So, I’m not a sports person, but find me a more impressive feat of athleticism than pairs ice dancing. Oh, you do gymnastics? Great. Can you do it while dancing? Oh, you dance? Nice. Can you do it on ice? Oh, you skate? Cool. Can you do it while defying gravity?
The only athletes who can confidently say yes to all these questions in equal measure, are pairs ice dancers. And that’s just the athletic portion of what they have to do. They’re also expected to add artistry and tell a story through their movement; this includes gestures, and facial expressions along with precision-timed choreography to music.
It’s not enough that they’re expected to be in peak physical condition. They also have to be performers who engage the audience and judges with memorable and impressive routines.
And they do this all without protective equipment or gear. If they fall, or misstep, they can seriously injure themselves or their partner. That takes fearlessness, dedication, confidence in their skills, and trust in their partner; you’re simply not going to see anything like it from any other discipline.
Who wouldn’t love this photo? It was just a split second of time, snuck in while everyone would be distracted by another team getting their medals. This was their first time on top of the World podium, and yet it was not easy despite the new gleam of Olympic gold. Tessa was still experiencing difficulty with her legs; they were both suffering from post-Olympic let down; they had to change their choreography at the last moment for their OD, and their FD did not go as smoothly as at Vancouver. It was this moment – they could have walked away, Olympic and World champions, and no one would have thought less of them for it. But instead of an ending, this was only another beginning.
If I had no other reason, I’d be so grateful these two have skated together for 21 yearsbecause of the hours and hours of content available to entertain me.
I’ve had pneumonia all month and if it weren’t for the endless fan videos and recordings on YouTube I’m about 100% sure I would have lost my damn mind by now.
So this seems like a good day to express gratitude to everyone who contributes to the fandom. I won’t name names because I don’t want to sound like a suck up but a sincere thank you to
The fans who record the competitions and exhibitions
The people who post all the interviews, especially ones from countries I can’t see
The incredible still photos from professional and amateur photographers around the world
The extensive commentary and tutorials on figure skating from people far more knowledgeable than I (today even there’s a fantastic review of various programs that’s circulating and so much fun to read)
The brilliant gif makers
The fans who make superb videos that often give me chills or move me to tears
The bloggers who curate and share so much positive content
I hope I didnt forget a category. (If so, I apologize and plead pneumonia.)
I’m very grateful for that content — and particularly in awe of the two people who have inspired all of it: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. May everyone who calls themselves a fan do their best to live up to the admirable example they set — as people and as athletes — for professionalism, integrity, love, loyalty, hard work, humility, passion, and kindness.
And thank you to my followers who often send me friendly or funny DMs or comment on posts. You are the ones who make the fandom worthwhile.
Here are the details of the trips (not yet posted on the GKP site) that Tessa and Scott will be involved with in 2020:
Along the Wild Atlantic Way – Western Ireland! MAY 12 – 19, 2020
Featuring Jim Cuddy (multi-Juno award winner and Music Hall of Fame and Order of Canada recipient), Barney Bentall (Juno award winner), Tom Cochrane (multi-Juno award winner, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Order of Canada Recipient), Bill Henderson (Order of Canada recipient and frontman of the iconic Canadian rock band Chilliwack), Anne Lindsay (fiddler extraordinaire), Devin Cuddy and Sam Polley, along with Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (Canada’s Most Decorated Ice Dance Skaters) and James Chatto (author, culinary guru and National Head Judge of the Canadian Culinary Championships)!
You will discover wonderful Galway, Europe’s Culture Capital 2020 staying for three nights at the 5 star Luxury Glenlo Abbey Hotel and four nights exploring the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Connemara staying at the 5 star Luxury Ballynahinch Castle! You can explore the area on bike and by foot and enjoy castle activities such as clay pigeon shooting, archery, fly fishing and fabulous local food including oysters, beers, whiskeys and gins.
Matera Southern Italy – Awarded the Cultural Capital of Europe 2019! MAY 20 - 27, 2020
Featuring Alan Doyle (Canadian music legend, actor, producer, best-selling author and best known as lead singer for the Newfoundland’s beloved Great Big Sea), Neil Osborne (Canadian Music Industry Hall of Famer and Rock Legend of 54•40), Cory Tetford (singer, songwriter and producer), and Kendel Carson (fiddler extraordinaire) along with Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (Canada’s most decorated Ice Dance skaters) and Canada’s Premier Wine Expert David Lawrason! NOTE: one additional musician TBC
Matera, Basilicata’s jewel, may be the third-longest continuously inhabited human settlement in the world. Natural caves in the tufa limestone, exposed as the Gravina cut its gorge, attracted the first inhabitants perhaps 7000 years ago. Today, looking across the gorge to Matera’s huddled sassi (cave dwellings) it seems you’ve been transported back to the ancient Holy Land. You will roam though the labyrinth of this UNESCO World Heritage site and discover the magic of this spectacular place – the wines, the history, the surrounding hills of Masseria and the wines of the Vulture region! Bellissimo!
