Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay (QC) placed first in the Pairs Short program, followed closely by Meagan Duhamel and Craig Buntin (QC) and Kyra Moscovitch and Dylan Moscovitch (WO).
Langlois (26) and Hay (24) opened their routine with clean and synchronized side-by-side triple toeloops, but then they had a crashy landing on the triple twist and Hay later stumbled during their circular footwork sequence. Despite the errors, the current bronze medalists otherwise gave a solid and confident performance to Historia de un amor, which also included a throw triple flip, a good Lasso lift, and a very good backward-inside death spiral. The judges awarded them with 62.73 points for a first place finish.
“It feels great,” said Hay, when asked how it felt to be in first place. “The week’s been really good. Anabelle and I, we felt really good on the ice all week. Everything’s been going as planned so far. So far so good.”
Duhamel (22) and Buntin (27) placed second with 61.48 points in their first nationals as a team (Buntin won three national titles with former partner Valerie Marcoux). The 2007 Nebelhorn Trophy silver medalists made only minor errors in their powerful and expressive routine to Best Latin Tango, which featured a strong double twist and solid side-by-side triple toeloops. Duhamel put her hand down on a throw triple flip, but the team otherwise produced two level 4 spins and a difficult lift.
“Meagan and I have been together seven months now,” Craig explained, when asked about their preparation coming into the event. “The work we’ve put in over the last seven months is unbelievable. I couldn’t explain it here. But just to be here, personally competing back in Vancouver… I haven’t had a competition here since Canadians in 97′. We just love what we do and we’re here to compete.”
The brother-sister team of Kyra Moscovitch (14) and Dylan Moscovitch (23) electrified the crowd with their upbeat routine to Swing Kids, which featured side-by-side triple toeloops, a throw triple flip, and excellent side-by-side flying camel combination spins. They placed third with 57.01 points.
“Tonight was wonderful,” said Dylan. “Every time we skate, we come out to do what we’ve been training to do. We really enjoy our skating and our program. We just feel very confident and we had fun out there. The week’s been great so far. Great group of skaters in the event and we’re just happy to be here.”
Jessica Miller and Ian Moram (BC/YT) are currently in fourth with 55.61 points. Their routine to Wayfering Pilgrim, which demonstrated a new softness and refinement to their skating this year, was highlighted by side-by-side double Axels and a very good lift. The only errors came when Miller stepped out of a throw triple loop and the team fell out of synch a bit on their side-by-side flying camel spins.
Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davison (QC) found themselves in a disappointing fifth (54.32 points) after a disastrous skate filled with errors. Dubé doubled her jump on the side-by-side triple Salchows, while Davison had a balance check on his. The defending champions executed a solid double twist and Axel lift, but then Dubé fell on a throw triple loop and later stumbled during the straightline footwork sequence.
Taylor Steele and Christopher Richardson (WO) made only minor mistakes in their routine, which featured side-by-side double Axels, a good Axel lift, and two level 4 spins. They are currently sixth with 52.78 points.
Mylène Brodeur and John Mattatall (NS) are currently in seventh (52.67 points), followed by Rachel Kirkland and Eric Radford (CO) who earned 50.46 points.
