2026 Four Continents Championships Practice Reports

[aussie_SKATES]

Still on a high from Yuna Aoki's spectacular win from last night. Gosh, she was brilliant.

We're back at the main arena for the men's short program Saturday morning practice session.

Group 3 is winding down, but we were able to catch Donovan Carrillo, Aleksa Rakic, and Wesley Chu.

Carrillo just finished his SP run-through, so he didn't practice any further elements. But Chu and Rakic worked on their jump combination, and Rakic landed some terrific triple axels. His delayed and upright rotation reminds us of USA's Matt Savoie. It is quite something to watch in person.

There is an ice resurface, and Group 4 starts in about seven minutes including Boyang Jin, Tomoki Hiwatashi and Roman Sadovsky.

 

[aussie_SKATES]

After heading to Sheffield for Europeans, we can't believe we're at the tail end of what has been a delightful two weeks of skating.

It is going far too quickly and we want to make the most of every moment.

Group 4 Men are standing by to take the ice.

Seeing Roman and Tomoki side by side really highlights their height difference. Roman is Memola tall!

 

[aussie_SKATES]

Group 4 Men's Short Program - Saturday Monring Practice Notes

Full run through from Hiwatashi
Tripled the quad sal (?)
Hand down on the triple axel
Hit the triple lutz/triple toe

Talking a lot with Mie Hamada (?) by the boards afterwards

Sadovsky blocked his short and left out the elements.
Before his skate he landed a lovely triple axel and stepped out of the quad sal
Landed two fantastic quad sals afterwards. Roman carries such height and distance in and out of the jump.

Boyang kept the jump elements to a minimum and left early.

The two Korean skaters had effortless jumping sessions today. They were popping off the quads and triples like they were nothing.

The depth of this event is really something.

 

[aussie_SKATES]

Saturday Morning Men's SP Practice - Group 5 are on the ice warming up.

Kazuki Tomono is looking so much stronger today
A full run-through for the most part. Fall on the quad toe, blocks the quad sal and lands the triple axel
Super fast coverage on the footwork and across the ice
Such a high-energy program
Landed a killer quad sal and quad toe/triple toe after his run-through

Sota Yamamoto’s jumps are really swish
Effortless, full run-through
Very artistic and emotive style
He takes every opportunity to stretch
Beautiful cover of The Beatles’ Yesterday by Michael Bolton

Jacob Sanchez blocking elements in his run-through but includes the choreography
Works on the combination after his skate. Didn't see a quad and may have missed him trying the triple axel

Junhwan Cha hits a killer quad sal and triple lutz/triple loop. Pops the triple axel into a single
Does an SP run-through for the most part.
Such a commanding presence on the ice. Cha skates really big.

Mikhail Shaidorov hot and cold with the jumps before hitting an easy!!!! quad lutz/triple toe, triple axel and quad toe in his run-through
Includes some nice centred spins at the end

Kao Muira blocked his routine but included a dynamic footwork sequence
He kept the jumps to a minimum this morning and is having problems with the quad sal afterwards but lands a killer quad sal/triple toe in the last seconds of the session.

Men are now working on their spins for the remainder of the practice.

 

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Pairs FS Group One - Saturday Morning Practice Notes

Gamez and Korovin has some lovely lifts. Gamez struggled with both throws during their run-through before landing a nice throw triple salchow afterwards. I really love their must from Somewhere In Time. Soft, lyrical skating.

Kemp and Elizarov hit the pair elements in their run-through and achieve excellent coverage in their lifts. Throws are a bit shaky.
Great to see a young team fresh from the Junior level already skating at the championship senior level in the same season.

Ryom and Han also have an excellent twist lift and some complex lifts. Hot and cold with the throws today.

 

[aussie_SKATES]

Group 2 Pairs FS Run Through - Saturday Morning Notes.

Four teams on the ice and it is like rush hour out there

Golubeva and Giotopoulos Moore / AUS
Great music choice to Penny Dreadful. Really different and highlights their powerful, dramatic style.
Blocking the program, but include individual elements including two excellent lifts which run half the ice length
Good throw 3sal. Step out on the throw
SBS 3toe loops + 2A + 2A. Problems with the sbs 3sal
Excellent final pair spin

Hektor is so strong. How he lowers Anastasia with one arm on their final lift is mind-blowing to watch.

This team has world-class transitions. Chef's kiss.

So great to see them back after such a challenging season. Couldn't be more proud of them just simply being here.

McBeath and Parkman. Solid on the lifts. Throws looking better today.

Shin/Nagy. Swish 3twist lift. Shin is having major issues with the sbs jumps today. Landed solo 3 toe but really struggling on the sal.
Ends the session landing the solo double axel.

Laurin / Ethier. Blocking bits and pieces but including all of the major elements. Smooth, assured and confident. Skate big with excellent ice coverage.

This has been such a breakthrough season for the team after their medal at Skate America.

Group 3 are taking to the ice set for their practice session.

 

[aussie_SKATES]

Pairs Group 3 Practice - Saturday Morning

Zhang/Huang have amazing height and delay on their throws. Easy lifts as well.

Efimova / Mitrofanov looking strong and confident. Excellent jump sequence and gigantic throws. The distance!!!!
Beautiful lift goes full length of the ice. Real Sale / Pelletier qualities from this couple. Big emotional skating. Wow.

Nagaoka / Moriguchi are so fast.

Lovely 3twist. He pops the 3 loop, but hits the 2A + 2A. Both struggle on the sbs 3 sal. Huge throw 3sal and 3loop. So easy.
Inventive entry into the pair spin combo.
Lifts are so fast. Cover so much distance across the ice. Definite future world medallists.

Sui and Han block some elements on their run-through. Lovely dramatic traditional piece of music. Big and powerful.
Land solid sbs 3toe +2A +2A. Nice 3twist and throw 3loop.
Both double the sbs 3sal. Block the second throw. Inventive spread eagle. Class of the field in terms of their artistry. They really are dancers with pair elements.

Really worried because Sui is still holding her side and back throughout this session. She really does look like she is in a lot of discomfort.

Is this event Olympic being used as qualification for both teams competing here? I cannot even begin to imagine the pressure they are feeling.

 

[saine]

Is this event Olympic qualification for both teams competing here. I cannot even begin to imagine the pressure they are experiencing.

It isn't, China has named Sui/Han to the Olympics.

 

[aussie_SKATES]

Men's SP in a few minutes. Hoping to interview Douglas Gerber in the mixed zone, too.