Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier hold a one-point lead over reigning ice dance world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates at this year’s Four Continents event following the rhythm dance on Thursday in Seoul, South Korea.
Skating to a medley of music that included “Rock Around the Clock” and “Stayin’ Alive,” the American team of Chock and Bates produced an energetic routine that received 86.21 points to temporarily move into first place.
But defending champions Gilles and Poirier, the last skaters to take the ice, scored 87.22 points for their upbeat routine to a medley of surf music.
Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, also of Canada, finished third with 82.86.
WATCH | Defending champs Gilles, Poirier lead after rhythm dance:
Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier scored 87.22 points to lead heading into the free dance at the ISU Four Continents championships in Seoul.
Chock and Bates missed the Four Continents last year and were aiming for their fourth title in the competition. The married couple won the event in 2019, 2020 and 2023.
The Americans are using the meet in South Korea as an important stepping stone ahead of the March 25-30 world championships in Boston.
“It’s a very important competition, not only because many top skaters participate, but also because it’s our last competition before worlds,” Chock said. “It’s a good opportunity to show the training that’s been put in during the middle part of the season.”
WATCH | Lajoie, Lagha dance to a new personal best:
Majorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha scored 82.86 points to set a new personal best in the rhythm dance at the ISU Four Continents championships in Seoul.
The ice dance event wraps up on Saturday with the free dance.
The men’s short program was topped by Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan. His 94.73 points gave him a comfortable lead over Jimmy Ma of the United States, who was second with 82.52.
WATCH | Shaidorov jumps to early lead:
Mikhail Shaidorov scored 94.73 points to lead after the men’s short program at the ISU Four Continents championships in Seoul.
Shaidorov opened with a spectacular quad lutz-triple toeloop combination and landed a quad toeloop later to rack up points.
Kazuki Tomono of Japan was third with 79.84. Junhwan Cha of South Korea could manage only a double salchow in his opening element and finished fourth.
Edmonton’s Matthew Newnham had the top Canadian result in the short program, ending up with 73.81 points to sit in seventh place.
WATCH | Newnham sits 7th after men’s short:
Matthew Newnham set a new personal best score of 73.81 points, to sit in seventh place following the men’s short program at the ISU Four Continents championships in Seoul.
Pereira, Michaud 3rd in pairs
In the pairs short program, 2023 world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan were first with 74.73 points.
Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea of the United States finished second with 70.32 points while Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud of Canada were third with 69.79.
WATCH | Pereira, Michaud skate to 3rd in pairs short:
The Canadian duo of Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud put up a personal best short program score of 69.79 at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
World champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada were fourth.
Skating to “Paint it Black,” Kihara and Miura’s routine was highlighted by a level three triple twist, a throw triple lutz and a level four step sequence.
WATCH | Miura, Kihara lead pairs competition in Seoul:
Riku Miura And Ryuichi Kihara scored 74.73 to lead all skaters at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
Kihara and Miura were the 2023 Four Continents champions when the event was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A total of 95 skaters/couples representing 15 countries are taking part in the event sanctioned by the International Skating Union. Seoul is hosting the competition for the third time following 2020 and 2015.
