From Sydney to Moscow, to Poland and back to Sydney and Melbourne, then Marseille France for the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final has been Harley Windsor's travel travel schedule in just four weeks and his 16-year-old partner, Katia has done almost the same.

Last night wrapped up the first competitive year for the indigenous figure skater and his Russian-born partner when they secured 5th of the top six pairs in the world in the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final.

The relentless schedule and pressure showed in the free program last night for the young pair who have defied all expectations in making it  this far in less than one year together.

The reliable opening Split Triple Twist failed to take off, upsetting the pair's natural rythym, yet they fought throughout the program despite Katia falling on both throw jumps (lutz and salchow).

Their lifts and side by side triple toe jump racked up enough points to kee them ahead of Russian pair Atakhanova and Spirdonov in an event dominated by the winners - also from Russia - Anastasia Mishina and Vladislav Mirzoev who scored 180.63, almost 13 points clear of the Czech silver medallists.

Despite the throw triple lutz not going to plan, Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya and Harley Windsor find themselves in 5th place after the short program in the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France overnight and with a best-ever score of 57.08.

The amazing journey of the young man from Rooty Hill and the girl from Moscow has taken them to France to compete with the best of the best – not a position either of them could have predicted a year ago.

With coach Andrei Pachin at the barrier, Harley and Katia began their short program strongly with an easy split triple twist followed by well-matched double axels and a high level, complex lift.

The planned throw triple lutz, which they successfully completed  at the national championships last week, was called by the technical panel as a flip and not well in Marseille resulting in a fall by Katia and a one-point penalty.  

The overall performance was more assured, with both smiling and looking comfortable in a big-time event.

“It was not too bad,” Harley said immediately after the program. “I feel much more relaxed at bigger comps now and it hasn’t really hit me yet that it’s a final event. So far, it feels like every other comp.”

Olympic Gold Medal coach Nina Mozer, who suggested the pairing late last year, was also rink-side for the Aussie pair.

“It was good having Nina there,” Katia and Harley said. “She was my coach and has helped us when we train in Moscow,” Katia explained.

Unison trouble on the side by side spin impacted their score but the overall power and improvement in the Sydney-based pair during their first season together garnered a PB and leaves them sitting in a tight race with four Russian and one Czech pair for a possible podium finish in the free program early Sunday morning, AEDT time.

Leading the event are Russians Anastasia Mishina and Vladislav Mirzoev  on 64.73, followed by Anna Duksova Martin Bidar (CZE) 61.38 and in third after the short are Alina Ustmkina and Nikita Volodin (RUS) on 59.05.
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Western Sydney’s indigenous figure skater Harley Windsor and his 16-year-old partner Ekaterina (Katia) Alexandrovskaya have been invited into the prestigious International Skating Union (ISU) Junior Grand Final to be held in Marseille, France from December 8 – 11.​

The young Moscow-born Katia, who has a penchant for Vegemite, has been skating for Australia since July 1st and is seeking to be a permanent resident along with her mother.

The invitation to the Australian pair comes at the cost of Russian skaters Ekaterina Borisova and Dmitry Sopot who unfortunately had to withdraw from the Junior Grand Prix Final due to injury. Only the world’s six highest ranked skaters in Pairs, Dance, Ladies and Men in Seniors and Juniors are invited to the Grand Prix Final.

Australia’s fairy-tale couple have risen to 7th place in the junior world rankings in their first season after winning a Junior Grand Prix Gold medal at the Tallinn Cup in Estonia ahead of three Russian pairs.

The International Skating Union (ISU) contacted Ice Skating Australia overnight to advise that, “as first substitute, your Pair Alexandrovskaya/Windsor are now invited to attend the Junior Final.”

Harley and Ekaterina’s Gold medal in Estonia was an historic first for Australia at a Junior Grand Prix event and they are the first Australians to ever compete in a Grand Prix Final.

The impact their rise to the top has had on the Australian skating community is profound.

"This great pair skating duo are a perfect example of the talent that is here in Australia. With careful guidance and nurturing this talent can blossom. Ice Skating Australia is extremely proud of Ekaterina and Harley," Ice Skating Australia President Peter Lynch said from Melbourne where the Australian Figure Skating Championships are still underway.

Harley and Katia continue to create history at almost every event in which they compete, winning their first national title in Melbourne on Wednesday night landing the very difficult Throw Triple Lutz in both the short and free programs.

No-one would have believed this outcome 12 months ago.

“It’s been an amazing time,” said Harley. “This time last year we hadn’t met – let alone skated together.”

Windsor is a laid back kind of guy, who laughed when asked if he could believe the success their hard work was delivering.

“I wouldn’t have believed it a year ago. No way. I think I would have quit skating if it wasn’t for pairs.”

“But I can believe it now. It’s very exciting. Makes it more exciting when you see it in official writing.”

Whilst the pair began with a language barrier – almost 11 months together makes a big difference.

“I think it will be OK,” said Katia with a maturity that belies her years but a determination as fierce as her 20-year-old partner. 

​Sydney-based coaches Andrei and Galina Pachin shake their heads in wonder.

“Sometimes we can’t believe it, but we knew as soon as they took their first steps together that it was right,” the Pachins said.

“We’re excited, nervous – all of that - but they had great training yesterday and will train again today in Melbourne before heading home to Sydney on the weekend.”

Australia’s latest sport sensations head to the Junior Grand Prix Final next Tuesday and will compete in the ISU Four Continents Championships next February in the Olympic venue in PyeongChang, Korea before heading to the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

A mesmerised audience witnessed a stunning performance by pair skaters Harley Windsor and Katia Alexandrovskaya that is likely to be the start of a dominating national run in the short program at the Australian Figure Skating Championships tonight.

Landing a soaring throw triple lutz, they scored an incredible 60.11 points for a Short Program that will be remembered by a large crowd who stayed to watch Australia’s new super pair.

If the lyrics to Adele’s Skyfall are anything to go by, Harley and Katia have indeed started ‘a thousand miles and poles apart’ and in the coming years will ‘face it all together’.

Coming together from Western Sydney and Moscow, 20-year-old Harley and his Russian 16-year-old partner’s Skyfall is a brilliant musical choice.

Their power-packed short program, which included a split triple twist, side by side triple toes and their first attempt at a throw triple lutz, puts the rest of the world on notice ahead of the 2017 Four Continents Championships in the Olympic venue in PyeongChang next February and the World Championships in Finland the following month.

Defending Champions Matthew Dodds and Paris Stephens were gracious to Katia and Harley, congratulating them on an outstanding performance.  

The final free program will be skated tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 9.10pm. If you are in Melbourne, make a date for the O’Brien Group Arena and watch history unfold.

For Harley Windsor and Katia Alexandrovskya, embracing first time moments has never been much of an issue.

The talented and rising figure skating pair began their debut national campaign at the 2016 Australian Figure Skating Championships today, just two months after winning Australia’s first ever Junior Grand Prix Gold Medal at the Tallin Cup in Estonia.

Their story, one that has spread around the world, is tremendous. Sydney born Windsor, 20, is of indigenous heritage and was paired up with 16-year-old Alexandrovskya, a young talent from Moscow, after he was unable to find a local partner.

Windsor’s coaches, Sydney-based Russians Andrei and Galina Pachin, were the matchmakers behind the pair and have helped build a strong partnership despite the language barrier.

Galina said she couldn’t be prouder of the way both athletes have developed in under a year.

“There’s been a few tough moments, especially with their communication, but as coaches we’ve been able to help and Andrei has been great with that,” she said.

“They get to train with many of the Russian competitors so we just take each competition one-at-a-time and hope they take it right up to the best.”

While the speed of Harley and Katia’s success has surprised many fans and officials, it hasn’t shocked the coaches.
“The conversations started last summer at an international camp in Sochi, Russia, but we knew how perfect they were when they first took each other’s hands,” she said.

“They have the package to be very good and just need the experience.”

Their short program at the O’Brien Group Arena in Melbourne’s Docklands begins tonight.

“It’s the first time we’re trying the difficult throw triple lutz,” Coach Andrei Pachin said.

Winning the national pairs title would be another gong on the Windsor and Alexandrovskya’s list of fantastic achievements, as Windsor aims to become Australia’s first Indigenous Winter Olympian.

You can catch Harley and Katia on our livestream below at 9.10pm tonight with the short section of their program, with the free section scheduled for Wednesday at 9.10pm.
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https://livestream.com/iceskatingvictoria