The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2021/22 continues this week with Skate Canada International in Vancouver (CAN). The event features stars such as three-time and reigning ISU World Champion Nathan Chen (USA), 2021 ISU World silver medalist Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS) and 2018 Olympic Pairs silver medalists Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN).
Overview of the competitors
Nathan Chen (USA) comes straight from Las Vegas where he took the bronze medal at the first ISU Grand Prix of the series, Guaranteed Rate Skate America, and hopes to improve on that in Vancouver to secure a spot in the ISU Grand Prix Final. Other contenders in the Men’s competition include Keegan Messing (CAN), Jason Brown (USA), Evgeni Semenenko (RUS), 2019 European silver medalist Alexander Samarin (RUS) and 2020 European bronze medalist Morisi Kvitelashvili (GEO).
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS) at the ISU World Team Trophy 2021 © International Skating Union (ISU)
The Women’s event promises an exciting battle between up-and-coming 2020 ISU World Junior Champion Kamila Valieva (RUS), ISU World silver medalist Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS), who won Skate Canada International in 2018, and 2020 European Champion Alena Kostornaia (RUS). Aiming to prevent a Russian sweep will be 2018 World silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi (JPN), 2021 Nebelhorn Trophy Champion Alysa Liu (USA), Karen Chen (USA) and Mai Mihara (JPN).
Looking for better than bronze: Nathan Chen (USA) © International Skating Union (ISU)
In the Pairs, two-time ISU World Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) are up against two-time ISU Four Continents medalists Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro (CAN) and 2020 ISU European bronze medalists Daria Pavliuchenko/Denis Khodykin (RUS). Other contenders include the new team of Vanessa James/Eric Radford (CAN) – she was 2019 ISU European Champion, competing for France, while he is a two-time ISU World Champion. Also taking to the ice in Vancouver will be the 2018 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Ashley Cain-Gribble/Timothy LeDuc (USA).
Two-time ISU World Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) © International Skating Union (ISU)
Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN), the 2021 ISU World bronze medalists, headline the Ice Dance event. Competition should come from 2019 ISU European bronze medalists Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) and Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR). Other competitors include 2019 ISU World Junior Champions Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN), Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) and Olivia Smart/Adrian Diaz (ESP), who finished fourth at Skate America last week.
Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) © International Skating Union (ISU)
Sixty competitors representing 11 ISU Members have been entered for the event.
Schedule of the event
Friday, October 29 Pairs, Men’s & Women’s Short Programs and Rhythm Dance
Saturday, October 30 Pairs & Men’s Free Skating, Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating
Sunday, October 31 Exhibition Gala
For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit: https://isu.org/GrandPrix .
Where to watch and follow the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2021?
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating will be live streamed on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel.
Geo-restrictions will apply in markets where TV rights are in place. You will find the full list in the Where to Watch news here.
Subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive alerts when the live streams start and when new videos are posted.
