2022 ISU World silver medalists Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara of Japan took a narrow lead in the Pairs Short Program over reigning ISU World Champions Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA). Canada’s Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps placed third.
Miura/Kihara opened their program to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Sweet Hope Walk’ with a triple twist and followed up with a side by side triple toe and a level-four Axel Lasso lift. The Skate Canada Champions continued with a throw triple Lutz and a level-four step sequence to earn 78.08 points.
Miura/Kihara (JPN) took a narrow lead over World Champions Knierim/Frazier (USA) after the Short Program © ISU
“I was very nervous right before the performance but we were able to do our skating without major mistakes,” Miura said.
Kihara added: “What we really love about skating is just being able to skate, we always are able to have a great time together which means we can enjoy the skating and having that enjoyment makes it wonderful being able to skate.
“We went through some tough times together and we were able to share these feeling and we can now enjoy every competition and it’s wonderful.”
Knierim/Frazier’s routine to ‘Separate Ways (World Apart)’ featured a triple twist, throw triple flip as well as four level-four elements. However, Frazier touched down with his hand on the triple toe. The Skate America Champions nevertheless posted a personal best of 77.65 points.
Knierim/Frazier (USA) felt they made a big improvement from earlier Grand Prix as they skated into second place © ISU
“We both skated from our hearts and we skated with passion and we are very proud and happy with how we skated today. We made a big improvement from the Grand Prix and we are relieved with the outcome,” Knierim said.
Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps delivered a solid performance to ‘Tango Oblivion’ that included a triple twist, side by side triple toe and throw triple loop. The Grand Prix de France Champions netted 69.54 points. It was not an easy road for the couple to get here as Stellato-Dudek had been ill before the event.
Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps (CAN) overcame illness and disruption to training to lie third after the Short Program © ISU
“We are very excited to be here on our first Grand Prix Final. I got really ill, I still don’t have my voice,“ she said.
“A couple of weeks ago I had to take time off the ice and off the training and I lost weight and I lost muscles so we were training very hard to try and be ready for here.
“Our goal for the Free Skating is just to go in and feel like it did in the practice and have a show tomorrow and have fun,” she continued.
Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) finished fourth on 67.30 points ahead of teammates Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini (63.54 points). Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA) are currently ranked sixth on 53.85 points after making an error on the lift.
Schedule of the event
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, December 8: Junior Men, Junior Pairs, Junior Women’s Short Programs, Pairs & Men’s Short Programs
Friday, December 9: Junior Rhythm Dance, Junior Women’s & Pairs Free Skating, Rhythm Dance & Women’s Short Program
Saturday, December 10: Men’s, Junior Pairs & Junior Men’s Free Skating, Junior Free Dance, Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating
Sunday, December 11: Exhibition Gala
The ISU Grand Prix series started with Skate America in Norwood (USA) and continued with Skate Canada in Mississauga, followed by the Grand Prix de France in Angers and the John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield (GBR). The series then stopped at NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) and Grand Prix Espoo (FIN). Great Britain hosted an ISU Grand Prix event for the first time. A total of 151 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members competed in the series: 44 Men, 45 Women, 26 Pairs and 36 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.
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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)
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