The international figure skating season kicks off this Friday with the start of the Grand Prix tour in France. The season includes six regular Grand Prix events until the end of November, with a Canadian stop in Kelowna, B.C. Skaters can participate in any two events, and the top six in each discipline (men’s, women’s, pairs, and ice dance) based on regular-season points will qualify for the prestigious Grand Prix Final in China in December. Following this, attention shifts to national championships and the world championships in Finland in March.
The new season marks the beginning of a fresh Olympic cycle, with several key athletes retiring after last winter’s Games in Italy. Notable retirements include Olympic pairs gold medallists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan, Japanese women’s singles star Kaori Sakamoto, and others who are taking a break this season to reconsider their future plans.
Canada faces a rebuilding phase in figure skating with the departure of key medalists from past Winter Olympics. Promising athletes to watch include the pairs team of Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, who claimed a bronze at the world championships last season. Additionally, 21-year-old Stephen Gogolev, a rising star, is making waves with his impressive performances.
The Canadian figure skating landscape has seen significant changes, including splits between former ice dancing partners and transitions to new pairings. Despite the rebuilding phase, there are hopeful prospects within the Canadian figure skating community. Fans can catch all the action from the Grand Prix tour live on CBC Gem streaming service and the CBC Sports website, with regular coverage on the CBC TV network, including the new CBC Sports Primetime show on Saturday nights.