Vancouver to host 2021 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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Skate Canada is pleased to announce that Vancouver, B.C., will host the 2021 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. The week-long championships held at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre from January 11-17, 2021 will feature approximately 250 of the best Canadian figure skaters in the men, women, pairs and ice dance disciplines, competing in three levels: senior, junior, and novice.

“We are pleased to be heading back to the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, in the beautiful city of Vancouver, said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “Each year at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships we showcase the nation’s top figure skaters and are excited to work with our partners in Vancouver to host an outstanding event.”

“We have a rich history of hosting figure skating events here in Vancouver, most recently with the 2018 National Championships and of course, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Through the work of our Sport Hosting Vancouver partnership, we are proud to be hosting Skate Canada here again for the 2021 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships”, said City of Vancouver’s Mayor Kennedy Stewart. “We know many athletes, friends, families and fans will travel to Vancouver to enjoy the championships and we look forward to showcasing Canada’s rising stars and figure skating talent once again.”

The pre-eminent all-Canadian competition will begin with the novice event on Monday, January 11, and the senior event will begin on Friday, January 15. Athletes vie for spots on the Skate Canada National Team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2021 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, the 2021 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships and the 2021 ISU World Figure Skating Championships.

“Over 40,000 spectators experienced the 2018 championships in Vancouver, and we are pleased to be working with Skate Canada to showcase our world-renowned destination again in 2021. Over the next twelve months, we look forward to working with our partners, Skate Canada and UBC to build off our previous success, and ensure Vancouver is ready to shine next January”, said Michelle Collens of Sport Hosting Vancouver.

This will be Vancouver’s seventh time hosting the national championships after previously hosting the event in 2018. The city has also hosted in 2008, 1997, 1973, 1968 and 1951. The city has also hosted several international figure skating events: the 2018 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, the 2009 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, the 2001 and 1960 ISU World Figure Skating Championships and the 1978 Skate Canada International.

Join our exclusive mailing list to receive event and ticket information for the 2021 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

 

Athlete Spotlight: Gabrielle Daleman

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Q: How old were you when you first started figure skating?
Gabrielle: 4 years-old

Q: If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Gabrielle: Blueberries

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Gabrielle: Teleportation

Q: What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?
Gabrielle: A cup of tea, then a Lamborghini

Q: What is your dream vacation destination and why?
Gabrielle: Greece

Q: What is your favourite thing about figure skating?
Gabrielle: The jumps

First three novice champions crowned at 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

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MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The first three finals were held in novice competition on Tuesday at the 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

It was a very close battle in novice ice dancing as Sandrine Gauthier and Quentin Thierien of St-Bruno, Que., took the gold with 100.97 points. Emma Goodstadt and Michel Barsoum of Scarborough, Ont., were a close second at 100.87. Mia Saunders and William Oddson of Calgary were third at 97.83.

“Our goal was to have a top-five and attain our levels,” said Gauthier. “We never thought we would win the event. It’s really surprising since this is our first year at the novice level.”

Ontario’s John Kim won the men’s novice crown with 138.79 edging Quebec’s Maksim Chelmaev in second at 136.11. Brendan Wong of Burnaby, B.C., was third at 129.79.

“I was feeling really nervous but I tried my best,” said Kim, who skated a clean program. “After my triple-loop double-toe I knew I was going to skate clean and it felt really good.”

In women’s novice, Amy Shao Ning Yang of Vancouver was the winner with 144.71 followed by Audréanne Foster of Baie-Comeau, Que., in second at 131.85 and Lia Pereira of Milton, Ont., third at 127.69.

The first junior final was held with Emmy Bronsard and Aissa Bouaraguia of Montreal earning the gold in ice dancing with 166.69. Nadiia Bashynska and Peter Beaumont of Scarborough were second at 165.57 and Olivia McIsaac of Burlington, Ont., and Corey Circelli of Toronto third at 146.73.

“We’ve set a plan for the last month and we are super happy that it paid off,” said Bouaraguia. “We were going for the win but we weren’t really thinking about it because we know we have the potential to win nationals.”

Competition continues through to Saturday at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre.

Full info: 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

Athlete Spotlight: Nam Nguyen

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Q: How old were you when you first started figure skating?
Nam: 5 years-old

Q: If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Nam: Pringles BBQ flavoured chips

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Nam: To disappear at will

Q: What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?
Nam: A beet farm

Q: What is your dream vacation destination and why?
Nam: Honestly, my dream vacation is to just spend it in bed watching movies. Not a big fan of going to a destination

Q: What is your favourite thing about figure skating?
Nam: Performing for the audience and developing some sort of connection with them during my skate. I feel that it’s always special to share the “moment” with the people watching, because I think that it makes it more special. It also helps reduce the nerves too.

Gold Ice junior headed to Europe for Zagreb Snowflake Trophy

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OTTAWA, ON: Gold Ice junior will be the lone Canadian synchronized skating team competing at the fourth edition of the Zagreb Snowflakes Trophy. The event will take place from January 17-19, 2020 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Gold Ice junior of Brampton, Ont., placed fourth at the 2019 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships in Waterloo, Ont. They are coached by Jessica Brown and Ashleigh Greenhaigh. Marion Dyke will be a Canadian official at the event.

For more information, please visit www.isu.org.

D’Alessandro and Waddell one point short of the podium

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland – It was a close call for Toronto ice dancers Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell at the Youth Olympic Winter Games on Monday as they took fourth spot missing the podium by less than a point.

Irina Khavronina and Dario Cirisano led Russia to a 1-2 finish with 164.63 points followed by Sofya Tyutyunina and Alexander Shustitskiy at 159.15. Katarina Wolfkostin and Jeffrey Chen of the U.S. overtook the Canadians for third spot at 152.43.

D’Alessandro and Waddell, third after Saturday’s rhythm dance, earned the fifth best score for their free dance to drop a spot at 151.52. Meanwhile their compatriots Miku Makita of Anmore, B.C., and Tyler Gunara of Burnaby, B.C., moved from sixth to fifth at 148.49.

“We gave it everything we had,” said Waddell. “There were a few technical errors but I definitely still had a blast. We were able to stay calm with the massive crowds and the big lights and that’s going to help us for the future.”

Makita and Gunara also overcame their nerves to produce a satisfying performance.

“The crowd was really big,” said Makita. “We skated pretty well despite some errors.”

The women’s event was won by Young You of South Korea. Catherine Carle of Georgetown, Ont., finished 11th.

“My programs didn’t go as planned but I learned so much,” said Cale. “You definitely have to be more clear on your footwork at this level especially with your turns and spins.”

The team event concludes the figure skating competition at the Games on Wednesday.

Full results: Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games

Photo by: Jed Leicester/OIS

Athlete Spotlight: Nicolas Nadeau

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Q: How old were you when you first started figure skating?
Nicolas: 6 years-old

Q: If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Nicolas: Pancakes (The one’s my aunt makes preferably)

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Nicolas: Flying, very useful in this sport and in Montreal traffic

Q: What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?
Nicolas: A car for my mom! Her car is literally the same age as me. Plus, she’s so nice she’d let me have the new one for myself!

Q: What is your dream vacation destination and why?
Nicolas: Either going back to California. (I went for 4 continents last year) I had a blast, but I wish I had more time there as I only stayed 2 extra days or Cabarete in Dominican Republic. I went there 3 years ago with my best friend and the kite surfing there is CRAZY. Awesome place and lot of fun.

Q: What is your favourite thing about figure skating?
Nicolas: Reaching the goals that I set myself. Learning and improving my own person to achieve those goals are a big thing for me nowadays.

Two fourth place finishes for Canada at Youth Olympic Winter Games

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Pairs skaters Brooke McIntosh of Toronto and Brandon Toste of Mississauga, Ont. and men’s entry Aleksa Rakic of Burnaby, B.C., finished fourth in figure skating action Sunday at the Youth Olympic Winter Games.

Brooke McIntosh / Brandon Toste – 2020 Youth Olympic Games – Free Skate (Photo: Thomas Skrlj/COC/CBC)

In pairs, McIntosh and Toste, Canada’s number-two junior team, climbed to fourth overall with a personal best 146.15 points. They were fifth after Friday’s short program.

“We’ve been training really hard leading into this moment,” said Toste, 17. “We definitely wanted to move up in the standings. We adjusted some elements to make our overall program better and despite a shaky warm-up were able to nail those elements.”

Apollinariia Panfilova and Dmitry Rylov led Russia to a 1-2 finish with 199.21 followed by Diana Mukhametzianova and Ilya Mironov at 175.42. Alina Butaeva and Luka Berulava of Georgia were third at 157.29.

Aleksa Rakic – 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games – Free Skate (Photo: Thomas Skrlj/COC/CBC)

In men’s competition, Yuma Kagiyama of Japan soared ahead of two Russians to take the gold with 239.17. Andrei Mozalev of Russia was second at 237.94 and his compatriot Daniil Samsonov third at 215.21.

Rakic remained in fourth spot with a personal best 205.23.

“I feel great with how I skated and that I was able to show my abilities,” said Rakic, 15, the 2019 national junior champion. “I didn’t think about the possibility of a podium and just focused on myself and nothing else. I stayed calm and didn’t get ahead of myself.”

Competition continues Monday with the free dance and women’s free skate.

Full results: Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games

Top featured image by: OIS/Joe Toth

Athlete Spotlight: Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha

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Q: How old were you when you first started figure skating?
Marjorie: 3 years-old
Zachary: 4 years-old

Q: If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Marjorie: Pasta or chocolate
Zachary: Pizza

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Marjorie: A superpower that can make everyone happy and nice
Zachary: Travel within time dimension

Q: What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?
Marjorie: Donate money for autism
Zachary: I would buy a house

Q: What is your dream vacation destination and why?
Marjorie: France, because I’ve never been there, and they also speak French and we call them cousins, so I’d like to go there one day.
Zachary: Fiji Islands

Q: What is your favourite thing about figure skating?
Marjorie: The feeling of freedom and to be able to tell a story at the same time as doing impressive things. I love the artistic part of it.
Zachary: The dance aspect of it

Canadian ice dancers open Youth Olympics with strong performances

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Toronto ice dancers Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell continued to build on a strong season on Saturday to stand third after the rhythm dance in figure skating action at the Youth Olympic Games.

As was the case in men’s and pairs competition Friday, the Russians are 1-2 after the rhythm dance. Irina Khavronina and Dario Cirisano lead with 63.52 points followed by Sofya Tyutyunina and Alexander Shustitskiy at 62.64.

D’Alessandro and Waddell scored 59.61 just ahead of compatriots Miku Makita of Anmore, B.C., and Tyler Gunara of Burnaby, B.C., in fourth at 58.47.

“We were able to show what we can do,” said Waddell, who won a silver medal with his partner this past fall on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. “We had a few technical issues with some turns and some key points but that’s just another learning curve for us this year.”

Makita and Gunara posted two fourth place finishes on the Junior Grand Prix.

“We had one small error but apart from that we were happy with the performance,” said Makita. “I lost my balance on the twizzle and certainly intend to do that better in the free dance.”

In women’s competititon, Young You of South Korea leads after the short program. Catherine Carle of Georgetown, Ont., is 12th.

Competition continues Sunday with the men’s and pairs free skates.

Full results: Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games

Photo by: Joe Toth

Athlete Spotlight: Roman Sadovsky

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Q: How old were you when you first started figure skating?
Roman: 5 years-old

Q: If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Roman: Ramen

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Roman: Flight

Q: What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?
Roman: Another lottery ticket, and bitcoin

Q: What is your dream vacation destination and why?
Roman: Japan. It has a good balance of rural and urban areas. Good food. Nice landscapes. And I could take thousands of pictures.

Q: What is your favourite thing about figure skating?
Roman: Jumping. The satisfaction of landing a really good jump is dope.

Rakic in medal chase at Youth Olympics

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Aleksa Rakic of Burnaby, B.C., posted a personal best score to stand in fourth place after Friday’s men’s short program as figure skating got underway at the Youth Olympics.

Russia is 1-2 with Andrei Mozalev first at 79.72 and Daniil Samsonov second at 76.62. Yuma Kagiyama of Japan is third at 72.76 followed by Rakic who earned 70.96.

The Russians are also in the top-two positions after the pairs short led by Apollinariia Panfilova and Dmitry Rylov.

Brooke McIntosh of Toronto and Brandon Toste of Mississauga, Ont., are fifth.

“We made one small error but overall we’re pleased with our performance,” said Toste. “For us our goal is to come in here and do as best as we can and enjoy the moment.”

“This is a really unique experience for us to be at the Games with athletes from other sports, bigger crowds and the great atmosphere.”

Competition continues Saturday with the short programs in ice dancing and women’s competition.

Full results: Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games

Photo by: Joe Toth