(August, 2002)
In the resort town of Courchevel, France a team of 10 Canadian athletes met with their counterparts from the international skating community in the first of eight ISU Junior Grand Prix events of the 2002-2003 season. The event, held the third week of August, was early in the season but competition proved fierce, with several top competitors showing fine form. Canadian athletes were no exception with Carla Montgomery and Ryan Arnold, last year's Junior Canadian Champions, taking top honours in the Pair event. Coached by Lee Barkell, Montgomery and Arnold are looking to qualify again for the Junior Grand Prix Final, where they placed fourth last season. Also claiming medals was the ice dance team of Melissa Piperno and Liam Dougherty. This team, coached by Julie Marcotte, were making their second appearance in a Junior Grand Prix event (they finished fifth in Milan, Italy last season) and made a great impression in France - taking third spot and increasing their reputation with the international judges. Also finishing third in her event was Signe Ronka, coached by Ellen Burka. This was Ronka's first medal at the Junior Grand Prix level. Putting in a strong showing was another student of Barkell's - Megan Duhamel who finished one spot behind Ronka in a strong and competitive Ladies event. Interestingly, this event was won by Carolina Kostner of Italy, who would go onto win the Nebelhorn Trophy two weeks later.