Figure Skating: 10 Skaters to Watch for the Upcoming Season

6. Marin Honda (JPN), Ladies

Like the top junior lady of last year, the Junior World Champion is too young to move up to the senior level this year. But even when Tsurskaya was taking up most of the attention, Marin Honda was making an impressive Junior Grand Prix debut of her own. She showed off her considerable skating ability and expressiveness in her one win, and already she has a devoted fan following. Her path to the top of the podium at Junior Worlds might have been made easier by the reduction of the Russian team from three ladies to one. But she got there in style, landing triple-triples in two flawless programs, albeit triple-triples easier than the ones the Russians did.

Honda has already made her debut this season, winning the junior title at the Asian Figure Skating Trophy last week. She wasn’t perfect there, but she did land a harder triple-flip-triple toe combination in her freeskate above. If Honda masters the harder technical elements, she’ll be a formidable competitor. She and Tsurskaya might or might not be able to face off against each other this fall. But with any luck she’ll have the chance to defend her Junior World title against the best. A triumph there might even put her in the conversation for the Japanese Olympic team. But who would get a likely third berth there is far from settled.

Next: Tyler Pierce (USA), Ladies