Meanwhile, in Minsk: results and photos from Ice Star 2017

While everyone’s eyes, attention were focused on the second Grand Prix event of the season – Skate Canada in Regina, Minsk-Arena in Belarus was hosting a Challenger event, Ice Star 2017. And a true skating fan definitely didn’t want to miss it, since a terrific group of skaters highlighted the competition: 2014 World champions Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte debuted their programs in Minsk, and took the dancers’ crown, as everyone expected, Russia’s Sergei Voronov won the men’s event, Elizabet Tursynbaeva was the first lady of Ice Star 2017, while Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii won the gold medal in the pairs’ event. But apart from the gold medalists, there were plenty of other important names in Belarus at the end of October – and this is an illustrated account of their presence at Ice Star.

by Florentina Tone

And so the dancers are invited to take the ballroom… ice – this was clearly the most expected of the four events, with Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte’s first international showing of their programs. The Italians won both short dance and free dance in Minsk, with an overall score of 183.49 points. Their short dance is set to ”Kaboom” performed by Ursula 1000, “Skip to the Bip” performed by Club des Belugas, and “1008 Samba”, while their free dance is accompanied by the beautiful, touching music of the movie “La Vita e Bella”, by Nicola Piovani.

Second in Minsk were Russia’s Tiffani Zagorski and Jonathan Guerreiro, with a total combined score of 169.81 points. Their short dance is to “Hip Hip Chin Chin” performed by Club des Belugas, “Volveras” performed by Gloria Estefan and “Batucada Brasiliera” performed by Samba Brazilian Batucada Band. „Exogenesis Symphony”, part I and III, by Muse, and „Ruled by Secrecy” by Muse again – that’s the musical choice of Tiffani and Jonathan for their free dance in the Olympic season.

Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov won the bronze medal at Ice Star 2017 – with a total score of 165.30 points. Their short dance is set to “Agua de beber” by Al Jarreau, “Balumukeno” by Bonga Kuenda and “Batacuda Brasileira”, while their choice for the free dance is Rachmaninov: “Piano Concerto No. 2” and “Vocalise”.

4th in Minsk, with 156.21 points, were Ukraine’s Alexandra Nazarova and Maxim Nikitin – and this is a glimpse of their short dance.

Yuna Min and Alexander Gamelin finished on the 5th place, with 152.00 points.

…and we’re also highlighting the presence of Anna Yanovskaya and Adam Lukacs (7th place, representing Hungary) and Russia’s Vlada Solovieva and Yuri Vlasenko (11th place) – both Anna Yanovskaya and Yuri Vlasenko had great results when juniors, in their ice dancing teams at that time.

The men’s event was also a great one to watch, since it was highlighted by the presence of Russia’s Sergei Voronov, who won both short and long program, being awarded a total of 250.10 points. This season, Sergei is skating to “Adios Nonino” by Astor Piazzolla in the SP, while the long program is to “Sarabande Suite”; the photos below are from the first segment of the event: Sergei, the interpreter of Piazzolla’s tango.

Silver medalist in Minsk was Georgia’s Moris Kvitelashvili, with 227.31 points. Here you have him, skating his short program to “Feeling Good” performed Michael Bublé.

Israel’s Daniel Samohin took the bronze medal at Ice Star 2017 (219.75 points) – this season his short program is set to “It’s a Man’s World” performed by Seal.

The ladies’ crown went to Elizabet Tursynbaeva from Kazakhstan – this talented young lady amassed 187.57 points for her programs in Minsk. In the pictures below, Elizabet is skating her free program, to “The Prayer” performed by Celine Dion, Andrea Boccelli. And her joy, emotions while skating are really contagious – you just can’t take your eyes off her.

Russia’s Serafima Sakhanovich won the silver medal in Minsk (174.49 points) – the photos below show her skating her long program to “Concierto de Aranjuez”.

The bronze medalist at Ice Star 2017 was South Korea’s So Hyun An (169.22 points) – she performs her free skate to “Romeo and Juliet” composed by Abel Korzeniowski.

The gold medal of the pairs’ event was won by Russia’s Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii (191.58 points) – their short program (pictured below) is set to “Sochi Sarabanda” by Alexander Goldstein.

2nd in Minsk: Germany’s Annika Hocke and Ruben Blommaert (172.64 points) – this new pair’s SP is set to “Big Spender”.

Bronze medal at Ice Star 2017: Israel’s Paige Conners and Evgeni Krasnopolski (153.98 points) – they skate to the soundtrack of the movie “Ghost” in their short program.