Helsinki Rockettes achieved their highest score for their short program this season... 83.23! (Credits: Ville Vairinen - 2022)

The long-awaited competition of the Finnish National Championships, which is the ultimate selection for the Senior Worlds, started on Saturday in Tampere, Finland. The Helsinki Rockettes lead the senior series after the short programs, and Team Fintastic dominates the junior competition.

Based on the two qualification competitions, the top 12 of the 19 Novice teams had made it to the finals in the Novice series this weekend.

The Finnish champions this year are Finettes. They skated a stylish and well-balanced program, which described the diary of a Jewish young girl and despite one fall, the win was overwhelming. They got 96.27 points.

The joy of Valley Bay Synchronics, which came in second place, had no limits when they hit silver medal with a difference of just one hundredth. Their program “The genesis of Symphony” gathered a total score of 86.98 points, when Team Dynamique with the program “The Story of Harley Quinn” earned third place by scoring 86.97 points. 

The Finnish Junior World Championship representatives were chosen in February when Team Fintastic and Musketeers were selected. However, it has not diminished the importance of the Finnish Championship, as all teams strived for their best performance in the short program competition on Saturday.

Team Fintastic´s confident performance of their program “Force of Her Nature” gathered a total score of 72.50. The second, Team Mystique is not far behind. Their “Last Breath of Winter” program had no errors, and they got 69.74 points.

Also, Musketeers is fighting tight for the championship, and they earned third place with their program “Light at the end Tunnel”, scoring 68.15.

The Senior short program competition kicked off in particularly exciting vibes. The two World Championship representatives will be chosen this weekend, and the pressure on the top three teams is tough.

The Nationals winner will claim a place in the World Championships as the first team of Finland (Team Finland 1). In selecting the second team (Team Finland 2), the average of the top two overall results from competitions subordinated to the Finnish Figure Skating Federation (the two qualification competitions of the season or Nationals this weekend) is calculated. The overall score of the senior Nationals is added to the average. So, the team with the highest aggregate points will be selected.

The statistics before the Nationals were led by the reigning Finnish champion Helsinki Rockettes (213.59), then Team Unique (209,54) and Marigold IceUnity in third place (206,90).

Both Dream Edges Senior and Lumineers, who started the competition, performed fine. With their program "Dance Macabre," Lumineers scored 71.20 points as Dream Edges Senior's youthful rock-spirited "Prodigy" program beat it with a scantily earning total score of 72.94.

When Team Unique stepped third on the ice, expectations were high. Their emotional "Merci" program has been in good shape throughout the season, but now they failed dominantly. After a smooth start, one fall occurred in the transition, and after a while, another bad fall happened in the Intersection. The sad and disappointed team only scored 68.54 points, and they finished fifth.

Instead, Marigold IceUnity continued to make steady progress by skating their program "Nordic Spirit" without mistakes and scoring 80.46. Helsinki Rockettes succeeded perfectly and won the short program competition. Their program "Femme Fatale" scored 83.23 points and they are leading the competition.