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1999 - 2000 Season Time To Come Together Jamie Salé and David Pelletier took two months off before returning to the ice to train. The back injury and time away from the ice was hard for both Jamie and David, but the team managed to find something positive in the experience. "After being injured last year I think we just focused on being a better team. I think better teams are the ones that can get though anything. Jamie was very supportive and my coaches were too and we just became stronger after the injury as a team," (David Pelletier, Skate America, CTV, 1999). When they returned to the ice, Richard Gauthier enlisted Canadian choreographer Lori Nichol to create two new competitive programs. Lori knew exactly what she wanted to emphasize even before she began to work with David and Jamie. "The key point with Jamie and David is that both have these wonderful, charismatic personalities, and they can express tenderness and feelings on the ice. I've tried to bring this out in their skating," (Stevens 1999). Lori Nichol could clearly see the potential of this young pair team. "It's as if they were made for each other," says Lori Nichol. "They are the type of team that can be legendary." For Jamie and David, the opportunity to work with Lori Nichol was wonderful. "She's brought out the best in us. She knew what the short program should be right away. Lori had seen David skate and because he's funny and my personality, a tango would be appropriate," (Jamie Salé, pairs press conference, Skate America, 1999). The short program, choreographed to 'Por Uno Cabra' the tango from Il Postino, included all the difficult elements with an expression that was almost comedic at times. The music for the long program was chosen after a suggestion from Marijane Stong. Lori Nichol choreographed the program which was simple, uncluttered, but extremely effective. "Their current long program is to Love Story, music that suits them perfectly. The pace of the music allows them to expend energy when they need to, save it when they don't. Their expression is also so exquisite that they can silence a rink during a Love Story practice. When they performed the program at a summer competition in Montreal, they got a standing ovation. Even the judges stood up and applauded," (Smith 1999). Most importantly, Jamie and David really connected with the program: "It's also a lot of fun to tell a story on the ice rather than doing element after element," (Associated Press 1999). First Test of a New Season Jamie and David arrived for Skate America one week before the pre-season international event was scheduled to begin. "Their coach, Richard Gauthier, has tried to foresee every possible situation at Skate America including the altitude problem. He brought them in a week early to give the pair the opportunity to adjust to the fatigue that sets in," (Debbi Wilkes, Skate America, CTV, 1999). In Colorado Springs, Jamie and David were scheduled to meet the reining world champions, Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze. "We all expected them to be nervous coming into this event having never competed against Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze. They, however, have just taken it in their stride. They've talked about these last many months after Canadians where they've really had time to train to get the team working together," (Debbi Wilkes, Skate America, CTV,1999). The world champions arrived at the event looking tired and unprepared while the Canadians were the buzz of the competition. "Seemingly everywhere, people in Colorado Springs were talking last week about the charismatic couple who have never been to a world championship together. You didn't even have to bring up their names. Someone else would," (Smith 1999). Though Jamie and David may not have believed that they were capable of winning the event, their coach Richard Gauthier had no doubts that his team was prepared. "The thought of defeating the world champions seemed like an intimidating task. But Gauthier said he knew what kind of a team he had. He'd seen them practice every day, and knew they were ready for Skate America. 'Their goal was to be in the top two,' he said. 'My goal for them was to be first,'" (Smith 1999). The door was open for Jamie Salé and David Pelletier when they took the ice for the short program after the world champions had a difficult skate with two major errors. Jamie and David delivered a clean short program and finished first after the short program. "We felt absolutely fantastic when we stepped on the ice today. Once I grabbed his hand, I knew that everything was going to be ok and we skated the best we could," (Jamie Salé, Skate America, CTV, 1999). The next day, Salé and Pelletier skated a clean long program with the exception of a single axel by Jamie toward the end of the performance. As their long program drew to a close, Debbi Wilkes stated: "It's the perfect combination. They manage to capture the sense of a theme in the program. The skating was exquisite, the communication between the partners brought the audience in. I have goosebumps," (Debbi Wilkes, Skate America, CTV, 1999). Jamie and David received a standing ovation from the crowd and received marks ranging from 5.7-5.8 for required elements and 5.8-5.9 for presentation. With two consistent performances, Jamie Salé and and David Pelletier had won their first international event - and had beaten the reining world champions. "I don't think the way we skated is a surprise is to us. We skate that way in practice. We were really ready. We stepped on the ice and let it happen. On the placement, we're a little shocked," (Jamie Salé, pairs press conference, Skate America, 1999). Their win at Skate America proved that Jamie Salé and David Pelletier could now be considered among the best pair teams in the world. "What is so wonderful it that they really have no idea how good they are. They just kind of take it in stride, speak very positively about the elements, about skating them well, wanting to go out and just let the judges take care of the result," (Debbi Wilkes, Skate America, CTV, 1999). On A Roll Two weeks following their win at Skate America, Jamie Salé and David Pelletier traveled to Germany to compete at the Nations Cup. For the first time in their career, Jamie and David felt the pressure of expectation. "Salé and Pelletier didn't make it to the world championships because of injury, but they have created such a sensation this season that an ABC television crew followed them around all last week in Germany," (Smith 1999). With the excitement surrounding their performance, and the fact that both Jamie and David were struggling with the time change, Jamie admitted after the event that she had difficulty sleeping before they skated. At Nations Cup, Jamie and David continued to shock the world when they beat the reining world silver medallists from China, Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao. Salé and Pelletier, however, did not win the event: they finished second behind Russians Maria Petrova and Alexsei Tikhanov in both the short and long programs though some spectators and media felt that the Canadians deserved to win the event. Their only mistake in the long program was a fall by Jamie on the double axel. As they left the ice, Jamie motioned to her left shoulder. "Salé fell hard on a double Axel during the long program, causing a hematoma to her left shoulder, but she said it shouldn't hamper them when they compete at Cup of Russia next week," (Smith 1999). Though they did not win at Nations Cup, Jamie and David's second place finish was enough to guarantee a position in the Grand Prix final scheduled for Lyon, France in January. Jamie and David were pleased with the opportunity to compete with the top five pair teams at the final. "It feels good to make a trip to the final. I was dreaming one day I was going to make it to the final and now I am. It's good to be consistent too, two competitions in a row. To get there, I'm very happy," (David Pelletier, Nations Cup, CTV, 1999). Jamie and David returned home for one week before flying to St. Petersburg to compete in the Cup of Russia. Scheduled to meet the same pair teams with whom they had shared the podium in Germany, Jamie and David were forced to withdraw from the event when David came down with food poisoning on the eve of the short program. Disappointed, Jamie and David returned home to begin work with Lori Nichol on a new long program because for the first time in the history of the sport, all skaters were required to skate two long programs at the Grand Prix final. Championship Debut In January, Jamie Salé and David Pelletier traveled to Lyon, France to compete with the top five pair teams in the world at the Grand Prix Final. For Jamie and David, the Grand Prix Final was the first really meaningful international event in which they had ever participated, having missed the world championship the previous season. They chose to skate their long program, Love Story in the first round of the event. Their performance looked tight, and Salé and Pelletier had one small mistake when Jamie touched a hand to the ice to maintain her balance during the throw triple salchow. "It looked to me that David's nerves or adrenaline got the better of him a few times in the program and that has just got to do with experience," (Tracy Wilson, Grand Prix Final, CTV, 2000). Jamie and David received marks ranging from 5.5 - 5.7 for technical merit and 5.5 - 5.9 for presentation. They finished 4th after the first round of competition. Jamie and David chose to skate their short program during the second round of competition. In an event where all the pair teams skated very well, Salé and Pelletier had one mistake when Jamie flipped out of the landing of her triple toe-loop. Jamie Salé and David Pelletier finished fifth and failed to qualify for the super final. Both were please with their performance, but a little disappointed that they did not get the opportunity to show their new long program, 'A Place in the Sun.': "I think from the first day we got here, we were not completely 100%, but we went out and did the best we could on every practice. We are very pleased with what we went out and did here this week," (Jamie Salé, Grand Prix Final, CTV, 2000). Following the Grand Prix Final, Jamie and David returned home to Canada to train before traveling to the Canadian championships. At Nationals, they admitted that the Grand Prix Final was a great experience for the young team: "Doing the final was very good for us. I wasn't 100% when I went there so I think it was a very positive thing for me to skate and skate the way we did and then come in here with confidence, and feeling really healthy and good about ourselves," (Jamie Salé, Canadian Championship, CTV, 2000). Competition, or Coronation Jamie Salé and David Pelletier arrived in Calgary for the Canadian championships amidst a buzz of media excitement. For Jamie, the fact that the nationals were being held in Calgary was like competing at home because she was raised in Red Deer, Alberta, about 1 1/2 hours north of Calgary. In fact, Jamie joked that she would have a whole section of friends and family at the event. "The Saddledome is where it all began for me. I remember watching my first first skating event, the 1988 Olympics when I was 9 years old. I remember watching the Battle of the Brians and Liz Manley win her silver medal. It was so exciting for me. And here I am today, back in Calgary at the building where I remember seeing my first big event. I'm very excited to be here," (Jamie Salé, Canadian Championship, CTV, 2000). Jamie Salé and David Pelletier were considered, without a doubt, the favorites in the pairs event despite the fact that Kristy Sargeant and Kris Wirtz were the two-time and reining Canadian champions. Jamie and David skated a clean short program with two somewhat difficult landings. "We had a small problem. The throw was a bit too high so Jamie had a good fight out of that. And to make things equal, I had a good fight on the triple toe," (David Pelletier, Canadian Championship, CTV, 2000). The program was light, comedic, and charming and following the short program, Jamie and David found themselves, as many predicted, in first place. "'We're very pleased, obviously,' beamed Salé. 'We were both a bit nervous. It's very different being in Canada, at nationals. But we're confident, and as long as he's looking at me and smiling, I know everything's going to be fine,'" (Brennan 2000). For required elements, Salé and Pelletier received marks ranging from 5.6 - 5.8 and they received 5.9 from every judge for presentation. "'Thank you to the judges. Thank you to Jamie. With that smile, it's easy to get 5.9's. But it's amazing to see 5.9's all across the board. It makes you feel very good.' Salé blushed. Pelletier smiled. And so it should be. They've deserved the success they've had this season," (Canadian Press 2000). Two days later, Jamie Salé and David Pelletier took to the ice for their long program following an excellent skate from Sargeant and Wirtz. Salé and Pelletier delivered a clean performance, with the exception of a single axel by Jamie, and everyone in the building knew before they had even finished their performance that they had won the Canadian championship. Jamie and David received a standing ovation from the audience and many in the crowd were had tears in their eyes with the emotion of the performance. The judges awarded Sale and Pelletier 5.8 and 5.9 for required elements and miraculously, Jamie and David received 5 perfect 6.0's for presentation - the first time a perfect 6.0 has ever been awarded in the pairs event at a Canadian championship. "'I was sobbing. That was unlike anything I've ever seen in pairs skating,' said Underhill afterward. 'I've never experienced that with any other (pairs) team ever in the world. To be able to do that in a competitive environment, to draw us in like that was so extraordinary,'" (Brodie 2000). "What we watched here today transcended figure skating. This was a fully accredited great moment in Canadian sport. It was five 6.0s. No Canadian pairs team had ever been given one 6.0 before. But mostly it was the feeling, the realization you had experienced something exceptional, something extraordinary, something exquisite," (Jones 2000). "I love the way he never takes his eyes off her and she never takes her eyes off him," Underhill said. "It's such an electricity out there. It is so, so magical," (Buffery 2000). Jamie and David were almost speechless following the event. "I'm totally overwhelmed. I felt more nervous at this competition than I have in all of our competitions this year. This feels absolutely amazing," (Jamie Salé, Canadian Championship, CTV, 2000). Before the team had even received their medals, their coach was talking about the possibility of a medal at the world championship in March. "Gauthier says his skaters are capable of landing on the worlds podium in their first try. 'Definitely,' said Gauthier. 'They've beat all the top pairs in the world at different meets so there's no reason they can't do it again,'" (CP 2000). The reaction to their performance seemed difficult for Jamie and David to understand. "'When they talk about us having 'something', I don't know what they're talking about,' said Pelletier. 'What I have is a great time. I'm having a great time skating with Jamie and I hope we skate like this until the end,'" (Francis 2000). Looking forward, Jamie and David a little more cautious than their coach, reminding everyone that this was their first world championship together. "We're just going to have fun. That's it. No medals. But if it happens, I'll buy everybody a beer," (Buffery 2000). Life After Perfection "Salé and Pelletier returned home from the Canadian championship, warmed by the overwhelming praise of the past week, yet acutely aware that they cannot trade a newspaper clipping for an international medal. 'Everyone has brought up the 6.0s, and I still can't really believe it. It's pretty amazing,' said Salé. 'But we've put everything aside now and are working to the next step, trying to focus on our next goal. We're not dwelling on the past, even though it's a positive thing.'" (Stubbs 2000). The next goal for Jamie Salé and David Pelletier was the Four Continents championship in Osaka, Japan. They began the event with a clean short program, and Jamie made two small mistakes on her double axels during the long program. Despite the problems on the double axels, Jamie Salé and David Pelletier's 'Love Story' earned another perfect 6.0 for presentation. "It felt very comfortable here. We just had a good time and everything went very easy tonight," (Jamie Salé, Four Continents, CTV, 2000). A World Championship Debut Jamie Salé and David Pelletier arrived at the world championship in Nice, France amidst a buzz of excitement. "Great things are expected of Salé and Pelletier this week. 'Everything about them makes them capable of winning,' Dore ventures, with a rider, "But it is their first time in worlds so it's pretty bold to expect them to win," (Stevens 2000). "Our coach, Richard Gauthier, told my mom to make sure she comes here. He told my mom we're going to win. He told her, 'You better be there because if they don't win this year, they'll win next year.' 'He doesn't tell us that. He never tells us, 'You guys are going to win.' But he's been telling other people stuff like that all year and everything he's told them turned out to be true. We think he's crazy. We kind of laugh because we don't ever think like that. We've never been to worlds together before,''' (Jones 2000). Yet there were great expectations for Salé and Pelletier at their first world championship, especially following the withdrawal of reining world champions Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze. "There is the pressure of knowing that they are brand new Canadian champions. They are also feeling a lot of pressure also from the big expectations the skating world has had for them as a result of such an incredible season," (Debbi Wilkes, World Championship, CTV, 2000). In the short program, Jamie Salé and David Pelletier layed down beautiful side-by-side triple triple toe-loops, showing no signs of nerves until the unthinkable happened. Jamie caught an edge entering the side-by-side spins and though she was able to complete the element, the pair received a significant deduction. "All I was concentrating on was that stupid spin because Dave and I always take it for granted. I felt really good on the edge but at the last second when I came up on my knee I hit a rut. I just had to hope and pray that I was going to keep turning so I wouldn't come to a stop and put my foot down. It was an awful feeling," (Jamie Salé, World Championship, CTV, 2000). Jamie Salé and David Pelletier received marks from 5.5 to 5.8 for technical merit and 5.7 to 5.9 for artistic impression. In third place after the short program, both skaters expressed relief that they had completed the first part of the competition. "Man was I nervous, oh my God. I think I'm retiring and growing flowers when I go home," (David Pelletier, World Championship, CTV, 2000). Regarding their placement entering the long program, Jamie commented: "Third place is very perfect. We can't ask for anything better. Overall we are very pleased with how we skated and like Dave said we were both nervous. I think nervous but excited to skate as well. We had a good time out there," (World Championship, CTV, 2000). In the long program, Jamie Salé and David Pelletier were in position to win a medal, if not to win the event. To add to the excitement, Salé and Pelletier were last to skate the long program. Both looked calm and focused as they took the ice, but within the first few seconds of the program Jamie had problems with the triple-toe loop. Jamie under-rotated the triple toe-loop and continued to struggle with all of her individual jumps throughout the remainder of the program. Jamie and David looked stunned as they left the ice, and Jamie cried openly in the kiss and cry area as they received their marks. Salé and Pelletier received marks ranging from 5.4-5.6 for technical merit and 5.8-5.9 for presentation. A small victory, Salé and Pelletier were the only team to receive any 5.9's for presentation. "I know they have experienced a lot of nerves this week. I know it would have been wonderful to have a medal but Jamie and David have a great future ahead of them. They shouldn't be discouraged, they should be proud of all they have accomplished in such a short period of time," (Debbi Wilkes, World Championship, CTV, 2000). In interview after the event, Jamie talked about the program. "'Before we went on, I could visualize the crowd's emotion, the tears, after our skate,' Salé said. 'But after the toe, that was gone. I fell apart. Everything was so negative. I started thinking, 'This is going to be a disaster.'" (Stubbs 2000). "'After the toe-loop, David said 'it's okay, stay focused'. I tried to stay focused but I've never missed (a triple toe-loop) all year. After the first jump, I was really, really down.' Her coach, Richard Gauthier added: 'That first jump sort of threw her off. She always makes them. Then she didn't land the next one. If we had years and years of mileage, she'd know that if she missed one, she'd get the next one,'" (Milton 2000). Jamie's guilt showed in her tears. "Dave skated his heart out, and I had let us both down. I wanted to cry on the ice. She wept as their marks were posted, once more off the stage, again in television interviews, and finally before print journalists. Pelletier, aching inside, did most of the talking, showing a calm maturity as he faced the music," (Stubbs 2000). A few days following the event, Jamie and David talked about what happened, what they learned about the experience, and what they learned about each other. "I know how difficult for him it must have been after he put his heart into his performance and it was all me. It must have been very difficult and he handled it so well. He really helped me to get over it faster," (Jamie Salé, World Championship, CTV, 2000). Of Jamie, David commented: "She's a tough cookie. Two days after the event she was fine about everything. When those things happen you can dwell on it for a while and take it into next year, but I don't think she's going to do that. The most difficult thing was to see her like this. That was heartbreaking for me and Richard. Nobody does it on purpose, and we did everything we needed to do this year, so it was very sad," (World Championship, CTV, 2000). "We have to remember that our goal was to make top 5 and we did that, which is pretty good in your first Worlds. Maybe it didn't happen the way we hoped it would happen, but it's still great to be among the top four in the world. What's good about a medal, if you haven't skated well?" (Milton 2000). Looking to the next season, David believed the pair would be more prepared for competition. "We know now how it is to skate in the last group, even to skate last, at the world championships. If it happens next year, we'll know how to deal with it better. In two years, we've never really had a bad skate. We've always wondered how does it feel like to have a bad skate and it's scary because it's the unknown. Now we know how it feels and it's not that bad after all because the next day you wake up and the sun is there, the smiles are back. The only number I have in my head now is fourth - we're fourth in the world and that's something to be proud of," (World Championship, CTV, 2000). "Everything happens for a reason. Maybe we're not ready to win a medal yet. I think we've learned more from this week than we would have learned if we had won a medal. It took me seven Canadian championships to win my first senior event. If it takes me two Worlds, so what?," (Stubbs 2000). Others echoed David's sentiment including Doug Leigh who commented as Salé and Pelletier left the ice after their performance, "They have just learned the lesson that will make them world champions," (World Championships, CTV, 2000). "The strongest trees in the world grow in Canada because they can withstand all the elements: cold, heat, snow, rain and wind. We'll be better off for what we go through from this, in the hours, days and months ahead," (Stubbs 2000). Jamie promised: "We'll just move on to next year and it's going to be a good one," (World Championship, CTV, 2000).
REFERENCES Tom Brennan, Coming Out, Calgary Sun 28, 2000
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Jamie Salé: Music History
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