Bryce DavisonFigure Skating

By: Meagan Bennink Alison Bevaart

BackgroundBackground

• American/Canadian pairs figure skaterAmerican/Canadian pairs figure skater• Born in: Huntsville, OntarioBorn in: Huntsville, Ontario– January 29, 1986January 29, 1986

• Currently resides in Drummondville, QuebecCurrently resides in Drummondville, Quebec• He is a member at the Hamilton Skating Club, in He is a member at the Hamilton Skating Club, in

Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, Ontario• Bryce began skating at the age of 3, taking after Bryce began skating at the age of 3, taking after

his mother, brother, and sisterhis mother, brother, and sister• Training: ~ 30 hours a week Training: ~ 30 hours a week

Coaches and Mentors

• One of his coaches, Brian Orser, was the 1984 and 1988 Olympic silver medalist– In Bryce’s opinion, “Working with Brian is a pleasure.

He is a great coach and mentor. I am always excited to go home and continue working with him after competitions”

• Davison and Dube have also been coached by David Pelletier who had a significant influence on Davison and his personal growth and performance

ObstaclesObstacles

• There have been a few accidentsThere have been a few accidents– The major one occurred during a camel spinThe major one occurred during a camel spin

• Jessica has also endured many other injuries Jessica has also endured many other injuries – She was involved in a serious car accident and had to wear She was involved in a serious car accident and had to wear

a neck brace during the Canadian Championships in 2005a neck brace during the Canadian Championships in 2005– In the 2006/07 season, Jess had back problems and had to In the 2006/07 season, Jess had back problems and had to

have knee surgery on her meniscushave knee surgery on her meniscus• In April 2009 at the inaugural World Team Skating In April 2009 at the inaugural World Team Skating

championship in Tokyo, Davison was unable to catch championship in Tokyo, Davison was unable to catch Dubé during a triple twist lift. She remained motionless Dubé during a triple twist lift. She remained motionless on the ice before being carried off.on the ice before being carried off.

The AccidentThe Accident

During a Camel Spin for the free skate program at Four During a Camel Spin for the free skate program at Four Continents, Bryce and Jessica travelled and began Continents, Bryce and Jessica travelled and began spinning to close to each other. Jessica ended up spinning to close to each other. Jessica ended up getting cut in the face and was rushed to hospital. getting cut in the face and was rushed to hospital. Today she only has a faint scar. Today she only has a faint scar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbvR90D5Q1Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXQp59eGo7k&feature=PlayList&p=20506F4D7541369A&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=15

The AccidentThe Accident

• Bryce Davison’s comments on the Accident: Bryce Davison’s comments on the Accident: ““It doesn't bother me. It happened, it was a big It doesn't bother me. It happened, it was a big

disaster and it was terrifying but we don't disaster and it was terrifying but we don't think of it at all when we skate. Even now I think of it at all when we skate. Even now I think we've grown from it and I we won't say think we've grown from it and I we won't say it was a positive factor, but some day when it was a positive factor, but some day when we look back it could be one of those factors we look back it could be one of those factors that changed the way we view things in our that changed the way we view things in our lives.”lives.”

• Their psychologist ordered the pair to watch the Their psychologist ordered the pair to watch the accident over and over again on You Tube to accident over and over again on You Tube to desensitize themselves from the accidentdesensitize themselves from the accident

Bryce’s Comments: “Bryce’s Comments: “It took us a while to be able to It took us a while to be able to watch it without feeling a thing, because even if a watch it without feeling a thing, because even if a person who [never knew us] watched the video, person who [never knew us] watched the video, they would feel something. It was terrible but they would feel something. It was terrible but now it doesn't bother us.” now it doesn't bother us.”

Jessica’s Comments: “Jessica’s Comments: “From time to time I go on the From time to time I go on the internet and I look at it so it doesn't do anything internet and I look at it so it doesn't do anything to me anymore. Even when we're pretty close to to me anymore. Even when we're pretty close to each other on the ice it doesn't bother me at all each other on the ice it doesn't bother me at all and it's fine now.”and it's fine now.”

Bryce told us that, “The accident Bryce told us that, “The accident definitely reaffirmed a few things that I definitely reaffirmed a few things that I already knew about [Jess]: that she is already knew about [Jess]: that she is super tough, strong, and she’s an super tough, strong, and she’s an incredible person and an incredible incredible person and an incredible pairs skater and my best friend”pairs skater and my best friend”

Accomplishments

• ““My greatest achievement in skating is the My greatest achievement in skating is the journey Jess and I have taken so far, and in life journey Jess and I have taken so far, and in life it is probably learning to speak French it is probably learning to speak French comfortably enough to do an interview”comfortably enough to do an interview”

• Bryce and his current partner, Jessica Dube, Bryce and his current partner, Jessica Dube, have competed in 34 competitions and have have competed in 34 competitions and have won 1won 1stst in nine of them, 2 in nine of them, 2ndnd in nine of them in nine of them and 3and 3rdrd in four of them; a total of 22 medals at in four of them; a total of 22 medals at national and international levelsnational and international levels

OlympicsOlympics• 2006 games- 102006 games- 10thth

• 2010 games- 62010 games- 6thth in short program in short program– Bound to win a medal but… Bound to win a medal but… – Dube and Davison stumbled through an error-filled four Dube and Davison stumbled through an error-filled four

and a half minutes to finish sixth in Vancouver, and the and a half minutes to finish sixth in Vancouver, and the only emotion the Canadian pairs figure skaters were left only emotion the Canadian pairs figure skaters were left with was a profound sense of disappointment.with was a profound sense of disappointment.

– After analyzing the tapes, the pair concluded that without After analyzing the tapes, the pair concluded that without their mistakes, they could have won thirdtheir mistakes, they could have won third

– But they stay positive… "Sixth is good, you're sixth at the But they stay positive… "Sixth is good, you're sixth at the Olympics, we know it's good, but we know we can do Olympics, we know it's good, but we know we can do much better than that so we wanted to come here and do much better than that so we wanted to come here and do well and show these guys that yeah, sixth is good, but we well and show these guys that yeah, sixth is good, but we could have done much more."could have done much more."

Career Highlights

• 2008 Worlds- 32008 Worlds- 3rdrd

• 2009 Four Continents- 22009 Four Continents- 2ndnd

• 3 time Canadian Champions (2007, 2009, 3 time Canadian Champions (2007, 2009, 2010)2010)

• 2006 Olympics- 102006 Olympics- 10thth

• 2007 Skate America- 12007 Skate America- 1stst

• 2004, 2005 World Junior Championships -22004, 2005 World Junior Championships -2ndnd

• 2010 Olympics- 62010 Olympics- 6thth

Today…

• Today they are still competing and they just attended Worlds where they placed sixth!