Yuzuru Hanyu Places 2nd, Daisuke Murakami and Yuka Nagai 3rd at Skate Canada

From October 30 – November 1, this year’s edition of Skate Canada took place in Lethbridge, Alberta. This was the second event in the International Skating Union’s 2015 – 2016 Grand Prix Series. While Japanese skaters did not top the podium, they did win a silver medal and 2 bronze medals, 2 in the men’s competition and 1 in the women’s.

Yuzuru Hanyu took second place behind Patrick Chan of Canada with a total score of 259.54 to the Canadian’s 271.14. Yuzuru’s short program was given a score of 73.25, putting him in sixth place. It was a disastrous performance. He doubled his quad toe, which under new rules this season meant he earned no points for the jump. Yuzuru also turned a triple lutz-triple toe combination into a triple lutz-double toe. Because of the repeated double toe, the entire element received no points. Yuzuru’s free skate was the second highest scored of the night, behind Patrick Chan’s, with 186.29 points. He fell on his triple lutz.

Daisuke Murakami took third place behind Yuzuru Hanyu with a total score of 252.25. His short program was the top one of the night, with a score of 80.88. He stumbled on his quad salchow. “It was definitely not one of my best skates, but I’m glad that I fought through,” he said. “It was actually the first time I tried the triple lutz-triple loop in the second half. I’m really satisfied with how I didn’t give up after the quad that I made an error on.” His free skate was given a score of 171.37, making it the third highest of the night, behind Patrick Chan and Yuzuru Hanyu.

Yuka Nagai, in her first senior Grand Prix competition, finished in third place with a total score of 172.92. The United States’ Ashley Wagner finished in first with 202.52, while Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia took second place with 188.99. Yuka’s short program’s score was 63.35, the second highest of the competition, behind Ashely Wagner’s 70.73. At the time, Yuka said, “I am so surprised to be in second place. This is my first senior Grand Prix season and I was nervous at first. I am glad to be here now.” Her free skate was given a score of 109.57, the seventh best. She singled a planned triple loop and stumbled on a number of jumps. Of her third place finish, Yuka said, “It’s an unbelievable result. I was looking forward to competing in the GP series but my insecurities were greater than that. I made mistakes but I am pleased because I gave it absolutely everything I have.”

Japan sent another male skater, Sei Kawahara, to Skate Canada. He finished in tenth place. The other Japanese female skater, Kanako Murakami, finished in fourth place.

This coming weekend sees Mao Asada and Rika Hongo taking the ice at the Cup of China in Beijing.

Yuzuru Hanyu

Short program