Skate Canada has released its entries for the season’s first two senior international events: the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and Nebelhorn Trophy.
Paige Lawrence & Rudi Swiegers – Silver medalists at last year’s inaugural event in Salt Lake City, the three-time Canadian bronze medalists most recently placed sixth at February’s Four Continents and are assigned to Skate Canada International and NHK Trophy.
Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch – The defending champs of last year’s event, Moore-Towers & Moscovitch will seek to defend their title while gearing up for the season’s first Grand Prix event at Skate America in Detroit in mid-October. The pair will also be competing at the final Grand Prix event, Rostelecom Cup.
Margaret Purdy & Michael Marinaro – In advance of their Grand Prix debut at Skate Canada International, Salt Lake City will mark the first senior international event for World Junior silver medalists Purdy & Marinaro, who tested the waters with summer outings at Skate Detroit and Summer Sizzle.
Nicole Orford & Thomas Williams – The Canadian bronze medalists will be taking on their second year at senior and their first Senior B event; their last international outing came at February’s Four Continents, where they finished sixth. Orford & Williams are also assigned to November’s Trophee Bompard.
Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje – The fifth-place Worlds finishers made their first Senior B appearance last year with a victory at Ondrej Nepela Memorial. The early timing of this event will provide a few additional weeks for potential program adjustments before their first Grand Prix outing at Skate Canada International, while also offering the test of what’s shaping up to be the most competitive field of any of the season’s early internationals, with four of the top ten finishers from this year’s World Championships set to compete so far.
With the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy also serving as the Olympic qualifier for those nations seeking to fill the remaining spots for Sochi, Skate Canada has opted to send only one entry per discipline. Notably, because of its special status this season, scores earned at this year’s Nebelhorn also count towards the ISU Season’s Best list, as traditionally do those earned at Grand Prix and ISU championship events.
Natasha Purich & Mervin Tran – This will mark the first international competition for the new team, with Tran also competing for the first time at pairs for native country Canada. Purich & Tran are also scheduled to compete at Trophee Bompard, and may pick up a second assignment as possible alternates.
Alexandra Paul & Mitch Islam – This is the second trip to Oberstdorf for the couple, who finished fifth overall at last year’s competition. Paul & Islam, who are set to begin their season at next weekend’s Thornhill Summer Skate, will follow Nebelhorn with their Grand Prix return at Skate Canada International.
As previously posted, the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic is slated for September 11-15 in Salt Lake City. Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf is scheduled for September 25-28.