International Figure Skating global is globally recognized for its comprehensive, coverage complemented by fabulous photography and sophisticated design.
As we go to print, the senior Grand Prix Series is just around the corner. Skaters competing at the elite level have a lot to live up to this season, given what took place on the 2019 Junior Grand Prix circuit. All seven events of that Series produced outstanding performances, with records broken and history made at a number of stops. What a way to start the season! With just two years until the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, a number of these young stars will be vying for places on their respective national teams. “Catch us if you can” could easily become the defining phrase next season when many from this talented group move into the senior ranks. The Junior Final will be live streamed on the ISU YouTube Channel.…
Long before Yuzuru Hanyu was confirmed to compete at Autumn Classic International in mid-September, fans of the Japanese superstar had scooped up every available ticket for the event in Oakville, Ontario. Although Hanyu won the Challenger Series competition by almost 17 points, his combined score of 279.05 was far below the 300.97 he earned at the 2019 World Championships last March. The reigning Olympic champion has kept both programs from last season. Hampered by injury, Hanyu was unable to compete as much as he had planned in 2018 and the early part of 2019, and feels he has not yet done the programs justice. “I did not skate them to their full potential. I want to skate these programs better and show Johnny Weir and Evgeni Plushenko complete versions,” he…
Eric Radford took what was probably the biggest step in his life on July 11, when he and Luis Fenero, a former Spanish ice dancer, wed in the village of Ligüerre De Cinca, situated on the shores of the idyllic El Grado Lake in Aragon, Spain. The village, which lies two hours northwest of Barcelona and an hour away from Fenero’s hometown of Jaca, is known for its spectacular scenery. Radford, 34, said he and Fenero, 27, who first met while training in Montréal, could not have imagined a more beautiful setting for their nuptials. “It’s a little village that specifically does weddings and everyone can stay in the village. It’s really cool and ridiculously gorgeous.” When asked to describe his wedding day, Radford found it difficult to put into…
Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov Captured more than medals and titles during their nine-year competitive career. Their warm and personable approach made them fan favorites around the globe, and more than a few tears were shed when the Russian duo announced they were hanging up their competitive skates in 2007. Theirs was a pairing few expected would ever rise to the top of the world. When Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov teamed up in 1998 at ages 20 and 26, respectively, both had tasted success at various levels with different partners Petrova’s career first blossomed in the junior ranks. Paired with Anton Sikharulidze in the early 1990s, the duo won back-to-back World Junior titles in 1994 and 1995. Sikharulidze ended the partnership in 1996 to skate with Elena Berezhnaia. Tikhonov…
It has been a busy year for two-time and reigning World champion Nathan Chen. The 20-year-old captured his third consecutive U.S. Championships title, completed his freshman year at Yale University and spent the better part of the off-season skating in shows throughout the U.S., Japan and South Korea. After the World Team Trophy in April, Chen returned to school for two weeks before heading out on tour with Stars on Ice. Final exams caused him to miss three shows, but he headed back on tour as soon as he was done with school for the year. At the end of that tour, he went to South Korea for Yuna Kim’s “All That Skate” show, and followed that up with multiple trips to Japan for the Prince Ice World tour, three…
There was a time when junior skaters were, well, junior skaters. In a bygone era, those at that level were considered up-and-coming talents that executed double jumps, throws and twists — and fell a lot But those days are long gone. While the level of skating in the junior ranks has been rising every season, those at the top took it to an entirely new level this year. The current crop of future champions turned up with multiple quads, triple Axels and difficult triple-triple combinations in their arsenals. Though some decry the stress these jumps are causing their growing bodies, it is the nature of elite athletes in all sports to push the boundaries — to go higher, faster and do things that have never been done before. With skaters…
