Espoo, Finland

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Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada take the lead during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Espoo (FIN) © ISU

2021 ISU World bronze medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier of Canada danced to a confident lead in the Rhythm Dance, setting a new personal best score en route. Second-placed Skate America silver medalists Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA) are looking for another silver and the spot in the ISU Grand Prix Final. Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) are standing in third place, as they head into the Free Dance on Saturday. 

Gilles/Poirier put out an upbeat and precise performance to “Do What I Do”, collecting a level four for the twizzles, the pattern dance step sequence and the rotational lift, while the midline step sequence was rated a level three. The Skate Canada Champions pushed their personal best to 87.80 points. 

“When we went to Skate Canada, earlier in the season, we really went into it with no expectations,” Poirier said.

“This being the second event of our season, when we first arrived, we were a little bit excited and we really wanted to show our best skating here. And so today's performance took a lot of mental fortitude,” he added.

“We know that there's still more of us to give, as the season goes on, but we're really happy with the development of the program,” Gilles said. 

“We're proud of the moment we have right now, and we're looking forward to tomorrow to get a little bit more.”

Hawayek/Baker’s entertaining dance to “Cuban Pete”, “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” and “El Cumbanchero” was highlighted by level-four twizzles and a level-four straight line lift. However, the pattern dance step sequence garnered a level two, as well as Hawayek’s part of the midline steps. Nevertheless, the Skate America silver medalists got over the 80 points barrier for the first time, with a score of 80.93.

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Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker (USA) perform during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Espoo (FIN) © ISU

“As we've continued to develop in the sport, something that has come with our years of experience is an understanding of how to ground ourselves in the present moment and take each opportunity for what it can provide,” Hawayek said. 

“Today we went out there, and we really tried to not only lay down a solid performance, but also to find special moments within the performance for one another. Something that we've realized, as we've grown older, is that we don't want to take each moment for granted.”

Carreira/Ponomarenko’s dance to Samba and Rhumba included two level four elements and a level-three pattern dance step sequence. The two-time ISU World Junior medalists picked up a season’s best of  76.20 points.

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Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Espoo (FIN) © ISU

“We're really happy with the performances. We want to come in and capitalize on the events,” said Ponomarenko, at the post-event press conference. 

“We skated (at the Grand Prix) in Sheffield just a few weeks ago, and made the little improvements that we wanted to make in between.”

Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN) in fourth are still in the mix for a medal (75.06 points). Natalie Taschlerova/Filip Taschler (CZE) finished fifth (74.60 points), ahead of Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus (CAN) on 72.38 points.

 

Schedule of the event

The schedule is as follows:


Friday, November 25:              Pairs, Women’s & Men’s Short Programs, Rhythm Dance
Saturday, November 26:          Pairs, Women’s & Men’s Free Skating, Free Dance
Sunday, November 27:            Exhibition Gala

 

The Grand Prix Espoo in Espoo (FIN) November 25-27 is the sixth and last event in the 2022/23 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

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 a s 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.