Figure Skaters Get Tips from Pros

For the past seven years, the TMR Figure Skating Club has brought in exactly such people for a one-day seminar at its summer skating school. Past Canadian, World, or Olympic medalists such as Kurt Browning, Elvis Stojko, Brian Orser, and Petra Burka have passed on their knowledge to a younger generation.

This summer it was the turn of Canadian ice-dancing pair Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice

Lauzon who captured silver at the world championships in March. It was a special treat in also bringing their choreographer, David Wilson, who just happens to be among the best around.

“Except for some of the younger skaters, most were ready to follow the instructions and add those technical steps and linking movements to what they are doing,” said Lauzon during a break on July 16. That included bending your knees more and using your body weight to pick up speed effortlessly. Coming from TMR and the Montreal region, the 200 youngsters also worked on their “edges,” footwork, and gliding.

During the afternoon session, the flamboyant Wilson explained some of his choreographical tips to the young skaters as well as how to listen to the music better and attract the judges’ attention.

After the past five years of intense training and competitions where they had to close themselves off from the outside world, it’s “very fun” to give back, commented Lauzon. During the past few months, they have given similar skating lessons in several other Canadian cities.

This summer’s one-day seminar was different from previous ones that featured more spins and jumps, noted local coach Zoe Lodge who initiated the special classes since she became the summer school director on 2000. They also learned about the new scoring system that goes all the way from the pre-Juvenile to the Senior level, she added.

Besides learning about techniques and choreography, the young skaters also got the chance to meet today’s skating stars. “They’re inspirations to the kids,” Lodge said. “They got their pictures take with them and their skates signed.”

Sasha Alcolumbra, 15, and Astrid Fusiller, 15, are two up-and-coming local figure skaters. Practically, Sasha said that “they were really good” in helping him with his attitude in competitions and advising him on what he should do when listening to his music. “As the best in the world, it was really nice. We surely learned a lot,” Astrid added.

As to whether she sees any future star that day, Dubreuil responded that it’s available to each one of them depending on how far they want to go. “It’s just a matter of how much they want it. Anyone can get themselves to where we are now.”