Tag Archive for: NextGen

Canadian Skaters Gain Valuable Experience at Junior Grand Prix in Japan

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Osaka, Japan (September 16, 2023) – The fourth ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition wrapped up Saturday in Osaka, Japan with lots of lessons learned and experience gained for the seven Canadian athletes that competed.

Chloe Nguyen, 18, of Vancouver and Brendan Giang, 19, of Burnaby, B.C., were hoping to get on the podium again after bringing home a silver medal from the second Junior Grand Prix event in Austria at the beginning of September, but despite two good performances, they ended up sixth overall – the top Canadian result from the event. Layla Veillon, 17, and Alexander Brandys, 18 of London, Ont., finished just behind in seventh with a score of 133.15.

“The rhythm dance went pretty well and our free for the most part was pretty good, but we had a few small mistakes that we’re going to improve for next time,” said Nguyen, who, along with Giang finished with a total score of 138.35. “We were super excited to come compete here, we’ve never been in Asia before, either of us, so we were super excited to come and compete here. There are a lot of really big skating fans, so it was really nice to see a full crowd supporting us.”

Leah Neset and Artem Markalov of the USA won gold with a total score of 167.51, while Elizabeth Tkachenko and Alexei Kiliakov of Israel took silver with a score of 166.16. Celina Fradji and Jean-Hans Fourneaux of France took bronze with a score of 151.13.

David Shteyngart, 17, of Ottawa, Ont., was the top Canadian in the men’s event, finishing 13th overall with a score of 164.74, while fellow Canadian, Anthony Paradis, 16, of Boisbriand, Que., finished 16th with a total score of 162.11.

“This was an experience that took a lot of effort out of me this week,” said Paradis who is the 2023 junior national bronze medallist. “There was a lot of noise, but I really liked my experience. The Japanese were really warm with the Canadians and it’s much appreciated.”

François Pitot of France won gold with a score of 219.86. Juheon Lim of Korea grabbed the silver with a score of 217.95, while Daniel Martynov of the USA rounded out the podium, taking home the bronze with a score of 207.98.

Rose Theroux, 16, of Ste-Victoire-de-Sorel, Que., the lone Canadian in the women’s competition, was sitting in eighth after her short program, but had a difficult free skate and finished 14th overall with a total score of 139.81.

Japanese skaters almost swept the women’s podium with Mao Shimada and Yo Takagi taking home gold and silver with scores of 213.86 and 188.15 respectively. Yu-Feng Tsai of Chinese Taipei took the bronze with a score of 178.62 – just nudging Japanese skater Ikura Kushida into fourth.

The next Junior Grand Prix of the season takes place this upcoming week in Budapest, Hungary from September 20-23, 2023 and will feature 10 NextGen skaters for Canada – one woman, one man, two pair teams, and two ice dance teams.

For full results please click here: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2324/jgptur2023/

Seven NextGen Skaters to Compete in the First ISU Junior Grand Prix of the 2023-2024 Season

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OTTAWA, ON (August 16, 2023) – Seven NextGen athletes will kick off the season at the first ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which is set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand from August 23-26, 2023. One woman, two men and two ice dance teams will be representing Canada throughout the week. 

2023 Canadian junior champion Hetty Shi will be competing in the women’s event, while 2023 Canadian junior silver medalist Grayson Long and Rio Morita, who recently won the 2023 NextGen Competition, will be highlighting the men’s event.  

In ice dance, 2023 Novice Canadian Championships silver medallists Victoria Carandiuc and Andrei Carandiuc will make their international competition debut after being named to the NextGen Team . They will be joined by 2022-2023 Skate Canada Challenge junior bronze medalists Layla Veillon and Alexander Brandys.  

Team Canada 

Name | Age | Hometown | Coach | Training Location   

WOMEN

Hetty Shi | 14 | Northville, Michigan | Andrew Evans & Paul Parkinson | Mississauga, Ont. 

MEN

Grayson Long | 15 | Oakville, Ont. | Brian Orser | Toronto, Ont.
Rio Morita | 18 | Thornhill, Ont. | Tracy Wilson | Toronto, Ont. 

ICE DANCE

Victoria Carandiuc | 15 | Saint-Constant, Que. & Andrei Carandiuc | 16 | Saint-Constant, Que. | Mylène Girard | Chambly, Que.
Layla Veillon | 17 | London, Ont. & Alexander Brandys | 18 | London, Ont. | Scott Moir | London, Ont. 

Team Leaders – Laura Baker & Shae Zukiwsky 
Officials – Karen Butcher & Andrea Derby
Medical Team – Susan Massitti 

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

David Li Highlights Four-Medal Day for Canadian Figure Skaters

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EGNA, Italy – David Li of Vancouver highlighted a four-medal medal day for Canada with the gold medal in the men’s novice event on Friday at the Egna Spring Trophy figure skating competition.

Li was first after the short program and hung on to top spot with the second-best free skate totalling 126.82 points. Krik Haugeto of the U.S. took the silver with 124.23 and David Bondar of Richmond Hill, Ont., won the bronze with 118.08.

‘’After holding back a bit at my previous competitions, I just decided to go for it here,’’ said Li, 14. ‘’I thought travelling without my parents for the first time would affect me, but it didn’t really feel that different.’’

Bondar, 15, was also pleased to get on the podium in his overseas debut.

‘’There were some minor errors on some jumps but other than that I felt my presentation was a little bit better than it use to be and that made a big difference in my final score,’’ he said. ‘’I learned that it’s not all about jumping.’’

Edward Nicholas Vasii of Montreal made it three Canadians in the top-five placing fifth at 111.58. There were 12 entries.

Hetty Shi of Mississauga, Ont., added a silver in women’s novice. Mao Shimada of Japan won the gold with 160.68. Shi, moved from fourth after the short, to reach the podium with 128.05.

Amanda Ghezzo of Italy was third at 118.33, Kara Yun of Vancouver fourth at 117.97 and Lulu Lin of Oakville, Ont., eighth.

‘’I would have wanted to do the triple toe after the Axel but it was overall OK,’’ said Shi, 13. ‘’I was happy that some of the little things I worked on in training like my facial expressions were much better.’’

Fiona Bombardier of Newmarket, Ont., also made an impressive comeback to win the bronze in the women’s junior event.

Anna Pezzetta of Italy was first with 172.96, Hannah Herrera of the U.S. was second at 154.28 and Bombardier surged from sixth after the short to produce the second-best free skate and take third at 151.82.

‘’I’m super excited,’’ said Bombardier, 16, about her international debut. ‘’The score was satisfying, and I accomplished my goals.’’

Abbie Balzter of Hamilton was sixth.

Competition continues through to Sunday.

Full results: https://www.fisg.it/upload/result/5612/online/index.htm

 

Canada’s Future Stars Travel to Egna, Italy

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada will have a total of 11 skaters competing at the 2022 Egna Spring Trophy in Egna, Italy. Canada will have two entries in junior men, three entries in junior women, three entries in novice men and three entries in novice women. The event will take place April 7-10, 2022.  

Grayson Long, 14, Toronto, Ont., will be the first entry in junior men. Long finished second at both the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge and 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. He is coached by Brian Orser in Toronto, Ont.   

David Shteyngart, 16, Ottawa, Ont., is the second Canadian entry in junior men. Domestically Shteyngart competed at the novice level. At both the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge and 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships Shteyngart captured gold. He is coached by Darlene Jospeh in Ottawa, Ont. 

Abbie Balzter, 13, Hamilton, Ont., will be the first of three entries for Canada in junior women. Balzter competed at the novice level for the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships where she came in third place. Balzter is coached by Jen Jackson and Bryce Davison in Hamilton, Ont.  

Fiona Bombardier, 16, Newmarket, Ont., is the second Canadian entry in junior women. Bombardier had a promising 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships where she came in second taking home the silver medal in the junior women’s event. She is coached by Ken Rose in Richmond, Ont.  

Angelina Grant, 13, Edmonton, Alta., is the third and final entry in junior women. Grant competed at the novice level for the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge where she placed second. Grant also took part in the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships where she placed eighth. She is coached by Katherine Co-Grant in Edmonton, Alta.   

David Bondar, 15, Richmond Hill, Ont., is the first Canadian entry in novice men. Domestically Bondar has had two top five placements as he finished second at the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge and fifth at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Bondar is coached by Tracey Wainman and Grzegorz Filipowski in Richmond Hill, Ont.  

David Li, 14, Vancouver, B.C., will be the second entry in novice men.  Li had a good Skate Canada Challenge where he brought home a bronze medal. Li is coached by Eileen Murphy and Keegan Murphy and in Richmond, B.C.  

Edward Nicholas Vasii, 15, Montreal, Que., is the third and final Canadian entry in novice men. Nicholas Vasii placed in the top four at both the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge and the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. He is coached by Yvan Desjardins in Montreal, Que.  

Hetty Shi, 13, Mississauga, Ont will be the first Canadian entry in novice women. Shi claimed top spot on the podium at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Shi also finished seventh at the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge. Shi is coached by Andrew Evens, Paul Parkinson and Laurisa Wyant in Mississauga, Ont.   

Lulu Lin, 13, Oakville, Ont., is the second entry for Canada in novice women. Lin had two top 10 placements at the junior level at both the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge. Lin is coached by Paul Parkinson and Andrew Evans in Mississauga, Ont.   

Kara Yun, 13, Vancouver, B.C., is the final Canadian entry for novice women. Yun captured two medals domestically as she finished second at the 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and third at the 2022 Skate Canada Challenge. She is coached by Joanne McLeod and Neil Wilson in Vancouver, B.C.  

Manon Perron, Skate Canada High Performance Advisor, and Andre Bourgeois, Skate Canada NextGen Director, will be the team leaders at the event. Physiotherapist Emma Lis will be the Canadian medical staff on site. Laura Carr of Kelowna, B.C., will be the Canadian official at the event.