AP Photo/Darko Bandic, THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese, International Skating Union
November 21, 2024
Temperatures are dropping, but the winter sports calendar is heating up.
Team Canada’s ski jumpers, long track speed skaters, slopestyle skiers and alpine skiers will compete in World Cup events this weekend around the world. Meanwhile, figure skating fans can’t wait to watch the Canadians compete at the final ISU Grand Prix stop of the season: the Cup of China.
Here’s what you shouldn’t miss.
Figure skating
Six Canadian figure skaters will travel to Chongqing, China, for the sixth ISU Grand Prix stop of the season: the Cup of China. This stage marks the last in the series before the Grand Prix Final, which will take place in early December in France.
In ice dancing, Marjorie Lajoie et Zachary Lagha will aim for another podium, after their silver medal at Skate Canada International. Although several scenarios are possible, a top 2 finish in China would likely secure them qualification for the ISU Grand Prix Final for the second consecutive season.
In pair skating, Lia Pereira et Separates Michaud will look to improve on their fifth place at the French Grand Prix. The double Canadian champion Madeline Schizaswho finished fifth at Skate Canada International, hopes to deliver two strong programs that could earn him a place on the podium. The reigning national champion Wesley Chiu will look to improve on his ninth place finish at Skate America.
Read: Two World Championship medal-winning couples headlining for Canada at the dawn of the 2024-25 figure skating season
Ski jumping
The first leg of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup will take place this weekend in Lillehammer, Norway, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Although this is the first stage of the 2024-2025 season, athletes will be jumping on snow stored from last season, with organizers having the foresight to store snow in case of good weather for this competition start of the season.
Olympic bronze medalists Alexandria Loutitt et Abigail Strate will be the headliners for Team Canada. Loutitt2023 world champion, finished third overall in the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup last season.
Read: Ski jumpers Abigail Strate and Alexandria Loutitt make their dreams take off
The mixed team event will take place on Friday, November 22, followed by the men’s and women’s individual large hill events on Saturday and Sunday.
Long track speed skating
Seventeen Canadian speed skaters will compete in the opening leg of the ISU World Cup this weekend in Nagano, Japan. Team Canada already competed in Japan last week, winning 12 medals at the ISU Four Continents Championships, and will look to add to its tally even further this weekend.
Among the headliners of this talented team are, on the women’s side, Ivanie Blondinwho won four medals last week, Isabelle Weidemann et Valérie Maltais. In men, Laurent Dubreuil won three medals last week, and Graeme Fish won gold in the 5000m.
Read: Speed skater Ivanie Blondin is not afraid to try new things
Alpine skiing
Some of Team Canada’s best technical skiers will compete in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup this weekend in Gurgl, Austria. The women’s slalom will take place on Saturday, followed by the men’s slalom on Sunday.
Laurence St-Germain will look to continue its momentum after its 10th place finish in the first slalom event of the season, held last week in Levi, Finland. Amelia Smart et Ali Nullmeyer also competed in Levi. Smart took 23rd place, while Nullmeyer, 12th in the first course, did not finish the second.
Read: Team Canada’s best alpine ski athletes ready to take on the world’s elite in 2024-2025
Freestyle skiing – Slopestyle
Canadian slopestyle skiers will compete in Stubai, Austria, this weekend for the first stop of the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in their discipline. Qualifying initially scheduled for Thursday was postponed to Friday due to weather conditions.
For the men, Team Canada will be represented by Mark Hendrickson, Jeremy Gagne, Aidan Mulvihill, Max Moffatt et Noah Porter MacLennan. In women, Olivia Asselin, Megan Oldham et Skye Clarke will wear Canadian colors.
