shae-lynn and victor announced they are splitting up. i know many of you probably already know about this, but i had to post it here too.
The Article from the Hamilton Spectator Oct. 21, 01:10 EDT
Bourne, Kraatz break up
'I just want the public to know it's not a mutual decision'
Steve Milton
The Hamilton Spectator
The greatest ice-dancing team in Canadian history is breaking up.
Reigning world champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz will honour touring commitments until mid-December, then will stop skating together. The couple turned pro after their emotional championship triumph in March, the first global title ever by ice dancers representing North America.
Skate Canada and the couple's agent will announce the partnership's dissolution today.
It is an amicable parting, but it was Kraatz's wish, not Bourne's. She wants to continue skating and will try to find an avenue to do so hopefully, she says, with Stars on Ice.
Kraatz shocked Bourne two weeks ago when he told her that he did not want to continue in pro skating. During an interview with The Spectator at Copps Coliseum last week, he hinted that he wasn't sure the partnership would continue."Things happened too suddenly," he said between training sessions for Kurt Browning's Gotta Skate. "You strive for something for so many years and you reach your ultimate goal and all of a sudden 'That's it'. You're no longer part of the Canadian team, you no longer travel to compete. I think competing is really what I'm missing, I guess. And also a sense of direction."
Kraatz also said he wanted to pursue other interests. His partner and their agent from skating giant IMG tried to get him to at least take some more time to reconsider his decision, but Kraatz did not change his mind.
"What I want to say to Canadian fans is that I am not really ready to let go of skating," Bourne told The Spec late last night. "I want to keep the doors open, whether it's for touring, or skating as a single, or whatever.
"It's kind of like a marriage and now a divorce. It's like I want to get married again."
After the couple were edged for the gold medal at the 2002 Worlds, Bourne wanted the then-nine-time national champions to turn professional. But she stayed in "amateur" skating for another year. "And I'm glad we did," she said. "It's been a very difficult two weeks since he told me. Victor wanted to do the 11 Stars shows in the spring (through Canada). But I said it didn't seem right to have a farewell tour when I didn't want to say farewell. It wouldn't be fair to everyone.
"I feel sad for Canadians. I know they want to see us skate."
Canadians want to see them skate, and they want to thank them for an amazing career, which crashed the generally all-European dance party.
Bourne and Kraatz were teamed together, almost by accident, 12 years ago. He was born in Switzerland and was a superb skier as a juvenile before turning to skating full-time. She was born in Chatham, Ontario and spent the early part of her career as a pairs skater, before switching disciplines.
From the first two minutes of a tryout in Montreal, the pair clicked. They had "soft knees", the deep fluid motion and innate cohesiveness that marks all great skating partnerships.
By the early '90s they had, invented "hydroblading" in conjunction with Elvis Stojko, choreographer Uschi Keszler and other Mariposa Club skaters. The low-to-the-ice technique became their calling card and has been copied by scores of other top skaters. Their Riverdance freeskate of 1998 is rated among the best competitive programs of all time.
After a year in junior ranks, they won their first Canadian senior title in 1993 and also won the 1994 and 1998 Nationals and 1997 Grand Prix Final on Copps Coliseum ice. At Browning's show on that same ice Saturday night, Bourne was carrying the emotional burden of knowing the partnership would soon be dissolved.
"But the show in Hamilton was really thrilling for me," Bourne said. "After doing that show I know I have to keep skating. I felt so alive.
"I was trying to imagine myself not skating, and it brought tears to my eye. So I know I'll find a way to keep skating. It's such a shame it's not with the same partner.
"I just want the public to know that it's not a mutual decision."
Bourne and Kraatz will headline their own show in London, December 5, and instead of a triumphant launch to what could have been a long, lucrative and history-reminding touring career, that event becomes a bittersweet sendoff.
"It's not happy news," Bourne said last night. "For me it came as a surprise. Two weeks ago it was a real shock, but I've had some time to get used to it. It just seems like now was our chance to enjoy it, perform without the pressure and really become creative.
"I wish Victor all happiness.I told him I respect him so much for being honest with me.
"But I don't like it."
i personally am taking this news pretty hard shae and vic are my all-time favorite dance team, i have always been a fan of them for as long as i can remember. seeing them go through their shares of ups and downs, and being there along the way. i cried that night in march when they finally won their world championship they so rightly deserved. i can't believe it's over. is it for real? i keep telling myself, eh they'll end up back together eventually, how much of this can these two take? they've been skating together for so many years, is it really going to be that easy to just end it? i wouldn't think so. i really wish i would have known about this prior to saturday, i would have made a point to talk to shae since i saw her so many times that night, or i would have told vic how much we're all going to miss them. hopefully i'll get the chance to talk to them after celebration on ice. i can't post about this on other boards, because everyone is happy that they broke up (oh say on like FSU for instance) this team is really one of the greatest ice dance teams in the history of the sport, and they have influenced the sport just like torvill and dean have, to see them go is truly a extremely sad thing. i hope soi will jump at the chance to use shae-lynn like they did with denis petrov, i'd love to see her get the chance to continue to skate, with or without victor. while i am upset with his choice, i of course wish vic the best in all he does. this team has given us, the fans, so many memorable performances... i cannot say how much i will truly miss seeing these two.
I think it goes without saying that I am taking this hard. They've been my favorites since I saw them skate in 1993. I have no idea what is going on..only they know that..but I hope that Victor will change his mind. He seems so lost in articles I've read lately and that hurts me. They've been through so much and to see them win that title in March thrilled me beyond words. I only hope that whatever he's looking for,he finds it. As much as I would love to see Shae get the chance to skate again..I don't know if I could watch her without Victor beside her. It wouldn't be the same and I know it would be hard for her too after so many years. Best of luck to both of them but I will miss them so so so much. I'm just glad I got to see them skate Adagio at COI.
I'm in search of myself? Have you seen me anywhere?
Re: Shae and Vic split :[
After I got over the initial shock (which took some time), I thought of you brenlynn, posting your encounter with Victor Saturday night. I thought that you must be revisiting in your mind the things he said to you, and how he seemed at the time, his mood and such.
Sometimes when people achieve a long sought after goal, especially if they've faced adversity along the way, they have a "let down" period ... and for some, this period can last a significant length of time. I hope Vic hasn't been mired in such a frame of mind while making such a major life decision. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot about this in weeks to come. Like you both, I have a special affection for Shae and Vic, and I'll really miss them.
Re: Shae and Vic split :[
I'm still in denial people. This has to be a dream I mean some of us just talked to Victor on Sat and he seemed very cheerful and had hopes for CSOI. I really wish he will change his mind.
In the meantime my mother stongly suggested that I don't go to Celebration on Ice or SOI detroit so I'm not sure what I'm going to do. But I know what Vic should do. Pick himself off the floor and figure out what he needs to do to be happy and we all know what makes him happy. Stars on Ice!
I think I'm going to eat my junkfood and call someone who cares!
*~Luv Karen~*
Kurto is the man!
"No garlic bread before Ice Dancing!"
- Victor Kraatz
Re: Shae and Vic split :[ I think we all need one of these. Oh Karen...you can call me. I care.
I'm still in shock and I just read the article on TSN with quotes from Victor. He says that even though there was fricition at times it was a good partnership and he doesn't regret it. I've read other boards...bad move...and they are elaborating muchly on this. The fact is that of course there is friction. They're human beings and spend a lot of time together. Nothing is perfect and I'm sure at times they wanted to kill each other but that aside, they were amazing to watch and I'm going to miss them so much.
Oh and Karen and Brenda..I talked to Kat..who is in much shock..and she is demanding a road trip.
Okay. I'm going to watch Riverdance again.
I'm in search of myself? Have you seen me anywhere?
Re: Shae and Vic split :[
haha Flo love the signature! I want to be part of this! I'm sure we can get him in the right direction! Yeah Kat told me everything about the road! I'm going if she's going! and if she's going you're going!
*~Luv Karen~*
Kurto is the man!
"No garlic bread before Ice Dancing!"
- Victor Kraatz
Re: Shae and Vic split :[
while i am still upset, i understand that vic has other things he wishes to do. and i wish him much happiness in all he pursues. i wish they would do csoi this spring and do a farewell tour, i wish we could change shae's mind about it. wow, that would be a sad one... farewell to isa and lloyd and shae and vic? crazy. but, none the less i am looking forward to seeing them one last time in newmarket - and possibly hitting up the homecoming show in london as well. i want to get my shae and vic fix before there is none left
Re: Shae and Vic split :[
I noticed that the date of their last show is the day that Gotta Skate airs on NBC. How sad is that?
Oh and I'm taking suggestions for the career counseling.
I'm in search of myself? Have you seen me anywhere?
Re: Shae and Vic split :[
I want Vic to be my personal assistant. He can follow me around so I always have someone around. Plus he can help me with my skating! LOL Go Vic! Oh plus we can fly up to Flo's place so he can be her bodyguard. LOL alright I'm done with that
*~Luv Karen~*
Kurto is the man!
"No garlic bread before Ice Dancing!"
- Victor Kraatz
everyone feels *so sorry* for Andi... but how the heck are they supposed to skate at the same level if she's busy working with Morosov's huge ammount of skaters???????
personally I think they just have two totally different views, and I'd rather they split than both of them being unhappy for the rest of the career... the last couple of seasons, for me anyway, haven't been all that exciting... I personally never cared for their old look, and I don't think Viktor did either...
Neither one of these contain much new information not already included in the Spectator article, but there are a few new quotes from both Shae and Vic in both.
I'll also miss B&K tremendously and I'm as shocked as anyone else to hear they split up this way--especially after hearing all the wonderful reviews of their Gotta Skate performances last weekend and seeing all the great new photos at the Kurt Files and A Star Among The Stars websites. Victor does not look like a guy anxious to hang up his skates anytime soon in any of those photos, but if he does feel differently, I certainly wish him all the best in whatever he decides to do in the future (especially his upcoming marriage!)
I don't really think one is any more to blame for this split than the other--it just sounds to me like Shae and Vic want different things for the future and as heartbreaking as it may be for their fans, that's not a reason for holding a grudge against either of them, IMO.
And as much as I'll miss seeing B&K skate together, I must admit I'm intrigued at the possibility of seeing Shae as a singles skater. Even if she doesn't have the jumps, she still has incredible charisma and I don't think she'd have much trouble getting a contract with SOI (which desperately needs more ladies singles skaters on both sides of the border) on her own. I certainly wish her the best of luck in whatever she decides to do as well.
BTW, Shae and Vic (yup, both of them) are scheduled to appear live on a CBC Radio 1 show called "The Inside Track" on Oct. 26. The show will be archived between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2 at www.cbc.ca/insidetrack/thisweek.html for those of you who don't get CBC Radio.
As much as I cringed when I heard B&K skate to Mack The Knife at Gotta Skate, I'll treasure watching that performance a whole lot more now that it may be the last time we'll ever get to see them skate together again.
Re: Shae and Vic split :[
HamiltonBrowningFan, may I ask you what this has to do with Andi? I personally know her and she's just a fan. She even said it herself. We're all just fans and no one should feel sorry for anyone. This was Vic's decision and even though he was a complete Tool and didn't even talk to Shae about it we're all going to have to accept it one day. People should let others mourne because this is a huge lost for the skating world because they have been around for 13 years. People should stop blaming Vic for being jealous that Shae found what she's looking for and that she was too busy with her new career to skate with him and stop blaming Shae for pushing him over the edge with her bitchiness because no one knows what really happened and it's just all speculations.
I've been meaning to say that since Tuesday...
*~Luv Karen~*
Kurto is the man!
"No garlic bread before Ice Dancing!"
- Victor Kraatz
shae and vic are my all-time favorite dance team, i have always been a fan of them for as long as i can remember. seeing them go through their shares of ups and downs, and being there along the way. i cried that night in march when they finally won their world championship they so rightly deserved. i can't believe it's over. is it for real? i keep telling myself, eh they'll end up back together eventually, how much of this can these two take? they've been skating together for so many years, is it really going to be that easy to just end it? i wouldn't think so. i really wish i would have known about this prior to saturday, i would have made a point to talk to shae since i saw her so many times that night, or i would have told vic how much we're all going to miss them. hopefully i'll get the chance to talk to them after celebration on ice. i can't post about this on other boards, because everyone is happy that they broke up (oh say on like FSU for instance) this team is really one of the greatest ice dance teams in the history of the sport, and they have influenced the sport just like torvill and dean have, to see them go is truly a extremely sad thing. i hope soi will jump at the chance to use shae-lynn like they did with denis petrov, i'd love to see her get the chance to continue to skate, with or without victor. while i am upset with his choice, i of course wish vic the best in all he does. this team has given us, the fans, so many memorable performances... i cannot say how much i will truly miss seeing these two. 
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