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Olympian Larkyn Austman wins gold at 2019 Skate Canada Challenge

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EDMONTON, AB – 2018 Olympic team member Larkyn Austman of Coquitlam, B.C. returned from injury and opened her season with a gold medal performance in women’s competition Sunday at the Skate Challenge.

Austman was first in the short program and second in the free skate, for 171.33 points. Alison Schumacher of Tecumseh, Ont., was second at 163.32 and Michelle Long of Newmarket, Ont., third at 155.74.

“My goal was to win,” said Austman, who injured both feet this fall which forced her to withdraw from Skate Canada last month. “The result here has an impact on your start order at the Canadian championships (next month). That was the big stress for me. I’ve been back full training since October and I feel so much better now after some successful treatments.”

In ice dancing, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen of Montreal were the victors with 192.03. Haley Sales of Kelowna, B.C. and Nikolas Wamsteeker and Langley, B.C. were second at 170.34 and Molly Lanaghan and Dmitre Razgulajevs of Ajax, Ont., were third at 158.03.

“We feel we are right on schedule with our preparations for nationals with still some room to grow,” said Sorensen. “We know we can get better but we don’t have to think about changing stuff.”

In women’s junior competition, Hannah Dawson of Ottawa hung on to top spot despite the fourth best free skate for gold with 141.28 points. Emma Bulawka of Kelowna, B.C. won the free skate to climb from seventh for the silver at 138.02. Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., was third at 134.47.

“All season I’ve been doing clean skates in the long but today it went a bit downhill,” said Dawson “Still I was able to bring it back at the end and that helped me get the win. So that gives me some confidence going into nationals.”

In the men’s junior event, Alistair Lam of Hamilton didn’t win the short or free programs but wound up first overall with 168.22. Jack Dushenski of Toronto climbed from ninth to second with 159.65 and Beres Clements of Gibsons, B.C. was third at 157.70.

“It feels great to win,” said Lam, who missed part of last season including nationals due to a foot injury. He was second in the short and third in the long. “I’ve tried to focus more on my skating rather than the result and just do the best that I can do personally.”

In the junior ice dance, the new team of Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Paul Ayer Brossard, Que., were the winners with 156.73 edging Yuka Orihara and Lee Royer of Burnaby, B.C. in second at 153.43. Irina Galiyanova of Toronto and Grayson Lochhead of Sweaburg, Ont. were third at 151.51.

“We didn’t have a good start to the season so we just wanted two decent skates here this weekend,” said Ayer. “Being first after the rhythm dance really motivated us and helped us keep our focus for the free.”

Full results: 2019 Skate Canada Challenge

Nam Nguyen earns comeback victory at 2019 Skate Canada Challenge

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EDMONTON, AB – Toronto’s Nam Nguyen soared from third place after the short program to win the gold medal on Friday in men’s senior competition at the 2019 Skate Canada Challenge figure skating competition.

Nguyen totalled 223.67 points for the victory with Bennet Toman of Brampton, Ont., second at 201.55 and Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., the leader after the short, third at 197.01.

“It feels good to win but I wasn’t too focused on the results,” said Nguyen. “I jut wanted to put out some decent skates. After a questionable short, the long was a better fight. This is definitely a big momentum booster for my confidence.”

In senior pairs, Evelyn Walsh of London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Trenton, Ont., climbed from second after the short program to win the event with 160.66. Lori-Ann Matte and Thierry Ferland of Levis, Que., were second at 156.57. Mariah McCaw and Steven Adcock of Kitchener, Ont., were third at 143.89.

“We made some changes to our free skate and we were excited to see that it worked out well,” said Michaud. “We improved on everything we’ve been working on in practice. There’s still a lot to improve but we like where we stand with the nationals a month away.”

In junior pairs, Quebec skaters were 1-2.  Chloe Choinard and Mathieu Ostiguy were first with 128.70 and Chloe Panetta and Benjamin Mimar second at 124.02. Ontario’s Patricia Andrew and Paxton Fletcher were third at 119.52.

“Neither of our programs were 100 percent perfect,” said Ostiguy. “Our free tonight wasn’t our best showing but our goal was just to overcome some recent challenges in the program and we improved in some areas that make this an overall positive experience.”

Competition at the Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre continues through to Sunday.

Full results: 2019 Skate Canada Challenge

Canadian skaters headed to Edmonton for 2019 Skate Canada Challenge

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OTTAWA, ON: Over 500 skaters from across Canada are headed to Edmonton, Alta., for the 2019 Skate Canada Challenge. This year’s event will be taking place from November 28 – December 2, 2018 at the Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre.

Skate Canada Challenge is the only qualifying event for novice, junior, and senior skaters to earn entries to the 2019 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, taking place in Saint John, N.B., from January 14-20, 2019. Skaters qualified for the 2019 Skate Canada Challenge by advancing through their local sectional championships.

The 2019 Skate Canada Challenge will also see the crowning of the 2019 Pre-Novice Champions in men, women, pairs, and ice dance.

Fans in Edmonton will get a chance to watch several Skate Canada National Team members, including: 2018 Canadian bronze medallist Larkyn Austman, 20, Coquitlam, B.C. (senior women), 2018 Canadian bronze medallist Nam Nguyen, 20, Ajax, Ont. (senior men), Evelyn Walsh, 17, London, Ont., and Trennt Michaud, 22, Trenton, Ont., (senior pairs), and  Haley Sales, 21, Burnaby, B.C., and Nikolas Wamsteeker, 22, Langley, B.C., (senior ice dance).

Local Edmonton skating clubs will have a large contingent at the event, including Isabelle Law (junior women, Derrick SC), Mychala Collier and Mackenzie Mah (novice ice dance, Ice Palace SC), Jolie Chiem (junior women, Ice Palace SC), Eric Liu (senior men, Ice Palace SC), Madison Moore (senior women, Ice Palace SC) and many others.

For more information including schedule, entries and start order, please click here. All events on all three competition rinks will be live streamed and can be accessed through the event page or the Skate Canada Dailymotion page.

All tickets will be available at the Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre starting Tuesday, November 27, 2018. All-Event tickets are $50, single day tickets are $25 and children 12 years and younger receive free admission to all practices and competition when accompanied by a paying adult.

2019 Skate Canada Challenge heading to Edmonton

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EDMONTON, AB: Skate Canada announced today that the 2019 Skate Canada Challenge will take place in Edmonton, Alberta at the Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre from November 28 – December 2, 2018.

“We are happy to be heading back to Edmonton for Skate Canada Challenge. This event is our biggest of the year with over 500 skaters looking to qualify for the national championships,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “We are confident that Edmonton will once again put on a fantastic event.”

Edmonton hosted the 2016 Skate Canada Challenge, which took place in December 2015, also at the Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre.

“We are excited to welcome skaters from across the nation back to Edmonton for the 2019 Skate Canada Challenge,” said Lindsay Harrison, Senior Manager, Edmonton Events. “Figure skating has strong roots in this city, and we are proud to contribute to the success of another great skating event in Edmonton.”

Over 500 of the finest skaters from across Canada will participate in the 2019 Skate Canada Challenge. Skaters qualify to compete through their respective sectional championships. For novice, junior and senior skaters, this is the only opportunity to qualify for the 2019 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

At the senior level, many members of Canada’s National Team often compete in the event, as well as junior athletes who have competed internationally. The Canadian Pre-Novice Champions in men, women, pair and ice dance are determined at Skate Canada Challenge.