CANOE 2002 Games - Team Canada


Skate Canada	Date of Birth: 22/11/74
	Place of Birth: Sayabec, QC
	Residence: Edmonton, AB
	Height: 5'10"
	Years on National Team: 7

If it wasn't for Jamie Salé, David Pelletier's figure skating career would have been in jeopardy. As is the case for any small working group, whether it's pairs skating or a string quartet, finding that special indescribable magic that makes it work was eluding the talented and athletic Pelletier.

He initially competed as a singles and pairs skater but achieved his first international success in pairs, first with partner Julie Laporte. They placed seventh at the 1992 world junior championships. Then he teamed with Allison Gaylor in 1995 and they posted a 15th place finish at the 1995 world championships.

A few weeks earlier at the 1995 nationals, Pelletier also came close to making the Canadian world team in singles. He was second after the short program but slipped in the long to place fourth overall.

Despite a quick rise on the national scene, Pelletier and Gaylor struggled and eventually split. Pelletier then joined forces with Caroline Roy but the partnership never clicked and ended after the 1998 nationals. That same year, Pelletier suffered a devastating personal setback when former partner Laporte was killed in a car accident.

"After the 1998 nationals I decided to take two months off my skating," he told CTV. "I sat down and wrote some criteria I wanted for another partner. I decided that if I can't find anybody, I'll just quit."

Pelletier travelled to Edmonton in February 1998, for a try-out with Sale. It was the second time they had actually tried out together but Pelletier wasn't sure about the partnership. Sale knew all along it was a match made in heaven.

What David Pelletier Did
Feb. 15: Jamie Sale, Red Deer, Alta., and David Pelletier, Sayabec, Que., awarded gold medal in skating controversy over judging marks.
Feb. 11: Jamie Sale, Red Deer, Alta., and David Pelletier, Sayabec, Que., won silver medal
Feb. 9: Jamie Sale, Red Deer, Alta., and David Pelletier, Sayabec, Que., finished second of 20 pairs in short program

David Pelletier Pictures