2016 Skate Canada: Men & Ice Dance Preview
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Welcome to Part 2 of our Skate Canada preview, which will cover the men’s and ice dance fields.
MEN
In a hotly-contested men’s field, all eyes will be on the battle between 2014 Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu and 3-time World Champion Patrick Chan, who are facing off for the first time this season. Takahito Mura, the 2014 Four Continents Champion, will be hoping to win a medal with strong performances as he solidifies his position as one of Japan’s top men, while 3-time Four Continents Bronze Medalist Han Yan of China will be looking to redeem himself after a disastrous showing at the 2016 World Championships, where he did not qualify for the free skate. Also in the mix is young quadster Daniel Samohin of Israel, who will be making his senior Grand Prix debut after winning the title of 2016 World Junior Champion last season. With a highly talented men’s field attempting a multitude of risky quads, the question of who exactly will stand on the podium is far from decided - in fact, almost every competitor in this field has a chance to win a medal, depending on how they perform.
YUZURU HANYU
Representing: Japan
Age: 21
ISU personal bests: SP 110.95, FS 219.48, total 330.43
Notable titles: 2014 Olympic Champion, 2014 World Champion, 3-time Grand Prix Final Champion, 4-time Japanese National Champion
Programs: SP - Let’s Go Crazy; FS - Hope & Legacy
As the reigning Olympic champion, the list of accomplishments and titles that Yuzuru Hanyu has already amassed in the world of figure skating are countless. He is the first skater to ever land a quad loop cleanly in competition, as well as the world record holder for the short program, free skate, and total scores (which he has broken ten times.) He is also the first man to have surpassed the 100 point barrier in the short program, the 200 point barrier in the free program, and 300 point barrier in the combined total score. Yuzuru has arguably pushed the sport to a place that requires both difficult jumps as well as high-level artistry, as fellow competitors train fervently to catch up to him. When Yuzuru is on, he is a winning combination of high technical and performance skills, garnering record-shattering scores. However, sometimes hindered by injuries as well as his all-encompassing drive to be the best, Yuzuru is still human and prone to mistakes and spectacular falls when he’s off. After recovering from an injury that kept him off the ice for a good chunk of the off season, Yuzuru debuted his new programs at the 2016 Autumn Classic International to a first place finish. At Skate Canada, Yuzuru will have to improve from his performances at the Autumn Classic both artistically and technically if he wants to break his current streak of winning silver at his first Grand Prix events of the season. Although his high potential base value and high program component scores give him a bit of a cushion, serious errors could cost him the gold at Skate Canada, as it did last season, when he bombed the short program and ultimately lost the competition to Patrick Chan. Yuzuru plans two quads in his short program (4Lo and 4S3T) and four quads in his free program (4Lo, 4S, 4S3T, 4T).
Yuzuru loves Winnie the Pooh, collecting headphones, and playing video games. He looks up to 2006 Olympic Gold Medalist Evgeni Plushenko, as well as 2008 World Bronze Medalist Johnny Weir. He trains with former Olympic Silver Medalist Brian Orser at the Cricket Club in Toronto, Canada, alongside 2015 and 2016 World Champion Javier Fernandez. In the past, he suffered from asthma and was a survivor of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Beloved by skating fans around the world, Yuzuru is one of the most popular skaters currently competing and is often recognizable to non-skating fans.
PATRICK CHAN
Representing: Canada
Age: 25
ISU personal bests: SP 98.52, FS 203.99, total 295.27
Notable titles: 2014 Olympic Silver Medalist, 3-time World Champion, 2-time Grand Prix Final Champion, 3-time Four Continents Champion, 8-time Canadian National Champion
Programs: SP - Dear Prudence/ Blackbird; FS - A Journey
A veteran of the field, Patrick Chan returned to the skating world last season after taking a year-long break during the post-Olympic season. However, upon returning, Patrick struggled throughout the season to match the technical pace that others had set in his absence, leading him to a disappointing 5th place finish at the 2016 World Championships. Despite that, moments of brilliance in the free skate at the 2016 Four Continents Championship and the 2015 Grand Prix Final showed fans that Patrick still has the potential to be at the top of the world. A former 3-time World Champion who has set world record scores in the past, Patrick’s skating is, at its best, a winning combination of solid jumps and exquisite skating skills - he is often cited by fans and skating experts alike as having some of the best skating skills in the world. Troubles during the most recent off season left Patrick without a coach, but he is now training in Canton, Michigan with Marina Zoueva, a famous ice dance coach. Working on upping his technical arsenal, Patrick has been training a quadruple salchow in practice, and may attempt one in his free skate at Skate Canada (along with a quadruple toeloop). He kicked off his 2016-17 season at Finlandia Trophy, where he received the silver medal behind young quadster and current training mate Nathan Chen. At Skate Canada, Patrick will be facing off against Yuzuru Hanyu, whom he beat last season at the same competition. Having won Skate Canada 5 times in the past, Patrick will need to back up his effortless artistry with the technical goods, and deliver two pristine performances to clinch the gold medal in front of a home crowd.
Patrick is affectionately referred to by fans as “PChiddy,” and has a line of ice wine that is available in stores in Canada. In the past, he was known for his spectacular falls on and off the ice (including a 4T-3T combination where he ran out of room on the jump and hit the boards at the side of the rink). He tends to be very candid in interviews, but also has a dorky and fun side. Patrick is a big fan of fellow (now retired) skater Yuna Kim. Born in Ottawa, he is of Han Chinese descent and is fluent in English, French, and Cantonese. His free skate music this season was composed by fellow Canadian skater and 2-time pairs World Champion, Eric Radford.
TAKAHITO MURA
Representing: Japan
Age: 25
ISU personal bests: SP 89.08, FS 179.35, total 268.43
Notable titles: 2014 Four Continents Champion
Programs: SP - Flamenco Medley; FS - Piano Concerto no.2 (Rachmaninoff)
Hailing from a country known for the quality of its men’s skaters, Takahito has established himself as one of Japan’s top men in recent years. His career looked to be on the rise after he qualified for the 2014 Grand Prix Final, but inconsistency and injury led him to a poor finish at the 2015 World Championships. He got his 2015-16 season off to an unfortunate start with a 10th-place finish at his first Grand Prix event, but rebounded at his subsequent competitions, finishing 3rd at 2015 NHK Trophy and Japanese Nationals, and 5th at the 2016 Four Continents Championships. However, he was left off of Japan’s World team due to the Japanese men only having two spots for the 2016 World Championships. Takahito’s inconsistency is a stark contrast to his moments of brilliance, which have won him Grand Prix titles in the past. When Takahito delivers, his experience as well as his big jumps and solid technical skills can lead him to the top of the podium. This season, he finished second at the US International Figure Skating Classic, where he avoided making major errors which have sometimes plagued him in the past. At Skate Canada, Takahito could challenge for a top spot on the podium, but his placement ultimately depends on the performances of other skaters. Takahito is working hard to catch up to the technical firepower of the younger generation, and is training a quadruple salchow, which he may attempt in his free skate along with two other quad jumps.
Takahito is happily married and has a daughter named Kanna. He has been shown topless on Japanese television, and is known for his impressive abs. Takahito is also infamous for skating to warhorses, pieces of music that are overly popular with skaters (eg. Carmen, Phantom of the Opera, etc.), as well as his interesting (/questionable) costumes and hairstyles.
HAN YAN
Representing: China
Age: 20
ISU personal bests: SP 90.14, FS 181.98, total 271.55
Notable titles: 3-time Four Continents Bronze Medalist, 2012 World Junior Champion, 2-time Chinese National Champion
Programs: SP - I’ll Take Care of You; FS - Romeo & Juliet
Once hailed as one of China’s brightest hopes, Han was the first Chinese skater to win the World Junior title in the men’s discipline, a feat he achieved in 2012. He surprised many skating fans by winning the bronze medal in his senior debut competition, the 2013 Four Continents Championships, and he made a splash in his first full senior season, qualifying for the 2013 Grand Prix Final and finishing 7th at the Sochi Olympics. At his best, Han is a world-class skater capable of winning Grand Prix events and ISU Championship medals. He is known for his charming personality on the ice, exquisite skating skills, and huge, explosive jumps, especially his triple axel, which many fans declare to be one of the best in the world. However, inconsistency has always been his greatest weakness. He had his share of ups and downs during the 2015-16 season - after winning his third bronze medal at the 2016 Four Continents Championships, he placed a shocking 26th place after the short program at the 2016 World Championships, failing to qualify for the free skate. During the off season, he left his longtime coach who had been with him since childhood and spent most of the summer training in the USA with the retired, legendary pairs skater Qing Pang. Skate Canada will be Han’s season debut - which could work against him, as it did for his countryman Boyang Jin at 2016 Skate America. Han has the potential to win a medal at Skate Canada, but it depends on which Han Yan shows up. He will need to bounce back from his Worlds disappointment and triumph over his inconsistency to deliver technically sound performances if he hopes to stand on the podium.
Off-ice, Han is known for his dorky and fun personality. He is very active on social media, often posting selfies and photos of his cats on his weibo, and he is close friends with Chinese ladies’ singles skater Zijun Li.
DANIEL SAMOHIN
Representing: Israel
Age: 18
ISU personal bests: SP 82.73, FS 165.38, total 236.65
Notable titles: 2016 World Junior Champion, 2015 U.S. International Classic Champion
Programs: SP - Delilah; FS - The Illusionist
The reigning 2016 World Junior Champion who made history by winning the first ISU Championship title for Israel, Daniel will be making his senior Grand Prix debut at Skate Canada. Daniel is known for his flamboyant and expressive programs, as well as his quad jumps (when he lands them). He delights fans by remaining fully committed to the character he is portraying, even after he finishes his performance. He is one of the few skaters to have landed two quad jumps in a short program, three quads in a free program, and five quads in one competition. However, Daniel still struggles to find consistency, and has yet to find his stride in competing against more seasoned senior competitors. His weaker skating skills and spins may also hinder him in the eyes of the judges, especially compared to the older, experienced skaters in this field. He began his season at the 2016 Finlandia Trophy, placing an unfortunate 13th place, and also ended the 2016 Autumn Classic in 6th place. Should Daniel show up to Skate Canada with his full arsenal of quads, he has a chance of ending up on the podium, but he is just as capable of finishing last.
Sometimes known as #damndaniel to his fans, Daniel trains in the United States, and is currently planning to launch his own clothing line alongside his brother and a friend.
Other skaters to watch:
Kevin Reynolds (CAN): 2013 Four Continents Champion. Known for his arsenal of quadruple jumps, which he began attempting long before the current quad craze. Has recently been plagued with injury and skate boot issues, missing many competitions. Kevin has skated to the Legend of Zelda and Cowboy Bebop soundtracks in the past.
Grant Hochstein (USA): 2016 US National Pewter Medalist. Had a breakthrough last season, finishing fourth at both of his Grand Prix Events. At the 2016 World Championships, Grant replaced an injured Nathan Chen and skated a crowd-pleasing free program to end in 10th overall.
Ross Miner (USA): 2012 Four Continents Bronze Medalist, 2013 US National Silver Medalist. A musical skater, but struggles with consistency and low technical content. Could potentially be a dark horse if he’s on.
Misha Ge (UZB): 2016 Autumn Classic International Silver Medalist. Performed well during the 2014-15 season to an impressive 6th place finish at the 2015 World Championships. A fan favorite and engaging performer.
Michal Brezina (CZE): 2013 European Bronze Medalist, 3-time Czech National Champion. Once a top contender, struggles with consistency have kept him off major podiums. Infamous in the past for always placing fourth at competitions.
ICE DANCE
A discipline whose main appeal lies in the trust and chemistry between partners, ice dance is all about intricate steps and turns across the ice, jaw-dropping lifts, and decadent costumes (and sometimes, drama.) At Skate Canada, skating fans around the world will be keeping a close eye on beloved Canadian favorites Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir as they return to competition after taking two seasons off. The gold medals are Virtue and Moir’s to lose, and they will certainly be looking for a win on their road to reach the Grand Prix Final and prove that they are back and ready to win it all. Hot on their heels are the 2014 World Champions Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte, 2015 World Silver Medalists & 2016 World Bronze Medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates, and fellow Canadians Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier, all of whom are top teams in their own right and looking for a medal to solidify their standing. In this packed field, ice dance is sure to be an exciting and unpredictable event.
TESSA VIRTUE / SCOTT MOIR
Representing: Canada
Age: 27/29
ISU personal bests: SD 77.72, FD 114.66, total 190.99
Notable titles: 2010 Olympic Champions, 2014 Olympic Silver Medalists, 2012 & 2010 World Champions, 2012 & 2008 Four Continents Champions, 4-time Grand Prix Final Silver Medalists, 6-time Canadian National Champions
Programs: SD - Kiss/Five Women/Purple Rain; FD - Pilgrims on a Long Journey/Latch
Returning to skating competition this season after taking two seasons off, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are decorated veterans of the sport who have undeniably left their marks on the world of ice dance and in skating history. Over their long, storied career together, Tessa and Scott have picked up two Olympic medals, one of them gold, as well as two World titles. Tessa and Scott are famed for their electric chemistry and artistic synergy on the ice, as well as their pristine technical skills. Although many fans thought they would retire after the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Tessa and Scott made waves in the skating world last season by announcing their plans to return to competition. Even more interesting was their decision to train with Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, the coaches of reigning and 2-time World Champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France. Both teams have yet to face each other in competition, and the battle between them will certainly be something to keep an eye on this season. Tessa and Scott’s comeback began at the 2016 Autumn Classic, where they debuted their new programs to a first place finish. Well-beloved by the Canadian public and skating fans, they will start their Grand Prix run at Skate Canada in front of a home audience, where they will be the favorites to win. With the face-off against Papadakis and Cizeron looming ahead, Skate Canada will serve as a stepping point for Tessa and Scott as they continue their journey to make the Grand Prix Final for the 5th time in their career.
ANNA CAPPELLINI / LUCA LANOTTE
Representing: Italy
Age: 29/31
ISU personal bests: SD 72.39, FD 112.07, total 182.72
Notable titles: 2014 World Champions, 2014 European Champions, 2015 Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalists, 5-time Italian National Champions
Programs: SD - Cry for Me/ Boogie Woogie; FD - Chaplin Medley
Although their gold medal at the 2014 World Championships was unexpected and they have not reached the World podium in the two years since, Anna and Luca are an experienced, veteran team in the top tier of the ice dance field, and should always be considered in the mix for medals at international competitions. Last season produced good results for them, as they won the bronze medal at the 2015 Grand Prix Final and the silver medal at the 2016 European Championships. They also received personal bests for their free dance and combined total at the 2016 World Championships, placing fourth overall. Anna and Luca are known for their consistently classic and elegant style, and Anna in particular is known for her beautiful dresses. They are a highly musical and expressive team who excel at playing characters in their programs. Anna and Luca began their competitive season at the 2016 Nebelhorn Trophy, where they won the the gold ahead of Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates. A medal is almost certainly guaranteed for Anna and Luca at Skate Canada, but they will have to give good performances to earn it on their mission to return to the Grand Prix Final.
MADISON CHOCK / EVAN BATES
Representing: USA
Age: 24/27
ISU personal bests: SD 74.47, FD 113.31, total 185.77
Notable titles: 2016 World Bronze Medalists, 2015 World Silver Medalists, 2015 & 2014 Grand Prix Final Silver Medalists, 2-time Four Continents Silver Medalists, 2015 US National Champions
Programs: SD - Bad to the Bone/Uptown Funk, FD - Under Pressure
Although they seemed poised to win it all as the top American ice dance team in the 2014-15 season, last season was a mixed bag for Madison and Evan. On the upside, they won medals at every competition they competed in - most notably, silver medals at the 2015 Grand Prix Final and 2016 Four Continents Championships, as well as the bronze medal at the 2016 World Championships. On the downside, as the season continued, Madison and Evan were eventually dethroned from their position as the top US dance team by the Shibutani siblings. This season will be crucial as they seek to reclaim their spot as the top US ice dance team. Beginning their season with two Challenger Series competitions, Madison and Evan won the silver medals at the 2016 Ondrej Nepela Memorial and the 2016 Nebelhorn Trophy. Based on past results, they are favored to take a medal at Skate Canada, but will have to give breakout performances to contest for higher placements and show that they are indeed back on the right track.
PIPER GILLES / PAUL POIRIER
Representing: Canada
Age: 24/ 24
ISU personal bests: SD 70.70, FD 106.52, total 176.84
Notable titles: 2014 Four Continents Silver Medalists, 4-time Canadian National Medalists
Programs: SD - Oh What a Night for Dancing/Disco Inferno; FD - Con Buena Onda
Piper and Paul had a solid showing last season, winning medals at both of their Grand Prix events and just barely missing out on the Grand Prix Final. Having placed three times consecutively within the top ten at Worlds, Piper and Paul gave a crowd-rousing and innovative Beatles-themed short dance at 2016 Worlds in Boston, which gave them a new personal best short dance score. Constantly bringing inventive new elements to competition, they are known for their distinctive, unique, and sometimes polarizing style on ice. Piper and Paul began their season at the 2016 Nebelhorn Trophy, where they debuted their new programs to a bronze medal finish. At Skate Canada, they are sure to receive the crowd’s support, but will ultimately need to depend on the performances of others in this deep field to receive a medal. Stellar performances could catapult them onto the podium, should other teams falter.
Other skaters to watch:
Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (RUS): 2015 European Bronze Medalists, 2-time Russian National Bronze Medalists. Had steady results last season, establishing themselves as one of Russia’s top three ice dance teams. Began their 2016-17 season at the 2016 Finlandia Trophy, which they won with personal best scores.
Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA): 2014 World Junior Champions, 2014 US National Junior Champions. A relatively young team, Kaitlin and Jean-Luc are known for their fluid artistry and musical style, and have the potential to become one of the top US ice dance teams in the future if they can solidify their technical skills. Last season was derailed by illness and injury on Kaitlin’s part, and they will now be looking to regain their standing. They began their season at the 2016 Autumn Classic, placing 2nd.