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ISU World Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps (CAN) reigned supreme as the first day of competition at the ISU Grand Prix Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN) wrapped up with the Pairs Short Program.  

Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps (CAN) sizzle in Short Program 

Reigning ISU World Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps of Canada dominated the Pairs Short Program. Italians Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini came second followed by Maria Pavlova/Alexei Sviatchenko of Hungary. 

Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps sizzled in their sensual Short Program to “Crazy In Love” by Beyoncé, completing a set of side by side triple toes, triple twist and throw triple loop. 

Deanna Stellato-Dudek/ Maxime Deschamps (CAN) in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki, Finland © ISU

The 2024 ISU Four Continents Champions collected a level four for the twist, death spiral, footwork and side by side spin and set a new season’s best of 75.89 points.

“We are very pleased with the skate and how the competition went. It's my fourth time in Finland and the crowd never disappoints. They are very loud and it was a pleasant experience,” Stellato-Dudek said. 

For all six of us it's a redemption Grand Prix and, so far, it's going pretty well,” she added.

“We wanted to do better than at our last competition,” Deschamps said. “We worked hard at home and we’ve done some changes (in the Free Skating) in the choreo sequence and we changed the order of some elements. So we look forward to be able to show that.”

Ghilardi/Ambrosini’s passionate performance to “Tango de Roxanne” was highlighted by a triple twist, throw triple flip and a difficult lift. 

Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini (ITA) in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki, Finland © ISU

The two-time ISU European medalists scored 67.43 points. Sitting in second, the ISU Grand Prix de France bronze medalists kept their chance to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final. 

“We have good memories in Finland, this is a lucky place for us,” Ambrosini commented. The couple won their first ISU European medal in 2023 and their first ISU Grand Prix gold medal in 2022 in Finland. 

“The feeling here was better than (at the Grand Prix) in France. We feel better and we are happy about the performance today,” he continued.

Pavlova/Sviatchenko heated up the ice with their entertaining “Sex Bomb” program. The 2023 ISU Grand Prix Finalists produced a triple twist, throw triple flip and level-three lift, but Pavlova stumbled at the very beginning of the step sequence. 

Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki, Finland © ISU

The Hungarian Champions scored 61.29 points. 

“In our first Grand Prix we were more focused on the elements and weren't enjoying the performance. This time we tried enjoying and I think we did it,” Pavlova told the press.

“It (the music) was my partner's idea, and our coaches were not happy about it at first. We decided to try and do something new. Nobody skated to this music for a (competitive) program. We love how it turned out,” Pavlova said.

Kelly Ann Laurin/Loucas Ethier (CAN) sit in fourth not far behind at 60.45 points while two-time ISU Four Continents silver medalists Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA) came in fifth (58.93 points). 

For full entries, schedules & results, see the ISU Grand Prix Event Page &  ISU Grand Prix Finlandia Trophy Event Page & Official Finlandia Trophy Website. 

Check out the ISU Grand Prix Standings to find out who is on their way to qualify for the Final:

Men     Women    Pair Skating    Ice Dance

What & When

The schedule of the Finlandia Trophy is as follows

Friday, Nov 15: Men’s, Women’s & Pairs Short Programs

Saturday, Nov 16: Men’s & Women’s Free Skating, Rhythm Dance

Sunday, Nov 17: Pairs Free Skating, Free Dance

Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

• 18 - 20 Oct 2024        Skate America in Allen, TX (USA)
• 25 - 27 Oct 2024        Skate Canada International in Halifax (CAN)
• 01 - 03 Nov 2024         Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
• 08 - 10 Nov 2024        NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN)
• 15- 17 Nov 2024        Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)  
• 22 - 24 Nov 2024         Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

• 05 - 08 Dec 2024                        Grenoble (FRA)

About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.