Skate Canada #1: Getting Pumped!

I’ve attended events at Mississauga’s Hershey Centre every year since 2007, but I’ve rarely seen so many people in the main rink…and this is just official practice!  A few local school groups are here, and the kids are making a ton of noise and have been a huge support to the ladies, who practiced first today.

I arrived today at 9.58 a.m. for the press conference that began at 10.15…not too shabby, considering that I had to cross an international border this morning! Of course, getting my credential was a huge disaster. I don’t know why this always happens to me (and only me), but I was sent to three different doors, stopped by multiple security guards, and was held up at a checkpoint for over five minutes while I waited for someone to “escort” me approximately twenty feet. I understand security measures, of course, but I would really like to be able to pick up my credential on the first try. At least occasionally.

Fortunately, I managed to slip into the press conference even without a credential, so I didn’t miss the opening remarks. After the formal part was over, the athletes were available for interviews, so while everyone swarmed around Patrick Chan and Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, I chatted with Harvey & Gagnon and Weaver & Poje, both full of smiles and energy. They were sitting right under a spotlight, so when I took a group photo, I got a huge lens flare. I was going to ask them to move, but I decided to just go with it! I missed talking with Tessa & Scott (left)  because I had to sort out the credential fiasco, but I did snap a photo of them talking with another journalist.

I talked to Tarrah Harvey & Keith Gagnon first. They competed last month at Nebelhorn Trophy, so I asked them how that impacted their training for their Grand Prix début.

“We changed some of the patterns for the setups for elements, and we’ve just kind of been smoothing everything out,” Keith said. “I think that [the smoothness] is one of the biggest things.”

The no-touch circular step sequence in the short dance has been a challenge for them (and for many teams) this year, but they are glad that they have competed a few times already to get feedback as they continue to tweak the element. Since the element is brand-new this year, they are getting a better feel for it as they try different steps and see what other teams are doing to score well.

Tarrah did not stop smiling the whole time we were talking. “We just want to skate like we can,” she said. “I can’t wait [for the competition]. I can’t believe we’re here.”

Kaitlyn & Andrew were sitting just to the left, and I started by asking them about débuting their programs here.

“We’re so excited to show off all the hard work we did over the summer,” Andrew said.

“We have good mileage on the programs for this time of the season,” Kaitlyn said.

I loved listening to Kaitlyn talk about their programs. She sounded so happy with how they have turned out, and confident, too. I think that finishing fifth in the world has suited them quite well.

“It’s so important for us to be emotionally involved with the program,” she said about their free dance, which she described as the “polar opposite” of the sassy, energetic short dance.

It sounds like this is going to be an excellent event!  I am looking forward to seeing all seven teams in practice later today.