Post by Admin on Feb 6, 2019 18:23:40 GMT
Following the ISU European Figure Skating Championships the focus now shifts this week to the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships with most of the non-European top skaters competing in Anaheim, USA (February 5-10). Anaheim will host an ISU Figure Skating Championship for the first time.
88 skaters from 14 ISU members have been entered for this 20th anniversary edition of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships: 26 Men, 22 Ladies, 8 Pair Skating couples and 12 Ice Dance couples.
Skaters/couples need to have obtained a minimum total technical score in the Short Program and Free Skating in order to compete at the Four Continents Championships. All four reigning Four Continents Champions are back and hope to defend their title.
Olympic, World and Four Continents silver medalist Shoma Uno (JPN) headlines the Men’s event. The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final silver medalist is aiming at winning his first ISU senior-level title and comes with a season’s best of 277.25 points to Anaheim. Defending Four Continents Champion Boyang Jin (CHN) had a slow start into the season and hopes to improve on his results from the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series (SB 227.28). 2018 Four Continents bronze medalist Jason Brown (USA/SB 263.42) and ISU Grand Prix Final bronze medalist Junhwan Cha (KOR/SB 263.49) have set their eyes on the podium as well. Other contenders include Keegan Messing (CAN), Nam Nguyen (CAN), Keiji Tanaka (JPN), Kazuki Tomono (JPN) and Vincent Zhou (USA).
In the Ladies event, reigning Four Continents Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) is looking at defending her crown, but she will face stiff competition from ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Champion Rika Kihira (JPN). Sakamoto scored a season’s best of 213.90 points, while rising star Kihira has a season’s best of 233.12 points. A Japanese podium sweep seems possible with 2017 Four Continents Champion Mai Mihara (JPN/SB 209.22) competing as well, but Bradie Tennell (USA/SB 206.41), Elizabet Tursynbaeva (KAZ/SB 200.74) and Eunsoo Lim (KOR/SB 196.31) seem ready to spoil the Japanese party. Others to watch include Mariah Bell (USA), Ting Cui (USA), Yelim Kim (KOR), Yi Christy Leung (HKG) and Alaine Chartand (CAN).
The schedule of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2019 is as follows:
Thursday, February 7: Ladies and Men’s Short Program
Friday, February 8: Pairs Short Program, Rhythm Dance, Ladies Free Skating
Saturday, February 9: Pairs and Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, February 10: Free Dance, Exhibition Gala
For more information, full entry lists and results please see: www.isu.org and the official event website. Follow the discussion on social media using #4ContsFigure and #FigureSkating.
88 skaters from 14 ISU members have been entered for this 20th anniversary edition of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships: 26 Men, 22 Ladies, 8 Pair Skating couples and 12 Ice Dance couples.
Skaters/couples need to have obtained a minimum total technical score in the Short Program and Free Skating in order to compete at the Four Continents Championships. All four reigning Four Continents Champions are back and hope to defend their title.
Olympic, World and Four Continents silver medalist Shoma Uno (JPN) headlines the Men’s event. The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final silver medalist is aiming at winning his first ISU senior-level title and comes with a season’s best of 277.25 points to Anaheim. Defending Four Continents Champion Boyang Jin (CHN) had a slow start into the season and hopes to improve on his results from the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series (SB 227.28). 2018 Four Continents bronze medalist Jason Brown (USA/SB 263.42) and ISU Grand Prix Final bronze medalist Junhwan Cha (KOR/SB 263.49) have set their eyes on the podium as well. Other contenders include Keegan Messing (CAN), Nam Nguyen (CAN), Keiji Tanaka (JPN), Kazuki Tomono (JPN) and Vincent Zhou (USA).
In the Ladies event, reigning Four Continents Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) is looking at defending her crown, but she will face stiff competition from ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Champion Rika Kihira (JPN). Sakamoto scored a season’s best of 213.90 points, while rising star Kihira has a season’s best of 233.12 points. A Japanese podium sweep seems possible with 2017 Four Continents Champion Mai Mihara (JPN/SB 209.22) competing as well, but Bradie Tennell (USA/SB 206.41), Elizabet Tursynbaeva (KAZ/SB 200.74) and Eunsoo Lim (KOR/SB 196.31) seem ready to spoil the Japanese party. Others to watch include Mariah Bell (USA), Ting Cui (USA), Yelim Kim (KOR), Yi Christy Leung (HKG) and Alaine Chartand (CAN).
The schedule of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2019 is as follows:
Thursday, February 7: Ladies and Men’s Short Program
Friday, February 8: Pairs Short Program, Rhythm Dance, Ladies Free Skating
Saturday, February 9: Pairs and Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, February 10: Free Dance, Exhibition Gala
For more information, full entry lists and results please see: www.isu.org and the official event website. Follow the discussion on social media using #4ContsFigure and #FigureSkating.