Siblings Take Third Canadian Pairs Crown

Kyra and Dylan Moscovitch

April 5, 2006
Article & Photo © J. Barry Mittan 

Kyra and Dylan Moscovitch, a brother-sister team from Toronto, won their third straight pairs gold medal at the 2006 Canadian Nationals in Ottawa, this time in junior pairs. Last season, the couple won the novice pairs championship and the season before that, they took the pre-novice title. Even more amazing is that Kyra broke her leg last July when she caught her pick on a lift dismount and was off the ice for three months. "Because Kyra was only back skating for two months, our goal was just to get through juniors this year and then go into seniors next season," Dylan said, even though 12-year-old Kyra will not be eligible to compete at ISU championships for a few more years. "

Both skaters started when they were only two. "My parents took me skating for the very first time when I was 13 months old," Dylan said. "They wanted to carry me on the ice, but they couldn't so I had to wear skates." "The rest of my family skated and they got me into it," said Kyra, who is ten years younger than her brother. "The age gap's no problem," Dylan said. "We get along pretty well. I'm the oldest and Kyra's the youngest in our family."

Kyra is also a gymnast, who started when she was three and has competed at provincials. "It's more for fun but it helped me with my skating so I stayed in it," Kyra said. "I like the floor exercises and the vault the best." She still goes four times a week.

Both Kyra and Dylan compete as singles skaters although both sat out the 2005-06 season. Kyra won the juvenile ladies gold medal at the Ontario Winter Games and was second in pre-novice the following year. Dylan won the silver medal in junior men in 2004 and finished 14th in seniors in 2005. He landed his first triple salchow at 13 and has worked on quadruple jumps and three-jump combinations.

The siblings have only been skating together for three seasons, having begun in June 2003. "We thought we'd give it a try just for fun," Kyra said. "I liked being up in the air for lifts and throws." "It kind of just came about," Dylan said. "We started just for fun and it kept going. It's a nice change. It gives me a different thing to focus on. There's a shared responsibility and companionship."

Paul Wirtz coached the couple, which trained at Thornhill this season, for four and a half years. After the 2006 Canadians, the siblings decided to move to the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ontario to work with Lee Barkell. The skaters usually work for 2-3 hours a day six days a week on both singles and pairs.

Steven Belanger choreographed their short program for 2005-06, using "Scott and Fran's Paso Doble" for the short. Jackie Petr choreographed their long to "Samson and Delilah". "Steven picked the music for the short program," Dylan said. "It's dynamic and high energy. The free skate is more classical. There's more of a story behind it." "We enjoyed the theme and getting into the characters," Kyra added. For a gala program, they used "Cottoneyed Joe". "It's a comedy type routine," Dylan explained. "Kris Wirtz and I picked the music and he choreographed it."

Dylan is still working on correspondence courses and hopes to finish high school in the summer while Kyra is in Grade 7. "I like math," she said. "I want to be in business some day." Dylan plans to go into either sports medicine or engineering, his father's field, as a career.

Kyra likes to hang out with friends, watch television, and read. She used to collect porcelain dolls and has big bags of stuffed animals in her closet. Dylan enjoys hanging out with friends, listening to music, and watching movies. He's also a big sports nut. Dylan played baseball, basketball, volleyball and hockey when he was younger, and now plays dodge ball and hockey, cycles, skis and snowboards. He is also into martial arts. He trains twice a week in kung fu with Elvis Stojko's teacher, Glen Doyle, and has reached the red sash level. Dylan collects martial arts weapons and samurai swords. Off ice, he listens to all kinds of music from alternative rock to techno. He used to play the violin and has dabbled with the piano.