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Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) skate into the lead after the Pairs Short Program at the NHK Trophy in Sapporo. © ISU

Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) confirmed their status as favorites by distancing themselves from the rest of the competition in the Pairs Short Program as the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) opened on Friday.

Miura/Kihara (JPN) rediscover confidence to top Short Program

The 2022 ISU World silver medalists will take a commanding lead over Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA) and Canadians Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar into Saturday's Free Skate.

Miura/Kihara looked confident in their routine set to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Sweet Hope Walk”, landing a triple twist, side by side triple toe and throw triple Lutz. The Skate Canada International Champions collected a level four for the lift, side by side spin, death spiral and footwork to achieve a new personal best of 78.25 points.

“Previously, our personal best was 74[.45] points,” Kihara said. “Since Skate Canada we worked with our coach to make sure we get our levels, and we are happy we got to do that.”

That victory gave the pair new confidence after Miura dislocated her shoulder and they were unable to practice fully for two and a half months. “Despite that, we were able to have a good result,” Kihara explained. “After Skate Canada we were able to do really good training and had absolutely no worries coming here and this naturally came out in our performance today.”

Skating to “Nyah”, Chan/Howe produced a high triple twist and four level-four elements, but Chan fell on the triple toe and the throw triple loop was somewhat shaky to leave the Skate Canada silver medalists on 64.62 points.

“We had some technical errors in the jumping pass,” Howe admitted. “Besides that, we got out there and had great energy and enjoyed performing in front of the Japanese crowd.”


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Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe (USA) had some technical errors to leave them adrift in second place. © ISU

It felt particularly special for Howe to perform in Sapporo as his mother is Japanese: “It’s cool to be able to come here and feel a little bit more connected in that sense. I’m able to embrace that culture when I’m here.”

McIntosh/Mimar turned in a solid performance to “Release” by Jennifer Thomas that was highlighted by a triple twist, triple toe and a reverse lasso lift. The 2022 ISU World Junior bronze medalists set a new personal best of 62.31 points.

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Brooke McIntosh and Benjamin Mimar (CAN) have 'a lot of fun' skating a personal best to finish third in the Short Program. © ISU

“It was lot of fun skating in front of the Japanese crowd,” McIntosh said. “Even with the small mistake (on the throw triple loop) we were able to get a personal best and we are excited for that.”

Irma Caldara/Riccardo Maglio (ITA) came fourth on 58.95 points followed by Grand Prix de France silver medalists Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev (FRA) who scored 55.36.

Schedule of the event

The schedule is as follows:


Friday, November 18:              Pairs & Women’s Short Programs, Rhythm Dance, Men’s Short Program
Saturday, November 19:         Pairs & Women’s Free Skating, Free Dance, Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, November 20:            Exhibition Gala

 

The NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) November 18-20, 2022, is the fifth of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

More than 150 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members have been invited to the Series. 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

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.

Subscribe to the ISU YouTube Channel to receive all the latest videos and follow the conversation with #GPFigure.

 

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.