Skate Canada International delivers a thrilling Grand Prix weekend

The figure skating Grand Prix series continued last weekend with Skate Canada International, hosted in Kelowna. It brought together world-class skaters to compete for a podium place and a spot in the Grand Prix Final, and, as ever, there were plenty of highs, lows, and incredible skating.

The men’s event kicked off with the short program. Japan’s Rio Nakata placed first in this event with an incredibly energetic program, opening with a beautiful quad toeloop and continuing his pace throughout, despite an unfortunate fall out of his sit spin.

In second was France’s Kevin Aymoz, with a Pirates of the Caribbean program, which is quickly becoming a fan favourite due to his characteristic artistry when he skates and his commitment to the Jack Sparrow character throughout. Japan’s Kazuki Tomono came in third with positive GOE on all his jumps and creative choreography.

Unfortunately, hometown favourite Stephen Gogolev, last year’s Canadian National Champion, had a rough skate. He popped both of his opening jumps and came in 12th after the short.

The free skate changed everything for the men’s competition

The free skate changed everything for the men’s competition. Estonia’s Mihhail Selevko came in first in the free with a beautiful program, with especially gorgeous choreography in his step sequence. His performances combined placed him in third overall.

Kevin Aymoz, coming in second in the free, won the overall gold medal with his usual strong artistry and gorgeous spin positions. Gogolev came in third with his Moulin Rouge free program, unfortunately leaving him just off the podium in fourth overall. He opened with a flawless quad lutz and skated almost entirely clean, with a high-energy choreo sequence.

The final podium position was won by Rio Nakata, getting the silver medal with several quad jumps and a dramatic Gladiator program.

The women’s event was eagerly anticipated, and the athletes delivered. The event was dominated, as expected, by new senior Mao Shimada, the four-time World Junior Champion. She won the gold medal overall, coming first in both the short and free skates. Both her programs were skated beautifully, with flawless triple axels, a quad toeloop, and her characteristically gorgeous spins.

The rest of the podium was more in question. In the short program, the USA’s Isabeau Levito came second with a pretty, flowy program set to a Rosalía medley. Estonia’s Niina Petrõkina used music from the same album, coming in third with a gorgeously artistic program.

In the free skate, Petrõkina took the silver medal, coming in second overall, with super clean jumps and musicality. Despite coming fifth in the free skate, Levito clinched the final podium position with an elegant skate.

The pairs event was similarly dramatic

The pairs event was similarly dramatic. Canada’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud came first in both the short and free. Their short had amazing musicality throughout, with high energy that carried over into their free skate, and beautiful lifts and throws in both.

The two-time US National Champions Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov came second overall with a second place finish in the short and third in the free. In both programs, their strength was in their throws and lifts, with some gorgeous throw triple loops and very pretty lifts.

In third was the Swiss team of Oxana Vouillamoz and Tom Bouvart, with a dramatic free skate and beautiful synchronicity.

Team GB dominated [ice dance], with Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson getting the gold with two flawless programs

Ice dance was the standout event of the weekend. Team GB dominated the event, with Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson getting the gold with two flawless programs, the only team to break 200 points overall.

Both programs were, as always, very fun and upbeat, with perfect synchronicity and very strong performances from both. France’s Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud also had dramatic, beautiful programs, coming second in both skates and winning the overall silver medal.

Their strong performance made them very fun to watch, especially during their crazy, innovative lift in their free dance.

The USA’s Caroline Green and Michael Parsons got the final podium spot, with a fun and innovative rhythm dance set to music from the musical Hamilton, and a tango-style free dance with some fun and creative spin positions and beautiful step sequences.