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. Senior Short Dance Protocols Senior Free Dance Protocols Senior dance at the Skate Canada Central…
Category: Pairs
Analysis, Competition, Pairs
2015 Quebec Summer Championships: The Pairs
by Jacquelyn Thayer Though almost wholly comprising duos from the popular camp at CPA St. Leonard, led by coaches Bruno Marcotte and Richard Gauthier, the senior pairs event at the 2015 Quebec Summer Championships (Championnats québécois d’été) was particularly highlighted by a very strong season’s debut for Canadian bronze medalists — and World Junior silver…
Analysis, Competition, Ice Dance, Pairs
The Pre-Season Primer: Skate Detroit and Lake Placid
As the summer off-season transitions into what’s really become a pre-season — with a significant number of elite competitors across all disciplines tackling summer competitions in preparation for the Grand Prix and Challenger Series of the fall — Two for the Ice will be presenting a series of event recaps, from quick analysis to on-site…
Feature, Ice Dance, On-Site Coverage, Pairs
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 the section. And at the direction of Marijane Stong, this commemoration was one of musical…
Feature, Interview, Pairs
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. “Basically when we got here, all of our elements were ripped apart,” said Moore-Towers. “So…
Feature, Ice Dance, Interview, Pairs
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, frequent commutes or specialized injury. A childhood in the studio cedes to sessions in skates;…
Competition, Ice Dance, Lists, Pairs
2015 World Championships Preview: By the Numbers
Total number of dance teams competing at 2015 World Figure Skating Championships: 30 Canada = three; USA = three Total number of pairs competing at 2015 World Figure Skating Championships: 19 Canada = three; USA = two Dance teams overall returning from 2014 Worlds: 17 Pairs overall returning from 2014 Worlds: 9 Percent change in…
Feature, Interview, Pairs
With Time, Castelli and Tran Forging New Road
by Jacquelyn Thayer What could be considered a disadvantage — a pending federation release that curtailed their chance to compete on the international circuit in 2014-15 — was, for Marissa Castelli and Mervin Tran, a distinct benefit. “I would say that is the best thing that could have happened to us, because unlike the other…
Feature, Interview, Pairs
Donlan and Bartholomay Begin Again
by Jacquelyn Thayer Gretchen Donlan and Nate Bartholomay, matched in July, kicked off their competitive career together under less than auspicious circumstances. After an initial assignment to November’s Ice Challenge, the team had to decline in favor of ankle surgery for Bartholomay in late October to repair a disc and remove bone spurs, forced by…
Feature, Interview, Pairs
Calalang and Sidhu Make Most of Opportunity
by Jacquelyn Thayer With a quiet entry to the senior ranks in 2013, marked by a silver at their single international assignment at Cup of Nice and an eleventh-place finish at the 2014 U.S. Championships, American pair Jessica Calalang and Zack Sidhu anticipated a similarly modest schedule for 2014-15. And then, in summer, came the…