Howes slips to bronze after long-program stumbles at Canadian figure skating championship

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This article was published 16/01/2025 (233 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipegger David Howes captured Canada’s novice men’s figure skating crown in 2023. On Thursday at the 2025 Canadian championships in Laval, Que., the now junior-level competitor added a bronze medal to his collection.

Howes, 18, was the convincing overnight leader in the 18-man field after Wednesday’s short program skate, but stumbled in the final stretch as nerves scuttled his bid for a second national crown.

Like most top competitors, Howes will learn through experience how to handle the pressure-packed situation that requires the front-runner to skate last of six in the final warmup group.

“It was definitely a learning experience kind of skate. It was a bit of nerves, losing focus a bit, but I was still able to bring it back at the end of the program. There’s still some positives that I’m going to take away from my skate today,” said Howes, who trains in Richmond, B.C.

“Last year, I was just off the podium so to be able to come away with a bronze medal, I’m happy with that.”

Howes opened his Canadian championships campaign with a superb short program that showcased his technical skills, deep edges and musicality. He earned bonus execution points for the quality of every jump, spin and step sequence and a personal best score of 70.41, outdistancing his nearest challenger by five points.

“I’m so happy. I trained really hard, so pulling off a performance like this at the Canadian championships is really satisfying,” Howes said after Wednesday‘s start.

In the finale, however, the skater failed to execute his triple-triple jump combination and later fell on triple lutz and loop attempts. His Sound of Silence long program ranked tenth-best, but a total score of 174.10 kept him on the podium. That number was well below the personal best 198.73 Howes posted six weeks ago to grab silver at the nationals qualifying event at Seven Oaks Arena.

Ontario’s David Bondar, who won the qualifier in Winnipeg, rose from third on Thursday to take the Canadian title with 196.86. Silver went to Quebec’s Edward Nicholas Vasii on 181.52. Both men showed triple Axels, a points-heavy element that Howes has not yet mastered.

“We’re working on the Axel and quadruple toe jump in training, but they’re not quite ready to put in the programs. They’re under development and I’m hoping to showcase them in programs soon,” reported Howes, who intends to graduate to senior competition next season.

The UBC freshman had hoped to make his case this week for an assignment to Team Canada for the ISU world junior championships in Hungary in February. That opportunity would now seem a long-shot given several men competing in Laval in the junior and senior ranks are under consideration for the two spots.

Later Thursday, Winnipeg pair skaters Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov took a first step towards winning their second consecutive Canadian junior title and a third trip to the world juniors.

Kemp, 16 and Elizarov, 21, scored 59.49 for their short program, nine points clear of two Quebec duos who are in a virtual tie for second. Like Howes, the Manitobans earned bonus point for quality on each of seven required elements. Their final goes Friday.

The third competitor in Laval with Manitoba roots, Dauphin native Breken Brezden, will take the ice for the senior women’s short program on Saturday.

The Canadian championships continue through Sunday. Skate Canada will announce its world junior, senior and Four Continents championship teams on Monday.