Skyliners Junior competing with their emotional short program in Austria. 

The Mozart Cup 2022 started on Friday in Salzburg, Austria. Teams from the United States unsurprisingly dominated the junior competition, while the senior category was more competitive.

After being cancelled in 2021 due to Covid, the well-known Salzburg ice rink welcomed the first teams on Friday. Despite the absence of spectators, the athletes coming mainly from Europe and the USA could count on a friendly and festive atmosphere.

The Skyliners (USA) presented a touching performance in Salzburg, with speed, interesting transitions and beautiful harmony. Apart from a fall in the twizzle element, the program showed great maturity and skating skills. The team of Josh Babb and Pam May took first place in the competition (62.96)! 

Second after the short program, their fellow Hockettes presented their version of the "Greatest Showman" in sparkling red dresses. The team skated with a beautiful unison and brought a festive spirit to the rink. Upon hearing their score (57.47), the Hockettes exploded with joy on the Kiss & Cry.  

The third American team took 3rd place in the provisional competition. Fond du Lac Blades presented a very good short program, both dramatic and powerful. The team had a fall in the twizzle element; however, all other elements were executed very cleanly and with speed.

The three Czech teams entered finished very close to each other, finishing between 4th and 6th place with only 1.23 points difference between them (see scores at the end of the article).

-   Harmonia had great energy on the ice. Despite two bad falls at the beginning of the program and a deduction of 3.50 points.

-   Kometa came on the ice with black costumes in front and white in back, which brought a very interesting dimension to the performance.

-   The Gemini team skated to "Run Boy Run" by Woodkid. This powerful and fast music piece suited this team dressed in blue and black dresses.

Finally, the Austrian team Colibris Vienna skated to the song "I'm still standing" in very colourful costumes.

As they left the ice, the skaters of Team Berlin 1 hugged each other. Indeed, the German team that was skating first had a good flair. With a very good program on "Ich bin ein Berliner", a theatrical and choreographic performance, the team finished in the lead of the senior competition with a score of 61.15. 

Last team to compete, United Angels (GER) started their second international competition of the season with an excellent score: 56.66. Dressed in interestingly designed outfits, the team from Stuttgart skated their promising new short program with grace and confidence. 

It was impossible to miss the Czech team Olympia. Dressed in green and black fluo costumes, the team skated a creative and energetic program, but with two falls in the intersection. With 52.27 points, they are currently in 3rd place. 

Team Ice on Fire decided at the very last moment to leave for the Mozart Cup. Luckily, the team, which trains in the north of Italy in Trento, is only a little over 4 hours away by bus! On Friday, the team delivered a touching short program, although they fell at the very beginning in the moves. They scored 49.37 points.

After having been forced to give up the Lumière Cup at the beginning of January due to Covid cases, Team Illumination from the Netherlands made a comeback on Friday in Austria. The team skated a dynamic short program without any major errors, earning 47.20 points. 

Team Darlings skated their short program. The Czech team skated clean elements and collected three Level 3 and two Level 2 for a total of 46.57.

Three Basic Novices teams also competed on Friday and the victory went to Vienna Colibris (AUT).

The Mozart Cup will continue on Saturday with the Advanced Novices teams and the Junior and Senior Free programs.