Satisfying start for James and Radford at the Autumn Classic International

PIERREFONDS, Que. – The new Canadian pairs partnership of Vanessa James and Eric Radford made its international debut on Thursday and earned a satisfying second place in the short program at the Autumn Classic International figure skating competition, the second stop on the ISU Challenger Series.

This past April, two-time world champion and three-time Olympic medallist Eric Radford announced he was coming out of retirement to skate for Canada once again, but this time with new partner Vanessa James, a European champion and world championship medallist who formerly competed for France.

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan are in first place after Thursday’s short with 72.32 points, James and Radford follow at 68.29 and Ashley Cain Gribble and Timothy Leduc of the USA are third at 59.58.

Skating to a song called First Time, the Canadians had one mishap when James fell on the side-by-side jump.

‘’When we get out there, we’re waiting to find how we feel exactly,’’ said Radford, 36, from Balmertown, Ont.

‘’We need a little bit more time to figure that out. I think by the end of the season with a bit more comfort we are really going to be able to be able to bring the joy of our skating which is where we connect.’’

James agreed that she and Radford are trying to work towards a point where their experience will be more obvious on the ice.

‘’For today we felt like we had a really great time and performed it,’’ said the 33-year-old born in Scarborough, Ont. ‘’In six months to put two programs together, learning and still mastering all of our elements, we are doing a really good job.’’

Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil, Que., also in their debut as a team, are fourth at 57.83 and Lori-Ann Matte and Thierry Ferland of Levis, Que., are seventh at 51.17.

‘’It went O.K.,’’ said Stellato-Dudek. ‘’We’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity so a bit disappointed. Practice had been much, much better.’’

Matte and Ferland were fifth at this event in 2018.

‘’We know we can do better,’’ said Ferland. ‘’Some elements were good and we are working on consistency which has to improve much more.’’

The women’s short program was also held Thursday. Marilena Kitromilis of Cyprus is first followed by two South Koreans: Seoyeon Ji and Young You.

Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., is the top Canadian in eighth, Emily Bausback of Vancouver is ninth and Alison Schumacher of Tecumseh, Ont., 10th.

‘’I’m happy to be back competing internationally,’’ said Daleman, 23, a two-time Olympian. ‘’But from a skating perspective that was awful.’’

Bausback also wanted to do better.

‘’I’m a little bit disappointed with how I skated,’’ said Bausback, 19, the 2020 national senior champion. ‘’It wasn’t how I skated in training. But it was super awesome to compete again in front of a panel of judges and I had a great time.’’

The ISU Challenger Series provides an opportunity for senior skaters to compete at an international level and earn world ranking points.

Competition continues through to Saturday at the Sportplexe Pierrefonds.

Full results: https://results.skatecanada.ca/2021ACI/

International Competition Returns to Canada at Autumn Classic International in Pierrefonds, Quebec

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send 16 entries for a total of 24 skaters to Skate Canada’s Autumn Classic International (#ACI21) in Pierrefonds, Que., Skate Canada will have five entries in men, three entries in women, as well as four entries in both ice dance and pairs. The 2021 Autumn Classic International is the second event in the 2021/2022 ISU Challenger Series. The ISU Challenger Series provides an opportunity for senior skaters to compete at an international level and earn world ranking points. Please note that the men’s discipline will be a domestic event only. The 2021 Autumn Classic International will take place from September 16 to 18, 2021 at the Sportplexe Pierrefonds.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU CS 2021 AUTUMN CLASSIC INTERNATIONAL – PIERREFONDS, QUE.

DISICIPLINE NAME AGE HOMETOWN CLUB COACH
Men Nam Nguyen 23 Ajax, Ont. Richmond Hill Training Centre Robert Burk, Danielle Rose
Men Conrad Orzel 21 Woodbridge, Ont. Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club Brian Orser, Tracey Wilson
Men Beres Clements 20 Gibson, B.C. Champs International Skating Centre of British Columbia Joanne McLeod, Neil Wilson
Men Samuel Angers 28 Varennes, Que. CPA Varennes Guylaine Blouin
Men Bennet Toman 24 Brampton, Ont. Skate Oakville Michelle Leigh, Kathy Zahakos
Women Emily Bausback 19 Vancouver, B.C. Champs International Skating Centre of British Columbia Joanne McLeod, Neil Wilson
Women Gabrielle Daleman 23 Newmarket, Ont. Granite Club Lee Barkell
Women Alison Schumacher 18 Tecumseh, Ont. Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club Joey Russell, Tracy Wilson, Ghislain Briand
Pairs Vanessa James / Eric Radford 34/36 Scarborough, Ont. / Balmertown, Ont. EPJM / C.P.A Saint Leonard Julie Marcotte
Pairs Evelyn Walsh / Trennt Michaud 20/25 London, Ont. / Trenton, Ont. Brantford SC / Trenton Skating Club Alison Purkiss
Pairs Lori-Ann Matte / Thierry Ferland 22/25 Levis, Que. / Levis, Que. CPA St. Romuald / St. Jean Levis Ian Connolly
Pairs Deanna Stellato-Dudek /
Maxime Deschamps
38/30 Vaudreuil, Que. / Vaudreuil, Que. CPAR Vaudreuil / CPAR Vaudreuil Ian Connolly
Ice Dance Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier 29/30 Toronto, Ont. / Unionville, Ont. Ice Dance Ellite, Scarboro FSC / Ice Dance Ellite, Scarboro FSC Carol Lane, Juris Razgulajevs, Jon Lane
Ice Dance Marjorie Lajoie / Zachary Lagha 19/19 Boucherville, Que./
Saint-Hubert, Que.
CPA Boucherville/
CPA Saint-Lambert
Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer
Ice Dance Carolane Soucisse / Shane Firus 26/27 Chateauguay, Que./
North Vancouver, B.C.
CPA Repentigny/
CPA Repentigny
Carol Lane, Juris Razgulajevs
Ice Dance Haley Sales / Nikolas Wamsteeker 24/25 Kelowna, B.C./
Langley, B.C.
Kelowna SC /
Champs International Skating Centre of British Columbia
Scott Moir
Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director and Josée Bourdon, Skate Canada Senior Manager, High Performance Coaching will be the Canadian team leaders at this event. Physiotherapist Josiane Roberge of Boucherville, Que., and Dr. Erika Persson of Edmonton, Alta., will be the Canadian medical staff on site. Jérôme Poulin of Montreal, Que., Reaghan Fortin of Auroa, Ont., Véronique Gosselin of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Ron Conacher of Toronto, Ont., will be the team officials at the event.
 
For more information, please visit www.skatecanada.ca or www.isu.org.

Canada’s Junior Skaters travelling to Russia as Junior Grand Prix Continues

OTTAWA, ON: The next stop on the Junior Grand Prix circuit is Karsnoyarsk, Russia. Canada’s medal hunt continues at the fourth stop on the circuit. To date, Canada’s skaters have earned five medals: two gold, two silver and a bronze medal as they continue to vie for spots in the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final. Skate Canada will have four entries, for a total of six skaters, competing at the event. There will be one entry in men, one entry in women and two entries in ice dance. This event is scheduled to take place from September 15 to 18, 2021.

Hot off his gold medal win at the Junior Grand Prix in Courchevel, France is Wesley Chiu, of Richmond, B.C.. Chiu is 16 years old and Canada’s only entry in the men’s discipline at this event. Chiu won silver in junior at the 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Wesley is coached by Keegan Murphy and Eileen Murphy in Richmond, B.C. 

Lia Pereira, 17, Milton, Ont., is the only entry in women’s discipline for Canada. Pereira captured a bronze medal in junior women at Skate Canada Challenge in 2021. Lia also won silver in Novice Women at the 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Pereira is coached by Nancy Lemaire and Derek Schmidt. 

Nadiia Bashynska, 17, Ajax, Ont., and Peter Beaumont, 20, Ajax, Ont., are one of two teams representing Canada in ice dance. This team previously won a bronze at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2019. They also took home a gold medal in junior at the Lake Placid Ice Dance International in 2019 and captured a silver medal in junior at the 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajeys. 

Emma Goodstadt, 16, Oakville, Ont., and Michael Barsoum, 16, North York, Ont., are the second Canadian ice dance team at this event. Goodstadt and Barsoum won the gold medal in novice ice dance at the Bavarian Open in 2020. This team also won the silver medal at the 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in novice ice dance. They are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajeys.  

André Bourgeois, Skate Canada NextGen Director and Cynthia Ullmark, of Canmore, Alta., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Dr. Edward Pilat of Winnipeg, Man., and Physiotherapist Pat Stanziano of Oakville, Ont., will be the Canadian team medical staff on site. Andrew Bosco of Thorold, Ont., and Patty Klein of Montreal, Que., will be the team officials at the event.  

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

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #4 – KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIA

Men
Wesley Chiu (16) / Richmond, B.C. / Connaught FSC Richmond / Coached by Keegan Murphy and Eileen Murphy 

Women
Lia Pereira (17) / Milton, Ont. / Milton SC / Coached by Nancy Lemaire and Derek Schmidt 

Ice Dance
Nadiia Bashynska (17) and Peter Beaumont (20) / Ajax, Ont. and Ajax, Ont. / Scarboro FSC and Scarboro FSC / Coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajeys 

Emma Goodstadt (16) and Michael Barsoum (16) / Oakville, Ont. and North York, Ont. / Scarboro FSC and Scarboro FSC / Coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajeys

Silver for Canadians Fournier Beaudry and Sorensen at Lombardia Trophy

BERGAMO, Italy – Montreal ice dancers Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen held on to the silver medal position after Sunday’s free dance to conclude the Lombardia Trophy figure skating competition, the first stop on the ISU’s Challenger Series circuit.

The top-three remained unchanged after Saturday’s rhythm dance. Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy took the gold at 205.35, the Canadians followed at 185.26 and Sara Hurtado and Kirill Khaliavin of Spain were third at 180.98.

‘’Not the best free dance today, there were some small mistakes,’’ said Sorensen, also a silver medallist here with Fournier-Beaudry in 2019. ‘’But it’s still early in the season and we are just going to build from here. The feedback we got from here are both programs are really good.’’

Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Paul Ayer of Calgary, ninth at the world juniors in 2019, took 12th spot.

‘’It was really amazing to get back competing,’’ said Fabbri. ‘’It’s been two years since an international event. Things started feeling normal again with the competitors around and the judges. And, of course, having some fans gives a boost to the performance.’’

Full results: https://www.fisg.it/upload/result/5536/index.html

Canadians Fournier Beaudry and Sorensen stand second at Lombardia Trophy

BERGAMO, Italy – Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen of Montreal stand second after the rhythm dance at the Lombardia Trophy figure skating competition, the first stop on the ISU Challenger Series.

Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy are first with 82.05 points, the Canadians follow at 76.64 and Sara Hurtado and Kirill Khaliavin of Spain are third at 72.65.

Fournier Beaudry and Sorensen were a career-high eighth at the word championships this past spring and won four medals in international competition in 2019 including a silver at the Lombardia Trophy.

Alicia Fabbri of Terrebonne, Que., and Paul Ayer of Calgary, ninth at the world juniors in 2019, are ninth at 64.77.

The free dance is on Sunday.

Full results: https://www.fisg.it/upload/result/5536/index.html

Canadian Ice Dancers to Kick off ISU Challenger Series at Lombardia Trophy

OTTAWA,ON: Two Canadian ice dance teams are headed to Bergamo, Italy to kick of the 2021-2022 ISU Challenger Series. The ISU Challenger Series will consist of nine events and provide opportunities for senior skaters to compete at an international level and earn world ranking points. The first event in this year’s series is the Lombardia Trophy. This event is scheduled to take place from September 10-12, 2021.  

Alicia Fabbri, 18, Terrebonne, Que. and Paul Ayer, 23, Calgary, Alta. are one of two ice dance teams representing Canada at this event. Fabbri and Ayer previously won silver in junior ice dance at the Bavarian Open in 2019. This team also won silver in junior ice dance at the 2019 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon and Romain Haguenauer. 

Laurence Fournier Beaudry, 29, Montreal, Que. and Nikolaj Sørensen (32) Montreal, Que. are the second team representing Canada in ice dance at this event. They won silver at the Lombardia Trophy in 2019. They also brought home a gold medal at the Nebelhorn Trophy in 2019. They are coached by Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer, Josée Piché, Samuel Chouinard, Émilie Josset and Benjamin Brisebois. 

Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director will be the Canadian team leader at this event.  

For more information, please visit www.isu.org 

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU CS LOMBARDIA TROPHY– BERGAMO, ITALY 

Ice Dance 
Alicia Fabbri (18) and Paul Ayer (23) / Terrebonne, Que. and Calgary, Alta. / CPA Terrebonne Inc and CPA Terrebonne Inc / Coached by Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon and Romain Haguenauer. 

Laurence Fournier Beaudry (29) and Nikolaj Sørensen (32) / Montreal, Que. and Montreal, Que. / Town of Mount Royal FSC and Town of Mount Royal FSC / Coached by Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer, Josée Piché, Samuel Chouinard, Émilie Josset and Benjamin Brisebois 

Gold Medal Win for Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell in Ice Dance

KOSICE, Slovakia: Another medal for Canada on the Junior Grand Prix Circuit. Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell of Toronto, Ont. won the gold medal in Ice Dance this morning with a score of 163.04. D’Alessandro and Waddell were sitting in second place after their Rhythm Dance yesterday by only 0.36 of a point. With great teams in front and behind them, this team delivered a flawless skate and continued to accelerate throughout their program today. This is the couple’s first Junior Grand Prix Win.

D’Alessandro and Waddell shared with us, “Winning our first event is amazing. Even when the nerves did hit, which of course they did because we wouldn’t be human without them, we were able to trust our training, turning our nerves into good energy.”

Russia took home both the silver and bronze medal in ice dance. Winning the silver is Vasilisa Kaganovskaia and Valeriy Angelopol with a score of 160.72 and capturing the bronze medal is Sofya Tyutyunina and Alexander Shustitskiy with 155.98 points.

Finishing in eleventh is Chloe Nguyen of Edmonton, Atla., and Alec Roueche of Surrey, B.C., with a score of 117.02.

It was a sweep for Russia in the women’s competition as their skaters secured gold, silver and bronze. Taking the gold medal was Veronika Zhilina with 216.92 points. Winning the silver medal, Sofia Muravieva with a score of 208.25 and capturing the bronze medal was Adeliia Petrosian with 201.21 points.

Justine Miclette of Chambly, Que finished in fifteenth place with a score of 126.71.

It was a 1-2 finish for Russia in the men’s competition. Kirill Sarnovskiy won gold with a score of 215.96 and Ilya Yablokov captured the silver medal with a score of 207.39. The American William Annis secured the bronze medal with a score of 204.60.

Ranking fourth was Corey Circelli of Toronto, Ont. with a score of 191.13.

In pairs Russia’s Anastasia Mukhortova and Dmitry Evgenyev took home the gold medal with a score of 171.99. Capturing the silver medal was Karina Safina and Luka Berulava of Georgia with 168.26 and scoring the bronze medal was Polina Kostiukovich and Aleksei Briukhanov of Russia with 158.82 points.

Canada’s pair, Meghan Fredette, of Gatineau, Que., and William St-Louis of Shawinigan, Que., finished in sixth with a score of 131.36.

This concludes the event in Kosice, Slovakia and brings Canada’s current medal count on the Junior Grand Prix circuit to 5 medals: 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze.

The next ISU Junior Grand Prix will take place in Krasnoyarsk, Russia from September 15 to 18, 2021.

Full results: www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/jgpsvk2021/

Ice Dance Team Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell in Medal Contention. Corey Circelli Rank’s Fourth in Junior Men’s.

KOSICE, Slovakia – The junior men’s competition came to a close today. Russia’s Kirill Sarnovskiy rose form third place after the short program to take home the gold medal with a score of 215.96. Ilya Yablokov, also from Russia, held strong in second place with a score of 207.39. William Annis of the U.S. fell from first to third today to capture the bronze medal with a score of 204.60 points.

A great free program skate from Corey Circelli of Toronto, Ontario. Circelli climbed from eigth place after the short program yesterday to finish the competition in fourth place with a total score of 191.13.

“I felt a lot of redemption in my long program today.” Circelli shared.

The pairs competition also came to conclusion today. Russia’s team, Anastasia Mukhortova and Dmitry Evgenyev took home the gold medal with a score of 171.99. Capturing the silver medal was, Karina Safina and Luka Berulava of Georgia with 168.26 and scoring the bronze medal was Polina Kostiukovich and Aleksei Briukhanov of Russia with 158.82 points.

The Canadian pairs team, Meghan Fredette, of Gatineau, Que. and William St-Louis of Shawinigan, Que., finished in sixth with a score of 131.36.

When asked about their performance, St-Louis said, “It was a good opportunity, this is the beginning and our first international competition so we just learn from it.”

Competition at this Junior Grand Prix will come to a close tomorrow with the women’s free skate and the free dance in the ice dance.

The results after the women’s short program see Russia currently sitting in spots one, two and three. In first, is Sofia Muravieva with a score of 72.52. Sitting in second is Veronika Zhilina with a score of 71.57 and in the bronze medal position is Adeliia Petrosian with a score of 69.30.

Canada’s Justine Miclette of Chambly, Que is currently ranked in fourteenth with a score of 45.45.

The action in Ice Dance will continue tomorrow. Keep an eye out for Canada’s Natalie D’Alessandro and Bruce Waddell of Toronto, Ont. This team is currently sitting in medal contention after their Rhythm Dance this morning and is ranked second with a score of 64.48. D’Alessandro and Waddell are just 0.36 points away from the current first place team, Vasilisa Kaganovskaia and Valeriy Angelopol, from Russia, with a score of 64.84 points. In third place is Sofya Tyutyunina and Alexander Shustitskiy, also from Russia, with a score of 63.10

Canada’s second ice dance team at this event, Chloe Nguyen of Edmonton, Atla., and Alec Roueche of Surrey, B.C., are currently ranked in tweflth place with a score of 44.10.

Competition ends Saturday with the free skates for women and ice dancing.

Full results: www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/jgpsvk2021/