Posts

Weaver and Poje win gold in season debut

/0 Comments/in , /by

OBERSTDORF, Germany – Canadian ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje won the gold medal on Saturday at the Nebelhorn Trophy, the traditional opener to the senior figure skating season.

The world championship silver medallists from Waterloo, Ont., unveiled their new short and free programs to the international judges and it appears they aced the test scoring 165.32 points.  Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. were second at 163.73 and Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi of Germany were third at 147.10.

‘’We were very happy with how the competition concluded,’’ said Weaver.  ‘’We were very calm in our free dance and although it’s new and fresh and early in the season we were able to put out a solid performance.

‘’Of course we have our work cut out for us for Skate Canada (October 31 to November 2 in Kelowna, B.C.). This is a program that is more difficult than what we’ve done in the past.  It requires harder training and harder concentration and we are glad to see we are going in the right direction.’’

It was the second career international victory for the couple.  They also won the Four Continents event in 2010.

‘’This is a great starting point,’’ said Poje.  ‘’We still have much growth to go through from now until the end of the season.  We’re glad we got to present it here and see what the skating community thought of it.  With that feedback we can now work away at it even more for the Grand Prix season.’’

Elisabeth Paradis of Loretteville, Que., and François-Xavier Ouellette of Laval, Que., were fifth.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva led Russia to a 1-2 finish in women’s competition while Veronik Mallet of Sept-Iles, Que., was seventh.

Canada also placed third in the team standings behind the U.S., in first and Russia.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/nt2014/

Best international showing for Balde

/0 Comments/in /by

OBERSTDORF, Germany – Elladj Balde of Montreal posted his best international result at the senior level on Friday placing fifth in men’s singles at the Nebelhorn Trophy figure skating competition.

Jason Brown of the U.S., took the gold with 237.17 points, Michal Brezina of the Czech Republic was second at 228.48 and Konstantin Menshov of Russia third at 211.03.  Balde, third after the short program, took fifth at 186.78.

Liam Firus of North Vancouver was ninth.

It was a 1-2 Russian finish in pairs as Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov sailed to gold with 195.89 points. Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov were second at 178.98 and Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim of the U.S., were third at 166.10.

Canadian junior champions Vanessa Grenier of Sherbrooke, Que., and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., were fifth in their international debut scoring 157.06.

In Thursday’s short dance, world championship silver medallists, Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., unveiled their new short program and grabbed the lead with 65.59 points. Madison Chok and Evan Bates of the U.S., follow at 62.80 and Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi of Germany are third at 58.67.

“It was important for us to get off to a good start with a new program,” said Poje. “Obviously this is an event for which we can get some feedback so we can be ready for the start of the Grand Prix season.”

Weaver and Poje are poised to carry last season’s success into 2014-15.

“Our goal this year is to be the top team in the world,” said Weaver.  “Our new programs are a departure from last season with an increase in difficulty.”

Elisabeth Paradis of Loretteville, Que., and François-Xavier Ouellette of Laval, Que., are fifth.

In women’s competition, Veronik Mallet of Sept-Iles, Que., is seventh after the short program.

The women’s free skate and free dance are on Saturday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/nt2014/

Canadian Skaters Head to Germany for Nebelhorn Trophy

/0 Comments/in /by

OTTAWA, ON:Skate Canada will send six entries, for a total of nine skaters to Oberstdorf, Germany, for the Nebelhorn Trophy, a senior international competition part of the ISU’s new Challenger Series. The event is held from September 25-27, 2014, at the Eissportzentrum Oberstdorf. Canada will have two entries per category in men’s and ice dance, and one entry per category in ladies and pair.

World silver medallists Kaitlyn Weaver, 25, Waterloo, Ont., and Andrew Poje, 27, Waterloo, Ont., lead the Canadian entries in ice dance. Last season, they earned two silver medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit at Skate Canada International and the Rostelecom Cup, and they placed seventh at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Representing Sault FSC and Kitchener-Waterloo SC, the seven-time Canadian medallists are coached by Pasquale Camerlengo and Angelika Krylova in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Élisabeth Paradis, 22, Loretteville, Que., and François-Xavier Ouellette, 22, Laval, Que., will also represent Canada in ice dance. This will be their second international assignment. Last season, the representatives of CPA Loretteville and CPA Les Lames D’Argent De Laval Inc., placed fifth at the 2013 Cup of Nice and eighth at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon in Montreal, Que.

Liam Firus, 22, North Vancouver, B.C., is one of two Canadian entries in men’s. Last season, the representative of Vancouver SC placed sixth at the 2013 Cup of Nice, won bronze at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, and placed 28th at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Firus is coached by Christy Krall in Colorado Springs, CO, USA.

Elladj Baldé, 23, Pierrefonds, Que., will also represent Canada in the men’s category. Baldé has previously competed at this event in 2011, placing 10th, and 2012, placing 14th. Last season, he placed seventh at Skate Canada International, 11th at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and 18th at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. The representative of CPA Anjou Kinsmen trains at the Detroit Skating Club with coaches Yuka Sato and Jason Dungjen.

Véronik Mallet, 20, Sept-Îles, Que., is the Canadian entry in ladies. Last season, the representative of CPA Sept-Îles placed fourth at this event. Mallet also placed eighth at the 2013 Skate Canada International, fourth at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, and 13th at the 2014 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. She is coached by Annie Barabé and Maximin Coïa at CTC Contrecoeur.

Vanessa Grenier, 22, Sherbrooke, Que., and Maxime Deschamps, 22, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., will represent Canada in pair. The 2014 Canadian junior pair champions from CPA Sherbrooke and CPA Vaudreuil will be competing at their first international assignment. Grenier and Deschamps are coached by Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte at CPA Saint- Léonard.

Skate Canada High Performance Director Mike Slipchuk will be travelling with the Canadian team as team leader. Jodi Abbott of Edmonton, Alta., will be the sole Canadian official at the event.

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

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2014 NEBELHORN TROPHY

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Men’s Liam Firus 22 North Vancouver, B.C. Vancouver SC Christy Krall
Men’s Elladj Baldé 23 Pierrefonds, Que. CPA Anjou Kinsmen Yuka Sato / Jason Dungjen
Ladies Véronik Mallet 20 Sept- Îles, Que. CPA Sept-Îles Annie Barabé / Maximin Coïa
Pair Vanessa Grenier / Maxime Deschamps 22/22 Sherbrooke, Que. / Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. CPA Sherbrooke / CPA Vaudreuil 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
Ice dance Élisabeth Paradis / François-Xavier Ouellette 22/22 Loretteville, Que. / Laval, Que. CPA Loretteville / CPA Les Lames D’Argent De Laval Inc. Marie-France Dubreuil / Patrice Lauzon