Espoo Grand Prix | Another victory for ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier

(Espoo) Canadian ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier won the Espoo Grand Prix on Saturday, earning their second victory of the season.


Skating to the soundtrack musicAvoidthe Worlds bronze medalists scored 219.49 points.

Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker of the United States were second (202.46) while Finland’s Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis won bronze (191.79).

“What worked well this week was how much we trusted our training and how much we trusted each other,” Poirier said.

“We didn’t force anything and really let the skating happen on its own, as we know how to do. We are really proud of our performance. »

Gilles and Poirier started the season with a victory at Skate Canada International last month.

They will compete in the Grand Prix Final in two weeks in Turin, Italy.

On the women’s side, Canadian Madeline Schizas finished fifth with 187.84 points. Japan’s Mai Mihara won the gold medal (204.14).

Canadian Keegan Messing finished eighth in his Grand Prix Final.

The 30-year-old, who plans to retire after this season, finished fourth after Friday’s short program.

He fell hard on his quadruple toe loop, hitting the side of his head on the ice. He scored 205.02 points.

American Ilia Malinin won gold (278.39).


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