Yorkregion.com - Markham - Smooth skater hits his stride
Smooth skater hits his stride
Paul Poirier placed fourth in Senior Dance 2008 (Nationals), second in Junior Men 2008 (Nationals), second in Junior Worlds Dance 2008 and second in Junior Internationals 2007.
Markham
Apr 11, 2008 10:07 PM
By: Simone Joseph
Paul Poirier, it appears, has had more coaching than it seems.
Sitting in the viewer’s gallery of the Scarborough arena where he trains, Paul appears polished as he answers questions and seems careful to skirt controversy.
It is obvious the 16-year-old Unionville resident has been coached or has built up experience in performing on and off the ice.
He began skating at age six, loving the feeling of improving and pushing himself to higher levels of performance.
So far, that level is the world junior figure skating championships last month in Bulgaria, where he and seven-year partner Vanessa Crone of Aurora earned an ice dance silver medal.
While watching skaters being coached below on the ice, Paul talked about the challenges and joys of what, to him, is an irresistible sport.
The Grade 11 student attends Ecole Etienne-Brule in Toronto, but his local roots show when he recalls starting at the Unionville Skating Club. He later skated in Richmond Hill, where a coach saw him and Vanessa and suggested they train with her in Scarborough.
Q: Are you a fan of the ridiculous Will Ferrell skating comedy Blades of Glory?
A: I really enjoyed it. The funniest thing was, as we know, real figure skating is not like that at all. A lot of the facts are exaggerated.
Q: Like what?
A: The costumes. In a lot of the programs, they used props. They are not allowed in competition. Plus, they invented prizes and events.
Q: Do you ever get sick of skating?
A: Not really. I try to think of training for a purpose. If I practise a jump or a spin every day, I will get better. It is what gets me motivated.
Q: Have you had any setbacks?
A: Last year before the nationals, I was going into a jump and stabbed myself in the foot with the blade. I had two fractured toes and was cut with eight stitches. I had to compete with an injury. I missed a week of training.
Q: Who wanted you to succeed more, you or your parents?
A: It is a mix of both. When I first started, my parents asked, “Do you want to continue, are you enjoying this?” I would say yes. At some point, you have to motivate yourself. There is only so far others can take you.
Q: You wear tight costumes, dance on the ice and take ballet classes. Have guys made fun of you for this?
A: They used to in elementary school — Grade 4 and 5 — but it has kind of disappeared. I think people have come to respect it.
Q: Who is your favourite skater?
A: In singles, Kurt Browning, for what he brought to the sport. He landed difficult jumps and performed entertaining routines. In dance, Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean for similar reasons. They were an original team and tried to do things differently from everyone else.
Q: What are your plans, generally and in skating?
A: I have not thought about university yet. Most likely, I want to study languages. After that, I don’t know. I will compete at the Olympics, at the worlds and try to medal there. It is hard to make a prediction in sports. There are so many factors that can change everything.
Q: What factors?
A: Injuries, most certainly. And you never know what will happen, if Vanessa gets a growth spurt and gets taller than me. There are so many possibilities.
Q: How did you know this is what you were meant to do?
A: My parents put me in skating at age six. What kept me going was I kept improving. Once I got better, I got to a higher level. I thought I could get better if I keep working hard. I will see how far I can go.