Figure skating – VANCOUVER – Three champions were crowned in novice competition on Tuesday in early action at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in figure skating being held this week at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

The first winners were Alec Guinzbourg of Belleville, Ont.,  in men’s singles, Amelia Orzel, also of Richmond Hill, Ont., in women’s singles and Nadiia Bashynska and Peter Beaumont of Scarborough, Ont., in ice dancing. The novice pairs free skate is on Wednesday.

‘’I think it went really well,’’ said Guinzbourg. ‘’I was a little bit shaky at the beginning but when I did my first jump I felt calmer.’’

Orzel didn’t let nerves get the best of her.

‘’I’m more than ecstatic, I’m over the moon,’’ said Orzel. ‘’It’s like a dream. My skate went really good. I wasn’t only focusing on the jumps but also focusing on having a lot of fun. I’ve been struggling with my second mark a lot so I tried to let it go.’’

Bashynska and Beaumont continued to enjoy success into the new year.

‘’It feels amazing to be here,’’ said Beaumont. ‘’We were happy to make it to nationals and to actually win it – we couldn’t ask for more.’’

The first junior final was later Tuesday with Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que.,  and Zachary Lagha of Greenfield Park placing first in the ice dance event with 154.40 points.

Olivia McIsaac of Burlington, Ont., and Elliott Graham of Angus, Ont.,  were second at 137.56 and Ashlynne Stairs of Burnaby, B.C., and Lee Royer of St. Albert, Alta., third at 134.51.

‘’ We were in the moment,’’ said Lajoie. ‘’We did what we were suppose to do and what we did in practice.’’

The junior competition continues Wednesday and the senior events, which serve as a qualification for the team that will compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, are on Friday and Saturday.

Full results: https://skatecanada.ca/2018-canadian-tire-national-skating-championships/