The 2023/2024 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series moves north to Vancouver, British Columbia which hosts Skate Canada for the third time in the history of the event.

When is it on?

Skate Canada begins Friday, 27 October with the women’s short programme and concludes Sunday, 29 October with the exhibition gala.

Who is skating?

Due to his 2023 World silver medal, Junhwan Cha (KOR) is the top seed in the men’s event. He finished a disappointing sixth to open this season at Nepela Memorial, but claimed second place at Shanghai Trophy earlier this month. Two-time European medallist Matteo Rizzo (ITA) got his season under way coming fourth behind Cha in China. 2023 Four Continents and World Junior champion Kao Miura (JPN) has continued his winning ways this season and bagged the Finlandia Trophy title three weekends ago. Kazuki Tomono (JPN) took silver at last month’s Nebelhorn Trophy and should be in the fight for the podium in Vancouver.

Despite not being at peak form, Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) kicked off this season with victory at Autumn Classic and is a class above the rest of the skaters in the women’s event. This is the first time the World champion will compete at Skate Canada. Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) already has two competitions under her belt this season with silver from Lombardia Trophy and gold from Nepela Memorial. Madeline Schizas (CAN) picked up bronze behind Kim at Nepela Memorial and will be hoping she can make the podium at her home Grand Prix for the first time. Rinka Watanabe (JPN) is the defending champion and took second place at this month’s Finlandia Trophy.

Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps (CAN) are the outstanding favourites in the pairs event. This season they have already vanquished World champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) at Autumn Classic. Lucrezia Beccari and Matteo Guarise (ITA) are going from strength to strength this as they have set a whole new set of personal bests and grabbed silver at Nebelhorn Trophy. Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) were fifth behind the Italians at Nebelhorn, but placed third at Finlandia Trophy. World Junior silver medallists Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore (AUS) are also on the roster.

A fourth Skate Canada title in a row is on the cards for ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (CAN) as they compete for the first time this season. Meanwhile Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson have already nabbed titles at Nebelhorn Trophy and Nepela Memorial last month. Eva Pate and Logan Bye (USA) were somewhat unexpected winners at Autumn Classic in September. Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU) are also in good form after picking up silver at Nebelhorn Trophy.

Everything you need to know (and some things you did not) about the skaters, the competition schedule and results can be viewed here.

When is the skating on?

Afternoon and evening in North America, evening till the early hours in Europe and morning till lunchtime in Asia. The times listed for Skate Canada are local and if you want to know what the time difference is between where you are and Vancouver then this link is your friend.

Where can I watch the pretty skaters?

This season’s Skate Canada can be viewed on the Skating ISU YouTube channel. Geographic restrictions apply.

What are the hashtags?

#GPFigure #SCI23 #IPC23 #FigureSkating