NHK Trophy concluded Sunday with the Free Dance and the Exhibition Gala in Nagano (JPN). NHK Trophy was the sixth and last event in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2015/2016 series. 11 skaters/couples qualified at NHK Trophy for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final that will take place December in Barcelona (ESP).
Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) dance to gold
Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) danced to the gold medal as NHK Trophy wrapped up in Nagano. Russia’s Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev claimed the silver medal and the bronze went to Madison Hubbell/ Zachary Donohue (USA). All three couples achieved a new personal best score in the Free Dance.
Dancing to “Fix You” by Coldplay, Shibutani/Shibutani produced intricate footwork and innovative lifts. The 2011 World bronze medalists picked up a level four for the lifts, spin and twizzles and a level three for the step sequences to score 106.35 points. Overall they accumulated 174.43 points. “It was such an honor for us to skate at our fifth NHK Trophy. Last time we won a Grand Prix was back in 2011 and that was also NHK Trophy. So today was just really special. It is a great way for us to continuing our season and we’re excited to going back to Barcelona for the Final”, Maia Shibutani said.
Bobrova/Soloviev put out a strong dance to the “Anna Karenina” soundtrack that was highlighted by their lifts and steps. The 2013 European Champions earned 103.14 points and totaled 169.33 points to move up one spot. “We finally remembered the feelings we had one and a half years ago at the Olympic Games and felt that we really came back and have the power to continue performing. We achieved basically everything we had planned for this Grand Prix”, Soloviev shared.
Hubbell/Donohue danced to “Adagio for Strings” by Daft Punk and picked up the same levels as the other two top teams. They 2014 Four Continents Champions received 100.92 points and slipped from second to third at 167.49 points. “It was a little nerve-wrecking. We hadn’t competed our Free Dance since early September. We put a lot of work in and we just felt very excited to finally show it, but it also put a bit of nerves and pressure to it. We were happy to skate very well, very clean. We’re just so excited to finally make our goal to go to the Grand Prix Final”, Hubbell commented.
Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (RUS) finished fourth with 160.64 points and Penny Coomes/ Nicholas Buckland (GBR) follow in fifth place (155.58 points).
Shibutani/Shibutani proceed to Barcelona with a gold and a silver medal while Hubbell/Donohue qualify with a first place (after the Short Dance) from Trophee Bompard and bronze from NHK Trophy. Bobrova/Soloviev booked their ticket to Spain with a silver and a bronze medal.
For full results of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2015/16 please refer to www.isu.org under Single& Pair Skating/Ice Dance then select Grand Prix.