2024 Skate Canada | Ice Dance
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada claimed their fifth consecutive Skate Canada title on Sunday in Halifax, N.S., Canada. Teammates Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha maintained second place for the silver, while France’s Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud earned the bronze.
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier
Gilles and Poirier of Canada placed first in the rhythm dance after a playful swimmer-and-lifeguard routine to a Beach Boys medley. The three-time World medalists were spot-on, showing quality footwork throughout as they picked up very high grades of execution (GOEs). The twizzles, midline and pattern steps were graded a level three, while the rotational lift earned a level four. They scored a whopping 86.44 points, giving them a nine-point lead ahead of the rest of the field.
“I think we’re really pleased with how the skate went today,” said Poirier. “It was our first competition this season, our first time presenting this program in front of an audience, and it was a lot of fun to skate. I think that’s something that we really wanted to capture with this program is just our enjoyment of skating and our enjoyment of the dance styles.”
“It was really strong, comfortable for a first outing, ” he continued. “I think we both got into the performance. I think we can both notice a few places where we’re just a bit ahead of music, a bit behind the music, just like not working 100% together. But that’s to be expected for the first time performing a program, because you don’t know how you’re going to react to that adrenaline and to those nerves. But I think it was a really solid performance for our first outing. We felt confident, we felt strong, and I think we enjoyed the program. And I think that’s what’s going to really sell these programs.”
Piper shared that they want to showcase a “little Barbie moment” with the costumes.
“Especially here, we felt that was really important,” she said. “Instead of people being like, ‘why do they keep changing their outfits’ and they start questioning maybe they don’t believe in what they’re doing. So, we wanted to make it very clear that this is what we’re doing. We’re just going to make a decision on the day and make it fun for people, because in the end, they’re just going to be like, ‘Oh, what are they going to wear today? Because I know they have a whole wardrobe of outfits.'”
When asked if they watch their competitors, Poirier said they like to “keep to themselves” going into the season.
“We try to watch as little and as possible and just really focus on the job ahead, especially at the beginning of the year while the programs are definitely still in development,” he said. “We’re tweaking and we want to make sure that we’re creating a program that we want to create for ourselves, and not creating a program that’s kind of reactionary to what other people are doing in any sort of way. I think we are finally focused on ourselves and the improvements that we want to make and the performance that we want to put out. I think posting a score in the mid-80s is solid for the start of the season, and we’re pleased with it.”
The 2024 Four Continents champions gave a technically incredible performance to “Air on the G String” and “A White Shade of Pale,” displaying impeccable footwork throughout. The midline steps were graded a level four and three, while the one-foot steps were a level three for both ice dancers. The twizzles, spin, and all three lifts garnered a level four and they finished first in the free dance and overall (128.40/214.84).
“We were just so pleased with how we felt, being so in command of what we were doing and just taking everything step by step, through all the practices and the performances,” said Poirier. “So, I think more than anything, it’s that feeling that we want to take with us as we go into our next events. We just really want to continue skating with confidence and solidity and that’s going to bring us our best skates. I think the shows have helped us so much just in order to feel like we can perform in any circumstance, at any time, and still put on a performance that is emotional and present.”
“Last year, as we went through the Grand Prix season, we over trained a little bit,” he added. “Our events were quite close together, and we really wanted to make some improvements and work really hard between the events. And we ended up at the Grand Prix being exhausted and feeling really over trained. So, I think that was a great learning experience for us that we’re going to remember as we get ready for a second Grand Prix.”
They will compete next at Finlandia Trophy.
Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha
Lajoie and Lagha were off to a good start in their Austin Powers routine, showing lots of character. However, Lagha slipped on an edge and went down after the twizzles, which were graded a level four. After regrouping, the 2023 Four Continents bronze medalists showed good level-three midline and pattern steps, while the rotational lift was graded a level four. The fall resulted in a one-point deduction, but didn’t affect any of the elements, and they scored 77.34 for second place.
“After it’s done, it’s done. What else can you do?” said Lagha of the fall. “When it happened, I was really pissed. But then after, I focused again. Again, what else can you do?”
“I think the mindset going into it was really good, and we were really focused in a stressed moment,” said Lajoie. “We were sharp, and this mistake was out of our control, so we’re just going to have to change it. I think we can’t always be 100% clean in every competition, and that can happen sometimes, and it happened today for us.”
“I did the same thing in practice,” she added. “It’s something that you have no control on, and that’s why we’re going to change it, because we both had a fall in the same place.”
The four-time Grand Prix medalists were brilliant in their free dance to “The Sound of Silence” by Disturbed and “Murky Solitude” by Karl Hugo. The team displayed very good level-four twizzles, earning high grades of execution (GOE), mostly +4s in this element. The lifts and spin were also graded a level four and they finished second in the free dance and overall (122.56/199.90).
“I think after yesterday, we really wanted to just concentrate on today and step by step,” said Lajoie. “And I think that’s why we were able to perform very well, because we were really focused on the present moment. We’re not thinking about yesterday or anything else.”
“It was hard because what happened yesterday was almost out of my control,” added Lagha.
When asked of their goals, Lagha said he would like people to “feel something” or “be touched” by the free dance.
“I think it’s for the program to be so well trained that we can go even deeper and deeper,” added Lajoie. “Like when you are on automatic pilot, and you don’t have to think because it’s so ready. That’s when you can really connect with your own emotion and make the crowd react. And I think that will be the goal. Because it was our first competition, for sure, we were trying to connect and have emotion, but we were also concentrating on every step and making sure everything was okay. So, I think that by the end of the season, like every season, we’ll be able to go to deeper.”
They will compete at Cup of China next.
Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud
France’s Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud delivered a clever rhythm dance to music by Boney M to finish in third place with 76.76 points. The three-time Grand Prix bronze medalists executed level four twizzles and a unique stationary lift. The midline steps and pattern steps received a level two.
“We wanted today to show the right performance and work on our techniques to have a better level but otherwise, we are happy with our performance,” shared Lopareva.
“Honestly, I like to compete with couples from our team, because it’s always more fun,” said Brissaud of competing against other teams from the Ice Academy of Montreal.”
The two-time national champions laid down an innovating and intense free dance to music by BFRND which had unique transitions throughout. The lifts, spin and twizzles were all graded a level four, while the one-foot and midline steps were a level two. They finished third in this segment and overall (117.49/194.25).
“When we just built this program, I was worrying like about the last part, because the various steps are very intense,” said Lopareva. “I think we never had something this fast, but after a lot of work, and a lot of work of the choreographer as well, it feels right. It feels good and right now I didn’t have any problem to perform it as we worked it on the practice.”
“This free is like, for me, it’s already one of my best we ever skated,” said Brissaud. “I hope in end of season it is super good because I’m proud of this free dance. So, yes, it’s almost like one of my favorites now.”
“It’s something new, something we didn’t do before,” Lopareva chimed in. “It’s techno and I like techno. So, yeah, I like this program, and I think people can see it on the ice.”
They will compete on home ice next week at Grand Prix de France.
Natalie Taschlerova and Filip Taschler
Czech Republic’s Natalie Taschlerova and Filip Taschler gave everything they had in their upbeat rhythm dance to a Donna Summer medley. The team showed good speed across the ice while displaying level two twizzles and pattern steps. The midlines steps received a level three and two, but the curve lift was awarded a level four. The 2024 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge gold medalists placed fifth with 74.97 points.
Taschler said that getting from the beginning to the end is difficult, “like a sprint,” and that they are working on that.
“You know, you want to make it more ‘dancy’, and this, we appreciate,” he said. “But of course, it’s challenging. So, we are happy. The program is growing, so we’ll see if we do some changes later.”
The two-time national champions gave a beautiful free dance to music by Moby which featured level-four lifts and twizzles. They placed four in the free dance and moved up to fourth place overall (189.60).
“It was a bit difficult today, but overall, fine,” said Taschler. “I mean, we went in with the right approach, just in the beginning, the music was played it bit later or earlier, so we didn’t catch the first beat. So, it was bit hard in the beginning, after going through the run through. It was bit challenging.”
The theme for the free dance is call “Inside the Dream.”
“This year, it’s not really like the story that we are telling, but it’s like everyone can have their dreams,” Taschler explained. “So, you can see in the program whatever you want, like in a dream.”
Finlandia Trophy will be their next stop on the Grand Prix.
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik
USA’s Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik showed total commitment in their rhythm dance to a Bee Gees medley, pocketing 75.63 points for fourth place. The 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy bronze medalists showed lots of personality but lacked in levels compared to the top skaters. The pattern steps were graded a level one, while the midline steps were a one and two. The twizzles were scored a level three and four, but the lift garnered a level four with many high GOEs.
“I think it feels right for these competitions,” said Kolesnik, regarding their placement among the other U.S. teams. “We worked really hard, and we were struggling through so much. It’s a great experience for us, and I’m very happy with the performance we put out.”
“As for the other U.S. teams, we always support them,” Zingas added. “You know, we’re friends with all of them, obviously, so we want them to do well, but ultimately we want to succeed. So, it’s, it’s an amazing opportunity to be here and to skate, and how we skated today is even better.”
“I like the disco; it is really natural!” she added. “I have a lot of fun naturally when I skate, and I think disco is a super enjoyable style to skate in. And after we played around with a few different things, this is what stuck. I’m really happy we decided to go with it, because every day I look forward to doing the rhythm dance.”
The 2023 U.S. national pewter medalists mesmerized with their free dance to “Epilogue” by Olafur Arnalds and “Lost it to Trying” by Son Lux, but they left a few points on the tables in terms of levels. There were many highlights and transitions in this program, but the twizzles were only graded a two and three. All three lifts garnered a level four and they finished fifth in the free dance and overall (113.78 / 189.41).
“For me, it was very disappointing,” said Kolesnik. “I expected us to do a lot better than what we put out today, but this is a learning experience. It’s better that it happened this early in the season so we can come back home and work on mistakes. I think we just underperformed a little bit; not as good as we’ve done today at the practice.”
“Then there were issues with the levels where we can definitely increase our score,” he continued. “So, we’ve got to work on it really hard and improve.”
His partner and sister didn’t feel the program was “horrible,” but did find the levels disappointing.
“Obviously, I made a large mistake on the twizzle, which is something that I’m trying to work out, and hopefully we can improve in our next event,” she said.
“We have Finland next, so we definitely want to improve,” said Taschler. “We are actually going to see our choreographer for this program, Benoit (Richaud), tomorrow so we can adjust things that didn’t feel as comfortable in transitions. So, we’ll work on that as well. I think they’re going to possibly be some changes in the middle section.”
USA’s Oona Brown and Gage Brown placed sixth (179.14) overall, followed by Hannah Lim and Ye Quan of the Republic of Korea (177.09) and Canada’s Alicia Fabbri and Paul Ayer of Canada (174.45).
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