Madison Chock and Evan Bates took the lead after the rhythm dance event at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships on Friday as the American athletes chased a third title at the international event.
Chock and Bates, coming off their fourth national championship, scored 87.67 for their performance under the theme song let’s dance by David Bowie.
That was enough to edge Canadian champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen, who scored 86.28, as well as Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, who scored 79.04.
Skating to a song by Gloria Estefan, Fournier Beaudry and Soerensen also achieved their best international mark of the season, surpassing that of their NHK Trophy Rhythm Dance.
“We really focused on changing our approach, in order to have fun and beat the inevitable stress of competition,” Soerensen said.
Chock and Bates’ objective this season was to win an “unattainable” world championship, as well as the Four Continents Championships (an event that brings together the best competitors in the world outside of Europe), with the focus on Japan, next month.
The duo showed their composure and precision on Friday night, earning their best international rating of the season.
“We prepared a lot for this competition before leaving for the nationals,” said Chock, who won the 2019 and 2020 Four Continents Championships with Bates.
“We were ready and we let our preparation guide us until this week. To achieve our best result of the season is an incredible feeling as we approach the world championships. It feels good to perform the same way we train. »
Canadians Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain le Gac (62.03) placed eighth.
In pairs, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan lead with 71.19 points after the short program.
Canadians Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps (68.39) are second, ahead of Americans Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe (66.96).
Canadian duos Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud (65.16) and Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Ethier (59.12) finished fourth and sixth, respectively.