Dutch Figure Skating 2025-26

[ladyjane]

It's about time I started the new thread for my country. It took a bit longer as I wanted to be sure I wouldn't be counting people out, who are still competing for The Netherlands.

To go to last year's thread:

Thread 'Dutch Figure Skating 2024-2025'

Jul 3, 2024

The new season has begun!

Last year's thread can be found here: https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/threads/dutch-figure-skating-2023-2024.95690/

Pairs (SR)
There were two pairs former season but Nika Osipova and Dmitry Epstein split last year. It was said that Dmitry was looking for a new partner (again) but I read he is now seeing himself as an ex-athlete. Nika also seems to have finished her Figure Skating career.
Daria Danilova/Michel Tsiba - the first Dutch Pair ever to go to a Worlds Championships (in 2021) are still together and not doing too badly. They were 14th at Worlds...

• ladyjane
• Replies: 193
• Forum: Skate of the Nations

• 

Pairs (SR)
Daria Danilova/Michel Tsiba - the first Dutch Pair ever to go to a Worlds Championships (in 2021) are still together, and not doing too badly. They were 15th at Worlds last season, and managed to get an Olympic spot at Worlds. If that really happens, they would be the first Dutch pair ever to go to the Olympics. They've got one GP assignment as of now: NHK trophy. Let's hope they'll get another one!

Ice Dance (SR)
To my great regret Hanna Jakucs and Alessio Galli are no longer representing The Netherlands. They took part in the EC and WC in the past (and went to Euros last year) and train with Barbara Fusar-Poli in Italy. That last seemed to be part of an issue, and there was a law suit, and sadly their clearance was withdrawn. Sadly, because I liked the rivalry with the other Dutch couple (very close rivalries are always fun to watch).
Chelsea Verhaegh and Sherim van Geffen - they made a coaching switch to Maksim Nikitin and Oleksandra Nazarova (Ukranians who coach in The Netherlands) two seasons ago. I will cheer for them as they're Dutch, and I am too, but I don't like the way they bullied their rivals away with a lawsuit.

Women

Julia van Dijk has returned to SRs and presumably is very motivated, as she missed a great deal of last season due to an injury.

Niki Wories returned last season, but did not manage to get the minimums for worlds. she has got them now, as the minimum TES for women was lowered. Not much help if wanting to attend Worlds last year, but still.....

Jolanda Vos in also aiming to compete in Srs this season (and has already done so in Coupe du Printemps and Challenge Cup last season)

There still are some young women in JRs and (Advanced and Basic) Novice of whom Angel Delevaque seems to be the most promising. She took part in Jr Worlds last year and attained the FS. Let's hope she continues to go forward.

Men
We even have a boy in Advanced Novice (the first boy since Thomas Kennes) called Leon Lo. He had quite a few successes in competitions last season. I don't know if he is old enough to be a junior internationally.

 

[ladyjane]

It seems Jolanda Vos will be competing at Cranberry Cup as a Sr in women's (source ISU website). I am going to edit above.

 

[ladyjane]

No Jolanda at Cranberry Cup after all, but a nice article about our pairs team who are enjoying a training camp at home (for once) with Minerva Fabienne Hasse and Nikita Volodin - and their coach Dmitri Savin of course. Daria and Michel are also working on the performance (components) aspects with Joti Poliziakis (former German and Czech Ice Dancer). The men know each other quite well, having both competed singles a long time ago. The article is in Dutch, but I've summarised the gist of it above.

Zomerkamp op eigen ijs: topkunstschaatsers trainen in Thialf

In Heerenveen zijn deze weken verschillende wereldtoppers te bewonderen, onder wie de vice-wereldkampioenen Minerva Hase en Nikita Volodin. Ook de Nederlanders Daria Danilova en Michel Tsiba maken hun uren op het ijs van Thialf. Voor hen is het een unieke kans om in eigen land aan hun küren te...

www.schaatsen.nl

 

[ladyjane]

Well, there's an ID competition in Dordrecht this weekend (16-17 August), officially with ISU label. Except for the participation of Chelsea and Sherim and a Belgian junior team, I have no idea who further are participating. There should be 20 couples from quite a few countries, but who?

More information:

De hitte ontvluchten? Ga ijsdansen kijken in Dordt

<p data-block-key="5av6v">Wie dit weekeinde de hitte wil ontvluchten, kan gewoon naar Dordrecht. In de lokale Sportboulevard vindt daar op 16 en 17 augustus de eerste ISU International Ice Dance Dordrecht plaats. IJsdansen op hoog niveau.</p>

www.schaatsen.nl

or

International Ice Dance Dordrecht 2025 – Ddd-kunstrijden.nl

ddd-kunstrijden.nl

The second site has information in English. Entrance is Free.

 

[ladyjane]

Daria and Michel are going to compete at the Japanese Challenger, the Kinoshita Group Cup. I know Daria and Michel love competing in Japan, so this will be an excellent start of the season for them. Let's hope they also skate well.

At the International ID Dordrecht Chelsea and Sherim are currently in 4th place, but there's a big differential in points with number 3, so I don't expect them to get higher in the ranks. The difference with number 5 is small.....

 

[ladyjane]

Chelsea and Sherim ended up in 5th place at the International ID in Dordrecht. I'm not surprised they went down a placement as Numbers 4 and 5 were close after the RD. The couple who would be best in the FD would end as 4th, and that wasn't the Dutch Couple.

Anyone who has read the thread from last year will understand why I am not very enthusiastic. They are now our (=Dutch) only couple, but I don't like the way they managed that. And, to be honest, I miss Hanna and Alessio!

 

[ladyjane]

I just read that Niki Wories had a knee injury, is now back on the ice, and planning to go to the Beijing Olympic Qualifier:

 

[ladyjane]

Nice to hear from another skater as well: Julia van Dijk, troubled by injury in former seasons, family troubles and unhappy about her coaches's choice to stop (not only her, they quit altogether) coaching has found inspiration at her new Skating Club where she profits from having team mates at her level. She's going to aim for the EC and WC.

Source (in Dutch, but I translated the gist above):

Julia van Dijk voelt zich al thuis in Den Bosch

Julia van Dijk weet wat incasseren is. Blessureleed bij de vleet, misère in de familie, op een of andere manier knokt ze zich steeds over de tegenslagen heen. Zo ook na de volkomen onverwachte mededeling van haar coaches bij DDD uit Dordrecht, die er de brui aan gaven. Ondanks tien fijne jaren...

www.schaatsen.nl

 

[ladyjane]

Daria and Michel's new SP (music and a bit of the contents)

 

[ladyjane]

Entrees for the Olympic Qualifier in Beijing are out.

For the Netherlands:
Women: Niki Wories
ID: Chelsea Verhaegh and Sherim van Geffen

Our Pair, Daria and Michel, has allready qualified, but they still have to prove to our own Olympic Committee that they can go. Nothing to do with IOC/ISU requirements.

Regrettably no men. Our only skater in that discipline is far too young! He was in the advanced novice last year, so still has quite a few years of JRs to go (and I don't even know if he's old enough for that yet).

 

[ladyjane]

I have just seen which competitions Daria and Michel are scheduled for this fall (the Kinoshita Trophy was already known):

Kinoshita Trophy Osaka 6-7 sept
Nebelhorn Trophy Oberstdorf 25-26 sept
Trialeti Trophy Tbilisi 8-11 oktober
NHK Trophy 8-11 nov ‎

Twice in Japan, once in Georgia and once in Germany. I am looking forward to them all, hoping for (free or low-priced) streams! NHK trophy can be watched on the ISU youtube channel. We already suspect the Kinoshita Trophy cannot be watched from outside Japan.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

NEBELHORN!!! YAY!

 

[Silevril Ilumire]

Nice to hear from another skater as well: Julia van Dijk, troubled by injury in former seasons, family troubles and unhappy about her coaches's choice to stop (not only her, they quit altogether) coaching has found inspiration at her new Skating Club where she profits from having team mates at her level. She's going to aim for the EC and WC.

Source (in Dutch, but I translated the gist above):

Julia van Dijk voelt zich al thuis in Den Bosch

Julia van Dijk weet wat incasseren is. Blessureleed bij de vleet, misère in de familie, op een of andere manier knokt ze zich steeds over de tegenslagen heen. Zo ook na de volkomen onverwachte mededeling van haar coaches bij DDD uit Dordrecht, die er de brui aan gaven. Ondanks tien fijne jaren...

www.schaatsen.nl

I'm happy to hear that Julia will be returning, thanks for the news.

 

[ladyjane]

Nebelhorn Trophy entrees are out! Besides Daria and Michel, Jolanda Vos (in women) will also be competing.

 

[fia_nrt]

If I am reading the entries of JGP Ankara this weekend correctly, Lucca Dijkhuizen will be skating! I don't think I had ever seen her skate yet, so I am very much looking forward to it!

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

If I am reading the entries of JGP Ankara this weekend correctly, Lucca Dijkhuizen will be skating! I don't think I had ever seen her skate yet, so I am very much looking forward to it!

She won Junior Nationals in February. I really enjoyed her skating and wishing her lots of luck for her first JGP!

 

[ladyjane]

I am sorry. I knew it, just didn't put it in the thread. My following of juniors is not so good. Thank you both!

 

[ladyjane]

At JGP Varese Angel Delavaque, one of our Junior Talents, will skate in the women's discipline. In Japan, at the challenger of the Kinoshita group, Daria Danilova and Michel Tsiba - pair skaters - will represent our country. I wish all three skaters good skates!

 

[ladyjane]

Just a small reminder: Niki Wories, Chelsea Verhaegh and Sherim van Geffen are partaking in the Olympic Qualifier (or Chinese Nebelhorn, whatever), but even if they would manage to attain an Olympic spot (and chances are low) it's not going to happen for them. They should have qualified at Worlds 2025, Niki wasn't even there, Chelsea and Sherim did not qualify there.

The only skaters in the race for a spot are Daria and Michel who qualified at World's according to IOC/ISU rules, but still have to prove they are 'worthy' as they didn't end in 14th or higher, but 15th. Enough for the IOC/ISU, not for the Dutch Olympic Committee. I sincerely hope they score well in competitions this fall because I would love to see them at the OC.

 

[ladyjane]

Angel Delavaque is in 14th place after the SP in Varese. I would have had her a little higher, but of course I am terribly biased. Good luck tomorrow!