Madison Chock & Evan Bates Hopes, Fears & Cheers!

[Sylvia]

Madison posted a training clip from today ("Although we won’t be at Skate America, please know the snake is alive and well."): https://www.instagram.com/p/CGYM1EUFdpb/

ETA that C/B officially WD from Skate America on Oct. 9th: https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...-chock-evan-bates-withdraw-2020-skate-america

“After much consideration, we have decided to withdraw from Skate America,” Chock and Bates said. “Our training and preparation have been affected by the p*ndemic and at this time we are 100% focused on our preparation for the 2021 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships. We will be staying at our training base in Montreal, but will certainly miss the thrill of competition and seeing our U.S. Figure Skating family. We wish everyone good health and good luck!”

 

[Sylvia]

Check out Madi/Evan's fun & funny #FanFest clips on USFS' Instagram stories while you still can! https://www.instagram.com/usfigureskating/

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I love that Madi and Evan are as obsessed with Schitt’s Creek as I am!

 

[Sylvia]

Evan will appear with Jason Brown on USFS' Instagram Live tonight at 7 pm Eastern for their ICEMEN program: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHf3n8xpYST/
Both are 2020 Icemen Ambassadors: https://www.usfigureskating.org/skate/skating-opportunities/icemen

ETA link to watch (26 mins.): https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHgtEQ3jh_R/

 

[Sylvia]

For those in C/B withdrawal , yesterday they practiced the end of their "Too Darn Hot" RD in On Ice Perspectives' livestream part 1 video, starting at this point - Evan waves at camera, haha! (and also at 24:15 which ends with a flourish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBYBzcj-1Ss&t=34m40s

 

[Barbara Manatee]

It was great to see Madi and Evan competing again and skating so well after all they've been through in the last year. The rust showed, but only only a little.

 

[dancing_on_ice]

It’s especially impressive after Madi had a concussion back in July, and they lost a lot of training time. If you guys haven’t seen the story, it’s pretty terrifying. Madi fainted after a walk on a hot day. Evan caught her, but her head still bumped against a stair. Afterward, she felt nauseous, and couldn’t train for a month. When we heard that she had a concussion, I think we all assumed that it was a training accident, but to know it came from such a random, mundane event is pretty shocking. Also, I can’t help thinking about how much worse this injury would’ve been if Evan didn’t catch her fall.

Madison Chock, back from concussion, Evan Bates lead nationals dance

Madison Chock and Evan Bates lead the U.S. Figure Skating Championships after Chock was off the ice for about a month with a concussion.

olympics.nbcsports.com

 

[Sylvia]

NBC Sports' Nationals videos (geoblocked outside USA):

RD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVEKCuTuQ-I

FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBO831wyl8U

 

[Debbie S]

IAM just had a competition simulation which they broadcast on their IG (but said it wouldn't be posted afterward ). Madi/Evan performed Snake. Video was a bit pixelated but they looked good from what I could see. Twizzles were good and they've gone back to the rotational lift from last season.

 

[Sylvia]

Happy Mother's Day (Sunday, May 9 in U.S.) from Madison & her mom :

Madison and Barbara Chock, A Mother-Daughter Team - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Ice dancer Madison Chock and her mother, Barbara Chock, are everything to each other. According to Madison, her mother has always been a strong focal point in her

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[DreamSkates]

It was great to see Madi and Evan competing again and skating so well after all they've been through in the last year. The rust showed, but only only a little.

Imagine if they stay healthy, and with training....next Nationals, Olympics and Worlds!

 

[Sylvia]

Their ISU Skating Awards performance back in July: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNOcMv-b_fc

It was one of their numbers in the Sun Valley show this past weekend - last 40 seconds from a rehearsal there: https://www.facebook.com/100063468615554/videos/584744075871707
Group photo on the ice: https://www.facebook.com/sviceshows/posts/240956768029942

Madison's layback spin in Sun Valley this past weekend: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS4vS-5pARx/
Her photos (wearing "ice blue" & presumably taken by Evan ): https://www.instagram.com/p/CS65BHFLcAv/

ETA:

Another reel (TikTok) from Madison in Sun Valley, also featuring Evan this time: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS8IS97F5B0/

 

[Sylvia]

I just noticed that Madison's Instagram profile (as well as Evan's) now lists IMG's Yuki Saegusa as their business contact: https://www.instagram.com/chockolate02/
Her latest stories show San Francisco (Golden Gate bridge? not sure) and a photo and/or film shoot at an ice rink.

 

[Sylvia]

One minute introduction by Madi/Evan of their new "Unlaced with Chock and Bates" podcast (as they travel to Finland today):

Unlaced with Chock and Bates

Team USA ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates take you into the world of figure skating as they prepare for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing. Join Madi and Evan on their Olympic journey as they train, compete and balance their lives as a couple on and off the ice. Introducing, Unlaced...

bleav.com

 

[Sylvia]

Podcast episode #1 (12 mins.) is up! https://bleav.com/podcast-show/unlaced-with-chock-and-bates/

ETA: They announce their RD music (Billie Eilish) after 5:45 - they said their original music was changed after Champs Camp.
At 9:30 - Daft Punk is their FD music, selected pre-pandemic, and they are calling this program "Contact" - concept is Madi is an alien and Evan is an astronaut and they "meet on a planet in outer space... the message is about acceptance."

 

[Bigbird]

Podcast episode #1 (12 mins.) is up! https://bleav.com/podcast-show/unlaced-with-chock-and-bates/

ETA: They announce their RD music (Billie Eilish) after 5:45 - they said their original music was changed after Champs Camp.
At 9:30 - Daft Punk is their FD music, selected pre-*********, and they are calling this program "Contact" - concept is Madi is an alien and Evan is an astronaut and they "meet on a planet in outer space... the message is about acceptance."

This could be really cool...whoohoo...

 

[deegee]

this looks promising: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUxj0L3FtW7/?utm_medium=copy_link

 

[deegee]

oof. good to see them today, but i don't like the cut or color of her dress (though my partner tells me those are quintessential eilish colors) and i hate the long gloves that may as well be sleeves

 

[dancing_on_ice]

I think the Billie Eilish program has a lot of potential. They were skating kind of tentative and slow today (makes sense since this is a very new program), but they should be pretty happy with the score. They scored 83.72, which is lower than what H/D got at US Classic but higher than what G/P got at Autumn Classic. But it's also difficult to compare scores from different competitions, and C/B were only 1.7 points behind P/C, compared to when they were 3 points behind S/K at Worlds last year, so it's definitely not a bad sign for the season to come.

 

[nuge]

Madison would look good in a bin bag. Her costumes are always amazing I liked the programme. Never really heard Eilish before .Early in the season but that's a good start for them. Not a fan of Evan's facial hair

 

[dancing_on_ice]

Also in an interview on sports.ru, it looks like Chock/Bates don't plan on retiring after this Olympic season, at least not as of now, which is pretty surprising, since they've been skating for a long time and they've dealt with quite a lot of injuries.

Мэдисон Чок: «Не хотим завершать карьеру после Олимпиады. Мы столько еще можем показать»

Американские фигуристы Мэдисон Чок и Эван Бейтс не планируют завершать карьеру после олимпийского сезона, передает корреспондент Sports.ru Майя Багрянцева.

www.sports.ru

 

[yeslek]

I think the Billie Eilish program has a lot of potential. They were skating kind of tentative and slow today (makes sense since this is a very new program), but they should be pretty happy with the score. They scored 83.72, which is lower than what H/D got at US Classic but higher than what G/P got at Autumn Classic. But it's also difficult to compare scores from different competitions, and C/B were only 1.7 points behind P/C, compared to when they were 3 points behind S/K at Worlds last year, so it's definitely not a bad sign for the season to come.

But their PCs was higher than h/d and it seems like finlandia had a really tough caller.

 

[Debbie S]

But their PCs was higher than h/d and it seems like finlandia had a really tough caller.

And C/B also got higher GOE. It's early in the season, but I think this was a good debut, esp considering they've only had this program for about a month.

 

[yeslek]

And C/B also got higher GOE. It's early in the season, but I think this was a good debut, esp considering they've only had this program for about a month.

Agreed. They just didn’t get levels which is normal for the beginning of a season and an easy fix.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove]

I just watch their rhythm dance. And I have been prepared not to like it because of their music selection. When I heard what they were skating to I was prepared not to like it. Oh my gosh it really really works. I thought it was phenomenal and probably could be my favorite of the season. I was so surprised how well this music works. Can’t wait to see it again.

Did Madison borrow Carolina Kostners “afternoon of a fawn” Kermit the frog lime green unitard to make her dress? I mean I like it but I don’t love it. Lol I believe Carolina ditched it after one use

Phenomenal program

 

[TanithandBenFan]

If anyone could make me enjoy a Billie Eilish program (I despise her music) I knew it would be C/B. I know I’m a sucker for anything they do, but I thought they really brought the fire to this and it felt fresh and current.

Hearing the news that they’re not retiring this year has me all kinds of giddy. Since they joined IAM they’ve just gotten better and better and I was sad we wouldn’t get to see how much more they could explore with that team.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove]

If anyone could make me enjoy a Billie Eilish program (I despise her music) I knew it would be C/B. I know I’m a sucker for anything they do, but I thought they really brought the fire to this and it felt fresh and current.

Were we separated at birth? And by the way I have a fabulous photo of me, Tanith and Ben at skate America Pittsburgh 2004. It’s in my shrine with Angela Nikodinov

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Were we separated at birth? And by the way I have a fabulous photo of me, Tanith and Ben at skate America Pittsburgh 2004. It’s in my shrine with Angela Nikodinov

The first photo I ever took with Tanith and Ben was at SA in Pittsburgh!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove]

The first photo I ever took with Tanith and Ben was at SA in Pittsburgh!

What????? We were separated at birth .... !!!!!!

 

[dramagrrl]

I like the general choreo of their RD, but yikes, that music is unbearable. It manages to be both monotonous and super-annoying at the same time.