On the day I arrived in this wonderful piece of Canada for the first time, I remember asking the question 'what's the best time to visit Quebec City?'
'Any time,' answered the friendly volunteer who brought me to the historic Chateau Frontenac from Jean Lesage Airport, and then back again this morning.
I believe it now, and with all of my heart.
It is always a treat to spend time at a major figure skating competition, and around a group of athletes who do their best to make your time worthwhile. Even better when it's accompanied by the opportunity to discover what makes this land of ours so great.
I have often let it be known that Halifax is one of my favourite cities to visit in Canada. Quite obviously, after a few days here, Quebec City now belongs near the top of that list.
The oldest city in our country is every bit as beautiful as the pictures many of us have seen. The history here is preserved with great care by people who ooze pride about their astounding city. And with good reason, I might add.
While I will spend time, now that I've returned to Ottawa, speaking about the postcard-like beauty I've seen, and the food and hospitality I enjoyed at a grand old hotel that is nothing short of fabulous, that won't be my best and most lasting memory.
Quebec City is filled with so many people with a zest for life that bursts out with each 'bonjour!' you hear at every turn. There is a special sincerity in the tone, something that tells you these people don't just say it, they mean it. That you are most welcome to be a guest in the city they call home.
In 2008, Quebec City celebrates its 400th birthday, and a year-long celebration is being planned. I can only imagine what a festival it will be. With any luck, I will get the chance to be a part of it.
I've often heard the phrase joie de vivre used to describe the Quebecois, and I believe I can truly say now that I know what it means. And, at the risk of sounding political, it must be said that our country is so much richer for what they bring to it.
A big merci to you, Quebec City, for all for the kindness and hospitality you've shown us in the past four or five days. I, for one, will cherish it always.
And to those who logged on to this blog during HomeSense Skate Canada, merci to you as well. The road carries us next to Vancouver, where the BMO Canadian championships will be held in January.
Hope to see you all then.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Take It To The Bank
So now, it's on to Ottawa.
Well, Kanata to be exact. Home base for Scotiabank Place, where HomeSense Skate Canada will land a year from now.
The good folks who pack the rink known locally as 'The Bank' have gotten used to some high-end skating these days: The Ottawa Senators, 11-1-0 as of this writing, own the top record in the National Hockey League.
Meaning the folks who run Skate Canada have a pretty high standard to keep.
They're confident they can do it, at least from the home end. Skate Canada CEO William Thompson all but confirmed that ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir — who struck gold in Quebec City, stole the show here, and might be world medallists (or even champions) by then — will be among the headliners at this event in 2008.
Joannie Rochette is also a very good bet to be there. Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, too, along with Jeffrey Buttle. Assuming one and all leave Vancouver in January with Canadian titles in their pockets, that is.
Skate Canada typically loads up its 'home' Grand Prix event with its top talent. This week, they also delivered world men's champ Brian Joubert of France and a precocious Japanese teen, Mao Asada, who might get there herself soon enough.
In other words, there will be no shortage of stars.
Now they just need to convince the public that it's the case.
"Our long-term goal is to have the arena full (again), but we are in a rebuilding mode," said Thompson. "The excitement in figure skating in Canada, I truly believe, will continue to build. When the public gets to know the Tessa and Scotts, and Jessica and Bryces, it will generate excitement and the crowds will return."
***
This isn't a sport for the faint of heart.
Everyone here got a reminder of that Saturday morning. During the warmup for the final flight of the ice dance final, U.S. competitor Denis Petukhov stumbled and lost his grip on partner Melissa Gregory during a rotational lift. Gregory crashed to the ice, landed hard on her chest and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
A CT scan later proved negative.
"She is going to be released tonight and she is fine," said Thompson.
Still, it was a scary moment for everyone who saw it.
"It reminds you about how dangerous this sport can be," said Virtue.
***
One friendly suggestion for next year.
Bring Marc Ferland — and a microphone — to Ottawa.
The former Canadian junior and novice champion gave one of the most stirring renditions of O Canada you'd ever want to hear to open this event on Friday night. Then he put those amazing pipes to work one more time and did it again to close the show Sunday afternoon.
You're not Canadian if you weren't moved by what you heard.
Well, Kanata to be exact. Home base for Scotiabank Place, where HomeSense Skate Canada will land a year from now.
The good folks who pack the rink known locally as 'The Bank' have gotten used to some high-end skating these days: The Ottawa Senators, 11-1-0 as of this writing, own the top record in the National Hockey League.
Meaning the folks who run Skate Canada have a pretty high standard to keep.
They're confident they can do it, at least from the home end. Skate Canada CEO William Thompson all but confirmed that ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir — who struck gold in Quebec City, stole the show here, and might be world medallists (or even champions) by then — will be among the headliners at this event in 2008.
Joannie Rochette is also a very good bet to be there. Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, too, along with Jeffrey Buttle. Assuming one and all leave Vancouver in January with Canadian titles in their pockets, that is.
Skate Canada typically loads up its 'home' Grand Prix event with its top talent. This week, they also delivered world men's champ Brian Joubert of France and a precocious Japanese teen, Mao Asada, who might get there herself soon enough.
In other words, there will be no shortage of stars.
Now they just need to convince the public that it's the case.
"Our long-term goal is to have the arena full (again), but we are in a rebuilding mode," said Thompson. "The excitement in figure skating in Canada, I truly believe, will continue to build. When the public gets to know the Tessa and Scotts, and Jessica and Bryces, it will generate excitement and the crowds will return."
***
This isn't a sport for the faint of heart.
Everyone here got a reminder of that Saturday morning. During the warmup for the final flight of the ice dance final, U.S. competitor Denis Petukhov stumbled and lost his grip on partner Melissa Gregory during a rotational lift. Gregory crashed to the ice, landed hard on her chest and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
A CT scan later proved negative.
"She is going to be released tonight and she is fine," said Thompson.
Still, it was a scary moment for everyone who saw it.
"It reminds you about how dangerous this sport can be," said Virtue.
***
One friendly suggestion for next year.
Bring Marc Ferland — and a microphone — to Ottawa.
The former Canadian junior and novice champion gave one of the most stirring renditions of O Canada you'd ever want to hear to open this event on Friday night. Then he put those amazing pipes to work one more time and did it again to close the show Sunday afternoon.
You're not Canadian if you weren't moved by what you heard.
Back Where He Belongs
A year ago at this time, Jeffrey Buttle was probably flat on his back on a couch somewhere, learning how the other half lives.
The half that watches events like HomeSense Skate Canada on television, wishing they could be out there on the ice, doing all that fun stuff.
His back was that much of a mess, his fall season a complete writeoff.
So if you're Mr. Buttle, you don't quibble a heck of a lot about the fact your performance Sunday at Pepsi Colisee wasn't quite up to your lofty standards.
Nope. You just take your bronze medal and run.
And enjoy it for all it's worth.
"Nothing hurts and I'm feeling good," said Buttle, 25, of Smooth Rock Falls, Ont. "Very much (better). I think we spent a lot of work just getting stronger and getting the jumps bigger, and I know they have been.
"So now it’s just about getting the mileage on the programs and making sure that I’m getting the other stuff done."
Buttle will be the first to tell you he's nowhere near being the guy who proudly brought home a bronze medal from the 2006 Torino Olympics, or a silver the previous year from the world championships.
Not just yet, anyways.
"I think it’s just going to take (more) training," said Buttle. "Making sure that when I come to competitions, that I’m ready and feel capable of winning. This time, I was probably not in that place. I had a really bad competition in Barrie a couple of weeks ago ... it was just a little competition, but stuff like that can affect you.
"I just need to train a little harder."
It wasn't really anybody's best day in Sunday's free skate, with the possible exception of Belgium's Kevin van der Perren, who won the day and the silver medal, behind world champion Brian Joubert of France.
You listen to the athletes in the sport long enough, though, and you'll realize it isn't always about where you finish.
Especially when it's only November.
So you take the small victories when you can get them. And for Buttle, being physically able to compete beats the heck out of the alternative.
Every day of the week, for that matter.
The half that watches events like HomeSense Skate Canada on television, wishing they could be out there on the ice, doing all that fun stuff.
His back was that much of a mess, his fall season a complete writeoff.
So if you're Mr. Buttle, you don't quibble a heck of a lot about the fact your performance Sunday at Pepsi Colisee wasn't quite up to your lofty standards.
Nope. You just take your bronze medal and run.
And enjoy it for all it's worth.
"Nothing hurts and I'm feeling good," said Buttle, 25, of Smooth Rock Falls, Ont. "Very much (better). I think we spent a lot of work just getting stronger and getting the jumps bigger, and I know they have been.
"So now it’s just about getting the mileage on the programs and making sure that I’m getting the other stuff done."
Buttle will be the first to tell you he's nowhere near being the guy who proudly brought home a bronze medal from the 2006 Torino Olympics, or a silver the previous year from the world championships.
Not just yet, anyways.
"I think it’s just going to take (more) training," said Buttle. "Making sure that when I come to competitions, that I’m ready and feel capable of winning. This time, I was probably not in that place. I had a really bad competition in Barrie a couple of weeks ago ... it was just a little competition, but stuff like that can affect you.
"I just need to train a little harder."
It wasn't really anybody's best day in Sunday's free skate, with the possible exception of Belgium's Kevin van der Perren, who won the day and the silver medal, behind world champion Brian Joubert of France.
You listen to the athletes in the sport long enough, though, and you'll realize it isn't always about where you finish.
Especially when it's only November.
So you take the small victories when you can get them. And for Buttle, being physically able to compete beats the heck out of the alternative.
Every day of the week, for that matter.
Mabee It's His Turn
Christopher Mabee, Canadian champion?
Hey, it could happen. And maybe sooner than some might think.
The Tillsonburg, Ont., native took another step in that direction at HomeSense Skate Canada, posting a fourth-place finish that matches his previous best in a Grand Prix event (NHK Trophy in 2005). And, as Mabee points out, it's a heck a lot better than his showing on the GP circuit a year ago.
"Last year on the Grand Prix, I was ninth and 10th, which are not very good results," said Mabee, 22, who trains at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont. "So to come out of this with a top-five finish is a much better result for me. Not only the placement, but the (performances) as well.”
Mabee might have deserved a better fate than the 125.70 points he got for his free skate on Sunday, which was a winner with the loud crowd at Pepsi Colisee. But here's the real encouraging part: He finished just 6.57 points behind bronze-medal winner Jeffrey Buttle, his sometimes training mate. They were almost dead even after the short program.
So what's it going to take to possibly put Mabee, who made his first world team last season, over the top at the 2008 Canadian championships in Vancouver in January?
"Just having a consistent season all around," he said. "Going out and making sure you take advantage of every opportunity that you have. Getting yourself in front of international judges, and performing well on top of that. The (judges) are going to rely on you to have those good performances and give you the marks that you maybe deserve."
In other words, he needs a better pedigree in the minds of the folks who decide who wins titles and who doesn't.
Mabee has no such worries with Canadian fans. They loved him in Halifax back in January, and his high-energy style was a hit at Le Colisee this weekend. And Mabee, showman that he is, knows a winning hand when he's got one.
"This whole (free) program is high energy from start to finish," he said. "There’s no down time, so I think that’s a huge thing for me. It’s the same style, but it’s definitely a step up component wise."
A Canadian championship program? We'll see soon enough.
Hey, it could happen. And maybe sooner than some might think.
The Tillsonburg, Ont., native took another step in that direction at HomeSense Skate Canada, posting a fourth-place finish that matches his previous best in a Grand Prix event (NHK Trophy in 2005). And, as Mabee points out, it's a heck a lot better than his showing on the GP circuit a year ago.
"Last year on the Grand Prix, I was ninth and 10th, which are not very good results," said Mabee, 22, who trains at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont. "So to come out of this with a top-five finish is a much better result for me. Not only the placement, but the (performances) as well.”
Mabee might have deserved a better fate than the 125.70 points he got for his free skate on Sunday, which was a winner with the loud crowd at Pepsi Colisee. But here's the real encouraging part: He finished just 6.57 points behind bronze-medal winner Jeffrey Buttle, his sometimes training mate. They were almost dead even after the short program.
So what's it going to take to possibly put Mabee, who made his first world team last season, over the top at the 2008 Canadian championships in Vancouver in January?
"Just having a consistent season all around," he said. "Going out and making sure you take advantage of every opportunity that you have. Getting yourself in front of international judges, and performing well on top of that. The (judges) are going to rely on you to have those good performances and give you the marks that you maybe deserve."
In other words, he needs a better pedigree in the minds of the folks who decide who wins titles and who doesn't.
Mabee has no such worries with Canadian fans. They loved him in Halifax back in January, and his high-energy style was a hit at Le Colisee this weekend. And Mabee, showman that he is, knows a winning hand when he's got one.
"This whole (free) program is high energy from start to finish," he said. "There’s no down time, so I think that’s a huge thing for me. It’s the same style, but it’s definitely a step up component wise."
A Canadian championship program? We'll see soon enough.
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
They're five steps that should be the hardest of all to climb.
But if Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir keep this up, the rising Canadian ice dance stars just might indeed by ready to conquer them all in one mighty leap.
That noise you heard Sunday at HomeSense Skate Canada was the sound of jaws dropping all around Pepsi Colisee at the astonishing sight they'd witnessed. Virtue and Moir literally blew away the field with a free dance performance than left them a whopping 25.5 points ahead of silver medallists Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy.
The young Canadians might have been the only ones unimpressed by that feat.
"The point gap, for us, isn’t really that big a deal,” said Moir, 20, of Ilderton, Ont. "We don’t think about it too much.”
Truth be told, these two confess they're not really big on the numbers game. But in this case, their paint a pretty impressive picture. Virtue and Moir's overall total (197.07) is nearly 13 points higher than their previous personal best. The score (99.63) for that lovely free dance, skated to music from the 1964 French musical, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (a favourite in these parts, I've been told), is better than the number Virtue and Moir recorded en route to a sixth-place finish in their world championships debut in March in Tokyo.
All of this, naturally, has been cause for excitement among the Canadian skating fraternity. Skate Canada CEO William Thompson, a former international judge, called Virtue and Moir's total score a rarity this early in the season. It also has him thinking a world title in 2008 in Gothenburg, Sweden, is "realistic" to start considering.
Even if Virtue and Moir aren't — at least not yet.
"That might be slightly ambitious," said Virtue, 18, of London, Ont., who couldn't help smiling at the mere mention of the thought. "But I think everyone competes to win. That’s in our heads, but whether it’s this year or a few years down the road, we’re training for that.”
Given this couple's track record, we'd bet on the former.
And more than just a couple of bucks.
But if Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir keep this up, the rising Canadian ice dance stars just might indeed by ready to conquer them all in one mighty leap.
That noise you heard Sunday at HomeSense Skate Canada was the sound of jaws dropping all around Pepsi Colisee at the astonishing sight they'd witnessed. Virtue and Moir literally blew away the field with a free dance performance than left them a whopping 25.5 points ahead of silver medallists Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy.
The young Canadians might have been the only ones unimpressed by that feat.
"The point gap, for us, isn’t really that big a deal,” said Moir, 20, of Ilderton, Ont. "We don’t think about it too much.”
Truth be told, these two confess they're not really big on the numbers game. But in this case, their paint a pretty impressive picture. Virtue and Moir's overall total (197.07) is nearly 13 points higher than their previous personal best. The score (99.63) for that lovely free dance, skated to music from the 1964 French musical, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (a favourite in these parts, I've been told), is better than the number Virtue and Moir recorded en route to a sixth-place finish in their world championships debut in March in Tokyo.
All of this, naturally, has been cause for excitement among the Canadian skating fraternity. Skate Canada CEO William Thompson, a former international judge, called Virtue and Moir's total score a rarity this early in the season. It also has him thinking a world title in 2008 in Gothenburg, Sweden, is "realistic" to start considering.
Even if Virtue and Moir aren't — at least not yet.
"That might be slightly ambitious," said Virtue, 18, of London, Ont., who couldn't help smiling at the mere mention of the thought. "But I think everyone competes to win. That’s in our heads, but whether it’s this year or a few years down the road, we’re training for that.”
Given this couple's track record, we'd bet on the former.
And more than just a couple of bucks.
Feeling That Championship Touch
They've been retired from eligible skating for more than four years.
But 2003 world ice dance champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz figure to have more than just a small hand in the composition of the team that will wear the red maple leaf next March in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Kraatz and his wife, Maikki Uotila Kraatz, are the coaches guiding the fortunes of Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno, who made a quantum leap this weekend with a fourth-place finish at HomeSense Skating Canada.
And Bourne has become a key addition to the team that's working with Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, who wound up sixth in the final standings at Pepsi Colisee.
Both couples figure to be in the middle of the fierce battle to land the second and third Canadian world team berths when the 2008 national championships are held in January in Vancouver.
Hann-McCurdy and Coreno moved to Vancouver in 2005 to train under Kraatz, and quickly won the Canadian junior title that season. They can't say enough good things about Kraatz.
"We have so much faith in him,” said Hann-McCurdy, 20, who represents the Gloucester Skating Club in Ottawa. "It’s been an interesting season, adjusting our goals and trying to improve. Victor has helped us a lot and we really trust him.”
They were eighth at nationals a year ago in Halifax. But Hann-McCurdy and Coreno have made it clear they'll challenge for one of the the three available world team berths in Vancouver. They finished two places ahead of Weaver and Poje, who were third in Halifax.
"Our technical marks here (at Skate Canada) were a big improvement compared to last year,” said Coreno, 23, of Delhi, Ont.
Weaver and Poje, meanwhile, could smile about a free dance that atoned for what she called "mediocre" compulsory and original dances.
"We knew we could come back with a great free dance, and we just kept that in our heads,” said Weaver, 18, a native of Houston, Tex.
They've brought in Bourne as a "finisher" of sorts, someone to work on what Poje calls "those little things that make a difference.”
"She’s definitely been a big help since she started working with us,” said Poje, 20, of Waterloo, Ont.
Weaver, a striking blonde, admits to feeling more than just a little flattered when some suggest she bears a resemblance to Bourne.
"It’s a great compliment, because (Bourne) is gorgeous,” said Weaver. "She’s a great, great role model, and just fabulous to work with and be around."
But 2003 world ice dance champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz figure to have more than just a small hand in the composition of the team that will wear the red maple leaf next March in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Kraatz and his wife, Maikki Uotila Kraatz, are the coaches guiding the fortunes of Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno, who made a quantum leap this weekend with a fourth-place finish at HomeSense Skating Canada.
And Bourne has become a key addition to the team that's working with Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, who wound up sixth in the final standings at Pepsi Colisee.
Both couples figure to be in the middle of the fierce battle to land the second and third Canadian world team berths when the 2008 national championships are held in January in Vancouver.
Hann-McCurdy and Coreno moved to Vancouver in 2005 to train under Kraatz, and quickly won the Canadian junior title that season. They can't say enough good things about Kraatz.
"We have so much faith in him,” said Hann-McCurdy, 20, who represents the Gloucester Skating Club in Ottawa. "It’s been an interesting season, adjusting our goals and trying to improve. Victor has helped us a lot and we really trust him.”
They were eighth at nationals a year ago in Halifax. But Hann-McCurdy and Coreno have made it clear they'll challenge for one of the the three available world team berths in Vancouver. They finished two places ahead of Weaver and Poje, who were third in Halifax.
"Our technical marks here (at Skate Canada) were a big improvement compared to last year,” said Coreno, 23, of Delhi, Ont.
Weaver and Poje, meanwhile, could smile about a free dance that atoned for what she called "mediocre" compulsory and original dances.
"We knew we could come back with a great free dance, and we just kept that in our heads,” said Weaver, 18, a native of Houston, Tex.
They've brought in Bourne as a "finisher" of sorts, someone to work on what Poje calls "those little things that make a difference.”
"She’s definitely been a big help since she started working with us,” said Poje, 20, of Waterloo, Ont.
Weaver, a striking blonde, admits to feeling more than just a little flattered when some suggest she bears a resemblance to Bourne.
"It’s a great compliment, because (Bourne) is gorgeous,” said Weaver. "She’s a great, great role model, and just fabulous to work with and be around."
When Old Isn't Charming
I can't help thinking of the phrase 'old-world charm' whenever I wander the hallways of the stately Chateau Frontenac (114 years young and counting), or view some of the sights of Old Quebec that surround this landmark hotel.
But sometimes, newer is better. At least that's what I thought Saturday night when the elevator I was riding down to the hotel lobby decided to grind to a halt (and yes, that would accurately describe the sound) somewhere between the first and second floors.
When I put in the call for help, the friendly woman on the other end of the line couldn't have been any quicker getting the wheels turning, so to speak, to solve my predicament. Fortunately, I'm not one of those claustrophobic sorts, and the 15 minutes or so I was stuck there were more of any annoyance than anything.
Let's just say it will hardly harm my impression of this lovely hotel, or the wonderful people who serve the guests here.
But for a few minutes, I was reminded why many of today's travellers want all those modern, hi-tech conveniences that are in growing abundance out there now.
Although I'll tell you what — those early 20th-century style house phones in the Chateau's lobby still look rather, well, charming to me.
But sometimes, newer is better. At least that's what I thought Saturday night when the elevator I was riding down to the hotel lobby decided to grind to a halt (and yes, that would accurately describe the sound) somewhere between the first and second floors.
When I put in the call for help, the friendly woman on the other end of the line couldn't have been any quicker getting the wheels turning, so to speak, to solve my predicament. Fortunately, I'm not one of those claustrophobic sorts, and the 15 minutes or so I was stuck there were more of any annoyance than anything.
Let's just say it will hardly harm my impression of this lovely hotel, or the wonderful people who serve the guests here.
But for a few minutes, I was reminded why many of today's travellers want all those modern, hi-tech conveniences that are in growing abundance out there now.
Although I'll tell you what — those early 20th-century style house phones in the Chateau's lobby still look rather, well, charming to me.
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