SAPPORO, Japan (AP) — Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia opened their figure skating grand prix season with a win in the short dance at the NHK Trophy on Friday.
Ilinykh and Katsalapov scored 61.83 points at Makomanai Arena to finish ahead of Canadians Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje with 60.07 points. Maia and Alex Shibutani of the United States were third with 59.02 points.
The NHK Trophy is the fourth event of the 2011 International Skating Union’s Grand Prix series.
The women’s and pairs short program are scheduled for later Friday, while the ice dance event concludes Saturday with the free dance.
The year’s Grand Prix final is in Quebec City, Canada on Dec. 8-11.
