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Click here to read the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships blog by Rob Brodie.

The men end the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships

(January 19, 2009) – The last day of the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships got off to a later start. Medal ceremonies and special award presentations began at 3:00 p.m.

One of the special presentations was the HomeSense Personal Best Award which recognizes individual performers who achieved personal best scores.

HomeSense Personal Best Award Winners
Sarah Jones and Jeremy Sandor – Junior pair – Quebec Section    
New seasonal best score – 123.67 (+19.12)

Kaliegh Hole – Junior women – Manitoba Section
New seasons best score – 105.18 (+14.27)

Alexa-Marie Arrotta and Martin Nickel – Junior ice dance – Manitoba Section
New seasonal best score – 136.87 (+17.08)

Paul Parkinson – Junior men – Eastern Ontario Section
New seasonal best score – 141.46 – (+11.32)

Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers – Senior pair – Saskatchewan Section
New seasonal best score – 138.92 (+17.8)

Amélie Lacoste – Senior women – Quebec Section
New seasonal best score – 143.01 (+25.38)

Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno – British Columbia and Yukon Section
New seasonal best score – 160.36 (+17.41)

Debbi Wilkes, Skate Canada Director Marketing and Communications also gave a notable mention to newly certified level five coach, Sylvie Wandzura who is a member of the Saskatchewan Section.

Annie Barabé, Marina Zoueva and Lee Barkell all received the Petro Canada Coaching Excellence Award. The award honours coaches whose Canadian athletes or teams win medals at World Championships, Olympic Games, Special Olympics and the Paralympics Games.

Doug Leigh was also recognized for his coaching efforts with the Geoff Gowan Award. The award recognizes a person’s lifetime contribution to coaching development regardless of their sport. The coach must also present a positive public image and have helped to enhance the role of coaches within the Canadian sport community.

The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State for Sport also made an appearance at the event. Lunn helped award medals in the senior disciplines. He also mingled with volunteers, athletes and media while watching the men’s free program.

“Regardless of what sport discipline you get young people involved in, whether it’s skating, skiing or cycling; whatever it may be, it’s the character it builds. The determination, passion makes for the most inspiring athletes.” said Lunn. “The skaters have put their hearts and souls into their training and I am sure we are going to see that on the ice today and I am looking forward to it.”

Lunn joined the crowds at Credit Union Centre at 4:30 p.m. for the start of the men’s free program.

It was Patrick Chan the 18-year-old from Toronto who once again had the fans in Saskatoon on their feet. Chan swept through his long program for a score of 165.93 and a total competition score of 254.82. Chan not only beat his own personal best score he also beat the Canadian record that was previously held by Jeffery Buttle. This is Chan’s second Canadian title; he also won the event in 2008.

Edmonton native Vaughn Chipeur, 24, was able to hold on to the silver medal. Chipeur scored 134.41 points in the free program for an overall total of 206.30 points. Jeremy Ten, 19 of Vancouver, B.C., edged his way onto the podium to win the bronze medal. Ten scored 134.97 points in the free program for a total score of 204.03.   
After the senior men’s free program the BMO Possibility Awards were given out. The BMO Possibility Awards have been presented annually since 2004 and include a $500 BMO Financial Group training grant and a glass sculpture. This year’s awards were presented by Harold Halyk, Market Manager, BMO Harris Private Banking.

The Awards take into account some of the following criteria during individual performances in any part of the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships:

• personal best performance
• performance given above adversity
• performance that stuck in the minds of the spectators
• performance that displayed new and creative skating talent and set new standards or sought a new horizon

Brittany Jones and Kurtis Gaskell from Western Ontario showed focus, determination and commitment to perform two clean programs in junior pair. Karen Routhier and Eric Sauke-Lacelle from Quebec dominated the junior dance category. They captured three clear victories in all three parts of the junior dance event. Jean-Simon Légaré from Quebec was able to entertain the crowd to no end. From a spectator perspective he was one of the skaters that the audience came to love for his passion and skill of skating. His energy was undeniable in his short program. Kathryn Kang from the British Columbia Yukon section showed mental toughness in executing two consistent and solid technical and artistic performances in the senior women.

The five-day event was a huge success with great performances from skaters in every discipline and the amazing work of all the volunteers! This event would not have been possible without the help of wonderful Saskatoon volunteers! Thank you!

Skate Canada looks forward to the 2010 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships hosted in London, Ontario next January!

Senior Canadian Champions crowned

(January 18, 2009) – It’s day number four of the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Saskatoon, Sask. The fans at the Credit Union Centre cheered loudly as the senior women’s, pair, ice dance and junior pair champions were crowned.

The race for the women’s title began just before noon on Saturday. Quebec women swept the podium! After trailing in the short program, Joannie Rochette, 23 of of Île Dupas, Que., now five-time Canadian Champion was able to take home the gold. Rochette received a standing ovation from the excited crowd for her program score of 131.77 for a competition total of 185.35 points. Rochette clearly showed her emotions at the end of the program as the crowd embraced her.

“First off I am really happy about the job I did tonight. It was not an easy thing after being disappointed yesterday. I showed myself that I am much stronger mentally than I ever thought,” said Rochette. “I am not an emotional skater and at the end I was so relieved that I could do this.”

Cynthia Phaneuf, 21, of Contrecoeur, Que., also had the crowd on their feet as she skated to a free program score of 96.26 and a total score of 151.42. Former junior champion Amélie Lacoste, 20 of Delson, Que., captured the bronze medal with 89.46 points in the free program for an overall total of 143.01.

After a short press conference with the top three, Skate Canada executives William Thompson and Mike Slipchuk announced the women’s 2009 ISU Four Continents Championships and the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championship team. Rochette, Phaneuf and Lacoste will all represent Canada in Vancouver at the 2009 ISU Four Continents Championships. Rochette and Phaneuf will be the Canadian entries at the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championship in Los Angeles, USA.

Senior pair followed directly after the women’s free program. Jessica Dubé, 21 of Drummondville, Que., and Bryce Davison, 22 of Cambridge, Ont., came back after placing second in the short program to win the Canadian pair title. This is their second Canadian title; they also won the event in 2007. They collected 126.21 points in the free for a competition total of 188.43.

Meagan Duhamel, 23 of Lively, Ont., and Craig Buntin, 28 of Kelowna, B.C., dropped one spot to win the silver medal. They scored 116.76 points in the free program for an overall score of 182.50 points.  Third in the short and third in the free were Mylène Brodeur, 21 of Stanbridge-Station, Que., and John Mattatall, 25 of Wallace, N.S. They skated a solid performance for 104.22 points in the free program for a total score of 159.85 points.

Also a notable mention goes to the pair team of Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers of Saskatewan who placed fourth; if cheers could decide the winner, this young pair team would have won it all!  
Once again Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada Director High Performance announced the 2009 ISU Four Continents Championships and the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championship teams for pair. Dubé and Davison and Duhamel and Buntin will represent Canada at both events. Canada still has a spot open in each event but will not announce the team until an assessment is done to see if 2008 Canadian Champions Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay will be healthy to compete after a competitive simulation is done. The announcement will be made within the next seven to 10 days. If Langlois and Hay are unable to compete, Brodeur and Mattatall will represent Canada at both events.   

Next up was the junior pair free program. Brittany Jones and Kurtis Gaskell from the Western Ontario section secured a first place finish and a Canadian junior title with 88.28 points in the free program for a competition total of 137.24 points.  Sara Jones and Jeremy Sandor of Quebec followed in second with 78.32 points. Jumping from fourth in the short was Central Ontario’s Maddison Bird and Raymond Schultz who won the bronze with 78.56 points for a total of 122.12 points.

Senior ice dance closed down the Credit Union Centre with the free dance. No surprise that the team of Tessa Virtue, 19 of London, Ont., and Scott Moir, 21, of Ilderton, Ont., won their second consecutive Canadian title in ice dance. They scored 94.68 points in the free dance for a grand total of 197.77 points.

Vanessa Crone, 18, of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 17, of Unionville, Ont., held down their second place to secure the silver medal. They rounded up 84.40 points in the free program for a competition total of 175.58. Waterloo skaters Kaitlyn Weaver, 19 and Andrew Poje, 21, followed close behind with a second place finish in the free program, 84.42 points for a bronze medal finish of 170.23 points.   

Skate Canada made the announcement that Virtue and Moir and Crone and Poirier will be the Canadian entries at both the 2009 ISU Four Continents Championships and the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. Weaver and Poje will be joining them at the ISU Four Continents Championships as Canada’s third entry.

Don’t miss Sunday’s men’s conclusion and the Gala Exhibition. The top three in each senior discipline will all perform as well as the Junior Canadian Champions, with a special performance by the pair team of Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers from Saskatchewan. The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State for Sport will also be making a special appearance to assist in the medal ceremonies and special award presentations.

Tickets are still available!
Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 306.938.7800 and in person at the Credit Union Centre box office.

Senior events kick into high gear!

(January 17, 2009) – It’s day number three of the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Sask., and senior ice dance was first of the mark today.  When current Canadian Champions Tessa Virtue, 19 of London, Ont., and Scott Moir, 21, of Ilderton, Ont., finished their program, they held a 12-point lead over the team in second place. Virtue and Moir sit comfortably in first with 63.76 points in the original dance and 103.09 points in total.

Vanessa Crone, 18, of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 17, of Unionville, Ont., still hold down second with 55.56 points in the original dance and 91.18 points overall.  Waterloo skaters Kaitlyn Weaver, 19 and Andrew Poje, 21 jumped up two spots to third place. They scored 52.92 points in the original dance for a total of 84.81 points. Senior ice dance will conclude on Saturday.

The women were next to take the ice. The women’s event was full of surprises. It was 2004 Canadian Champion and birthday girl Cynthia Phaneuf, 21, of Contrecoeur, Que., winning the women’s short program with 55.16 points. Four-time Canadian Champion Joannie Rochette, 23 of Île Dupas, Que., finished a close second with 53.58 points. 2005 Junior Women’s Champion Amélie Lacoste, 20 of Delson, Que., finished just .03 points behind Rochette with 53.55 points. The women close out their competition with their free programs on Saturday.  With the scores all so close it could be anyone’s title to win.

The pair discipline was up next. Meagan Duhamel, 23 of Lively, Ont., and Craig Buntin, 28 of Kelowna, B.C., had an outstanding performance to win the short program. They currently sit in first with 65.74 points. World silver medalists  Jessica Dubé, 21 of Drummondville, Que., and Bryce Davison, 22 of Cambridge, Ont., are just a few points behind in second with 62.22 points. Mylène Brodeur, 21 of Stanbridge-Station, Que., and John Mattatall, 25 of Wallace, N.S., who represent the Nova Scotia section, are holding on to third with 55.63 points. The pair event will also finish on Saturday. 

The senior men closed the night. The crowd was on their feet as 2008 Canadian Champion Patrick Chan, 18 of Toronto, Ont., skated to a near perfect performance. The newly turned 18-year-old scored 88.89 in the short program. Chan has a 17-point lead over Vaughn Chipeur, 24 of Edmonton, Alta who sits in second with 71.89 points. Coquiltam, B.C’s Kevin Reynolds, 18, trails close behind with 70.00 points.   

Friday was full of surprises and who knows what is going to happen on Saturday when the ice dance, women and pair finish. It’s really anyone’s game at this point! The men’s event is also shaping up to be a close race for the silver and bronze medals. They will wrap-up on Sunday.
 
Tickets are still available!
Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 306.938.7800 and in person at the Credit Union Centre box office.

Junior ice dance, women and men all come to the end at BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships

(January 16, 2009) –It was junior ice dance once again to hit the ice first. Quebec ice dancers Karen Routhier and Eric Sauche-Lacelle were able to keep the lead and take home the title of 2009 Canadian Junior Ice Dance Champions. They scored 77.27 points in free dance for an overall score of 163.53. In 2008, Routhier and Sauche-Lacelle won the silver medal. 

British Columbia’sTarrah Harvey and Keith Gagnon followed in second with 76.68 points in the free dance and 163.53 for a total score. Holding strong to claim the bronze medal were Alexandra Paul and Jason Cheperdak of British Columbia Yukon section. They scored 72.26 in the free for an overall score of 150.26.

At 11:00 a.m. the opening press conference began. William Thompson, Skate Canada CEO, Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada Director High Performance and Kieron Kilduff, Vice President, Branch Manager & Investment Advisor, BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc, all spoke about the excitement this event brings to skaters, fans and the host city.

“We of course are happy to be back in Saskatoon,” said William Thompson, Skate Canada CEO. “It’s a little cold but this is a great event for the skaters and fans to really get to see great Canadian skating.”

Patrick Chan, Joannie Rochette, Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davison and Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir all took part in the press conference answering questions and participating in one-on-one interviews at the conclusion.   
  
Next up were the junior women. Manitoba’s Kate Charbonneau came from behind to win the 2009 Junior Canadian Women’s title. Charbonneau, who was fifth after the short program stepped up her game to grab the gold with 79.30 points in the free program for an overall total of 120.41.

British Columbia’s Cambria Little had an outstanding free program to jump seven spots to second place. She finished with 78.79 points in the free and 119.18 points total. Western Ontario’s Rylie McCulloch-Casarsa clinched the bronze medal after finishing in eighth in the short program. She scored 74.21 points in the free for a total of 114.82. 

The junior pair competition began today with the short program. Brittany Jones and Kurtis Gaskell from the Western Ontario section currently sit in first place with 48.96 points. Quebec’s Sara Jones and Jeremy Sandor follow in second with 45.35 points and Zoey Brown and Ian Beharry of Western Ontario are a close third with 45.17. The junior pair competition will finish on Saturday, January 17, 2009.

The junior men closed off the night. It was Andrei Rogozine from Central Ontario who was able to secure the gold medal. Rogozine scored an impressive 97.24 points in the free program for a total of 149.77. He was originally second after the short program.

Eastern Ontario’s Paul Parkinson was the junior men’s story; Parkinson came from behind to win the silver medal. After a tenth place finish in the short program he had the second best score in the free program, 96.37 for a total of 141.46 points. Quebec’s Sébastien Wolfe dropped to third with a free program score of 89.58 and a grand total of 140.60.

Tickets are still available!
Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 306.938.7800 and in person at the Credit Union Centre box office.

Day one of the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships

(January 15, 2009) –Skaters hit the ice at the chilly Credit Union Centre (CUC) in Saskatoon yesterday for the first day of competition. The junior ice dancers kicked things off with the compulsory dance. 

Quebec ice dancers of Karen Routhier and Eric Sauche-Lacelle led the way with 32.24 points, while British Columbia’sTarrah Harvey and Keith Gagnon sit in second place with 29.92 points. Sarah Arnold and Christopher Steeves of Alberta follow closely in third with 29.30 points.

Later that day the junior ice dancers returned to the CUC for the original dance portion of their competition. Routhier and Sauche-Lacelle maintained their lead, earning 54.02 points for a total of 86.26. Harvey and Gagnon held onto second with 50.15 points and an overall score of 80.07. Alexandra Paul and Jason Cheperdak stepped up to third place with a strong original dance, 48.92 for a total score of 78.00 points.        

Junior ice dance will wrap up Thursday morning with the free dance.

In junior men’s BC’s Ronald Lam leads the way with 58.53 points. Following in second is Andrei Rogozine from Central Ontario with 52.53 points. Quebec’s Sébastien Wolfe sits in third with 51.02 points. The junior men will conclude with the free program on Thursday night.

The junior women were next to get underway. After the short program, Central Ontario’s Alexandra Najarro leads the women with 46.34 points. Daniela-Bella Favot of Western Ontario follows close behind with 44.63 points. Alana Tidy of Quebec landed in third with 42.04 points.

The junior women will conclude on Thursday, January 15th.

The night ended with the first portion of the senior ice dance competition. 2008 Canadian Champions Tessa Virtue, 19 of London, Ont., and Scott Moir, 21, of Ilderton, Ont., stole the show with their first competitive performance of the season. They lead in first with 39.33 points. Up and comers Vanessa Crone, 18, of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 17, of Unionville, Ont., are right behind in second with 35.62 points. Siobhan Karan, 22, of Ottawa, Ont., and Kevin O’Keefe, 26, of Windsor, Ont., currently sit in third with 31.97 points.

Tickets are still available!
Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 306.938.7800 and in person at the Credit Union Centre box office.

The Daily Spin returns!

(January 12, 2009) – Skating fans are in for a treat once again. The recently introduced event publication The Daily Spin will be available at the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It will be printed daily, starting on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 and will be free to fans onsite.

The Daily Spin made its debut at the 2008 HomeSense Skate Canada International in Ottawa, Ontario this past fall and it was an instant hit with fans! This fun filled tabloid-like paper will feature information on the event including schedules and results, news,  CanSkate program info, trivia, history, sponsor information and much more!

Also be on the lookout for articles from the energetic and humorous PJ Kwong! PJ is a CBC commentator as well as a writer for CBC.ca.  She will be providing fans an inside look as to what is going on around the event.

Skate Bug glides into Saskatoon!

(January 12, 2009) – Skate Canada is pleased to bring back the Skate Bug for another event.

In October 2008 Skate Canada announced a new multimedia tool for skating fans: The Skate Bug. It was first used at the 2008 HomeSense Skate Canada International and received rave reviews from fans and media alike.

The Skate Bug is an earpiece that members of the live audience can purchase on location. It is designed to fit perfectly in the ear and will output expert commentary live to the in venue fan!

Featured commentators at the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships will be CBC digital channel BOLD’s, PJ Kwong, Olympic medalist and Skate Canada Director Marketing and Communications, Debbi Wilkes and the ever chatty, Skate Canada Manager of Officials and former Canadian medalist in senior men, Norm Proft. Special guests may drop by so make sure you keep your bug tuned in!

ISU Judging System

The International Skating Union (ISU) has developed a new judging system for figure skating following the 2002 Olympic Games.  This system incorporates two panels of experts:

1. The Technical Panel to identify elements
2. A Judging Panel to evaluate the elements execution

For singles and pair short and free programs and the original and free dances. The system in based on points being awarded for a technical score and for five additional components as outlined below.

Technical Score:
Each existing element (e.g. jump, lift, footwork, etc.) has a point value.  Once a skater performs an element it will be identified and confirmed by the Technical Panel.  The Judging Panel will then decide upon the quality of that performed element using a scale of seven grades ranging from “-3” to “+3”, with that grade added to our subtracted from the original value of the element.

For each element, the highest and lowest points are discarded.  The element score is the average determined from the points of the remaining judges.  The total element score will be the sum of each element score.

Program Component Score:
In addition to the technical elements, points will also be awarded for the five different program components.  Judging on a scale of 1-10 (with increments of 0.25), the judges express the overall presentation of the whole program.
The program components include:

• Skating Skills - the competitor’s ability to skate;
• Transition, Linking Footwork and Movement – the variation of linking movements between elements;
• Performance/Execution – express the style, carriage and unison;
• Choreography/Composition – expresses the quality of composition of the program;
• Interpretation – indicates the skater’s expression of the music’s style, character and rhythm throughout the entire program.

The program component scores are also calculated by discarding the highest and lowest score, then averaging the remaining scores.  Each is then multiplied by a factor that is set out in the rules for each event.

Additional points may be awarded for innovative elements while deductions are made for rule violations and falls.

Result:
The total score for any segment will be the technical score added to the total score for the five program components, plus any bonuses minus any deductions.

Final Competition Result

In singles and pairs figure skating, scores from the two segments, the short program and the free skate, are added together to give the total competition score.

In the event that a qualifying round is skated, 25% of the score awarded to the qualifying free skate is added to the total score for the athlete.

In ice dance, scores from the three segments, the compulsory dance, the original dance and free dance, are added together to give the total competition score.

At the end of the event the skater or team with the highest competition score wins the event.

Single event tickets on sale Monday for the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Saskatoon

Single tickets for the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships will go on sale November 24, 2008 at 10:00 AM (CST). Prices will range from $5-$40, plus applicable surcharges.  Skate Canada will host the event at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Sask., January 14-18, 2009.

Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 306.938.7800 and in person at the Credit Union Centre box office. From November 24 - December 14, “Early Bird” customers will save $5 on each ticket purchased. All-Event tickets will no longer be available as of November 24. Triple axel packages will continue to be offered.

The 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships will have a vital impact on the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic Games. These championships determine the skaters who will represent Canada at the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships.  Results from the 2009 Worlds will define the number of entries Canada can send to the 2010 Games in Vancouver.  As a result, competing in Saskatoon will be a key event as Canadian skaters prepare their competitive strategy for the 2009-2010 seasons.

Approximately 150 skaters in women’s, men’s, pair and ice dance disciplines compete at the senior and junior levels at the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships.  The athletes will vie for spots on the Skate Canada National Team, the Skate Canada Junior National Team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships® 2009 and the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.