{"id":7258,"date":"2016-07-20T02:36:25","date_gmt":"2016-07-20T06:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/?p=7258"},"modified":"2020-02-16T11:37:32","modified_gmt":"2020-02-16T16:37:32","slug":"garabedian-proulx-senecal-focus-on-the-road-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/garabedian-proulx-senecal-focus-on-the-road-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Garabedian & Proulx-Senecal focus on the road ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"

Armenia\u2019s Tina Garabedian & Simon Proulx-Senecal had a successful debut season, winning a bronze medal at the Golden Spin of Zagreb Challenger Series event as well as a silver medal at Bavarian Open.\u00a0 They qualified for the free dance at the European Championships, finishing 18th and reached the ISU minimum TES scores to compete at the World Championships where they placed 27th.\u00a0 They are coached by Shae Zukiwsky and Shawn Winter in Montreal.<\/em>
\u00a0
Garabedian\u2019s skating journey began at the age of 4 because her mother loved to watch figure skating.\u00a0 She was also a big fan of three-time Canadian champion Jos\u00e9e Chouinard, so she enrolled her daughters in the sport.\u00a0 \u2028\u2028<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, I was not happy with how hard the ice was, how cold an arena could get, how many bruises I could get in only one session, but I eventually fell madly in love with singles skating,\u201d Garabedian said. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Garabedian was only drawn to ice dance after the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, when she began to look up to Tessa Virtue, the newly-crowned Olympic champion with partner Scott Moir.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a singles skater before, I was always told that ice dance was boring and footwork and smiling were considered easy, because only jumps caught my attention,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cIt’s my mistake, because ice dance is the discipline that requires a lot of energy, strength, grace, expression and precision. If I had known earlier, I would have started ice dance sooner.\u201d\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n

At 14, she performed as part of the junior-level Pirouettes, a synchronized skating team from her hometown of Laval, Quebec.\u00a0\u00a0 It was the first time she wasn\u2019t skating alone, instead taking the ice with 15 other girls as part of the team. <\/p>\n

The next year, Garabedian entered her first ice dance partnership with Alexander Laliberte.\u00a0 They finished 16th at the 2015 World Junior Championships representing Armenia.\u00a0 The team represented Armenia internationally because of Garabedian\u2019s heritage. \u2028<\/p>\n

Proulx-Senecal\u2019s parents also put him on the ice when he was 4 years old, albeit in hockey skates. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI started as a hockey player until the age of 7, but I didn’t really have fun playing it,\u201d Proulx-Senecal said.\u00a0 \u201cSo I asked my parents if I could figure skate instead, because I really liked being on the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Proulx-Senecal\u2019s figure skating club thought he had great ability and speed and encouraged him to do synchronized skating and single skating to improve his skating skills.\u00a0 At the age of 12, he asked his coach if it was possible for him to skate with a partner.\u00a0\u00a0 She agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always liked the idea of skating with someone, doing synchronized turns and jumps,\u201d Proulx-Senecal said.\u00a0 \u201cShe then planned try-outs with a few girls. I’ve always admired the ice dancers on TV such as Shae Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz and told myself I would one day be a part of that world.\u201d<\/p>\n

He teamed up with Josyane Cholette to compete at the junior level from 2011-2012, followed by two seasons, also at junior, with Christina Penkov.\u00a0 Most recently, he and partner Melissande Dumas finished 12th at the 2015 Canadian Championships at the senior level.<\/p>\n

\u2028In spring 2015, both partnerships ended and Garabedian & Laliberte were already skating at the same training center. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was almost planned in advance,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cMy coaches wanted us to skate together when I first started dance, but he was already 21 and had to move up senior and I was not ready for that then. We were good friends before our partnership began and we still are, which I really appreciate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have fun skating together and she is the first partner I can really be myself with,\u201d Proulx-Senecal said.\u00a0 \u201cWe work hard and push each other to achieve our goals as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery morning, I am happy and excited to show up at the rink, to see my partner, my coaches and the other ice dancers,\u201d Garabedian added. \u00a0<\/p>\n

After earning their two senior international as well as qualifying for the free dance at the European Championships, they are motivated for their second season. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are really looking forward to the new season,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cAchieving goals like that only makes us realize what we are capable of doing and we think we can do even better as the seasons go by. Our goal this season is to do both programs at the World Championships and we have very high hopes for that.\u201d <\/p>\n

For the 2016\/17 short dance, couples will skate segments of the Midnight Blues pattern dance.\u00a0 To accompany the blues theme, teams can choose between swing and hip-hop.\u00a0 Garabedian & Proulx-Senecal selected swing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHip-hop does not come naturally to me,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cI have already done the (swing) rhythm in junior three years ago and it was my best short dance. It’s a quick, up-beat tempo and I can’t wait to do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

For their free dance, the team headed to Vancouver in May to work with Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are having our free program done by someone else this season to see how much our scores can improve and how the comments will change,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cWe will probably even make our training methods harder with more skating hours, or use our time on the ice more efficiently and do more run throughs a day so we can be more than ready for competitions. <\/p>\n

Like most teams, they balance multiple competing priorities, which includes their training schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe arrive at the rink around 8:30 in the morning to warm up for half an hour and then we get on the ice for about three hours of training,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cOnce a week, we have ballet class and ballroom class. We separately go to the gym at least 3 times a week to work out with our personal trainers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to their training regime, both Garabedian & Proulx-Senecal are dedicated to continuing their education and attend school almost full-time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take almost the same amount of classes as regular students,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cI am now in Cegep, finishing next semester actually. I don’t really have a break this summer because in order to finish in December, I need to take a summer class.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAs an international ice dancer, I can’t be apart of a full-time program in university, but I can manage 3 classes every semester,\u201d Proulx-Senecal added.<\/p>\n

Due to traveling for competitions during the spring semester, Garabedian missed four weeks of school (out of 15) and will miss two more weeks during the summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the most difficult part of combining both I believe, giving your 100% in skating and school,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cNevertheless, I still manage to be at the top of my classes. I am a perfectionist and I want to excel in school as much as in skating to the best of my ability.\u201d <\/p>\n

While training and school take up the majority of their time, they are able to find some time enjoying other activities. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI love to spend as much time with my family as possible,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cThey are the most important people in my life and I love disconnecting from skating on weekends and doing fun activities with them like going on a boat ride, swimming, having movie nights, and so much more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI coach figure skating in my hometown club mostly everyday,\u201d Proulx-Senecal added.\u00a0 \u201cWhen and if I have free time, I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both have plans for the future that would take them beyond the ice. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would love to attend McGill University next January probably for finance or something in that field of study,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cI would like to get married and have a family shortly after I finish school, whenever that will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSince a very young age, I’ve always wanted to become an architect,\u201d Proulx-Senecal added.\u00a0 \u201cSkating has made me postpone that dream for now. However, I am currently in a similar program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite putting some dreams on hold for now, they both are grateful for the experiences skating has afforded them thus far. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get to travel around the world and do what we love with the people we love,\u201d Garabedian said.\u00a0 \u201cIt has really been an amazing experience.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Armenia\u2019s Tina Garabedian & Simon Proulx-Senecal had a successful debut season, winning a bronze medal at the Golden Spin of Zagreb Challenger Series event as well as a silver medal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7260,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_gspb_post_css":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-interviews"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?fit=957%2C566&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?fit=957%2C566&ssl=1",957,566,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?fit=254%2C150&ssl=1",254,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?fit=300%2C177&ssl=1",300,177,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?fit=768%2C454&ssl=1",768,454,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?fit=957%2C566&ssl=1",957,566,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?fit=957%2C566&ssl=1",957,566,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?fit=957%2C566&ssl=1",957,566,true],"et-pb-post-main-image":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1",400,250,true],"et-pb-post-main-image-fullwidth":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?resize=957%2C566&ssl=1",957,566,true],"et-pb-portfolio-image":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?resize=400%2C284&ssl=1",400,284,true],"et-pb-portfolio-module-image":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?resize=510%2C382&ssl=1",510,382,true],"et-pb-portfolio-image-single":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?fit=957%2C566&ssl=1",957,566,true],"et-pb-gallery-module-image-portrait":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?resize=400%2C516&ssl=1",400,516,true],"rpwe-thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/GarPS-DB-20665.jpg?resize=45%2C45&ssl=1",45,45,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Team IDC","author_link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/author\/idcadmin\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Armenia\u2019s Tina Garabedian & Simon Proulx-Senecal had a successful debut season, winning a bronze medal at the Golden Spin of Zagreb Challenger Series event as well as a silver medal […]","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7GOSM-1T4","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7258"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7262,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7258\/revisions\/7262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}