![\"\"](\"https:\/\/figureskatersonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023_icelab_lombardiatrophy_podium-56.jpg\")
<\/a>Torgashev began his 2023-2024 season in early September with a bronze medal from the ISU Challenger Series event, Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo, Italy. He posted personal bests in both the short (86.41) and long (146.85) programs for a combined score of 233.26. Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama won the event.<\/p>\n\u201cI always try to prepare as best as I can in training, so when I am there, I can just focus on competing,” Torgashev said. \u201cI prepared for that score (at the Lombardia Trophy), and it is a realistic skate for what I have been preparing. The short program was above what I was training, so that was a good one to experience. Third at a Challenger was a nice way to start the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bronze medal was Torgashev\u2019s first on the Challenger Series since placing with a silver in China at the Asian Open four years earlier. Ankle surgery cost the 2015 U.S. junior champion two seasons. Now he appears back in top form.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am building content in the program to compete with the top 10 at Worlds,\u201d said the Florida native who now trains in Irvine, California with Rafael Arutyunyan. \u201cIn terms of injury, I don\u2019t think we are ever safe. It\u2019s always something to be very mindful of. Especially, if we are trying to add more quads into the program and more difficulty, it requires more loads in training. Overall, I feel more confident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne is someone Torgashev really admires, so when the former Canadian Olympic ice dancer suggested “L\u2019enfer” by Stromae for this season\u2019s short program, he was thrilled. Torgashev said he listened to the music about 20 times as soon as Bourne sent it to him. \u201cMy goal last year before Nationals was to skate of a quality where Shae-Lynn would do a program with me for the next season,\u201d Torgashev said. \u201cI am glad it worked out. This (short program) is about dealing with loneliness and all of these thoughts in your mind. This one is very dear to my heart, and it is a joy to train. I can speak only highly of Shae-Lynn. My words can\u2019t do her justice. It\u2019s an honor to have her do that program.\u201d<\/p>\n Misha Ge, two-time Olympian from Uzbekistan, choreographed Torgashev’s free skate, which is to two Muse songs, \u201cThe Void\u201d and \u201cMadness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe story of the program is freedom and trying to let go of the past and just letting myself skate freely,\u201d Torgashev explained. \u201cIt\u2019s difficult with jumps and everything to completely perform choreography and technically, but it\u2019s our jobs.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the free, I will go for two Axels, I will go for a (quad) toe. I may go for a (quad) Sal(chow). It\u2019s all about the training process. It will get there, but right now, it\u2019s still shaky in my opinion. In the short, I will go for one quad, whether it be toe or Sal(chow) and (triple) Axel in the second half.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the choreography, Torgashev added that he would not be where he is without Rafael Arutyunyan, complementing the venerable coach\u2019s knowledge and demanding motivational techniques.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n