2019 Finlandia Trophy, the sixth event of the Challenger Series, takes place October 11-13 in Espoo. All four disciplines will be contested with a total of 59 skaters/teams assigned to this popular competition: 18 men, 21 ladies, 11 pairs and 9 ice dance teams.
Shoma Uno of Japan and Russia′s Sergei Voronov headline the men′s field and could be the top two in the end. Possible medal contenders include Japan′s Sōta Yamamoto and Andrei Lazukin of Russia.
In ladies, Russia′s Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, who finished second at 2019 Lombardia Trophy, will be joined by Alena Kostornaia. This competition will mark her debut at the senior level. Canada′s Gabrielle Daleman opens her season in Finland and will be looking for better results than she achieved in the previous one. Yuhana Yokoi is Japan′s sole entry in the ladies field. Two American ladies are slated to compete: Starr Andrews and Megan Wessenberg.
Canada′s Liubov Ilyushechkina and Charlie Bilodeau will make their debut as a pairs team and will be in a battle for top honors with Russia′s Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov, the reigning World junior champions, and Alisa Efimova and Alexander Korovin.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who won their first event (2019 US International Classic), should have no problem skating to the top of the ice dance podium. Their training mates Shiyue Wang and Xinyu Liu of China have a solid shot at a medal as do the two Russian teams of Betina Popova and Sergey Mozgov (fourth at 2019 Ondrej Nepela Memorial) and Anastasia Shpilevaya and Grigory Smirnov (fourth at 2019 Lombardia Trophy).
Five synchronized skating teams will compete their short programs:
Team Paradise (Russia), and four Finnish teams, Helsinki Rockettes, Lumineers, Marigold IceUnity, Team Unique
As well, Skating Finland has invited 19 Special Olympics skaters from around the world to compete.
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