Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin of Germany did the first step towards defending their ISU Grand Prix Final title by winning the Pairs Short Program - and they did so in style with a new personal-best score, edging Japan’s reigning ISU World silver medalists Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara by just half a point. Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava of Georgia are currently ranked third.

Hase/Volodin turned in a passionate performance to “You Were Mine” that was highlighted by a triple twist, side-by-side triple Salchow, throw triple loop and four level-four elements. The 2024 ISU World bronze medalists posted a new personal best with 76.72 points. 

“We just felt really grateful at the end of the program. It was a great program and I was really happy that we could show a good one at the Grand Prix Final and with the points at the end, that was just amazing, that was a personal best for us,” Hase said. “Of course, it’s nice being first after the short program and it’s just halftime, so we have a lot to work on. We have to get a lot of work done tomorrow, but it’s a nice first day.” 

Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (GER) did not let a minor injury in the warmup distract them from perfoming superbly in Grenoble © ISU

Hase had to overcome a distraction when she cut her leg in the warmup. “In the throw loop, in the warmup, I scratched my leg with my own blade, so it was just like a little scratch but there was a lot of bleeding. Everything was fine, no big problem, but it was just maybe a good thing to concentrate on something else.”

Miura/Kihara came back to the Final after missing the ISU Grand Prix series last year due to injury. Skating to “Paint It Black”, the 2023 ISU World Champions completed a triple twist, throw triple Lutz and picked up a level four for four elements. However, the triple toeloop was slightly under-rotated. The Japanese team scored 76.27 points. 

“For this short program I made one mistake but I tried to be as detailed as possible. I’m happy with the score we got because it is better that the NHK Trophy. I was not feeling the best this season but I’m OK now, so I’m happy with the way we performed,” Kihara commented.

Miura added: “We tried to be really focused on each element. For the free program we will try harder to pay attention to each element. Even if we didn’t get the best score, we are happy with our performance.”

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) were happy with their performance in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU grand Prix Final © ISU

Metelkina/Berulava had chosen a fun program to “Why”, portraying Aerobic dancers. The 2024 ISU World Junior Champions nailed a triple twist, side-by-side triple Salchow and throw triple flip to set a personal best of 72.26 points.  

“We felt great, we were happy to have the seasons best in such an important competition,” Berulava noted. “The skate is not out of usual, we worked so much and we worked so much this year. It’s not our last competition this year, we still have the nationals, but it’s the last Grand Prix and we are happy with our skate today. We will work for tomorrow having a clean skate so we can have a nice New Year,” he continued. 

Two-time ISU Grand Prix Final medalists Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) came fourth on 70.49 points, but remain in contention for the podium. Ellie Kam/Danny O’Shea (USA) placed fifth (68.91 points) followed by Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini (ITA) on 65.80 points. 

For full entries, results and further information visit the ISU Grand Prix Final event site.

What and when 

The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is as follows:

Thursday, December 5: Junior Pairs, Junior Women’s Short Programs, Junior Ice Dance Rhythm Dance, Pairs & Women’s Short Programs
 Friday, December 6: Junior Men’s Short Program, Junior Women’s Free Skating, Rhythm Dance, Pairs Free Skating, Men’s Short Program    
 Saturday, December 7: Women’s & Junior Men’s Free Skating, Junior Free Dance, Junior Pairs FreeSkating, Free Dance, Men’s Free Skating
 Sunday, December 10: Exhibition Gala

How did Skaters qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final? 

Skaters/Couples competed in two events and collected points towards the qualification for the Final. Check out the complete ISU Grand Prix Standings:

Women               Men       Pair Skating       Ice Dance

For further information see the General Announcement of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. Please visit the ISU Grand Prix page for full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

• 18 - 20 Oct 2024                           Skate America in Allen, TX (USA)
• 25 - 27 Oct 2024              Skate Canada International in Halifax (CAN)
• 01 - 03 Nov 2024  Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
• 08 - 10 Nov 2024             NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN)
• 15- 17 Nov 2024 Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)  
• 22 - 24 Nov 2024  Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

• 05 - 08 Dec 2024                        Grenoble (FRA)

About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.