For the first time in twenty years, Skate Canada comes to Halifax for the second stage of this season’s ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

When is it on?

Skate Canada begins Friday, 25 October with the pairs short programme and concludes Sunday, 27 October with the free dance.

Who is skating?

Ilia Malinin (USA) goes back-to-back in the men’s event at Skate Canada. After his victory at last weekend’s Skate America, he will seek to be the first skater to book his place in December’s Grand Prix Final. 2023 World silver medallist Junhwan Cha (KOR) finished just off the podium at last month’s Nebelhorn Trophy, but won Shanghai Trophy a couple of weeks ago. Sota Yamamoto (JPN) took the Nebelhorn Trophy title this season and will be joined in Halifax by teammate Shun Sato (JPN) who picked up a bronze medal behind Malinin at Lombardia Trophy in September. Jason Brown (USA) is back on the Grand Prix circuit after sitting it out for two seasons. In his first competition of the season, he won bronze at Shanghai Trophy.

Three-time World champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) headlines the Skate Canada women’s event. The Japanese skater was handed a rare defeat in her season debut when she wound up third at Lombardia Trophy. 2022 World bronze medallist Alysa Liu (USA) stunned the skating world when she announced earlier this year of her decision to return to competitive skating. This will be her second competition back after winning her first at Budapest Trophy this month. Elyce Lin-Gracey (USA) bagged the Nebelhorn Trophy title, but could only manage a sixth place finish at Skate America last weekend. Others who may have their eyes on the podium are 2023 European bronze medallist Kimmy Repond (SUI) who claimed silver behind Liu at Budapest Trophy and Hana Yoshida who earned a bronze medal at Nebelhorn Trophy.

2024 World champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps (CAN) will be red hot favourites for the pairs title and should easily win their second consecutive Skate Canada. Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe (USA) have had their season marred by injured so far and will need to improve on their Shanghai Trophy fourth place. 2023 European bronze medallists Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel (GER) will also be aiming to surpass their fifth place at Lombardia Trophy. Two-time World Junior silver medallists Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore (AUS) might be in the shake up for the podium.

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier will be gunning to add a fifth consecutive Skate Canada ice dance title to their collection. 2024 World fifth place finishers Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha (CAN) make their season debut in Halifax after having to pull out of their first two events due to injury. Evegniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) took home silver from Shanghai Trophy while Natalie Taschlerova and Filip Taschler bagged the Denis Ten Memorial Challenge title this month.

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?

Lunchtime till the evening in North America, evening till early morning 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 Halifax then this link is your friend.

Where can I watch the pretty skaters?

This season’s ISU Grand Prix can be viewed on the Skating ISU YouTube channel. Geographic restrictions may apply.

What are the hashtags?

#SCI24 #IPC24 #GPFigure #FigureSkating