Two Canadian pairs have secured medal positions following the short program on Friday at Skate Canada International, part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event in Saskatoon. Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps are currently in second place with a score of 73.03, while Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud are in third place with a score of 70.66.
Deschamps expressed his appreciation for performing in front of a lively home crowd, stating, “It’s always nice to skate at home in front of such an enthusiastic crowd.” Stellato-Dudek mentioned that while certain aspects of their routine were improved compared to the Grand Prix in France, they encountered challenges on specific elements, but they are waiting to review their performance before making a full assessment.
Pereira and Michaud achieved a personal best in the short program and were thrilled to do so on home ice. Pereira shared, “This is one of the best competitions we’ve had in the short program, so we’re really excited about that. We love this program and are thrilled to showcase our hard work at home.”
Leading the pairs competition are Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin with a top score of 77.53 after the short program. Canadians Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Ethier will enter tomorrow’s free program in sixth place with a score of 59.93.
In the women’s event, Japan’s Mone Chiba holds a narrow lead with a score of 72.29, followed closely by American Isabeau Levito with 71.80 points, and Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann in third place with 68.11 points.
Sara-Maude Dupuis is the top Canadian in the women’s event, currently in 8th place with a score of 60.41. Dupuis expressed her excitement about performing her new routine in front of a large audience for the first time and praised the incredible support from the crowd.
Live coverage of Skate Canada International will resume on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET. For more information on viewing details, visit the CBC Sports broadcast schedule.