Here they are, a few glimpses of yesterday’s practices at the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona. Everyone is focused, everyone is ready – so let the competition begin. Today, the junior skaters take the stage for their short programs – and so are the senior pairs and ladies.
by Florentina Tone
The Russian ladies at GPF in Barcelona, prior to taking the ice for their practice
Close-up: Anna Pogorilaya and Julia Lipnitskaia
After Gracie Gold withdrew due to a stress fracture, Ashley Wagner remained the only American representative in the ladies’ event at 2014 GPF
The Russian Elizaveta Tuktamysheva; she’ll turn 18 on December 17th.
The golden girl Elena Radionova, talking to her coach, Inna Goncharenko
Ashley Wagner
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, practicing her Bolero short program
The 16-year-old Russian Anna Pogorilaya; in the background, Elena Radionova
Elena Radionova
The 16-year-old Julia Lipnitskaia
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
Julia Lipnitskaia
Ashley Wagner
In the mirror: the Japanese Rika Hongo and the Russian Elena Radionova
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
The 18-year-old Rika Hongo, the first alternate for the ladies’ event, enters the competition after Gracie Gold’s withdrawal
Elena Radionova
Julia Lipnitskaia
Three Russian ladies on this side of the ice: Elena Radionova, Anna Pogorilaya, Julia Lipnitskaia
Rika Hongo
Elena Radionova
Rika Hongo
Elena Radionova
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, at the end of the practice, alongside Alexei Mishin
Tamara Moskvina watching the ladies’ practice; in the background, the Chinese Boyang Jin, 2013 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, who tries to defend his title in Barcelona
Elena Radionova
Rika Hongo
The junior Boyang Jin, having fun while watching the practice
Julia Lipnitskaia
The Japanese Shoma Uno, making funny faces, alongside his colleague Sota Yamamoto; they both compete in the (junior) men’s event in Barcelona
Takahito Mura and Javier Fernandez having fun, prior to them taking the ice for the practice
The happy dialogue continues
Fun, fun, fun
Mr. Orser and Mr. Pooh
Yuzuru Hanyu takes the ice for the practice
Takahito Mura
Coach Brian Orser and Javier Fernandez
Tatsuki Machida
Rika Hongo comes into the audience, to watch the practice
Javier Fernandez – close-up
Javier, practicing his short program to “Black Betty”
Yuzuru Hanyu practicing his short program to Chopin’s Ballade
Yuzuru Hanyu
Brian Orser and Winnie Pooh
The Japanese team follows the practice
Takahito Mura – and his free program, to Phantom of the Opera
Takahito Mura and his FC Barcelona gloves
Tatsuki Machida, practicing his short program, to Fantasia for violin and orchestra
Tasuki Machida
Brian Orser talking to Javier Fernandez
Mr. Orser has two skaters in the final: here, alongside Yuzuru Hanyu
Brian Orser and Yuzuru Hanyu
Sergei Voronov, one of the two Russians in the final; the other one, Maxim Kovtun, missed yesterday’s practice
The 15-year-old Russian Alexander Petrov, who competes in the junior men’s event, watches the practice in Barcelona