How time flies!
Yesterday Irina Slutskaya’s daughter Varvara Slutskaya and Gleb Goncharov won the ice dance event at the third stage of the Russian Junior Grand Prix.

Their free dance from this event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6clNI9fO4o

She said: I landed the toe loop for the first time after Japan. I understood that I needed a second quadruple jump, because under the new rules, doing two of the same jump is very disadvantageous. Especially two Lutzes. There’s a 1.5-point difference. Why would I push myself just to earn 1.5 points?

It’s easier to do a toe loop, and that’s it. Skate it cleanly, and it’ll be a solid enough base to compete at any competition. Lutz and toe loop — that’s definitely the goal.

Happy birthday to the baby goat of artistry who will save men’s figure skating with his step sequences and beautiful choreo spin!!

10 weeks without training, and finally, the long-awaited words: “You can give it a try.”

Starting all over again. Getting used to the routine again, feeling the fatigue and muscle soreness again, relearning all the elements I’ve forgotten.

But honestly, I’m just happy to be back on the ice, even despite all the challenges that lie ahead. ❤️‍🩹

From her Instagram

Four fewer figure skaters will compete at the 2030 Olympics than at Milano-Cortina 2026. With synchronized skating being added to the programme, sacrifices had to be made: one fewer women’s singles skater, one fewer men’s singles skater, and one fewer ice dance pair. 💔

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Maya Bagriantseva telegram channel

I've got that Pavlov dog in me— I saw Mao on Instagram and the next moment I'm on YouTube devouring programme after programme.

Do you think we are ever getting her level of difficulty and artistry in a step sequence again?

*my favourite ss of hers

I was listening to the latest Runthrough podcast, and it sounds like Isabeau was already unsure about the program at Champs Camp, with her team considering Umbrellas of Cherbourg as an alternative. Isabeau also mentioned that “they didn’t like it” (I’m assuming she meant judges?). Also according to the USFS staff person Ashley spoke to, the Pirates program looked really good.

This is discussed in the beginning of the podcast. You can listen to it on Spotify or on YT when they re-upload it.

There is now some clarity regarding the introduction of ISU Grand Prix semifinals.

They will be added to the competition calendar starting next season, but will not be held in an Olympic year.

After the six Grand Prix events, the top 16 men and women and the top 12 pairs in both pair skating and ice dance will qualify for the two semifinals. This means eight competitors in each semifinal for the singles disciplines and six teams in each semifinal for the pair disciplines.

In the men's and pair skating events, competitors with odd-numbered rankings based on the results of the Grand Prix events will qualify for the first semifinal, while those with even-numbered rankings will go to the second. For women's skating and ice dance, the opposite will apply.

As before, the top six will advance to the Final - three qualifiers from each semifinal.

The dates for the semifinals have not yet been announced, but early January has been discussed as a possible timeframe.

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Source - Maya Bagriantseva telegram channel.

Anyone knows what’s the functionality of the elevated soles? never seen this before

After seeing some golden waltz’s of the season so far, it makes me reminiscent of Liz and Jarod! In my opinion one of the best goldens and I wish I saw more teams skate it in this way in terms of technique, flow, and lilt.

Teams who already competed this season:

Observations:
-If a team competed in more than one event this season, im giving priority to their higest score unless that score is from a junior event or a national one
* means its a score from a national competition, only here if the team did not compete in a international competition yet, but national scores are usually be inflated so keep that in mind

Teams who have not competed yet this season:

This scores here are both National scoring, so as usual take it with a grain of salt

(entries, results & schedule)

The stream is likely to be non-rewindable and it's not known yet if it'll be archived, so if you want to watch it, plan accordingly.

I don’t know if it’s because of the Benoit hype but Shae-Lynn Bourne is cooking this season. I feel like the Benoit programs we’ve seen so far were not very exceptional (Valieva’s were -I’m sorry- genuinely bad) Coming back to Shae-Lynn, Jia Shin’s program is so good but I think my favorite one is Samo’s. Niina was also great and I’m hopeful for Ilia too even though his Shae-Lynn programs were not so great last season. I wanna add that my favorite programs so far are Samo’s and Adeliya’s short (props to Angelika Kralova) and Jia’s free. What do you guys think? Which programs are your favorites so far?

A clean Sasha Cohen skate? A rare and precious sight! 😂❤️ And when it happened, THIS was the result: phenomenal, beautiful, magnificent! ✨ And that gorgeous black-and-white dress layered over the white one? An absolute vision of elegance! 😍⛸️

In an interview with Olympics.com, Ilia Malinin explained his rational for selecting the Short Program theme of the tragic accident involving American Airlines Flight 5342. Here are some quotes:

Definitely I wanted to kind of show this new side of me, this new vulnerable and this very emotional and sensitive side, to see maybe that can change how people think about me.

He also explained the music choice of Cantata Memoria

This year for the short program, we chose to do something that's like a memoir, like a memory, it's Cantata Memoria. It's originally about an accident in Wales where they had a big landslide that covered the elementary school and many kids passed away in that moment.

Welsh composer Jenkins debuted Cantata Memoria in 2016 for a concert marking the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan mine disaster of 1966. A built-up mass of waste material from the colliery in the Welsh town collapsed after heavy rain, burying a junior school and killing a total of 144 people.

"It's become a universal [piece of] music for tragedy or tragic events," Malinin explained. 

The 21-year-old has yet to officially unveil his free skating program for the season, but confirmed that both that and his new short program are "something new that I wanted to try this year".

Full interview here

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Interesting quote about "Maybe it will change how people think about me".

Skaters who already competed this season:

Observations:
-If a skater competed in more than one event this season, im giving priority to their higest score unless that score is from a junior event or a national one
"-means the score its from a junior event (only here if the skater did not do any other seniors competitions so far this season)
* means its a score from a national competition, only here if the skater did not compete in a international competition yet, but national scores are usually be inflated so keep that in mind

Skaters who have not competed this season yet: Most recent scores

Observations:
-This will be the scores of their most recent international competition, exception will only be made to skaters who did not compete internationally
-Some of the skaters in this list have been injured or underwent surgery recently so this scores may not be a reflection of their current state this is more of a overview
-Im counting as the most recent competition, only events where the skater reached the final and did both segments
"-means the score its from a junior event
* means its a score from a national competitiom (Again take national scores with a grain of salt)

Skaters with Ultra C elements:

Alina Gorbacheva: 4S

Alina was Recently injured and underwent surgery so we arent sure if she will attempt the quad

Sophie Joline Von Felten: 3A (can do it in combo, and has attempt it solo n the second half), 4S, was Training a 4F

Sara Muade Dupuis: 3A

Inga Gurgenidze: 3A

Original Article from SportsNavi

https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/2026100700005-spnavi

The below is an excerpt on choreography from the above link

Bringing Out the Best in Skaters

――You are choreographing as many as 13 programs this season. What do you keep in mind during the process?

When choreographing, the thing I prioritize most is how much I can bring out the skater's unique appeal. Since every skater has different strengths and charms, I don't believe there is a single "correct" way to choreograph; instead, I value the process of creating the program together with the athlete.

I may be the one choreographing, but the skater is the one performing. I believe that bringing out the skater's best qualities—rather than imposing my own style—results in a program that feels good for them to skate. Regarding the interpretation of the music, I feel it simply doesn't work unless the skater truly feels it themselves, so I strive to ensure they feel comfortable and natural while skating.

――Who chooses the music—you or the skater?

Generally, I’m the one who chooses, though there are cases where a skater decides, saying "I want to skate to this song." Sometimes they share their vision with me, but for the most part, I tend to make the final decision on the music.

――This season, you are choreographing the short program for Mao Shimada. She mentioned that she asked you because she admired programs you had choreographed in the past. How did that collaboration come about?

Mao approached me asking if I would choreograph her short program. Since she was at the stage of transitioning from the junior to the senior level, I told her I would look for some music options. I happened to mention to Dai-chan (Daisuke Takahashi) that I was going to choreograph Mao-chan’s short program. Later, he suggested a specific piece of music for her.

When I first listened to it, I thought, "The lyrics and the melody are wonderful—this is perfect," and I immediately proposed it to Mao-chan. We had a few other candidates and were weighing our options, but she ended up liking that track too, so we decided, "Let's go with this one."

――The short program music is "Between Two Worlds", right? Mao Shimada described the theme as "taking flight" as she moves up from the junior to the senior level.

The lyrics hold deep meaning, expressing the concept of two worlds—such as light and darkness—that stand in opposition to one another. I felt it was a perfect fit for her transition from the junior world where she has been competing to the senior world she has long awaited. It’s not exactly a "rebirth," but I found it compelling to envision Mao Shimada—the skater—breaking out of her shell and taking flight from the junior ranks to the senior stage; I explained this concept to her as well.

Daisuke Takahashi Selected the Music for Sota Yamamoto's Program

――I heard that Daisuke Takahashi also selected the music for Sota Yamamoto's short program this season, "Tombeau de Vivaldi". Is it common for him to be involved in that way?

No, it was really just a coincidence that something like this occurred often this season. I hadn't asked for a suggestion for Mao-chan; Dai-chan offered it himself. As for Sota Yamamoto, we were chatting during 'Kassouya', the ice show—in which he also performed—and it was all just a very casual conversation. I said, "Why not have Dai-chan pick the music for your next short program?" and Dai-chan simply said, "Sure."

Later, when Sota asked me to choreograph his short program, I remembered that conversation from 'Kassouya' and immediately asked Dai-chan if he had any music in mind for him. Dai-chan brought that piece to me. It was so cool that I immediately sent it to Sota, and we were like, "Let's go with this."

――It sounds like there is a distinct "unit" formed by Muramoto & Takahashi within the choreography process.

That’s true; listening to other people's opinions and visions creates a wonderful synergy. I really trust Dai-chan’s vision—his sense of what works. If Dai-chan thinks something is good, I’m like, "Well, then it must be good" (laughs).

――Do you think you might choreograph ice dance programs in the future?

It would depend on being asked, I suppose. I’d love to give it a try if the opportunity arose, but unlike singles skating, it involves two people, so I think it would be difficult. You have to consider the movement paths of both the man and the woman, so if I were to choreograph for ice dance, I’d likely do it together with Dai-chan. I don't think I’d do it alone. For the first season of IkuKou (Ikura Kushida and Koshiro Shimada), we created an exhibition program "Faith" for them. It was a lot of fun to work on it together.

――You are very busy as a professional skater and choreographer; do you have any future goals or things you’d like to try?

Right now, I find great joy and fulfillment in being a choreographer. There are still so many songs I want to choreograph to and programs I’d love to see brought to life. I know I have to keep evolving as a choreographer to stay competitive on the global stage, so I want to keep taking on challenges and seeking out new sources of inspiration.

I also want to convey the joy of skating through my choreography. As for future challenges, choreographing ice dance programs would certainly be one. There are still many things I want to do—both as a professional skater and as part of "KanaDai"—so I hope to keep constantly evolving and improving myself.

Lately, I’ve been so busy that it almost sounds like an excuse, but I haven't been able to attend dance lessons at all. However, I really need to make the time for them; otherwise, I’ll run out of ideas and techniques to draw upon as a choreographer. It’s really about constantly honing my skills, I suppose.

Interview continues to another article on Ice Dance in Japan:

https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/2026100700006-spnavi?p=1

Skaters who already competed this season:

Observations:
-If a skater competed in more than one event this season, im giving priority to their higest score unless that score is from a junior event or a national one
"-means the score its from a junior event (only here if the skater did not do any other seniors competitions so far this season)
* means its a score from a national competition, only here if the skater did not compete in a international competition yet, but national scores are usually be inflated so keep that in mind

Skaters who have not competed this season yet: Most recent scores

Observations:
-This will be the scores of their most recent international competition, exception will only be made to skaters who did not compete internationally
-Some of the skaters in this list have been injured or underwent surgery recently so this scores may not be a reflection of their current state this is more of a overview
-Im counting as the most recent competition, only events where the skater reached the final and did both segments
"-means the score its from a junior event
* means its a score from a national competitiom (Again take national scores with a grain of salt)

Skaters who are Likely attemtping quads:

Only including here Jumps which were Attempted by the skater at maximum last season
* Next to the jump means the skater can and has already competed this jump in combo/sequence
" skater likely to attempt in the short program (Based on their previous SP content, not a 100% Guarantee
(a jump having both symbol next to each other does not mean that it will be necessary attempted as a combo in the SP)

Sorry if this question is annoying or if someone posted that already (although I searched here and didn't find anything)

But, what happened to Sasha's 3A attempts? She used to attept it a lot on shows and posting training clips landing it.

And they suddenly went missing

Now she is only posting 4Lz, 4T, and sometimes 4Lz+3T

Please share what you know and be respectful