Announcement: 2016 Australian Figure Skating Championships

Ice Skating Australia Incorporated is excited to confirm the 2016 Australian Figure Skating Championships will be hosted by Ice Skating Victoria Incorporated.

A Local Organising Committee announcement will be issued shortly.

Dates:
Friday 25th November to Friday 2nd December 2016

Venue:
O’Brien Group Arena Ice Skating Rink
105 Pearl River Road
Docklands Victoria

It’s been a while, but keen figure skating viewers can ignore the heat, blast the air-con into arctic temperatures and pretend they are in the northern hemisphere over the summer holidays.

SBS are bringing figure skating back to our television screens every Saturday afternoon from December 19 after securing the Australian broadcast rights to the six-series Grand Prixs, Four Continents Championships and 2016 World Championships.

Only the world top-ranked ladies, men, ice dancers and pairs can compete in the prestigious Grand Prix series, vying for a place in the GP Final.

Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu from Japan is back in form and also returning to international competition is Canada’s Patrick Chan, who was the Sochi silver medallist, but watch out for the young Chinese, Boyang Jin. The ladies events are wide open as new stars rise to the top and push the technical barrier even further.

Ice Dance (think Torvill and Dean) has always been a firm favourite and these days, it’s the American and Canadian teams taking it to the Russians.

The 90 minute shows kick off on Saturday, December 19 at 2pm on SBS with Skate America from Milwaukee, USA featuring OWIA athlete and four-time Australian Champion Brendan Kerry competing in his first-ever Grand Prix.

Five of the six Grand Prix events will be televised, the Grand Prix Final over two broadcasts plus the ISU championship events.

Schedule

Saturday 19th December
1400 – 1530: ISU Grand Prix America

Saturday 26th December
1400 – 1530: ISU Grand Prix Canada

Saturday 2nd January
1400 – 1530: ISU Grand Prix China

Saturday 9th January
1400 – 1530: ISU Grand Prix Russia

Saturday 16th January
1400 – 1530: ISU Grand Prix Japan

Saturday 23rd January
1400 – 1530: ISU Grand Prix Final (Mens and Pairs)

Saturday 30th January
1400 – 1530: ISU Grand Prix Final (Ladies and Ice Dance)

Saturday 6th February
1400 – 1530: European Championships (Mens and Pairs)

Saturday 13th February
1400 – 1530: European Championships (Ladies and Dance)

Saturday 20th February
1400 – 1530: Four Continents Championship (Mens and Pairs)

Saturday 27th February
1400 – 1530: Four Continents Championship (Ladies and Dance)

By Belinda Noonan/Burwood Scene
http://www.burwoodscene.com.au/2015/12/skating-back-on-the-small-screen/

IMAGE
OWIA figure skater Brendan Kerry defending his national title at Penrith last week. Photo: Michael Santer Oz Skater

​OWIA figure skaters Kailani Craine and Brendan Kerry have tonight been crowned Senior Ladies and Men’s champions respectively at the Australian Figure Skating Championships, being held at the Penrith Ice Palace.

Kailani performed an almost flawless free program in defending her Senior Ladies crown, while for Kerry it was his fourth consecutive national title.
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Kailani completed six triples in the free program, to increase her lead and deliver her highest score to date.  
 
“I am so happy to defend my title,” Kailani said. 
 
Coaches Galina Pachin and Kylie Fennell say Kailani has the goods to push further.
 
“We are all happy with her progress in just four weeks,” Pachin said.
 
“There’s a lot to do and we have set many tasks for edge work, technique and better extension. She keeps trying and working every day,” said Fennell.
 
Kailani will shortly travel to Los Angeles to meet up with US coach Tiffany Chin.  
 
Kerry will also be heading back to Los Angeles shortly to continue his training, and was thrilled to defend his Australian title.
 
“I’m happy to keep my title and it was also a good chance to do things differently and try a few things before each event on and off the ice,” Kerry reflected.