Skate America is the first of six events in the Grand Prix series, where competitors will be aiming to accumulate enough points to qualify for the Grand Prix final and win prize money of $180,000 (£147,000/€165,000) per individual event.

On the first day of action Ashley Wagner claimed the lead in the ladies short programme on home soil while Mai Mihara of Japan and fellow American Gracie Gold followed in second and third place.

Wagner's routine included a complete triple loop, double Axel and level-three spins to earn a score 69.50 points.

“Tonight was a great event for me," said Wagner.

"My training from this season really pulled through. I spent a lot of time working on my combinations, my jump quality as a whole and my spins.

“I love every second of it, so that’s kind of what gets me through it."

Meanwhile, Japan's Mihara landed a lutz-triple toe, double axel and picked up a level four for her spins to set a personal best of 65.75 to secure second place.

Gold, the current US Champion, completed the top three with a total of 64.87 points.

Elsewhere on day one, Russia’s Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov skated into the lead in the pairs short programme.

Tarasova and Morozov’s performance was highlighted by a triple twist, throw triple loop, and level-four spins.

The European bronze medallists achieved a new personal best of 75.24.

“Today we did well, we have a personal best and were glad to have this moment,” Morozov said.

"We feel it is possible for us to become Russia’s top pairs team.

"We work with our great team and our coaches, Robin Szolkowy and Nina Mozer and think it is possible and we will do everything for this."

The Russian duo were followed by Americans Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier and Julianne Seguin and Charlie Bilodeau of Canada.

Denney and Frazier produced a triple twist, throw triple loop and three level-four elements in their programme, picking up a personal best score of 67.29.

Meanwhile Seguin and Bilodeau's routine gave them a total of 66.49.

France's Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres and Kristina Astakhova and Alexei Rogonov of Russia are currently ranked fourth and fifth on 65.78 and 64.34 points respectively.