Canadian ice dance stars Gilles and Poirier in a groove ahead of Skate Canada International

Piper Gilles says she and Paul Poirier will skate until they run out of gas.

Right now, the tank is full for Canada's top ice dancers.

"We're going to keep skating until we feel like we have nothing left to give," Gilles said. "I feel like we still have so much drive and motivation and unfinished business."

Gilles and Poirier open their figure skating season this weekend at their ninth Skate Canada International. They're also targeting a fifth consecutive title at Halifax's Scotiabank Centre.

The two 32-year-olds are back on competition ice for the first time since winning silver at the world championships in Montreal, where they also posted the highest score of the free dance.

On the back of that performance, Gilles and Poirier, who pondered retirement after the 2022 Olympic cycle, returned for another season with a commitment to compete through the 2026 Games in Milano-Cortina.

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They started brainstorming music ideas and working on choreography earlier than usual during the off-season. And even though Gilles was simultaneously planning her wedding in early October, they're feeling the positive effects of that preparation heading into the season.

"We feel really confident coming into this event," said Poirier, dressed in yellow as the "Ken" to Gilles' pink "Barbie" after they practised their Beach Boys-themed rhythm dance on Thursday.

"We really feel in our groove and in our element and on top of what we're doing, and that's a really nice way to feel."

It's a feeling they don't take for granted.

Poirier recalls low points when their seasons were disrupted