Nikolas Wamsteeker

Nikolas Wamsteeker
Born (1996-10-28) October 28, 1996 (age 28)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
HometownLangley, British Columbia
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Figure skating career
CountryCanada
PartnerHaley Sales
CoachScott Moir, Madison Hubbell, Adrián Díaz
Skating clubChamps International Skating Center
Began skating2000

Nikolas Wamsteeker (born October 28, 1996) is a Canadian ice dancer. With his skating partner, Haley Sales, he is the 2020 Bavarian Open bronze medallist and 2018 Lake Placid Ice Dance International bronze medallist. The two placed 9th at the 2018 Four Continents Championships.

Personal life

Wamsteeker was born on October 28, 1996, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[1] He grew up in Langley, British Columbia.[2]

Skating career

Early years

Wamsteeker began learning to skate in 2000.[1] He competed with Jessica Jiang early in his career. The two advanced to the novice level in the 2011–2012 season but missed the 2012 Canadian Championships due to injury. After a year away from skating, Wamsteeker teamed up with Jazlyn Tabachniuk in 2013.[3] They placed 6th in the novice ranks at the 2014 Canadian Championships.

Partnership with Sales

Wamsteeker teamed up with Haley Sales in March 2014.[4] They decided to train under Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe in Burnaby, British Columbia. The two placed ninth in the junior event at the 2015 Canadian Championships. The following season, they competed at one ISU Junior Grand Prix event, finishing sixth in Austria, and ranked fourth at the 2016 Canadian Championships.

Sales/Wamsteeker made their senior international debut at the Lake Placid Ice Dance International in late July 2016. They finished seventh in Lake Placid, ninth at the 2016 CS Autumn Classic International, and fifth at the 2017 Canadian Championships.

Competing in their second senior season, Sales/Wamsteeker placed tenth at the 2017 CS Nebelhorn Trophy and 6th at the 2018 Canadian Championships. They were selected to represent Canada at the 2018 Four Continents Championships in Taipei, Taiwan; the duo finished ninth after placing eighth in the short dance and tenth in the free.

They won a bronze medal at the Lake Placid International Dance trophy and then placed fourth at the 2018 U.S. Classic. They made their Grand Prix debut at the 2018 Skate Canada International, where they placed ninth. At the 2019 Canadian Championships, they placed a career-best fourth, a placement the replicated the following year despite a fall by Sales in the rhythm dance.[5]

Sales/Wamsteeker were assigned to the 2020 Skate Canada International, but the event was cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[6] They placed fourth at the virtually-held 2021 Skate Canada Challenge, while the 2021 Canadian Championships were subsequently cancelled.[7][8]

In June 2021, Sales/Wamsteeker announced that they would be moving to train at the Ice Academy of Montreal's campus in London, Ontario, coached by two-time Olympic champion Scott Moir.[9]

In February 2023, Wamsteeker announced his retirement from competitive ice dance and his decision to become a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force.[10]

Programs

With Sales

Season Rhythm dance Free dance Exhibition
2022–2023
[11]
2021–2022
[12]
2019–2021
[13]
2018–2019
[14]
  • Tango: Compilation 27 Volver
    by Maxime Rodriguez
  • Argentine Tango: Que Faita Que Me Haces - Forever Tango
    by Lisandro Adrover
  • Seduces Me
    by Celine Dion
  • Ne Me Quitte Pas
    by Celine Dion
2017–2018
[1][15]
  • Rhumba: La Belleza
    performed by Marta Sánchez
  • Cha Cha: Cuentame que te paso
    performed by Pepe & The Bottle Blondes
2016–2017
[16]
2015–2016
[17][18]
2014–2015
[19]
  • Suerte
    by Shakira
  • Do You Only Wanna Dance
    by Julio Daviel Big Band

With Tabachniuk

Season Free dance
2013–2014
[3]

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

Ice dancing with Sales

International[20]
Event 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
Four Continents 9th 7th
GP Skate Canada 9th 10th C 10th
GP Wilson Trophy 9th
CS Autumn Classic 9th 6th
CS Nebelhorn 10th 11th
CS U.S. Classic 4th 5th
Bavarian Open 3rd
Lake Placid IDI 7th 8th 3rd 5th
International: Junior[20]
JGP Austria 6th
Lake Placid IDI 4th
National[21][15]
Canadian Champ. 9th J 4th J 5th 6th 4th 4th C 6th 5th 8th
SC Challenge 9th J 3rd J 3rd 1st 2nd 4th 2nd WD 3rd
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Event cancelled
Levels: J = Junior

References

  1. ^ a b c "Haley SALES / Nikolas WAMSTEEKER: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Law, Melanie (January 5, 2018). "Quesnel figure skater heads to Nationals with ice dance partner". Quesnel Cariboo Observer. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Event Coverage – 2014 Canadian National Championships, Novice Profiles" (PDF). ice-dance.com. p. 13.
  4. ^ "Haley Sales & Nik Wamsteeker". vancouvericedance.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018.
  5. ^ Flett, Ted (January 18, 2020). "Gilles and Porier strike gold in Mississauga". Golden Skate.
  6. ^ "Skate Canada International in Ottawa cancelled as COVID-19 cases rise". CBC Sports. October 14, 2020.
  7. ^ Ewing, Lori (January 16, 2021). "Madeline Schizas moves up 3 spots to win virtual Skate Canada Challenge". CBC Sports.
  8. ^ "2021 Skate Canada Challenge – Results". Skate Canada.
  9. ^ Sales, Haley (June 16, 2021). "We are beyond excited to announce that we have joined the I.AM family, training at the Ontario Campus with the amazing Scott Moir and the rest of the incredible I.AM coaches!" (Instagram).
  10. ^ Sales, Haley [@halessales] (February 25, 2023). "It's been an exciting and adventurous journey for Nik and I as a team. But today I'd like to announce Niks retirement from competitive ice dance" – via Instagram.
  11. ^ "Haley SALES / Nikolas WAMSTEEKER: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ^ "Haley SALES / Nikolas WAMSTEEKER: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "Haley SALES / Nikolas WAMSTEEKER: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 27, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ "Haley SALES / Nikolas WAMSTEEKER: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ a b "Profile – Haley Sales & Nikolas Wamsteeker". ice-dance.com.
  16. ^ "Event Coverage – 2017 Canadian National Championships". ice-dance.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018.
  17. ^ "Haley SALES / Nikolas WAMSTEEKER: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ "Event Coverage – 2016 Canadian National Championships, Junior Profiles" (PDF). ice-dance.com. p. 21.
  19. ^ "Event Coverage – 2015 Canadian National Championships, Junior Profiles" (PDF). ice-dance.com. p. 18.
  20. ^ a b "Competition Results: Haley SALES / Nikolas WAMSTEEKER". International Skating Union.
  21. ^ "Haley Sales and Nikolas Wamsteeker". Skate Canada. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018.