2025–26 Canadian Pairs: News and Updates

[clairecloutier]

Didn’t the Protopopov’s invent the forward outside death spiral? There have been others over the years as well that have done it. Shen/Zhao did one in 2000 (and maybe other times, but that’s the one I remember). I think every one of them ever done has been ugly . But yeah, they certainly didn’t invent it or even popularize it.

Yes, it was created by the Protopopovs, and has been done occasionally over the years, but was never commonly seen.

It's probably fair to say that Deanna/Max have played a role in increasing its exposure and prevalence.

 

[victorskid]

From Wikipedia:
Regarding the original death spiral:

The death spiral is a circular move in figure skating involving two partners in the discipline of pair skating, in which the male partner lowers the female partner while she arches backward towards the ice while gliding on one foot and as she holds his hand "while he rotates her in a circle with her head almost touching the ice surface". It was created by German professional skater Charlotte Oelschlägel and her husband Curt Neumann in the 1920s. Suzanne Morrow and Wallace Diestelmeyer from Canada were the first pair team to perform the death spiral one-handed (the man holding the woman in position with one hand), at the 1948 Olympic Games.

Regarding the Protopopovs:

Belousova and Protopopov contributed to the development of pair skating, including the creation of three death spirals: the backward inside (BiDs), the forward inside (FiDs), and the forward outside (FoDs), which they respectively dubbed the "Cosmic spiral", "Life spiral", and "Love spiral".

 

[victorskid]

Skate Canada's press release on Deanna & Max's win:

Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps Win Gold at the John Nicks Pairs Challenge International

NEW YORK, USA (Sept. 3, 2025) – Deanna Stellato-Dudek (Chicago, [...]

skatecanada.ca

 

[shutterbug]

Laurie Nealin's recap of Kemp/Elizarov's JGP results so far: Kemp and Elizarov strike gold in Turkey

Yet, Winnipeg figure skaters Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov overcame those challenges to pocket their second pairs gold medal on Friday in Turkey, one week after winning their first on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit in Latvia.

With two decisive wins, they qualified for the exclusive Junior Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan in December which is limited to the top six couples in the world.

In Ankara, the duo recorded a higher total competition score (179.43) than the week prior in Riga and again outpaced the rest of the field by a considerable margin. Their performances were so strong, in fact, their total technical score of 94 would make them eligible to compete even at the 2025 senior World Championships and the Olympic Games.

However, according to ISU rules, Kemp and Elizarov must replicate those scores in senior international competition to be officially eligible for such events. There was no word on Friday from Skate Canada as to whether the couple will be offered that opportunity.