Tag Archive for: 2018 NHK Trophy

Soucisse and Firus post career ISU Grand Prix best fifth at NHK Trophy

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HIROSHIMA, Japan – Canadian ice dancers Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus improved by three spot over their Skate Canada performance two weeks ago with a fifth place finish in ice dancing to conclude the NHK Trophy, the fourth stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker of the U.S. won the gold medal with 184.63 points, Tiffani Zagorski and Jonathan Guerreiro of Russia were second at 183.05 and Rachel Parsons and Michael Parsons of the U.S. third at 178.64.

Soucisse, from Chateauguay, Que., and Firus, from North Vancouver, totalled 169.84 which was also a 13-point improvement over their Skate Canada showing and less than three points off their personal best internationally.

It was also their best result in four Grand Prix appearances.

“It was our best overall performance to date,” said Firus. “We are going to keep working to get it better every time.”

The fifth stop on the circuit is later this week in Moscow.

Full results: GPJPN 2018 NHK Trophy

Moore-Towers and Marinaro edged off podium at NHK Trophy

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HIROSHIMA, Japan – Canada’s Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro were less than a point from a podium berth and took fourth spot Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy figure skating competition, the fourth stop on the ISU Grand Prix circuit.

Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert of Russia won the gold medal with 214.14 points, Cheng Peng and Yang Jin of China were second at 207.24, Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim of the U.S. third at 190.49 and the Canadians followed at 189.66.

It was a fourth competition in seven weeks for Moore-Towers, of St. Catharines, Ont.,  and Marinaro, of Sarnia, Ont. They skated a clean program to a Pink Floyd medley but they touch downed with a hand on a couple of landings

“We were pretty solid in the first three competitions but we are a little disappointed in this performance,” said Moore-Towers. “There are some areas we did improve but now we have some time before nationals (in January) to come back a deliver a special performance.”

In men’s competition, Olympic silver medallist Shoma Uno of Japan won the gold with Sergei Voronov of Russia second and Matteo Rizzo of Italy third.

Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., moved from 12th to 11th with the 10th best free skate.

“There are some positives I can take from this week,” said Reynolds. “I was able to perform the programs artistically the way I was hoping but the jumps were not where they needed to be.”

In the short dance, Carolane Soucisse of Chateauguay, Que., and Shane Firus of North Vancouver are fifth at 66.01 just over three points from third spot. Tiffani Zagorski and Jonathan Guerrero of Russia are first at 75.49 ahead of two American couples.

“We went out there and did our job,” said Firus. “It was a good performance but a little disappointed with our placement right now.”

The free dance is on Sunday.

Full results: GPJPN 2018 NHK Trophy

Moore-Towers and Marinaro in hunt for second ISU Grand Prix medal

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HIROSHIMA, Japan – Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., are in third place after Friday’s short program at the NHK Trophy figure skating competition, the fourth stop on the ISU Grand Prix circuit.

Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert of Russia are first with 73.48 points, Cheng Peng and Yang Jin of China are second at 70.66 and Moore-Towers and Marinaro third at 67.70.

Skating to the First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, the Canadians opened with a perfect triple twist but weren’t as smooth on the side-by-side jump and the throw triple loop. They won a bronze two weeks ago at Skate Canada.

“We are a little disappointed with the performance today,” said Moore-Towers. “We’ve been practicing very well all week. It was a little bit off in many places and here you have to be perfect to stack up.”

In the men’s short program, Olympic silver medallist Shoma Uno of Japan leads with 92.49. Sergei Voronov of Russia is second at 91.37 and his compatriot Dmitri Aliev third at 81.15.

Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., is 12th.

“After a good start it didn’t finish up well so that’s disappointing,” Reynolds said.

The free skates for men and pairs are on Saturday as well as the short dance featuring Carolane Soucisse of Chateauguay, Que., and Shane Firus of North Vancouver. There are no Canadians in the women’s event.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1819/gpjpn2018/

Five Canadian skaters headed to Japan for NHK Trophy

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Ottawa, ON: Team Canada will be competing at the 2018 NHK Trophy in Hiroshima, Japan from November 9-11. This will be the fourth stop on the ISU (International Skating Union) Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.

In the men’s category, Kevin Reynolds will be the lone male representing Canada. Reynolds finished eighth at the Autumn Classic International in September and 11th at Skate America in October.

Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro will be representing Canada in the pairs category. They have medaled at their three international events this season so far, winning silver at Autumn Classic International and at Finlandia Trophy and most recently they won bronze at  Skate Canada International.

In the ice dance, Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus will be the Canadian team in Japan. They won bronze earlier this season at the Autumn Classic International and placed eighth at the Skate Canada International.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2018 NHK TROPHY – HIROSHIMA, JAPAN

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Men Kevin Reynolds 28 Vancouver, B.C. Champs International Skating Center Joanne McLeod
Pairs Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro 26/26 St.Catharines, Ont. / Sarnia, Ont. Winter Club of St. Catharines / Point Edward SC Richard Gauthier, Bruno Marcotte, Sylie Fullum
Ice Dance Carolane Soucisse / Shane Firus 23/24 Chateauguay, Que. / North Vancouver, B.C. SC Repentigny / SC Repentigny Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon

Cynthia Ullmark of Canmore, AB., and Mike Slipchuk, the High Performance Director, will be the team leaders at the event. Dr. John Philpott of Toronto, Ont., and physiotherapist Shirley Kushner of Westmount, Que., will be the Canadian team medical staff on site. Cynthia Benson of Quispamsis, N.B., and Leslie Keen of Vancouver, B.C., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

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

Daleman withdraws from NHK Trophy

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OTTAWA, ON: Gabrielle Daleman, 20, Newmarket, Ont., has withdrawn from her second grand prix assignment, NHK Trophy. Daleman announced earlier this month that she had taken a break from training to focus on her mental health.

Daleman was a member of the gold medal team at the 2018 Olympics and is the reigning Canadian champion. She trains in Toronto, Ont., with coaches Lee Barkell and Brian Orser.