Italian figure skating news & updates

[Andrea82]

Italy may win the prize for the worst written selection rules this year.
The "Nationals + 3 highest scores, one of which must be obtained after Nationals" criteria makes perfect sense for Senior Worlds.
However, for Junior Worlds, it doesn't make much sense given they scheduled Junior Nationals for 11-13th February and deadline for nominations for Junior Worlds is 14th February....
It makes sense to schedule Junior Nationals that late as latest shape is taken into account in computing the ranking. However, the "one must be obtained after Nationals" part is not practicable anymore.

Here is the provisional ranking for Junior Men (2 spots) based on 3 highest international competitions this season (choreo sequence scored deducted for senior results)

1) Memola 631.7 (Santa Claus Cup + Warsaw Cup + Nice Trophy)
2) Zich 546.85 (Golden Spin, Cup of Austria, Warsaw Cup)
3) Nalbone 517.93 (JGP Gdansk + NRW Trophy + Open d'Andorra)
4) Barison 393.66 (Nice Trophy + Skate Celjie + Santa Claus Cup)
5) Renoldi 386.42 (JGP Gdansk+Skate Celjie+ Santa Claus Cup)
6) Indelicato 310.4 (JGP Linza + Nice Trophy* 2 competitions only so far)

Memola's total is up to 635.21 after Europeans.

At Bavarian Open, Nalbone delivered a good 3A in the SP and a not so good 3A in the FS. However, he scored 195 points improving his total to 550.57 and therefore passing Zich.

Ice Dance Junior race is even more closer after Bavarian Open. They are all asked to compete at Egna Dance Trophy whose score will be added to Nationals and average of 2 other best international competitions.

	Average of 2 international competitions	Nationals	Totals
Tali/Frasca	145.46 (Mezzaluna + Bavarian Open)	149.64	295.2
Calderari/Cilli	145.275 (JGP Kosice + Mezzaluna).	149.91	295.185
Kirichenko/Pellegrini	130.345 (Mezzaluna + NRW)	13375.	264.095
Galimberti/Mandelli	135.74 (JGP Russia + Bavarian Open)	127.65	263.38
Ventura/Bonetto	110.64 (NRW + Mezzaluna)	115.42	226,06
Finelli/Pedesini	102.575 (NRW+ Nice)	116.41	218.985

 

[Dobre]

Portesi Peroni/Chrastecky before her injury. Let's see when and how she comes back.

They did very well, for themselves, at Nebelhorn. The injury was terrible timing, but hopefully they will come back and begin the challenging climb.

I assume that Roy & Pietrantonio split. Has he gone onto something else?

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

I assume that Roy & Pietrantonio split. Has he gone onto something else?

Neither of them has posted anything skating related on Instagram since spring 2021, his bio says "Former International Canadian & Italian Ice Dancer" which would suggest retirement. It also says "Ice Dance Technical Specialist" so hopefully he's training/qualified to go down that route.

 

[Andrea82]

Ghilardi and Ambrosini have just won the recent public call for enlisting in Fiamme Azzurre which is the sport group of prison guards. We call these public calls "phoned in" because they are often very detailed meaning it is pretty clear who will win, like in this case in which they wanted "a female figure skater- pair" and a "male figure skater-pair".....

Italy (like Germany, I think) still operates with the military athletes system. Top athletes are enrolled into the sport groups of various armed forces. So they get a monthly salary while devoting their time for training. When they retire (or when their results weakens too much and they are dropped from the sport groups), they can decide to leave the armed force or to switch to active service.

Fiamme Azzurre already have Guignard, Fabbri and Rizzo.
Della Monica, Guarise, Grassl and Frangipani are in the Police.

 

[Andrea82]

Memola's total is up to 635.21 after Europeans.

At Bavarian Open, Nalbone delivered a good 3A in the SP and a not so good 3A in the FS. However, he scored 195 points improving his total to 550.57 and therefore passing Zich.

Ice Dance Junior race is even more closer after Bavarian Open. They are all asked to compete at Egna Dance Trophy whose score will be added to Nationals and average of 2 other best international competitions.

	Average of 2 international competitions	Nationals	Totals
Tali/Frasca	145.46 (Mezzaluna + Bavarian Open)	149.64	295.2
Calderari/Cilli	145.275 (JGP Kosice + Mezzaluna).	149.91	295.185
Kirichenko/Pellegrini	130.345 (Mezzaluna + NRW)	13375.	264.095
Galimberti/Mandelli	135.74 (JGP Russia + Bavarian Open)	127.65	263.38
Ventura/Bonetto	110.64 (NRW + Mezzaluna)	115.42	226,06
Finelli/Pedesini	102.575 (NRW+ Nice)	116.41	218.985

After Egna Dance Trophy

	Average of 2 international competitions	Nationals	Egna	Total
Tali/Frasca	145.46 (Mezzaluna + Bavarian Open)	149.64	146.02	441.12
Calderari/Cilli	145.275 (JGP Kosice + Mezzaluna)	149.91	141.51	436.695
Galimberti/Mandelli	135.74 (JGP Russia + Bavarian Open)	127.65	134.93	398.33
Ventura/Bonetto	110.64 (NRW + Mezzaluna)	115.42	118.53	344.59
Finelli/Pedesini	102.575 (NRW+ Nice)	116.41	114.63	333.615
Pizzorni/Bucciarelli	107.84 (Mezzaluna+Pavel Roman)	103.93	116.16	327.93
Boccalini/Capuci	89.12 (Mezzaluna + no second international competition)	87.27	92.55	268.94
Kirichenko/Pellegrini	130.345 (Mezzaluna + NRW)	133.75	-	264.095

The Rhythm Dance at Egna broke the race towards Tali/Frasca because Calderari/Cilli scored higher in the FD.

 

[Andrea82]

In the tearful post-FS interview on Italian TV Della Monica/Guarise said they will decide if they go to Worlds after coming home from Beijing.

Le lacrime di Nicole e Matteo - Rai Sport

''E' sempre difficile dire addio a questo bellissimo sport''

www.raisport.rai.it

Ghilardi/Ambrosini said they plan to continue until 2026.

__________________________________________________

Last week, Junior Nationals took place.
Memola won by a mile in Men as both Zich and Nalbone were absent.
In Women, Talalaikina competed. However, she scored 141.27 and finished 4th behind Amanda Ghezzo, Camilla Gardini and Chiara Minighini.

 

[Karen-W]

In the tearful post-FS interview on Italian TV Della Monica/Guarise said they will decide if they go to Worlds after coming home from Beijing.

Le lacrime di Nicole e Matteo - Rai Sport

''E' sempre difficile dire addio a questo bellissimo sport''

www.raisport.rai.it

Ghilardi/Ambrosini said they plan to continue until 2026.

Aw, that's so sad for Della Monica/Guarise, if they decide to hang up their skates when they get home. No one wants to see them end their career on that low note, even if they were invited to skate in the gala today. But, I can see, if they're still struggling with injuries, why they might make the choice to bow out now and let the #3 Italian pairs team go to Worlds instead.

 

[Andrea82]

Aw, that's so sad for Della Monica/Guarise, if they decide to hang up their skates when they get home. No one wants to see them end their career on that low note, even if they were invited to skate in the gala today. But, I can see, if they're still struggling with injuries, why they might make the choice to bow out now and let the #3 Italian pairs team go to Worlds instead.

A rough translation of the interview:

Nicole: "lots of emotions. I think it can be seen, I still can't stop crying. We are happy, as we said yesterday, we wanted to enjoy it and I think we did it. Yes, there has been some imprecisions, but in the end I was happy that tonight we had another opportunity to skate again with Matteo. And I will take it home this good memory regardless of the result because this is what matters.

Journalist says "last Olympic togehter..."

Matteo replies "yes, it was a very particular evening. Not only the last Olympic together but maybe the last competition. As you can see, it is always difficult to say goodbye to this beautiful sport [he starts crying]. To all people who met in our journey, we have faced many troubles, but we always went out with our heads held high. For us today it was a special evening regardless of points and result".

Nicole "in the end it has been a positive experience. Regardless of this season, in 10 years, we had many good results, we achieved many goals. We can't not being happy. I will bring in the heart with me all what we did together, good and bad, because also obstacles will be useful for the futures"

Matteo "now we need a break. We need to think about what to do with Worlds. We are not sure. We go back home and in front of a coffee we will decide".

 

[Sylvia]

Daniel Grassl (ITA): "I’ve learned to believe in my dreams“ (11 March 2022): https://www.isu.org/isu-news/news/1...rned-to-believe-in-my-dreams?templateParam=15

The [Olympics] result was better than what he had hoped. “I actually didn’t have any expectations,” Daniel revealed. “I just wanted to go there and to show that I’ve worked a lot in the past four years. My goal was to get into the top ten and I came seventh and fourth in the free. I wanted to use these Olympic Games to get a lot of experience for the next ones that will be in Milano Cortina.”

“Preparing for Worlds is a bit tough for me, because I am tired mentally after the Olympic Games,” Daniel admitted. “I went back to training straight away. I’ve worked a lot before the Games to be well prepared, therefore it is now difficult to get started again, to do run-throughs of my programs.” He is not planning any major changes to his programs. “Maybe I’ll include a second quad into the short, but I don’t know yet. I still need to decide about that,” Grassl said.

Ice dancer Nicole Calderari announced on her Instagram that she and Marco Cilli, the current Junior National champs ( http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00107292.htm) have split and she is looking for a new partner: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca7brSyIzoB/
She will be 19 in June.

As @Andrea82 has noted above, C/C were in a close race for the Junior Worlds dance spot with Noemi Marie Tali/Stefano Frasca ( http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00108376.htm) so I guess T/F will go to Tallinn in April?

ETA:

Ginevra Lavinia Negrello & Raffaele Francesco Zich will represent Italy at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Vuokatti, Finland, March 20-25, 2022.

 

[ostile17]

Valentina Marchei posted this on Instagram today

She says she has news.... but she'll tell us next week

Is that Guarise?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca9PwynluAy/

 

[jennysk8oboe]

Is that a quad throw??

 

[~tapdancer~]

It was slo-mo, I only counted 3 revolutions.

 

[Sylvia]

Team Italy's results at 2022 Worlds:

7 Daniel GRASSL ITA 266.66 5 7
10 Matteo RIZZO ITA 255.75 8 10

20 Lara Naki GUTMANN ITA 164.39 20 20

Both pairs WD after testing positive for covid: Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII & Rebecca GHILARDI / Filippo AMBROSINI

4 Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI ITA 209.92 4 4
26 Carolina MOSCHENI / Francesco FIORETTI ITA 58.22 26

IDC's article on Guignard/Fabbri (May 10): https://www.ice-dance.com/site/italys-guignard-fabbri-take-it-one-step-at-a-time/

MF: We are definitely going to continue next year and take it step by step. If we keep being in a good shape, we are definitely going to target the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games in Italy in 2026. We don’t want to say anything specific about it though, we will take it one step at a time. We want to end our career with a high, at the max of our abilities and potential. As long as we see results coming through, we are motivated and feel good physically and mentally, there is no reason why we should stop.

Grassl is at the SC of Boston this week, presumably working with Benoit Richaud.

ETA:

Team Italy's results at 2022 Junior Worlds:

7 Nikolaj MEMOLA ITA 212.94 10 6
15 Raffaele Francesco ZICH ITA 195.34 15 13

13 Anna PEZZETTA ITA 160.88 24 9

8 Alyssa MONTAN / Filippo CLERICI ITA 123.35 8 8

16 Giorgia GALIMBERTI / Matteo Libasse MANDELLI ITA 127.21 15 16

 

[Sylvia]

Team Italy's results at 2022 Junior Worlds:
...
8 Alyssa MONTAN / Filippo CLERICI ITA 123.35 8 8

Alyssa Montan, 19, is listed on IPS as of 6/17: http://icepartnersearch.com/showbio.php?i=7195

"... And for Italy - represented in Thailand represented by six delegates - excellent news also from the figure where the Milanese Fabio Bianchetti was confirmed at the head of the Technical Commission of the Artistic [Singles & Pairs]. Both will remain in office until Milan-Cortina 2026."

58° Congresso ISU: Jae Youl Kim è il nuovo Presidente. Per l'Italia Sergio Anesi nel Consiglio; Fabio Bianchetti a capo della Commissione Tecnica dell'artistico - FISG - Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio

Nell’ultima giornata del 58° Congresso dell’International Skating Union, il sudcoreano Jae Youl Kim è stato eletto Presidente della...

www.fisg.it

Carolina Kostner has been named an ambassador of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce6BE4zL9cs/ & https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce4B2lDNafB/

 

[Karen-W]

Team Italy's results at 2022 Junior Worlds:

8 Alyssa MONTAN / Filippo CLERICI ITA 123.35 8 8

Alyssa Montan, 19, is listed on IPS as of 6/17: http://icepartnersearch.com/showbio.php?i=7195

Of note... Filippo Clerici has been tagged in quite a few of Milania Vaanenen's IG posts - she's been training in Italy at YGA. Not 100% they've partnered, but it seems a strong possibility.

 

[Andrea82]

Carolina Moscheni retires. Her announcement makes me think Fioretti also retired as she use the "we" in the last part ("As we decided to put a closure to our competitive career and we look to the start of another cycle,we can’t wait to host the next winter Olympic games in our country and we will be helping develop the future of figure skating sharing our passion for it and supporting our mates.")

Carolina Moscheni on Instagram: "Dear everyone, It took me a bit of time to understand what I was going through and how to feel about it. Coming back to competitive skating in the past two years next to Francesco was a dream come true. Even if it has

284 likes, 35 comments - carolinamoscheniJuly 17, 2022 on : "Dear everyone, It took me a bit of time to understand what I was going through and how to feel about it. Coming back to competitive skati...".

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Francesco Fioretti shared his own retirement post several days ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgR_h7xoD7J/
English version:

Dear friends, as some of you may already know, Carolina and I have decided to end our competitive careers.
There comes a time when you should take a step back and look at everything you have achieved in life. I can only be grateful to this sport that made me who I am today, since that day 22 years ago it has taught me how to work, how to suffer, how to fall, it gave me joys, victories and introduced me to so many special people all over the world. I want to thank my family who supported me since day one, all my coaches who have contributed to my growth as an athlete and as a man, the Italian federation, the ISU and all the people who cheered for me during my career.
And thank you Carolina for sharing this time with me, the last two years were not easy, but they were a test to pass to become better people and I would say we fully passed it!
Now another chapter of my life begins and I am pretty sure you will see me around the arenas again, who knows, maybe on the other side of the barrier!
Thank you!
Fra

He also has graduated from the Faculty of Political, Economic and Social Sciences at his university in Milan - congratulations! https://www.instagram.com/p/CgPh341og-W/

 

[Sylvia]

FISG's July 22nd press release for their Grand Prix skaters/teams:

Figura, ISU Grand Prix 2022-23: ecco dove e quando gareggeranno gli azzurri - FISG - Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio

Va sempre più definendosi la stagione 2022-23 del pattinaggio di figura con la lista dei partecipanti alle sei...

www.fisg.it

(3 men/5 spots, 3 pairs/5 spots, 1 ice dance team/2 spots)

Skate America, 21-23 October, Norwood (United States)
Daniel Grassl (Fiamme Oro)

Skate Canada , 28-30 October, Mississauga (Canada)
Matteo Rizzo (Fiamme Azzurre), Conti-Macii (IceLab)

Grand Prix de France, 4-6 November, Angers (France)
Ghilardi-Ambrosini (Blue Flames), Guignard-Fabbri (Blue Flames)

MK John Wilson Trophy, 11-13 November, Sheffield (Great Britain)
Daniel Grassl (Fiamme Oro), Conti-Macii (IceLab), Guignard-Fabbri (Fiamme Azzurre)

NHK Trophy, November 18-20, Sapporo (Japan)
Matteo Rizzo (Blue Flames), Gabriele Frangipani (Gold Flames), Caldara-Maglio (Ice Academy)

Grand Prix Espoo, 25-27 November, Espoo (Finland)
Ghilardi-Ambrosini (Blue Flames)

Finals, 8-11 December, Turin (Italy)

 

[ostile17]

FISG's July 22nd press release for their Grand Prix skaters/teams:

Figura, ISU Grand Prix 2022-23: ecco dove e quando gareggeranno gli azzurri - FISG - Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio

Va sempre più definendosi la stagione 2022-23 del pattinaggio di figura con la lista dei partecipanti alle sei...

www.fisg.it

(3 men/5 spots, 3 pairs/5 spots, 1 ice dance team/2 spots)

Skate America, 21-23 October, Norwood (United States)
Daniel Grassl (Fiamme Oro)

Skate Canada , 28-30 October, Mississauga (Canada)
Matteo Rizzo (Fiamme Azzurre), Conti-Macii (IceLab)

Grand Prix de France, 4-6 November, Angers (France)
Ghilardi-Ambrosini (Blue Flames), Guignard-Fabbri (Blue Flames)

MK John Wilson Trophy, 11-13 November, Sheffield (Great Britain)
Daniel Grassl (Fiamme Oro), Conti-Macii (IceLab), Guignard-Fabbri (Fiamme Azzurre)

NHK Trophy, November 18-20, Sapporo (Japan)
Matteo Rizzo (Blue Flames), Gabriele Frangipani (Gold Flames), Caldara-Maglio (Ice Academy)

Grand Prix Espoo, 25-27 November, Espoo (Finland)
Ghilardi-Ambrosini (Blue Flames)

Finals, 8-11 December, Turin (Italy)

Just FYI, Blue Flames = Fiamme Azzurre

 

[Andrea82]

And gold flames= Fiamme Oro

Fiamme Azzurre is the sport group of the prison guards, while Fiamme Oro is the sport group of the Police.
In Italian non-professional sports, the practice is that the various armed or police forces have sports groups that hire athletes so that they have a basic salary during their competitive career.
When they retire, they can choose whether to remain in the body and switch to active duty, or take their leave.

 

[Gris]

Leia Dozzi / Pietro Papetti's programs at Lake Placid:

https://twitter.com/stormsalysa/status/1555026887415676930?s=21&t=0wEThsn9uDJacu_DphHCMA

 

[Andrea82]

According to his ISU bio, Daniel Gressl left Magri to move to Boston to train with Alexei Letov and Olga Ganicheva.

 

[Frau Muller]

According to his ISU bio, Daniel Gressl left Magri to move to Boston to train with Alexei Letov and Olga Ganicheva.

nm

 

[Sylvia]

For ex, I just realized that 2022 US National Women’s Juvenile champ, Sofia Bezkorovainaia, must have recently switched to the Letovs…as per Sofia’s Instagram post from the recent Cranberry Open Novice podium:

No, that's Ela C's Instagram post - she won Cranberry Novice group C ahead of Sofia B.

 

[Sylvia]

Olga Ganicheva/Alesey Letov's Instagram post the day after the Grand Prix selections were announced (July 23) included Daniel Grassl listed among their students: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgW1su-rAmW/
AFAIK, Grassl has not said anything publicly about his coaching change to date.

ETA:

He was in Boston back in May to have his FS choreographed by Benoit Richaud: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdng5CiOPoS/

Re-posting from the Programs/Choreographers thread:

Daniel Grassl

SP: I Feel Love by Sam Smith, arranged by Hugo Chouinard
Choreo: Jason Brown

FS: Struggling Brain by Guy Skornik & Zab Skornik, arranged by Cedric Tour; Korea Town by Danny Bensi, Saunder Jurriaans, arranged by Cedric Tour; Hour of the Ruler by Joseph Alexander, arranged by Cedric Tour; Dans la maison by Philippe Rombi, arranged by Cedric Tour
Choreo: Benoit Richaud

Source: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00035262.htm

 

[Frau Muller]

No, that's Ela C's Instagram post - she won Cranberry Novice group C ahead of Sofia B.

I saw it in Sofia’s Instagram account. Maybe she shared? So Sofia is still with coach Irina?

I never said that Sofia won. Wow.

 

[Sylvia]

I saw it in Sofia’s Instagram account. Maybe she shared? So Sofia is still with coach Irina?

Yes, skaters share stories via Instagram all the time. Sofia is still with coach Inna Volyanskaya.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Olga Ganicheva/Alesey Letov's Instagram post the day after the Grand Prix selections were announced (July 23) included Daniel Grassl listed among their students: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgW1su-rAmW/
AFAIK, Grassl has not said anything publicly about his coaching change to date.

ETA:

He was in Boston back in May to have his FS choreographed by Benoit Richaud: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdng5CiOPoS/

Re-posting from the Programs/Choreographers thread:

oh wow, I will be very very interested to see what Jason does as a choreographer. I did not know that he was doing this. I will be very curious to see how he choreographs for skaters

 

[Sylvia]

Daniel Grassl's post today: https://www.instagram.com/p/ChcXpW5qRDl/

I officially announce I’m leaving Egna, where I lived most of my life.
I would like to thank all of the people that believed in me and supported me during these years. It has been an amazing journey with so many emotions and hard times.
I will be moving to @skatingclubbos and training with @olgaalexcoaching and I’m ready to represent my country the best I can.
I leave Egna with serenity, knowing that when I come back I can feel like I’m home and see my team and friends that gave me a lot of support and believed in me during my journey.

And a special thank you to @nicolettaingusci who will follow and support me in this new adventure and will let me train in her academy whenever I will come back home.

Let the adventure begin!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Very cool thank you @Sylvia Has Italy ever had a men’s world champion?