Dubé & Davison

World Bronze Medalists - Canadian Pair Champions - Olympians

Canadian Pair Champions Jessica Dubé & Bryce Davison both say they knew from the first time they stepped on the ice together that their pairing had great potential. "Even in our very first tryout, I knew it would be really good because Jess was incredible. She was the one I wanted to skate with," Davison says.

Despite the clear compatibility, neither expected the partnership would progress as rapidly as it did. Within three months of teaming up in the summer of 2003, they won their first international gold medal at a Junior Grand Prix event in Mexico City. In that freshman season they also won the Junior Grand Prix Final and the Canadian Junior Pair title and claimed the silver medal at the World Junior Championships.

In 2006, a second-place finish in senior pairs at the Canadian Championships earned them a spot on the Canadian Olympic team in Turin, Italy, where they placed an impressive 10th. "It was amazing. I have no words for it," says Dubé about the Opening Ceremonies. "It was something I couldn't even imagine before I was there." They ended that season with a seventh-place finish at the World Championships.

Dubé and Davison began 2007 with a flourish, claiming their first Canadian Senior Pair title, which they describe as incredible. Although neither expected to come so far so fast, they gladly accept the accolades. Davison attributes the success to hard work, but observers of the sport often point to their fluid chemistry on the ice. "We can relate to one another with just a look of the eye," he says.

The duo has worked with renowned choreographer David Wilson since the inception of their partnership. Award-winning choreographer Lori Nichol has also worked with them. Both Wilson and Nichol actively engage skaters in the choreography process. "Instead of saying, ÔThese are your steps, do them,' they work with you to invent and create the programs. That helps us as skaters to develop our creativity and be more imaginative," Davison says.

The 2007-08 season brought them their best results to date: Grand Prix gold at Skate America, silver at Skate Canada, a spot in the Grand Prix Final and World bronze medals. "When you achieve your goals, it just shows that you were doing the right things to get to where you want to be," says Davison. "As a team we can go further if we keep the same work ethic."

One tangible reward was hearing their names announced as World bronze medalists when they performed with Stars on Ice Canada and at club shows in the spring of 2008. "That was really cool," Davison says. "Jess and I looked at each other and laughed, not in disbelief, but from the realization, ÔWow, we're World medalists.'" They're able to know, "It's really happening to us," says Dubé.

Their free skate for the 2008-09 season will be set to music from "Carmen." Collaborating with Wilson on the program were former Canadian Ice Dance Champions and World silver medalists Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon. "Marie-France and Patrice are known for intricate skating and connections between elements. They're perfect to add that extra little bit to our program," Davison says. "It will be good for our transitions," Dubé adds.

Their goals for next season are to regain their Canadian title and again place on the podium at Worlds. Long-term goals include participating in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. "We're both young, so maybe we will continue competing after that. We don't know yet," says Dubé.

Fans can learn more about them at their official Web site, www.skatetoday.com/dubedavison/, where both name Brad Pitt as their favorite actor. Dubé's favorite actress is Naomi Watts, but Davison says there are too many beautiful women in the movies to choose one. They both enjoy watching hockey.

Being Olympians fuels them every day. And then there is the music. "The first five seconds of a program, I feel adrenalin," says Dubé. "Then after that, I'm into the ice and I just feel the music." "We haven't reached our full potential yet or anything close to it," Davison says. "We work every day to return to the Olympics."

There are goals to be achieved. A sports psychologist suggested that Davison buy three small boxes and write his goals on top. One reads, "first Grand Prix medal," one "first World medal" and the last "first Olympic medal." "Now I have medals to put in two of those boxes," he says. "There's only one left."

Career Highlights

• 2008 World Figure Skating Championships - 3
• 2008 Canadians - 2
• 2007 Grand Prix Final - 4
• 2007 Skate Canada - 2
• 2007 Skate America - 1
• 2007 NHK Trophy - 3
• 2007 Worlds - 7
• 2007 Canadians - 1
• 2006 World Figure Skating Championships - 7
• 2006 Winter Olympic Games - 10
• 2006 Canadians - 2
• 2005 Cup of China - 4
• 2005 Skate America - 6