2007 Italian Figure Skating Championships

Written by: Erica Marcucci
Photos by: Alessandro Raineri

Day One
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 – Milan
Press Conference and Official Draw

It's the first day of the 2007 Italian Figure Skating Championships held in Milan, in Agorà Ice-rink.

The competition was opened with the official presentation and draw. It began at 6pm and finished at 8pm in the FISG palace. Present were the main representatives of the National Federation and the judging system, the hosting stadium's members, the sponsors and of course the many athletes and coaches.

It was a very pleasant evening – an interesting start to the competition – and with only wish – watching good skating and seeing who skates best and wins the title.

Among big names, there were Marco Fabbri (silver medallist in 2007, two time bronze medallist – senior men), Valentina Marchei (gold, silver and bronze medallist in 2007 – senior ladies), Paolo Bacchini (three time silver medallist, and two time bronze medallist in 2007 – senior men), Federica Faiella & Massimo Scali (four times Italian champions, two times silver medallists – senior ice dance) and Ondrej Hotarek (Italian senior pair champion), and several junior and senior skaters.

We had funny moments thanks to Ondrej, who made an appearance during the draw ceremony when he chose the draw for the absent junior ladies, changing persona several times during the evening.

Day Two
Thursday, December 20, 2007 – Milan
Junior Men and Ladies SP – Senior and Junior Compulsory Dance

The day started with the early practices. Senior skater Marco Fabbri realized he'd left without his skates as soon as he entered his changing room to put them on.

In the Junior Men's short program we saw Saverio Giacomelli take the lead, and he was followed by Maurizio Zandron and Gabriele Maraviglia. In the junior ladies' short program, we saw a great presentation by Alice Garlisi and she was first, with Mariella Schwedersky and Sofia Curci following her.

Furthermore we could see a very good performance in the Junior Ice dance category, thanks to Isabella Pajardi & Stefano Caruso, who left Lorenza Alessandrini & Simone Vaturi and Natalya Mityushina & Matteo Zanni behind. In the senior field, of course, Federica Faiella & Massimo Scali took the lead, showing improvement, beating Anna Cappellini & Luca La Notte and Alessia Aureli & Marco Garavaglia.

Day Three
Friday, 21st December 2001 – Milan
Junior and Senior Pairs SP – Senior Ladies and Men SP – Junior & Senior Ice-Dance Original

Carolina Kostner officially withdrew from the event due to fever and health problems.

Pairs offered a fabulous show for the first time here in Italy with lots of couples competing for the title. Starting with juniors, first place went to Nicole Della Monica & Yannick Kocon, newly teamed up pair – Carolina Gillespie & Daniel Aggiano and Chiara Picciolini & Cristian Rapis followed them.

Laura Magitteri & Ondrej Hotarek led the senior field with a magnificent short program which allowed them to win this event, ahead of the new pair Marika Zanforlin & Federico Degli Esposti.

Jumping to the senior men, Karel Zelenka got the first place skating a clean program right before Samuel Contesti, who performed a great triple axel, and Paolo Bacchini. Samuel now skates for Italy. He took the Italian Federation test skate in September. He practices both in Italy (Courmayeur) and France.

In the ladies' short program, Stefania Berton overawed the audience and beat Valentina Marchei and the wonderful skating of Francesca Rio.

Last but not least, we saw the junior dancers' original program. Natalya Mityushina & Matteo Zanni gained first place while the senior skaters confirmed their previous results.

Day Four
Saturday, December 22, 2007 – Milan
Junior Free Dance – Junior Ladies and Men FS – Junior and Senior Pairs FS

The weekend started amazingly with a program artistically presented by Isabella Pajardi & Stefano Caruso who skated to the ST from Notre Dame de Paris and it moved the whole audience and the judges – who gave them their first Italian junior title, ahead of Mityushina & Matteo Zanni and Lorenza Alessandrini & Simone Vaturi.

The event continued with the Junior Ladies' and Men's free programs. The leaders were Saverio Giacomelli, Maurizio Zandron, Gabriele Maraviglia and Alice Garlisi, Silvia Lovison and Mariella Schwedersky.

Finally, let me say that Laura Magitteri & Ondrej Hotarek impressed us with their power, winning the national title and confirming their place at Euros and Worlds 2008 this year, while Marika Zanforlin & Federico Degli Esposti got second place.

In the junior field, the newly teamed-up pair, Nicole Della Monica & Yannick Kocon, though they were second in the free program, won the event, and they were followed by Carolina Gillespie & Daniel Aggiano, who skated the best long program, and Chiara Picciolini & Cristian Rapis who were third.

Day Five
Sunday, December 23, 2007 – Milan
Senior Men's and Ladies' Free program – Senior Free Dance

It was the last competing day – the most important part of the competition.

The day started with the Senior free dance. I would like to report a wonderful program performed by the home-couple Federica Faiella & Massimo Scali which gave them the chance to win another gold medal, the fourth. Anna Cappellini & Luca La Notte skated a very good free dance, however it was a bit spotted with a fall. Unfortunately it caused an injury to her knees, though not very serious. Last but not least, Alessia Aureli & Marco Garavaglia skated and offered the audience a nice performance even if Marco had a bad fall during the set of twizzles. To sum up, we'll see the first two couples representing us at Euros and Worlds in 2008.

The Men were proposing the biggest and most exciting show, with great skaters, like Samuel Contesti who finally was able to win the Italian Champion title with a very technical program and a funny interpretation – stopping Karel Zelenka' s five year reign. The home athlete skated a good program too – just missed a 3 lutz which turned into a single. The third place went to Paolo Bacchini, who had a difficult long program with some mistakes but he was able to get the bronze.

As far as we know now, we should see Contesti and Zelenka in Zagreb, if the ISU lets Samuel skate for Italy. If not, then Karel Zelenka and Paolo. Talking about the Worlds, the spot there should belong to Samuel Contesti too, however the ISU question is the same there.

The Ladies' free program ended the Championships and it brought the second title for Valentina Marchei. This powerful girl was able to skate a very good program with two 3 lutz and an amazing interpretation. The second was, Stefania Berton, and the third Francesca Rio. They both fought till the last jump for the silver but it was finally obtained by the more experiencd Berton, however Francesca showed a huge improvement.

Regarding the ladies, we'll see Carolina Kostner, Valentina Marchei and Stefania Berton representing Italy at Euros while just the first two will be in Gothenborg this season.

Gala

In the evening, we saw the medal ceremonies both for Junior and Senior winners and they all were skating in the gala which had lots of spectators who enjoyed it a lot, as well as the skaters too. It was a very pleasant exhibition and there were very touching moments especially the part which was dedicated to Marco Fabbri and the big round of applause he got.

Thank you Erica for the report! Congratulations to all the winners and Good Luck for everybody who will represent Italy at the Euros and Worlds.

Good Luck Marco for the future competitions – we will miss you at the Europeans!