2025 Canadians Men SP - Paradis(e) or a Roman Holiday?

[euterpe]

Whatever happened to Conrad Orzel???

 

[victorskid]

Whatever happened to Conrad Orzel???

He retired.

 

[Andora]

I have to laugh. I'm here, at Place Bell, but at the PWHL game. And I think it's the better ticket.

 

[Sylvia]

Whatever happened to Conrad Orzel???

Hi @euterpe! I posted a summary of the Canadian men's "woes" in the past few seasons in GSD recently: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2024–25-canadian-men-news-and-updates.111799/page-3#post-6712998

 

[Lana K]

Folks, do any of us really want Roman in 1st heading into the FS?

I feel like all of Place Bell was actively manifesting against that.

 

[Sylvia]

Golden Skate's mixed zone photos & quotes - first 3 posts:

Anthony Paradis: https://x.com/goldenskate/status/1880411792850956440

... The hometown Laval audience roared as he completed each element. His combination was an impressive triple lutz-triple toe with his arms over his head.
“I was really nervous going into it, especially in the warm up, seeing everybody in the stands and seeing how the crowd was really excited for everyone in the group, which I think is awesome. So yeah, so I was really nervous. I was trying to stay in the present. But yeah, overall I'm super happy and super proud of myself.”
The 2024 bronze medalist was most proud of his combination.
“In the warm up, it was a bit of a struggle but in the program, it was so good, so I'm super happy, and I'm proud of myself for trusting my

Matthew Newnham: https://x.com/goldenskate/status/1880403782560800969

Matthew Newnham skated charismatically to Aline by Jarvis Cocker but popped the Axel which threw him off and he wound up later completing a triple-double rather than the planned triple-triple. He got 64.33 points.
“I feel I've been training really well so this just isn't a representation of what I have been able to do. So I hoped, I wish it would have been on here, but I'll just move on and try to do better the long. I need to be more confident and worry less.

Aleksa Rakic: https://x.com/goldenskate/status/1880414048488943800

... Rakic struggled in his short program set to Biblical by Calum Scott, tumbling on the quad toe and doubling out on the combination jump. Rakic disclosed that he has been ill for over two weeks with respiratory challenges.
“It’s been a difficult past 15 days. I got really sick and so my training was just lacking coming in. So right now it was, in a way, all I could do. So I'm not overly upset. It’s really only in the past week that I’ve sort of started feeling normal. Every day gets better. I think tomorrow will be even better.”

 

[Sylvia]

Replay video (John Kim's SP starts at 1:10:50): https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9cjv4y

 

[shutterbug]

He's practicing 3A - not yet competition ready but maybe he'll try it in the FP?

IIRC, he did attempt a 3A in the FP at Challenge.

 

[fan]

Did Ted just say "started skating at the age of one?" I just don't believe that.

Waddell is from skating royalty. His mom and grandma were competitors then toured with the ice capades. His grandpa was maple leafs legend red Kelly. His twin older brothers skated. I 100% believe he was on the ice at 1

 

[Sylvia]

Roman Sadovsky: https://x.com/goldenskate/status/1880417506214703393

... He was jubilant with the first place finish.
“Yeah, definitely a strong short. I was feeling definitely a little nervous. Canadian Nationals so feeling the jitters throughout but I'm really happy with the opening, maybe a little bit of hesitation on the Axel. I did feel that the take off was a little bit flat, but I thought I thought I could squeeze it out but it was not quite enough. Overall, strong skate, good levels, everything seems to be going in the right direction.”
Sadovsky addressed the mind games that the open podium can create given the withdrawals and illnesses in the senior men’s field.
“I mean, definitely these things come and go in your mind. And the reality is, it's like you tell someone, ‘Don’t think about elephants,’ and then what are you thinking about? You're thinking about elephants. So, it's definitely a challenge to stay focused. I am trying to just let those thoughts come in and come out. And I don't want to stay too focussed on one thing. I don't want to obsess over the outcome too much and just really focus on the step by step process of getting there. And obviously, I know the challenge this year, it seems for all of us, is staying healthy.”

IIRC, he did attempt a 3A in the FP at Challenge.

Yes, Paradis' 3A fall was called <<: https://skatecanada.ca/results/CHA24SeniorMenFP2DRO.pdf
Anthony shared a better 3A attempt in practice in his Challenge vlog on YT.

 

[fan]

Just my opinion, but I’d rather watch paradis skating with a 2A than malinin with 6000 quads.

 

[Sylvia]

Just my opinion, but I’d rather watch paradis skating with a 2A than malinin with 6000 quads.

I enjoy watching both of them.

 

[Sylvia]

Anthony shared a better 3A attempt in practice in his Challenge vlog on YT.

Time stamped link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-RPcGvCTeQ&t=1195s

 

[livetoskate]

Replay video (John Kim's SP starts at 1:10:50): https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9cjv4y

Thanks! He's really good. Never saw him skate before but he's hope that more Canadian men can do more than (US) novice-level content.

 

[puglover]

I was impressed with John Kim at Challenge. He did not have a very good free skate but he was really cranking out the big jumps in the practice. Also, David Bondar landed two triple axels in junior men and I believe Vassli has a triple axel as well so not sure Anthony will be a shoe in for junior worlds. I know it is not all about the jumps but they do matter. It is easier to skate clean when you don't attempt any high risk elements and it is best to add them carefully away from the world stage. JMHO

 

[Sally1214]

Just my opinion, but I’d rather watch paradis skating with a 2A than malinin with 6000 quads.

I get what you're saying. I love Anthony's complete lack of inhibition and ability to fully express himself within his performances. He's different ... he's fun ... he's exciting and you can't take your eyes off him. He's got some serious technical skills going as well and his flexibility is on a level with Jason Brown.

I also love watching Ilia skate. His tech skills are jaw-dropping at times and his efforts at improving his artistry are certainly evident. The only thing with Ilia is that he seems to be hell-bent on quading every jump in his freeskate and the judges are starting to call underrotations. He doesn't NEED to quad every jump. I wish he'd scale it back a notch or two and do fewer quads perfectly rotated. But that's just my opinion. He truly is an awesome skater.

 

[Sylvia]

Aleksa Rakic is listed as WD from the Free Program - excerpt from Rob Brodie's Friday recap article:

Rakic, meanwhile, had put together a rather solid resume in the fall season, putting himself right in the mix for that Worlds berth. But Friday’s short program, which included a pair of falls on his most difficult jumps, won’t help his cause. A medal here might be a bit of a longshot now for Rakic, who is still working his way back from contracting RSV, a respiratory ailment that made training virtually impossible for him at times. It can be that debilitating.
“It’s been a difficult last 15 days,” he said. “I got really sick and so my training was just lacking coming in, so right now it was in a way all I could do. So I’m not overly upset. There were a couple of days I just sat home in bed, I couldn’t move … To try to get full run-throughs (in practice) was almost impossible.”
That lack of repetitions, he said, may well have eliminated any chance at a medal, or to make a statement in his favour for Worlds.
“(Falling on) the quad toe was a little excusable, the mistake,” he said. “But the flip-toe wasn’t. I should have done it and it was costly … I would have been in the mix very easily if I did that.”
But there is this comforting thought, which is as good as it gets right now.
“Every day is better. I think tomorrow will be even better,” he said. “But it’s really in the past week that I’ve started feeling normal.”