2026 U.S. Sectional Singles & Pairs/Dance Finals

[Wyliefan]

Nice program by Soho to On Golden Pond. I was too busy trying to make Shazam work to notice whether she had any URs. (Though I'm not sure why I bothered, as the loon sound effects were a pretty good indication. )

 

[Spikefan]

I’m behind. Just now watched Jr RD and just as I said during the JGP, I find it so much more enjoyable than Sr. More variety, some authentic costumes, more camp. It just fits younger skaters.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I’m behind. Just now watched Jr RD and just as I said during the JGP, I find it so much more enjoyable than Sr. More variety, some authentic costumes, more camp. It just fits younger skaters.

Effie has my favorite 90s look so far. I thought she looked adorable!

 

[just tuned in]

That should set the senior field for dance. The ten byes, plus: Cui/Rodgers, Peals, Pham/Spinderov, Koncius/Shchepetov; and Flores/Jepsen. Mullens would be first alternates.

Did the Mullens have a different FD for this competition than they used at the Philadelphia qualifier? I don't recall this one, and it is definitely a different dress and a different rotational element..

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Did the Mullens have a different FD for this competition than they used at the Philadelphia qualifier? I don't recall this one, and it is definitely a different dress and a different rotational element..

They did this FD at Dallas Classic in July so must have been the same one in Philly. They had a different RD, though. They did MC Hammer in Dallas.

 

[YukiNieve]

Thank for your reports & impressions!
I'm really concerned about Ryan...
USFS YouTube has uploaded some junior and senior performance, too.

Flores/Jepsen RD

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[YukiNieve]

Peacock does not start for me.
It keeps saying "The coverage begins shortly."
Do they keep this on demand for a while?

 

[just tuned in]

^ Sorry. :-( I am watching and it is working fine.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Was that a cartwheel gone bad by Mindra?

 

[just tuned in]

Michael Xie is gorgeous and beautiful and jumped well. 72.96
Goku Endo had some big jumps and also a fall. Kinda sloppy. 69.41
Samuel Mindra is captivating. Did an Eastern-style number with a lot of -- I don't know... runway moves? Death drop? But he popped a triple into a double. 68.81

Dmitri Murphy did a good job also and seemed pleased. 54.63

 

[mtnskater]

Here for my man Samuel Mindra!!

Okay….fun music. He always does something different. So musically versatile.
Doubled the loop. And weird crash on the ending flip pose. Acted embarrassed and slinked off the ice.
68.81 into third.

Michael Xie was really lovely. No triple axel and a bit sketchy on the back half of the triple lutz/toe. Sporting interesting bleach blond highlights.

 

[peibeck]

Mullens looked better today, though twizzles were still rough.

It's maddening to me that a pair who are so musical make so many sloppy little errors.

I honestly would rather have been seeing them than Flores/Jensen in STL. I see potential, but both of their programs seemed like voidy possibilities, but the music choices make their programs feel 4 times their actual length.

And despite my loathing of "Ghost the Musical" Pham/Spiridonov's performance ability hit it out of the park (for me at least).

 

[Amy L]

Peacock does not start for me.
It keeps saying "The coverage begins shortly."
Do they keep this on demand for a while?

This happened to me during the entirely of Skate Canada. Luckily, they've been keeping the on demand option up for 24-48hrs lately.

 

[YukiNieve]

How many senior ice dance teams from this competition will qualify for the US Nationals?
Top 5?

OK I found this. So it is top 5.
https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/2026 U.S. Champs Advancement Chart.pdf

 

[TanithandBenFan]

It's maddening to me that a pair who are so musical make so many sloppy little errors.

I honestly would rather have been seeing them than Flores/Jensen in STL. I see potential, but both of their programs seemed like voidy possibilities, but the music choices make their programs feel 4 times their actual length.

And despite my loathing of "Ghost the Musical" Pham/Spiridonov's performance ability hit it out of the park (for me at least).

ITA about Pham/Spiridonov. The music is dreadful, but they really pulled me in with their performance. I'm glad they got a decent score, but I feel like this team is usually undermarked. I hope in the next quad they can gain some traction because they're really lovely together.

 

[Wyliefan]

Missed the junior men's free, but I'm glad to see Kirk pulled up to medal.

 

[Rhumba d’Amour]

ITA about Pham/Spiridonov. The music is dreadful, but they really pulled me in with their performance. I'm glad they got a decent score, but I feel like this team is usually undermarked. I hope in the next quad they can gain some traction because they're really lovely together.

Plus—they use Nirvana for their RD, and very well, too!
When I think of the music of the 90s, Nirvana is right up there, along with REM

 

[PRlady]

Watched the Sr FD. Still smitten with Cui/Rogers’ FD, it’s funny how both he and ex-partner Pham are more interesting with their new partners.

Bella did not choose well. He is stilted and awkward and also too tall for her. I’d put her with Ian but doubt that two divas in one partnership would work.

Glad to see the Peals with Scott. If he can clean up some of their sloppy technique, they’re good performers.

 

[Wyliefan]

Decent free program for Soho, and she's into second. Did she always wear those brown gloves? Someone needs to find her some nicer ones, if she has to wear gloves. Maile is having a very messy skate (on one fall she almost landed in the splits!).

 

[Wyliefan]

... And Peacock has conked out.

 

[Karen-W]

... And Peacock has conked out.

So has the live results page, so maybe it's an on-site issue.

 

[Wyliefan]

Both are back now. Lindsay Wang into 3rd. Soho's guaranteed a medal.

 

[mtnskater]

And Kirk is Kirk -- great expressiveness, very messy jumps, lots of theatrical gestures afterward. Such a great little skater; I wish he could fix those jumps.

And now I've got to focus on work for a while. Back later.

Just watched Kirk. I think he looked more controlled than I have seen him, his back crossovers are actually getting decent. He seems to be finally growing a bit and getting more strength. I wish he could learn jumping without every jump including the triple axel with Rippon arms. I feel like that technique causes him to often have problems checking out of the jumps. But I can see results from the work he is doing to improve his skating quality.

I didn’t recognize his female coach in the kiss & cry. Seems like I’ve seen him with a number of different coaches lately.

 

[mtnskater]

Random comment: All these over the boot tights with horse hooves and cankles in the intermediate, novice and junior women’s ranks makes me crazy Don’t they see how unflattering it is????

 

[Wyliefan]

Really lovely skate by Annika Chao. ETA: She LOVES her total score (193.41).

 

[Wyliefan]

Very strong skate by Alayna Coats. She's a terrific little power skater. They did her dirty putting her in gray and orange, though. Into 2nd.

 

[Debbie S]

Problem with Xie's music?

 

[YukiNieve]

What happened to Michael Xie's interruption?

 

[Debbie S]

What happened to Michael Xie's interruption?

No idea but he got a deduction, which would suggest that the reason for the interruption was not the sound system/music person's fault. I wonder if he changed his music slightly before the comp, uploaded the new version but they used the old one? If the problem was caused by the music system and not his fault, I don't think he would have gotten a deduction.

Which brings me to the question of why didn't Deych/Hu get a deduction for their interruption, which went on longer than Xie's. Anyone know?

 

[maureenfarone]

No idea but he got a deduction, which would suggest that the reason for the interruption was not the sound system/music person's fault. I wonder if he changed his music slightly before the comp, uploaded the new version but they used the old one? If the problem was caused by the music system and not his fault, I don't think he would have gotten a deduction.

Which brings me to the question of why didn't Deych/Hu get a deduction for their interruption, which went on longer than Xie's. Anyone know?

Michael skated over to the judges and then to his coach. The coach handed him something - maybe a cd or flash drive - I couldn't really tell. He went back to the music person and then continued skating. It seemed to me that the music issue was his fault. Not sure what happened with Deych/Hu.