The release of the Grand Prix assignments on Friday, July 22 signaled the start of the new season. It also marks the beginning of the new four-year cycle concluding with the 2026 Olympics.
With the retirement of Yuzuru Hanyu, the absence of Olympic champion Nathan Chen and the Russian skaters suspended, this campaign’s list looks much different than in years past.
Chen is taking the Grand Prix season off to concentrate on his studies at Yale, while world bronze medalist Vincent Zhou of the United States will do the same at Brown.
Beijing Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova and silver medalist Alexandra Trusova, along with fourth-place finisher Kamila Valieva, were all prevented from entering the GP series due to the ongoing ISU ban of Russian athletes in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Olympic pairs gold medalists Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China and Olympic ice dance champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France have both decided to sit out this season.
New Locales and Assignments
Two of this season’s Grand Prix events will also be held in new locales, with the Grand Prix Espoo in Finland replacing the Cup of Russia, and the MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield, England taking over for the Cup of China.
World champion Shoma Uno has drawn Skate Canada (October 28-30) and the NHK Trophy (November 18-20) in Sapporo this season. Uno will be a heavy favorite at both events. In Hokkaido, Kazuki Tomono is entered along with American Tomoki Hiwatashi.
In Mississauga, Ontario, Uno will be joined by compatriot Kao Miura and compete against a lineup that includes China’s Boyang Jin, Italy’s Matteo Rizzo and American Camden Pulkinen.
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Yuma Kagiyama
Skate America Offers Interesting Mixes
World titlist Kaori Sakamoto will take the ice at the season-opening Skate America (October 21-23) and the NHK Trophy. Rino Matsuike, who is coming off a disappointing season, is also entered for the event in Norwood, Massachusetts, where other prominent skaters will include world junior champion Isabeau Levito and South Korea’s Haein Lee.
Beijing Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama is set for Skate America and the Grand Prix de France (November 4-6). Skate America should provide for an intriguing competition, as Kagiyama will take on world junior titlist Ilia Malinin, as well as teammate Sena Miyake, South Korea’s Junhwan Cha and Italy’s Daniel Grassl.
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Kazuki Tomono
Skate Canada and Grand Prix de France
In Angers, France, Kagiyama will go up against compatriots Tomono and Sota Yamamoto as well as the host country’s Kevin Aymoz.
Two-time national champion Rika Kihira, who missed last season due to a right ankle injury, is slated to compete at Skate Canada and Grand Prix Espoo (November 25-27). Wakaba Higuchi and Yuhana Yokoi will join Kihira in Canada where the roster will include South Korea’s Young You and Eunsoo Lim.
A strong showing by Yokoi in Ontario could earn her the as yet unassigned host nation spot for the NHK Trophy. The 22-year-old Yokoi expressed surprise at her selection after struggling last season.
“Realistically, based on the results of last season, it made me think that my name would not appear, I wouldn’t mind it,” Yokoi wrote on Twitter. “However, I also thought that maybe [there was a chance]…”
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Mai Mihara (ISU/GETTY IMAGES/via KYODO)
In Espoo, Finland, Kihira will pull on the boots against teammates Mana Kawabe and Mai Mihara. Two-time US champion Bradie Tennell and world silver medalist Loena Hendrickx of Belgium.
Higuchi’s second assignment will be the NHK Trophy, while Kawabe will start her GP season in France where Matsuike and GP debutante Rion Sumiyoshi have been slotted it. Hendrickx and Lee will also make the trip to Angers.
Competing in Britain
Mihara will be the Hinomaru’s lone female skater in Sheffield (November 11-13)…
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