Pereira and Michaud Win Skate Canada Pairs Title

A personal best set the pace

Pereira and Michaud opened with a short program to “Baianá” and “Magalenha,” a high-energy performance that earned 77.06 points, a new personal best. They landed a throw triple flip and received level four for the triple twist, lift, death spiral, footwork sequence and pair spin. Strong grades of execution across the elements put them in front.

Michaud said the pair were pleased with the skate but saw room to improve. They had started the program at Nebelhorn and had worked to build on that showing. Pereira described how they now use competition nerves: instead of trying to suppress the adrenaline, the pair have learned to channel it into a performance that feels more like a show.

The music marked a shift in direction while preserving the upbeat quality of their earlier programs. Michaud said the pair wanted to try something different, and that adding “Baianá” strengthened the idea. The short program’s presentation kept them in character throughout.

Free skate sealed the win

In the free skate, set to “Dawn of Faith,” the Canadians began with a level-four triple twist. Michaud turned out of the opening jump in their triple toe-double Axel sequence, and the pair stepped out of the triple Salchows. Their throw triple flip and throw triple loop were solid, while the death spiral and both lifts earned level four.

The free skate earned 125.11 points, the highest score in the segment, and brought Pereira and Michaud to a total of 202.17. The result gave them gold by more than 10 points. Efimova and Mitrofanov took silver; Vouillamoz and Bouvart won bronze, becoming the first Swiss pairs team to earn a Grand Prix medal.

Pereira called the performances especially satisfying in front of the home audience. It was the team’s second Skate Canada, and she said the crowd’s support made the event memorable. Michaud said they planned to carry the week’s progress into their next Grand Prix in Finland.

A team finding its own approach

The Canadians also linked their result to changes in training and preparation. Pereira said the team had identified what worked for them at home during the previous season and applied that approach again. She pointed to growing confidence in their elements and greater fluidity across their programs.

The pair have developed since their first Grand Prix title in France. Pereira said they came together quickly and initially surprised people with their results, but needed time to establish their identity and decide how they wanted to train and compete. Winning another Grand Prix on home ice carried particular meaning at this stage of their careers.

Michaud said their focus is on performing both programs better each time and controlling what they can, rather than chasing results directly. He also welcomed the new choreographic lift, which gives skaters more room to express the music instead of concentrating only on the technical demands of a leveled lift.

What comes next

Part of the pair’s summer included an ice show in Japan organized by Olympic champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara. Pereira described it as an opportunity for pairs skaters and ice dancers to exchange ideas. Michaud said the show included a six-minute warm-up in which elements were explained to new fans as the skaters performed them.

The result in Canada is settled; the next test is Finland. Pereira and Michaud will take their two programs and their refined preparation into that Grand Prix, where their next performances will show how much further they can develop them.

Sources

• sports.yahoo.com — “Rio Nakata tops Skate Canada short program, eyes Grand Prix debut history – Yahoo Sports”
• linkedin.com — “Lia Pereira”