| 6:45 a.m: |
Alarms begin to go off in the hotel room. I’m normally not a morning person, but I actually jumped out of bed, exclaiming something about how awesome 9 a.m. compulsory dances are. |
| 8:05 a.m: |
Five girls leave the downtown hotel, armed with cameras and photo albums. The exit process in the parking garage is actually quite terrifying – it requires driving through a mountain and then through a guillotine...okay, maybe not really, but it definitely felt like it. |
| 8:40 a.m: |
Discover that the Pharmaprix across the street from the arena does not open until 9. Walk to Provigo. Purchase a 24-pack of water. |
| 8:50 a.m: |
Pay $5 for a hand stamp at the top of the stairs. Head into one of the rinks for the compulsory dance, but it’s the wrong one. Check out the pairs start order, then off to the other ice surface to grab some seats for the compulsory. |
| 8:53 a.m: |
Pretend to be surprised that empty seats are in excess. Grab a row, front and centre. |
| 8:56 a.m: |
The sixth member of our party arrives. Recount the events of yesterday’s practice sessions for her, including a wild goose chase involving showing up just a bit too late at the Rosemere Arena. |
| 9:05 a.m: |
The junior teams take the ice for the compulsory dance, the paso doble. There are only two teams, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir and the new team of Tara Bloom and Ben Miller. |
| 9:20 a.m: |
Three senior teams take the ice for the Tango Romantica. Milena Todaro & Anthony Evans are the clear victors, but I thought that the second place team, the new pairing of Ariane Morin & David Defazio, was closest to capturing the feel of the dance, although the technical aspect was not up to that of Todaro & Evans. |
| 9:45 a.m: |
Megan Wing & Aaron Lowe begin their warmup for the Ravensburger Waltz. They’re the only team that has chosen to compete this dance, but we cheer for them like it’s a nail-biter anyway. |
| 9:55 a.m: |
Circle up near a table just outside of the sports bar in the arena to exchange cameras, compare photos, and watch video clips. Discuss how much Tessa Virtue looked like a rockstar. |
| 10:15 a.m: |
Briefly chat with Tessa & Scott, who are heading back to the hotel to get some rest before the evening’s original dance. |
| 10:20 a.m: |
Notice that the postcards for Megan & Aaron’s autograph session are new ones, from their “Zorba the Greek” program. Get a little too excited about that, as we all share a borderline ridiculous love for that program. |
| 10:30 a.m: |
Autograph session with Megan Wing & Aaron Lowe. Wait for some kids to go through before we start spreading all of our stuff out on the table. |
| 10:50 a.m: |
About 448 autographs later, including one British Columbian flag from this Chicago girl, return to our circle formation off to the side, and discuss how Megan gets more gorgeous everytime we see them. In addition, note that Aaron wears that Jordan sweatshirt an awful lot. Being from Chicago, I have a proud moment. |
| 11:05 a.m: |
Head back over to the table to get photographs. Take a series of self-portraits, the first of many from the day. |
| 11:15 a.m: |
Get into place for a “thinking” pose group photo with Megan & Aaron. Kill ourselves laughing when Aaron suggests we take another one where we’re all pretending to point at something off to the left – and people stop to look at what we’re pointing at as they pass by. |
| 11:25 a.m: |
Look at Megan and Aaron like they’re crazy when they ask if we’ll be at the original dance later on. Laugh a lot, because I didn’t drive all the way from Chicago to miss the original dance! |
| 11:35 a.m: |
Pile back into my car, the designated form of transportation for the weekend in search of one-hour digital prints and Chapters. |
| 12:10 p.m: |
We’re not any closer to finding the Costco than we were when we left the arena, so we give up and head to Chapters for Starbucks and internet time, only to discover that three out of the four computers weren’t working. |
| 12:15 p.m: |
Two of the girls decide to take my car in search of a Costco while the rest of us wait for a computer, since we’d already bought the time. |
| 12:50 p.m: |
The girls return, mission failed. After finally finding the Costco (it was around the corner), they went to the photo counter only to be told that the one-hour machine was broken. |
| 1:00 p.m: |
Leave Chapters, and while walking out to the car, notice a place around the plaza called “Moto Photo.” Promising? Yes. Head over to check it out. |
| 1:04 p.m: |
Victory! The sweet older guy in the Moto Photo says that they can do the prints in about ten minutes. |
| 1:20 p.m: |
Leave Moto Photo with a stack of prints from the morning. |
| 1:33 p.m: |
Pull into the parking lot of a Dollarama to stock up on gum, beverages, and a few other odds and ends. |
| 1:46 p.m: |
Still waiting in line at the Dollarama. Get yelled at by an angry Québecoise for leaving my cart in the aisle. Uh...I’m holding two packages of gum, a package of pens, and a Cadbury Dream bar. I definitely did not have a cart. |
| 1:54 p.m: |
Escape from the Dollarama alive, but it was a close one. |
| 2:06 p.m: |
Pull into the parking lot of a Tim Horton’s for lunch. While walking to the door, pass a Subway. By the time we get to the door, we’ve decided that we’d rather have Subway. Turn around and go back to Subway, garnering some strange looks from people in the parking lot. Ah well – we’ve been getting those all day. |
| 2:34 p.m: |
Fed and refreshed, drive down the street, a few blocks to the arena. Our prime parking spot from the morning long gone, we park all the way in the back of the arena and then trek inside. |
| 2:42 p.m: |
The front row seats were fun, but those dang bars kept getting in the way of our photos and video during the compulsory dance. Try third row seats, still centre. While the zamboni does its thing, we get ready for the pairs. |
| 2:54 p.m: |
Notice that Rob Davison is the technical specialist. Discuss how sad we are that we won’t be seeing Bergeron & Davison this season. |
| 2:58 p.m: |
The juniors take the ice, pretty much on time. Warmup commences and the seats are really filling up quickly. In the space next to me, about large enough for one child to sit comfortably, two grown men squeeze in. |
| 3:05 p.m: |
It’s official! Junior pairs begin. Emilie Demers-Boutin & Pierre-Phillipe Joncas are given the highest score of the three teams, with a fun short program to swing music. It’s the same program that we saw last year, but I enjoyed it just the same. |
| 3:18 p.m: |
The first group of senior pairs takes the ice and we’re just about dying of anticipation to see Marcoux & Buntin’s short program. We’d watched run-throughs at practice the previous morning, but the music was barely audible and, well, we were just excited for this. |
| 3:20 p.m: |
Discuss Valerie Marcoux’s hair and dress and Craig Buntin’s pinstripe pants. All get perfect scores. |
| 3:21 p.m: |
Discuss Val & Craig’s awesome entrance into their throw triple loop. |
| 3:26 p.m: |
Val & Craig’s short program doesn’t really disappoint – in fact, it doesn’t disappoint at all if you conveniently closed your eyes for a few seconds during the end of the pair spin! Cheer for each completed element. Debate whether the best part was their throw or the straightline footwork, and end in a draw. It’s impossible to decide. |
| 3:48 p.m: |
Wakamatsu & Fecteau’s short program begins. It’s last year’s program to “The Swan,” but we all agree that the changes to it have only made it better. Besides an uncharacteristic stumble out of the triple toe by Jean-Séb, they were error-free and almost ethereal to watch. |
| 4:12 p.m: |
Jessica Dubé & Bryce Davison kick off the final group, but I use the word “kick” loosely. I was perplexed by how unprepared and awkward they looked, especially with using an old program, but I later learned that they’ve still been struggling with more injuries and have not been on the ice all summer. I definitely wish them a speedy recovery, and better luck with that twist. |
| 4:16 p.m: |
Dorota Zagorska & Mariusz Siudek charm us with a short program to “La Vie en Rose” and “Mack the Knife.” They continue to develop artistically and although they had a fall on the triple toes and he still struggles with his sit spin position, it has been wonderful to watch them improve each year. I like them more and more each time I see them. |
| 4:20 p.m: |
Jessica Miller & Ian Moram close the final group and if I could describe their music, I would, but I’m kind of at a loss. It’s a very interesting program, though, and although their jumps are not as strong as the pairs ahead of them, their stroking is unmatched and they have a ton of personality. Here’s hoping they can conquer the triple toe beast, because the other aspects of their skating are so solid. |
| 4:30 p.m: |
After the men squished next to me peeled out, my group gets up to go out into the lobby and loiter a bit. |
| 4:48 p.m: |
Run into Shawn Sawyer and wish him luck in his short program that evening. |
| 4:56 p.m: |
Wander into the NACS rink to see what’s going on. Although I feel bad that I haven’t watched any of that competition, I really don’t know what’s going on and leave after a few minutes. |
| 5:03 p.m: |
Utako Wakamatsu, Jean-Sébastien Fecteau, Valérie Marcoux, and Craig Buntin appear at the top of the stairs and get settled at the autograph table. We toss around the idea of waiting until most of the lines die down since we all want to get pictures too. |
| 5:05 p.m: |
Jessica & Ian come up the stairs and since we're standing right there, we stop them to tell them that we loved the program and a few of us get photos with him. They're very sweet and appreciative. |
| 5:10 p.m: |
Waiting around gets old, and the lines don’t seem to be shrinking. Get in line for Utako & Jean-Séb. |
| 5:18 p.m: |
I find myself at the front of the line and we start chatting with Jean-Séb & Utako. Jean-Séb starts writing out multiple postcards with “to one of our biggest fans” while Utako tells us how much she loved the book that we all wrote messages for when they went to Worlds. Then while Utako draws hearts all over the postcards, J-S tells us that he had to buy a big container to store all of the stuffed animals he kept from nationals, and that Utako has the “Rockamatsu” sign I made hanging in her bedroom. |
| 5:24 p.m: |
Autographs finished, we start taking photos, mostly of the self-portrait variety, with WakaFect. We then give warning that we’re going to want to get a group photo of them with Val & Craig as well, possibly while doing funny poses, then offer the Wing & Lowe group photos as examples. Jean-Séb gets excited about that idea, and exclaims that Craig has great faces, before demonstrating a “surprised” face. |
| 5:28 p.m: |
Get in line for Marcoux & Buntin, which, thankfully, is much shorter now. |
| 5:35 p.m: |
Move up to the table in front of Val & Craig – get postcards autographed, I have them sign my British Columbia flag, one of the other girls gives them a book full of messages that people had sent her after their experience at Worlds, and we get some photographs autographed as well. |
| 5:42 p.m: |
Take individual photos, again, a lot of self-portraits, with Val & Craig, who are great sports about the whole thing. |
| 5:46 p.m: |
Start getting situated for our group photos – our designated photographer from the morning is supervising this autograph session too, so she takes one of our cameras and laughs about our, um, enthusiasm once again. Take a normal photo, then one where we’re all pointing to the right. Jean-Séb and Craig are clearly the most excited about the goofy photo. |
| 5:54 p.m: |
Gather off to the side to look at the photo on the digital camera, and realize that we forgot something. So we wait for Val & Craig to finish signing something for a little girl, then get Craig’s attention to present him with a unicycle t-shirt. He’s basically ecstatic. Ask if they’ll be practicing on Monday, but find out that the pairs have the week off. We’re really glad that we don’t have to get our cookies up early on Monday morning to trek across the city, only to find out that they’re not there. |
| 6:08 p.m: |
Start wondering if we can top the last hour, and then remember that the original dance is still ahead. |
| 6:10 p.m: |
Exhausted, we crash on a bench near a staircase and take it easy for a few minutes while we look at each other’s pictures. |
| 6:24 p.m: |
Go to check results and have a little party about Marcoux & Buntin and Wakamatsu & Fecteau going 1-2. On our way back, we spot the next lucky people to take group photos with us. We take one normal photo and one “thinking” photo with Ben Ferreira & Rob Davison, wishing Ben good luck for the season and telling Rob that we miss seeing him skate. He looks a little surprised, which makes me a little sad - I don't think nearly enough people jumped on Bergeron & Davison's fanwagon. It always seemed a little bit lonely up there. |
| 6:34 p.m: |
We spot Pascale Bergeron & Marianne Dubuc leaving the NACS rink, and rather tentatively, ask them for a photo. They’re basically incredulous and we have to repeat that yes, we really do want to take a picture with them. On the second try, the photo comes out, and we comment that we miss seeing both of them skate. Fun fact: Besides really being quite sad about Bergeron & Davison’s decision to retire from skating competitively, I’m the biggest Marianne Dubuc fan I know, so this was really exciting for me. |
| 6:39 p.m: |
Some of the girls in my group go over to Cynthia Phaneuf’s autograph session, but I’m thinking that I already have a photo with Cynthia and that nothing can top getting a photo with Marianne, so I’m content to sit with the rest of my group on a bench outside the NACS rink. |
| 6:49 p.m: |
Decide to wander into the NACS rink again to see what’s going on. Watch a dance team finish up a free dance, and try to figure out if it’s junior or novice. Figure out that it’s junior based on the twizzles. |
| 6:51 p.m: |
It was perfect timing – the next team is the one that we most wanted to see, Joanna Lenko & Mitchell Islam. They skate very well and I find that I’m really starting to enjoy watching their development as an upcoming dance team. |
| 7:18 p.m: |
I realize that I’m running out of room on my memory card, so one of the other girls and I go out to my car and work on dumping photos to our laptops in my trunk. We get a few strange looks, but again, we’re used to those. |
| 7:34 p.m: |
We hear someone say that medal ceremonies are going on in the NACS rink, so one of the girls and I go over to check it out. Kaitlyn Weaver & Charles Clavey had just been announced as junior dance champions. We hadn’t checked the results yet and we start worrying about where Joanna & Mitchell ended up. To our surprise (and delight!), their names were called next, as silver medal recipients. Several photos later, it’s back out to the lobby area. |
| 8:00 p.m.: |
The event prior to junior dance finishes, and we descend upon that rink – we definitely want good seats. Deciding that front row was better, even despite the bars getting into some of our photos, we grab a row of seats just above where the skaters enter the ice. |
| 8:06 p.m: |
My friend tells me turn around and look who’s standing at the results board, and my jaw just about hits the floor. Mathew Gates, former partner of Eve Chalom and U.S. dance silver medalist, was talking to someone. I loved them when they skated, and always wished that they’d continued a little longer. We approach him to tell him that we were big fans back in the day, and he’s genuinely surprised that someone remembered and recognized him. After a photo for each of us, we congratulate him on his team’s victory in the junior dance event at NACS and head back to our seats. |
| 8:11 p.m: |
I spot Mathew Gates looking at us from the other end of the seating area while talking to someone. Haha, he was probably still a little bit bewildered. |
| 8:18 p.m: |
The junior free dance warmup begins and we cheer heartily for Tessa & Scott. We wonder why their costumes don’t match – she’s in a bright turquoise blue and he’s in maroon, but then we notice that the underside of her skirt is maroon. In motion, the costumes look great together. |
| 8:25 p.m: |
We’re all astounded by Virtue & Moir’s original dance. It’s obvious that they have really been working hard and they’re more than ready for the JGP in a few weeks. The program, set to music from “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights,” should definitely hold up when they skate on the senior level nationally as well. |
| 8:36 p.m: |
The first senior group begins their warmup and since we love all Canadians who train in Michigan, we cheer for both Siobhan Karam & Josh McGrath and for Megan Wing & Aaron Lowe. |
| 8:45 p.m: |
Megan & Aaron’s original dance is even better than I imagined it would be. The last section, a samba, slowed down and didn’t have the energy of the opening mambo, but I loved the structure of the dance, and their rhumba was fantastic. They looked like they had fun out there, which is one of the things I love most about their skating. |
| 8:50 p.m: |
The Montreal-based teams of Mylène Girard & Bradley Yaeger and Milena Todaro & Anthony Evans skate their programs, though I can’t remember the skate order. Girard & Yaeger have very obviously improved since last season and will definitely be in the running for national team spots this year. Todaro & Evans also looked good and I remember really enjoying the opening section of their dance. |
| 9:02 p.m: |
Siobhan & Josh skate their original dance and while it still needs polish, I really enjoyed it and I look forward to seeing what it’s like come Skate America. They’ve definitely taken on a more mature look for their first year in the senior ranks and I think they’re handling the transition beautifully so far. |
| 9:08 p.m: |
Catch up with Pascal Denis upon leaving the dance rink and snag a group photo with him. We tell him that we’ll miss seeing him skate this year, and he reassures us that he’ll still be around, and that he gets to follow us all over the country now, and be our fan group. Hilarious guy, and always so nice. |
| 9:15 p.m: |
Congratulating Tessa & Scott on a great performance, one of my friends proclaims it as the best original dance they’ve ever seen. The rest of us don’t go quite that far, but it was absolutely fantastic and we say that we’re looking forward to their free dance. |
| 9:24 p.m: |
Shawn Sawyer finds us and asks why he didn’t get “you rock my socks” socks. We apologize and tell him that we’ll try to pull through for tomorrow. Sheepishly, we admit that we missed his short because we were watching dance, and he shakes his head and says that we didn’t miss much. We encourage him a bit, and then we all get self-portraits with our favourite reigning senior men’s bronze medalist. |
| 9:40 p.m: |
We hang around for a bit longer, trying to decide if we’re going to go somewhere or head back downtown. After deciding to be nerds and go back to the hotel to exchange memory sticks and hook up our cameras to the TV, we start trekking out to my car. |
| 9:44 p.m: |
I’m putting things in my trunk when I realize that the rest of the group has migrated a bit – Megan & Aaron were parked right across the aisle from us and they were also just leaving. We congratulate them on a great original dance and I give them a booklet of messages from their families and friends back home, a late supplement to the good luck book that we’d put together and given them two weeks earlier, at the Mariposa Gala. |
| 10:08 p.m: |
We make it back to the hotel in record time – turns out that Pierrefonds really isn’t that far from downtown when there are no cars on the road and you break minor traffic laws, like speed limits. Not that I’m recommending that, or anything. |
| 12:48 a.m: |
It’s been an amazing day, but after a couple hours of exchanging photos and rewatching video, it’s time to turn in, because the madness starts again tomorrow! |
