As is frequently the case with the Figure Skating Boutique Summer Free Skate in Thornhill, Ontario - there are surprise entries and some great skating. It is always interesting to see a new program at the beginning  and observe it and the skaters as they evolve and develop over the course of the season.

With one thing and another, I was only able to attend the competition on Sunday and after a quick review of the entries, I had my sights set on people I hadn't yet had the pleasure of interviewing. Among them, Kazakhstan's Denis Ten and I wouldn't be honest if I didn't tell you that I am a fan.  The first time I saw Denis was probably at Skate Canada almost 3 years ago but the time I really remember him was from Worlds that same year. He has an innately elegant posture with tremendous musicality.

Truth be told, fellow skating warrior princess (so far it's just us - anyone else want in?) and photographer Justine Chiu (www.justinechiu.com) was the one who spotted him and asked me on the way to the car if I had been able to interview him. I said that I had missed him - she said "You're kidding!  You walked right by him." I sprinted back inside the building and begged him to talk to me and even though his Mom was standing there car keys at the ready, he said yes. 

It is August, so allowances have to be made for how programs are performed at this time of year, nevertheless - Ten's attention to detail and musicality is undeniable. I said "Nice triple Axel." He said "On the warm-up :( " 

Yesterday's free program from Thornhill:

To say that Denis has struggled the last couple of years would be a fair statement although it would need to be tempered with an equally fair statement that he has grown. if you have been in skating for any length of time, how quickly a young person grows can have a huge impact on their jumps and I believe this was the case with him.

Denis' training location is currently Lake Arrowhead, California under the guidance of legendary coach Frank Carroll with input from Rafael Aratunian.  Choreographer Lori Nichol used Rachmaninoff for the Short program and Astor Piazzolla for the Free as backdrop for his lyrical style. "I like everything about my new training location. last year was tyough for me and I am looking to become more consistent"  He even hints at wanting to include a Quad Toe this season as his first jump in the free.

When asked what he would be doing if he weren't a skater - he says: "Maybe music - I used to play the piano or I love films and I would love to be an actor. Now, I am a skater and this is my life." Not only is he a skater, he is a young man who is completing university courses by correspondence from a University in Moscow with his focus on Law.

With a schedule this season that will include Nebelhorn, Skate America and Skate Canada, I wondered if he has his sights set on Sochi in 2014. Grinning, he said "It is hard to say, I still have 3 years so it is still a long way away."

Some more thoughts from Denis:

Ten's favourite skater is Olympic Champion Alexei Yagudin whose influence can be felt as he defines figure skating in this way: "Skating is...passion, it's a fight, a challenge and it's inspiration for kids."

Skating as inspiration - works for me :)

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Last night the scene was set at the annual Scarboro Ice Dance Elite show where all of the school's ice dance teams were on deck performing this season's programs. There were ice dancers at every level including Canadian National Team members Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill. I will tell you that I have always really liked this team. I really like their contrasts - Kharis' demure femininity contrasted against Asher's powerful masculinity. I also love the fact that they are intelligent, polite and all around great kids!

First up for them was this year's Free Dance - a tango piece to music from the movie Waking Life that Asher found - several years ago in Grade 10 -  when the movie was shown in his English class and the music stuck with him.

"There is a basic story to the free dance but one that hasn't yet been fully explored. It is about finding my perfect guy and when the music changes - I have him." explains Kharis. The skaters agree that it has a playful and mischievious tone. What I noticed was the connection that they have to each other throughout the piece. See what you think?

There are lots of changes to the look of this team on the ice and a new found confidence that is hard not to miss.  Kharis' body line has somehow elongated giving the team much more"oneness".  "Obviously last season didn't go the way we wanted it to so when the season was over we sat down and talked about what we wanted to do." explains Kharis. "We wanted to re-create ourselves and transform everything from our skills to the way our bodies worked and looked" said Asher. This has happened with lots of hard work and a special attention to ballet, ballroom and work with a lift coach.

Coach Carol Lane comments on her students:

"I feel almost like we are brand new." This from Asher who talks about the stability that defines their partnership. Kharis takes a little longer to find one word to describe her partnership. She is hesitant but comes up with "devotion" - not in a romantic way but in a way that puts people together for a common goal. For me, I choose the word natural although I could also choose comfortable because of their ease with one another.

For Kharis, skating is "being able to become whoever I want to be." Kharis wears this more mature presentation like a custom glove.

Acacia Hill is Asher's twin sister and a former Senior Ladies competitor knows a thing or two about performance: "I see a maturity in them this year. Kharis before was very conservative and has learned to move in a different way. I see them coming out of their shell." Acacia goes on to define the team by their chemistry, calling them "unique and creative."

Kharis and Asher are looking forward to competing at Nebelhorn and Skate America with Kharis talking about their renewed determination to be "as prepared as we can be for the upcoming Grand Prix season"

Skating is..."life" for Asher Hill. "I can't imagine doing anything else."

It shows.

Here are the skaters' thoughts on their upcoming season:

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On my recent trip to the Liberty competition in Aston, PA, I roamed the rink like some kind of fan posessed, intent on snagging Paul Wylie for an interview.  Ok - truth is we had crossed paths on numerous occasions as he so kindly reminded me that he remembered my announcing him during his competitive days about a trillion years ago. That was then, when I still had youth and no hair color on my side - and this was now - as dedicated blogger. I don't know what possessed him, but he agreed to be interviewed.

The first thing that would capture a person's atrtention would be the gracious smile, the twinkle in the blue eyes and the calm graciousness that defines Paul.  This is a very humble man who is not one to wear his accomplishments on his sleeve and accomplished he is; take his 1992 Olympic silver medal or his business degree from Harvard University. 

My interview led me to another one of his accomplishments; that as advocate for young people through an organization called Respect in Sport. Having read the story of hockey abuse survivor Sheldon Kennedy that he outlined in his book, Paul contacted the author and was compelled to get involved.

The premise is to advance the case for the protection of children involved in sport.  There have been lots of examples of young people having been compromised by authority figures as they attempt to achieve their goals. Respect in Sport offers training of anyone who may have a role in a young athlete's life from coaches to parents and administrators and beyond.  In Canada, Hockey Canada and Hockey Manitoba among others have adopted this tool and for more information you need only go to their website:  http://www.respectinsport.com

Back to Paul Wylie.  Chatting about his family life as a husband and dad of 3 young children, his involvement in skating as a coach and with Respect in Sport comes as no surprise.  We talk about the impact that the words and actions of a coach can have on their student. Ironically, Paul's student Alex Aiken performed at a less than optimal level at Liberty and he strolled over for a quick chat with his coach during our interview. "You just don't know what effect you are having on a young person as a coach. It is something that needs to be taken seriously."

In observing Paul at the boards, it makes sense that his gift as a coach is being able to offer a point of view born of experience. Nothing like learning from someone who has already "walked the walk." and who is committed to the progress of the skater.

More from Paul Wylie in his own words:

As a commentator his approach was always thoughtful and considered, something that stands him in good stead to this day.

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So how does a nice Canadian boy end up skating for Poland? It's quite simple - looking for the chance to compete internationally, an opportunity presented itself for Patrick Myzyk and he took advantage. He had always wanted to compete for his country and didn't feel as if he would get the chance as a Canadian skater.

At the 2011 Liberty competition with coach Angela Derochie, Patrick is a man on a mission. This is his first season representing Poland and he is eager to get his 'ducks in a row'. One of those ducks is a consistent triple Axel. When he first started thinking about skating for Poland he was working on his own a year ago. he started working with Toronto area coach Robert Burke who eventually led him to colleague Angela Derochie. Patrick asked her if she could teach him a triple Axel? "I did a triple Axel so I can definitely teach you one." Angela recalled with a chuckle.

One of the challenges skating in Canada and representing another country is the jet lag. Angela commmented on the cooperative nature of the Polish federation in the back and forthing of setting up Patrick's schedule. As a result, the pair will be travelling in August to Obertsdorf, Germany for the Nebelhorn competition and Bratislava for 2 back to back events representing 2 weeks of travel and only 1 time change. The alternative would have been an appearance at another event a week later which would have meant three weeks away from home.

Patrick's parents are from Poland and he speaks Polish fluently. Torun, the location of the MKS Axel Club and Patrick's new home club is also the city where his father grew up while his mother is from Gdansk. Appearing at last year's Polish Nationals as a guest, Patrick is feeling very much at home and is feeling better prepared and earlier heading into the new season.  the date for his Nationals are not yet confirmed wlthough will be taking place some time in December. Interestingly, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia combine their resources in an event called Three Nationals. The 3 countries hold their Nationals together and there are medals awarded for each country highest placed competitors as well as medals for highest overall placings.

Patrick's plan this season is to gain consistency with his triple Axel and to get his triple/triple combinations going. Pasquale Camerlengo is responsible for Patrick's SP choreography to a violin version of ACDC's Thunderstruck, while Julie Marcotte's choreography is the backdrop of his Safri Duo medley free program.

Here are comments from Patrick and Angela about their plan:

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Well it has been a busy time for four time and defending Canadian champion and 2011 World champion Patrick Chan. There has ben the creation of a new free program and the birth of his newest Quad - the Salchow - here in his own words:  http://tinyurl.com/6cuc5fp.  He says with confidence that he will start the season with a quad in the short and at least 2 in the free and by the end of the season is looking to have maybe 3 or 4 depending on how things go.  He confirmed that he is keeping the fabulous SP from last season which will undergo some minor tweaking.

The real news is the free program whose music is still under wraps but is everything that a skater could hope for. "Lori and I were at (music editor) Lenore (Kay's) and had pretty much decided on some music and were just about to leave when Lenore said wait a minute, there's just one more piece I want to play for you and that was it." He says he feels a huge connection emotionally to the music and cannot wait to get it out there. He even said that after a run-through he is often left with goose bumps. He explains: "It's all three things: it's the music, it's a composed piece not from a movie. The reason why the composer wrote it  is amazing and of course the beautiful choreography from Lori Nichol." For Patrick, this program delivers the 'whole package." "I feel good about it. The program is 'seamless' and what I mean by seamless is that there is no distinction in the music. It flows from one section to the next. Do you remember the middle section of my Phantom program where the music changed and I rested? Well this program is nothing like that" He continues by explaining that it is even more demanding than anything else he has done.(That's hard to imagine).

Although he knew that with a record setting score and large margin after the SP at Worlds in Moscow that he was in striking distance of his first world title, he left the competition a little less than satisfied with his equally brilliant free program. "I didn't feel as emotionally connected or as attached to the Phantom program as I do to the program I will be doing this year. It was almost as if I went and did my job and left although I am thrilled to be World Champion."

His biggest goal for the season is to win Worlds again. Patrick is honest enough to say that winning the title once isn't the problem - it's defending although he feels up to the challenge: "I am excited to almost be starting from scratch this year - it feels almost as if I haven't ever won Worlds. I have had a good feeling ever since working on this free program. It feels good."

What else feels good is the support Patrick receives from not only family but ordinary Canadians. It is just such a group who are busy working on a fundraiser to take place at the Premiere Ballroom and Convention Centre in Richmond Hill on September 9th, 2011. If you want more information email fundraiser@patrickchan.ca. In the meantime, I secretly hope that this will inspire more people in more communities to help Canadian amateur athletes. Big or small, financial or moral - it all counts.  Patrick talks about the fundraiser and the support of the community here: http://tinyurl.com/68qr8cz.

On the calendar are trips for Patrick to perform and/or train in China, South Korea, the USA, Canada and Japan; all before the regular season starts and one that promises to be outstanding.