Deanna Stellato-Dudek felt the pressure of competing as a world champion on home soil.

The rowdy Canadian crowd only added to the situation when she and Maxime Deschamps took the ice Friday night.

“I actually noticed the difference in volume between our ad and everyone else’s. It was so noticeable,” Stellato-Dudek said. “I felt stressed and just wanted to do well.”

Those nerves didn’t show as the Canadian duo picked up where they left off at home, placing first in the short program at Skate Canada International seven months after winning gold at the world championships in Montreal.

Skating to a remix of Beyoncé’s “Crazy In Love,” Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps scored 73.23 at the Scotiabank Center to kick off their second competition of the season.

“Going there, being in front of our audience, for the first time since the World Cup, it was great,” Deschamps said. “We’ve done a lot of things that we’ve improved on since the last competition, and we’re happy with that.”

WATCH | Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps lead after the short program:

Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps in 1st place after the short pairs program at Skate Canada International

World champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada lead the pairs competition at Skate Canada International after scoring 73.23 in the short program.

A slight stumble during their triple throwing loop prevented them from reaching their goal of “high 70).

But after winning silver at the Nebelhorn Trophy in September, they will be in the driver’s seat to repeat their Skate Canada gold with an 8.41-point lead over the competition.

Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel of Germany were second (64.82) and Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore of Australia were third (64.81).

“We accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish here,” Stellato-Dudek said. “But we didn’t put throwing on the list, apparently.”

Stellato-Dudek left the sport for 15 years and returned in 2016 before becoming Deschamps’ ninth partner.

Now world champions, the timeless skaters insist they are looking to the future with a particular focus on the 2026 Olympics.

But, with the help of sports psychologists, they are also learning to cope with their new reality and expectations as the best team in the world.

“I definitely feel the pressure, but the pressure really comes from within yourself,” Stellato-Dudek said. “I’ve always put pressure on myself, but I feel it more this year, and I’m trying to work on it actually, because it’s very hard.”

Live coverage of the event continues Saturday at 12:15 p.m. ET (CBCSports.ca. CBC Gem).

WATCH | Three-time world champion Sakamoto of Japan leads after the short program:

Madeline Schizas ranks 5th after women’s short program at Skate Canada International

Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., is fifth after the women’s short program at Skate Canada International with a score of 65.28.

Later Friday, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto dominated with a dynamic tango routine to take a large lead in the women’s short program.

The three-time world champion scored 74.97 ahead of American Alysa Liu (67.68), who competed in her first Grand Prix since retiring in April 2022. Switzerland’s Kimmy Repond (66.94) finished third.

Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., finished fifth, falling just behind the top three at 65.28 after a joyful, error-free skate to the music of “The Lion King.”

After an eventful last season, Schizas, 21, was all smiles as she landed her first two jumps. At the end of the program, she pumped her first and exclaimed “Yes!” » in the crowd.

“It was a good skate for me. A solid performance,” Schizas said. “I was happy with how it turned out, but it’s also a happy piece of music. It’s hard not to smile.”

WATCH | Schizas is 5th after the short program:

Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto leads after women’s short program at Skate Canada International

Kaori Sakamoto of Japan takes first place in the women’s competition at Skate Canada International after earning a score of 74.97 in the short program.

Between using the same schedule during show season and starting her season early, Schizas said she’s already approaching 20 performances of The Lion King.

“It’s a big help. I know the music very well and all this gives me confidence,” she said.

“I haven’t watched the whole movie. I’m just going to admit it.”

A year ago, Schizas recorded a career best during Skate Canada’s long program in Vancouver. She hopes to deliver another stellar performance with a podium within reach in Halifax.

Reigning national champion Kaiya Ruiter of Calgary was seventh (57.66), while Sara-Maude Dupuis of Montreal was ninth (54.15) among the 12 skaters.

Kelly Ann Laurin of Saint-Jérôme, Que., and Loucas Ethier of St-Alphonse, Que., placed last in the eight-team duet competition (52.16).

The men’s rhythmic and short dance programs will take place on Saturday afternoon, followed by the pairs and women’s free programs in the evening. The competition will conclude Sunday afternoon with the men’s free program and free dance.

The Grand Prix, the highest series in figure skating, consists of six events and a final. Skate Canada is the second event this year after the circuit kicked off at Skate America last week.

You can also watch more figure skating coverage at CBC Sports presentsour weekly show featuring the best high-performance athletes from Canada and around the world. Hosted by Brenda Irving, accompanied by Kurt Browning and Carol Lane, the show can be broadcast Saturday at 2 p.m. ET and Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.

WATCH | Replay of the women’s short program:

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Women’s Short Program at Skate Canada International

Watch the women’s short program from the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating at the 2024 Skate Canada International in Halifax.