The international figure skating season kicks off this Friday with the start of the Grand Prix tour in France. The tour comprises six regular Grand Prix events running through November, with a Canadian stop scheduled in Kelowna, B.C. next week. Skaters can participate in any two events, and the top six in the regular-season points standings for each discipline (men’s, women’s, pairs, and ice dance) will earn invites to the prestigious Grand Prix Final in China in December. Following this, the focus shifts to national championships, with Canada’s set to take place in early January in Mississauga, Ont., and the world championships in Finland in March.
This season marks the beginning of a new Olympic cycle, with some key retirements post last winter’s Games in Italy. Notable exits include Olympic pairs gold medallists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan, and Japanese women’s singles star Kaori Sakamoto. Several other prominent figures, such as Olympic women’s champion Alysa Liu of the United States, Olympic and world men’s silver medallist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan, and ice dance champions Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Piper Gilles, and Paul Poirier of Canada, are taking a break to consider their future.
As the journey begins towards the 2030 Games in the French Alps, Canada faces a transitional period. With Gilles and Poirier stepping back, Canada loses its only figure skating medallists from the last two Winter Olympics. The reshuffling continues as 2024 pairs world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps part ways, with Deschamps retiring and Stellato-Dudek returning to the U.S. to skate with a new partner.
A significant split also occurred between Canadian ice dancers Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, who have now teamed up with new partners. These changes signal a rebuilding phase for Canadian figure skating, with fewer medal expectations this season. However, promising talents like Lia Pereira, Trennt Michaud, and Stephen Gogolev offer hope for the future.
Pereira and Michaud, who placed eighth in their Olympic debut last year, secured bronze at the world championships, setting a positive trajectory for their upcoming competitions. Gogolev, a rising star, is working on enhancing his routines with more quadruple jumps despite facing a foot injury setback. His potential is being closely monitored as he prepares for the upcoming Grand Prix events in Canada and Finland.
To follow the Grand Prix tour, viewers can watch live coverage on the CBC Gem streaming service and CBC Sports website. Additionally, weekend coverage will be available on the CBC TV network, including the new CBC Sports Primetime show on Saturday nights. Check out the full streaming and broadcast schedules for more details.
