Defending champions Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada were one point ahead of world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States after Thursday's rhythm dance at the figure skating Four Continents.

Toronto's Gilles and Poirier of Unionville, Ont., scored 87.22 points for their upbeat routine to a medley of songs including "I Get Around" and "California Girls" by The Beach Boys and "Wipeout" by The Surfaris. The pair is looking to rebound from a disappointing fifth place at the 2024 ISU Grand Prix final.

Chock and Bates scored 86.21 points for an energetic routine set to “Rock Around the Clock” and “Stayin’ Alive."

Another Canadian team was in the mix with Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of Greenfield Park, Que., in third with 82.86.

“We didn’t really have any expectations, other than just to skate the way we do at home," Gilles said. "After the Grand Prix Final, we changed our approach. We took a good, hard look at what we do well and what we need to improve. We got our confidence back, and that showed through today."

Chock and Bates missed the Four Continents last year and were aiming for their fourth title in the competition. The married couple won the event in 2019, 2020 and 2023.

Their only setback on Thursday came when they lost a level on their midline step.

“Maddie and I are pleased with the performance today,” Bates said. “We're going to always hope for a season's best, which today we were a little bit short of, and I think at the final we skated well and really free.”

The Americans are using the Four Continents to prepare for the world championships in Boston from March 25-30.

“It’s a very important competition, not only because many top skaters participate, but also because it’s our last competition before worlds,” Chock said. “It’s a good opportunity to show the training that’s been put in.”

The ice dance wraps up on Saturday with the free dance.

The men’s short program was topped by Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan. His 94.73 points gave him a comfortable lead over Jimmy Ma of the United States, who was second with 82.52.

Shaidorov opened with a spectacular quad lutz-triple toeloop combination and landed a quad toeloop later to rack up points.

Kazuki Tomono of Japan was third with 79.84. Junhwan Cha of South Korea could manage only a double salchow in his opening element and finished fourth.

In the pairs short program, 2023 world and Four Continents champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan were first with 74.73.

Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea of the United States finished second with 70.32 and Lia Pereira of Milton, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Brantford, Ont., were third on 69.79.

“We were very well prepared for this event. We worked really hard after the Cup of China and that showed through at the Canadian Championships," Pereira said. "That event marked the start of the second half of the season, and we wanted to hold onto our momentum in training."

World champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada were fourth.

Skating to “Paint it Black,” Kihara's and Miura’s routine was highlighted by a level three triple twist, a throw triple lutz and a level four step sequence.

— With files from The Canadian Press.

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