Annie Bellemare moving to Vancouver!

[Caro]

I don't know if this has been posted yet, but she's moving to Vancouver to train under Joanne McLeod, Emmanuel Sandhu's coach!
She's left Boucherville and Stephane Yvars. BIG life change I think! There's an article at Linfonet (in french):

<<La dernière année aura été très difficile pour la patineuse Annie Bellemare. Même lorsque vous êtes deuxième ou troisième au Canada, ce n’est pas suffisant: la plus haute marche du podium représente toujours l’endroit rêvé!
Habituée de se voir compétitionner avec Jennifer Robinson aux Championnats canadiens pour la médaille d’or, Annie a pris un peu de recul cette année en tombant au troisième rang. Elle est bien consciente qu’elle devra changer des choses qui ne fonctionnent pas!
Aussi, avant de partir pour des vacances, elle a annoncé à son entraîneur, Stéphane Yvars, qu’elle quittait le Centre d’entraînement à Boucherville et qu’elle fera confiance à un autre entraîneur éventuellement. La patineuse eustachoise, qui a eu 23 ans le 2 janvier dernier, a donc choisi de déménager à Vancouver dans quelques semaines et de faire confiance à une nouvelle entraîneuse de réputation internationale, Johanne McLeod. «J’ai communiqué avec Johanne et je lui ai demandé si elle voulait prendre charge de mon entraînement en 2003. Sa réponse a été positive et je pars pour Vancouver avec une nouvelle motivation», a déclarée Annie. «Je crois qu’un changement d’entraîneur me fera du bien, tout en précisant que Stéphane est un très bon entraîneur et que sur le plan technique, il est excellent pour enseigner», a ajouté Annie.
Médaillée d’argent des Championnats canadiens à deux reprises, Annie n’a pu se qualifier pour les derniers Championnats du monde qui ont été présentés à Washington, il y a quelques jours. Elle croit qu’elle pourra compétitionner pendant deux ou trois ans encore. Aussi, en confiant sa carrière à Johanne McLeod (elle est l’entraîneur d’Emmanuel Sandhu), Annie espère atteindre de nouveaux sommets. «J’ai le goût d’apprendre autre chose», de confier Annie qui espère toujours participer au Jeux olympiques de Turin, en Italie, en 2006.
Elle reprendra donc l’entraînement et sa première compétition aura lieu à Minto, la première semaine du mois d’août. >>

[Azlynn]

I noticed this weekend at a competition that they were advertising Stars on Ice with her in it (Victoria, BC comp). Very big change, interesting to see if it changes her at all.

[Sydney]

I'm iffy on this one. I think it's time she had a coaching change, but I wish she would have gone to Toronto to train with Doug Leigh, or maybe gone with, I dunno, Peter Dunfield if he still coaches in Canada. I understand that there might be personal reasons for her to go to Vancouver, but - it's all the way at the other end of the country!!! When am I going to get the chance to see her skate on the East coast?!?!

I think it'll be good for her to train with Emanuel Sandhu though, who despite his inconsistencies, is a fantastic athlete. As for Joanne MacLeod, I'm reserving judgement. I wish Annie had gone with someone who is known for mentally preparing his or her skaters (eg: Doug Leigh... why do I keep coming back to him?).

Interesting about the Stars on Ice thing. Is it really Stars on Ice, or Skate the Nation? I think Stars on Ice would be a really good experience for her.

Love Annie's skating.... She and Joannie's skating both remind me of my favourite skater, Josée Chouinard. Hope this move brings out the best in her. Best of luck Annie!

[schnood]

I think this is great news! I think a change will do her good....so glad to hear she's sticking around for the 2006 Olympics.

(My French is very rusty, could someone please translate the article?)

Bonne chance Annie! :)

[Sydney]

Done. :)

The last year has been very difficult for skater Annie Bellemare. Even when you are second or third in Canada, it isn’t enough: the top step on the podium is always the dream!

After being used to competing with Jennifer Robinson at the Canadian Championships for the gold medal, Annie took a step back this year by falling to third place. She is very aware that she will have to change some things that are not working.
Also, before leaving for vacation, she told her coach, Stéphane Yvars, that she was leaving the Centre d’entraînement in Boucherville and that she would put her faith into a new coach eventually. The St-Eustache skater, who turned 23 years of age on the 2nd of January, has therefore chosen to move to Vancouver in a few weeks and to put her faith into a new coach of international repute, Johanne McLeod. “I contacted Johanne and asked her if she wanted to take charge of my training in 2003. Her answer was positive and I leave for Vancouver with a new motivation,” declared Annie. “I believe that a change in coaching will do me good, all while making it clear that Stéphane is a very good coach and that on the technical side, he is an excellent teacher,” added Annie.

Twice a silver medallist, Annie did not qualify for the World Championships in Washington, that took place a few days ago. She believes that she will be able to compete for two or three more years. Also, by entrusting her career to Johanne McLeod (she also coaches Emmanuel Sandhu), Annie hopes to attain to new heights. “I would like to learn other things”, confides Annie, who still hopes to be able to participate in the Olympic Games in Turin, in Italy, in 2006.

She will therefore resume training and her first competition will be at Minto, the first week of August.

[shopper]

well maybe she and emanuel can go to a sports psychologist together.

[missflick]

Originally posted by shopper
well maybe she and emanuel can go to a sports psychologist together.
Well said. If she wants a change, then maybe hanging out with Manny may not be the best thing...

[Tigger]

If she was moving to Doug Leigh, then I'd be thrilled by this news. McLeod on the other hand....I'm not sure this is the best thing. She doesn't need anyone to help her jumpwise. She needs help w/her confidence. Doug is a proven master of doing that w/his skaters. I hope it all works out for Annie, whose skating I love.

[fsfan]

Originally posted by shopper
well maybe she and emanuel can go to a sports psychologist together.


mhmmm... party with the sport psychologist.... at least for Sandhu he can always stay up near the top in Canada... I'm afraid to say that for Annie, the same will not happen... IMO, Joannie has already passed her... and there are a lot of people nipping at her feet...

[serpentine]

sometimes you just need a sweeping change...something to get your focus off your nerves and onto other aspects of your skating. i hope that she will be successful switching to Joanne. I can't wait to see her at Mintoskate!! anyone else going to be there?

[yankeepolka]

I just figured Annie went to B.C. because her boyfriend got a job there as a pair coach. Anyways, good luck to Annie because she is a good skater, nerves aside.

[jcspkbfan]

I thought Annie would benefit from a coaching change for about a couple of years now, but I agree Joanne McLeod would probably not be the first choice I had in mind (mainly based on her results--or lack thereof--with Emanuel. Does anyone know any other high-ranked skaters Joanne has coached?)

Doug Leigh would probably have been my first choice for Annie, too. I remember how much Josée Chouinard's skating--and consistency--improved after she began training with him after turning pro. But Doug seems to have so many other skaters already that maybe there wouldn't be much room for Annie.

But for now, I'm just happy Annie's decided to stick around a little bit longer--she considered quitting after last season and I was afraid she might do the same this year after the disappointing results she's had. I hope she'll be able to benefit from this move! :)

[TRAxel]

I hope it all works out for her, she is a beautiful skater. Maybe Annie didn't want to make a move to Mariposa due to the fact that Jennifer trains there too? Who knows. All the best to her.

[fsfan]

I'm not familiar with Manon Perron, but would she have been a possibility for Annie?

I mean, this is all for naught, but it does raise some interesting questions....

It is clear that she has made her decision....and I wish her luck... I just hope this works better for her!

[LTM]

Oh good Joanne McLeod sweat and tear her hair out over two skaters now.
I hope it works out. If nothing else I hope Annie enjoys Vancouver.

[pinkjellybean]

It may seem odd but I feel this is a good move, regardless of why she moved, I've thought she's needed a change for a while, and not necessarily to the marisposa. She couldn't verywell go there either assuming Jenn stays eligable...but from my first hand mariposa experience I know the technique is amazing, honestly my jumping improved ten fold and I was always a jumper to begin with...however Stephan (annie's now former coach) also taught good technique...

I've thought Annie needed a change to somewhere that could let her get into her programs alittle more. Yes she needs help with the nerves but beyond that I think it has to get less technical. We see glimpses of brilliant Annie and then they're gone, lost behind focusing on elements.

Going to Doug I think it would be very good techincally but I still don't think it would be what she needed. My old coach was friends with Joanne and I've been able to do a few seminar's that she's done (b4 she moved) and from what I've seen I think she'll add a lot to Annie's skating. I'm hopeing that Joanne's enthusiasm will really help Annie and I know Joanne will push her.

I'm not saying going back to a psychologist wouldn't be beneficial as well, but the move to Joanne really makes me hopefull it will produce great results. I don't think Annie's problem is her technique, jumpwise,(she does needs work on the spins and spirals), I hope if there's one "joanne thing" that rubs off on Annie it's her immersion in what you're doing. If Annie could only really get into the program, let go, and stop thinking just technically all the time she would be brilliant annie all the time... What I will always remmember from the seminar's is the edges, stroking etc that were upbeat and fast and you really just got intp it that led into the jumps and spins we did and it was really fresh. There's something to be said for just getting right into it, and to have it not feel like work or trying too hard... I just think it'll be good, that's my gut feling..I *sure* hope it will work out well for Annie's sake!

Anyway, that's my $.02, lot's of rambling, I do appologize, but my brain is mush, I just finished exams.

[jcspkbfan]

Whatever Annie's reasons are for not choosing Doug Leigh as a coach, I'm pretty sure having to train alongside Jennifer Robinson wouldn't be one of them.

When Josée was thinking about changing coaches the summer before the 1994 Olympics, Doug Leigh was actually her first choice. She spent a few weeks training with him even while she was still with her old coach and he was anxious to have her. It was actually Josée's agent from IMG who convinced her to train with Louis Stong instead (because Louis had a close relationship with SOI choreographer Sandra Bezic and since he'd been coaching Kurt Browning for about a year, IMG thought both Kurt and Josée would benefit from training together just before the Olympics). Even though Josée didn't know Louis nearly as well as she knew Doug, she agreed to train with Louis mainly because of her close friendship with Kurt. Louis also coached Josée's closest rival, Karen Preston, and Josée got along well with her as well.

Sorry this post got so far off the original topic, but I sometimes wonder whether Josée would have been able to skate up to her potential at Worlds or Olympics if she decided to train with Doug while still an eligible skater. I guess we'll never know. :(

[Tony Wheeler]

While we are all so quick to jump on Joanne and her (lack of) good coaching, we've got to remember that Emanuel isn't her only student. Kevin Reynolds has been the juvenile, pre-novice, and novice champion in consecutive years, under her coaching, and he's what, 12?

Annie feels that she needed a change in her skating, and it's as simple as that. Joanne will give her a new approach, and a new motivation that she may have lost over the five years with Stephane. As she put it, "I need more heart into my skating and less head." I really think that this change is going to work out great for her!

[Erin F]

I'm not really enthusiastic about what the move to Joanne will do, but I do agree with the sentiment that sometimes any kind of change is good, just because it's something different. We were discussing this at Canadians with regards to Ben Ferreira and his jaw-dropping improvement this year--it wasn't that Jan Ullmark was a bad coach...just that maybe Ben had gotten a bit complacent there and needed someone new to push him. The same may apply for Annie, although I'm not holding my breath. I've seen very few skaters that were "head cases" that were able to get past that mental block, coaching change or no coaching change.

[Polish]

Well Ben Ferreira had shown some improvement until the LP. You could see the improvement in the SP but once nerves kicked in and he started falling apart in the LP, he reverted back to old habits.

As for Annie, I think Joanne McLeod will be able to address a lot of issues in Annie's skating that Yvars overlooked. And while I personally don't think that a coaching change will help Annie's competitive toughness, a change is good nonetheless.

And yes, Joanne coaches Kevin Reynolds, perhaps the most consistent young skater I've ever seen. She also coaches up-and-comer Mira Leung who is very also very consistent.

[Polish]

Why do people on this board think that Mariposa's the only place that coaches "consistency"? I could name a lot of skaters from Mariposa who are coached by Barkell or Leigh (or both) who are inconsistent:

Lariviere & Faustino
Jeff Buttle
Chris Mabee
Meghan Duhamel
Takeshi Honda
Ben Ferreira
Lesley Hawker
Hugh Yik
Lauren Wilson

The list goes on.

Heck, even Jennifer Robinson was inconsistent training at Mariposa until the last year or two.

Do people think that because Elvis trained at Mariposa that Leigh/Mariposa automatically teach "consistency"?

[jcspkbfan]

Thanks for telling us about some of Joanne's other students! I was very impressed with Kevin Reynolds at Canadians (he reminds me of a very young Scott Hamilton!) and while I've never seen Mira Leung skate, I've heard lots of good things about her!

BTW, Polish, after reading your list of skaters training at Mariposa, I think it probably wouldn't be the best place for Annie after all--she'd probably get lost in the shuffle among all those skaters! Steven Cousins and even Brian Orser (at least as far as figures were concerned) were also known as inconsistent skaters during most of their eligible careers, if you want to go even further back...

[Ryan O]

Well I think that most people can agree that Annie had to do SOMETHING to try one last time to get her skating back on track. I personally thought she should have made a coaching change last season or the year before that. She does have some beautiful jumps and moves and has some strengths in her jumping ability that Jennifer does not have, but in order for her to stay on the podium in Canada and go to Worlds again, she hasto make some changes. It will be worth one more try at something. I heard the CTV crew saying at the Exhibitions after Nationals that Annie was thinking of packing it in, so at least she changed her mind and is trying something out.:)

[Sydney]

After reading all of your posts, I do feel better about Annie going to Joanne. I think she'll give her a polish. And yeah, Annie might get lost in the shuffle at Mariposa!

I guess Mariposa has a reputation for preparing its students mentally because of all the simulations the skaters go through before a competition. As for the technical aspects of Mariposa, I don't know much about that (I find that Jennifer's stroking is one of the worst out there, and she's been there for years....). But obviously, there's a whole bunch of fantastic skaters in their stable, so it must be a real motivator to be skating alongside them and to learn from them. And one nice thing for Annie would maybe to have been practicing alongside Josee Chouinard, who has gone through her share of nerves in the past, and seems to have the same technical weaknesses as Annie (spirals, flexibility).

Going to Vancouver is a big move, and I hope that Annie's happy there. She seems close to her mother and St. Eustache seems to be very proud and a big support system for her. She also credits Stéphane Yvars for putting her skating back on track, so she must have felt loyal to him. After seeing them last year at a competition, you could see they had a very nice rapport. I hope she'll be able to adapt well to Vancouver.

[jcspkbfan]

Annie already worked pretty closely with Josée last year--Josée choreographed Annie's long program.

[blades]

8-)

remember that joanne got kevin "gift wrapped"...he's the product of other coache's work...he's only been with joanne a short time...

same story on mira...

far too often the "high profile" coach gets all the credit for the work of others...

oh yes...it's true that i'm no fan of joanne...however...this time i'm not trying to slam her...i just want to put this in a proper prospective...

[Polish]

Originally posted by blades
8-)

remember that joanne got kevin "gift wrapped"...he's the product of other coache's work...he's only been with joanne a short time...


Wrong. Reynolds has been with McLeod (and Gennady Kaskov) for at least three years. She's taken him from a skater who has a cheated 3toe and 3sal, to a skater who fully rotates all this triples, who now does a flip and a lutz, and who now does triple-triple combos. To say that Joanne got him gift wrapped is absolutely FALSE. :roll:

[Erin F]

Originally posted by Polish
Wrong. Reynolds has been with McLeod (and Gennady Kaskov) for at least three years. She's taken him from a skater who has a cheated 3toe and 3sal, to a skater who fully rotates all this triples, who now does a flip and a lutz, and who now does triple-triple combos. To say that Joanne got him gift wrapped is absolutely FALSE. :roll:

Right...and on the same subject, from what I hear of Mira's cheats prior to this season she's done a lot with Mira, too (her jumps in Saskatoon had their problems, but nowhere near the 3/4 rotation cheats I'd been hearing about). From all I've seen of Joanne, she seems a bit odd, but I also think she's a good coach. I don't think there's much she really could have done with Sandhu...I think most of his problems are his own fault.

[Polish]

Originally posted by Erin F
I don't think there's much she really could have done with Sandhu...I think most of his problems are his own fault.

ITA. He is a big boy and she can't force him into the kind of training habits needed to get the job done. That said, I do believe he is better this year in that regard.