Tag Archive for: 2015 Croatia Cup

Another productive weekend for Canadian figure skaters in Europe

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OTTAWA, ON – Canadian figure skaters collected gold and silver this past weekend at European stops on the ISU Challenger Series and ISU Junior Grand Prix.

In Espoo, Finland at the third stop on the Challenger series, ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., picked-up where they left off last season with a gold medal performance in their season debut on Saturday.  Weaver and Poje, who won five gold medals last season in international competition, totalled 161.67 points placing first in both the short dance and free skate.

“We had two great programs although there were some mistakes,” said Weaver, third with her partner at the world championships this past March. “But these events are an opportunity to see the areas we need to improve and get some important feedback.”

The next event for Weaver and Poje is Skate Canada International October 30 to November 1 in Lethbridge, Alta.

Brianna Delmaestro of Port Moody, B.C., and Timothy Lum of Burnaby, B.C., were seventh.

In men’s competition on Sunday, Liam Firus of North Vancouver produced the fifth best free skate to climb from ninth to seventh overall. Konstantin Menshov of Russia edged Adam Rippon of the U.S. by six points for the gold.

Meanwhile in Zagreb, Croatia at the seventh stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit which concluded Saturday, Nicolas Nadeau of Blainville, Que., was the Canadian star with a silver medal in men’s singles.  Nadeau bettered his personal best by nearly 50 points.

“My success was because I finally put together and strong short program and strong free program,” said Nadeau, 18. “Usually one or the other I tend to struggle with. I came into this competition with no hope of making the Grand Prix Final so I just wanted a strong international performance and impress the judges.”

Kim Decelles of Baie-Comeau Que., finished ninth in women’s singles and ice dancers Audrey Croteau-Villeneuve of Montreal and Jeff Hough of Russell, Ont., were also ninth.

The Grand Prix Final for the junior and seniors is December 10-13 in Barcelona.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/jgpcro2015/index.htm and http://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/1516/CSFIN2015/index.htm

Canada’s Nicolas Nadeau wins silver at ISU Junior Grand Prix

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ZAGREB, Croatia – Canadian junior champion Nicolas Nadeau of Boisbriand, Que., won the silver medal in a very close men’s competition on Friday at the seventh stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Alexander Samarin of Russia was the winner with 223.84 points edging the 18-year-old Nadeau who totalled 223.46. Tomoki Hiwatashi of Japan was third at 197.62.

Nadeau smashed his previous best international score by almost 50 points. He landed two triple Axels including one in combination with a triple toe to open the program.  He made an attempt at a quad toe but rushed it and stepped out in mid-flight.

In women’s competition, Wakaba Higuchi of Japan leads after the short program with Diana Pervushkina of Russia second and Marin Honda of Japan third.

Kim Decelles of Baie-Comeau, Que., is fifth less than six points behind Honda at 52.27.

In ice dancing after the short dance, Audrey Croteau-Villeneuve of Montreal and Jeff Hough of Russell, Ont., are ninth.

There is no pairs competition at this stop.

The women’s free skate and free dance are on Saturday.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/jgpcro2015/index.htm

Ninth place finishes for Canadians at ISU Junior Grand Prix

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ZAGREB, Croatia – Kim Decelles of Baie-Comeau Que., finished ninth in women’s singles while ice dancers Audrey Croteau-Villeneuve of Montreal and Jeff Hough of Russell, Ont., produced the same result at the seventh stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

In women’s competition, Japan was 1-2 with Marin Honda and Wakaba Higuchi taking gold and silver. Diana Pervushkina of Russia was third.
Decelles was fifth after the short program on Friday but was unable to duplicate that strong performance in Saturday’s long.

In ice dancing, Rachael Parsons and Michael Parsons of the U.S. were the winners with Anastasia Skoptova and Kirill Aleshin of Russia second and their compatriots Sofia Shevchenko and Igor Eremenko third.

Croteau-Villeneuve and Hough, sixth at their previous assignment last month, were ninth after the short dance.

Nadeau excited about silver

Nicolas Nadeau was still excited about his silver medal performance on Friday where he smashed his previous personal best by almost 50 points.  He scored 223.46 and was less than half a point from gold. On Saturday, Nadeau said he just wanted a solid Grand Prix result on his resume.

“My success was because I finally put together and strong short program and strong free program,” said Nadeau, 18, the reigning Canadian junior champion. “Usually one or the other I tend to struggle with. I came into this competition with no hope of making the Grand Prix Final so I just wanted a strong international performance and impress the judges.”

The Grand Prix Final for the junior and seniors is December 10-13 in Barcelona.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/jgpcro2015/index.htm