Tag Archive for: 2015 Nebelhorn Trophy

Golden comeback for Kaetlyn Osmond – Canadian ice dancers Paul and Islam add silver

OBERTSDORF – Canadian Olympian Kaetlyn Osmond, who missed all of last season due to injury, won the gold medal with a personal best score in women’s singles in her 2015-16 debut on Saturday at the Nebelhorn Trophy figure skating competition.

The 19-year-old Osmond from Marystown, N.L. earned 179.41 points for the victory winning both the short and long programs. Alena Leonova of Russia was second at 165.61 and Courtney Hicks of the U.S. third at 162.85.

“Obviously I’m very happy with my performance today,” said Osmond, with her third career international victory. “I wasn’t trying absolutely everything in my program today I just wanted to focus on what I know I could do.”

“There’s still a long way to go but it’s a good start.”

Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., second after the short program, took fourth spot overall at 161.35.

In ice dancing, Alexandra Paul of Midhurst, Ont., and Mitchell Islam of Barrie, Ont., took the silver medal with 148.12 points.  They were behind Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. in first at 169.50.  Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus of the U.S. were third at 137.38.

“Today was a little bit difficult for us,” said Paul. “We were confident going into the program but we made a few costly errors that affected our overall performance.  But we love the program and we are looking forward to skating it again.  We want to show people how great it can be.”

“These competitions early in the season are a great opportunity to find out what you need to work on a little bit more,” added Islam.

Canada ends the competition with two gold and a silver and second overall in the team standings. On Friday, Elladj Balde of Pierrefonds, Que., won the men’s competition.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/csger2015/

Canada’s Elladj Baldé wins gold at international figure skating competition

OBERTSDORF, Germany –  Elladj Baldé of Pierrefonds, Que., won the gold medal in men’s singles on Friday at the Nebelhorn Trophy, the traditional season opening event at the senior level in international figure skating.

Baldé tabulated a personal best 242.36 points landing quad jumps and producing clean performances in both the short and long programs.  Max Aaron of the U.S. was second at 222.94 and Konstantin Menshov of Russia was third at 218.14.

“I’ve trained hard for this and I knew I had the ability to deliver these kinds of programs,’’ said Baldé. ‘’And to beat my personal best by 30 points is simply amazing.  It’s great to have a number now that shows what I’m really capable of.  What also stands out for me that we found a way to make this happen. That’s good for the long term.   And there is still room for improvement.’’

It was Baldé’s first international victory.

“It was a great feeling to hear my anthem and I want to feel that again. I was hoping it would one day happen to me and I’m extremely grateful.’’

The other final on Friday was in pairs. World junior silver medallists Julianne Séguin of Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau of Trois-Pistoles, Que., were fifth. Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia took the gold.

“It wasn’t the performance we wanted,’’ said Séguin.  ‘’But we learned from it and will come out stronger and move forward.’’

Canada is looking strong in women’s competition after the short program.  Kaetlyn Osmond of Marystown, N.L., who missed all of last season due to injury, leads with 59.67 and Alaine Chartrand of Prescott, Ont., is second at 58.73. Courtney Hicks of the U.S. is third at 57.65.

Osmond, who broke her leg in September 2014, fell on her first combination early in the skate but finished strong.

“I’m just happy to be back,’’ said Osmond. ‘’After I landed my first jump, the only thing that went through my head was that I didn’t want to lose any more points and that’s what happened.’’

Chartrand’s short was mistake-free.

“It’s very satisfying to put down a clean program so early in the season,’’ said Chartrand.

Also in the medal hunt are Alexandra Paul of Midhurst, Ont., and Mitchell Islam of Barrie, Ont.,  second after the short dance with 60.52.  Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. lead at 67.74. Lauren Collins of Minesing, Ont., and Shane Firus of North Vancouver are seventh.

Competition ends Saturday with the free dance and women’s free skate.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/csger2015/

Canadian skaters continue on ISU Challenger Series at Nebelhorn Trophy

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will send six entries, for a total of nine skaters to Oberstdorf, Germany, for the Nebelhorn Trophy, the second stop on the ISU Challenger Series. Canada will have one entry per discipline in men’s and pair, and two entries per discipline in ladies and ice dance at the event which takes place September 24-26, 2015.

Elladj Baldé, 24, Pierrefonds, Que., will be the Canadian entry in the men’s category. This will be his fourth time competing at this event, having placed 10th in 2011, 14th in 2012, and 5th last season. The representative of CPA Anjou Kinsmen also placed sixth at the NHK Trophy last season. Baldé trains in Montreal, Que., with coaches Bruno Marcotte and Manon Perron.

Two-time Canadian champion Kaetlyn Osmond, 19, Marystown, Nfld., is one of two Canadian entries in ladies. She previously competed at this event in 2012, winning gold. Osmond returns to competition after missing least season due to injury. She most recently competed at the 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, where she earned an 11th place finish. She is coached by Ravi Walia and represents the Ice Palace Figure Skating Club.

Canadian silver medallist Alaine Chartrand, 19, Prescott, Ont., will be Canada’s second entry in the ladies category. This will be her first time competing at this event. Last season, she placed fourth at her assignment on the ISU Challenger Series, the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. She also placed tenth at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and 11th at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. Chartrand is coached by Michelle Leigh and Brian Orser and represents the Nepean Skating Club.

Canadian bronze medallists Julianne Séguin, 18, Longueuil, Que., and Charlie Bilodeau, 22, Trois-Pistoles, Que., will be the sole Canadian pair entry at this event. This will be their first assignment on the ISU Challenger Series. Last season, they won gold at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, silver at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and placed eighth at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. They are coached by Josée Picard in Chambly, Que.

Three time Canadian bronze medallists Alexandra Paul, 24, Midhurst, Ont., and Mitchell Islam, 25, Barrie, Ont., are the first of two Canadian entries in ice dance. This will be their third time competing at this event, having placed fifth in 2012 and winning bronze in 2013. Last season, Paul and Islam placed fifth at the Cup of China, sixth at Trophée Eric Bompard, sixth at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and 13th at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. The representatives of Barrie SC train in Montreal, Que., with coaches Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon and Romain Haguenauer.

Lauren Collins, 19, Minesing, Ont., and Shane Firus, 21, North Vancouver, B.C., are the second Canadian entry in ice dance. This will be their first international assignment at the senior level. Last season, the representatives of Barrie SC and Vancouver SC placed sixth at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Japan and won silver at the 2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in junior. They are coached by David Islam and Kelly Johnson at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ont.

Skate Canada High Performance Director Mike Slipchuk will be travelling with the Canadian team as team leader and Shirley Kushner of Westmount, Que., will be the Canadian medical staff onsite. André-Marc Allain of Gatineau, Que., and Andrea Derby of Windsor, Ont., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2015 NEBELHORN TROPHY

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Mens Elladj Baldé 24 Pierrefonds, Que. CPA Anjou Kinsmen Bruno Marcotte / Manon Perron
Ladies Kaetlyn Osmond 19 Marystown, Nfld. & Sherwood Park, Alberta Ice Palace FSC Ravi Walia
Ladies Alaine Chartrand 19 Prescott, Ont. Nepean Skating Club Michelle Leigh / Brian Orser
Pair Julianne Séguin / Charlie Bilodeau 18/22 Longueuil, Que. / Trois-Pistoles, Que. CPA Longueuil / CPA Chambly Josée Picard
Ice Dance Alexandra Paul / Mitchell Islam 24/25 Midhurst, Ont. / Barrie, Ont. Barrie SC / Barrie SC Marie-France Dubreuil / Patrice Lauzon / Romain Haguenauer
Ice Dance Lauren Collins / Shane Firus 19/21 Minesing, Ont. / North Vancouver, B.C. Barrie SC / Vancouver SC David Islam / Kelly Johnson