The 2025 World Figure Cup Rolls into the Americas with Precision and Passion

Felipe Werle © Instagram / fwerle

In the heart of South America’s tango-fueled capital, where the rhythm of street life pulses as fiercely as a milonga’s beat, a quieter, more meticulous art form is about to take center stage. The 3rd Annual World Figure Cup descends on Buenos Aires, Argentina, from September 26 to 28, 2025, marking the first time this elite roller skating spectacle graces the Americas. Hosted at the gleaming Parque Olímpico de la Juventud—a venue born from the 2018 Youth Olympic Games—the event promises a fusion of athletic discipline and cultural vibrancy, drawing top talents from 11 nations to etch their legacies on the rink’s unyielding surface.

Buenos Aires, with its eclectic blend of European grandeur and Latin fire, is no stranger to global gatherings. From the sultry strains of the Buenos Aires Tango Festival to the roar of Primera División soccer matches, the city thrives on passion and performance. Yet, the World Figure Cup introduces a subtler elegance: the hypnotic precision of artistic figures on roller skates. Here, in the shadow of the Obelisco and amid the aroma of empanadas from corner kiosks, skaters will trace intricate loops and serpentine patterns, their wheels whispering secrets of control and grace against the rink floor.

The Art of the Trace: Demystifying Artistic Figures

At its core, the World Figure Cup celebrates artistic figures—a discipline as demanding as it is mesmerizing. Unlike the high-flying jumps and spins of ice figure skating, figures demand perfection in the basics: flawless loops, rockers, brackets, and counters carved with surgical accuracy. Skaters must execute a series of prescribed patterns on circles marked on the floor, judged on edge quality, centering, and the sheer poetry of their lines. No music swells in the background; the only soundtrack is the rhythmic hum of wheels and the skater’s focused breath. It’s a dialogue between athlete and surface, where a millimeter’s deviation can shatter a routine.

Rooted in the 19th-century origins of roller skating, figures were once the bedrock of the sport, honing control before free skating’s flair took over. Today, they’ve evolved into a niche art, preserved by federations like World Skate and celebrated in events like this cup. Competitors in senior and junior categories vie for seven titles across men’s and ladies’ divisions, with routines judged by international panels on technical merit and form. The event’s three-day format allows for intense scrutiny: short figures on day one, followed by free skating that weaves compulsory elements into creative expression.

Fascinating Fact: The largest figure ever traced in competition measured over 100 feet in circumference, requiring skaters to maintain laser focus for up to 10 minutes—equivalent to walking a tightrope blindfolded while solving a Rubik’s Cube.

A Global Convergence: Athletes from Afar Chase Circle Supremacy

This year’s field boasts diversity and depth, with 11 countries represented—from the precision engineers of Europe to the resilient rollers of Oceania, whose athletes endure epic trans-Pacific treks. Italy dominates the entry list with multiple medal hopefuls, but challengers from Brazil, the USA, and beyond add spice to the mix. The farthest-flung competitors hail from Australia and New Zealand, where roller rinks dot coastal towns, and training means battling humidity and isolation for a shot at world-class validation.

In Senior Men’s, all eyes turn to Italy’s Federico Buracchi, the 2024 champion whose impeccable edges and unyielding consistency have made him a figure virtuoso. Buracchi, a 28-year-old from Milan, began skating at age six on borrowed quads and has since amassed over a dozen international medals, including golds at the 2023 European Roller Championships. He’s not just defending his crown; he’s mentoring a new wave, often sharing drills on social media to inspire young Italians. Hot on his heels is Brazil’s Felipe Werle, a 32-year-old legend with a trophy case groaning under the weight of accolades. Werle, who claimed senior men’s gold at the 2021 World Roller Games in Nanjing, China, hails from São Paulo’s vibrant skating scene. His career spans two decades, including a bronze at the 2021 Worlds and multiple South American titles—proof that dedication on dusty outdoor rinks can propel you to global stages. “Figures aren’t about speed,” Werle once said in an interview. “They’re about patience, like sculpting marble with your feet.”

The junior ranks promise fireworks too. Italy’s Andrea Zazzaroni, last year’s Junior Men’s gold medalist, steps up to seniors with the poise of a veteran. At just 18, the Roman prodigy clinched national titles in artistic obligatory figures in September 2025, blending youthful energy with metronomic precision. Beside him, American Sean Folstein, 2024’s junior silver medalist, makes his senior debut. The 19-year-old from Colorado Springs trains under U.S. Roller Sports auspices, drawing from a family legacy of skaters. Folstein’s breakthrough came at the 2024 nationals, where his clean brackets earned raves from judges—now, he’s hungry to translate that to the international rink.

On the ladies’ side, Italy’s Ilaria Beretti aims to defend her Senior Ladies crown. The 25-year-old from Bologna, a former inline speed skater who pivoted to figures in 2018, brings crossover athleticism to her routines. Her 2024 victory featured the event’s highest edge control score, a nod to years of cross-training with ballet. In Junior Ladies, Sara Dinoi returns as reigning champ, the 17-year-old Tuscan talent seeking a repeat. Dinoi’s fluid turns and centered figures have drawn comparisons to early-career icons, and her 2024 win included a near-perfect loop series that left spectators breathless.

Fascinating Fact: Roller figures originated in the 1860s, predating ice skating’s figures by decades—proving that wheels paved the way for winter’s poetry.

The Buenos Aires Stage: Tradition Meets Tangible Thrill

Parque Olímpico de la Juventud, with its modern lines and youth-centric vibe, is an ideal canvas. Built for the 2018 YOG, the venue’s 2,000-seat arena overlooks green expanses, offering skaters a fresh-air contrast to Europe’s stuffy halls. Off-rink, Buenos Aires tempts with asados, Recoleta’s grand boulevards, and impromptu tango shows—perfect for jet-lagged athletes to unwind. The event honors figures’ stoic tradition: hours of solitary practice, chasing imperceptible improvements, broken only by the judge’s whistle.

Organizers emphasize inclusivity, with workshops for local youth and eco-friendly rinks using sustainable wheels. “Buenos Aires embraces the world’s pulse,” says event director Sofia Ramirez. “Figures teach control amid chaos—just like our city.”

Race Day Breakdown: From Cadets to Crowns

The action ignites Friday, September 26, with Cadet Men’s and Ladies figures—young guns tracing their first international circles. Saturday ramps up to Junior divisions, where emerging stars like Zazzaroni and Dinoi shine. Sunday crowns the seniors, pitting Buracchi against Werle in a battle of titans, followed by free skates that blend compulsion with creativity. Medals gleam under LED lights, but the real prize? Mastery etched in motion.

As wheels meet floor in Buenos Aires, the 2025 World Figure Cup isn’t just a competition—it’s a testament to the quiet grind behind every perfect curve. In a world craving flash, these athletes remind us: True artistry whispers. Tune in via World Skate streams, and witness the Americas’ first spin on this storied stage. Who will claim the circles? The rink awaits.

Source: article on worldskate.org, published September 16, 2025.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer