002/

I know that some of the US skaters opted not to stay in the official hotel for just this reason!

[Elizabeth]

Keegan's skates still haven't arrived by "Uncle" Nam got to meet Wyatt!!

[Elizabeth]

This morning senior women's practices are now underway, according to Ted Barton on Twitter:

[Elizabeth]

According to this article James & Radford will be competing this week but every athlete hoping to go to the Olympics faces a lot of challenges:
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/olym ... -1.6304693

I have just read this on Twitter:

On Sunday January 9th, 2022 at 12:00pm EST Skate Canada will announce their nominations to the Canadian Olympic Team. This announcement will stream live via the Skate Canada Live stream

[Elizabeth]

In his latest Skate Guard blog, Ryan Stevens reminds us that 114 years ago Canadians in Ottawa was cancelled because the rink burned down!!
https://t.co/Hr3m4sIcXM

[Elizabeth]

Updated start orders for tomorrow indicate the withdrawal of Stephen Gogolev

[Elizabeth]

Nam posted a video today of Keegan trying out a pair of white skates on a practice - who knows what we'll see tomorrow!!

Here's proof - Keegan trying out the new skates he just bought in Ottawa yesterday:


There is even video of him landing a quad!!

Will he cover them with black polish? Will his luggage including most of his costumes plus his skates arrive? We will see later today

[Elizabeth]

The women are just getting on the ice: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/wint ... -1.6302436

Ted Barton is the host and is in the arena. The commentators are doing things "virtually". For the Women it's Kaetlyn Osmond.

There have been having some issues with the sound balance - sometimes we couldn't hear Ted and others it was hard to hear Kaetlyn. I think they have sorted it out as we get ready for the 2nd group. I hope so, anyway.

The protocols are being posted after each skater here: https://cssterminalserv.skatecanada.ca/ ... P1DRO.html

The updated results after each skater are here: https://cssterminalserv.skatecanada.ca/ ... menCR.html

[kittykins]

Hi. Well, here i am with my original HP Vista laptop that is the best of the 3 although now outdated. I'm going to view the marks/standings on here, which is usually why I get it in operation. My new HP is connected to the TV. My Lemon ASUS is in "storage", lol.

It's difficult to hear Katelyn unless you a have excellent hearing. Fortunately, I have the opposite, but that can also be an annoyance at times.

That is TERRIBLE about Keegan's skates. I'm praying they arrive TODAY. What a CUTE picture of Wyatt with Nam...no guessing whose son he is, lol.

My print of the Rideau Canal that I found among my things after I retired, is in the background...closest I'm going to get to Ottawa! lol

[Elizabeth]

Hi. Well, here i am with my original HP Vista laptop that is the best of the 3 although now outdated. I'm going to view the marks/standings on here, which is usually why I get it in operation. My new HP is connected to the TV. My Lemon ASUS is in "storage", lol.

It's difficult to hear Katelyn unless you a have excellent hearing. Fortunately, I have the opposite, but that can also be an annoyance at times.

That is TERRIBLE about Keegan's skates. I'm praying they arrive TODAY. What a CUTE picture of Wyatt with Nam...no guessing whose son he is, lol.

My print of the Rideau Canal that I found among my things after I retired, is in the background...closest I'm going to get to Ottawa! lol

See my updates to my post above re: the sound

[Elizabeth]

Ted Barton, masked in the arena, and Kaitlyn Weaver at home are providing the commentary on the Rhythm Dance.

For the pairs, Meagan Duhamel joined in from home and the the men we had both Kevin Reynolds and Patrick Chan joining in from separate locations in Vancouver.

[Elizabeth]

If you don't want to know yet what happened today, don't click on this link
https://skatecanada.ca/2022/01/battle-l ... pionships/

[Elizabeth]

Today's events - all of them for medals


There is live stream coverage of everything. There is a CBC TV broadcast today and tomorrow.

According to what Ted Barton said at the end of yesterday's broadcast, the medals for Women & Dance will be awarded at the end of the Free Dance and those for Pairs & Men will be warded after the Men's event finishes.

In not exactly related but positive news for me, I'm pleased to report that my ticket & parking $ was refunded back to my credit card on January 6th - it was promised by January 15th and, in theory, the parking fee was non-refundable so I'm very pleased.

[Elizabeth]

The CBC TV schedule has been updated - an earlier start now:

Today - 3:00 PM ET - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships
Sun Jan 9 - 1:30 AM ET - CBC Sports Late Night: Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships - Ottawa (repeat?)
Sun Jan 9 - 1:00 PM - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships Check local listings

[Elizabeth]

For those who missed all the action of the live streams, they are being archived on the Skate Canada Dailymotion page, labelled as Event 1, 2, etc. There are streams in English and French. Events 1-4 were yesterday. Today's events start at 5.

Go here: https://www.dailymotion.com/skatecanada/videos

[Elizabeth]

In case you were wondering if Nam Nguyen was "under the weather" - this is from a post-free skate interview posted on Twitter:

“Last week I got COVID, it was tough to deal with. I was off the ice for the full 5 days and I got back on the ice Tuesday. Obviously I tested negative or I wouldn't be here. It’s my lungs, I feel, is the worst part after having COVID.”

“Obviously I’m very sad with what I put out this week with programs. I was in a different mindset earlier in the season when I said it could be my last, I don't want to leave it on a bad note like I did this week, if I continue I do and if I don't, I don't.”

[Elizabeth]

James & Radford still eligible to be selected to the Olympic team despite withdrawal from free skate: https://t.co/TyJHXbUQTJ

Skate Canada posted a news release on the results from Day 2 of the competition - as usual, you shouldn't click on the link if you don't want to be SPOILED as to what happened: https://skatecanada.ca/2022/01/gilles-p ... pionships/

One important note from the end of the release:

Skate Canada will nominate its team for Beijing to the Canadian Olympic Committee on Sunday at approximately 12:15 p.m. (ET) It can be streamed live at: https://skatecanada.ca/2022-canadian-ti ... pionships/

[Elizabeth]

Skate Canada's official press release on their nominations to the Olympic team: https://skatecanada.ca/2022/01/13-figur ... jing-2022/

Now that the competition is over, here are some suggestions for articles or videos of interest -

"Bev Smith Writes" has a number of articles up on her page about the competition:

• https://bevsmithwrites.com/keegan-messi ... -in-check/
• https://bevsmithwrites.com/wanted-standing-ovations/
• https://bevsmithwrites.com/keegan-messi ... -champion/
• https://bevsmithwrites.com/gilles-and-p ... -olympics/
• https://bevsmithwrites.com/madeline-sch ... of-smarts/
• https://bevsmithwrites.com/moore-towers ... t-victory/
• https://bevsmithwrites.com/tough-decisi ... uxHMm98S0H

[Elizabeth]

If you prefer some slightly humourous but knowledgeable comments, CBC Sports "That Figure Skating Show" with Dylan Moscovitch & Asher Hill has several episodes up on the CBC Sports YouTube relating to each of the segments of the competition. You will see them in reverse order on their page: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... uxHMm98S0H

And for anyone who wants to watch the stream of any or all of the events, they are listed here: https://www.cbc.ca/player/sports/olympi ... %20skating
The medal ceremonies for Women & Ice Dance would be at the end of the Free Dance video with the medal ceremonies for Pairs & Men at the end of the Men's FS video.

[Elizabeth]

Skate Canada has also announced the teams for 4 Continents and for Worlds: https://skatecanada.ca/2022/01/skate-ca ... pionships/

[kittykins]

In case you were wondering if Nam Nguyen was "under the weather" - this is from a post-free skate interview posted on Twitter:

“Last week I got COVID, it was tough to deal with. I was off the ice for the full 5 days and I got back on the ice Tuesday. Obviously I tested negative or I wouldn't be here. It’s my lungs, I feel, is the worst part after having COVID.”

“Obviously I’m very sad with what I put out this week with programs. I was in a different mindset earlier in the season when I said it could be my last, I don't want to leave it on a bad note like I did this week, if I continue I do and if I don't, I don't.”

Thanks for the update. I really did wonder and was a bit worried. My niece and her husband and family, caught COVID. I guess the effects can linger for months even if you past the contagious stage. So just because you are "over" COVID doesn't mean the effects go away right away according to my sister who is a nurse. So, this seems to be what is happening with Nam. I'm glad he won't end here. I just wish he'd stay for at least a few years!

I figure you are very happy with the result Elizabeth. I think you had hoped Keegan would become the Canadian Champion. I think it's really good, so now, being 29, he would feel okay with retirement if that's what he would chose to do. After this week and all the crazy travel woes, perhaps he will be considering it.

[Elizabeth]

After the two long days of senior competition and a day of practice, the Juniors are about to take the ice in competition today.

I know that they are not competing for Olympic and other ISU championship event spots for this season, but they certainly will be competing for possible international assignments as well as for their own Canadian titles

The start orders and results can be found on the event website: https://skatecanada.ca/2022-canadian-ti ... pionships/
There will be links from there to watch the live stream. Here’s the streaming schedule currently posted on the CBC Sports website: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/win ... /broadcast Each one should become “Live” at the time shown and can be clicked on.


Today -
3:00 PM - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Rhythm Dance
4:05 PM - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Pairs Short Program

Tue Jan 11 -
10:45 AM - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Pairs Free Program
2:00 PM - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Free Dance

Wed Jan 12 -
1:15 PM - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Women's Short Program
4:40 PM - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Men's Short Program

Thu Jan 13 -
10:50 AM - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Women's Free Program
2:10 PM - Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships: Junior Men's Free Program

[Elizabeth]

Meanwhile, there continues to be negative feedback to the selection of James & Radford to the Olympic team, especially on social media. It's coming not just from fans but also from Skate Canada "alumni" which is a bit unusual.

This article includes a quote from Mike Slipchuk of Skate Canada in a bit of a response: https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/artic ... nationals/

[kittykins]

Meanwhile, there continues to be negative feedback to the selection of James & Radford to the Olympic team, especially on social media. It's coming not just from fans but also from Skate Canada "alumni" which is a bit unusual.

This article includes a quote from Mike Slipchuk of Skate Canada in a bit of a response: https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/artic ... nationals/

Oh dear, I wondered about that. I am actually very shocked that Megan is so free with her comments when she trained & competed with Eric for so many years. I would think most people would stay silent on the issue, considering all they apparently meant to one another as "friends" and partners on the ice. I think the comment from Michael is good. Boy, Canadians think they have it bad, they should look at what happens in the States! I think in Canada, the Canadian championship performances are used for selection most of the time. I personally think Eric & Vanessa are a good choice, although I haven't really seen them compete this season, at least that I remember (oh dear, that doesn't sound good! haha).

I hope to watch some of the juniors this afternoon. Skating is a nice diversion in this brutally cold weather we're having.

[Elizabeth]

If you are interested in watching the various Junior events coming up today and through Thursday, CBC has already put up the "markers" for each of them. You will see them listed if you go to the one for today's free dance: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1985576003648