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More off-season movement & retirements - skaters/coaches
Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 11:41 am
by Elizabeth
According to IFS magazine on Twitter:
Canada's Stephen Gogolev has made a coaching change and will relocate to California to work with Rafael Arutyunyan. His former coach Lee Barkell is moving to Toronto's Granite Club in June.
Lee's move has been rumoured lately. There's no official word yet on the skaters he was coaching at the Cricket Club.
Re: More off-season movement - skaters/coaches
Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 1:57 pm
by happyheini
Well! So Stephen will be training with Nathan Chen, seems like a good move for him. waiting to hear about Lee's skaters
Re: More off-season movement & retirements - skaters/coaches
Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 9:54 pm
by Elizabeth
It's retirement from competitive skating for Larkyn Austman.
From her Instagram account:
Hi friends. Let’s have a chat. I’d like to officially announce my retirement from competitive skating. I don’t know how to put into words all the things I’d like to say, but I’ll try my best.
As I sit here writing this, I’m watching the photo slideshow go by on my family’s computer. I kid you not, almost every picture is a skating photo, or a picture of a place I’ve only been lucky enough to go to because of skating. This sport has brought me so much joy, and yet so many more hardships. Elite sport is easy on no one, especially in this day and age of social media where we’re all hyper connected. I’ve given up many things for this sport, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It brought me the close type of friendships that you can only have through sport, it taught me discipline, and most of all it taught me humility. The Olympics was one of those experiences where I truly learned the meaning of all these things. I sobbed with happiness and devastation while I watched my teammates live out their Olympic dreams. An experience that I believe has changed me entirely as a person and for the better.
This is already getting long so good for you if you’ve made it this far lol. I won’t make a long list of people I need to thank because that’d be a whole essay. You know who you are. BUT, special shoutout to my parents who have given me everything to be successful, and my coach Zdenek who I don’t think will ever know the true impact he has made on my life. Also to @skate_canada for supporting me and believing in me so that I could achieve my dreams. I will be continuing my skating in the professional world, which is a conversation for another day. Thank you all for your continuous support in my skating, and now as I try to find how I fit into the non competitive world. (Do I still call myself an elite athlete?!?! The real questions
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Re: More off-season movement & retirements - skaters/coaches
Posted: Sat May 11, 2019 4:10 pm
by happyheini
With this crop of very young and über-talented skaters, I am sure many more "seasoned" skater are weighing their options whether it is worth the sacrifice to continue. It seems there are more opportunities for Pro-Skaters now as well.
Re: More off-season movement & retirements - skaters/coaches
Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 12:10 am
by Kevin
I am truly curious (and actually a little worried...) to see how these young quad-slinging girls will cope as they transition into women. I worry for them, and for the loss of our more senior women. If there is going to be a steady stream of one hit wonders who are falling apart the next season, where is the joy of watching someone develop, and seeing the competition between athletes? Let me be clear - I am not including Larkyn as one of the top tier female skaters we are losing. I truly feel this was the right decision for her to make.
Re: More off-season movement & retirements - skaters/coaches
Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 8:58 am
by Elizabeth
I agree with you comments/thoughts, Kevin.
Re: More off-season movement & retirements - skaters/coaches
Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 6:37 pm
by kittykins
Oh that's too bad about Larkyn but probably the best decision for her. I'm sure she'll have a very successful pro career. It seems there are good options such as the ship cruises and show productions. I know of someone else who did that, I know his mother, and he's had a successful time of it. He retired as he felt he didn't have the nerves required for the senior division.
About the quads and the women, I am also concerned. It seems these young women are getting younger and younger and they are ready to retire way too young. I wonder if this had something to do with Kaelyn's retirement. Is 23 really that old for a skater??
Re: More off-season movement & retirements - skaters/coaches
Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 11:10 pm
by Kevin
kittykins wrote: Wed May 15, 2019 6:37 pm
I wonder if this had something to do with Kaelyn's retirement. Is 23 really that old for a skater??
I'm sure that probably did weigh into her decision. She's seen what the new generation of skaters is throwing out there, and it would seem impossible to be able to compete with those types of technical elements....even though I would MUCH rather watch the speed and jumping quality of a Katelyn, over a spidery, tiny jumper like these young quad women
Re: More off-season movement & retirements - skaters/coaches
Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 3:37 pm
by happyheini
Well said, Kevin.
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