World Champions Knierim/Frazier (USA) overcame a fall to remain in top spot and claim a second Skate America title © ISU
Reigning World Champions Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) added the 2022 Skate America gold medal to their resumé in the first ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event of the year.
Canada’s Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps skated off with the silver medal while their teammates Kelly Ann Laurin/Loucas Ethier moved up one spot to claim the bronze.
Performing to “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles, Knierim/Frazier produced a triple twist, triple toe-double toe combination and level four lifts. However, Knierim went down on the throw triple loop.
The US Champions earned 126.20 points for their Free Skating for 201.39 points overall, enough to win their second Skate America title - when they won their first in 2020, the event was restricted to skaters based in the US alone.
“It was our first competition of the season. Tonight was a fight, a lot of grit out there tonight. I’m very proud of Alexa and I trusting each other to get through that program,” Frazier said.
“It’s a starting base for us and I can see this program growing throughout the season. I’m excited to get home and back to work.
“We lost a lot of points out there, so we are disappointed about that.”
“Maybe we’re not disappointed in the program,” Knierim clarified.
“We knew coming in that we are not in the shape that we needed to be our best. That’s OK. That is part of our journey and the process.”
Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps (CAN) took silver with a personal best in their first ISU Grand Prix event as a team © ISU
Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps opened their “Cleopatra” program with a triple twist and followed up with a triple toe-double toe, throw triple flip and loop. The 2022 Nebelhorn Trophy Champions slightly surpassed their previous personal best with 124.84 points and totaled 197.89 points to win silver in what was their first ISU Grand Prix event as a team.
“We are very happy with our first Grand Prix. Our goal is to go to every event and score a little bit higher than we did in our previous one and improve the levels,” Stellato-Dudek commented.
“We scored a little bit higher than a couple of weeks ago at Nebelhorn, but we haven’t seen our levels yet.”
“We are really pleased with how it went today,” Deschamps noted.
“It wasn’t the easiest free program today, but we fight together, stay together throughout the program.”
Laurin/Ethier (CAN) moved up one place to take a surprise bronze on their ISU Grand Prix debut © ISU
Laurin/Ethier were first-timers on the ISU Grand Prix as well. The young Canadians landed a triple twist, a side-by-side triple loop and throw triple loop in their routine to “Carnival Row” and “In the End” to score 104.35 points, a personal best. Overall they accumulated 156.94 points.
“This being our first Grand Prix event, being in last warm up group after short program was a big deal for us, we didn’t expect that,” Ethier said.
“The energy was great and skating along these guys gave us energy.
“It was the best we could do today and we’re very happy with that.”
Maria Mokhova/Ivan Mokhov (USA) moved up from sixth to fourth place (145.23 points) while Anna Valesi/Manuel Piazza (ITA) were fifth (144.47 points).
Letizia Roscher/Luis Schuster (GER), who had stood in third place following the Short Program, fell on a lift and dropped to seventh (135.88 points).
Knierim/Frazier got 15 points and will compete again in Sheffield (GBR) while Stellato/Deschamps have 13 points and are scheduled to skate again at the Grand Prix in France. Laurin/Ethier (11 points) have their next event next week at home at Skate Canada.
Competition continues Saturday with the Men’s Free Skating and concludes Sunday with the Ice Dance and the Women's Free Skating.
Skate America in Norwood (USA) October 21-23 is the first of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.
More than 150 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members have been invited. The maximum number of entries for each event is 12 Ladies, 12 Men, 8 Pairs and 10 Ice Dance couples.
The General Announcement of the 2022/23 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here. The individual announcements are published under the respective events. Full entry lists and further information are available on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.
Selection Criteria
The Skaters are seeded and invited to the six Grand Prix of Figure Skating events based on the results of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022. Skaters/Couples who have placed 1 to 6 in each of the four categories are seeded and assigned to two events. Skaters/Couples who have placed 7-12 at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships are selected for two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events, and Skaters with a top 24 Seasonal Best Scores (from the 2021/22 season) as well as those placed in the top 24 of the ISU World Standings can also be invited. If available, medalists from the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships can also be selected.
In order for a Skater/Couple to be eligible to compete at an ISU Grand Prix event, a minimum total score must have been achieved in the 2021/22 or current 2022/23 season in an ISU event (Grand Prix, Junior Grand Prix, Championships) or a Challenger Series event. Exceptions apply to host country Skaters, previously ranked Skaters or split ranked Couples who return with new partners. The minimum total score is 3/5 of highest score per discipline at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 and are as follows: Women: 141.65, Men: 187.49, Pairs: 132.65, Ice Dance: 137.89.
Following the IOC recommendation and in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q)i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in International ice skating competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus (see ISU Communication 2469).
Grand Prix Standings
Men Women Ice Dance Pair Skating
Where to Watch
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out where to watch the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.
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ISU Grand Prix Schedule
The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are available below:
21 - 23 Oct, 2022 Skate America, Norwood (USA)
28 – 30 Oct, 2022 Skate Canada International, Mississauga (CAN)
04 - 06 Nov, 2022 Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)
11 - 13 Nov, 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy, Sheffield (GBR)
18 - 20 Nov, 2022 NHK Trophy, Sapporo (JPN)
25 - 27 Nov, 2022 Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)
08 - 11 Dec, 2022 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Torino (ITA)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their Grand Prix events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.
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