A lot of skaters and fans alike will be on pins and needles at this week’s 2023 NHK Trophy because Grand Prix Final spots are on the line. And the women’s event holds a lot of intrigue given the number of (realistic) scenarios that could happen this week that could really make the last two available spots very interesting.
NHK Trophy predictions
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GOLD Mai Mihara JPN - Putting a lot of trust in this prediction because Mihara has not been in competition yet this season due to a right ankle injury. But knowing her history, it’s unlikely that she would compete without feeling like she’s actually ready to do so, especially given 1) she has no chance of making the Final anyway, and 2) Japan Nationals is in one month. Her consistency has always been her strength, and this season has been a test of consistency for the women’s event.
SILVER Haein Lee KOR - Fourth in France wasn’t necessarily a fluke for Lee, as her scores this season have been very consistently in the 190s. She hasn’t capitalized on her World silver last season yet, as her struggles with full rotation has come back during the fall. She will need to step it up a notch to get herself back on track, and her only path to the Final will be winning the title here at NHK.
BRONZE Wakaba Higuchi JPN - Though she took fifth in France, Higuchi showed some strong skating there and really announced her return to competition. Many wondered if she would rediscover the motivation after an exhausting Olympic season and then injuries, but she proved in France that the fire (and the jumps) were still there. A medal here would be really clutch for her going into Japan Nationals, especially among some rising stars in Japan this season.
4. Nina Pinzarrone BEL - Pinzarrone’s silver at GP France was a surprise to many, but if you’ve followed her over the past couple seasons, you would know that her potential has very much been there. Can she make it two Grand Prix medals in a row, especially right after just competing at (and winning) Belgian Nationals last weekend? It’s very possible, but she’s also had some subpar skates this season, so NHK will be a test of her consistency and how she can handle the pressure of being a podium contender.
5. Lindsay Thorngren USA - Fifth at Skate Canada a few weeks ago, Thorngren couldn’t get away from the underrotation calls that follow her around when her combos don’t get the speed and precision in landing edge that she needs. She will have to clean that up to be in medal contention this week.
6. Yelim Kim KOR - A disappointing sixth at Cup of China, Kim has had issues with her free skate this season. She’s a big floaty jumper, which often means that snap is even more important for her to get those rotations in. That was an issue both at Finlandia and at Cup of China.
7. Anastasiia Gubanova GEO - Like Kim, Gubanova has also been having issues this season, and she took sixth in France three weeks ago. And like Kim, her free skate has also been the big obstacle for her so far this season.
8. Lea Serna FRA - In the fight for the sole French women’s spot at Worlds, Serna has emerged as one of the two favorites going into French Nationals. After a coaching change, she’s looked like a completely different skater, and she’s got some dark horse potential here to sneak into the top half of the standings.
9. Ava Marie Ziegler USA - You really never know what you’re going to get out of Ziegler. Her big jumps can be wild and unpredictable, but when she hits them, she gets a lot of credit for them. She was fifth at Finlandia Trophy six weeks ago.
10. Yuna Aoki JPN - Fresh off her win at East Japan Sectionals, Aoki finds herself in the biggest international event on the senior circuit. Skating fans know her name well from her years competing domestically, but this will be her first chance to shine on the Grand Prix.
11. Seoyeong Wi KOR - Wi comes to NHK after finishing 12th at Skate America and 13th at Finlandia Trophy.
12. Lindsay van Zundert NED - It’s been a rough season so far for van Zundert, who has been all over the place with her results. She was most recently fourth at Tirnavia Ice Cup last month.