Skate Canada announces changes to event calendar for the 2022-2026 Olympic Quadrennial

[gsk8]

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada is pleased to announce changes to our event calendar that will begin in the 2022-2023 season. Following the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Skate Canada will be implementing a new calendar of events for the next Olympic Quadrennial. These changes will allow for greater inclusivity for all skating disciplines, enhanced flexibility for the delivery of events across our country and provide needed improvements to the Train-to-Train stage of athlete development at the Pre-Novice and Novice levels.

For years, Skate Canada has hosted two separate National Championship events, one Nationals for Singles, Pairs, and Ice Dance and another Nationals for Synchronized skating. Beginning in the 2022-2023 season, The Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships will include the disciplines of Singles, Pairs, Ice Dance and Synchronized skating at the Junior and Senior level.

“Skate Canada is thrilled to be able to crown all of our National Champions in each of our skating disciplines at the Junior and Senior level at one inclusive event,” said Dr. Shae Zukiwsky, Senior Director, Performance Excellence, Skate Canada. “A National Championship that includes the Synchronized skating discipline will highlight all of our athletes competing at this level, acknowledging all of the participant’s dedication to our sport and creating greater visibility for each of our skating disciplines.”

The changes to the event calendar are:

• Skate Canada Junior/Senior Challenge: Junior and Senior levels for Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance. Event to be held in early December.
• Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championship: Junior and Senior levels in all disciplines. Event to be held in early January. Information related to Synchronized skating qualifications will be communicated at a later date.
• Skate Canada Pre-Novice/Novice Challenge: Pre-Novice and Novice levels for Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance. Event to be held in late January.
• Skate Canada Cup: Formerly the Synchronized Skating National Championship, this event will now crown the Novice Canadian Champions in Singles, Pairs, Ice Dance and Synchronized skating. This event will continue to include Intermediate and Open Synchronized skating levels and will be held in late February.

“Skate Canada looks forward to these exciting changes to our competitive event calendar,” said Debra Armstrong, CEO, Skate Canada. “These changes are integral to the next Olympic Quadrennial in allowing our athletes at all levels and disciplines feel included, prepared and ready for the next stages of their development.”

 

[ladyjane]

I'm very curious about how this is going to work out. Synchronised skating teams are quite big, and put some different demands on the organisation than the singles, pairs and ID do. Skate Canada of course has a lot of experience in both. But it could be a way to increase the popularity of all disciplines!

 

[kwalker]

It will be interesting to see how this goes for the synchro teams. Senior teams seem to be excited about this news, but it's sort of poor timing for deciding our Worlds representatives due to when the synchronized skating season starts in North America. The synchro competition season in Canada doesn't start until December, or November if teams travel to the US. There will be only one guaranteed domestic competition prior to Nationals (St-Hubert and Bill Phillips are back to back weekends and teams normally attend one or the other). Depending on the timing of Nationals in relation to other Canadian competitions, Winterfest might also be an option. The real problem will be having an international panel judge their programs before Nationals as the ISU Challenger Series for synchro doesn't start until January. There are some smaller international competitions in December but they aren't very well attended. This will definitely require some restructuring of teams training schedules.