This is where we discuss figure skating and skating related items. How did you favourite skaters perform, and so on? However we never speculate on the private lives of skaters, like who might be going out with whom, because that is poison and is not tolerated here. A good guideline is that if it's not publicly announced, in the papers etc. then it's probably best to leave it alone. Is it a gray area? Then write to me and ask.
Top Canadian Skaters Head to Calgary for Novice Canadian Championships & Skate Canada Cup
February 13, 2023/by Skate Canada
OTTAWA, ON (February 13, 2023) – Over 65 of the country’s best novice skaters will be competing for national titles in men, women, pair, ice dance and synchronized skating from February 18–22, 2023 at Calgary’s WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park.
The week will kick off with the 2023 Novice Canadian Championships featuring Skate Canada Challenge gold medalists David Howes (men’s), Gabrielle Jugnauth (women’s), Alexane Jean & Charly Laliberté-Laurent (pair) and Charlotte Chung & Axel Mackenzie (ice dance), as well as many other up-and-coming talents.
Following this event, the nation’s top synchronized skating teams will be competing for national titles in novice, open and intermediate at the 2023 Skate Canada Cup on February 21-22, 2023. Last year’s champions, Gold Ice (novice), NEXXICE (intermediate) and Starlites (open) will be looking to defend their titles and bring home another medal.
Single day tickets for both events are available through Ticketmaster.ca and are priced at $45 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under (plus applicable fees and taxes).
For more information including the schedule, entries and start orders, please click here. Both events will be live streamed and can be accessed through the event page or the Skate Canada Dailymotion page.
Great and thanks! I will hopefully watch some this afternoon!
"At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.” (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis)
Four Titles Awarded at 2023 Novice Canadian Championships
February 21, 2023/by Skate Canada
CALGARY, ALTA. (February 21, 2023) – Four titles were awarded over the weekend at the 2023 Novice Canadian Championships, taking place at WinSport Arena in Calgary, Alberta.
Charlotte Chung and Axel Mackenzie of Toronto continued an impressive first season together on Monday with the gold medal in ice dancing. Chung and Mackenzie took the title with 113.70 points followed by two Quebec couples. Victoria Carandiuc and Andrei Carandiuc were second at 104.55 and Auréa Cinçon-Debout and Earl Jesse Celestino third at 103.72.
‘’We managed the nerves really well this weekend,’’ said Mackenzie, who also won the Skate Canada Challenge last month with his partner. ‘’We had great support from coaches, family and friends going into today and we wanted to skate our best.’’
In women’s competition, Lucille Yang of Ottawa, Ont., jumped from third after the short program to win the free skate and the gold medal with 139.08. Ashley Dinh of Oakville, Ont., was second at 136.71 and Mély-Ann Gagner of Sherbrooke, Que., third at 128.42.
‘’I’m proud of my skate and feel like I performed really well,’’ said Yang. ‘’My goal here was to have clean skates and have fun.’’
Quebec teams were 1-2 in pairs with Alexane Jean and Charly Laliberté-Laurent first at 119.42 and Beau Callahan and Benjamin Leduc second at 114.58. Annika Behnke and Kole Sauve of Edmonton, Alta., were third at 110.00.
‘’We really gave it our max,’’ said Laliberté-Laurent. ‘’We had a lot of confidence after winning the Skate Canada Challenge.’’
David Howes of Winnipeg, Man., completed the day of finals with the victory in men’s competition. He was first in both the short and free skates for 148.42. Vladimir Furman of St-Hubert, Que., was the silver medalist with 133.35 and Liam Schmidt of Laval, Que., took bronze with 132.35.
‘’I was definitely nervous for the free skate with the expectation of being first,’’ said Howes. ‘’I’m really excited and happy with the way it worked out. It wasn’t my cleanest program, but I fought.’’
The 2023 Skate Canada Cup starts tomorrow and will feature the top synchronized skating teams competing for national titles in novice, open and intermediate. For full results, click here.
NEXXICE Wins Two of Three Finals at 2023 Skate Canada Cup
February 22, 2023/by Skate Canada
CALGARY, ALTA. (February 22, 2023) – NEXXICE, from Burlington, Ont., won gold in the Open and Intermediate categories on Wednesday to conclude the 2023 Skate Canada Cup synchronized skating competition.
In the Open event, NEXXICE placed first in both free skates to win the gold medal with 168.52 points. Nova, from St-Hubert, Que., was second at 156.71 and Cassiopée from Sherbrooke, Que., was third at 139.35.
‘’We handled our second skate really well,’’ said NEXXICE captain Avery Clark. ‘’We’ve been in these situations before and we made sure we stayed calm, didn’t do anything crazy and stuck to what we know.’’
In the Intermediate division, NEXXICE was also first in both skates to win the gold with 138.33. Starlight from Ottawa, Ont., followed for the silver with 128.02 and EDGE from Oakville, Ont., was third at 124.59.
‘’To hear that score and hear that we won is hard to describe,’’ said NEXXICE co-captain Sascha Krueger. ’’We just focused on having fun and persevering through whatever came our way.’’
Les Suprêmes, from St-Léonard, Que., ranked third in the first free skate and second in the second free skate but emerged with the gold medal with 120.93 points to win the Canadian Novice title. NEXXICE won the free skate to soar from sixth place to the silver with 119.04. Gold Ice from Brampton, Ont., was third at 118.96.
‘’We worked all year for this and we are super excited,’’ said Suprêmes co-captain Sophie Béliveau. ‘’We knew after yesterday that it wasn’t over yet and we needed to stay focused.”
The Open champions: - NEXXICE
The Intermediate medal winning teams all represent Ontario: - NEXXICE - Starlight - Edge
Growing up in Manitoba, I am of course thrilled that David Howes won the men's title. Good for him...that doesn't happen everyday! She isn't HIS coach, but I do know Margo Russell who was my minister's wife at one time and does coaching in Winnipeg. Their two daughters finished 1-2 in the Manitoba championships several years ago. I don't know where the years go....
"At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.” (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis)
I will hopefully watch some this afternoon!
- NEXXICE
- Starlight
- Edge
