Re Skate Canada's position

[Rae]

Here's a hypothetical for anyone who'd care to comment.

What would SC do, after May 1, if again Sale and Pelletier and Browning came out publicly reiterating their support for WSF as they did intially?

The obvious answer is nothing as none are eligible and their careers are not in jeopardised in any way.

But, haven't these skaters acted as role models - been invited to Skate Canada functions for all good reasons. Haven't all three been involved in some way in supporting and encouraging young Canadian skaters.

Or would they now not be permitted to take part in fostering any Skate Canada youth programs?

[sonora]

That's an interesting hypothetical.

I am curious about Skate Canada. Is it run like the USFSA? Is there a Governing Council type meeting? Are important changes voted on by the (represented) membership?

[John Q]

"The obvious answer is nothing as none are eligible and their careers are not in jeopardised in any way."

Rae I think you're missing something here... anyone who openly advocates for the WSF, thereby making themself not a member in good standing, is also not permitted to coach in Canada. Since I have heard that Kurt Browning helped Takeshi Honda with his programs this year in the future he would not be permitted to do such coaching on Canadian soil.

[Rae]

Well, I certainly missed that one. In your opinion, would it make any difference to SC that Honda is Japanese or more that the Mariposa club would feel very nervous about Kurt acting in such a capacity?

[Rae]

sonora - this I found on the SC website. I'm sure further info is there if you want to access it.

Skate Canada is run by a Board of Directors which sets policy. The Board comprises a president who is elected biennially, the immediate past president, three vice-presidents, eight nationally-elected directors, 13 regionally-elected chairmen, three appointed Committee chairmen, two athlete representatives, five ISU representatives, two coaching representatives and a secretary-treasurer (usually the Director General).

Each of the vice-presidents is responsible for a different area of Skate Canada programming as well as a geographic area of the country. Standing committees are responsible for conducting programs and activities and report to the appropriate vice-president

[John Q]

Rae
I think that the "home clubs" of all these skaters should be worried if they let non members in good standing teach skaters at their club... I'm not sure the exact penalties but they could include suspension of a club's board of directors or even the suspension of the skater's eligible status... I'm sure Skate Canada won't just turn the other cheek

[bleu]

why are you worried about Kurt and S&P?. They are not OFFICIAL COACHES and hence not on Skate Canada payroll. imagine what people would say if Skate Canada is seen penalizing people not on its payroll.

Beside, Skate Canada can't really come down on these two...particularly these two. It is like saying the USFSA would do the same to Michele Kwan.

[blades]

8-)

skate canada exercises great control over coaches...running afoul of the powers that be is the kiss of death professionally...

[Tigger]

Making Kurt, one of the greatest skaters this sport has known and still one of the most popular skaters in this country, and Jamie and David, one of the reiging Olympic Pairs Champions who helped Anabelle and Patrice get us that top five finish at Worlds persona non grata just because they disagree w/Skate Canada....That floors me. I know there are going to be people who say they'll get what they deserve for splitting the skating community by supporting the WSF, but aren't we split already? There are those who want change and those who can't see what all the fuss is about. Personally, if you can't see why everyone is up in arms about w/the ISU and their underhanded dealings, then you're part of the problem in this sport.

Could Skate Canada *really* be that stupid...To, in effect, banish three of their most popular skaters and money makers? I know if I was a parent and my kid had a chance to attend a seminar w/Kurt and or Jamie and David, I'd pay the fee. By doing this, SC's going to drive more coaches we need up here, south of the border to set up shop.

This just gets more mindboggling by the days....

[ice mommy]

Originally posted by John Q

Rae I think you're missing something here... anyone who openly advocates for the WSF, thereby making themself not a member in good standing, is also not permitted to coach in Canada. Since I have heard that Kurt Browning helped Takeshi Honda with his programs this year in the future he would not be permitted to do such coaching on Canadian soil.

Kurt would have no problem working with someone like Takeshi as he skates for Japan. They'd just have to find ice which isn't controlled by a Skate Canada Club. That wouldn't be difficult to do. He could work with Canadian skaters in the same way, I'd think, but he couldn't obtain accreditation to accompany a Canadian skater to a competition.

[Polish]

Originally posted by Rae
Here's a hypothetical for anyone who'd care to comment.

What would SC do, after May 1, if again Sale and Pelletier and Browning came out publicly reiterating their support for WSF as they did intially?



Very interesting point!

So are Langlois & Archetto going to banned from Skate Canada now because they're working a lot with Sale & Pelletier? What about the dance teams and singles skaters who are working with Browning?

Sale & Pelletier have said that they want to due a pairs school this summer in Alberta.....will any SC skaters that go to this seminar be banned from SC if they attend? What if Sale & Pelletier want to get into coaching when they're done touring professionally? I assume they'll be banned from that in Canada and have to go to the US to coach.

[Polish]

You know what else is wacked about this...SC has a Kurt Browning/Investors Group scholarship fund that gives $$$$$ to young, up and coming skaters every year. So will SC now have to stop with this scholarship because it's associated with KB? I'd be curious to know SC's answer to this.

[Tigger]

Now there's an interesting question Polish. Maybe someone should ask SC what exactly would happen w/that scholarship. As I said here and in another thread....This will hurt SC in more ways than they can possibly imagine.

[jcspkbfan]

I thought Kurt's work with Takeshi was strictly from a choreography standpoint, not a coaching standpoint--in order for Kurt (or any other Canadian skater) to have full coaching credentials, he'd have to take some kind of coaching course (and most Canadian skaters with the kind of performing schedule Kurt has don't have the time to do this). Kurt talked about this briefly in a 2000 BOI article long before the WSF was created. This is also why so many former Canadian skaters (Liz Manley, Paul Duchenay, etc.) are now coaching in the States.

If Kurt wants to help choreograph for other skaters (Canadian or otherwise) or participate in short-term skating seminars (he put together a seminar for young male skaters a few years ago at the Granite Club), I don't think he needs any special credential for that, but if Skate Canada suddenly fires him from his job as a Granite Club skating consultant or stops him (or S&P, for that matter) from doing other non-coaching things to benefit young skaters, well...shame on them. :( I really hope Kurt, Jamie and David won't be treated any differently than other ineligible Canadian skaters (Brian Orser, B&E, etc.) who have helped younger skaters in a non-coaching capacity as a result of this.

As for the scholarship in Kurt's name, well, they could always rename it "The David Dore/Ottavio Cinquanta Scholarship Fund." I'm sure that'll make all those people who booed Cinquanta after he wouldn't let Kurt skate at the 1996 Worlds opening ceremonies very happy. :roll:

[Tigger]

Was I the only one who did a double take at the word "profit" being mentioned in that SC press release last night? If profit is so important to SC, maybe it really should think twice about the possiblity of banning Kurt and Jamie and David because that's going to hurt them profit wise.

I thought Kurt did have his Level 1. Didn't he earn that during his year off from US SOI a few years ago?

[jcspkbfan]

I remember Kurt said in that 2000 BOI article that he generally agreed with the Canadian coaching certification process, but he thought it was silly for a four-time world champion to have to go through an eight-hour-a-day coaching course to get Level 1. I took that comment to mean Kurt hadn't earned Level 1 himself yet, but I could have been wrong. I'm not sure what kind of coaching certification (if any) Kurt would need to do the type of choreography work he's been doing over the past few years, but if he does need at least Level 1, he could very well have gotten it sometime in the last three years since that BOI interview was published (if not earlier!)

[ice mommy]

Originally posted by jcspkbfan
I thought Kurt's work with Takeshi was strictly from a choreography standpoint, not a coaching standpoint--in order for Kurt (or any other Canadian skater) to have full coaching credentials, he'd have to take some kind of coaching course (and most Canadian skaters with the kind of performing schedule Kurt has don't have the time to do this). Kurt talked about this briefly in a 2000 BOI article long before the WSF was created. This is also why so many former Canadian skaters (Liz Manley, Paul Duchenay, etc.) are now coaching in the States.

Kurt has his level 1. This way he can use The Granite Club ice without any question as to how "legal" this is. But you're right that Kurt will have no difficulty working with Takeshi on ice other than that of a Skate Canada club. You're also right that many prominent Canadian skaters have moved to the US and are coaching there. One of the reasons is the certification requirements, but there are others.

[sillyskates]

Originally posted by Polish
You know what else is wacked about this...SC has a Kurt Browning/Investors Group scholarship fund that gives $$$$$ to young, up and coming skaters every year. So will SC now have to stop with this scholarship because it's associated with KB? I'd be curious to know SC's answer to this.
Skate Canada's website now has Kurt's Award for Junior Skaters listed as "under review". Wonder what that means? Possibly nothing ... any ideas? :??

[roogu]

Actually, it was listed as 'under review' long before the WSC formed.