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Another productive weekend for Canadian figure skaters in Europe

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OTTAWA, ON – Canadian figure skaters collected gold and silver this past weekend at European stops on the ISU Challenger Series and ISU Junior Grand Prix.

In Espoo, Finland at the third stop on the Challenger series, ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., picked-up where they left off last season with a gold medal performance in their season debut on Saturday.  Weaver and Poje, who won five gold medals last season in international competition, totalled 161.67 points placing first in both the short dance and free skate.

“We had two great programs although there were some mistakes,” said Weaver, third with her partner at the world championships this past March. “But these events are an opportunity to see the areas we need to improve and get some important feedback.”

The next event for Weaver and Poje is Skate Canada International October 30 to November 1 in Lethbridge, Alta.

Brianna Delmaestro of Port Moody, B.C., and Timothy Lum of Burnaby, B.C., were seventh.

In men’s competition on Sunday, Liam Firus of North Vancouver produced the fifth best free skate to climb from ninth to seventh overall. Konstantin Menshov of Russia edged Adam Rippon of the U.S. by six points for the gold.

Meanwhile in Zagreb, Croatia at the seventh stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit which concluded Saturday, Nicolas Nadeau of Blainville, Que., was the Canadian star with a silver medal in men’s singles.  Nadeau bettered his personal best by nearly 50 points.

“My success was because I finally put together and strong short program and strong free program,” said Nadeau, 18. “Usually one or the other I tend to struggle with. I came into this competition with no hope of making the Grand Prix Final so I just wanted a strong international performance and impress the judges.”

Kim Decelles of Baie-Comeau Que., finished ninth in women’s singles and ice dancers Audrey Croteau-Villeneuve of Montreal and Jeff Hough of Russell, Ont., were also ninth.

The Grand Prix Final for the junior and seniors is December 10-13 in Barcelona.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/jgpcro2015/index.htm and http://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/1516/CSFIN2015/index.htm

Weaver and Poje dance to gold at Challenger Series

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Weaver and Poje

ESPOO, Finland – Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., opened their international season on Saturday with a gold medal performance at the Finlandia Trophy figure skating competition, the fourth stop on the ISU Challenger Series circuit.

Weaver and Poje, who won five gold medals last season in international competition, totalled 161.67 points placing first in both the short dance and free skate. Isabella Tobias and Ilia Tkachenko of Israel were second at 150.89 and Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen of Denmark were third at 147.65.

“We had two great programs although there were some mistakes,” said Weaver, third with her partner at the world championships this past March. “But these events are an opportunity to see the areas we need to improve and get some important feedback.”

The next event for Weaver and Poje is Skate Canada International October 30 to November 1 in Lethbridge, Alta.
Brianna Delmaestro of Port Moody, B.C., and Timothy Lum of Burnaby, B.C., were seventh.

In men’s competition, Liam Firus of North Vancouver is ninth after the short program. The men’s free skate is on Sunday.
Canada has no entries in women’s competition and there is no pairs event.

Full results: http://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/1516/CSFIN2015/index.htm

ISU Challenger Series continues as Canada sends three entries to Finlandia Trophy

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send three entries, for a total of five skaters to the 20th annual Finlandia Trophy, the fourth event on the 2015 ISU Challenger Series. The competition runs from October 8-11, 2015 at the Barona Arena in Espoo, Finland. Canada will have one entry in men’s and two entries in ice dance.

Two-time Canadian bronze medallist Liam Firus, 23, North Vancouver, B.C., will be the Canadian entry in men’s. This will be his first time competing at this event. Last season, the representative of Vancouver SC placed ninth at the Nebelhorn Trophy, 11th at Skate Canada International and 15th at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Firus is coached by Christy Krall and Damon Allen in Colorado Springs, CO, USA.

Canadian champions and two time world medallists Kaitlyn Weaver, 26, Toronto, Ont., and Andrew Poje, 28, Waterloo, Ont., are the first of two Canadian entries in ice dance. This will also be their first time competing at this event. Last season, they won gold at each of their events (Nebelhorn Trophy, Skate Canada International, NHK Trophy, ISU Grand Prix Final and Four Continents Championships) and won the bronze medal the World Championships. Representing Sault FSC and Kitchener-Waterloo SC, they are coached by Angelika Krylova, Pasquale Camerlengo and Shae-Lynn Bourne in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Canadian junior champions Brianna Delmaestro, 19, Port Moody, B.C., and Timothy Lum, 20, Burnaby, B.C., are the second entry in ice dance for Canada. Earlier this season they placed sixth in their first international assignment at the senior level, the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. Last season, the representatives of Coquitlam SC and Burnaby FSC won the silver medal at their ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment in Slovenia and the bronze medal in Germany. They are coached by Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe at the Champs International Skating Centre of B.C.

Skate Canada High Performance Director Mike Slipchuk will travel with the team as Canadian team leader. Physiotherapist Agnes Makowski of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. Leslie Keen of Vancouver, B.C., will be the sole Canadian official at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org or the official event website.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 20th Annual Finlandia Trophy

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Mens Liam Firus 23 North Vancouver, B.C. Vancouver SC Christy Krall / Damon Allen
Ice Dance Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje 26/28 Toronto, Ont. / Waterloo, Ont. Sault FSC / Kitchener-Waterloo SC Angelika Krylova / Pasquale Camerlengo / Shae-Lynn Bourne
Ice Dance Brianna Delmaestro / Timothy Lum 19/20 Port Moody, B.C. / Burnaby, B.C. Coquitlam SC / Burnaby FSC Megan Wing / Aaron Lowe