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Inside Edge
Men's field looks sharp for Skate Canada
| Source: |
CBC Sports |
| Date: |
November 1, 2007 |
| Author: |
Kurt Browning |
Halloween was fun as I walked from house to house with my little
firefighter last night. If it is Halloween then it must be Skate
Canada.
I can remember a Skate Canada in Thunder Bay, I believe, when we had a
wonderful post-competition skater costume party where Mathew Hall and
I were Pizza Delivery Boys. It was the only outfit we could find -
thanks Pizza Hut.
As always the skaters are excited about these first events. Most of
them will be trying programs out for the first time and want to get a
good response to the work they have put in over the summer as well as
a good jump on the Grand Prix Circuit.
The men are always exciting and let's start at the top ... Brian
Joubert.
I worked with Brian again this year and I gave him my, "what it feels
like to be a first time world champion" speech. When I won my first
world title it sent me on a spin, but I might have saved my breath
with Brian because it does not seem as though the title will be heavy
on his shoulders. He seemed very comfortable and happy this summer and
from what I hear healthy as well.
Quad question mark
I am not sure if he is going for his goal of three quads in the long
at this competition. This is daunting but he is capable. Because I
have worked with him and his coach on his programs I will be nervous
with him when it comes time to see if they are well received. On a
personal note, I hope he does well and is able to perform in the
exhibition afterward. I am looking forward to seeing the number we did
together to the song Clocks by Coldplay. Watch for a softer side of
Brian in his short program and a tweaked version of his long from last
year.
Jeffrey Buttle. Is there a nicer guy in the business? Might as well
say it, Jeff is competing against himself this year. It is always a
hard thing to happen to a skater, having to compete against success
you had in other years because you have fallen off your own pace a
little. He knows that he is one of the very, very best skaters, movers
and artists the sport has ever seen, but he also knows that the quad
and two clean triple axels would help out too. Jeff is always
dangerous to compete against because of his ability to gain points
with every movement and spin and not just the jumps.
Jeremy Abbott. You're going to like this kid ... I hope! Jeremy
came to the Granite Club in Toronto to work with me this summer. He
shared the ice with Brian Joubert and he was open-minded, fun and
talented. He has a musicality that is lacking in most of the men and
this musical awareness could help him really be noticed in the
future. When he hits his quad, it's a smooth landing with tons of
speed, but when he doesn't, the quad hits him back with a hard fall. I
am hoping he lands his jumps so that the audience can enjoy his quick
feet and ability to entertain. He's a real threat to the podium
at this event as well as a threat to make the world team for the USA
for the coming worlds.
Maybe a medal for Mabee?
Christopher Mabee. I saw him working at the Granite Club and my first
impression was that he was moving better. What I mean is that I saw
his body moving more, a bigger range of movement and it made him more
fun to watch. I have found Christopher a little stiff in the past but
watch for improvement. If Brian and Jeff do their thing, then maybe
Christopher and Jeremy would be battling for the bronze ... but who
knows until you watch.
I am out of time but as for the rest of the field ... Yannick Ponsero
is wonderful but Kevin van der Perren has the huge jumps in
combination. He seems to skate with a chip on his shoulder sometimes
keeping the audience distanced from him, so if he can find his smile,
then all the better.
Scott Smith - great guy and I always hope for the best with
him.
When it comes to our third Canadian, watch for a short program that
was choreographed by Sandra Bezic. His circle footwork step actually
looks like the old days when skaters did the steps that looked best on
that particular skater ... brilliant. I am not sure how many check
marks on the judging sheet Sandra went for, but I just don't care
... it is what skating should be. His name is Vaughn Chipeur and, as
Don Cherry says ... he's a good Canadian Kid.
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