Clean perfection is how observers and fans described it.
For ice dancers Brianna Delmaestro and Timothy Lum, the end result of their toil and delivery last week at the 2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships was written in gold.
Delmaestro, of the Coquitlam Skating Club, and Lum from Burnaby dominated with first place scores in both the short and free skates to walk off with the junior ice dance title last Wednesday (Jan. 21).
“This whole season we’ve skated pretty well and felt confident in our program and performances,” Delmaestro said. “We knew we could do it, and it’s really special when it comes together.”
The duo, who train under Aaron Lowe and Megan Wing at the Vancouver Ice Dance Academy, posted scores of 59.21 and 89.41, first in both sections and a seven-point improvement on the pair’s gold-medal score at the Skate Canada Challenge in December.
“It feels good. It’s been a long time hoping,” said Lum, who had seven years of previous ice dance experience before teaming up with Delmaestro less than two years ago. “We train every day and practise five times a week. We expect big numbers. It’s a partnership.”
“There was definitely some pressure because we knew we could win it,” Delmaestro said. “After the (Skate Canada) Challenge we knew other teams were working hard to improve.
“I felt a bit of pressure, especially before the free skate, but I just felt very comfortable and had a good feeling.”
The title capped a tremendous season for the pair, who have been together barely 20 months.
A month ago, it was gold at Skate Canada; prior to that, they took silver and bronze at two international Junior Grand Prix competitions.
“Never, never, I’ve never had a season like this. It’s always been second place, third place, never hitting the top mark. But this has been a great season,” Lum added.
The team’s winning 148.62 score also bettered that of fellow junior ice dancers Madeline Edwards and ZhaoKai Pang, who finished seventh at the senior nationals with 140.21 total points.
Lowe said the performance last week was just what you’d imagine.
“They match so well as a team,” noted Lowe of the pair. “Their work together all week was just great.
“When you skate a clean skate as they did, it’s just golden.”
For Delmaestro, who only shifted from individual skating to the dance three years ago, the string of successes has come quickly but through a lot of hard work.
“Honestly, when I first started (ice dance) I had no idea that one day this could happen,” the Port Moody skater and Douglas College student said. “When Tim and I came together we had to find that comfort zone, but it’s been so smooth.
“Our goals at the beginning of the season were to win the nationals, that’s what we wanted. As the season went on we realized that we could possibly reach that goal.”
But their season might not be quite over. Lum believes the pair could be a first alternate for the junior world ice dance championships.
“To finally be on top of that podium and hit that top mark was a great way for me and Brianna to end the season,” said Lum. “It’s cool.”
One spectator could appreciate the journey and the accomplishment from a different view than most. Bruno Delmaestro, who attended as coach of CSC’s Benjamin Papp and Ashlynne Stairs, was extremely proud of his daughter.
“I got to attend as a coach and a dad, and it was fun,” the one-time Italian national figure skating champion said. “When (Delmaestro and Lum) skate a clean skate, it’s magical. They just really get along well, and I think that’s the key.”
