Figure Skating: 10 Skaters to Watch for the Upcoming Season

5. Maria Sotskova (RUS), Ladies

Russia will, however, have a top skater up from Juniors on the Senior scene this year: Maria Sotskova is making the move. She may not be last year’s junior phenom. But one underestimates any new Russian girl on the senior block at one’s peril. And while her years as a junior saw her overshadowed, by first eventual World champion Evgenia Medvedeva and then by Tsurskaya, she’s still quite impressive. Sotskova is armed with hard triple-triples, and a good deal of consistency. In three years and thirteen international competitions, she’s finished lower than second only twice. She finished her junior career last year with silver at Junior Worlds, and after both her teammates had dropped out on her!

Sotskova is unlikely to storm the season the way Medvedeva did last year. But she’s got a very good chance of medaling at at least one of her Grand Prix events. Maybe even both, despite the Russian ladies field being packed. That field is just unpredictable enough that trips to Europeans and/or Worlds aren’t impossible either. She’ll likely have at least an outside shot for a medal at every event she competes in this season. Unlike Tsurskaya, she is not yet quite in the conversation as a serious contender for the Olympic team in 2018. But if she skates well this season, she will be by the end of it.

Next: Marina Honda (JPN), Ladies