Alexandra Trusova with coach Sergei Dudakov at the JGP Amber Cup Free Skate (Photo Credit)
This week: history is made, NHK host spots are awarded, programs are announced, and much more.
The news roundup is published every Saturday. Follow us on Twitter for the most timely updates throughout the week. If you have news, announcements and/or shoutouts you'd like to be included in the week's roundup, DM us on Twitter and we will take them into consideration!
Announcements
- Sota Yamamoto and Rika Kihira have been assigned to the host spots at NHK Trophy by the Japanese Skating Federation. Rika now has two assignments on the Grand Prix Series, and this will be Sota's first ever appearance on the GP (source).
- 2018 Olympic Bronze Medallist Javier Fernandez revealed that he has a new short program, and that he is recycling his free program from the previous season. He is currently slated to compete in Japan Open in October, and plans to compete at Spanish Nationals, and the European Championships (source).
- Unannounced new SP, FS - Man of La Mancha
- Unannounced new SP, FS - Man of La Mancha
- Entries for the 6th JGP event, JGP Ljubljana Cup, have been released. Notable entries include: Alexandra Trusova, Anna Tarusina, Conrad Orzel, Koshiro Shimada, Shevchenko/Eremenko, and Shanaeva/Naryzhnyy.
- 2017 NHK Trophy Champion Sergei Voronov has announced his programs for the upcoming season. His short program is choreographed by Artur Gachinski, while his free program was choreographed by the late Denis Ten (source).
- SP - Appassionata, FS - Way Down We Go
- SP - Appassionata, FS - Way Down We Go
- Michael Christian Martinez has announced that he is taking an indefinite leave from competitive figure skating. Martinez was called up to represent the Phillippines at the Pyeongchang Olympics after Sweden gave up their spot in the Men's discipline. He finished 28th in the short program, and was unable to qualify for the free skate (source).
- 2018 US National Pewter Medallists (i.e. 4th place finishers) in Ice Dance, Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker, have withdrawn from Autumn Classic International (source).
Arina Ushakova and Maxim Nekrasov (RUS) in the Rhythm Dance at JGP Amber Cup (Photo Credit)
Competitions
JGP Amber Cup (6-8 September)
- Junior Men - 1st: Andrew Torgashev (USA), 2nd: Kirill Iakovlev (RUS), 3rd: Yuto Kishina (JPN)
- Junior Ladies - 1st: Alexandra Trusova (RUS), 2nd: Yelim Kim (KOR), 3rd: Kseniia Sinitsyna (RUS)
Alexandra Trusova landed the first ever quad combo (4T3T) in the history of women's FS, and was the first to attempt a 4Lz in competition (the 4Lz was called as under-rotated). - Junior Ice Dance - 1st: Arina Ushakova/Maxim Nekrasov (RUS), 2nd: Avonley Nguyen/Vadym Kolesnik (USA), 3rd: Darya Popova/Volodymyr Byelikov (UKR)
You can watch full clips of the Junior Grand Prix performances and livestream them on the ISU's official Youtube channel with commentary by Ted Barton, or check out our playlist including all the medallists and our top picks! Keep an eye out for our competition wrap-up article to be posted tomorrow!
Moscow Open Championship (3-6 September)
- Junior Ladies - 1st: Kamila Valieva, 2nd: Daria Usacheva, 3rd: Anastasiia Gubanova
Videos from the competition are available here.
St Petersburg Cup (4-9 September)
- Senior Ladies - 1st: Anastasia Gulyakova, 2nd: Serafima Sakhanovich, 3rd: Maria Talalykina
Videos from the competition are available here.
Evgenia Medvedeva at practice for the Russian Test Skates (Photo Credit)
Skaters
- Coach Brian Orser and choreographer David Wilson are accompanying 2018 Olympic Silver Medallist Evgenia Medvedeva to the Russian test skates this week. Check out the cute photo that Brian posted on his Instagram of his new student above!
- 2018 World Bronze Medallist Mikhail Kolyada gave an interview discussing his new programs for the season. While he didn't explicitly announce his music choices, his Free Skate "Toreador" is likely from the opera Carmen, and his Short Program is to Muse (source).
- And finally this week, we'd like to thank Junior Grand Prix commentator Ted Barton for giving ITL a shout-out during the JGP Amber Cup Men's SP! If you haven't seen it yet, check out the clip below.
Did we forget some news? Help us be even more comprehensive next week by DM-ing us news on Twitter!