By: Pj Kwong

Skate Ontario is filled with enormously talented skaters and at the very top level, those skaters will be making appearances on the upcoming ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating six-event series.

What started out as the ISU Champions Series became the Grand Prix series in 1995. According to the ISU website, the series “consists of six international senior events that culminate with the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The Skaters are seeded and invited to the six Grand Prix of Figure Skating events based on the results achieved at the previous ISU World Figure Skating Championships. The top 12 Skaters/Couples are guaranteed two Grand Prix assignments.”

Competing on the Grand Prix circuit can mean different things for different people. Two-time World ice dance medalist Piper Gilles (with partner Paul Poirier) offers: “the Grand Prix series is key especially for Paul and me as it sets the tone for the rest of the season. It shows us our base line and lets us know where to go. In other words, it’s the start of the climb up the hill. It offers us a starting point and outlines what we will need to do to get to where we want to go.”

From Piper and Paul’s coach Carol Lane’s standpoint, it looks like this: “The GP series is important in our training plan because it provides important signposts on our progress through the season, as well as giving us a view of our competitors progress as we head into Championship season.”

The events are held in six different countries: USA, Canada, China, Japan, Finland and France and Skate Ontario is well represented this season with competitors at five of the six events:

Grand Prix de France – Angers, France – November 1 – 3, 2024

Pairs: Lia Perreira and Trennt  Michaud

NHK Trophy – Tokyo, Japan – November 8 – 10, 2024

Men: Stephen Gogolev

Finlandia Trophy – Helsinki, Finland – November 15 – 17, 2024

Ice Dance: Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier

Cup of China – Chongqing, China – November 22 – 24, 2024

Women: Madeleine Schizas

Pairs: Lia Pereira and Trennt  Michaud

To a mere mortal like you and I, this kind of globetrotting seems like a lot, however there is an upside to all of this for Piper. “We love the Grand Prix series and it’s another opportunity for Paul and me  to celebrate the sport we love! We have gone further than we ever thought possible so to be at Skate Canada International in front of a hometown crowd, my husband is from there…amazing!”

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