2025-26 U.S. Ice Dance News, Updates & Discussion - Backstreet Boys & Spice Girls

[Karen-W]

They did beat them

Did they? I thought they lost to them in the FD. Even if they did win the FD, they should have probably beaten them overall too - which was never going to happen against the reigning World Champs.

 

[Debbie S]

Did they? I thought they lost to them in the FD. Even if they did win the FD, they should have probably beaten them overall too - which was never going to happen against the reigning World Champs.

C/P won the FD but C/B had a 10-point lead after the RD so they maintained their overall lead. There are 2 phases in the comp....and let's not forget that in 2017 and 2018, C/B won the FD at Nats but did not win overall due to the point difference in the SD.

ETA: Given the publicity that USFS and NBC gave to the Shibs comeback, there would have to be a significant difference in performance for the Shibs to be placed out of the top 3. If their performance is bad enough for that to happen, then USFS would probably leave them off the team (but if their level of performance isn't really up to standard by Nats, I don't see them competing).

 

[Rukia]

Did they? I thought they lost to them in the FD. Even if they did win the FD, they should have probably beaten them overall too - which was never going to happen against the reigning World Champs.

Yes, Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomorenko are the 2024 US National Champions in the free dance

 

[princeton123]

It would just so be like USFS to fail to see the long-term and not give opportunities to young teams who will be able to capitalize on this for years to come and instead grandfather in a team who will fail to medal anyway

Shades of James/Radford

 

[Spikefan]

I’m not going to get worked up until January. However, I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen from the teams that have debuted. So, if this comeback lit a fire in everyone I will just say thanks.

 

[Tinycities]

I just hope we get an update on Christina’s citizenship soon.

 

[Rukia]

I just hope we get an update on Christina’s citizenship soon.

In her most recent interview she said her needing to cross the border every day would end "soon"

 

[A.H.Black]

Speaking of Madison Chock being so ill at Nationals, it seems to be quite common that one of them is deathly ill almost every year for some competition or other. I think the key to this year, for them, may be to stay well. That is probably true of many of the skaters.

 

[Debbie S]

Speaking of Madison Chock being so ill at Nationals, it seems to be quite common that one of them is deathly ill almost every year for some competition or other. I think the key to this year, for them, may be to stay well. That is probably true of many of the skaters.

Both Madi and Evan were sick at 2024 Nats. Evan had a fever the day of the FD. At 2025 Nats, Madi was sick, IIRC it was said that it was something she ate. She said afterward in the press conference that she was going to pay more attention to who she was around and what she was eating, or something like that (paraphrasing). Hopefully, they both stay healthy this season.

(They probably should mask in crowded areas, esp at the Olys...in Paris, a lot of athletes got Covid.)

 

[TheOGSkateGuard]

ETA: Given the publicity that USFS and NBC gave to the Shibs comeback, there would have to be a significant difference in performance for the Shibs to be placed out of the top 3. If their performance is bad enough for that to happen, then USFS would probably leave them off the team (but if their level of performance isn't really up to standard by Nats, I don't see them competing).

What’s been interesting is that after that first announcement, USFS has been rather….hands off with them. I haven’t seen them much (if at all) on USFS generated socials. Even Emily and Ian have been given more attention on USFS IG.

But media attention has very little bearing on what a bunch of national judges will do. I’m just saying it’s going to be much harder to hand out top PCS in that first group given what the later teams are capable of doing, so any team would have to earn them. Even if they’re the Shibs.

 

[Debbie S]

But media attention has very little bearing on what a bunch of national judges will do. I’m just saying it’s going to be much harder to hand out top PCS in that first group given what the later teams are capable of doing, so any team would have to earn them. Even if they’re the Shibs.

National level judges, aka the volunteer side of the sport, basically run USFS. The paid staff takes their orders from, and is responsible to, the Board of Directors, and by extension the committees that are run by the judges and officials.

I'm sure the Shibs initially reached out to a few top judges who hold high level positions and got their blessing for their comeback. And then the USFS PR machine went to work. So yes, knowing the publicity that the Shibs comeback generated, the judges are going to be very interested in having them on the team, as long as they are competitive. If not, see my post above.

 

[Willin]

@Debbie S I think you give way too much credit and power to those National level judges. I know quite a few. While a small group have a lot of power, there are many more that have virtually no power or influence. Some are chosen for power and connections but many simply get there by putting in long hours judging local competitions for years. The international judges are the ones with the most influence, as that requires experience and connections. Even then - not all national level judges will judge nationals every year. So even if the ShibSibs got the blessing of a couple, those judges may not be at Nationals.

Judges aren't a monolith. There are likely just as many who hate this comeback as those who support it. Many judges have opinions, and those opinions may not be as clear and together as people on the internet want to believe.

 

[Debbie S]

The international judges are the ones with the most influence, as that requires experience and connections.

Well, in an Oly year, the dance panel at Nats does tend to be mostly composed of World and int'l judges. And even top judges who aren't judging are still in the position to influence others.

 

[VGThuy]

It would just so be like USFS to fail to see the long-term and not give opportunities to young teams who will be able to capitalize on this for years to come and instead grandfather in a team who will fail to medal anyway

Shades of James/Radford

James/Radford had a pretty respectable season. 2nd at an Autumn Classic, a bunch of 4th places at the GP events, and 3rd at Worlds with placing 2nd in the LP.

I know everyone is talking about the Shibs being entitled con artists, and delusional, who will get put on the Olympic team based on connections with USFS officials and judges bts, and not on merit, and who just don’t deserve a spot because they were jerks in 2018…. The other stuff may all be true, but maybe the connections with national judges and USFS won’t work out in their favor… I mean if the people involved in national skating world are as bitchy, gossipy, prejudicial, and cliquey about the domestic skaters/teams they support as skating fans are, then there’s always gonna be a backlash of some sort.

 

[Wyliefan]

I don't think the Shibs are entitled con artists or anything like that. But they may have started training and then felt they'd bitten off more than they could chew.