U.S. Ice Dance 2020-21 season news & updates

[Sylvia]

Happy New Year from the U.S. female ice dancers in Montreal : https://www.instagram.com/p/CJjfrHNpkR3/

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

How old is gage?

"Nothing Else Matters" - Oona BROWN & Gage BROWN skate to @Metallica & @Marlisa

Oona and Gage Brown are Team USA Ice Dancers. We filmed their 2020-21 Free Dance in Bryant Park's Winter Village ice rink at 6:45 in the morning over the Tha...

www.youtube.com

 

[Sylvia]

Happy New Year from Christina Carreira! https://www.instagram.com/p/CJg_Pklp7Yj/

How old is gage?

He turned 18 this past November - link to the Browns' fan thread where the viral video of their FD (6.4 million views as of today!) also is linked:

Oona & Gage Brown fans! Here's a cheer/support thread for them :)

If anyone would like to help Oona & Gage and contribute to the Brown family's skating fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/oona-and-gages-skating-fund Some interesting facts about us are: we come from a family of seven children, ages 12-23. We are homeschooled. We started skating as a homeschool...

www.fsuniverse.net

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

He turned 18 this past November - link to the Browns' fan thread where the viral video of their FD (6.4 million views as of today!) also is linked:

whewwwww, needed to make sure was 18 before something inappropriate ever slipped out of my mouth. ANL thinks before he speaks!!!! tee-hee

 

[Sylvia]

Two ice dance teams are quoted in this Nationals preview by Lois Elfman for the Falls Church News-Press: https://fcnp.com/2021/01/04/figure-skaters-head-into-a-bubble-for-a-unique-u-s-championships/

There will be several teams with connections to Northern Virginia in senior dance, including Joshua Levitt from Burke and Cara Murphy. They initially trained in Pittsburgh and periodically traveled to Michigan for additional coaching. When the rinks in Pittsburgh closed due to Covid-19, they headed to Michigan.
Levitt previously competed at the U.S. Championships in 2019 in novice pairs, but he transitioned to ice dance shortly after. “I really feel dance suits me so much better, and I’m so happy that I switched. I’m having a great time,” said Levitt, who teamed with Murphy in February 2020.
Although U.S. Figure Skating has made some allowances for competitors in terms of test levels, Levitt still had to pass 12 ice dance tests to be eligible to compete. “It’s been a massive learning experience,” said Levitt. “It’s so much more focused on the choreography, on expression and making every single step of the program as perfect as it can be. It’s very detail oriented, which I really find rewarding.”
Due to the cancellation of qualifying events, Nationals will be their first competition together. “We’re excited to put our programs out there and see what the judges think of us,” said Levitt.

It’s a return to the U.S. Championships for seasoned competitors Cesanek and Yehorov, who previously competed in juniors. Despite the unprecedented circumstances, they’re enjoying the preparation.
“We are thankful and blessed for everything we’ve had this year,” said Yehorov. “We’re so much more mature in how we approach every day,” said Cesanek.
“The cut outs really do fill the space and it makes it feel more like an event,” said Cesanek. “At Skate America, whatever discipline wasn’t currently competing, the other athletes could come and support the competitors. The judges were there. It’s not empty. It’s cool seeing all the athletes together.”

 

[Wyliefan]

Christina and Anthony are out of nationals. They came in contact with a person who had *****, and though they tested negative, according to the protocol they had to withdraw. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ4LKPwJNHq/?igshid=4cekqxt4eosx

 

[Braulio]

Christina and Anthony are out of nationals. They came in contact with a person who had *****, and though they tested negative, according to the protocol they had to withdraw. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ4LKPwJNHq/?igshid=4cekqxt4eosx

Oh no, what a shame. But very responsible from them

So, now how many couples left?

 

[Rukia]

Christina and Anthony are out of nationals. They came in contact with a person who had *****, and though they tested negative, according to the protocol they had to withdraw. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ4LKPwJNHq/?igshid=4cekqxt4eosx

I so wanted to see them skate again, but this really is the safe and responsible thing to do. What awful timing though. I hope all other skaters are just as upfront about potential exposures.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

How disappointing for them!

We have been very diligent and careful on staying healthy and focused on the US championships and that’s why we are so saddened to say that we have been in direct contact with a positive case of covid-19 at our training center on January 4th.

At IAM - could other couples be affected as well?

 

[Sylvia]

11 senior teams right now:

Hilary Asher (Skokie Valley SC) and Ryan O'Donnell (The SC of Houston) - new
Adrienne Carhart (The SC of New York, Inc.) and Ivan Gurianov (Individual Member) - new - she is on IPS
Christina Carreira (The SC of New York, Inc.) and Anthony Ponomarenko (The Skating Club of San Francisco, Inc) BYE
Molly Cesanek (ION Figure Skating Club) and Yehor Yehorov (Peninsula SC) Bye-ISP PC
Madison Chock (All Year FSC) and Evan Bates (Ann Arbor FSC) BYE
Caroline Green (Pavilion SC of Cleveland Heights) and Michael Parsons (Washington FSC) BYE
Kaitlin Hawayek (Detroit SC, Inc.) and Jean-Luc Baker (Seattle SC) BYE
Madison Hubbell (Lansing SC) and Zachary Donohue (Lansing SC) BYE
Lorraine McNamara (Peninsula SC) and Anton Spiridonov (ION Figure Skating Club) - new/Bye-ISP PC
Cara Murphy (Arctic FSC) and Joshua Levitt (Pittsburgh FSC, Inc.) - new
Eva Pate (The Strongsville SC) and Logan Bye (The SC of New York, Inc. Bye-ISP PC
Livvy Shilling (Columbus FSC) and Alexander Petrov (Hershey FSC)
Breelie Taylor (Atlanta FSC) and Tyler Vollmer (Los Angeles FSC) - J14 at 2020 Nationals

 

[aka_gerbil]

How disappointing for them!



At IAM - could other couples be affected as well?

C/P train at Novi with Igor.

 

[Vark]

How disappointing for them!



At IAM - could other couples be affected as well?

Why are Asher/O'Donnell and Pate/Bye still competing then if they are at the same rink?

 

[litenkyckling]

Why are Asher/O'Donnell and Pate/Bye still competing then if they are at the same rink?

Maybe they are awaiting results? The same question goes to Igor and his coaching team - will they still attend?

I also get the impression that this was a suggested decision that was reached mutually between all interested parties but that the final decision was made by C/P themselves - really admirable.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

C/P train at Novi with Igor.

Sometimes I forget there are US dance teams at other centers. Thanks for the correction!

 

[Carolla5501]

It's possible that the other teams did not come in contact with the person infected. I don't believe the contract tracing/withdrawals extend that far. Now if C/P subsequently test positive the "withdrawals" could expand.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Christina and Anthony are out of nationals. They came in contact with a person who had *****, and though they tested negative, according to the protocol they had to withdraw. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ4LKPwJNHq/?igshid=4cekqxt4eosx

Oh nooo

whats the rush to have US Nats right now? Its not like there is a 4CC to attend. If there will be a Worlds that is 2-3 months away.

They should postpone it until March. And if theres no rink available then just do it virtually.

How disappointing to them. And responsible.

 

[mjasher]

Why are Asher/O'Donnell and Pate/Bye still competing then if they are at the same rink?

This had to do with when the kids trained. Christina and Anthony happened to be at the rink and in close proximity to the individual who tested positive and the other teams weren’t at the rink at that time or not in close proximity.

 

[Sylvia]

Can we please talk about how many amazing, diverse performances there were from the U.S. ice dance teams last night? Just WOW!

Jean-Luc Baker tweeted this message today: https://twitter.com/jeanlucbaker/status/1350823934615162880
ETA that it's also on his IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/CKI-Ythp2DT/
His postscript : *Also if anyone knows where I should put my right hand so I don’t grab my butt again, that’d be helpful. *

 

[Sylvia]

FD recap by NBC's OlympicTalk:

Madison Hubbell, Zachary Donohue reclaim ice dance national title

The longtime battle between Madison Chock and Evan Bates, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue -- two of the top ice dances teams in the country and the world -- continued Saturday night, this time with Hubbell and Donohue reigning supreme.

olympics.nbcsports.com

 

[Moustaffask8r]

This had to do with when the kids trained. Christina and Anthony happened to be at the rink and in close proximity to the individual who tested positive and the other teams weren’t at the rink at that time or not in close proximity

 

[Sylvia]

Free Dance (and Pairs FS) recap by Lynn Rutherford: https://www.teamusa.org/News/2021/J...hue-Wrest-US-Ice-Dance-Title-From-Chock-Bates

 

[ross_hy]

Jeffrey Chen posted on Instagram that he tore his ACL in practice last week and will have to miss Nationals. Hope he has a speedy recovery, that's a tough injury for anyone.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKKFLZar2YO/

 

[Wyliefan]

Weird nationals for Karen Chen. She medals, her boyfriend wipes out, and her brother has to drop out.

 

[her grace]

Weird nationals for Karen Chen. She medals, her boyfriend wipes out, and her brother has to drop out.

It's a law of the universe: Only one Chen family member can be on top at a time.

 

[Sylvia]

Jeffrey Chen posted on Instagram that he tore his ACL in practice last week and will have to miss Nationals. Hope he has a speedy recovery, that's a tough injury for anyone.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKKFLZar2YO/

Here's partner Katarina Wolfkostin's message: https://www.instagram.com/p/CKKGVpRLPPm/

Very sad for them both.

Junior Ice Dance event is down to 9 teams:
Oona Brown (The SC of New York, Inc.) and Gage Brown (The SC of New York, Inc.) - J3/in ISP
Katarina DelCamp (Dallas FSC, Inc.) and Ian Somerville (Washington FSC) - J5/in ISP
Isabella Flores (Broadmoor SC, Inc.) and Dimitry Tsarevski (All Year FSC) - new
Angela Ling (Peninsula SC) and Caleb Wein (Washington FSC) - J6/in ISP
Leah Neset (Magic City FSC) and Artem Markelov (Magic City FSC) - new
Elliana Peal (Scott Hamilton SC) and Ethan Peal (Scott Hamilton SC) - N1 at Dance Final/in ISP
Vanessa Pham (The SC of Houston) and Jonathan Rogers (Texas Gulf Coast FSC) - N8 at Dance Final
Elizabeth Tkachenko (Washington FSC) and Alexei Kiliakov (Washington FSC) - J7/in ISP
Gracie Vainik (SC of Novi) and Daniel Brykalov (All Year FSC) - new
Katarina Wolfkostin (Peninsula SC) and Jeffrey Chen (Peninsula SC) - J2/in ISP

 

[Sylvia]

USFS has announced their Ice Dance selections for 2021 Worlds:

Madison Chock/Evan Bates (S2)
Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (S3)
Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (S1)

Alternate 1 – Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (submitted a petition to be considered)
Alternate 2 – Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (S4)
Alternate 3 – Molly Cesanek/Yehor Yehorov* (S5)

*pending ISU decision on minimum score

 

[topaz]

I am really looking forward to next season and having Molly Cesanek/Yehor Yehorov on the grand prix.

 

[Karen-W]

I'm so happy that Christina & Anthony were named as 1st alternates! While it's certainly possible that they would have been surpassed by GrePar at Nationals, they were still ahead of them, by a considerable distance, at SkAm.

 

[Sylvia]

Christina shared her and Anthony's Dr. Zhivago FD run through before Nationals: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKKndErp7WX/

 

[Sylvia]

Katarina Wolfkostin & Jeffrey Chen will be able to compete in Las Vegas after all -- he shared the news a few hours ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/CKNjabXr8tX/

UPDATE: upon further consultation with my medical team this morning, I am incredibly thankful that I am approved to skate. We’ve been working so hard all season for this moment & we are excited to be here in Las Vegas to give it our all!

Katarina Wolfkostin's message from Las Vegas: https://www.instagram.com/p/CKNi9SBr8YW/