German Skating News - 2024-25 Season

[Sylvia]

German Nationals recap and Team for Euros announced (Dec. 22):

Favoriten-Siege bei Deutschen Meisterschaften in Oberstdorf, EM-Team für Tallin nominiert

Die Deutsche Eislauf-Union e.V. ist nationaler Spitzenverband für Eiskunstlaufen, Eistanz und Synchroneiskunstlaufen und einer von nur 7 olympischen Wintersportverbänden.

www.eislauf-union.de

Following the championship, the German team was nominated for the 2025 European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn and announced by DEU Sports Director Claudia Pfeifer. In singles skating, Kristina Isaev (women) and Nikita Starostin (men) will represent the German colors. In pairs skating, Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin, Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel and Letizia Roscher/Luis Schuster were also nominated. In ice dancing, Jennifer Janse van Rensburg/Benjamin Steffan will skate at the continental championships.

Team for Europeans: Kristina Isaev (women) and Nikita Starostin (men); Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin, Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel and Letizia Roscher/Luis Schuster (pairs); Jennifer Janse van Rensburg/Benjamin Steffan (ice dance).

German Nationals thread in Kiss & Cry (thanks to @Wyliefan for posting the final results): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2025-german-nationals-dec-16-21-2024-in-oberstdorf.112402/

 

[Sera]

Starostin got German citizenship.
https://www.instagram.com/share/p/_6ZDiSLuh

 

[sus2850]

Starostin got German citizenship.
https://www.instagram.com/share/p/_6ZDiSLuh

Strangely (to me) the ceremony was held in a small Bavarian town where some of my relatives live. I had interviewed Nikita a few times but he never mentioned this town as the one where his German roots come from - I will ask him next time.

 

[Miezekatze]

Strangely (to me) the ceremony was held in a small Bavarian town where some of my relatives live. I had interviewed Nikita a few times but he never mentioned this town as the one where his German roots come from - I will ask him next time.

I was under the impression his grandparents live in Bavaria?

they often come to see him skate when he competes in Oberstdorf and I on his Insta I saw photos from him visiting them:

Nikita Starostin on Instagram: "Last week, I spent time with my dear grandparents, and it was such a wonderful visit. We enjoyed our time together, and I was able to relax deeply, refresh both in my mind and my body. This visit reminded me of how im

417 likes, 5 comments - nikitasstarostin on May 22, 2024: "Last week, I spent time with my dear grandparents, and it was such a wonderful visit. We enjoyed our time together, and I was able to relax deeply, refresh both in my mind and my body. This visit reminded me of how important family is...

www.instagram.com

They were sitting in front of us at Nebelhorn and just seem like the sweetest people, like his mom too (and the cute dog)

 

[sus2850]

@Miezekatze Yes, he said Bavaria to me (though it is Oberpfalz - most people from there do not really like to be called Bavarians!) but was reliuctant to name a town, maybe because it is so small. I just think it is a fun coincidence.
Loved to visit my cousin and grand cousins there. My mother is also from that area as well as an aunt from my father‘s side.

 

[Sylvia]

Aliyah Ackermann, 16, and Tobija Harms, 22 (http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114271.htm), who placed 1st of the 2 Junior Pairs at Nationals last week, are both listed on IcePartnerSearch.com.

 

[Samurina]

Aliyah Ackermann, 16, and Tobija Harms, 22 (http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114271.htm), who placed 1st of the 2 Junior Pairs at Nationals last week, are both listed on IcePartnerSearch.com.

Aliyah can do much better. Likely bc jw is going to Salatzki / Roesler

 

[DreamSkates]

@Miezekatze Yes, he said Bavaria to me (though it is Oberpfalz - most people from there do not really like to be called Bavarians!) but was reliuctant to name a town, maybe because it is so small. I just think it is a fun coincidence.
Loved to visit my cousin and grand cousins there. My mother is also from that area as well as an aunt from my father‘s side.

Bavaria is a place I would love to visit sometime although the majority of my family ancestry (grandfather and a great grandfather came from Germany, nearer to Munich).

 

[Sylvia]

German Nationals recap and Team for Euros announced (Dec. 22):

Favoriten-Siege bei Deutschen Meisterschaften in Oberstdorf, EM-Team für Tallin nominiert

Die Deutsche Eislauf-Union e.V. ist nationaler Spitzenverband für Eiskunstlaufen, Eistanz und Synchroneiskunstlaufen und einer von nur 7 olympischen Wintersportverbänden.

www.eislauf-union.de

Team for Europeans: Kristina Isaev (women) and Nikita Starostin (men); Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin, Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel and Letizia Roscher/Luis Schuster (pairs); Jennifer Janse van Rensburg/Benjamin Steffan (ice dance).

German Nationals thread in Kiss & Cry (thanks to @Wyliefan for posting the final results): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2025-german-nationals-dec-16-21-2024-in-oberstdorf.112402/

In the four junior categories, EC Oberstdorf won three victories. Genrikh Gartung (207.07 points) was outstanding, becoming the first German skater to land two different quadruple jumps in the freestyle, winning ahead of his training colleague Robert Wildt (166.56 points) and Hugo Herrmann from Berlin (156.61 points). In ice dancing, third-place finishers at the Junior World Championships Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy won their fourth national title ahead of Berlin's Alexia Kruk/Jan Eisenhaber and Lilah Schubert/Nikita Remeshevskiy (EC Chemnitz/EC Oberstdorf). In pair skating, Aliyah Ackermann/Tobija Harms (118.04 points) were ahead of Sonja Löwenherz/Robert Löwenherz (110.23 points). In the junior women's category, Anna Gerke from Dortmund (161.95 points) was very strong. The 14-year-old performed triple-triple combinations in both programs and won her fourth German junior championship title. Second place went to Julia Grabowski (EJE; 133.43 points), third place went to Ina Jungmann (ERC Westfalen Kunstlauf Dortmund; 124.37 points).

Genrikh Gartung's Junior FS (142.48 - jumps: 4F, 4Lz+2T, 3Lo, 3A, 2Lz, 3F+2A+2A, 3F+1T): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlyT_C3L5ik

New German citizen Nikita Starostin won gold at Nationals with a total score of 220.01 - his 1st place FS (147.02): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vQ7XNdp8ms
Silver medalist Luca Funfer's 2nd place FS (131.80): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wr31fhh7UA
Bronze medalist Kai Jagoda's 3rd place FS (126.97): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrJ6_Q9KpAw

Kristina Isaev won Senior Women 154.92 - her 1st place FS (101.55): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpPFR0dRmNQ

 

[sandra_persch]

Aliyah can do much better. Likely bc jw is going to Salatzki / Roesler

Salatki / Roesler and Löwenherz / Löwenherz are on the entry list for Bavarian Open (sportity code BO2025.

 

[text_skate]

Sportschau is streaming EC, here is a link with all the necessary links (scroll down)

Zeitplan, Kader, Favoriten: Alle Infos zur Eiskunstlauf-EM

Die Eiskunstläufer suchen in Tallinn ihre neuen Europameister. Wann sind die einzelnen Wettkämpfe? Wer sind die Favoriten und wie sehen die Chancen der Deutschen aus?

www.sportschau.de

Free TV: on One there will be
29/1: SP Pairs live
30/1; SP Men live, FS Pairs (highlights, after comp)
31/1: RD live, FS Women (highlights, after comp)
1/2: FD and FS Men live
Eurosport 2 is streaming, too (€)

Sportschau also published two pre-comp articles (sorry no excerpts as I'm completely overloaded with work), autotranslation is ok
Hase/Volodin

Eiskunstlauf-Europameisterschaft: Minerva Hase und Nikita Volodin - der Countdown läuft

Minerva Hase und Nikita Volodin sind in der Eiskunstlauf-Weltspitze angekommen. Bei der Europameisterschaft in Tallinn wollen sie das unter Beweis stellen.

www.sportschau.de

Hocke/Kunkel

Interview | Eiskunstlauf-Paar Hocke/Kunkel: Eiskunstlauf-Paar Hocke/Kunkel: "Wir wollen uns neu vorstellen"

Am Montag beginnt in Estland die Eiskunstlauf-EM. Im Paarlauf starten die Berliner Annika Hocke und Robert Kunkel. Zuletzt wurden sie von einer Verletzung gebremst. Im Interview sprechen sie über die alternative Vorbereitung und ihre Ziele.

www.sportschau.de

 

[Karen-W]

Worlds team as expected - Starostin, Hase/Volodin, Hocke/Kunkel, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan

Deutsche Eislauf-Union | DEU ⛸️ on Instagram: "Our Team for Worlds 🤩 Das deutsche Team für die Eiskunstlauf-WM 2025 in Boston (USA; 26. bis 30. März) steht 🌟 Paarlaufen: Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel Eistanzen: Jennifer Jan

110 likes, 5 comments - deutsche_eislauf_union on February 24, 2025: "Our Team for Worlds 🤩 Das deutsche Team für die Eiskunstlauf-WM 2025 in Boston (USA; 26. bis 30. März) steht 🌟 Paarlaufen: Minerva Hase/Nikita Volodin Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel Eistanzen: Jennifer Janse van...

www.instagram.com

 

[zigzig]

Is Genrikh moving up to senior next season?

 

[Karen-W]

Is Genrikh moving up to senior next season?

One can only hope!

 

[Ka3sha]

Big interview with Minerva Fabien Hase in Russian press

«Я понимаю русский менталитет: работать и не ныть». Благодаря ей наш фигурист – с серебром ЧМ

Интервью Минервы Фабьен Хазе.

www.sports.ru

 

[nguyhm]

Big interview with Minerva Fabien Hase in Russian press

«Я понимаю русский менталитет: работать и не ныть». Благодаря ей наш фигурист – с серебром ЧМ

Интервью Минервы Фабьен Хазе.

www.sports.ru

Thank you for sharing this interview. They are my favorite pair now and I'm glad that they have a good relationship. Wishing them all the best and I am very excited to see them in Boston. Will be cheering for them.

 

[jennysk8oboe]

What does it say?

 

[text_skate]

this year rbb, the regional broadcaster in Berlin/Brandenburg, made an effort in the pre-competition reporting

A few weeks back there was an interview with Jens ter Laak, the director of the national training centre (Bundesstützpunkt) in Berlin, which has established itself as a top address for figure skating. He talks about the secret of success and new challenges in promoting young talent.

excerpts:

Berlin is one of the oldest locations for this sport in the whole of Europe. There were ice rinks and covered ice rinks even in imperial times. The first European figure skating champion was also a Berliner: Oskar Uhlig. Because of this long tradition and the good infrastructure that came with it, Berlin was predestined for the further development of this sport. It also developed well during the division of the country, both in the West and in the East.

this was then, this is now

We are currently experiencing that the infrastructure is crumbling, such as the Erika Heß ice stadium, which is once again closed and has already hosted many championships. The ice rinks that we now use as a national training centre are also in need of renovation. If you want to secure the sport in the long term, you have to bring the ice rinks up to a new standard. We simply don't have the money to modernise the infrastructure. We are waiting for the construction of an athletics hall, which we have been promised for several years on the site of the sports centre. And ice rinks are of course also expensive in terms of energy. Our sport is simply a cost-intensive story.

for more: use your auto-translate maschine

"Ohne Druck funktioniert Leistungssport nicht"

Der Bundesstützpunkt Berlin hat sich mit Stars wie Minerva Hase und Nikita Volodin als Top-Adresse des Eiskunstlaufs etabliert. Vor der WM spricht Leiter Jens ter Laak über das Erfolgsgeheimnis und neue Herausforderungen in der Nachwuchsförderung.

www.rbb24.de

Interview with Knut Schubert, coach of Hase/Volodin in Berlin

Eiskunstlauf-Trainer Schubert: "Sie sind die Gejagten"

Minerva Hase und Nikita Volodin reisen als Europameister zur Eiskunstlauf-Weltmeisterschaft nach Boston. Ihr Berliner Heimtrainer Knut Schubert spricht über die Form, die Vorbereitung und die Ziele des Paares.

www.rbb24.de

Excerpt:

As soon as Minerva and Nikita are here in Berlin, I'm responsible for them. That includes training and also health matters, if anything arises. In the immediate preparation for the competition, I then try to get them mentally prepared so that they are strong and confident when they travel to the competition venues. Dima, on the other hand, sets the guidelines for what needs to happen in training. And I make sure that they do it properly and intervene if there are any minor problems, which are completely normal in the training process.

Interview with Hocke/Kunkel

"Es kommt darauf an, wer die Nerven behält und wer nicht"

Bei der anstehenden Weltmeisterschaft in Boston geht es für das Eiskunstlauf-Paar Annika Hocke und Robert Kunkel nicht nur um Medaillen, sondern auch um Olympia. Dabei hätte ihnen ihr Hinflug fast schon einen Strich durch die Rechnung gemacht.

www.rbb24.de

Allgäuer Zeitung

Oberstdorfer Eistanz-Paar kämpft bei WM in Boston um Olympia-Ticket

Unmittelbar vor der WM mussten Jennifer van Rensburg und Benjamin Steffan nach Sachsen ausweichen. Bei den Titelkämpfen geht es bereits um Olympia-Startplätze.

www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de

Ice dancers Jennifer Janse van Rensburg/Benjamin Steffan (EC Oberstdorf) have had to change their training location in recent weeks. As the national training centre in Oberstdorf is closed from the end of February to the beginning of June due to lengthy construction work, the four-time German champions and European Championship runners-up in 2025 are currently training in Chemnitz.

In his old home in Saxony, training is something special for Benjamin Steffan and gives him extra motivation. ‘The familiar surroundings help us to concentrate fully on our stability and consistency in order to be as well prepared as possible,’ says Jennifer Janse van Rensburg. ‘Our clear goal for the World Championships is to deliver our training performance to the letter and get through cleanly. We want to secure the Olympic quota spot for Germany.’ Among the 20 ice dance couples who qualify for the World Championship FD, 19 Olympic quota starting places will be awarded.

This Sportschau article has links to livestreams

 

[text_skate]

Today rbb published an interview with Alexander König about SP

"In der Kür kannst du die Sau rauslassen und richtig powern"

Das Berliner Duo Hase/Volodin steht bei der Eiskunstlauf-WM in Boston vor der Kür auf Platz drei. Auch der frühere Bundestrainer Alexander König glaubt fest an eine Medaille. Ein Gespräch über Schatten auf dem Eis, tägliche Arbeit und WM-Druck.

www.rbb24.de

Excerpts:

In the end, everyone does the same thing, so it's all about how you do it.

You know Minerva Hase very well from her time as national coach, but also Nikita Volodin. What makes the ‘how’ different between the two of them?

Well, of course we have to recognise that they are two very attractive people, a harmonious-looking couple who also fit well in terms of size. They both take up a lot of space on the ice and that's a strength that they play to advantage. Minerva has great facial expressions and great dance training. She can move her arms really well, has high legs and a great amplitude of movement. Nikita has been similarly well trained in the Russian system. You have certain couples who harmonise like shadows in their movements, like a mirror image on the ice. That's the case with these two. But there's one thing that I miss a bit in all this.

...

The daily work. This is too often disregarded when looking at success. A lot often centres around the work of Dimitri Savin (the duo's head coach; editor's note) in Russia. Of course he writes good plans and choreographies, but the day-to-day support is in Berlin. The empathy, dealing with daily form and aches and pains, managing appointments and training - all of this is in the hands of the psychologically empathetic coaching team led by Knut Schubert. I lack a bit of recognition for that.

He is following ISU website for live scoring. I'd say someone should tell him about VPN.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Congrats to Hase and Volodin - they definately were the story of the night. PCS, expression is the next big task. For Olympic year choose something Italian-operatic, but not that tired bit from Tosca. Verdi or Rossini.

 

[text_skate]

Berliner Kurier posted an entertaining report on Hase/Volodin's silver medal

Deutschland steht der nächsten Gold-Mission von Hase/Wolodin im Weg

Nach der Silber bei er WM in Boston ist Olympia 2026 das große Ziel. Dafür braucht Nikita den deutschen Pass.

www.berliner-kurier.de

my favourite parts:

Schubert (66) strode around the Orankesee lake near Berlin's Weißensee sports forum after his couple's silver medal coup, just as he did years ago as a figure skater. ‘I first had to catch my breath and did a few laps around the Oranke just like I used to as an active skater, only slower. I spent the night in front of the TV,’ said Schubert with a beaming face. ‘Our work and the many lonely hours in the Welli* have paid off.

*short for Wellblechpalast, typical Berlinese, training facility (with wriggly tin roof) of Berliner icehockey team Eisbären

At the beginning of H/V needed a local coach

Knut Schubert, on the verge of retirement, took over the ‘pit work’ on site without believing in glamour and glory. ‘Two years ago, I hadn't even remotely considered training a European and World Championship silver medallist pair. After 35 years as a coach, this is truly a dream come true,’ Schubert confessed and said in the same breath: ’After the World Championships, we are now heading for Olympic medals in the old Welli.’

 

[BittyBug]

For me, F-B/V won the night last night. They were fantastic.

 

[Karen-W]

For me, F-B/V won the night last night. They were fantastic.

F-B/V????? Who is this team? Fournier-Beaudry/Volodin?

 

[BittyBug]

LOL I meant F-H/V.

 

[Karen-W]

LOL I meant F-H/V.

It's just H/V. The F is Fabienne, her middle name.

 

[text_skate]

Today public broadcaster ard published a 35 min report about Anna Gerke and Julia Grabowski, also taking part Hocke/Kunkel: "Ice kids - the steep route to stardom"

Die Eiskinder - der harte Weg zum Eiskunstlauf-Star - hier anschauen

Zwei groÃe Eiskunstlauf-Talente und ein Traum von Olympia: Anna Gerke (12) und Julia Grabowski (16) sind auf dem Eis in ihrem Element und möchten professionelle Eiskunstläuferinnen werden. Talent, hartes Training und eiserner Wille haben beide in den deutschen Kader gefuÌhrt, doch das Klima...

www.ardmediathek.de

It's not geoblocked and has subtitles (if you download video with subs you should be able to autotranslate subs, there are sites for this afaik)
Although it was published today, it's content is from season 2022/2023, when Anna is 12 and Annika 23.
Anna seems very determined. She wants to be the first woman in Germany to land a quadruple jump in a competition. She thinks it's possible to have success with the possibilities the system in Germany provides.
Julia talks about self-doubts. Sometimes thoughts about falling are so strong, that it's nearly impossible to get them out of the head during competition. Or about times when a jump doesn't work: it could take weeks (and a lot of tears) to get it back.