Stacey Ball

Stacey Ball
Personal information
Born (1973-11-25) November 25, 1973 (age 52)
St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
Height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Figure skating career
Country Canada
DisciplinePair skating

Stacey Ball (born November 25, 1973) is a former Canadian pair skater who also competed in women's singles. With partner Jean-Michel Bombardier, she won the bronze medal at the 1991 Canadian Figure Skating Championships.

Career

Ball began skating as a toddler and competed both in pairs and women's singles. She said of competing in both disciplines, "I like skating both, but I think I like pairs better because it's more exciting getting thrown." In 1988, she and her sister moved to Montreal to train, followed by their mother the next year.

As a pair skater, she skated first with Jeffrey Gavin, with whom she won the 1987 Canadian National Championships novice title. Next, she paired with Kris Wirtz; the two placed 8th at the 1988 Skate America and won silver in the junior competition at the 1989 Canadian National Championships. The partnership ended after Wirtz's brother, Paul Wirtz, had a disagreement over costumes with Balls's mother.

She next paired up with Jean-Michel Bombardier. They were assigned to the 1989 Skate America, where they finished 4th in the short program and 5th overall after the free skate. As a singles skater, Ball competed at the 1990 World Junior Championships, held at the end of 1989, where she placed 15th. At the Canadian Championships, the pair placed 5th, and competing in singles, Ball won the bronze medal in the junior division.

The next season, the pair competed at the Grand Prix de St. Gervais, where they placed second in the short program, then rose to win the competition. A week later, they won the Nebelhorn Trophy as well. At Skate America, they placed 5th. They won the bronze medal at the Canadian Championships; competing with Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler, they won the four skating title. Ball and Bombadier were subsequently sent to the 1991 World Championships, where they finished in 8th place.

In October 1991, the pair were assigned Skate Canada International. Bombadier competed with an injured thumb on the hand he used to lift Ball. They placed 5th in the short program, then rose to unexpectedly win the event after the free skate, where they portrayed "two persons shipwrecked on an island". They next competed at the Lalique Trophy; after Bombadier fell twice, they finished in 5th.

Heading into Canadian Nationals, Ball expressed hope that she and Bombadier could win one of Canada's places at the upcoming 1992 Winter Olympics. However, she took three weeks off training due to catching pneumonia, and she and Bombadier again placed 5th. In the four skating competition, they won with the same teammates as the year before.

In April, it was announced that Bombadier had begun to practice with Michelle Menzies instead. Ball said she would focus on singles skating; however, she did not rejoin the national team.

Ball now works as a coach.

Personal life

Ball's parents were synchronized skaters who competed on the same team. Her sister, Sherry Ball, was also a competitive skater.

Results

Pairs with Bombadier

Competition placements between the 1989–1990 and 1991–1992 season 
Season 1989–1990 1990–1991 1991–1992
World Championships 8th
Skate America 5th 5th
Skate Canada 1st
Lalique Trophy 5th
St. Gervais 1st
Nebelhorn Trophy 1st
Canadian Championships 5th 3rd 5th

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jollimore, Mary (February 12, 1990). "All in the family Skating figures prominently in lives of young Ball sisters". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ont. ISSN 0319-0714. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Skate Canada Results Book - Volume 2 - 1974 - current" (PDF). Skate Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Vancouverite Stewart four back in pursuit of Florida golf crown". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. October 23, 1988. ISSN 0384-1294. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Wong settles for skating silver; 'Shocked' rookie blows away opposition to win women's gold". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. February 11, 1989. ISSN 0384-1294. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ Smith, Beverley (1997). Talking Figure Skating: Behind the Scenes in the World's Most Glamorous Sport. McClelland & Stewart. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7710-8107-1.
  6. ↑ "Pairs produce best Canadian results". The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ont. October 20, 1989. ISSN 0839-3222. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Ice skating". USA TODAY. McLean, Va. October 23, 1989. ISSN 0734-7456. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  8. ↑ "World Junior Figure Skating Championships 1990. Colorado Springs, USA". skating.bplaced.net. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Sports in brief". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alta. August 24, 1990. ISSN 0828-1815. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Laval skater reaches the top at Coupe des Alpes meet". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. August 30, 1990. ISSN 0384-1294. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Petrenko practises for assault". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C. October 22, 1990. ISSN 0832-1299. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Smith, Beverley (October 26, 1991). "Young pairs team stage Skate Canada upset". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ont. ISSN 0319-0714. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Medal for Quebec; Bombardier shares skate gold". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. October 26, 1991. ISSN 0384-1294. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Soviet leads Browning; Petrenko out with injuries". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alta. November 9, 1991. ISSN 0839-296X. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  15. ↑ Delean, Paul (January 13, 1992). "Quebec's best figure skaters off to nationals; Record contingent includes rookies, Olympic hopefuls and veterans". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. ISSN 0384-1294. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  16. ↑ Smith, Beverly (January 18, 1992). "Brasseur, Eisler win pairs title Olympic berths remain unsettled". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ont. ISSN 0319-0714. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  17. ↑ Knack, Marty (April 10, 1992). "Edmontonians off to training camp". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alta. ISSN 0839-296X. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Canadian pair 2nd in figure skating". Kitchener - Waterloo Record. Kitchener, Ont. November 6, 1992. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  19. 1 2 "About Aylmer Skating Centre, Certified Skating Coaches". Aylmer Skating Centre. Retrieved May 28, 2026.