US Ice Dance 2024-25 News & Updates

[ice coverage]

On USFS website, Z/K remain on envelope list and on ISP list.
Still true as of this morning -- I just checked.

Some of the speculation in this thread is insane, if you ask me.
Only my own speculation/rationalization, but for dance, maybe medals from GP, Worlds/Olympics, JW made a difference?
(I would not like such reasoning.)

ETA:​

BTW/FWIW, neither Carreira nor Kolesnik had rushed to social media in 2020 to share that they received their green cards.​

In both cases, the news did not come to light until months later, because they eventually said something in interviews.​

 

[BittyBug]

Some of the speculation in this thread is insane, if you ask me.
Only my own speculation/rationalization, but for dance, maybe medals from GP, Worlds/Olympics, JW made a difference?
(I would not like such reasoning.)

That would make sense in the context of body of work, except for the JW medal, because in dance a JW medal means rarely means much in terms of how one will fare on the senior circuit.

 

[Karen-W]

On USFS website, Z/K remain on envelope list and on ISP list.
Still true as of this morning -- I just checked.

Some of the speculation in this thread is insane, if you ask me.
Only my own speculation/rationalization, but for dance, maybe medals from GP, Worlds/Olympics, JW made a difference?
(I would not like such reasoning.)

ETA:​

BTW/FWIW, neither Carreira nor Kolesnik had rushed to social media in 2020 to share that they received their green cards.​

In both cases, the news did not come to light until months later, because they eventually said something in interviews.​

Eh, I don't think it means much that neither posted about getting their green cards. That's just an intermediate step (though a major one) on the path to citizenship.

My best guess is the omission is just the usual whoopsie flub similar to how the USFS didn't have some skaters/teams in the correct Team Envelopes for funding last month when they updated it for the 2025-26 season.

 

[ice coverage]

That would make sense in the context of body of work, except for the JW medal, because in dance a JW medal means rarely means much in terms of how one will fare on the senior circuit.

Just FWIW re USFS assessment of body of work:

In USFS 2026 Olympic selection criteria's Calculation of Overall Athlete Performance Data, JW medals are given more weight than Four Continents medals and more weight than Worlds placements of fourth thru eighth.

Eh, I don't think it means much that neither posted about getting their green cards. That's just an intermediate step (though a major one) on the path to citizenship. ...

I'm just saying that I think it is possible that a skater also would not rush to post that they have received citizenship.
(And it's fine by me if they choose to delay sharing citizenship news too.)

 

[Karen-W]

Just FWIW re USFS assessment of body of work:

In USFS Olympic selection criteria's Calculation of Overall Athlete Performance Data, JW medals are given more weight than Four Continents medals and more weight than Worlds placements of fourth thru eighth.

Eh it isn't as if the points a skater/team gets from those immediate prior season's results is going to make a dent in where they wind up in those rankings. Beyond that, all that finishing in the top 5 of the Calculation of Overall Athlete Performance Data does is get you in the Selection Pool for the ISU Championships & OWG. But so does finishing top 5 at Nats and some other criteria that I can't recall off the top of my head at the moment.

 

[BittyBug]

Just FWIW re USFS assessment of body of work:

In USFS Olympic selection criteria's Calculation of Overall Athlete Performance Data, JW medals are given more weight than Four Continents medals and more weight than Worlds placements of fourth thru eighth.

Which is nuts for dance given how infrequently a JW medal translates into medallng or even placing well at senior events. When was the last time a JW medalist medalled in a senior ISU event the following year? Silverstein & Pekarek?

 

[Karen-W]

Which is nuts for dance given how infrequently a JW medal translates into medallng or even placing well at senior events. When was the last time a JW medalist medalled in a senior ISU event the following year? Silverstein & Pekarek?

Uhm, this past season? Neset/Markelov - 1st 2024 Jr Worlds, 3rd at Nebelhorn.

Before that...
Carreira/Ponomarenko - 2nd at Jr Worlds in 2018; 3rd at 2018 Rostelecom Cup (and medaled at all three of their Challengers that season too - 2nd US Classic, 1st Tallinn Trophy, 3rd Nebelhorn).
Parsons/Parsons - 1st at Jr Worlds 2017; 2nd at both LPIDI and Nepela Memorial.
Hawayek/Baker - 1st at Jr Worlds 2014; 3rd at 2014 NHK Trophy.

And these last three - all moved up to seniors in an Olympic season and medaled at an Olympic season 4CCs with a depleted field.
Aldridge/Eaton - 3rd at Jr Worlds 2013; 3rd at 2014 4CCs.
Matthews/Zavozin - 1st at Jr Worlds 2005; 2nd at 2006 4CCs.
Belbin/Agosto - 1st at Jr Worlds 2001; 2nd at 2002 4CCs.

Technically, these teams don't fit the criteria listed here, but they had solid int'l hardware as Jrs -
McNamara/Carpenter - 1st at Jr Worlds 2016, dropped to 7th at Jr Worlds 2017, though they were 3rd at the JGPF that season; first full sr season - 1st at LPIDI, 2nd at Warsaw Cup.
Shibutanis - 2rd at Jr Worlds 2009, did another jr season & finished 4th at Jr Worlds 2010 but 3rd at the JGPF that season; their first full sr season - 3rd at SkAm & NHK, 2nd at 4CCs, 3rd at Worlds.

 

[Karen-W]

Also missing are the Browns and Pate/Bye. Definitely not the top 3-4, but another data point. The other disciplines have 6 skaters. Pairs has 5 teams. There's one 'slot' open in the photo lineup, with the last slot on the bottom row containing no pics.

Perhaps Z/K are looking to the next quad now and planning ahead to sit out this season for a release.

Eh, the way the page is set up, with 2 rows, it would be really easy to add 3 more dance teams - just means an additional column. Or another pairs team - I noticed that Shin/Nagy aren't listed but Plazas/Fernandez are. There are some interesting choices all around. Only the women make full sense to me. Jacob Sanchez isn't included despite winning the JGPF.

I'm really curious how the "National Team Members" were determined. It's not based upon funding envelopes since ZingKol aren't listed even though they're in Team B1, while the only Team B2 skaters listed are PlaFern and BraSom, and then WolfTsar are Team C1.

 

[SidelineSkater]

Eh, the way the page is set up, with 2 rows, it would be really easy to add 3 more dance teams - just means an additional column. Or another pairs team - I noticed that Shin/Nagy aren't listed but Plazas/Fernandez are. There are some interesting choices all around. Only the women make full sense to me. Jacob Sanchez isn't included despite winning the JGPF.

I'm really curious how the "National Team Members" were determined. It's not based upon funding envelopes since ZingKol aren't listed even though they're in Team B1, while the only Team B2 skaters listed are PlaFern and BraSom, and then WolfTsar are Team C1.

Yup. My point I was trying to make - there's a spot open, so they could have added another dance team or more to make it 'even'. Very interesting as you noted, the inclusion of some and omission of others. Specifically WolfTsar over ZingKol, Browns and PateBye.

Just more fun stuff for us to ponder and speculate while we wait for GP Christmas!

 

[BittyBug]

Uhm, this past season?.....

LOL - shows how much I pay attention.

 

[gkelly]

Also missing are the Browns and Pate/Bye. Definitely not the top 3-4, but another data point. The other disciplines have 6 skaters. Pairs has 5 teams. There's one 'slot' open in the photo lineup, with the last slot on the bottom row containing no pics.

And dance has 6. Bratti/Somerville are included under the last pair team.

It's because there are only 5 pairs that there's an odd number total, leaving the open slot at the end.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Is this the first time there's been a "National Team"? If so, I'd guess from the responses here that the criteria are nowhere to be found, at least by unconnected mortals.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Eh, I don't think it means much that neither posted about getting their green cards. That's just an intermediate step (though a major one) on the path to citizenship.

My best guess is the omission is just the usual whoopsie flub similar to how the USFS didn't have some skaters/teams in the correct Team Envelopes for funding last month when they updated it for the 2025-26 season.

So true, I mean, I easily forget all the members of my harem, I omit names on the daily without realizing.

 

[coralline]

First glimpse of a 90s JR RD:
Annelise STAPERT & Maxim KOROTCOV
https://youtu.be/GZhmWbUNUOc?si=BOXcn24nVq3_d4RP

 

[Rukia]

I'm really curious how the "National Team Members" were determined. It's not based upon funding envelopes since ZingKol aren't listed even though they're in Team B1, while the only Team B2 skaters listed are PlaFern and BraSom, and then WolfTsar are Team C1.

i mean it was clearly vibes i don't even know why people are trying to explain it with some kind of logic

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Also missing are the Browns and Pate/Bye. Definitely not the top 3-4, but another data point. The other disciplines have 6 skaters. Pairs has 5 teams. There's one 'slot' open in the photo lineup, with the last slot on the bottom row containing no pics.

That "slot" is because of only 5 pairs. I can't imagine they are having 6 men and ladies and 7-9 dance teams.

Hard to imagine Wolfkostin & Tsarevski AND Bratti/Sommervile would have been chosen over Z/K. Seems pretty clear the Browns and Pate/Bye aren't missing, just not selected.

 

[Spikefan]

i mean it was clearly vibes i don't even know why people are trying to explain it with some kind of logic

But wouldn’t vibes put Z/K near the top of the list?

 

[TanithandBenFan]

First glimpse of a 90s JR RD:
Annelise STAPERT & Maxim KOROTCOV
https://youtu.be/GZhmWbUNUOc?si=BOXcn24nVq3_d4RP

What’s the piece of music after Step by Step and before Groove is in the Heart? It’s hard to hear on my phone (which I don’t want to blare at work lol).

 

[Rukia]

But wouldn’t vibes put Z/K near the top of the list?

depends on who is vibing

 

[ice coverage]

Eh it isn't as if the points a skater/team gets from those immediate prior season's results is going to make a dent in where they wind up in those rankings. Beyond that, all that finishing in the top 5 of the Calculation of Overall Athlete Performance Data does is get you in the Selection Pool for the ISU Championships & OWG. But so does finishing top 5 at Nats and some other criteria that I can't recall off the top of my head at the moment.

Sure, I am well aware of all of that.
I was responding to someone's comment that it would not make sense to include JW medals in BOW.
In terms of the current mysteries of "National Team" status, I am wondering whether perhaps(???) W/T's JW medal -- which USFS does recognize in BOW for Olympics, senior Worlds, and Four Continents selection -- could have played a role?
I was not saying that when the time comes for Olympic team selection, W/T's JW medal is going to quash other hopefuls.

 

[Debbie S]

I assume W/T are on the list b/c of their JW medal. It's not likely to get them on the Oly team, but it is one of the criteria that gets counted for consideration.

Very confused about Z/K's omission but I wonder if it's just a USFS error....someone forgot to add them to the graphic. Dance is arguably the U.S.'s strongest discipline in terms of depth. Men and women each have 6 listed, i can see dance having 6 teams plus the Shibs, so 7 total.

 

[Rukia]

Very confused about Z/K's omission but I wonder if it's just a USFS error....someone forgot to add them to the graphic. Dance is arguably the U.S.'s strongest discipline in terms of depth. Men and women each have 6 listed, i can see dance having 6 teams plus the Shibs, so 7 total.

Ok being for real all the dance teams they have on there have been to worlds or medaled at junior worlds last season so my best guess would be they know attending the world championships is a recognizable achievement for a person who likes skating a regular amount (and they won't know if someone didn't make the free skate or not)

 

[Karen-W]

Ok being for real all the dance teams they have on there have been to worlds or medaled at junior worlds last season so my best guess would be they know attending the world championships is a recognizable achievement for a person who likes skating a regular amount (and they won't know if someone didn't make the free skate or not)

That would make sense considering the inclusion of Plazas/Fernandez who went to Worlds in 2024. But, it doesn't explain Naumov's inclusion since he's never been to Worlds and he's not a reigning 4CCs or Jr Worlds medalist.

Naumov - US Pewter Medalist x3
Zingas/Kolesnik - US Pewter Medalist x2

 

[Rukia]

That would make sense considering the inclusion of Plazas/Fernandez who went to Worlds in 2024. But, it doesn't explain Naumov's inclusion since he's never been to Worlds and he's not a reigning 4CCs or Jr Worlds medalist.

Naumov - US Pewter Medalist x3
Zingas/Kolesnik - US Pewter Medalist x2

I was only thinking about ice dance because I didn't look at the others that closely lol

 

[YukiNieve]

Leave Your Mark website states "The above athletes were selected based on criteria determined by the U.S. Figure Skating high performance department and international committee."

If the USFS wants us fans to support the sport and athletes, I'd like to know what criteria they used for this selection.

I am also wondering if this selection is final or not. It would be difficult to imagine dropping someone, as it could negatively affect the team's image, but could someone be added depending on how the new season turns out?

 

[Debbie S]

Ok being for real all the dance teams they have on there have been to worlds or medaled at junior worlds last season so my best guess would be they know attending the world championships is a recognizable achievement for a person who likes skating a regular amount (and they won't know if someone didn't make the free skate or not)

Well, national teams aren't chosen based on fan recognition (but any fan who knows B/S went to Worlds is going to know Z/K finished ahead of them at Nats this year ).

Good point about B/S having been to Worlds, except that in terms of consideration for the Oly team, only the current and recent seasons count...2024-25 and 2025-26. So B/S medal last year at Nats and Worlds trip wouldn't figure in. And team envelope status is based on most recent season achievements, so I would think a "national team" would follow the same process.

 

[Rukia]

Well, national teams aren't chosen based on fan recognition (but any fan who knows B/S went to Worlds is going to know Z/K finished ahead of them at Nats this year ).

Good point about B/S having been to Worlds, except that in terms of consideration for the Oly team, only the current and recent seasons count...2024-25 and 2025-26. So B/S medal last year at Nats and Worlds trip wouldn't figure in. And team envelope status is based on most recent season achievements, so I would think a "national team" would follow the same process.

Well I don't think this is a national team as in some official "these are the only people we are considering" way. I think it's a PR term. That's why I feel like it's mostly vibes/something they can sell to the public. I don't think it's some serious thing. But I could be wrong.

 

[ice coverage]

Well I don't think this is a national team as in some official these are the only people we are considering. I think it's a PR term. That's why I feel like it's mostly vibes/something they can sell to the public. I don't think it's some serious thing. But I could be wrong.

A big question for me is whether National Team skaters will be given extra funding? Emphases added:

"Join the movement to support U.S. Figure Skating’s National Team as they journey toward the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Cheer them on, become a member or make a donation — every action brings our athletes one step closer to achieving their Olympic dreams."​

Even if "National Team" were mostly a marketing thing, another concern for me is whether/how exclusion could have possible ripple effects?
For example, could an upshot be that excluded athletes will have even less of a chance of just getting on the radar of potential sponsors? (I'm not talking about biggies like Nike or Visa).

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I assume W/T are on the list b/c of their JW medal. It's not likely to get them on the Oly team, but it is one of the criteria that gets counted for consideration.

Very confused about Z/K's omission but I wonder if it's just a USFS error....someone forgot to add them to the graphic. Dance is arguably the U.S.'s strongest discipline in terms of depth. Men and women each have 6 listed, i can see dance having 6 teams plus the Shibs, so 7 total.

I could see 7 dance teams with the argument that they were planning to choose ~6 from each discipline and then the shibs were added as an extra.

I think it's very likely it's vibes based and it would be impossible to find a consistent criteria between the 4 disciplines. It's just hard to imagine what vibes cause you to choose B&S and W&T over Z&K. I'm not a Z&K fan, but they have a much more realistic shot at an Olympic spot than either of those two teams (and some others in other disciplines as well).

If we're thinking instead that there was criteria which included those two because of junior world medals or world champs appearances, I don't know if it works when you try to apply it to the other disciplines.

 

[Rukia]

A big question for me is whether National Team skaters will be given extra funding? Emphases added:

"Join the movement to support U.S. Figure Skating’s National Team as they journey toward the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Cheer them on, become a member or make a donation — every action brings our athletes one step closer to achieving their Olympic dreams."​

They've done this in Olympic years past. Does anyone know how that money was dispersed? I always thought it was just for USFS to get extra money in their coffers lol.