U.S. Ice Dance 2019-20 season news & updates

[AYS]

Let the teams-in-waiting earn their turn by raising their games and beating the teams above them. Failing that, we can all just watch H/D, C/B and the Shibs go after Drobiazko/Vanagas's record of most Olympic appearances for a figure skater (five).

Tied with Aljona Savchenko, but they have the record by themselves for most appearances representing the same country and/or with same partner.

 

[Wyliefan]

Since C/B's last Olympics didn't go well, I don't blame them for wanting to try for another one.

 

[ccpompom]

G/P don't have a shot for bronze lmao?? You guys are so not in touch with reality. Like did you forget we're talking about ice dance? This is a highly political discipline. No way you can climb you way up so fast. Go watch singles or pairs then. And yes, I do love Anthony and Christina.

 

[Immortelle]

Unless H/B have an absolute howler at US Nats, I can’t see them losing bronze to C/P or G/P, much as I like the latter two teams.

 

[Dobre]

I think H/D & C/B are chasing an Olympic medal. (Though they may take a crack at a World title post-Olympics). The U.S. teams have both had world silver. It's that Olympic medal I would guess is driving them.

Without H/D and C/B this season, the U.S. could be down to one dance berth at Worlds anyway (two being more likely). The younger teams need to develop, and they are fully capable of doing this. There's a lot of talent there, and they would gain more experience if they all went to 4CCs. But three World ice dance berths do not grow on trees. They most often come with experience and someone doing the heavy lifting.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Lilah Fear has C/B as the latest guests on her podcast. It's a wonderful 1.5 hour, in-depth interview!

The Lilah Jo Show

Society & Culture Podcast · Welcome to the Lilah Jo Show. Olympic ice dancer, Lilah Fear, asks questions of the world’s most inspiring and accomplished individuals in order to provide role models for her generation and beyond. S…

podcasts.apple.com

 

[heartyxo]

Unless H/B have an absolute howler at US Nats, I can’t see them losing bronze to C/P or G/P, much as I like the latter two teams.

I agree. But I do think G/P could be a real top team of the future.

 

[Immortelle]

I agree. But I do think G/P could be a real top team of the future.

They’ve had a good debut season for sure, let’s hope they continue their form.

 

[Sylvia]

Local news feature on Wolfkostin/Chen (with Igor Shpilband taking about them) filmed right before they left for the Youth Olympics:

Meet this Metro Detroit ice dancing duo with big dreams that are starting to come true

Metro Detroit has been a home base for several skating champions who’ve claimed Olympic glory on the ice.

www.clickondetroit.com

Congratulations to Katarina & Jeffrey on pulling up from 5th (and the penultimate group) to place 3rd in the FD and win the BRONZE medal at the Youth Olympic Games!

 

[Wyliefan]

Oh, that's awesome! I like them so much.

 

[annie720]

Congratulations to Katarina & Jeffrey on pulling up from 5th (and the penultimate group) to place 3rd in the FD and win the BRONZE medal at the Youth Olympic Games!

That was a BEAUTIFUL FD! Congrats!

 

[her grace]

I noticed that Lavrova/Gart aren't on the junior dance entry list for nationals. Anyone have an update on them? I hope she is recovered from that terrible fall during their JGP.

 

[Debbie S]

I noticed that Lavrova/Gart aren't on the junior dance entry list for nationals. Anyone have an update on them? I hope she is recovered from that terrible fall during their JGP.

That's right, I remember they didn't compete at Sectionals. I hope she's recovered and that they continue to compete. I thought they looked good for only a short time together.

 

[Sylvia]

TeamUSA.org article: Katarina Wolfkostin And Jeffrey Chen Skate To Bronze For Team USA’s First Medal At Youth Olympic Games

“It went really well,” Wolfkostin said after competing. “There are always things to improve on, but overall it was really great and a good experience.”
...
“I stayed on my feet the whole time so that was a good start,” Chen joked. “It was pretty solid. There is still room for improvement - there were a few small mistakes - but overall it was good.”
...
“Our families both came to watch and were in the crowd cheering for us,” Wolfkostin said. “They’ve always been super supportive and it’s just really cool to perform for them.”

ETA a tweeted photo of them (on left) during the ice dance medal ceremony:

Team USA on Twitter

“@lausanne2020 @USFigureSkating Take a bow, Katarina & Jeffrey 👏 The first podium finish for #TeamUSA at @lausanne2020 ⤵️”

twitter.com

 

[Dobre]

Congratulations to Wolfkostin & Chen on their Youth Olympic medal!

Howard Zhao is off Ice Partner Search.
Jordan Lin is off Ice Partner Search also.

 

[icebergAshley]

I was able to catch Katarina and Jeffrey's Free Dance on TV earlier today, and I must say they are simply magnificent! Such fantastic program! So young and so talented! From what I read about them, they have climbed so fast to nearly the top of Junior US domestic rankings.. just wow!

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Without H/D and C/B this season, the U.S. could be down to one dance berth at Worlds anyway (two being more likely).

Oh honestly. To get ONE dance birth, Kaitlyn and Jean Luc would have to fall from 9th last year to below 12th this year, despite the fact that in your scenario, two teams ahead of them would have been removed. And then the next two teams would have to get 16th or below.

 

[Dobre]

Oh honestly. To get ONE dance birth, Kaitlyn and Jean Luc would have to fall from 9th last year to below 12th this year, despite the fact that in your scenario, two teams ahead of them would have been removed. And then the next two teams would have to get 16th or below.

Hence, two would be more likely.

 

[Sylvia]

USFS has moved their International Assignments page to the Fan Zone - new link: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...20-international-assignments-and-results.aspx

Currently listed for the Egna Dance Trophy, Feb. 7-9, 2020, in Egna, Italy are the 2 Junior teams of Cesanek/Yehorov & DelCamp/Somerville, plus Elliana & Ethan Peal in Adv. Novice (they finished 6th last week at Mentor Torun Cup in Poland, pulling up with their 6th place FD to Aladdin).

 

[Sylvia]

Fan Zone article on the junior team of Ella Ales/Daniel Tsarik:

Unlikely Pair Ella Ales and Daniel Tsarik Find a Home in Ice Dance - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

In 2014, a then-ballroom dancer named Daniel Tsarik sat down to watch some coverage of the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014.

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[bcash]

Well sorry not sorry but it is what it is. The system is not fair unfortunately and I don't think it'll be ever. We all want this sport to be all about who has the best skates/programs/ss but that's not the way it works. Once judges drop you that's it there's no way for you to climb your way up unless you bring something exceptional to the table next season. I can appreciate hb's skating and I admire their hard work and determination but y'all have to know they will 100% beaten by s/d at worlds. Usfs has the deepest field in ice dance in the world currently. They should know a team like h/b will never be on a world podium beacuse it's ice dance and you get points for being pretty and tall. And like aren't we tired of seeing a gadbois swept at every competition?? Please let the other schools rise and I'm not talking about Igor's only.

So to sum it up you hope they drop off the podium because IYO they are short, unpretty, and train at Gadbois?

What’s the problem with a Gadbois team sweep if they skate great? That your weird personal grudge will have to endure? How laughable. And H/B still has superior skating skills that likes of C/P will spend years trying to match.

 

[semogal]

Congrats to our US Ice Dance Junior Champions! I quite enjoyed the performances. The US has lots of talented skaters coming up the ranks.
https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...or-champions-crowned-at-us-championships.aspx

 

[sk9tingfan]

Congrats to our US Ice Dance Junior Champions! I quite enjoyed the performances. The US has lots of talented skaters coming up the ranks.
https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...or-champions-crowned-at-us-championships.aspx

They were exquisite

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Only 9 senior teams competing at Nationals?

This is the lowest entries since when??

What happened? Not enough teams make minimum requirements?

 

[Dustyrose]

Not enough senior teams period. Requirements were set to improve the level of teams for national competitions. At the same time there is minimal support of junior teams transitioning to seniors. Kids and parents prefer to invest in college education or just move on with their lives, spending already a fortune and years of their lives in competitive skating. Recruiting of foreign skaters hits the roadblock of visa restrictions... Why wonder about the lack of high level competitive teams

 

[casken]

Well if anything, I learned from watching tonight's broadcast of the RD at US nationals is that the US is just as ridiculous and political with their judging and calling as any other country, and Tanith Belbin isn't so much an impartial commentator as she's a paid spokesperson for US ice dance just reading off talking points.

I knew M&C were done when she opened with a criticism of their closeness, followed by her ignoring Ponoramenko fumbling the end of the Finstep. I thought she was going to start hyperventilating trying to pe-justify C&P getting a bronze (Yes Tanith, all the grabbing onto each other is super innovative choreography ). She even had to throw in a bit of a snipe at H&B about their transitions (???) to undermine them after getting such a great response to their performance.

Congrats to Chock and Bates, becuase this thing is a done deal.

 

[heartyxo]

Interesting calls aside, I think the order was pretty much right- didn't hear Tanith's commentary though

Finnstep near-wipeout or not, I think the small errors Hubbell and Donohue made rightly put them below Chock and Bates. C/B managed to save their pattern and nail everything else while H/D had wobbles on multiple things. I do think both were overscored but that's nationals.
I'm very happy for Hawayek and Baker- they are going for that bronze like I knew they could!

 

[Bosha]

Well if anything, I learned from watching tonight's broadcast of the RD at US nationals is that the US is just as ridiculous and political with their judging and calling as any other country, and Tanith Belbin isn't so much an impartial commentator as she's a paid spokesperson for US ice dance just reading off talking points.

I knew M&C were done when she opened with a criticism of their closeness, followed by her ignoring Ponoramenko fumbling the end of the Finstep. I thought she was going to start hyperventilating trying to pe-justify C&P getting a bronze (Yes Tanith, all the grabbing onto each other is super innovative choreography ). She even had to throw in a bit of a snipe at H&B about their transitions (???) to undermine them after getting such a great response to their performance.

Congrats to Chock and Bates, becuase this thing is a done deal.

Her husband Charlie was very even-handed over on NBC Sports Gold Stream. It was a good choice to subscribe and avoid the hype over on regular NBC Sports.

 

[Wyliefan]

Well if anything, I learned from watching tonight's broadcast of the RD at US nationals is that the US is just as ridiculous and political with their judging and calling as any other country, and Tanith Belbin isn't so much an impartial commentator as she's a paid spokesperson for US ice dance just reading off talking points.

I knew M&C were done when she opened with a criticism of their closeness

She didn't open with a criticism of their closeness. She opened with praise for their speed. And then after the criticism of their closeness, she went on to praise their confidence, their twizzles, and their attack, and to say she was "impressed." Clearly she really hates them.

 

[georgiana08]

Her husband Charlie was very even-handed over on NBC Sports Gold Stream. It was a good choice to subscribe and avoid the hype over on regular NBC Sports.

Charlie has quickly become my favorite commentator. I watched half of the event on Gold and the other half on NBCSN, and I definitely preferred his insights.

And speaking of commentary, I wish I had a dollar for every time they mention who Anthony's parents are. Same goes for Ivan Bukin.