The 2026 John Nicks Pairs International was notable for the debut of many brand-new pair partnerships. One team that has been around for a while – but is new to international competition – is the Canadian pair of Miyu Yunoki and Tristan Taylor.
The duo teamed up in July 2024, and train in Colorado with Drew Meekins and Natalia Mishkutenok. Miyu is originally from Obihiro, Japan, while Tristan is from Woburn, Saskatchewan. “It was kind of chance that we both went to Colorado Springs at the same time,” said Tristan. “We did a season domestic in Japan. And then we decided to switch to Canada, and did a season domestic there.”
Now, in their third season together, they have finally achieved the milestone of their first international competition. They placed sixth out of eleven teams at the ISU Challenger Series event, ahead of their Canadian teammates Jazmine Desroschers and Kieran Thrasher. They also secured the minimum technical scores for the Four Continents Championship.
“For elements, it was big about putting triple twist in this year,” said Tristan. “We’ve been doing it for just like a year and a half now. So putting that in was big. We’d like to put the second throw triple in and then the second triple jump as well. So, we’re just trying to build towards that.”
At John Nicks, Miyu and Tristan landed a throw triple salchow in both programs, and a throw double flip in the free skate. They also included triple toe loops and a double axel – single axel sequence.
Miyu has been dealing with an injury that has limited jumping practice, and off the ice, was wearing a protective boot on her foot. “I have had pain in my heel since May,” she shared. “I didn’t have time to take rest, so it’s still not cured.”
Given that challenge, she was happy to have skated so well. “We couldn’t prepare for the competition this time, and I was so nervous. I didn’t jump [in practice] this week, so… just in competition, I did the jumps!”
“After [this competition] we’re gonna take this week to really try to let [her foot] recover,” added Tristan, “and then we’ll get back into things for the rest of the year.”
He noted that simply competing is a step in the right direction. “We’re just getting out there and seeing how everything feels…I’d say a challenge is probably our lack of experience right now. Like, being our first [international competition], we kind of have to build that rapport with the judges.”
“I’d say our strengths are probably our lifts and our connection on the ice. We try to push that a lot, push our speed and lifts this year.”
Unfortunately, an incomplete Choreographic Lift in the free skate meant that element got zero points.
“We usually really like the choreo lift,” said Tristan. “I put it down today, so that wasn’t great, but it’s nice because the ISU, I think, is pushing a more artistic side, with more choreographic elements like they have in ice dance. I thought it brought a lot of really interesting stuff into everyone’s programs this year.”
Their programs also allow them to show the artistic and emotional side of their skating. “We chose Lady Gaga for last year for the short. We thought it would be really fun to do something that was an unusual music that we hadn’t ever heard before [in skating]. And then, The Phantom of the Opera for this year, we were kind of between that and Romeo and Juliet. And we decided this one, you know, we could connect a little bit better.”
Both programs were choreographed by Drew Meekins.
Tristan has also set the goal of becoming more flexible, and last season he regularly posted his progress toward the splits.
“I was doing the ‘splits challenge’ every single day, and then – I have to address people about this, because I did stop doing it! I injured my hamstring and my hip back in March. So I couldn’t stretch that much. But I will be back!”
With the minimums secured, Miyu and Tristan hope a Four Continents assignment might be in their future. They would also like to go to another international competition before then.
“We hope we’ll be sent out somewhere else to get more experience,” said Tristan, “and if Four Continents was on the table for us, to have something else before that…whether that be another Challenger, or the host spot at Skate Canada, we’d like that.”
The following week, that wish came true: Miyu and Tristan were assigned to Skate Canada International. It will be their first Grand Prix.
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