At the opening of Skate America, Japanese figure skater Kazuki Tomono impressed with his best short program in over three years, taking the lead ahead of Kevin Aymoz from France and Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov for the free skate segment. Meanwhile, Jason Brown of the U.S. placed fifth following Italy’s Daniel Grassl in his first Grand Prix event of the season.
In the pairs competition, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava showcased a nearly flawless routine to “Bolero,” extending their climb in world rankings over Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara.
Tomono, 27, aiming for a spot in Japan’s Winter Olympics team, delivered a strong performance scoring 95.77, his best short-program score since the 2022 world championships. Aymoz rebounded with 93.56 points after a disappointing Skate Canada, showcasing skill despite a recent foot injury. Shaidorov, aiming for his first Grand Prix win, finished with 89.67 points, trailing behind due to component scores.
Brown, seeking his third Olympic team spot, faced challenges during his performance of “Riverdance,” resulting in a fifth-place finish. Metelkina and Berulava, representing Georgia, maintained their lead after Cup of China with a season-best score of 78.83.
The men’s and pairs competitions will conclude on Saturday, with ice dance and women’s short program events following on the final day of Skate America on Sunday.