How did you guys partner up?
Sadrine: I stopped skating with my previous partner a couple months ago, and we decided to partways and that’s when I started being on the market. Paul was also single and that’s how it started.
Paul: From my side, I was training right up until the World Championships with my previous partner just in case we got the call to go. So it was a later start for me for the partner searching but once that happened, we hit the ground running. We did try out during my second week of being partnerless. Then we both had several tryouts with different people from around the world. We had different options. Not only were our feelings from our separate sides that we felt really natural with each other, but we also took the advice of the coaches from both of our separate sides again, like who we looked better with. As much as it can feel amazing with somebody, at the end of the day, it is a judge sport. Whoever's going to look the best externally will likely get you the higher points, which will get you the results that you're wanting and the reach the objectives that you're looking for. The fact that from both of our sides, the coaches agreed with us feeling super natural together, it was just like why not just choose right now because everybody's on the same page.
Training
Paul: Three weeks in, and we're still having a blast. We’re still running out of time on the ice every single session which makes things really easy to keep going.
Appreciate or admire about each other so far
Sandrine: I like his energy and that he is always present. He always wants to reach his objectives on the ice during the day or for the week or the month. I’m really glad he is like that and he helps me to make myself better as a person and athlete.
Paul: Sandy's side, for me, she is one of the kindest people I know and it's something that I admire about her. It makes me want to be a better person. Also just the fact that I have no worries about working hard. If something's not working on the first attempt or 10th attempt, there's absolutely no stress on just doing it again. 100 more times and to just get those reps which is what it takes at this level. To make those little tweaks and to get the things done that we want to get done.
Seniors for Sandrine
Sandrine: I just trust the process. It's kind of a long process being in senior and to mature from juniors. I think having the opportunity to have Paul, who has a lot of experience in seniors, will for sure help me. I'm just continuing one day at a time.
The Golden Waltz
Paul: Honestly, awesome. We love pattern dances.
Sandrine: I was really happy to do pattern dances. I've been doing pattern dancing since pre-novice when I was younger with my old partner. When the ISU said that we're doing golden waltz, I was like, oh my god, I'm so excited for it! We're working so well together that it's fun to try new things.
Paul: To have done pattern dances like she said when we were both younger has really made a difference. Hopefully this season, you'll be able to tell who has had that experience on being able to do patterns together. But in our case, Sandy's actually a lefty, so it works out perfectly for the golden waltz because the twizzle is on the left back outside, which is quite tough, especially with the timing. Because of that, we're aiming to do this unreal move, where my leg passes over her right after her twizzle, and she's doing a back bend… Anyways, stay tuned for that! If we can manage to get that done with the time restraints of the golden waltz, it will be the only team in the world that could do that. So we're really aiming to get that done.
Programs
Sandrine: We're doing Queen. We're doing a really energetic program.
Paul: Starting with We Will Rock You. Hopefully it will get the crowd going right from the start with the stomping and the clapping. I can't wait to hear the crowd going off after that.
Sandrine: It's a style that we've done before with our old partners, and we really liked it, so we decided to go with that.
Paul: To be able to do the Golden Waltz to a song that is good and that many people enjoy is awesome. Looking at other musical options, there were great songs, but for the golden waltz restraints, it was just about choosing something that works. The fact that we were able to find something like Queen with a strong golden waltz… It is going to be a highlight of our rhythm dance. For the free, we're doing Hunger Games, which we're really excited for. It’s a different style for me that I have not done in recent years. I'm really excited because, not only can we work on portraying the connection that we have, but the acrobatic side of things that our skating will bring is exciting for both of us.
Possibility of representing Mexico?
Paul: I was not expecting to have citizenship. Obviously, that's what it takes to represent another country. But I've always been extremely proud to be Canadian and being born Canadian. It's always been my dream to go to the Olympics. Not only that, but for Canada. With figure skating being one of the most challenging sports in the world… And I love challenges. So to do one of the most challenging sports in the world with one of the top countries in the world in that sport, it means, you're not only the best because you're at the Olympics, but you are the best of the best. Which is part of the reason why I wanted to stay with Canada. They have always been so supportive of me. As much as I love Mexico and would like to go. I mean Donovan Carrillo is asking me all the time. He's like “Paul, please, please”. I’m like “Donovan, please don't do this to me…” I want to but not more than I want to represent Canada.
Goals
Sandrine: I would say that for the short term goals, for now, it's like to compete at the next competition [Championnats québécois d’été] which is in three weeks I think? So that's the first one. For the end of the season, I would say it's to become national champions. For the long term…
Paul: In four years we're going to be on the Olympic team.
Feelings about their first scheduled competition together
Paul: Scheduled is a good word for that! We're aiming to do both programs. We are not done with either of them. There's definitely a reason why teams take their time to build their programs and be ready for the Grand Prix seasons. The fact that we are aiming to compete in three weeks… We’re five or six weeks into the partnership at that point so it is a tall order. As far as nerves go, I don't know how you are feeling?
Sandrine: I'm pretty excited honestly! Everything is so new. For sure, there's a little bit of nerves, but I don't really feel it right now. I'm still enjoying the process.
Paul: We’re definitely focusing on the present. Like today: what can we do this session that needs to get done? And then, like I said earlier, we're running out of time on the ice for every session. So then it's like the next session, let's do what needs to get done.
Sandrine: We have a list of things to do.
Paul: We’re constantly adding to the list. Come three weeks from now, we're still going to be running out of time. Hopefully by then, the program will be more presentable.