US Ice Dance 2024-25 News & Updates

[Carolla5501]

Well, I don't want to see them either, for different reasons.

I think the key point people here are making is length of time away. Guillaume has only been out of comp for 3 seasons and in that time, he did shows with Gabby and remained active in his training center by doing choreo for top teams. Laurence competed through last season and trained with Nik until his ban in Oct, so basically no time off.

Yes, but I don’t think you can get that unison and that polish that we see in couples like C/B etc. in just a few months back together. I think that’s where they’re really going to hurt particularly on things like the pattern dance element. The fact that they both been skating, doesn’t really matter they haven’t been skating together. I realize that some people seem to think it’s the second coming and other people think that they should be struck down by la diety because of his history but that doesn’t really seem to have much to do with the actual skating

The one thing I think the Shibs have going for them over this couple is that they have only skated with each other. They know how to skate together, and their unison was never a huge problem. I mean, if you’ve only skated with each other and you’ve been training the exact same way you entire life I would think the unison will come back pretty quickly


I will admit this may make me go to St. Louis for championship weekend just to see them again cause I always did like them. But as I sit here and think about it, it may not simply because it’s ice dance. The judges know who are they going to give the medals to before they even leave home

 

[Debbie S]

So assuming that USFS is playing a big role in getting Shibs back, maybe the fact that those two teams may not be eligible to go to Olys has something to do with it?

I don't pay much attention to that, can someone summarize where things are for CPom and Z&K in terms of citizenship?

They have said they expect it by the end of this year. But with all the gov't layoffs, who knows?

I wouldn't assume USFS asked the Shibs to come back. From what's been posted here, it sounds like it was their idea and decision. I"m sure USFS is glad to have them for publicity purposes, but I don't think they set this up.

 

[BlueRidge]

They have said they expect it by the end of this year. But with all the gov't layoffs, who knows?

So really both teams are on track, unless something happens to interfere?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

So really both teams are on track, unless something happens to interfere?

Yes, the understanding has been that they are in good shape, but it’s always hard to be sure.

 

[VGThuy]

Yes, the understanding has been that they are in good shape, but it’s always hard to be sure.

Must be an anxiety-inducing situation for both. At least they can just concentrate on training and have the knowledge that they have other internationals, including ISU championships, to vie for. I’m sure it’ll work out though.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I’m actually getting more excited about their return, I could see two USA teams on top of the next world or Olympics podium.

Although I don’t mind at all seeing Piper and Paul and Lewis and Lilah or the Finns either

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

Moon music by Coldplay for a FD?

 

[Carolla5501]

So really both teams are on track, unless something happens to interfere?

What could possibly interfere with immigration processing in the USA? LOL!

 

[Cayuse]

Melt more butter for my popcorn! This announcement has definitely livened up the off season. Criticism, analysis, wishful thinking, predictions, political bias, the horribly manipulative ice dance scoring system, don't-mess-with-my team attitudes -- what more could fans of FSU ask for? I'm just thrilled to be able to see the Shibs perform again.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I’m actually getting more excited about their return, I could see two USA teams on top of the next world or Olympics podium.

Although I don’t mind at all seeing Piper and Paul and Lewis and Lilah or the Finns either

I'll be interested to see if or how they have evolved in their look, technique and or movement.

 

[Willin]

I'm most interested to see how the judging goes.

Ice dance has just changed so much in judging, taste, and elements. I think their SD will be good because their Hip Hop SD was good -but the changes to the technical side will be a big adjustment. But the FS has become less technical and more art, so that will be a bigger challenge for them.

 

[her grace]

If the Shibs’ return ushered in a new appreciation of technique from the judges, that would be great.

 

[Willin]

@her grace Seriously after seeing all the dropped levels at worlds... Did anyone get a L4 across the board?

I remember when IAM first started rising their skaters were losing levels all over the place but especially on steps and pattern dances. Then suddenly pattern dances got less emphasized and IAM really took off. Their skaters still lose a lot of levels compared to the teams from Canton.

I think if the Shibs are to make the team, it will be because they don't lose levels like the IAM teams.

 

[AnnM]

I think part of what this forum is missing about the optics we're missing because many people here aren't on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram/TikTok or other younger places - and frankly I didn't know about this stuff until today - but lots of fans have this perception that the ShibSibs (Alex in particular) treats other skaters poorly.

There's also the perception in those spaces, and it likely goes beyond just figure skating fans, that Alex treated his most public ex-girlfriend badly.

On a lighter note, I'll always find it a little funny (and revealing) that they tagged themselves, but not any of the actual recipients, in their IG post congratulating the '22 team event skaters on finally receiving their medals.

 

[Rukia]

@her grace Seriously after seeing all the dropped levels at worlds... Did anyone get a L4 across the board?

I remember when IAM first started rising their skaters were losing levels all over the place but especially on steps and pattern dances. Then suddenly pattern dances got less emphasized and IAM really took off. Their skaters still lose a lot of levels compared to the teams from Canton.

I think if the Shibs are to make the team, it will be because they don't lose levels like the IAM teams.

I just went to check protocols, and I don't think the levels were as dire as you seem to think. Chock/Bates got lvl 3s on their steps in all parts; so did cpom. Everyone else towards the top seemed to split between lvl 2s and 3s. As I recall though 4s were hard to get all season. Also C/B and cpom tied for highest base value in the rd and cpom got the highest base value in the fd. So I'm not sure the Shibs will have tons of room to gain advantage there. They will need to play the goe/pcs game like everyone else.

 

[Willin]

@Rukia Sure, the top teams got a lot of L3s. But there are eras of ice dance where 4s across the board were needed to win. There were competitions where teams got all 4s and a single L3 was enough to make the difference. That was a lot of D/W vs V/M and the teams just below them.

I'm happy the calling is making 4s harder to get instead of handed out like candy, but I also think it's regressed to appropriate rather than inflated: these teams are just getting called accurately. These top teams should be able to consistently get all or mostly L4s even if the judging panels aren't lenient.

 

[her grace]

I think if the Shibs are to make the team, it will be because they don't lose levels like the IAM teams.

If Shibs are to make the team, they have to beat Novi #1 and/or MIDA #1. IAM doesn’t have that many American teams.

 

[Dobre]

I'm just going to repost this paragraph I posted elsewhere on the board when we heard that Fournier-Beaudry & Cizeron were teaming up:

"To assume that a brand new dance team would defeat teams on the current podium is assuming a lot, and to assume that a team with this level of credentials could not be competitive is mutually assuming a lot."

Then I am going to point out that the Shibs have been skating together for almost 2 decades.

And I'm going to leave it at that.

(I'll add that I was referencing the World podium).

 

[sk9tingfan]

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[VGThuy]

There's also the perception in those spaces, and it likely goes beyond just figure skating fans, that Alex treated his most public ex-girlfriend badly.

I also heard he killed the Pope.

 

[Wyliefan]

I also heard he killed the Pope.

No, that was Vance.

 

[VGThuy]

No, that was Vance.

Alex framed Vance so he and Maia could hog all the Papacy wealth from 2 other teams. They stupidly chose the wrong Pope for that though. Skating Twits and ReddinthefaceIt users en masse are talking about it.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I also heard he killed the Pope.

Yeah, well I heard he eats his cereal with water instead of milk!

 

[VGThuy]

Yeah, well I heard he eats his cereal with water instead of milk!

Ok, now that’s sick!

 

[Matryeshka]

Forget the Pope; has anyone checked to see who has invested in Bath and Body Works there's gonna be a whole lotta candles lit this season

I'm excited already for , feckery, nonsense, and fandom fights. Even if the programs don't deliver in dance, the drama will.

 

[Spikefan]

Yeah, well I heard he eats his cereal with water instead of milk!

That’s tariffs not a character flaw.

 

[Wyliefan]

Forget the Pope; has anyone checked to see who has invested in Bath and Body Works there's gonna be a whole lotta candles lit this season

Too late to get candles now. @Rukia has bought them all.

 

[Spiralgraph]

Well to sum up my thoughts, the people who say ice dance judging can be political, contrary and nonsensical are right. But at least for the next Olympics ice dance won't be kicked out of the Olympics so I'm going to deal with what is not what should be (kind of like the team event)
Since this is ice dance and the Shibs have been competing since they were little, they've seen the good, the bad and the very ugly. They were on the World Podium in 2011, somehow lost favor for whatever reason struggled internationally and perhaps domestically for 5 years until their second breakout year in 2016 and won US Nationals over the presumed 2016 Champions C/B.

I think they do know by now that there's a real possibility their skating will not be judged fairly and they'll have to overcome biases from everywhere.. fans judges, fellow skaters. They aren't new kids on the block, they're not naive, if they skate well for themselves I hope they will be satisfied. They've seen it all and they're still choosing to come back. That takes guts.

 

[LilJen]

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.

Please no “this free dance is the story of our skating/partnership/relationship.” Those are always the most boring and generic.

I adore the ShibSibs and will be interested to see how their comeback goes.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Please no “this free dance is the story of our skating/partnership/relationship.” Those are always the most boring and generic.

I adore the ShibSibs and will be interested to see how their comeback goes.

What’s interesting for me is how different they will be from before, I mean look how different Alysa was after two years away… That’s the cool part.