Riding The Orient Express

Figure skating's new world order has officially arrived.
With the 2007 Tokyo worlds now in the books, what has been predicted for a few years now has become very apparent — the power base in the sport has shifted to the Far East.
Consider that only two countries won multiple medals at these worlds: Japan and China. Asian skaters swept the podium in the women's event, and took two of three pairs medals. Japan's Daisuke Takahashi nearly snared the men's gold with a stunning free skate.
On the flip side, look what's happened to some of figure skating's 'traditional' powers. For the first time in 47 years, no skater from Russia or the former Soviet Union won a medal. It wasn't that long ago that the Russians were sweeping all the golds.
The U.S. was limited to one medal, and in the discipline that probably gets the least attention in that country. And half of that ice dance bronze was earned by a skater who was born in Canada (Tanith Belbin of Kingston, Ont.). In the event that matters most to Americans — the women — U.S. skaters were shut out of the medals at worlds. The last time that happened? Try 1994.
Canada, meanwhile, brought home one medal from worlds for the second straight year. It was the same colour (silver) in the same event (ice dance) earned by the same skaters (Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon) as in 2006 in Calgary.
An interesting point was raised in a Canadian Press story over the weekend. Only one Canadian in singles or pairs — Joannie Rochette — improved her position from the short program to the free skate. That has to be a little disconcerting to officials from Skate Canada, because it's the free skate which determines who lands on the podium and who doesn't.
In Rochette's case, she was simply too far behind after the short to join the medal hunt, but the moxie she showed in battling back is a positive sign for the future.
Going forward, Canada kept three ice dance and three pair spots for next year's worlds in Sweden. Thanks to Rochette, we'll send two women to Goteborg in 2008 (and she's owed a bunch of thank-you cards for that from senior women across the country).
Our men's complement is down to two, meaning the dogfight for the world team will be even fiercer at Canadians in Vancouver next January.
When the fight moves across the pond to Sweden, the battle figures to be on a higher plane there, too. With Asian skaters clearly raising the bar once more, and daring everyone else to keep up.

Canada's Saving Grace

Sometimes, the result isn't the whole story. Even if the final number was so critical to the immediate future of Canadian women's skating.
When Joannie Rochette stepped on the ice at the world championships in Tokyo earlier today, the weight on her shoulders was immense. With compatriot Mira Leung having skidded to a 24th-place finish, the petite three-time Canadian champ from Ile-Dupas, Que., knew it was on her to save the day. To assure a nation of aspiring young skaters back home that there would be a second women's world berth to chase in 2008.
After a disastrous short program that left her in 16th place, it meant a climb of at least four places was necessary in the free skate, against perhaps the toughest field she'd ever faced in competition. But the will was clearly there, and that's where it had to start.
“I wanted to come back and fight for it,” Rochette, 21, told reporters afterward. “I knew I needed a top-12 finish.”
Turns out she went two steps better. With a free skate judged to be fifth-best on the night, Rochette battled back to finish 10th and got the job done. That part, she had to be happy about. But Rochette also saw what she's up against now — the new technical heights reached by the three medallists, Japan's Miki Ando (gold) and Mao Asada (silver), and Yu-Na Kim of Korea (bronze) — and knows her arsenal isn't anywhere near good enough yet. She needs triple-triple combinations and, perhaps down the road, even a triple Axel.
Good part is, Rochette knows she's got that kind of talent in her. But she also is very aware she can't make a habit of digging herself the kind of hole she had to climb out of in Tokyo.
“I never want to feel like that again,” she said, the strain of the day clearly evident.
It reminds me of the emotion another Canadian female skater once displayed after two straight disappointments at the national championships. But Jennifer Robinson wanted no pity or condolences on that 1998 night in Hamilton, and vowed to return with a vengeance.
Five straight Canadian titles later, she'd clearly backed up her words. Robinson was also the one to get that vital second worlds spot back for Canada, and inspired a generation of young girls across the country.
Rochette did her part for the country today. Now she needs to do what's necessary for herself to compete in what is now “a different game.”
It's a battle that isn't about to get easier anytime soon.

Dance Bridesmaids Once More

The music for their free dance seemed to suggest the right finish.
At Last, Etta James once sang. And it was a phrase Canadian skating fans hoped to use when Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon were crowned ice dance champions at the world championships in Tokyo.
Instead, it's this again ... not just yet.
For the second straight year, the five-time Canadian champs came up a whisker short in their bid for the world gold. Last year in Calgary, Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski of Bulgaria got them by a scant 0.45 points.
Earlier today in Tokyo, it was another close call. When the final results were tabulated after a thrilling free dance final, Stenkova and Staviski were world champs again with 201.61 points. Right behind with 200.46 were the Canadian bridesmaids, who led after the compulsories but slipped behind after Thursday's original dance.
“We have a saying: 'If you aim for the moon and miss, you'll end up with the stars,' ” Lauzon told reporters afterward. “We didn't win but we still have our silver medal and I think we'll be very happy thinking about it (Saturday).”
It was likely the last great duel between these two teams — Denkova and Staviski have indicated they will now retire. Will Dubreuil and Lauzon, both now in their 30s, do the same? Bet on the answer not coming for a few months yet. But don't wager too much that the answer will be yes.
If the classy couple does call it quits, the future of Canadian ice dance appears to be in very capable hands. Worlds rookies Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir showed they're on the verge of contending for medals by placing an impressive sixth, with a flair that suggested they could be future champions someday soon.
The London, Ont., area couple, which became Canada's first-ever world junior ice dance champions in 2006, are clearly on the fast track. Former world champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz finished 14th in their worlds debut; Dubreuil and Lauzon were 10th.
“We definitely want to be competitive with the top teams in the world over the next few years,” said Moir, 19 (Virtue is 17). “We're hoping next year to push the envelope and get into that last group.”
Americans Tanith Belbin (originally from Kingston, Ont.) and Ben Agosto were fortunate bronze medallists after a free dance that included two major errors.
Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Kitchener, Ont., finished 20th.
The efforts of the top two Canadian entries again secured three ice dance berths for the 2008 worlds in Sweden, which no doubt brought cheers from a hungry group of young teams eager to make their own debut on the big stage.
It should be some fight next year in Vancouver, to be sure.