Petrykina and choreographer Pillay experiment with new free program

Estonian figure skater Nina Petrykina, preparing for the upcoming season under the new rules introduced by the International Skating Union (ISU), is working with Canadian choreographer Mark Pillay in Tallinn on her new free program. The duo has been collaborating for five seasons, and after a two-year break, Pillay has returned to Estonia to assist her.

Petrykina noted that working with Pillay is always pleasant due to their long-standing partnership and mutual understanding. The program is developed step by step: first they create a basic structure, then she skates, evaluates which elements suit her, and makes adjustments based on her coach's feedback. The music for the new free program is taken from the TV series "Game of Thrones."

Pillay praised Petrykina's willingness to experiment and explore new movements, which helps her grow as an athlete. The main challenge this season is the new ISU requirement for a choreographic spin element. Since the exact judging criteria are still unclear, Petrykina is constantly trying different positions, aiming for speed and precision in sync with the music.

Another rule change reduces the number of jumps in the free program from seven to six. Pillay believes this gives skaters a bit more time to connect with the audience. Petrykina, however, said this change doesn't affect her much, as her seventh jump was usually a simple Axel or Salchow. She is more curious about how judges will score performances and what constitutes a good result. The new programs and scores will be unveiled in the fall when the season begins.