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.
Showing posts with label Halifax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halifax. Show all posts
Sunday, November 4, 2007
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."
Friday, November 2, 2007
Dancing Toward A Dream
They had to earn their way to Le Colisee.
But there were Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno on Friday afternoon, basking in the glow of home country support in the senior ice dance compulsories at HomeSense Skate Canada. No wonder the Vancouver-based couple had smiles on their faces as bright as the yellow skirt Hann-McCurdy wore for their rendition of the Yankee Polka.
And that was before they saw the final results sheet. Hann-McCurdy and Coreno stand seventh with 25.51 points. More importantly, it was a hair in front of Kaitlyn Weaver of Houston, Tex., and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont. (25.07).
Hann-McCurdy and Coreno were eighth in their first Canadian championships as senior ice dancers last January in Halifax. That was five spots behind Weaver and Poje, who shocked just about everyone by landing a world team berth.
That's exactly where Hann-McCurdy and Coreno, the national junior champions in 2006, want to be next March, when the 2008 world championships are held in Gothenburg, Sweden. And given the events of the off-season, they've got reason to dream that big.
Five of the top seven finishers in that senior dance event last season in Halifax won't be part of the 2008 Canadian championships in Vancouver. Topping that list are two-time world silver medallists Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, who've taken the season off from the eligible skating circuit. Retirements and dissolved partnerships claimed the rest.
Look beyond all of that, and you'll see Hann-McCurdy and Coreno rank third among the returning contenders. And guess how many world team berths there are for Sweden?
"There is a door open," admitted Coreno, 23, of Toronto.
"We're aware of it, and we're totally shooting for that third worlds spot," said Hann-McCurdy, 20, who represents the Gloucester Skating Club in Ottawa. "That's our goal for the season.
"That's what's motivating us, and it's just incredibly special to be here."
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, who finished a stunning sixth at the 2007 worlds in Tokyo and are the future of this discipline in Canada, should grab their first national crown in January. After that, though, it's wide open.
"It's an opportunity and we want to take advantage of it," said Hann-McCurdy.
Just like being here this week. While Virtue and Moir, who lead after the compulsories, can clearly shoot for gold, Hann-McCurdy and Coreno are here just to soak up the experience. They weren't assigned to this event until after a fourth-place finish at the Nebelhorn Trophy senior international event in Oberstdorf, Germany.
They know what's needed most to take the next step up in class, and have spent plenty of time working on it under the guidance of their coaches, former world champion Victor Kraatz and his wife, Maikki Uotila Kraatz.
"We've really, really focused on speed," said Hann-McCurdy. "That was the easiest difference to see between us and all the teams we competed against last year. That was a big focus. Other than that, just more character and energy and personality."
Added Coreno: "That's the big step, learning to do things at high speed and still make it look easy."
Hann-McCurdy, a natural brunette, had a brief fling with going blonde a few years back. Given that blue-eyed blondes are all the rage in Sweden, might Hann-McCurdy go back that way if she and her partner realize that worlds dream?
"I might have to," she said with a laugh. "But there's still a long way to go yet. I don't know ... I'll consider it."
But there were Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno on Friday afternoon, basking in the glow of home country support in the senior ice dance compulsories at HomeSense Skate Canada. No wonder the Vancouver-based couple had smiles on their faces as bright as the yellow skirt Hann-McCurdy wore for their rendition of the Yankee Polka.
And that was before they saw the final results sheet. Hann-McCurdy and Coreno stand seventh with 25.51 points. More importantly, it was a hair in front of Kaitlyn Weaver of Houston, Tex., and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont. (25.07).
Hann-McCurdy and Coreno were eighth in their first Canadian championships as senior ice dancers last January in Halifax. That was five spots behind Weaver and Poje, who shocked just about everyone by landing a world team berth.
That's exactly where Hann-McCurdy and Coreno, the national junior champions in 2006, want to be next March, when the 2008 world championships are held in Gothenburg, Sweden. And given the events of the off-season, they've got reason to dream that big.
Five of the top seven finishers in that senior dance event last season in Halifax won't be part of the 2008 Canadian championships in Vancouver. Topping that list are two-time world silver medallists Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, who've taken the season off from the eligible skating circuit. Retirements and dissolved partnerships claimed the rest.
Look beyond all of that, and you'll see Hann-McCurdy and Coreno rank third among the returning contenders. And guess how many world team berths there are for Sweden?
"There is a door open," admitted Coreno, 23, of Toronto.
"We're aware of it, and we're totally shooting for that third worlds spot," said Hann-McCurdy, 20, who represents the Gloucester Skating Club in Ottawa. "That's our goal for the season.
"That's what's motivating us, and it's just incredibly special to be here."
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, who finished a stunning sixth at the 2007 worlds in Tokyo and are the future of this discipline in Canada, should grab their first national crown in January. After that, though, it's wide open.
"It's an opportunity and we want to take advantage of it," said Hann-McCurdy.
Just like being here this week. While Virtue and Moir, who lead after the compulsories, can clearly shoot for gold, Hann-McCurdy and Coreno are here just to soak up the experience. They weren't assigned to this event until after a fourth-place finish at the Nebelhorn Trophy senior international event in Oberstdorf, Germany.
They know what's needed most to take the next step up in class, and have spent plenty of time working on it under the guidance of their coaches, former world champion Victor Kraatz and his wife, Maikki Uotila Kraatz.
"We've really, really focused on speed," said Hann-McCurdy. "That was the easiest difference to see between us and all the teams we competed against last year. That was a big focus. Other than that, just more character and energy and personality."
Added Coreno: "That's the big step, learning to do things at high speed and still make it look easy."
Hann-McCurdy, a natural brunette, had a brief fling with going blonde a few years back. Given that blue-eyed blondes are all the rage in Sweden, might Hann-McCurdy go back that way if she and her partner realize that worlds dream?
"I might have to," she said with a laugh. "But there's still a long way to go yet. I don't know ... I'll consider it."
Bonjour, Quebec!
No Bonhomme in sight here.
Oh, sure, there's a bit of a nip in the air on this crisp, gorgeous autumn day. But Carnaval — and the accompanying snow and winter's bite — are still many months away in this historic Quebecois city.
(insert requisite sigh of relief here).
A carnival of patinage artistique (as the French-speaking majority here would put it), though ... well, that awaits us all this weekend during HomeSense Skate Canada, which has chosen to visit Le Colisee (where the NHL's Quebec Nordiques once ruled the ice) for the annual fall event which offers the obvious reminder that a new season has indeed begun.
You are greeted by history everywhere you turn in this city (and not just the old pipes hanging over our heads in the media centre). A friendly volunteer (who, I must confess, wisely cheers for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox like moi), points out the famed Plains of Abraham on the drive in from Jean Lesage Airport.
We see the oldest active fort in North America.
Then, the narrow streets of Old Quebec that wind their way toward the majestic Chateau Frontenac, which is home base for us all this weekend.
The fun on the ice begins in a few hours with the dance compulsories. And while the two-time world silver medallists from Montreal, the elegant and charming Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, have been spotted at the hotel, they're not in the field here (actually, they won't be seen anywhere but on the tour circuit this season).
So who to watch?
Most of the top Canadians are here, including reigning national champions Jeffrey Buttle, Joannie Rochette and Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, fresh off a breakthrough triumph at Skate America in Reading, Pa.
The event also gives skating fans here a glimpse of some of the best from the rest of the world. Start with the current king of the men, France's Brian Joubert. Throw in Japan's Mao Asada (she of the effortless triple Axels) and Emily Hughes of the U.S., to name two.
We'll get to the rest as the weekend progresses (check the entry list off to the right if you can't wait).
If you followed our Halifax Chronicles at Canadians last January, you know what you'll find here. A little less of the hard-news descriptive stuff, a bit more of the human touch.
With the odd touch of whimsy thrown in here and there.
Stop by often during the weekend.
We'll do our best to make it worth your time.
Oh, sure, there's a bit of a nip in the air on this crisp, gorgeous autumn day. But Carnaval — and the accompanying snow and winter's bite — are still many months away in this historic Quebecois city.
(insert requisite sigh of relief here).
A carnival of patinage artistique (as the French-speaking majority here would put it), though ... well, that awaits us all this weekend during HomeSense Skate Canada, which has chosen to visit Le Colisee (where the NHL's Quebec Nordiques once ruled the ice) for the annual fall event which offers the obvious reminder that a new season has indeed begun.
You are greeted by history everywhere you turn in this city (and not just the old pipes hanging over our heads in the media centre). A friendly volunteer (who, I must confess, wisely cheers for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox like moi), points out the famed Plains of Abraham on the drive in from Jean Lesage Airport.
We see the oldest active fort in North America.
Then, the narrow streets of Old Quebec that wind their way toward the majestic Chateau Frontenac, which is home base for us all this weekend.
The fun on the ice begins in a few hours with the dance compulsories. And while the two-time world silver medallists from Montreal, the elegant and charming Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, have been spotted at the hotel, they're not in the field here (actually, they won't be seen anywhere but on the tour circuit this season).
So who to watch?
Most of the top Canadians are here, including reigning national champions Jeffrey Buttle, Joannie Rochette and Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, fresh off a breakthrough triumph at Skate America in Reading, Pa.
The event also gives skating fans here a glimpse of some of the best from the rest of the world. Start with the current king of the men, France's Brian Joubert. Throw in Japan's Mao Asada (she of the effortless triple Axels) and Emily Hughes of the U.S., to name two.
We'll get to the rest as the weekend progresses (check the entry list off to the right if you can't wait).
If you followed our Halifax Chronicles at Canadians last January, you know what you'll find here. A little less of the hard-news descriptive stuff, a bit more of the human touch.
With the odd touch of whimsy thrown in here and there.
Stop by often during the weekend.
We'll do our best to make it worth your time.
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