Category: Feature

Behind the Program, Ep. 5: Séguin and Bilodeau, 2015-16 Short Program

by Jacquelyn Thayer NOTE: Due to the costs and time involved in maintaining and further growing Two for the Ice as an outlet, we’ve recently launched a funding option through Patreon, with small suggested donation fees per article. We appreciate…

Together, Hawayek and Baker Shaping Their Vision

by Jacquelyn Thayer If American ice dancers Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker know their stylistic strengths, they know even better how they aim to expand them — beginning with a season’s debut at this week’s Finlandia Trophy. Their new short…

Behind the Program, Ep. 4: Paul and Islam, 2015-16 Short Dance

by Jacquelyn Thayer Taking on a Ravensburger Waltz with a classical ballet twist was a task Alexandra Paul and Mitch Islam were loath to take lightly. “Any time you tackle a new program, there are countless hours that go into…

For Orford and Hill, Happy Accidents Tell the Tale

by Jacquelyn Thayer A planned West Coast vacation for Canadian ice dancer Asher Hill — journeying from Vegas to L.A. up through Vancouver to meet with skating friends — prompted an unexpected invitation from British Columbia-based Nicole Orford, recently split…

The Pre-Season Primer: Skate Canada COS Summer Skate

by Jacquelyn Thayer Note: On-site impressions, supplemental to coverage afforded by livestream, were provided by two sources who wish to remain anonymous. Additional teams were contacted for comment, and the article will be updated to reflect their quotes if provided.…

2015 Quebec Summer Championships: The Dancers

by Jacquelyn Thayer Though also well-represented in junior dance (discussed later), the senior dance event at the 2015 Quebec Summer Championships (Championnats québécois d’été 2015) in Pierrefonds was overwhelmed with entries from the Gadbois Centre — five of seven couples…

Behind the Program, Ep. 3: Edwards and Pang, 2015-16 Free Dance

by Jacquelyn Thayer After two seasons bouncing between a junior international circuit and senior national championships, Canadians Madeline Edwards and ZhaoKai Pang found their entrance to the full-time senior scene a prime time to try on a new look. The…

Rising Stars Take Stage at Sixth Annual Margaret Garrison Ice Show

by Jacquelyn Thayer This year’s Margaret Garrison Ice Show and Awards Ceremony — held annually since 2010 in memory of the long-time vice president of the Skate Canada Central Ontario Section — took on added import, marking 60 years for…

Moore-Towers and Marinaro Find New Motivation in Montreal

by Jacquelyn Thayer When Canadian pair Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro made the call to relocate from the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club to Bruno Marcotte and Richard Gauthier’s Montreal camp in March, the first step upon arrival was one of demolition.…

Dancing Between Worlds: From Pointe to Blade

by Jacquelyn Thayer Elegant and agile, few images in skating are more celebrated than that of the ballerina on ice, the dancer on blades. It’s away from the spotlight that the magic is born — through nine hour training days,…