With Skate America literally around the corner, we’re wrapping up the stories of this year’s edition of Finlandia Trophy. Here you have, a photo recap of the men’s event in Espoo, with Russians Konstantin Menshov and Sergei Voronov placing first, respectively third, while America’s Adam Rippon took the silver, to match his silver-colored hair. One thing is sure at this point: these young men’s programs are still a work a progress, though, clearly, the potential is all there: as usual, we at Inside Skating are fans of Konstantin’s musical choices; Adam’s routines, to Queen and Beatles, suit him like a glove (a red-yellow one, like the costume for his FS); and Sergei made a wise decision turning to Jeffrey Buttle to choreograph his set of programs for this season – both of them, and especially the free one, look more than promising.
by Florentina Tone
32-year-old Konstantin Menshov competed for the fifth time in Finlandia Trophy – but this is his first medal ever in Espoo; and a golden one, atop of that. Here he is, performing his short program, to “Rotting Romance” by Marc Terenzi; Konstantin chose to keep his SP from last season.
A day later, Konstantin Menshov performed his free program, to “Mad World” (cover by Adam Lambert) and “Radioactive” (cover by Lindsey Stirling and Pentatonix), and, at the end of the day, found himself standing on the top of the podium in Espoo. The gold at 2015 Finlandia Trophy is Konstantin’s second medal this season, after the bronze at Nebelhorn. His Grand Prix assignments are Skate America and NHK Trophy.
A silver-haired Adam Rippon chose to skate to Queen’s “Who Wants to Live Forever” in his short program this season – and this is, clearly, a wonderful musical choice; and you have to applaud Adam’s determination to perform a quad lutz so early in the season. The program has been choreographed by Tom Dickson.
Adam, during the press conference after the Short Program
A magnet for the eyes is Adam’s costume for his free skate, to a Beatles-medley, and the program itself, dynamic and thoroughly enjoyable, with the 25-year-old beautifully following the music’s colors and nuances. This was the best free program of the night and Adam Rippon finished the event in Espoo on the 2nd place, exactly as last year. His Grand Prix assignments are Skate Canada and Rostelecom Cup.
Sergei Voronov got off to a flying start in Espoo: his short program, to “Butterflies and Hurricanes” by Muse, was the best of the night in terms of scores; and I have to say hats off to Sergei for his continuous strive to improve – this season, he turned to Jeffrey Buttle for choreography
A funny, delighted Sergei Voronov during the press conference after the SP; he was leading after this particular segment of the men’s event
A day later, it was a different story, with Sergei completely disintegrating during the free skate. Still, a huge potential this program has, to music from the movie “Once Upon a Time in America”, by Ennio Morricone. The musical cuts are to die for – thank you, Jeffrey Buttle – and, skated properly, this routine has all the chances to become a wow program in the men’s event this season. In Espoo however, it was the 7th of the night and Sergei only managed to cling to the bronze medal due to his SP – this was Sergei’s fifth medal at Finlandia Trophy. His Grand Prix assignments for this season are Rostelecom Cup and Cup of China.
Other glimpses from the men’s event at 2015 Finlandia Trophy
Michal Brezina finished the event in Espoo on the 5th place; here he is, skating his elegant short program to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Dorothy Fields and Jerome Kern (the SP was choreographed by Jeffrey Buttle).
Michal Brezina, as a very colorful Corsaire, during his free skate in Espoo; the program has been choreographed by Salomé Brunner and Stéphane Lambiel. His Grand Prix assignments this season are Skate Canada and NHK Trophy.
Japan’s Ryuju Hino was 6th in Espoo, at this year’s edition of Finlandia Trophy; here he is, performing his “King Arthur” free skate, a program choreographed by Kenji Miyamoto
The 18-year-old Michael Christian Martinez from the Philippines placed 9th at this year’s edition of Finlandia Trophy. For his short program, he chose to skate to “Egmont” by Ludwig van Beethoven
Michael Christian Martinez, performing his free skate to “Romeo and Juliet” by Sergei Prokofiev. This season, he is assigned to skate at Cup of China.
The boys, the girls, the mittens and the smiles
It’s all about mittens and smiles in the following photos, as you’ll see for yourselves. The mittens knitted by the fans have become a traditional gift at Finlandia Trophy – and the medalists sure are happy in the Kiss and Cry with their additional woolly, fluffy prizes.
Sergei Voronov, Konstantin Menshov and Adam Rippon – and their distinctive pairs of mittens – after the medals ceremony in Espoo
Julia Lipnitskaia and Sergei Voronov showing off their mittens; Sergei’s mittens feature two skaters’ silhouettes, while Julia’s have the Finnish flag, with “the blue of our lakes and the white snow of our winters”, as a poet described the colors on the flag in 1870
Fun and laughter, mittens and colors, in the Kiss and Cry, with the medalists in the ladies and men’s event; from left to right: Konstantin Menshov (gold), Joshi Helgesson (bronze), Rika Hongo (gold), Julia Lipnitskaia (silver), Sergei Voronov (bronze), Adam Rippon (silver)
The STORIES of 2015 Finlandia Trophy:
Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje rocked the ice in Espoo, Finland
Japan’s Rika Hongo is aiming high this season. First stop: gold at Fin Trophy