Ice Dance gold medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen (CAN). © ISU
Canada’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Soerensen clinched their first ISU Grand Prix gold medal in Sapporo on Saturday, beating favorites and three-time ISU World medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) at the NHK Trophy. Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA) took the bronze, their first ISU Grand Prix medal.
Fournier Beadury/Soerensen put out a passionate “Mexican Flamenco” that was highlighted by difficult footwork and innovative lifts. The Grand Prix de France silver medalists collected a level four for the twizzles, lifts and dance spin while a midline step sequence garnered a level three.
When their personal best score of 124.75 points and 210.41 total came up and they knew they had won, the skaters hugged in the Kiss & Cry. It was an emotional moment for a couple that has been competing on the ISU Grand Prix series since 2015, first for his native Denmark and now for her home country Canada.
“It is a dream come true and something we have worked for for a very long time,” Fournier Beaudry said.
Soerensen added: “There are a lot of emotions and a lot of thoughts. We were just extremely proud of being able to deliver these two performances that brought us to the top of the podium today. Thinking back, it’s been a long journey and I wish that I just could tell everybody that starts somewhere that you can make it anywhere you want to go if you commit properly. Thinking back and getting to where we are right now is just amazing.”
Chock/Bates’ dance to “Souffrance” and “Les Tectoniques” featured three level-four elements, while the twizzles merited a level four and three, and the diagonal step sequence a level three.
Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) score a season's best, but it's only enough for silver. © ISU
The 2022 ISU World bronze medalists set a season’s best of 124.13 for 209.13 points overall. The 2022 Skate America Champions had made changes to their Free Dance since that win.
“We are incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last two weeks since Skate America,” Chock said. “We've made some big renovations on both programs and we are very pleased with how we were able to perform this week.
“We’ve done some evolving of our concept and our character since Skate America. It's about the relationship of the spirit of fire and spirit of air and how one cannot survive without each other. They have the ability to rebuild, devour and produce life to each other and things around them. We wanted to express that relationship. It's something we have connected with and are excited to keep exploring.”
Dancing to “Rhapsody in Blue”, Green/Parsons picked up a level four for five elements. However, the step sequences were rated only a level one and two.
Holding on to bronze: Caroline Green and Michael Parsons complete the medal positions. © ISU
The 2022 ISU Four Continents Champions ranked fourth in the Free Dance with 114.10 points, but held on to bronze with 191.10 overall.
“Caroline and I are very happy with how we skated here,” Parsons said. “Of course we know we can be a lot better in terms of execution and our general score so we have a lot to work on, but that's been the theme of our season. Just learning as we go, every competition we learned more.”
Alison Reed/Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU) came third in the Free Dance with a Techno music medley and fourth overall (189.98 points). Grand Prix de France bronze medalists Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA, 184.63) placed fifth with a program to Edith Piaf songs while 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) dropped one spot to sixth with their “Phantom of the Opera” (178.78).
Overview of the competitors
Women’s Category:
Reigning ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) is the hot favorite, but she has to watch out for teammate Rinka Watanabe who came out of nowhere to beat her earlier this season at the ISU Challenger event Lombardia Trophy. Both women won their first ISU Grand Prix and aim at making the Final. Grand
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.
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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)
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.
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