The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2016/17 continues this week with Skate Canada International in Mississauga, ON (CAN) October 28 to 30. Skate Canada International is the second of six events in the series. Skaters compete for points to qualify for the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and a prize money of US $ 180,000 per individual event of the Grand Prix.
Overview of the top contenders
Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) and three-time World Champion Patrick Chan (CAN) headline the Men’s event. 2016 Four Continents bronze medalist Han Yan (CHN), 2014 Four Continents Champion Takahito Mura (JPN) and Michal Brezina (CZE) have set their eyes on the podium as well. 2016 World Junior Champion Daniel Samohin (ISR) debuts on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.
Reigning World Champion Evgenia Medvedeva (RUS) starts her season at Skate Canada International. Competition should come from 2015 World silver medalist Satoko Miyahara (JPN), 2015 World Champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS), Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN) and 2016 Four Continents silver medalist Mirai Nagasu (USA).
Two-time and reigning World Champions Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford (CAN) lead the Pairs competition. Two-time European Champions Yuko Kavaguti/Alexander Smirnov (RUS) and Haven Denney/Brandon Frazier (USA) who just won the silver medal at Progressive Skate America last week, want to challenge the Canadians. Other contenders include Lubov Iliushechkina/Dylan Moscovitch (CAN) and the new team of Xiaoyu Yu/Hao Zhang (CHN).
In the Ice Dance event, 2010 Olympic Champions and 2014 Olympic silver medalists Tessa Virtue/ Scott Moir (CAN) return to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series after sitting out two seasons. The Canadians are up against a strong field of competitors with 2014 World Champions Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte (ITA), 2016 World bronze medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA), Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) and Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (RUS).
A total of 57 skaters/couples from 13 ISU members compete at Skate Canada International. For full entry lists and results of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2016/17 please referto the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating page.
The schedule of Skate Canada International is as follows:
Friday, October 28: Ladies and Pairs Short Program, Short Dance, Men’s Short Program
Saturday, October 29: Ladies, Pairs and Men’s Free Skating, Free Dance
Sunday, October 30: Exhibition Gala