Senior moment for skaters
CHATHAM PAIR COMPETING
AT NATIONALS
Posted By MARK MALONE, THE DAILY NEWS
Christi Steele and Adam Johnson gained a
well-earned reputation as one of the best junior
pairs teams in Canada.
They won bronze medals at last year's national
championships and were sent by Skate Canada to
four ISU Junior Grand Prix events.
Now they have to prove themselves all over
again.
The Chatham Figure Skating Club members are in
Saskatoon this week for the Canadian
championships.
They've moved up to the senior level after two
years as juniors. Instead of being a medal
favourite, they're the new kids on the block.
Steele and Johnson have competed as seniors
since November, placing third at the Western
Ontario sectionals and fourth at the Skate
Canada Senior Challenge.
"The judges almost see us as the rookies," said
Steele, 17. " . . . They're a little bit tougher
on you. It's hard to earn your points."
They perform their short program Friday and long
program Saturday.
Steele and Johnson, who train together in
Strathroy, could have stayed at the junior level
this year and next. They're one of the youngest
senior teams, which won't help their marks this
week.
"It's almost a 'wait your turn' kind of thing,"
said Johnson, 20. "That's how it is in the
skating world."
A
podium finish is unlikely, so they're more
focused on their points than their placement.
"Since
it's our first year at senior and it's such a big
step, we'll try to go out and have fun and get a
personal-best score," Steele said. "It's all that we
can do. Not a lot is expected of us this year."
A good
performance could earn them another international
assignment.
Because of their age, they could skate on the Junior
Grand Prix circuit next season or even go to this
year's junior world championships.
"We
have a really good chance," Steele said. "We have to
have a really good skate and a personal-best score.
It depends on how everyone else does, but I think we
have a really good chance."
They've added some new elements -- a throw triple
flip, a triple twist and a third lift -- to their
long program since last year, but the routine hasn't
changed much.
Steele
and Johnson have changed, though. They feel more
poised and relaxed after going to the nationals
twice as juniors.
"It's
a lot different now," Johnson said. "We know what to
expect with all the media, all the lights and all
the famous people walking around backstage."
They'll skate a slow, classical short program and an
upbeat, rock 'n' roll long program.
Defending pairs champions Anabelle Langlois and Cody
Hay won't compete due to Langlois' ankle injury.
Reigning world bronze medallists Jessica Dube and
Bryce Davison will be the favourites to win gold.
