US Ice Dance 2024-25 News & Updates

[CassAgain]

brb about to buy out a religious candle factory

Be careful with this. I bought a Luka Doncic candle for my Mavs loving son for Christmas this year, and we know how that turned out.

I cheered for the Shibs when they had their surge in the cycle between 2014 and 2018, but I was not sad they retired, especially after the 2018 Olympics team event politics. I will be cheering for Car/Pon, Green/Parson, and Zing/Kol to hold them off, as unlikely as that seems.

 

[Dobre]

Scali is going to be busy.

I'm happy for him. Anyone who helped give us the pleasure of Orihara & Pirinen's Chicago program should be busy.

 

[Rukia]

Be careful this. I bought a Luka Doncic candle for my Mavs loving son for Christmas this year, and we know how that turned out.

if saint taylor swift can't save me no one will

 

[tony]

Scali is going to be busy.

I'm happy for him. Anyone who helped give us the pleasure Orihara & Pirinen's Chicago program should be busy.

He also contributed to Chock and Bates’ free dance this year, not to mention Turkkila and Versluis who had the standout program IMO.

All the dancers should be flocking to him, and I mean even Alysa’s short program was brilliant so the singles skaters can go too.

 

[nylynnr]

Alex had some exhibit in L.A. of his photography. Other than that, they've basically been traveling, making appearances at red carpets and such, and they've written (ghost-written more likely) a couple of children's books.

I believe they wrote the books themselves, together with an editor .... In addition to, I think, two exhibits of Alex's photography in L.A., he has worked with USOPC as a photographer including this summer in Paris.

 

[kwanette]

It will be interesting. I stopped predicting in 1997..(formerly known as Ladies) Women's event in Nashville..

 

[BittyBug]

The only people it's likely to affect, if any, are one of Green & Parsons or Zingas & Kolesnik. The rest of the teams weren't really looking at breaking into the top unless a major disaster, injury, or bad programs (see 2024).

Separate from placement, there's the issue of international assignments, especially the GP. If the Shibutanis receive two assignments as comeback skaters (is that possible?) that's two assignments that are not available for other teams.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

I'm happy that Maia is feeling this well. That's fantastic.

I admit, I checked the date to make sure it wasn't April 1 when I read that they were coming back. That said, I think they may be able to be USA #3, and might place higher internationally than our current "below Chock and Bates" teams. Of course, we won't know until we see them. And I'm not all that fussed if I'm wrong on this.

 

[On My Own]

Anyway, as to the actual skaters, I am happy for Maia Shibutani to have recovered.

I wasn't much of a fan of their skating, which I found cold, twizzles being amazing and all.

 

[PRlady]

Well I’m shocked but not upset. (Although if Haw/Bak were still competing that would of course be different.)

I saw Maia and Alex up close on the Boston concourse and they look like they haven’t aged a day. In a lookist sport, they are five of the most gorgeous people in ice dance. And although their technical precision is what they were known for, Fix You and some other programs showed they could perform.

But if I’m Cho/Bat who scored behind them most of the time, coupled with Ciz’ reappearance, I’m not happy. If only because the media spotlight and narrative will certainly change.

 

[VGThuy]

But if I’m Cho/Bat who scored behind them most of the time, coupled with Ciz’ reappearance, I’m not happy. If only because the media spotlight and narrative will certainly change.

Will Laurence Fournier Beaudry have French citizenship in time for the 2026 Olympics? I know there's more competitions than the Olympics, but we know why comebacks from medaled/champion competitors happen.

 

[Karen-W]

Separate from placement, there's the issue of international assignments, especially the GP. If the Shibutanis receive two assignments as comeback skaters (is that possible?) that's two assignments that are not available for other teams.

It won't affect the US teams in line for GP spots. We're already discussing it a bit in the GP Projected Assignments thread over in the Trash Can.

As far as the US teams are concerned -

Seeded/Invited teams - guaranteed 2 GPs -
Chock/Bates
Carreira/Ponomarenko
Green/Parsons

Comeback teams - eligible for 2 GPs and will get 2 -
Shibutani/Shibutani

WS & SB Top 24 team - guaranteed 1 GP but likely to get 2 -
Zingas/Kolesnik

SB Top 24 teams - guaranteed 1 GP and likely to only get 1 -
Bratti/Somerville
Brown/Brown
Pate/Bye

WS Top 24 teams - guaranteed 1 GP and likely to only get 1 -
Neset/Markelov

SkAm Host TB spot - possibly Wolfkostin/Tsarevski, but the USFS may let them fight for it along with the other 4 teams already getting 1 GP

 

[Dobre]

If you're Chock & Bates, you should just follow the plan, trust your training, and not show up with a lovey dovey program in a white dress.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

If you're Chock & Bates, you should just follow the plan, trust your training, and not show up with a lovey dovey program in a white dress.

What if a lovey dovey program in a white dress is the plan?


I loved the shib sibs when they were competing. I'm glad they are feeling well enough to train and compete. I have no idea what this will do.

I will say, if there was going to be a US Dance comeback, I would have been rooting for a different one.

 

[rfisher]

Why would Chock/Bates care if the Shibs return? It doesn't impact them. Frankly, it is just a reflection that the rest of the dance field is weak enough, Alex and Maia must think they can be competitive after a long absence. Or they're bored and need something different to do.

 

[floridaice]

Well I’m shocked but not upset. (Although if Haw/Bak were still competing that would of course be different.)

In a perfect world (for me) Maia and Jean Luc would be the new 'come back' team.

 

[AnnM]

I enjoyed the Shibs when they competed previously and am glad Maia's health is doing well, but this seems ..... unnecessary.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

I wonder if, because Maia was sick, they feel they have unfinished business, maybe. Regardless, I'm happy that Alex's hair is dark again. I didn't like that blonde.

 

[princeton123]

Alex had some exhibit in L.A. of his photography. Other than that, they've basically been traveling, making appearances at red carpets and such, and they've written (ghost-written more likely) a couple of children's books.

I think they did some choreo for Mao Asada's show?

I don't believe they continued with any sort of college education (which they started while competing) but of course not everyone needs a college degree.

Lol ok, their return makes more sense now

 

[Debbie S]

I enjoyed the Shibs when they competed previously and am glad Maia's health is doing well, but this seems ..... unnecessary.

Exactly. If U.S. ice dance was in the same state as U.S. pairs, it might make sense, to help the U.S. in the TE if nothing else. But the U.S. has the deepest ice dance field of any country in the world right now, with the younger teams starting to break through internationally...CPom are on track to continue the U.S. world medal streak after C/B retire, with Green/P and Z/K not far behind.

If the Shibs have halfway decent programs, expect USFS to give them a major push, maybe not over C/B, but i wouldn't be surprised to see the scores of CPom and the teams behind them drop like a rock, as we saw with L/B at Worlds. Which would make it harder for CPom to get back to medal-contending status after next season.

 

[Debbie S]

Lol ok, their return makes more sense now

Well, it means they haven't really found direction post-retirement, which is kind of sad.

 

[Rukia]

If the Shibs have halfway decent programs, expect USFS to give them a major push, maybe not over C/B, but i wouldn't be surprised to see the scores of CPom and the teams behind them drop like a rock, as we saw with L/B at Worlds. Which would make it harder for CPom to get back to medal-contending status after next season.

the only solution is for cpom to lock in and get even sluttier

 

[TAHbKA]

The USA would have to put 2 ice dance teams in the team event (the competitions are on 6/2 and 7/2 team events and 9/2 and 11/2 dance events) - don't believe Chock/Bates would be able to compete 4 times in one week. Between Shibutanis and CarPon my bet is that Shibutanis are a safe bet for the medal.
Men are competing 7-8-10-13, so perhaps they will need to change the man as well if Malinin is not willing to compete 4 times one week as well (on the other hand I don't really see what USA man would be a safe bet and not hand the gold to Japan).
Pairs and ladies compete a week after the team event, so assume they will have enough time to recover anyway.

 

[care bear]

The USA would have to put 2 ice dance teams in the team event (the competitions are on 6/2 and 7/2 team events and 9/2 and 11/2 dance events) - don't believe Chock/Bates would be able to compete 4 times in one week. Between Shibutanis and CarPon my bet is that Shibutanis are a safe bet for the medal.
Men are competing 7-8-10-13, so perhaps they will need to change the man as well if Malinin is not willing to compete 4 times one week as well (on the other hand I don't really see what USA man would be a safe bet and not hand the gold to Japan).
Pairs and ladies compete a week after the team event, so assume they will have enough time to recover anyway.

Shibs have not run a single competition yet. A lot of time has passed since 2018. Just wait and look at GP results next season.

 

[honey]

I think the timing of this is a bit late. In dance you need time for momentum to be on your side. That usually takes seasons, not singular competitions.

So not only are they going to be shaking off 7 years of rust, they will also only have at most 5 major competitions before the Olympics. I don’t know that that’s enough time to re establish themselves as medal contenders. And this isn’t necessarily even related to what they put out on the ice. I’m just talking about in the general time frame of movement in ice dance.

I’m sure they will come out strong, but Virtue and Moir they are not and I don’t expect them to be getting top scores right away upon come back as V/M did. They will probably have to earn it, and if they are good enough the question will be do they have enough time to get their rep back to medal contender status.

And also, maybe none of this is about medals for them. If Maia is finally feeling healthy enough to complete this journey, maybe it’s enough for them to try it one more time on their terms. Nothing wrong with that.

And finally, financially speaking, inserting yourself back into the conversation during an Olympic year when U.S. figure skating is kinda of slaying and will probably be pretty popular to the casual fan is a great idea.

 

[Debbie S]

I would assume C/B and Ilia will choose to only do the RD/SP in the TE. I would also imagine G/P will split....CPom did beat LaLa at Worlds. G/F would likely beat both but they could just as easily beat the Shibs.

Obviously all of this speculation is premature, we need to see everyone's programs and how they are skating. But, post-Worlds, I was happy for CPom's chance at an Oly medal, feeling much more confident about their competitiveness and ability to let C/B sit out the TE FD and rest up for the individual event.

 

[Lanie]

I like the Shibs, but I don't understand coming back after such a long time when you've achieved so much. I'm glad Maia's doing really well.

I'm kinda sad for the younger teams but we'll see what shakes out in St Louis I guess.

 

[tony]

I would assume C/B and Ilia will choose to only do the RD/SP in the TE. I would also imagine G/P will split....CPom did beat LaLa at Worlds. G/F would likely beat both but they could just as easily beat the Shibs.

Obviously all of this speculation is premature, we need to see everyone's programs and how they are skating. But, post-Worlds, I was happy for CPom's chance at an Oly medal, feeling much more confident about their competitiveness and ability to let C/B sit out the TE FD and rest up for the individual event.

Straying off topic but..

With Georgia and Japan likely to make the free dance, the US is going to be able to bank on a likely top 3 finish in the segment anyways and it might not be all that important to be super strategic. Canada may not even make the finals and we may very well see Italy and France rounding it out.

If Italy is in a serious medal position like they were at WTT, looks like Guignard and Fabbri may be very essential to that path and would have to skate four times.

 

[VGThuy]

Well, it means they haven't really found direction post-retirement, which is kind of sad.

 

[Karen-W]

Straying off topic but..

With Georgia and Japan likely to make the free dance, the US is going to be able to bank on a likely top 3 finish in the segment anyways and it might not be all that important to be super strategic. Canada may not even make the finals and we may very well see Italy and France rounding it out.

If Italy is in a serious medal position like they were at WTT, looks like Guignard and Fabbri may be very essential to that path and would have to skate four times.

France is going to need a lot stronger of a Pairs team as well as for Schild to show she can beat Schizas & a dance team that can beat GilPoir before they're getting into the TE Final over Canada. I don't see that happening.

I'd bet we will see only GuigFab of the top 3 skating both segments of the TE - this may very well be their ONLY shot at an Oly medal. We'll see how things go, but I'd guess that if we have a 2nd team make the GPF then that will be the team that is considered for the TE along with ChoBat. If not, well, all bets are off.

I'd laugh for days if ChoBat told the USFS they'd only be interested in splitting if the other team put in was CarPon, lol.