Grand Prix Gala in Canada. Skate Canada 2023.

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Every round of the International Grand Prix Series ends with a showcase performance, and it is truly spectacular. Usually the first part of the gala is particularly exciting, as this stage features skaters who are not necessarily the most outstanding. This gives them more freedom to experiment creatively and create out-of-the-box numbers. However, there was a bit of a surprise at Skate Canada.

The first part of the gala turned out to be rather boring. The participants performed rather ordinary numbers to melodic music and even used old competition programs, which caused some disappointment. In addition, in this part of the concert there were many athletes who do not seem prepared and appeared in their training uniforms.

However, the situation was unexpectedly saved by an invited guest, Sebastian Mendes, who, not being a figure skater, was able to create an unforgettable number. In his performance, he appeared as Spider-Man from the new cartoon. In fact, he didn’t have a traditional figure program – he just danced and performed acrobatic tricks, including somersaults. It all looked much more exciting and interesting compared to the first part of the gala.

Italian Matteo Rizzo always pleases with colorful performances. This time he decided to return to his parody of tennis player Bjorn Borg, which he already presented at this year’s World Championships. In his number in Canada, Matteo, in addition to a fictional tennis match, also unfurled the Italian flag and presented balls to the audience.

Maria Pavlova and Alexey Sviatchenko from Hungary impressed with their images from the movie Austin Powers. They accurately conveyed the costumes and demeanor of the characters, and used the main hits from the soundtrack. It is a rare phenomenon in the world of figure skating when a sports couple so skillfully combines choreography with technical elements to create an unforgettable number.

Japanese figure skater Kazuki Tomono always stands out for his originality, both in competition programs and in demonstrations. This time he chose the song “Jazz Machine” and demonstrated the role of a car thief. Instead of a real car, there was a chair, and instead of an engine, there was Sota Yamamoto, the stage winner. It can be seen that Kazuki enjoys the opportunity to try on different looks and styles.

British couple Laila Fir and Lewis Gibson gave a logical performance based on their free skating program last year to the music of Lady Gaga. This performance still impresses with its brilliance and creativity, continuing to delight the audience.

Sota Yamamoto from Japan impressed with an unexpected number at the gala. Unlike many young Japanese skaters who prefer conservative compositions and styles, Sota chose a powerful dance number to the song “Teeth” by 5 Seconds of Summer. The pop rock perfectly suited the skater, and he skillfully conveyed the emotions of the composition, highlighting the brightest moments and leaving an unforgettable impression.

Recently, the organizers rarely arrange large-scale final numbers at the shows. However, in Canada, they are still experimenting and creating individual stories and musical compositions for each discipline. Such a final number emphasizes that it is truly a celebration and an exciting after-party.

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