Now that Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon are retired, Tessa Virtue, left, and Scott Moir are the top-ranked Canadian ice dancers. (Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press)
Feature
The Next Big Thing
Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are drawing comparisons to Torvill and Dean
Last Updated Wed., Jan. 16, 2007
By Randi Druzin, CBC Sports
In a few short seasons, Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have risen to the upper echelons of the figure skating world. Dazzled by the skaters' precision and poise, fans have crowned the pair the Next Big Thing — and expect a gold medal at this week's national championships.
It's a tall order for skaters barely out of high school, but they don't mind. "Bring on the pressure!" says the 18-year-old Virtue. "We're aware of the increased scrutiny and expectations. But we're able to focus on our jobs and put all else aside. We rely on our training and trust our coaches to prepare us."
So far, so good. They finished second at the nationals and sixth at the world championships last season, and have continued to turn heads this season.
The London, Ont.-area duo finished fourth at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Italy (Dec. 13-16), second at the NHK Trophy in Japan (Nov. 29-Dec. 2) and first at Skate Canada in Quebec City (Nov. 1-4).
They led throughout the discipline's three phases in Quebec, and ran away with the title. They finished a jaw-dropping 25.5 points ahead of the nearest challengers.
"Capturing our first Grand Prix gold medal at the senior level was an unforgettable experience," says Virtue.
"There's nothing quite like the feeling of stepping onto the ice in a Canadian arena," she adds. "Spectators are generous and supportive — and we really feel that energy. It's always a treat to skate in front of a Canadian crowd."
The duo is doing just that in Vancouver this week, where the national championships are being held.
"Scott and I have been striving to be Canadian champions for a long time," says Virtue, who teamed up with Moir in 1997. "Hopefully, this is our year."
Skating fans would be stunned if it weren't. With five-time national champions Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon sitting out this season, Virtue and Moir are the top-ranked ice dancers.
They sit sixth in the world standings, 17 places ahead of the next-best duo at the competition, Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje.
Virtue says she and Moir, 20, hope to "lay down three solid performances." Odds are, they will. Their technical excellence and exciting routines have been winning praise all season.
Canadian skating official Louis Stong told a newspaper the duo has "phenomenal presence," and Rod Garossino, who won the national ice dance title with his sister 19 years ago, added that one of Virtue and Moir's routines moved him to tears.
Virtue and Moir are already starting to draw comparisons to Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, British ice dancers who captured one Olympic and four world titles in the 1980s.
Virtue attributes success to hard work. "Scott and I have been building on basic skating skills for the past 11 years. This season especially, we have worked on our speed and power, and have created more intricate lifts." To that end, the pair has worked with a Cirque du soleil acrobat.
A national title would be a great lift for the ice dancers, but it wouldn't be enough.
"Scott and I never seem to be satisfied. We're always challenging ourselves. We're already looking ahead to a great showing at the Four Continents in February, and the world championships in March."
More on Figure Skating
- Photo gallery: Canadian Figure Skaking championships
- Canadian figure skater Fedor Andreev is attempting a comeback on his terms
- Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are drawing comparisons to Torvill and Dean
- Growing Pains: Cynthia Phaneuf is back on track
- Q and A: Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison
- WATCH NOW: Brian Orser breaks down the favourites for nationals
- Behind-the-scenes work of choreographers is key to figure-skating success
- Fire and Ice: The hot skaters to watch at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships
- Pj Kwong: It Figures
- Kurt Browning: Inside edge
- Contest: Skate Home with a Champion
