Dancing With The Stars

A lot of folks might still see them as that pair of cute, cuddly kids.
But ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are aiming to change that perception these days. They see it as a key part of their mission to keep rising up the world rankings.
"Our goal this year is to really make the jump, to compete with the best in the world,” Moir said when asked what comes next after he and Virtue finished an amazing sixth in their very first world championship last spring in Tokyo. "So I think that's where we're going to try to go with it. Obviously, we have a lot to do to compete with those other skaters, but we feel we're going to be ready and we're excited about the opportunity.
"We're working on power and speed, that's what we're trying to do. And just looking mature out on the ice, looking like adults.”
Legally, at least, they're already there. Check the birth certificates of the London, Ont., duo, and you'll see it's true: Moir is now 20, Virtue is 18. Yes, they're growing up right before our eyes.
And with Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon on sabbatical from eligible skating this season, Virtue and Moir now become the hunted for the first time: Heavy favourites to claim their first Canadian senior title in January in Vancouver.
"It definitely is more pressure on us,” said Virtue. "But it's motivating and it's exciting. It's what helps us get through every day of training, and we're ready to take that next step.”
Added Moir: "It's completely different. There's a lot of pressure being on top, because you have a lot of expectations. At the same time, that's why we compete, because everyone wants to be the best.”
Apparently, they can't get there fast enough. The answer comes quick and surely when they're asked what's next on the global stage.
"Five more steps," Virtue said with a smile.
And if you think this is all happening rather fast ... well, guess again.
"We're just very goal oriented,” said Moir. "We're always trying to go for the next step. It feels like the years go by pretty slow, so (to us) it's not really going by that fast.”
They're all but guaranteed to add a Skate Canada gold medal to their growing collection on Sunday, when the free dance final helps ring down the curtain on the competition at Pepsi Colisee. Virtue and Moir hold a commanding 11.32-point lead over Italians Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte.