Golden season so far for Weaver and Poje

OSAKA, Japan– Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont. skated to ice dance gold on Sunday to conclude the NHK Trophy, the sixth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Weaver and Poje have won three international events this season including their two Grand Prix assignments to qualify for the Final December 11-14 in Barcelona.

The world silver medallists totalled 169.42 points skating to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with Ksenia Monko and Kirill Khaliavin of Russia second at 152.54 and Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker of the U.S. third at 146.41.

‘’We are very happy with the result,’’ said Poje.  ‘’There are a couple of things we still want to do better for the Grand Prix Final.  But we feel better about the program and connected with it today.’’

The Canadians made some changes to their free dance after their victory at Skate Canada last month.

‘’There were a couple of mistakes but this performance was a real confidence boost,’’ said Weaver.  ‘’Our experience came through today.’’

On Saturday, Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont, and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., took gold in pairs and also qualified for the Grand Prix Final.

Duhamel and Radford win gold at ISU Grand Prix

OSAKA, Japan – Meaghan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., won the gold medal Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy, the last stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit before next month’s Final.

The Canadians won their two Grand Prix assignments this season and easily qualify for the Final set for December 11-14 in Barcelona.

Duhamel and Radford totalled 199.78 points for the victory.  Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia were second at 183.60 and Xiaoyu Yu and Yang Jin of China third at 182.00.

‘’The long program was a lot more challenging for us today after a great short program (on Friday,’’ said Radford.  ‘’We were expecting more of ourselves but we understand it is still relatively early in the season and we don’t want to peak right now.  But we know it’s going to take a lot more than we had today to be on top of the podium in Barcelona and ultimately at the world championships.’’

Duhamel fell on the quad Salchow throw but says the manoeuvre it is an essential part of their program.

‘’We were happy to win today but it is not as fun when you don’t skate your best,’’ said Duhamel. ‘’It’s good for us to get the quad out there at every single competition because we want to be able to land it in the program consistently by the time we get to worlds.’’

In men’s competition, Daisuke Murakami of Japan was the winner with Sergei Voronov of Russia second and Takahito Mura of Japan third. Elladj Balde of Pierrefonds, Que., climbed from seventh to sixth and Jeremy Ten of Vancouver remained eighth.

Baldje produced a clean program which included a quadruple toe loop and triple Axel.  He suffered a concussion last month which left him off the ice for three weeks.

‘’I’m extremely happy with my performances this week,’’ said Baldje.  ‘’Considering the situation that I had only two weeks of full training I did a really satisfying job.’’

Ten also landed a quad, for him a first in competition.

‘’I really patted myself on the back for getting credit for that quad,’’ said Ten.  ‘’Right now I feel I’m in control of my emotions and my nerves and it shows in how much I’ve improved this season. It was a great way for me to end the Grand Prix season.’’

Gracie Gold of the U.S. took the gold in women’s competition with Alena Leonova of Russia second and Satoko Miyahara of Japan third.  Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., gained a spot after the short to finish sixth.

‘’I didn’t put so much pressure on myself for the free skate after a tough short program,’’ said Daleman, a 2014 Olympian.  ‘’I just wanted to have fun with it.’’

In ice dancing, world silver medallists Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., are first after the short dance with 67.51 points.  Penny Coomes and Nicholas Buckland of Britain are second at 60.49 and Ksenia Monko and Kirill Khaliavin of Russia third at 59.70.

‘’It was a great program for us today,’’ said Weaver.  ‘’There were a couple of level issues but we felt it was much stronger than at Skate Canada.  Now we just want to build on that momentum for the free dance.’’

The free dance is on Sunday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpjpn2014/index.htm

Duhamel and Radford dominate pairs short at Grand Prix

OSAKA, Japan – Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., built a solid a lead in the pairs event after Friday’s short program at the NHK Trophy, the last stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit before next month’s final.

Duhamel and Lively, two time world championship medallists, scored 72.70 points landing side by side triple Lutz, a throw triple Lutz, triple twist and executing four level-four elements.  Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia are second at 64.60 and Xiaoyu Yu and Yang Jin of China third at 60.15.

‘’The way we skated today is how we skate every day in practice,’’ said Radford. ‘’This is how we aim to skate at every competition. It feels amazing to skate like that and we’re really looking forward to carrying the momentum into the long program.’’

Other short program Canadian results on Friday: Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., stands seventh in women’s competition while Elladj Balde of Pierrefonds, Que., and Jeremy Ten of Vancouver are seventh and eighth in the men’s event.

The ice dancing competition starts Saturday featuring Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont.  The free skates for men, women and pairs are all on Saturday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpjpn2014/index.htm

Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje are stepping out this year, dressed to kill

Shall we say it? Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje are stepping out this year, dressed to kill.

It’s not that the reigning world silver medalist ice dancers have ever been swathed in tatters, but this season, knowing full well that only .02 separated them from a gold medal at the world championships last March, they are putting on their best bib and tucker for the challenge this year in Shanghai.

It was game on at the first practice at the Skate Canada International last month, when Poje showed up on the ice in a “suit of lights,” the most extraordinary collection of threads and sequins the sport has ever seen. Of course, the team was skating a Paso Doble, a dramatic and powerful Spanish dance with precise footwork and sharp movement, one of the few dances in which men play the leading role. Weaver, dressed in floating vermilion regalia – also heavily encrusted in gold – was the cape, flying to the toreador’s command in the bullring.

With such a dance, there is no room for subtleties. And Weaver and Poje don’t intend to be subtle. “When we want to be the best in the world, the devil is in the details,” Weaver said. “We knew we had to come out looking good.”

Details? They are extraordinary.

“I think we win the bedazzle award,” said Poje. “I think I have more sparkles than Kaitlyn has this year – which is new for me.”

Poje’s costume is black, yes, but he wears a heavily decorated jacket – with wide gold-encrusted epaulets and wide streams of elaborate embroidery and beads racing down the sides of his legs, true to tradition. As for Weaver, she wears a dress designed by award-winning Canadian theatre designer Debra Hanson. “She’s great at choosing choice materials and the right colours and shades,” Weaver said. Her “cape” is uncommon in that it is not dyed in one shade of red. It starts as a deep cherry red at the bodice and morphs to a fiery orange in the skirt. That, says, Weaver, gives the colour depth.

“It is comfortable and easy wear and I was happy that it was fancy enough for me, and it really lets the spotlight be on Andrew,” she said. (But don’t forget – her bodice front and back are heavily beaded in gold, too, like some ornamental capes.) Hanson, who has worked at the Stratford Festival Theatre and the Canadian Opera Company, designed both costumes. It’s not her first foray into dreaming up skating costumes; she did their Olympic outfits, too.

Weaver and Poje wanted a classic, authentic Paso Doble look. “We looked at all the old figure skating costumes and thought, ‘Okay what can we do it make ours stand out?’” Weaver said.

Yes, there were the simplicities of the Duchesnay’s Paso dress in 1992 – he in simple black, she in a beaded dress – but not as heavily beaded as Weaver’s. That year, Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarkenko wore a get up that seemed to have little to do with the Paso character: he in a black shirt with billowy sleeves and she in long black fringe. The 1984 Olympic champions Natalia Bestemianova and Andrei Bukin didn’t look terribly toreador-like when they skated the Paso as an original set pattern dance. She wore a short skirt with tight rows of ruffles, looking more like she was dancing the samba.

And Torvill and Dean? Their 1984 Paso was legendary and danced with correct character; with Dean wearing a short, white decorated bolero jacket and Torvill looking like a matching cape. Finally a Paso breakthrough.

Leave it to Oksana Grishuk and Evgeny Platov to wear costumes that looked more like a “suit of lights” and cape than most other noted skaters at the 1996 world championships. Platov’s togs were heavily decorated in beading and sequins, as was Grishuk’s and the twosome interpreted the concept beautifully.

As soon as Weaver and Poje saw the sketches that Hanson dreamed up, they were sold. It took a couple of weeks of work from various costume artisans to produce the apparel. Weaver and Poje did not have them in time for the Nebelhorn Trophy. They got the costumes just before they left for Skate Canada International in Kelowna and didn’t have much time to practice in them. At home at the Detroit Skating Club, the first time they stepped out on the ice with the outfits, all of their training mates started to applaud. “That’s when we knew we were going in the right direction,” Weaver said.

“It was well worth the wait,” Poje said. On a Wednesday, they skated in the fancy vestments for the first time. On Friday, they competed at Skate Canada International with them.  It wasn’t long before Weaver bore the brunt of the brilliance. She suffers from bead burn – all over – from brushing close to Poje’s costume, perhaps like flying too close to the sun. She says she’s not distracted by it. “What I think is great is that I’ve never seen Andrew so excited by a costume before,” she said. “He’s not one to really get fancy.”

It’s a costume for the ages. Poje thinks his “suit of lights” weighs at least 10 pounds, yet it was designed in such a way that it does not impede his movement. “We should weigh it,” he said mischievously. “It’s the heaviest costume I’ve ever had.”

Most importantly, the costumes do something to both of them psychologically. “It makes me feel like a matador,” Poje said. As soon as he dons it, he feels “so much bigger.” The goal, he said, is to fill the stage and the arena with your presence. “Putting on that costume makes me feel that power,” he said.

That feeling of strength is all-important. “It sounds materialistic in a way, but it really matters.” Weaver said. “The performance starts before you even step on the ice. People are taking in what you are sending out. We want that message to be world class.”

New CanSkate PSA Brings out Skating’s Best

OTTAWA, ON: Canada is a land of ice and snow, a winter nation with skating in its DNA. Over the years Canadians have skated on nature’s natural rinks, on community rinks, and in arenas in front of family and friends, and sometimes thousands of spectators. One thing remains the same, how we learned to skate: CanSkate.

Skate Canada and Those Canadians media group partnered to produce a series of CanSkate Public Service Announcements (PSA) that highlights the dynamic learn-to-skate program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. Based on Sport Canada’s long term athlete development (LTAD) principles, CanSkate centers on physical literacy and the fundamental skills needed to take part in any ice sport or to skate as a recreational activity.

The full length five minute video takes you back to the rink where it all began for some of Canada’s most well-known skating stars. NHL and Olympic hockey player Matt Duchene, Olympic speed skater Ivanie Blondin, Olympic figure skaters Patrick Chan, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir all appear in the campaign and are graduates of the CanSkate program which is presented by Canadian Tire.

“For decades CanSkate has been teaching the best skaters in Canada how to skate. In our new PSA  a few of them talk about their experience in CanSkate and outline how the program was able to bring them to the peak of their sport,” said Dan Thompson, Skate Canada Chief Executive Officer. “Every Canadian should experience the joy of skating. Whether it is for recreational purposes or to become the next Olympic champion, CanSkate can get you there.”

For many Canadians those first steps onto the ice that turn into glides are memorable moments in their childhood and that was no different for hockey player Matt Duchene. “My first memories are when my parents signed me up for CanSkate in my hometown of Haliburton at three or four years old. Those basics that you learn at CanSkate I think applies to any level of hockey,” shared Matt Duchene 2014 Olympic Champion and member of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.

CanSkate uses every inch of the ice surface, skaters learn the basics of skating through a complete series of balance, control and agility skills taught in six stages. Olympic and World Figure Skating Champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir echoed the basics of the program.

“You cannot learn to figure skate or play hockey or anything until you have done the CanSkate program, you need that basis,” said Moir.

“Every footwork sequence we do, every spin, every lift, every move – it all comes back to the basics, it is all those fundamentals that we learned in CanSkate,” added Virtue.

Two-time Olympic figure skating medallist Patrick Chan revisits his first memories on the ice and how CanSkate shaped the future for the three-time World Champion. “I wanted to come in every day, I wanted to come and skate, I wanted to learn all the different skills. I guess I have to owe it to the coaches of CanSkate because they were really the ones that kept it fun and kept it interesting and kept wanting me to come back,” explained Chan.

Lessons are given in a group format with a maximum coach-to-student ratio of 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, upbeat music and a wide variety of activities that create a motivational environment and promote learning.

Olympic speed skater Ivanie Blondin started her skating career at her local community rink in the CanSkate program. Blondin expressed praise for the program, “it’s for me, turned me into the great athlete I am today and I owe it pretty much all to Canskate.”

CanSkate uses tested and proven new curriculum and delivery methods that guarantee skater success in developing stronger basic skills and developing them faster. Skate Canada is proud to have all its programs taught by professional coaches who are specially trained and certified through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).

Find a Skate Canada club in your area and start skating today!

CanSkate: Only The Best Can Bring Out Their Best

NHK Trophy marks last stop for Canadians on ISU Grand Prix circuit

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send four entries, for a total of six skaters, to Osaka, Japan, for the 2014 NHK Trophy from November 28-30, 2014. Canada will have one entry per category in men’s, ladies, pair, and ice dance at the sixth and final competition on the International Skating Union’s (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating circuit.

The top six skaters or teams in each category qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, taking place from December 11-14 in Barcelona, Spain.

Olympic silver medallists (team) and two-time world bronze medallists Meagan Duhamel, 28, Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford, 29, Balmertown, Ont., will be Canada’s pair entry. This will be the first time competing at this event for the representatives of Walden FSC and CPA Saint-Léonard. Earlier this season, Duhamel and Radford won gold at the inaugural Skate Canada Autumn Classic International, and gold at their first ISU Grand Prix assignment of the season, Skate Canada International. They are coached by Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte at CPA Saint-Léonard.

World silver medallists Kaitlyn Weaver, 25, Waterloo, Ont., and Andrew Poje, 27, Waterloo, Ont., will be the Canadian entry in ice dance. They have previously won silver at this event in 2010 and 2011. Earlier this season, Weaver and Poje won gold at the Nebelhorn trophy, and gold at their first ISU Grand Prix assignment of the season, Skate Canada International. Representing Sault FSC and Kitchener-Waterloo SC, the seven-time Canadian medallists are coached by Pasquale Camerlengo and Angelika Krylova in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Elladj Baldé, 24, Pierrefonds, Que., is one of two Canadian entries in the men’s category. This will be the first time competing at this event for the representative of CPA Anjou Kinsmen. Earlier this season, Baldé placed fifth at the Nebelhorn trophy. He trains at the Detroit Skating Club with coaches Yuka Sato and Jason Dungjen.

Jeremy Ten, 25, Vancouver, B.C., will represent Canada in men’s. Ten has previously competed at this event in 2009, placing 10th and 2010, placing 11th. This season, the representative of Grandview Skating Club won bronze at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International, and placed 10th at his first ISU Grand Prix assignment of the season, the Rostelecom Cup. Ten is coached by Joanne McLeod and Neil Wilson at the Champs International Skating Centre.

Gabrielle Daleman, 16, Newmarket, Ont., will represent Canada in ladies. This will be the 2014 Olympian’s second ISU Grand Prix assignment at the senior level. Earlier this season, the representative of Richmond Hill FSC won the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International, and placed fifth at her first ISU Grand Prix assignment, the Cup of China. Daleman is coached by Andrei Berezintsev and Inga Zusev and trains at the Richmond Training Centre in Richmond Hill, Ont.

Skate Canada High Performance Director Mike Slipchuk will be travelling with the Canadian skaters as the team leader. Dr. Laura Cruz of Toronto, Ont., and physiotherapist Shirley Kushner of Westmount, Que., will be the Canadian medical team onsite. Benoit Lavoie of Baie St-Paul, Que., and Jean Senft, of West Vancouver, B.C., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2014 NHK TROPHY

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Pair Meagan Duhamel / Eric Radford 28/29 Lively, Ont. / Balmertown, Ont. Walden FSC / CPA Saint-Léonard Richard Gauthier / Bruno Marcotte
Ice dance Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje 25/27 Waterloo, Ont. – Houston, TX/ Waterloo, Ont. Sault FSC / Kitchener-Waterloo SC Pasquale Camerlengo / Angelika Krylova
Mens Elladj Baldé 24 Pierrefonds, Que. CPA Anjou Kinsmen Yuka Sato / Jason Dungjen
Mens Jeremy Ten 25 Vancouver, B.C. Grandview SC Joanne McLeod / Neil Wilson
Ladies Gabrielle Daleman 16 Newmarket, Ont. Richmond Hill FSC Andrei Berezintsev / Inga Zusev

Gilles and Poirier win silver at Grand Prix

BORDEAUX, France – Canadian ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier won the silver medal on Saturday at the Eric Bompard Trophy figure skating competition which is the fifth stop on the ISU Grand Prix circuit.

Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France were the winners with 166.66 points followed by Gilles and Poirier at 157.58, a season’s best.  Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of the U.S., were third at 152.11.

‘’For us it is mission accomplished,’’ said Poirier, who has won three silver medals with his partner in international competitions this season. ‘’While the score was similar to what we did at Skate Canada we felt we improved a lot. There’s still the issue of consistency we need to work on to help us move up another notch.’’

Alexandra Paul of Midhurst, Ont., and Mitchell Islam of Toronto were sixth.

In pairs, Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia staved off two Chinese pairs for the gold.  Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., were seventh with a clean program that left the Canadians with big smiles upon completion and a season-best score.

In women’s competition, Elena Radionova led Russia to a 1-2 finish.  Véronik Maillet of Sept-Iles, Que., was 10th,  also with a season-best.

‘’Landing my first three jumps was a good way to start my free skate,’’ said Maillet, 20.  ‘’Coming back after a disappointing performance (in her short program Friday) is part of the learning process.’’

The sixth and last stop on the circuit before the Grand Prix final, is the NHK Trophy next weekend in Osaka, Japan.  The Grand Prix Final is December 11-14 in Barcelona.

Gold for Iliushechkina and Moscovitch

Meanwhile at the Warsaw Cup in Poland, new pairs partners Lubov Iliushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto’s Cricket, Skating and Curling Club, won the gold medal in pairs in their international debut with 163.02 points.

‘’We are very happy and proud to have won Warsaw Cup. We didn’t have our best skate in the free but we are overall very happy with how the week went,’’ said Moscovitch. ‘’It is our first full competition together and are still finding our groove. As a team, with Lee, Tracy and Bryce, we are doing some great work and feel very optimistic about what lies ahead.’’

After success with other partners, Iliushechkina and Moscovitch teamed up in the spring of 2014. She had competed for her native Russia, and received her clearance certificate from the ISU this fall, allowing her to skate for Canada alongside Moscovitch.

Lina Fedorova and Maxim Miroshkin of Russia were second at 158.16 and Valentina Marchei and Ondrej Hotarek of Italy third at 154.60.

Iliushechkina and Moscovitch were the only Canadian entries in Warsaw.

Full results: 2014 Trophée Eric Bompard: http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpfra2014/

2014 Warsaw Cup: http://www.pfsa.com.pl/warsawcup2014/

Gilles and Poirier in medal contention at Grand Prix

BORDEAUX, France – Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier neared their personal best score for the short dance on Friday to stand second at the fifth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France lead the field with 64.06 points just ahead of the Canadians at 61.90. The personal best for Gilles, from Unionville, Ont., and Poirier from Toronto, is 62.38 set at the Four Continents meet last season.  Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of the U.S., stand third at 60.19.

‘’Paul and I were really happy with our performance today,’’ said Gilles.  ‘’It is the first competition we felt really on and had no major mistakes.  Our energy level could still be a bit higher but we are happy where we stand heading into the free dance.’’

Alexandra Paul of Midhurst, Ont., and Mitchell Islam of Toronto are sixth.

Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., are seventh after the pairs short program and Véronik Mallet of Sept-Iles, Que., 11th after the women’s short.

Canada has no entries in men’s competition.  All free skates are on Saturday.

Strong start for Iliushechkina and Moscovitch

Meanwhile at the Warsaw Cup in Poland, new pairs partners Lubov Iliushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto’s Cricket, Skating and Curling Club, made a scintillating debut on Friday and are in first place after the short program with 55.40 points.

‘’We are happy with tonight’s outcome,’’ said Moscovitch.  ‘’It wasn’t our best skate but we had some solid elements in the program that we are happy with.  It was our first international as a team and it was also the first time we competed with the triple twist.  Our skating is on track for where we need to be at this point and we are looking forward to the free program.’’

After success with other partners, Iliushechkina and Moscovitch teamed up in the spring of 2014. She had competed for her native Russia, and received her clearance certificate from the ISU this fall, allowing her to skate for Canada alongside Moscovitch.

Lina Fedorova and Maxim Miroshkin of Russia are second at 53.96 and their compatriots  Arina Cherniavskaia and Antonino Souza-Kordyeru third at 52.96.

The free skate is Saturday.  Iliushechkina and Moscovitch are the only Canadian entries in Warsaw.

Full results: 2014 Trophee Eric Bompard: http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpfra2014/

2014 Warsaw Cup: http://www.pfsa.com.pl/warsawcup2014/

New Canadian Pair team to debut in Poland

OTTAWA, ON:  A newly formed pair team will represent Canada at the Warsaw Cup this week.  Lubov Iliushechkina, 23, Moscow, Russia and Dylan Moscovitch, 30, Toronto, Ontario will make their international debut at the Torwar Ice Rink in Warsaw, Poland. The competition, which runs November 20-23, is part of the International Skating Union’s (ISU) Challenger Series.

After success with other partners, Iliushechkina & Moscovitch teamed up in the spring of 2014. She had competed for her native Russia, and received her clearance certificate from the ISU this fall, allowing her to skate for Canada alongside Moscovitch. The duo will represent the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, where they train. They are coached by Lee Barkell, Bryce Davison and Tracy Wilson.

Iliushechkina & Moscovitch are the only Canadian entry at the Warsaw Cup. This will be their first international event, although the two did compete at Skate Canada Central Ontario’s Octoberfest earlier this fall in Barrie, Ont.

Canadians off to France for Trophée Eric Bompard

OTTAWA, ON: Seven Canadians skaters are preparing to head to Bordeaux, France for the 2014 Trophée Eric Bompard competition this week from November 21-23, 2014. Canada will send one entry in ladies and pair and two in ice dance.

Trophée Eric Bompard is the fifth of six competitions on the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating circuit, which qualifies skaters for the ISU Grand Prix Final, taking place December 11-14 in Barcelona, Spain.

Alexandra Paul, 23, Midhurst, Ont., and Mitchell Islam, 24, Barrie, Ont., are one of two Canadian entries in the ice dance category. This will be their second stop on the grand prix circuit; they placed fifth at Cup of China at the start of November. Representing the Barrie SC, Paul and Islam train at the Detroit Skating Club with coaches Pasquale Camerlengo, Angelika Krylova, and Natalia Deller.

Piper Gilles, 22, Toronto, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 22, Unionville, Ont., will compete in ice dance. They have captured two silver medals already this season, at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic International and then at their first grand prix stop in Kelowna, B.C., at Skate Canada International. Representing the Scarboro FSC they are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs at Ice Dance Elite in Scarborough, Ont.

Véronik Mallet, 20, Sept-Îles, Que., is the only Canadian in the ladies division. The representative of CPA Sept-Îles placed 10th at Skate Canada International earlier this season and seventh at the Nebelhorn Trophy. She is coached by Annie Barabé and Maximin Coïa at CTC Contrecoeur.

In pair Kirsten Moore-Towers, 22, St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro, 22, Sarnia, Ont., will represent Canada. This will only be their second completion together after teaming up in the spring. The representatives of Kitchener-Waterloo SC and Point Edward SC placed sixth at Skate Canada International, their international debut. Moore-Towers and Marinaro are coached by Kristy Wirtz and Kris Wirtz at the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club.

Carolyn Allwright of Kitchener, Ont., will be the Canadian team leader. Dr. Lee Schofield of Toronto, Ont., and physiotherapist Scott Fraser of Kingston, Ont., will be the Canadian medical team onsite. Skate Canada President Leanna Caron will be the Canadian official at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2014 TROPHÉE ERIC BOMPARD

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Ice Dance Alexandra Paul / Mitchell Islam 23/24 Midhurst, Ont. / Barrie, Ont. Barrie SC / Barrie SC Pasquale Camerlengo / Angelika Krylova / Natalia Deller
Ice Dance Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier 22/22 Toronto, Ont. – Colorado Springs, CO, U.S.A. / Unionville, Ont. Scarboro FSC / Scarboro FSC Carol Lane / Juris Razgulajevs
Pair Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro 22/22 St. Catharines, Ont. / Sarnia, Ont. Kitchener-Waterloo SC / Point Edward SC Inc. Kristy Wirtz / Kris Wirtz
Ladies Véronik Mallet 20 Sept- Îles, Que. CPA Sept-Îles Annie Barabé / Maximin Coïa

Alaine Chartrand wins bronze medal at Grand Prix

MOSCOW – Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., took a giant step in her career on Saturday as she won the bronze medal in women’s competition to conclude the Rostelecom Cup, the fourth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

World junior champion Rika Hongo of Japan earned the gold medal with 178.00 points followed by Anna Pogorilaya of Russia, the Skate Canada International champion two weeks ago, in second at 173.43.

Chartrand, the leader after Friday’s short program, was third with a personal best 172.00 for her first international medal.

‘’Definitely I reached a new level today to win a medal in my first season on the senior Grand Prix,’’ said Chartrand, 18.  ‘’I didn’t feel any extra pressure today because I had won the short program.  I’m always nervous anyway.’’

Despite the medal, Chartrand wasn’t thrilled with her free skate.  While she stayed on her feet from start to finish she did have to fight hard for some of her successful landings.

‘’There is definitely room for improvement,’’ she said.  ‘’But it was certainly better than at Skate Canada (where she finished seventh).’’

In men’s competition, Javier Fernandez of Spain took the gold with Sergei Voronov of Russia second and Michal Brezina of the Czech Republic third.  Jeremy Ten of Vancouver was 10th.

Despite the result, Ten was pleased with his achievements this weekend.

‘’I came here to introduce may quad jump into the program and for me that was a success,’’ said Ten.  ‘’I gained confidence that it’s a jump that I have the ability to land, hopefully at my next competition. I was also pleased with how I came back with a strong triple Axel today as well.’’

Next weekend, the circuit heads to Bordeaux, France for the Trophee Eric Bompard.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/gprus2014/index.htm

Canada’s Alaine Chartrand leads after short program

MOSCOW – Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., is in first place after the women’s short program at the fourth stop on the ISU Grand Prix circuit in figure skating.

Chartrand produced 61.18 points as she put herself in position to win a first international medal. Her program included a double Axel which was quickly followed by a soaring triple Lutz in combination with a triple toe loop.

World junior champion Rika Hongo of Japan stands second at 59.85 and Anna Pogorilaya of Russia, the Skate Canada International winner two weeks ago, is third at 59.32

Chartrand, 18, is in her first season on the senior circuit. After placing seventh at Skate Canada two weeks ago she said: “I was looking to improve on that. I really just wanted to have big jumps, clean jumps.

In the men’s short program, Jeremy Ten of Vancouver skated a clean program which included a triple Axel and triple Lutz-triple toe for ninth.

Chartrand and Ten are the only two Canadian entries here this weekend.  All free skates are on Saturday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/gprus2014/index.htm