Piper Gilles

Piper Gilles
Gilles and Poirier in 2012
Personal information
Country represented Canada
Former country(ies) represented United States
Born (1992-01-16) January 16, 1992
Rockford, Illinois
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Partner Paul Poirier
Former partner Zachary Donohue, Timothy McKernan
Coach Carol Lane, Jon Lane, Juris Razgulajevs, Roy Bradshaw
Former coach Patti Gottwein, Christopher Dean, Rich Griffin
Choreographer Carol Lane, Juris Razgulajevs, Piper Gilles, Paul Poirier
Former choreographer Tom Dickson, Christopher Dean
Skating club Scarboro FSC
Former skating club Broadmoor Skating Club
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 194.12
2018 Nebelhorn Trophy
Short dance 77.40
2018 Nebelhorn Trophy
Free dance 116.72
2018 Nebelhorn Trophy
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Figure skating: Ice dancing
Four Continents Championships
2014 TaipeiIce dancing

Piper Gilles (born January 16, 1992) is an American-Canadian ice dancer who currently represents Canada internationally. With Paul Poirier, she is the 2014 Four Continents silver medalist and a six-time Canadian national medalist.

Earlier in her career, Gilles competed for the United States with Timothy McKernan and Zachary Donohue, winning four medals altogether on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series.

Personal life

Piper Gilles was born January 16, 1992 in Rockford, Illinois.[1] She attended Cheyenne Mountain High School.[2] Her mother and grandmother are Canadian.[3] She herself became a Canadian citizen on December 17, 2013.[4] Her older brother, Todd, competed in ice dancing and her twin sister, Alexe, in singles.[5]

Early career

Gilles teamed up with Timothy McKernan in January 2003 after skating with him on a temporary basis earlier.[6] They began competing on the Juvenile level in 2004 winning the bronze medal. In 2005 they were the Intermediate Dance champions. During their career, they were the 2007 U.S. Junior pewter medalists and the 2008 U.S. Junior silver medalists. They announced the end of their partnership on May 22, 2008.[7]

Gilles teamed up with Zachary Donohue in the summer of 2008. They made their international debut at the 2008–2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix event in Ostrava, Czech Republic, which they won. At their second event, in Cape Town, South Africa, they won the silver medal. They won the bronze medal on the junior level at the 2009 U.S. Championships. Their split was announced in May 2010.[8]

Partnership with Poirier

With the likelihood of finding a new partner low, Gilles decided to pursue other avenues, moving to Los Angeles. She appeared in the band Simple Plan's music video for the song "Can't Keep My Hands off You", and was offered the role of Rapunzel in Disney on Ice's production of Tangled.[3]

Canadian ice dancer Paul Poirier contacted Gilles to arrange a tryout.[3] On July 27, 2011, Gilles and Poirier confirmed they had teamed up to represent Canada.[9] They could not compete internationally in their first season due to Gilles needing a release from U.S. Figure Skating.[9] They are coached by Carol Lane at the Scarboro Figure Skating Club at the Ice Galaxy in Scarborough, Ontario.[9][10] Their free dance was choreographed by Christopher Dean in Colorado Springs, Colorado in early June.[11] Gilles/Poirier won the bronze medal at the 2012 Canadian Championships. Due to their ineligibility for international competition that season, fourth-place finishers Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill took the third world team spot that season.[12]

2012–2013 season

In the 2012–13 season, Gilles and Poirier won the U.S. Classic. They received two Grand Prix assignments, 2012 Skate Canada International and 2012 Trophée Éric Bompard.[13] They finished 4th and 6th at the two events and then won the silver medal at the 2013 Canadian Championships. They were 5th at the 2013 Four Continents and 18th at the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships.

2013–2014 season

In May 2013, Poirier suffered a serious ankle injury, delaying the duo's preparation for the upcoming season.[4] Their assigned events for the 2013-14 Grand Prix season were the NHK Trophy, where they finished fifth, and the Rostelecom Cup, where they placed sixth.[14] Gilles became a Canadian citizen during the 2013-14 season, making Gilles and Poirier eligible to participate in the Olympics. Hampering by Poirier's injury, the duo finished fourth at the 2014 Canadian Championships and were not selected for the Canadian Olympic team. Years later, Gilles would admit that the result "was definitely disappointing, but it really made us who we are right now. We didn't want that big upset to change our goals in the future, and I think that made us stronger, more comfortable with each other, because we really had to lean on each other. So I think it made all of us closer and better as athletes, and more well-rounded."[15]

In lieu of the Olympics, they were sent to the 2014 Four Continents Championship, where they won the silver medal, placing behind Gilles' former partner Donohue and his new partner Madison Hubbell. Poirier opined that "we’re going to take this competition with us, because it taught us a lot about resilience and about being able to come back so quickly after nationals.”[16]

2014–2015 season

For the 2014–15 Grand Prix season, Gilles and Poirier took second at 2014 Skate Canada International and second at 2014 Trophée Éric Bompard.[17] This result qualified them for the 2014–15 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, where they placed fifth. At the 2015 Canadian Figure Skating Championships, they won the silver medal behind Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje. The ice dancers then capped off the season with a sixth-place finish at the 2015 World Figure Skating Championships.

2015–2016 season

Gilles and Poirier opened their 2015-16 season with a win at the 2015 Ondrej Nepela Trophy. They won the bronze medal at the 2015 Skate America event and silver at the 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard, not quite qualifying for that year's Grand Prix Final. The two again won the silver medal at the season's Canadian championships, followed by a fifth-place finish at Four Continents and eighth at the 2016 World Championships.[18]

2016–2017 season

The 2016-17 season notably featured the return to competition of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, which affected the standings of the other Canadian ice dance teams.[15] Gilles and Poirier recorded a series of third-place finishes at Skate Canada, the 2016 Trophée de France, and the 2017 Canadian championships. The duo struggled with mistakes in their disco-themed short dance for much of the season, with a stumble at the French event and Gilles falling at the Four Continents championship. Gilles described the results as "physically hard and definitely tough mentally."[19]

2017–2018 season

For the 2017-18 season, Gilles and Poirier suffered initial disappointments when placing fourth at both Skate America and the Rostelecom Cup. Following this, the two opted to change their free dance program mid-season, discarding an initial film noir-themed routine for a James Bond program. Poirier explained they felt the need for "a more accessible vehicle going into the Olympics and one that (fans) can more readily identify with."[20] Their scores dramatically improved with the new program, and they earned the silver medal at the 2018 Canadian championships, on the way to qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Gilles described this as "a breath of fresh air because we’ve worked our entire lives for that Olympic moment, qualifying for the games has always been my dream."[21] The duo placed eighth at their first Olympics, and ended the season with a sixth-place finish at the 2018 World Championships.

2018–2019 season

For their free dance, Gilles and Poirier envisioned a tribute to the artist Vincent Van Gogh, and arranged for the British busker act Govardo to create a cover version of the Don McLean song "Vincent" that had the tempo changes necessary for an ice dance program. Following Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje's decision not to skate the 2018-19 Grand Prix series, Gilles and Poirier became the top-ranked Canadian team competing there.[22] They won their first outing of the season, the Nebelhorn Trophy, placing first in both segments. The band Govardo attended the event, meeting them for the first time.[23]

Programs

With Poirier

Season Short/Rhythm dance Free dance Exhibition
2018–2019
[24]
  • Tango: Angelica's Tango
    by Piernicola Di Muro
    choreo. by Juris Razgulajevs and Carol Lane
  • Vincent
    by Don McLean
    performed by Govardo
    choreo. by Juris Razgulajevs and Carol Lane
2017–2018
[25][26]
2016–2017
[28][26]
  • Blues: Oh What A Night For Dancing
    by Barry White and Vance Wilson
  • Disco: Disco Inferno
    by Leroy Green and Ron Kersey
  • Con Buena Onda
    by Daniel Lomuto, Ernesto Baffa, and Hector M. Acre
2015–2016
[29][30]		 Saudade:
2014–2015
[31]
  • A Street Car Named Desire
  • Overture
    from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"
  • Si tu vois ma mere
    by Sidney Bechet
  • Dans les rues d'Antibes
    by Sidney Bechet
  • Would You
    by Burn The Floor Orchestra
2013–2014
[32][33]
  • Swing: Just One Dance
    by Caro Emerald
  • Quickstep: You Don't Leave Me
    by Caro Emerald
  • Sweet Dreams
  • Pure Imagination
2012–2013
[13][34]		 Mary Poppins:
  • Sweet Dreams
  • Pure Imagination
2011–2012

With Donohue

Season Original dance Free dance
2009–2010
[2][35]
  • Thank God I'm a Country Boy
    by John Denver
  • Country Roads
    by John Denver
  • Devil Went Down to Georgia
    by Charlie Daniels Band
  • Flamenco medley
    by the Gypsy Queens and Kings
Alfred Hitchcock movies:
  • The Man Who Knew Too Much
    by Bernard Herrmann
  • Vertigo Suite
    by Bernard Hermann
  • North by Northwest Overture
    by Bernard Herrmann
2008–2009
[2][36]
  • Go Daddy-O
    by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
  • Flat Foot Floogie
    by Yallopin' Hounds Orchestra
  • Sing, Sing, Sing
    by James Horner
  • Malagenha
    by Sergei Mendes
  • Besame Mucho
    performed by Michel Petrucciani with the Graffiti Quartet
  • Pontero en Libertad
    by Monica Naranja

With McKernan

Season Original dance Free dance
2007–2008
[37][38]
  • St. James Infirmary Blues
  • Cinderella
2006–2007
[6][38]
  • Tanguedia
    by Astor Piazzolla
  • Bulgarian Baroque
    (from Dreamscape)

Competitive highlights

With Poirier

International[39]
Event 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19
Olympics8th
Worlds18th8th6th8th8th6th
Four Continents5th2nd4th5th6th
Grand Prix Final5th
GP France6th2nd2nd3rdTBD
GP NHK Trophy5th
GP Rostelecom Cup6th4th
GP Skate America3rd4th
GP Skate Canada4th2nd3rdTBD
CS Autumn Classic2nd3rd
CS Nebelhorn3rd1st
CS Nepela Trophy1st
U.S. Classic1st
National[1]
Canadian Champ.3rd2nd4th2nd2nd3rd2nd
SC Challenge1st
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series (began in the 2014–15 season)

With Donohue

International[40]
Event 2008–09 2009–10
Junior Worlds9th
JGP Czech Republic1st
JGP Germany3rd
JGP Hungary4th
JGP South Africa2nd
National[2]
U.S. Champ.3rd J.3rd J.
Midwestern Sectionals2nd J.
J. = Junior level
JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With McKernan

International[41]
Event 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
JGP Austria5th
JGP Chinese Taipei6th
JGP Mexico3rd
JGP United Kingdom4th
NACS Vancouver1st J.
NACS Pierrefonds4th N.
National[38]
U.S. Champ.7th N.4th J.2nd J.
Midwestern Sectionals2nd N.2nd J.2nd J.
Southwestern Regionals1st N.
Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior
JGP: Junior Grand Prix; NCAS= North American Challenge Skate

Detailed results

(with Poirier)

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only. Current ISU personal bests highlighted in bold.

2018–19 season
Date Event SD FD Total
November 23–25, 2018 2018 Internationaux de France TBD TBD TBD
October 26–28, 2018 2018 Skate Canada International TBD TBD TBD
September 26–29, 2018 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 1
77.40		 1
116.72		 1
194.12
2017–18 season
Date Event SD FD Total
March 19–25, 2018 2018 World Championships 6
74.51		 6
111.59		 6
186.10
February 19–20, 2018 2018 Winter Olympics 9
69.60		 8
107.31		 8
176.91
January 8–14, 2018 2018 Canadian Championships 2
78.37		 3
113.71		 2
192.08
November 24–26, 2017 2017 Skate America 5
64.07		 4
102.47		 4
166.54
October 27–29, 2017 2017 Rostelecom Cup 4
69.67		 4
102.62		 4
172.29
September 20–23, 2017 2017 CS Autumn Classic International 3
68.80		 3
103.46		 3
172.26
2016–17 season
Date Event SD FD Total
March 29 – April 2, 2017 2017 World Championships 9
72.83		 7
106.16		 8
178.99
February 15–19, 2017 2017 Four Continents Championships 7
61.21		 5
108.93		 6
170.14
January 16–22, 2017 2017 Canadian Championships 1
78.15		 1
111.74		 1
189.89
November 11–13, 2016 2016 Trophée de France 4
64.74		 3
106.04		 3
170.78
October 28–30, 2016 2016 Skate Canada International 3
72.12		 3
110.45		 3
182.57
September 22–24, 2016 2016 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 3
70.32		 3
106.52		 3
176.84
2015–16 season
Date Event SD FD Total
March 28 – April 3, 2016 2016 World Championships 5
70.70		 8
102.37		 8
173.07
February 16–21, 2016 2016 Four Continents Championships 5
63.92		 5
98.27		 5
162.19
January 18–24, 2016 2016 Canadian Championships 2
70.63		 2
109.19		 2
179.82
November 13–15, 2015 2015 Trophée Éric BompardC 2
63.94		 N/A 2
63.94
October 23–25, 2015 2015 Skate America 3
61.33		 3
96.25		 3
157.58
October 1–3, 2015 2015 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy 3
62.56		 1
96.58		 1
159.14
2014–15 season
Date Event SD FD Total
March 23–29, 2015 2015 World Championships 7
65.90		 6
99.32		 6
165.22
February 9–15, 2015 2015 Four Continents Championships 4
63.45		 4
98.80		 4
162.25
January 19–25, 2015 2015 Canadian Championships 2
70.03		 2
104.67		 2
174.70
December 11–14, 2014 2014–15 Grand Prix Final 4
62.49		 5
95.67		 5
158.16
November 21–23, 2014 2014 Trophée Éric Bompard 2
61.90		 2
95.68		 2
157.58
October 31 – November 2, 2014 2014 Skate Canada International 4
57.35		 2
95.25		 2
152.60
October 15–16, 2014 2014 CS Skate Canada Autumn Classic 4
53.52		 2
89.10		 2
142.52
2013–14 season
Date Event SD FD Total
March 24–30, 2014 2014 World Championships 10
59.42		 7
94.44		 8
153.86
January 20–26, 2014 2014 Four Continents Championships 1
62.38		 2
91.33		 2
153.71
January 9–15, 2014 2014 Canadian Championships 4
65.11		 4
99.41		 4
164.52
November 22–24, 2013 2013 Rostelecom Cup 6
51.14		 6
83.52		 6
134.66
November 8–10, 2013 2013 NHK Trophy 5
55.20		 5
88.87		 5
144.07
2012–13 season
Date Event SD FD Total
March 11–17, 2013 2013 World Championships 15
58.61		 18
81.41		 18
140.02
February 6–11, 2013 2013 Four Continents Championships 5
60.20		 3
97.63		 5
157.83
January 13–20, 2013 2013 Canadian Championships 2
67.95		 2
102.86		 2
170.81
November 15–18, 2012 2012 Trophée Éric Bompard 6
51.99		 6
83.87		 6
135.86
October 26–28, 2012 2012 Skate Canada International 5
58.79		 4
94.66		 4
153.45
September 13–16, 2012 2012 U.S. International Classic 3
55.98		 1
90.92		 1
146.90
2011–12 season
Date Event SD FD Total
January 16–22, 2012 2012 Canadian Championships 3
68.41		 3
111.61		 3
180.02
November 30 – December 4, 2011 2012 Skate Canada Challenge 1
58.79		 1
94.66		 1
153.45

References

  1. 1 2 "Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier". Skate Canada.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Piper Gilles / Zach Donohue". IceNetwork. Archived from the original on March 26, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Walker, Elvin (September 23, 2012). "Gilles and Poirier make big impact at international debut". Golden Skate.
  4. 1 2 Green, Jeff (December 7, 2013). "Sochi 2014: Piper Gilles lands Canadian citizenship". Hamilton Spectator.
  5. ↑ Cox, Jocelyn Jane (February 7, 2008). "Gilles gang: skating times three is golden". Icenetwork. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  6. 1 2 Mittan, Barry (May 27, 2007). "Quick Move to Juniors Pays Off for Colorado Dancers". SkateToday.
  7. ↑ "Ice Dancers Piper Gilles and Timothy McKernan End Partnership". U.S. Figure Skating. May 22, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Figure Skaters Announce Off-season Changes". U.S. Figure Skating. May 7, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 Kany, Klaus-Reinhold (July 27, 2011). "Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier Dance to a New Rhythm". IFS Magazine. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  10. ↑ Giffin, Taylor O. (February 14, 2013). "Worlds next stop for ice dance pair Gilles, Poirier". Toronto Observer.
  11. ↑ Brannen, Sarah S.; Meekins, Drew (November 9, 2011). "The Inside Edge: Gilles and Poirier skate, play". Ice Network. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  12. ↑ Hoyt, Melanie (January 22, 2012). "Virtue and Moir win fourth title at Canadian Nationals". Golden Skate.
  13. 1 2 3 Thayer, Jacquelyn (July 8, 2012). "Catching Up with Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier". ice-dance.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014.
  14. ↑ Chiasson, Paul (December 17, 2013). "Sochi 2014: Ice dancer Piper Gilles becomes Canadian citizen". CBC. Associated Press.
  15. 1 2 Ewing, Lori (November 10, 2016). "Ice dance pair Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier aim for 2018 Olympics". Globe & Mail.
  16. ↑ "Silver medal for Gilles and Poirier at ISU Four Continents". Skate Canada. January 23, 2014.
  17. ↑ Slater, Paula (December 9, 2014). "Work has 'paid off' for Canada's Gilles and Poirier". Golden Skate.
  18. ↑ Slater, Paula (February 16, 2016). "Gilles and Poirier work to 'close the gap'". Golden Skate.
  19. ↑ Flade, Tatjana (February 17, 2017). "Virtue and Moir continue winning ways at Four Continents". Golden Skate.
  20. ↑ Cudmore, John (January 19, 2018). "Unionville's Poirier, partner Piper dance on for date in South Korea". YorkRegion.com.
  21. ↑ Bzdikian, Vartan (January 18, 2018). "RYERSON ALUMNA PIPER GILLES ON HER WAY TO FIRST WINTER OLYMPICS". The Eyeopener.
  22. ↑ Kwong, P.J. (September 1, 2018). "Canadian figure skating going through unprecedented transformation". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  23. ↑ "Canada's Gilles and Poirier score win at Nebelhorn Trophy". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 29, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier". Skate Canada.
  25. ↑ "Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier". IceNetwork.
  27. ↑ ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup 2017 Exhibition (Television production). Match! Arena. October 22, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 27, 2017.
  29. ↑ Smith, Beverley (September 29, 2015). "Gilles, Poirier stray from norm in effort to close gap". IceNetwork.
  30. ↑ "Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier: 2013/2014". Skate Canada. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013.
  35. ↑ "Piper GILLES / Zachary DONOHUE: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 9, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Piper GILLES / Zachary DONOHUE: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 20, 2010.
  37. ↑ "Piper GILLES / Timothy McKERNAN: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 29, 2008.
  38. 1 2 3 "Piper Gilles / Timothy McKernan". IceNetwork. Archived from the original on April 9, 2008.
  39. ↑ "Competition Results: Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER". International Skating Union.
  40. ↑ "Competition Results: Piper GILLES / Zachary DONOHUE". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Competition Results: Piper GILLES / Timothy McKERNAN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013.

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