Japanese figure skater Kazuki Tomono impressed with his strongest short program in over three years at the opening of Skate America, taking the lead ahead of Kevin Aymoz from France and Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov as they head into the free skate. Meanwhile, Jason Brown of the United States placed fifth behind Italy’s Daniel Grassl in his first Grand Prix event of the season.
In the pairs competition, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava showcased a nearly flawless performance set to “Bolero,” extending their lead over Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara. Tomono, aiming for a spot at the Winter Olympics in February, delivered a solid performance, receiving a standing ovation from the audience in Lake Placid, New York.
Aymoz bounced back from a disappointing performance at Skate Canada with a strong showing, scoring 93.56 points, while Shaidorov, still seeking his first Grand Prix victory, faced challenges with lower component scores. Grassl secured fourth place, and Brown, vying for a spot in his third Olympic team, finished with 82.69 points.
Metelkina and Berulava, representing Georgia, continued their successful run by earning a season’s best score of 78.83 points, showcasing synchronized side-by-side triple salchows and a throw triple twist. Miura and Kihara struggled with a popped triple toe loop but managed to secure a respectable score of 74.42 points.
The men’s and pairs medals will be decided on Saturday night, with ice dance and women’s short program competitions following on Sunday at Skate America.