Canadian pair Stellato-Dudek, Deschamps 2nd after short program at Four Continents
Fellow national champions Fournier Beaudry, Soerensen 2nd after rhythm dance
Canada's Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps are in podium position at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
The pairs duo scored 68.39 points to sit second after the short program on Friday in the competition at Colorado Springs, Colo.
Stellato-Dudek, an American who lives in Quebec but seeks Canadian citizenship ahead of the 2026 Olympics, and Deschamps, of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., won the Canadian title in January.
They were also victorious at a November Grand Prix in France, when Stellato-Dudek at 39 became the oldest champion in the circuit's history.
Japan's Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara currently hold the lead with 71.19 points, while Americans Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe are in third place at 66.96.
Just below the U.S. duo is another Canadian pair in Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, who sit in fourth place after notching a season-best score of 65.16 points.
Pereira, of Milton, Ont., and Michaud, of Belleville, Ont., claimed bronze at nationals, their first together after Michaud's former partner Evelyn Walsh retired in the off-season.
Meanwhile, Canada's Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Ethier combined on what the commentators called a "dream skate" to score 59.12 points and sit sixth overall.
Laurin, of Saint-Jerome, Que., and Ethier, of St-Alphonse, Que., placed fourth at nationals.
Watch live coverage of the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships on CBCsports.ca, CBC Gem and the CBC Sports App for iOS and Android devices.
The annual competition pits the best skaters from non-European countries.
Canadian duos in podium position after rhythm dance
Canadian national champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen's altered approach has seemed to pay dividends.
The ice dance pairing (86.28 points) is second after Friday's rhythm dance. Fournier Beaudry and Soerensen finished behind Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates (87.67), and ahead of fellow Canadians Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha (79.04).
"We've really been focusing on changing our approach by having a little bit more fun and trying to combat some of the stress that's inevitable in competition," Soerensen said. "Inspire the people who watch skating and make them enjoy it."
Performing to music from Gloria Estefan, Fournier Beaudry and Soerensen also scored an international season's best, topping their rhythm dance from the NHK Trophy that set them up for the Grand Prix win that weekend.
Chock and Bates performed their program set to "Let's Dance" by David Bowie. But it was the duo's preparation for the competition that helped most, having started before they were crowned U.S. ice dance champions for the fourth time in their careers.
"We were prepared and we let our training carry us into this week," said Chock, who along with Bates won Four Continents in 2019 and 2020. "It feels so good to be skating the way we are training."
Canada's Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac (62.03) placed eighth.
Chock and Bates set a goal this season of finally winning an elusive world championship, and Four Continents — which brings together the top skaters from non-European countries — is an ideal final tune-up for next month in Japan.
The pair showed their usual poise and precision on Friday night for their best international score this season.
South Korea's Lee wins women's event
In the women's event, Lee Hae-in rode a personal-best free skate to vault from sixth after her short program into first place, becoming the first South Korean skater to win Four Continents since Yuna Kim in 2009 in Vancouver, Canada.
Lee finished with 210.84 points to edge countrywoman Kim Yelim, who fell apart on the back half of her free skate and finished with 209.29 points. Mone Chiba broke up the South Korean sweep by taking the bronze medal for Japan.
Isabeau Levito, the 15-year-old American champion who was second after the short program, withdrew with an illness.
"I always try to do my best," Lee said. "This time I tried to not think about final results, to focus on my training process, and I think I did well and I'm very happy right now."
Canada's Sara-Maude Dupuis placed ninth with 118.99 points. Fellow Canadians Madeline Schizas (99.62) and Justine Miclette (98.32), finished 10th and 11th, respectively.
With files from The Associated Press
