Canadian Figure Skaters Travel to France for Cup of Nice

OTTAWA, ON: Canada will send four entries to the 18th Cup of Nice, a senior international competition which runs from October 23-27, 2013, in Nice, France. The event will feature all four disciplines, and Canada will have entries in men’s, ladies, and ice dance.

Kharis Ralph, 21, Toronto, Ont., and Asher Hill, 22, Pickering, Ont., will lead the way for Canada in the ice dance category. This will be their first event of the year. Last season, Ralph and Hill placed seventh at Nebelhorn Trophy and eighth at Skate Canada International. They also placed fifth at the 2013 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Ralph and Hill train out of Scarboro FSC and are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs.

Élisabeth Paradis, 21, Loretteville, Que., and François-Xavier Ouellette, 21, Laval, Que., will also represent Canada in ice dance. This will be their first international assignment. Last season, they placed seventh at the 2013 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon in Montreal, Que.

Liam Firus, 21, North Vancouver, B.C., will represent Canada in men’s. Last season, Firus placed eighth at the 2012 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, and 10th at Skate Canada International. He also finished fifth at the 2013 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Firus is coached by Lorna Bauer and Christy Krall, and trains at the Vancouver Skating Club.

Alexandra Najarro, 18, Richmond Hill, Ont., will be the Canadian entry in ladies. Najarro missed the 2012-2013 season due to injury. Previously, she placed 13th at the 2012 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and fourth at the 2012 Canadian Figure Skating Championships. She trains with Tracey Wainman at the York Region Skating Academy WC in Toronto, Ont.

Cynthia Ullmark of Canmore, Alta., will be travelling with the team as team leader.