Canadian figure skating is in good hands. On the podium in the ice dance event of the Four Continents Championships, the Canadian duos of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen, as well as Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, stood on the second and third steps respectively. Just back from Colorado, the medalists offered their time to pass on their passion.
The Quartier des Spectacles holds one of Montreal’s finest secrets. In the hollow of condo buildings and office towers where jeans are probably not tolerated, at the corner of Clark and Maisonneuve Streets West, hides the quiet Esplanade.
A giant ice rink on which families, lovers and workers make their blades bite under the multicolored lights and the sound of pieces chosen by the ICI Musique team.
Across this sea of casual skaters, some stand out.
They showed up wearing Lululemon jackets and the Canadian Olympic Team logo on the shoulder.
A little before 7:30 p.m., Fournier Beaudry and Sorensen share a small bowl of pretzels in the large lounge at the edge of the rink.
The duo will conclude their season at the World Championships in four weeks in Japan. Nevertheless, their silver medal acquired on four continents has a great value. Especially given how important the competition is.
“It’s big,” says Fournier Beaudry, already made up for her performance.
“We really wanted to win. We came close, but we were a little short, continues his companion. We were really happy when we left the ice and that’s the important thing,” he added about their first medal in the championships.
It would be hard to be disappointed with this result, says the skater, because they established two personal bests. “It proves that you are improving from one competition to another. It gives us even more motivation for the world championships.
After the show, the couple will head to Worlds, the most significant competition of the season. “We will continue to push, assures Sorensen. There won’t really be any major changes, these are details. But it is certain that we are even more hungry for a medal. »
A satisfying ending
PHOTO MICHAEL CIAGLO, USA TODAY SPORTS
Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha during the Four Continents Championships held in Colorado.
Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha landed on the last step of the podium. For these two inveterate perfectionists, this is more than enough.
“The other duos are so much older. They have a lot of experience and we still have a long way to go to be at their level,” says Lagha, herbal tea in hand.
Alongside him, Lajoie agrees: “We were just happy to get the medal. That was the goal. »
It would have been difficult for the pair to end their season in a better way. “It means a lot,” says the 23-year-old skater. The duo have excelled this season by becoming podium subscribers.
The two skaters are satisfied to have completed their routine and they will take a few days off before starting the machine again.
Share the passion
It was about three degrees below zero when the skaters boarded the downtown rink. A mass of onlookers gathered around the frozen surface.
The Olympians were more in demonstration than in competition. Children, in particular, marveled, could only see the skill and talent of these renowned skaters perform before their eyes.
Because of this, the skaters still wanted to skate at the height of their ability. “It’s always stressful, because you always want to do well and show what you can do on the ice,” Sorensen said.
It’s a way of transmitting our passion. It’s a way for children to come and see us and there may be a succession that will be born from that. THE feeling is different, because it’s not judged and the public is there to trip, to live a moment and that gives us energy.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry
This energy, Lajoie also feeds on it during this kind of performance. “In competition, everyone is good. So to board in front of people who are less skilled or less accustomed to seeing a skate of this caliber is a little proud. There is this element of surprise. Usually people don’t know who we are. »
Yet they made their entrance to applause, shouts and whistles.
“We are always in the performance,” says Lagha.
Except Thursday night, they were in fun mode. The pleasure of transmitting their passion, representing the Montreal Ice Academy and simply skating. “You still have to appreciate what we do, because we are at a very good level and we have to be proud of it,” concludes Sorensen.