Seven Canadian Skaters Qualify for the 2010 ISU Grand Prix Final
The final of six ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events concluded in Paris, France over the weekend with seven Canadians making the cut to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final. The event will take place in Beijing, China from December 9-12, 2010, in conjunction with the junior final.
In men’s, three time-Canadian Champion Patrick Chan, 19 (Toronto), won gold and silver at his two assignments in Canada and Russia. This is his third trip to the final; he placed fifth in both 2008 and 2007. Chan trains in Colorado Springs, CO, USA and is coached by Christy Krall and Lori Nichol.
In pair Kirsten Moore-Towers, 18 (St. Catharines, Ont.), and Dylan Moscovitch 26, (Waterloo, Ont.), will make their first appearance at the ISU Grand Prix Final. They won silver at both their events in Canada and the USA. Moore-Towers and Moscovitch train with Kris Wirtz and Kristy Wirtz in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont.
Olympic ice dancers Vanessa Crone, 20 (North York, Ont.), and Paul Poirier, 19 (Unionville, Ont.), picked up gold and silver at their assignments in Canada and the USA. This is their second time competing at the senior final, they finished sixth in 2009. They finished fourth at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in 2007. Crone and Poirier are coached by Carol Lane, Jon Lane and Juris Razgulajevs at the Scarboro FSC.
Canadian bronze medalists Kaitlyn Weaver, 21 (Waterloo, Ont.), and Andrew Poje, 23 (Waterloo, Ont.), are the second entry in ice dance for Canada. They won a silver medal at their first event in Japan and placed fourth at Skate America. This will be their first time competing at this event. Weaver and Poje are coached by Pasquale Camerlengo, Shae-Lynn Bourne and Angelika Krylova in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Paige Lawrence, 20 (Kennedy, Sask.), and Rudi Swiegers, 23 (Kipling, Sask.), were named as third alternates in the pair event. The duo, who won bronze at Skate Canada International and were fifth in Moscow, train in Melville, Sask., and Virden, Man., with coach Patricia Hole.
