Nov 5, 2026 · 1h 42m
Skate Canada exposes figure skating’s volatile next generation
Skate Canada: Street Divas and Confident Clowns
The results reveal a sport balancing polished presentation, ambitious technical content, and the unforgiving swings of Olympic-season competition.
- 1Mao Shimada’s composure and extraordinary jumps establish her as the women’s benchmark, while Saki Miyake emerges as a serious rival.
- 2Leah Pereira and Trennt Michaud are gaining momentum in pairs, but clean free skates remain essential to their title ambitions.
- 3Kevin Aymoz’s theatrical maturity contrasts with Rio Nakata’s explosive potential, underscoring men’s skating’s widening volatility.
Don't miss
The hosts contrast Kevin Aymoz’s committed, flamboyant winning performance with Rio Nakata’s extraordinary jumps and understandable debut mistakes.
The brief
The hosts survey all four disciplines at Skate Canada, finding a competition shaped less by clear hierarchy than by emerging contenders, uneven programs, and the pressure of delivering twice.
In ice dance, new teams make persuasive strides while clown and diamond concepts expose a recurring problem: ambitious ideas need coherent performance choices and stronger transitions.
The women’s event sharpens the scoring debate as Isabeau Levito’s presentation is weighed against Saki Miyake’s engaging breakthrough and Mao Shimada’s remarkable composure.
Leah Pereira and Trennt Michaud look increasingly balanced in pairs, but their next test is turning a strong short program into a clean, repeatable free skate.
Kevin Aymoz wins the men’s event through theatrical commitment and mature artistry, while Rio Nakata’s jumps signal immense potential beneath the mistakes of a senior Grand Prix debut.
Weekly email
State of the Pod, every Monday
The week's most-discussed names and stories from podcasts, with the moments behind them. Free, five minutes, unsubscribe in one click.