Canadian Champions Gilles and Poirer set a new personal best at Skate Canada for the second year in a row. © ISU
2021 ISU World bronze medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier of Canada danced to the top in the Rhythm Dance with a new personal best score. Great Britain’s Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson came second while Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA) ranked third.
Gilles/Poirier looked sharp in their Cha Cha “Do What I Do” and Rhumba “Rhythm Only” and impressed with their excellent twizzles that were graded a level four as was the rotational lift. The midline step sequence and the pattern dance step sequence merited a level three. The Canadian Champions pushed their personal best score set a year ago at Skate Canada up to 87.23 points.
“This was our first performance of the season with our new Rhythm Dance and it was really special to do that program in a rink that we're really familiar with at home in front of some family and in front of the Canadian crowd,” Poirier told the press.
“After the Olympic season, this is just such a beautiful way to start our season and I think we're really excited to perform again tomorrow,” he added.
“We actually had a really hard time picking exactly what we wanted to do [for the Rhythm Dance],” Gilles explained.
“We are very corky and fun, and I think everybody expects us to do something like that. So our coach, Carol [Lane], actually found this music in a commercial. And the moment we heard it, we instantly fell in love with it, and we decided to kind of go the more sexy, modern Latin route, which is something that we haven't done before.
“Each season we try to do something new and original for ourselves that we've learned and to grow as athletes. And I think it's been a great vehicle, and it really shows how much we really love to skate.”
Fear/Gibson (GBR) channeled Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony to take second place in the Rhythm Dance. © ISU
Fear/Gibson took on the roles of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony in their Rhythm Dance set to the couple's songs “Vivir Mi Vida” and “No Me Ames”. The 2022 Nebelhorn Trophy Champions collected a level four for their rotational lift while the twizzles were rated a level three for her and a level four for him. The British Champions scored 83.80 points.
“The crowd was electric and we really fed off that energy. It is always such a pleasure to perform in Canada,” Fear commented.
Green/Parsons (USA) posted a season's best with their Samba and Rhumba routine. © ISU
Green/Parsons’ Samba and Rhumba to “Vocalizado”, “Historia de un amor” and “Boutique” included level-four twizzles and a level-four curve lift, while the midline steps garnered a level two. The 2022 ISU Four Continents Champions posted a season’s best of 76.13 points.
“I think today was a great step forward for us this season, our second competition of the season, and we're really happy with the progress that we've made in a short amount of time,” Parsons said.
Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN) remained close to the podium in fourth place at 75.94 points with their Cha Cha and Samba, and last week’s Skate America bronze medalists Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac (CAN) follow in fifth with a personal best of 74.59 points for their Mambo and Rhumba. Emily Bratti/Ian Somerville (USA) finished sixth on 70.85 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.
Subscribe to the ISU YouTube Channel to receive all the latest videos and follow the conversation with #GPFigure.
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.
.png)
