The host countries for the 2022 Junior Grand Prix Series saw big numbers in singles and ice dance this season, with more than 370 athletes from 50 International Skating Union (ISU) member nations contesting the six events.
The Series was reduced from seven competitions to six following the cancelation of the competition in Yerevan, Armenia, due to a border conflict.
Entry numbers for each nation for the six events were determined by the results of the 2022 World Junior Championships.
With all the top competitors from last season having moved into the senior ranks or retired — new champions were crowned in every discipline at every competition.
Japan and South Korea were dominant throughout the Series, but there were also some surprise medalists from other nations, with several writing their own piece of skating history.
Though once a series of competitions few paid any attention to, the Junior Grand Prix Series is now considered one of the most important of the skating season.
The pairs discipline, as always, was only contested at four stops.
COURCHEVEL, FRANCE
The Series opened in late August in Courchevel, France, where 52 singles skaters and 11 ice dance teams representing 29 nations took to the ice.
The Japanese skaters set the pace from the outset, winning both singles titles, along with silver in the women’s event and bronze in the men’s competition.
Five days after her 17th birthday, Hana Yoshida scored a runaway victory in her debut on the circuit. Following her win, the Nagoya native said she was disappointed she missed the triple Axel in her free skate but was happy with the result.
Her teammate, Ayumi Shibayama, ranked first in the short program but finished second overall.
Shunsuke Nakamura, who trains with Yoshida and Shibayama, was impressive in his debut outing, winning both the short and long programs and claiming the men’s title by a margin of 23.50 points over his closest rival. His training mate, Ryoga Morimoto, finished third in the first international competition of his young career. All four are coached by Mie Hamada in Kyoto.
This competition was also a successful one for the skaters from South Korea, with Yujae Kim finishing
