Skaters put on show ahead of worlds
Ontario’s Chartrand and Daleman leap past former Canadian champ Osmond with sparkling long programs
HALIFAX — One thing for certain, the women’s singles competition at the World Figure Skating Championships in Boston is not going to be a tea party. A couple of Ontario teenagers will make certain of that.
The past few years, Canada’s top women’s singles skaters have taken a back seat to their counterparts from other parts of the world. But Alaine Chartrand of Prescott and Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket sent the message to the rest of the skating world on Saturday that, in women’s singles, Canada is back.
Chartrand and Daleman, both trailing Kaetlyn Osmond heading into Saturday’s long program, performed superlative long programs to pass Osmond and finish 1-2 at the Canadians.
Osmond led the competition after Friday’s short program but dropped to third after the long and is now on the bubble to be named to the world championship team — a tough blow for the Edmonton-based skater who returned this season after long layoff with a broken leg.
“Overall I’m really happy,” said Osmond. “I went out there and I skated and I enjoyed it and that’s what I went out there to do. “
Overall, the finale of the women’s long program at the Scotiabank Centre on Saturday could not have been more dramatic. Of the three skaters in the race for the two spots on the world team, Daleman, who won the national title last season in Osmond’s absence, took the ice first and laid down a monster program, performed to the Maria de Buenos Aires Suite. Daleman let it all hang out, opening her long with a spectacular triple Lutz/double toe/double loop combination and cruised from there, earning a score of 133.55. The Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club skater said she got a boost just before her skate from her choreographer Lori Nichol.
“She called me on my way to the rink,” said an emotional Daleman, after her skate. “And then after warm-up I was, like, I need to call her. I need more motivation. I needed someone to calm me down and tell me I can do this.”
After Daleman’s superb performance, it was Chartrand’s turn. The defending Canadian silver medallist knew she would have to lay down one of the best skates of her life to hold on to a spot on the world team. And that’s exactly what she did. Skating to a haunting compilation from Gone With the Wind, the 19-yearold skated magnificently, completing all her major elements, including a triple Lutz/triple toe jump combo, and a unique double Axel/single loop/triple Salchow combo. The pressure was on big-time and Chartrand answered the bell. Though Daleman’s short score was ultimately higher (133.55-133.18), Chartrand was able to hold on to first as a result of her superior short program.
Adding to the suspense of the competition was the unusual length of time it took for Chartrand’s scores to come out. Chartrand pointed to a non-existing watch on her wrist — a clear messages to the judges to hurry up.
If the wait was tough on Chartrand, it was even tougher on Osmond, who was on the ice waiting to perform. Unfortunately, perhaps because of her inactivity last season and the fact that she had been battling a cold all week, the Marystown, Nfld., native was unable to pull it off. She picked up a long program score of 127.24 and dropped to third — 0.12 of a point behind Daleman and four points behind Chartrand.
Skate Canada will announce the world championship team tomorrow. Chartrand almost certainly will be named while Osmond still might despite finishing behind Daleman based on her past experience.