Ben Fet! Riedell’s Grand Prix Final Results

Written By: Riedell | December 17, 2014

“Ben fet” is Catalan for a job well done—praise our skaters deserve after a successful Grand Prix series!

The Grand Prix kicked this year’s competitive figure skating season into high gear. Junior and senior skaters traveled the world, from Canada to Croatia, to compete against one another, with the six best skaters in each category finishing last weekend in Barcelona, Spain. Five talented Riedell skaters earned spots at the Grand Prix Finals. Learn about each one’s progress during the Junior Grand Prix and Grand Prix events and how they did overall!

 

Grand Prix Final

 

  • Ladies:  Elena Radionova
    Russian ladies skater Elena Radionova finished both of her Grand Prix events, Skate America and Trophée Eric Bompard, with gold medals around her neck. One of her biggest highlights was the defeat of her own personal best overall score with 203.92 points at the Trophée Eric Bompard. The Riedell star stayed on the podium at the Grand Prix Final, finishing 2nd after fellow Russian lady Elizaveta Tuktamysheva.
    • – Skate America, 1st
    • – Trophée Éric Bompard, 1st
    • – Final, 2nd

     

  • Dance:  Paul Poirier partnered with Piper Gilles
    Similar to the success of Elena Radionova, Riedell ice dancer Paul Poirier and partner Piper Gilles earned two consecutive silver medals during their Grand Prix events at Skate Canadaand the Trophée Eric Bompard. Finishing 5th, the Canadian ice dancers are proud to have made this their first Grand Prix Final appearance together and to have achieved two strong programs.
    • – Skate Canada, 2nd
    • – Trophée Éric Bompard, 2nd
    • – Final, 5th

     

Junior Grand Prix Final

 

  • Dance:  Garrett MacKeen & Mackenzie Bent
    Far from their home of Ontario, Canada, Garrett and Mackenzie earned high praise at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The pair ended their short and free dance routines with a combined score of 138.17, finishing first overall with a seven point lead! They continued to claim the podium a few weeks later at the Tallinn Cup in Estonia, where they came in 2nd and paved the way for a fourth-place finish at the Junior Grand Prix Final.
    • – Czech Skate, 1st
    • – Tallinn Cup, 2nd
    • – Final, 4th

     

  • Pairs:  Chelsea Liu partnered with Brian Johnson
    Chelsea has advanced tremendously within the past year alone. At this time last year she stood in the intermediate level ranks, but has already achieved high honors at the junior level this season. Chelsea and pairs partner Brian Johnson earned a spot at the Junior Grand Prix Final after a 3rd place skate at the Cup of Blue Swords and 4th at the Croatia Cup. The newcomer, excited to mingle with senior skaters in the final round, was quoted by icenetwork saying, “I usually watch them at home on the screen of my little computer. Here, walking past them, is like, ‘Whoa, are you real?’”
    • – Pokal der Blauen Schwerter (Cup of Blue Swords), 3rd
    • – Croatia Cup, 4th
    • – Final, 6th

 

This was only the beginning of an exciting 2014-15 figure skating season. More competitions, like the U.S. and Canadian National Championships in January, will be underway soon, so stay tuned!

Ben Fet, Team Riedell!