By: Pj Kwong

Halifax is home to Skate Canada International, the second of six ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events. This six-event series is a bit of a preview for us as the audience in understanding who might emerge as contenders by the time the World Figure Skating Championships take place next Spring.

For the skaters, these early season figure skating competitions in a season play a crucial role in their development and evolution throughout the season.

Ultimately for those skaters competing in two events, they are hoping to compete as well as possible because the top six in each discipline gets to compete at the ISU Grand Prix Final in December for podium placings and money.

Roman Sadovsky

For Skate Ontario fans, this competition will see competitors in three of the four disciplines who represent our region. Former national champion, Roman Sadovsky and former national silver medalist, Stephen Gogolev will be front and centre in the men’s event. There is a lot of excitement around this event as the reigning World Champion from the US, Ilia Malinin is fresh off a spectacular win last week at Skate America where he performed four quads and a backflip on his way to the podium.

Stephen Gogolev

Two-time national champion Maddie Schizas, the pride of the Milton SC, is set to make her fourth appearance at Skate Canada International where she hopes to get on the podium for the first time. Coach Nancy Lemaire was able to break down the programs in this way: “This season the short is an extended version of one of the programs she skated on Stars on Ice this past spring. It’s so fun, energetic and powerful! I think it is a crowd-pleasing piece of music that Maddie really enjoys.” Uh yeah, crowd-pleasing for sure: Beyonce!

Nancy goes on to say: “For the long we have a more traditional selection of music which has intensity in some spots. We have added a second triple lutz to the program for the first time this year and it starts off the second 1/2 of the program. I love how the choreo sequence and step sequence are highlights as the music builds towards the end.” There will be lots to watch so stay tuned to your favourite device or live stream.

Madeline Schizas

What can you say about a pair of ice dancers on their way to their ninth Skate Canada International? Here’s what I will say: look for Scarboro SC Ice Dance Elite’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier to capture their fifth title. Their ability to express music in all of its different varieties is what sets them apart from the rest of the field. They are three-time World medalists including a silver in 2023 and two-time Olympians. Outstanding.

Their long-time coach Carol Lane who, along with co-coach Juris Razgulaevs, has guided Piper and Paul so expertly has her own views about having skaters at Skate Canada International, “As a Canadian coach, having my skaters competing in Skate Canada is always such an honour. To follow where so many great Canadian dance teams have led is both a pleasure and a responsibility, and there is nothing to compare to our great Canadian fans cheering us on on home ice.”

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier

Can’t wait for the weekend to unfold! Check out the streaming schedule here. I will be in Halifax and if you want to follow along, make sure you follow us on our social media @skateontario on your favourite platform. Let’s all be #SkateOntarioProud!