Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) have returned from injury to lead Skate Canada after the Pairs Short Program. © ISU
Reigning ISU World silver medalists Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara of Japan skated into the lead in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate Canada International ahead of Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA) and Italy’s Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii.
Skating to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at the Mississauga, ON (CAN) event, Miura/Kihara produced a triple twist and a side-by-side triple toe loop as well as a level-four lift, spin and footwork. The only glitch came when Miura stepped out of the throw triple Lutz. The pair earned 73.39 points.
“It was our first time performing the new Short Program and our goal was to have fun,” Miura said.
“For tomorrow it is the same – we’re going to compete the program for the first time and we are not going to think about skating clean or mistakes, we just want to have fun,” she continued.
“Last season we experienced the Olympic Games and Worlds and had great results,” Kihara added.
“This gave us confidence before this season started and we felt we were there. In July with the [Miura’s shoulder] injury our confidence was gone, we hit rock bottom. We consider ourselves on the chasing side and forgot about the highs from last year. This is where we are now.”
Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe (USA) achieved a new personal best with their Flamenco-based program. © ISU
Chan/Howe’s program to the Flamenco “Nyah” included a triple twist, triple toe and four level-four elements, but Chan two-footed the throw triple loop. The 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalists achieved a new personal best score with 67.39 points.
“We are grateful how everything turned out,” Howe noted.
“We had some goals coming into this competition and one goal was to do what we were doing training-wise, to be able to come out and control the nerves. This was a first step for us.
“It is still early in the season, we want to keep the steam rolling after the Short Program and go relaxed into the Free Skating. It is a little more challenging, but we are up for it,” he added.
Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii's Tango-themed program lifted the Italians to new heights at their first senior Grand Prix. © ISU
Conti/Macii completed a throw triple loop, side-by-side triple Salchow and somewhat wobbly triple flip in their Tango-themed program to “Oblivion – Una sombra mas” to set a new personal best with 66.66 points.
“We are happy about being invited to the senior Grand Prix for the first time,” Macii said.
“We are happy with how we performed today and we’ll try to do the best tomorrow. We love our new free skating. It is a love story. We’ll try to do our best, to enjoy and to give our emotions to the public.”
2022 ISU World Junior bronze medalists Brooke McIntosh/ Benjamin Mimar (CAN) placed fourth at 60.02 points followed by Jelizaveta Zukova/Martin Bidar (CZE) on 52.84 points.
Skate Canada International in Mississauga (CAN) October 28-30 is the second of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.
More than 150 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members have been invited to the Series. The maximum number of entries for each event is 12 Ladies, 12 Men, 8 Pairs and 10 Ice Dance couples.
The General Announcement of the 2022/23 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here. The individual announcements are published under the respective events. Full entry lists and further information are available on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.
Selection Criteria
The Skaters are seeded and invited to the six Grand Prix of Figure Skating events based on the results of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022. Skaters/Couples who have placed 1 to 6 in each of the four categories are seeded and assigned to two events. Skaters/Couples who have placed 7-12 at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships are selected for two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events, and Skaters with a top 24 Seasonal Best Scores (from the 2021/22 season) as well as those placed in the top 24 of the ISU World Standings can also be invited. If available, medalists from the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships can also be selected.
In order for a Skater/Couple to be eligible to compete at an ISU Grand Prix event, a minimum total score must have been achieved in the 2021/22 or current 2022/23 season in an ISU event (Grand Prix, Junior Grand Prix, Championships) or a Challenger Series event. Exceptions apply to host country Skaters, previously ranked Skaters or split ranked Couples who return with new partners. The minimum total score is 3/5 of highest score per discipline at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 and are as follows: Women: 141.65, Men: 187.49, Pairs: 132.65, Ice Dance: 137.89.
Following the IOC recommendation and in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q)i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in International ice skating competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus (see ISU Communication 2469).
Grand Prix Standings
Men Women Ice Dance Pair Skating
Where to Watch
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out where to watch the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.
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ISU Grand Prix Schedule
The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are available below:
21 - 23 Oct, 2022 Skate America, Norwood (USA)
28 - 30 Oct, 2022 Skate Canada International, Mississauga (CAN)
04 - 06 Nov, 2022 Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)
11 - 13 Nov, 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy, Sheffield (GBR)
18 - 20 Nov, 2022 NHK Trophy, Sapporo (JPN)
25 - 27 Nov, 2022 Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)
08 - 11 Dec, 2022 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Torino (ITA)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known as the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their Grand Prix events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.
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