Vasiljevs Ignites Crowd, Aims for Gold

Oberstdorf, Germany – Deniss Vasiljevs, the Latvian figure skater, electrified the crowd with his groundbreaking techno short program, securing a stunning first-place finish at the ISU Challenger Series Nebelhorn Trophy 2024. The two-time Olympian’s captivating performance, highlighted by intricate footwork, powerful spins, and daring jumps, left the audience in awe.

Skating in the second group, Vasiljevs defied expectations, surpassing the field with a total score of 83.78. His technical prowess and artistic expression earned him the highest scores in both technical and program components.

“I’m still kind of in shock,” Vasiljevs admitted after his performance. “The ice rink here is incredible, and I had an absolute blast. I don’t even remember much of the routine; it was just pure joy.”

Vasiljevs debuted his techno short program, set to “Helix” by Justice, at a show in Japan earlier this summer. The program, a fusion of energy and precision, showcased his remarkable athleticism and artistic flair.

The Latvian skater began his routine with a powerful triple Axel, followed by a flawless triple Lutz-toe loop combination. He concluded his performance with a perfectly executed triple flip, leaving the judges and spectators in awe.

Although Vasiljevs considered adding a quad jump to his routine, he ultimately decided to focus on the quality of his elements. “I felt physically ready, but maybe not quite there yet for everything,” he explained. “We made the decision beforehand to stick with the triple jumps for the short program.”

Italy’s Gabriele Frangipani finished in second place, 4.6 points behind Vasiljevs, while Japan’s Yamamoto Sota claimed the third spot, narrowly edging out Frangipani by 0.18 points.

For Yamamoto, the Nebelhorn Trophy marked his first competition of the season. Despite facing some stiffness in his elements, particularly the quadruple Salchow, he managed to land a quadruple toe loop-triple toe loop combination and a triple Axel. However, his shaky landing on the triple Axel ultimately cost him a higher placement.

The men’s singles event will conclude with the free program on Friday, starting at 13:15 local time. As Vasiljevs heads into the final segment with a significant lead, figure skating fans around the world eagerly anticipate his performance and the potential for a historic victory.