Chock & Bates [fan thread #2]: "All Paths Have Led to This Moment"

[Sylvia]

More details from the press conference from Skate Info Glacé.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates - Press conference

World champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates held a press conference before Skate America, and then met with attending journalists multiple times in Allen, Texas. Article originally published on October 11 and updated on October 25, 2023. About their decision to continue competing for season...

www.skate-info-glace.com

Thanks, was coming here to post that link. BTW it's Skate Info Glace without the accent - autocorrect? (glace means ice).

(@cholla, Solène has been really busy/productive this fall - kudos to her!)

 

[TanithandBenFan]

^^^ Thanks, was coming here to post that link. BTW it's Skate Info Glace without the accent - autocorrect? (glace means ice).

(@cholla, Solène has been really busy/productive this fall - kudos to her!)

Yeah that was definitely autocorrect because I don’t even know how to add an accent on my phone lol.

 

[Sylvia]

Marie-France Dubreuil at Autumn Classic on Chock/Bates' preparation for the new season (excerpting from the end): https://adivinesport.com/2023/10/17/coach-spotlight-marie-france-dubreuil/

Q: Can you talk about your students Madison Chock and Evan Bates? How has their training gone during the off-season?

Dubreuil: Well, they’ve been touring quite a bit. Of course, they are World champions, and I think they wanted to tour and make money, so they can live [make a living], that’s all. That’s what you get, being the World champions. I think it was important–before they made a decision to compete again–to just take the rest from competition and to work. And when they got back, they were very excited to start fresh new programs. Of course, with Skate America [coming up], it’s a short period of preparation for the new season. But their goal is really to win Worlds again. And they know that it might not be 100% ready for the Grand Prixs, but they’re doing their best. And we’ll keep evolving through this season.

Q: That’s what happened last season with Chock and Bates, right? And it worked out. So does that experience help, because they already did it one time?

Dubreuil: Yes. We’re hoping they don’t make it that hard at the beginning of this season for themselves [i.e., compared to last season, when they had to substantially rework their free dance.] Right now, they’re in shape. They’re not injured. They’re training. So we have a plan to make them as ready as they can be. When they were touring in Japan, they were doing full programs while on tour. They were doing last year’s program, but they were fit and in shape.

Q: Were you thinking about their material–their programs–months ago?

Dubreuil: It’s maybe since June and July that we started to talk about music, concept, and the concept of the rhythm dance. They were clear on what they wanted to do. They wanted to skate to Queen [for rhythm dance]. So we have a pretty good montage edit of Queen, I think, which suits them. For the free dance, we played a little bit more with that concept, because it’s a little bit more abstract [a “time” theme to Pink Floyd]. But now it’s getting clearer and clearer, as they train it.

 

[shan]

I've enjoyed the clips of both programs we've seen during practices. I can't wait to see them Sat/Sun!

 

[Sylvia]

Their music is listed in their Team USA bio now: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...oster/-nbsp--madison-chock-and-evan-bates/845

2023-24 SEASON NOTES
RD Music: "Another One Bites the Dust," "Who Wants to Live Forever" and "I Want It All" by Queen
FD Music: "Time," "Breathe" and "Eclipse" by Pink Floyd

Re-posting here from the 2023 Skate America practice reports/clips thread in the K&C section:

SkatingScores has posted Peacock's video of Chock/Bates' FD run through on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/SkatingScores/status/1715455673742307743

ETA:
https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/1715438750728126649

#SkateAmerica @Ben_Agosto will commentate NBC FD broadcast. Asked him, what is Chock & Bates' greatest strength? "Chemistry...on any given day Evan is the best partner, able to make Madison feel so comfortable. On any given day, she is the best performer. The synergy is special."

 

[Sylvia]

Starting position of the FD! Photo taken by Yoriko Suzuki:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715497925617311930

 

[Allskate]

I think their music choice in the FD is working great for them. Just based on the part of the program we can see in the practice video, I already am excited about this program.

ETA: For those with Peacock who want to watch the practice run-through on their tvs and don't have time to watch the entire five-hour replay, C&B's run-through is at the the 3:21 mark.

ETA: Here is a photo of them in their RD costumes. Her costume is a reinterpretation of a Freddie Mercury jacket:

Golden Skate on Instagram: "Madison Chock / Evan Bates 🇺🇸 talk to the press prior their season’s debut at#SkateAmerica: “We feel like in our “prime” years of our career with the best years still to come. Of course we aim to regain our title at World

1,019 likes, 5 comments - goldsk8October 19, 2023 on : "Madison Chock / Evan Bates 🇺🇸 talk to the press prior their season’s debut at#SkateAmerica: “We feel like in our “prime” y...".

www.instagram.com

 

[vireo]

Starting position of the FD! Photo taken by Yoriko Suzuki:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715497925617311930

How do they even do that?! Evan's position looks especially impossible. I'm going to worry about that starting pose the whole season.

 

[Debbie S]

How do they even do that?! Evan's position looks especially impossible. I'm going to worry about that starting pose the whole season.

It looks crazy! They both must have insane core strength.

 

[Sylvia]

Numbers 1-5 (and a partial 6?) on her FD dress! From photographer Mao Yanzheng's IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cypd7kwMCRv/

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Cayuse]

Numbers 1-5 (and a partial 6?) on her FD dress! From photographer Mao Yanzheng's IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cypd7kwMCRv/

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

The general public doesn't realize how strong ice dancers have become!

 

[DORISPULASKI]

Press Conference

In which we learn C&B have been working on this dance and concept for more than a year. They are doing it this year because it is the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd album.



We also hear that Stéphane Lambiel has been raving to a reporter about their FD.

 

[DORISPULASKI]

Congratulations to Maddy and Evan for winning Skate America!

Ben Agosto comments on Chock & Bates FD

Post FD interview.

 

[vireo]

Congrats to Madi and Evan for taking gold. Can't wait to see them again next month in Finland.

 

[DreamSkates]

String start to this season! If their goal is the next Olympics….and Russians return…they’ll be ready to claim the top spot on the podium.

 

[DORISPULASKI]

Dance is one discipline where I have not missed official Russian team members at all.

Of course, some Russian dancers have rebranded themselves as non-Russians and are dancing for other countries.

 

[Debbie S]

Congratulations to Madi and Evan on their first GPF title!

Madi's IG post explaining their FD costumes: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0nscdPNbuG/

 

[vireo]

So happy that Madi and Evan snagged the gold at GPF.

I wonder if they will rethink their intention to compete at 4CC. They may not need the WS points and 4CC is so soon after the US Championships.

 

[Debbie S]

So happy that Madi and Evan snagged the gold at GPF.

I wonder if they will rethink their intention to compete at 4CC. They may not need the WS points and 4CC is so soon after the US Championships.

I'm sure they thought about that when they were planning their season. They are experienced competitors, I'm sure they and their coaches took the scheduling and travel logistics into account.

As last season showed, skipping 4CC when your closest rival is there can have consequences. Obviously, Piper couldn't help it, her health is more important, but as long as C/B are healthy and are confident in their ability to skate well in both events, it's a good idea to go.

 

[alexikeguchi]

Congratulations to Madi and Evan on their first GPF title!

Madi's IG post explaining their FD costumes: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0nscdPNbuG/

I really appreciate their approach to every season, and I think this is where their maturity shows. They seem to be really active in developing the entire concept of each dance with their wide ranging music choices and inspiration from other art forms in addition to Madi's engagement with the costume design process. I admire how they do something different and innovative every single year and don't take the easy path. They are true artists. I think when they hang up their competitive skates, they will make excellent coaches if that is what they desire.

 

[Debbie S]

Time to vote for the ISU Skating Awards!

Link to vote 

Madi and Evan are nominated in 3 categories: Most Valuable Skater, Best Costume (of course!), and Most Entertaining Program (for both this season's programs...which to vote for?...decisions, decisions...).

As with last year, you need to create a login to vote. There is no overall "submit" button, you just click on your choice, go back to main voting screen and should see the category box checked. You can click on it to verify it registered your vote.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Love this new interview with Madi and Evan about their relationship on and off the ice!

How an Ice-Dancing Power Couple Makes It Work

Madison Chock and Evan Bates are up for a fifth U.S. championship title in the midst of planning their wedding.

www.thecut.com

 

[olympic]

Congrats on the National title despite being sick ...

The post-comp. interview w/ Andrea Joyce - Are they retiring??? They talked about deciding to compete despite illness because it might be their last Nationals ...

 

[dancing_on_ice]

Congrats on the National title despite being sick ...

The post-comp. interview w/ Andrea Joyce - Are they retiring??? They talked about deciding to compete despite illness because it might be their last Nationals ...

Doubtful, in an interview last week, they said that 2026 is their goal. They're probably just feeling very rough right now because of being sick and a poor performance.

 

[Allskate]

The post-comp. interview w/ Andrea Joyce - Are they retiring??? They talked about deciding to compete despite illness because it might be their last Nationals ...

I was wondering the same thing.

But, in the press conference today, Madi said that, coming into the week, they weren't thinking that this would be their last Nationals. However, when they were deciding whether to skate today, she wondered what if, at the end of the season, they feel complete and that's it, would they regret not competing today, and they thought they would. So, they competed. I think that's the context for Evan's comment to Andrea Joyce. Also, Evan was really tired and not feeling well.

 

[Debbie S]

Congratulations to Madi and Evan on their 5th national title!

At the press conference, a reporter asked if this was the first time they competed sick....Madi said no. (Remember, they were sick at Worlds last year.) That they were able to skate as well as they did today (and at Worlds) despite being sick shows how amazing they are, both in ability and determination. They are champions.

But I hope they can now rest until they have recovered.

 

[olympic]

I was wondering the same thing.

But, in the press conference today, Madi said that, coming into the week, they weren't thinking that this would be their last Nationals. However, when they were deciding whether to skate today, she wondered what if, at the end of the season, they feel complete and that's it, would they regret not competing today, and they thought they would. So, they competed. I think that's the context for Evan's comment to Andrea Joyce. Also, Evan was really tired and not feeling well.

Doubtful, in an interview last week, they said that 2026 is their goal. They're probably just feeling very rough right now because of being sick and a poor performance.

Thank you both.

There was a limited discussion on Twitter and someone posted that C/B would retire because they were afraid of the Russians coming back. Of course, I had to respond. LOL

 

[Lanie]

I told them today I really hoped they'd feel better soon. Evan just seemed so wiped out, poor guy. I hope they rest and take care of themselves now.

 

[Allskate]

I told them today I really hoped they'd feel better soon. Evan just seemed so wiped out, poor guy. I hope they rest and take care of themselves now.

Madi said she started feeling sick the day of the RD and she's already feeling much better. So, hopefully Evan will feel better very soon.

 

[Vagabond]

Under the weather or not, they have yet another great Free Dance program. And I love how the ending pose echoes the starting pose.