Tag Archive for: ISU Four Continents

Canada Wins Silver and Bronze at ISU Four Continents Championships

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COLORADO SPRINGS, USA (February 12, 2023) – Keegan Messing won the silver medal and Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps added a bronze in pairs in a double medal performance for Canada on Saturday at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.

Kao Miura of Japan took the men’s crown with 281.53 points followed Messing who finished with a career best 275.57. Shun Sato of Japan was third at 259.14. In other Canadian results, Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., was eighth and Stephen Gogolev of Toronto, Ont., 13th.

‘’I was dying out there,’’ said Messing about competing at altitude. ‘’I really had to pace myself. I had some great training after nationals but when I got here, I was tired all over again. I kept the focus on the breathing and the training.’’

In pairs, Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., took the bronze medal with 193.84. It was the fourth medal in five international events this season for the Canadian champions who set a personal best international score for their free skate with 125.45. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan won the gold with 208.24 and Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe of the U.S. were second at 201.11.

‘’It was a good stepping stone for us towards the worlds,’’ said Stellato-Dudek. ‘’We’re just trying to improve our skates going into the world championships.’’

First-year pairs Lia Pereira of Milton, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Brantford, Ont., remained fourth with a personal best 186.33, while Kelly Ann Laurin of St-Jerome, Que., and Loucas Ethier of St. Adolphe, Que., were seventh at 167.67, an international best.

Competition ends Sunday with the free dance. Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen of Montreal, Que., and Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of St-Hubert, Que, are second and third after Friday’s rhythm dance.

 For full results, click here.

Canadians in Medal Hunt in Three Events at ISU Four Continents

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Colorado Springs, USA (February 11, 2023) – Canadians are in the medal hunt in three events after the first two days at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.

The first medals were handed in the women’s event Friday with South Koreans Haein Lee and Yelim Kim placing 1-2. Mone Chiba of Japan took the bronze. Sara-Maude Dupuis of Montreal, Que., was the top Canadian in ninth with a personal best 170.67 points. Canadian champion Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., was 10th and Justine Miclette of Chambly, Que., was 11th.

‘’I was at home on the ice,’’ said Dupuis, fourth at the Canadian Championships last month. ‘’I never expected to do this. I never seek perfection in my free program because it makes me more nervous but today, I exceeded my expectations.’’

In ice dancing, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen of Montreal, Que., are second after the rhythm dance with 86.28, while Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of St-Hubert, Que., are third at 79.04. Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac of Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que., sit in eighth place.

‘’We put the focus on quality and levels,’’ said Fournier Beaudry, who won two international medals and a Canadian title with her partner this season. ‘’We knew we had a lot of hard work to do. So, for this event we are not touching too much, just minor tweaks to make it as smooth as possible.’’

In pairs, Canadian champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil, Que., are second after Friday’s short program with 68.39. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan lead with 71.19 and Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe of the U.S. are third at 66.96. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps are finding their chemistry again after she battled a lengthy illness through December and January.

‘’Max is the one who has needed to adjust to me because I was at 80 percent for so long,’’ said Stellato-Dudek. ‘’We’re on the right trajectory to Worlds. Today could have gone better especially with the throw and side-by-side spins but we’re happy overall.’’

Lia Pereira of Milton, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Brantford, Ont., are fourth with a personal best 65.16 and Kelly Ann Laurin of St-Jerome, Que., and Loucas Ethier of St. Adolphe, Que., are sixth at 59.12, an international best.

In the men’s short program which took place on Thursday, Canadian champion Keegan Messing was second, Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., seventh and Stephen Gogolev of Toronto, Ont., 11th.

Competition continues Saturday with the men’s and pair free skates. For full results, click here.