For families, friends and skating enthusiasts who are captivated by the grace and athleticism of figure skating, the 2024 Stars on Ice tour held last Tuesday at Place Bell Laval, was an event not to be missed.
This year’s tour, featuring the world’s top skaters fresh from their triumphs at the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal, was a spectacular and energetic showcase of talent and artistry.
Leading the ensemble of skating superstars were the newly-crowned World Pair Champions, Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps (below) , whose historic victory marked a momentous achievement in the sport.
Also gracing the ice was the incomparable World Men’s Champion, Ilia Malinin, whose breathtaking performances had earned him acclaim worldwide.
Ilia Malinin became the first skater to successfully land a quad axel in competition at the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Classic, a Guinness Book record. He became the youngest male Skate America champion in history in 2022.
Joining these champions were a host of other accomplished skaters, including three-time World medalists Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier, two-time World Medalist Loena Hendrickx, and Olympian Madeline Schizas, among others.
With a lineup that included iconic names like Elvis Stojko and Patrick Chan ( who recently announced that he will be taking his retirement from competitive skating ) , audiences could expect nothing short of extraordinary performances.
But perhaps the most exciting news for fans was the return of the iconic Kurt Browning, who, though bidding farewell as a performer in 2023, took on the role of Director and Choreographer for the tour.
Browning’s unparalleled skating expertise and intimate connection with the Stars on Ice audience directly helps to elevate each performance to new heights of creativity and charisma.
The recurring theme of the show was the Science of Skating, as studied by the Skating Observation Institute – SOI for short.
Canadian Champion Keegan Messing ( posing as a yellow test crash dummy) brought the crowd to life with his happy-go-lucky attitude and fiery passion for skate acrobatics. He even managed to complete a world record for the longest backflip !
In addition to the thrilling performances, Stars on Ice was proud to have Embark and Kosé as Associate Sponsors and World Vision Canada as the Official Charity for the 2024 Tour. Audience members were encouraged in a magical moment that lit up the stadium, to take out their mobile devices, shine a light and donate to the QR code that was projected overhead.
As a pioneer in figure skating, Stars on Ice continued to offer fans the rare opportunity to witness the artistry of champions performing together in both individual and ensemble routines.
Founded in 1986 by skating icon Scott Hamilton, Stars on Ice had been delighting audiences for over 30 years. With past performers including legends like Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir and Kurt Browning, this tour was a testament to the enduring magic of figure skating.
For more information and to purchase tickets for up-coming performances, fans can visit www.starsonice.ca.
They can also follow Stars on Ice on social media for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of this extraordinary tour.
NEXT STOPS on the Tour :
MAY 3, 2024 7:30 PM – TORONTO, ON
SCOTIABANK ARENA
MAY 4, 2024 7:30 PM – ST. CATHARINES, ON
MERIDIAN CENTRE
MAY 5, 2024 4:00 PM – LONDON, ON
BUDWEISER GARDENS