[Battle Chatter] My Opening Thoughts
There will never be another tonight...
I can hear that familiar theme song.
I can feel that familiar sense of pride.
The Battle starts again, and there is a level of excitement in the air. There is no doubt that the high impact collision of two very different ice based worlds that began in 2009 has become a cherished national institution. There is something so distinctly Canadian, not only about bringing figure skaters and hockey players together on the same ice, but also about the charitable nature of the show.
As someone who went out of her comfort zone to try a sport (rowing, not figure skating though), I understand to a certain extent what these hockey players are feeling at the beginning of the Battle journey.
The desire not to let the team down.
The passion for a cause.
The fear of embarrassment.
The thrill of learning.
The struggles of training.
The pressure of having a limited amount of time to get it right.
I have all the admiration and respect for them, and I have faith that, just like I did last year, they will all pull through and perform to the best of their abilities.
This year, I have decided to write a weekly blog post about a show that has become a seamless part of my routine.
First and Foremost...
The concept of teaching a hockey player to skate for philanthropic reasons has given the country a reason to rally. But in the midst of the buzz in anticipation of the third season, we lost a competitor before he even had the opportunity to take to the icy battleground for his first live show, leaving us all with heavy hearts. While the Battle has seen its fair share of changes since its early days, at the core of it remains the eight partnerships formed during Boot Camp and the generous hearts of the athletes that come together for their chosen causes. Up until the time of his passing, Wade Belak was among the sixteen who began the journey in July. Admittedly, I know nothing about him except for what was shown during last night's Season 3 Premiere, appropriately titled 'Game On', yet I managed to fall in love with him just like I have fallen in love with every hockey player that has ever taken up the challenge of figure skating for charity. Thanks to the behind-the-scenes look at the Battle Boot Camp, I got a great sense of who Wade was at the beginning of his journey. He came across as someone who had the perfect mixture of passion, humour and heart, and that showed me that he was an ideal competitor for the show. And he seemed to manage the toe picks a lot better than Brad May did, which is always a plus! I cannot even begin to express my gratitude, my appreciation and my compliments to the Battle of the Blades team for such a fitting tribute. It really showcased him beautifully as a person.
But the Show Must Go On...
The last shot of last night's episode managed to surprise and excite me simultaneously. The reveal of Russ Courtnall as the final member of this year's cast brought me back to last year's Battle. While he doesn't have the luxury of the same amount of training time that the other competitors have, he is the only one with previous Battle experience - he has already had the Boot Camp struggles with toe picks as well as the lessons on partnering and lifts. Although a year has passed since his last foray into the figure skating world, I know that if the two routines he performed with Tuffy Hough-Sweeney are any indication of what's to come, that his new partner will be good hands. The fact that he is stepping in and competing for a cause that isn't his own is a testament to the kind of man he is.
Sizing Up the Competition
It's easy to forget that the Boot Camp footage was from July. Susan (@SusanMizera), a fan I encountered while tracking the #BOTB hashtag, was quick to call Boyd Devereaux the one to beat after last night's episode. I said to her that it was too soon to call but it was really easy to see where the potential was. I've already discussed Russ a little bit but here are my thoughts on some of the other competitors.
- I'm not about to claim that Tessa Bonhomme's got it easier or harder than the boys do. She has a different set of challenges than the boys do. While the boys are learning to be comfortable lifting their partners, she needs to learn to be comfortable up there. She's in safe, capable hands, yes, but she needs to not only be comfortable, but also look good doing it. Her fearlessness as a hockey player will certainly come into play here.
- According to a Tweet from Violetta herself, Cale Hulse already got a solid arsenal of adagio lifts, so that's something to look out for. He looked a little tentative, a little tense during the early days of Boot Camp. Let's hope his confidence keeps increasing as his array of tricks grow. They are going to be a fun team to watch!
I currently do not have much to say on the other teams specifically but I feel as though Todd might do really well. With his partner Marcy's background as both a pairs and adagio skater, they may give Cale and Violetta a run for their money as far as daring lifts are concerned. Boyd certainly came across as a natural during Boot Camp so he's going to be exciting to watch as well.
Let's Remember the Real Battle
At the end of the day, it's all about the charities. They may be competing for bragging rights at times, but really, their drive and determination comes from wanting to bring awareness and raise money for the causes closest to their hearts. And this year, it is also about paying tribute to a man who will have a lasting effect on us, whether we are hockey fans or only know him because of the hour we had with him at Boot Camp.
Kim said it best on her first blog for icenetwork.com when she said: "It feels most right. It feels as right as it can be, in a situation that will never ever truly feel right."