U.S. Ice Dance 2023-24 news & updates

[litenkyckling]

I didn’t mind the Paula Abdul and think the new one is ok but tbh in my head all I could think was that I prefer Neset/Markelov’s Scorpians RD? I know they won’t directly compete but I think it’s a better construction.

Also I thought it was funny how in the interview (I forget who with!) they said that they changed the RD as so many people were doing 80s pop but at least 4
US teams haven’t gone down the pop route at all. It always seems to be the way with the “fun” themes where different parts of the world end up with very similar interpretations and choices which I think is quite interesting.

 

[layman]

I didn’t mind the Paula Abdul and think the new one is ok but tbh in my head all I could think was that I prefer Neset/Markelov’s Scorpians RD? I know they won’t directly compete but I think it’s a better construction.

Also I thought it was funny how in the interview (I forget who with!) they said that they changed the RD as so many people were doing 80s pop but at least 4
US teams haven’t gone down the pop route at all. It always seems to be the way with the “fun” themes where different parts of the world end up with very similar interpretations and choices which I think is quite interesting.

When I hear the Scorpion's "Still Loving You," I always picture Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev FD set to that music. I picture their straight backs, the beautiful "attitude" positions that they hold, their spectacular stretch, lines, toe-point and turn-out. I envision the beautiful "pictures" that they create with their body positions and movement. I always thought of that program as ballet set to a rock soundtrack. It was such a unique and innovative and special program and it's a whole lot to live up to!

 

[NinjaTurtles]

Whenever I hear the Scorpions I just think about that conspiracy theory that the CIA helped write Wind of Change as a cold war propaganda tool

 

[layman]

I am heartbroken for Green/Parsons. They abandoned their original SD...came up with a whole new one (which they skated well) and they still got no love from the judges. The only thing I would like them to do is ditch that clunky lift in the middle of their SD (it's not so much a lift as it is her climbing up on his back and then posing). It does not work.

Speaking of lifts, I was downright scared out of my mind by the number of dangerous looking lifts that we are now seeing in Ice Dance. There were several near disasters that I witnessed at Skate America. Let's nip this awful new trend in the bud right now and ban these dangerous lifts in Ice Dance (before someone get's seriously hurt).

I loved both of Chock/Bates programs...especially their innovative FD. They really pushed the envelope (and themselves) with that innovative FD. Still Chock had one of those near misses where he wobbled while carrying her straight up from the ankles. It's a cool lift but it's so dangerous and I don't think they need it.

 

[Rukia]

I am heartbroken for Green/Parsons. They abandoned their original SD...came up with a whole new one (which they skated well) and they still got no love from the judges. The only thing I would like them to do is ditch that clunky lift in the middle of their SD (it's not so much a lift as it is her climbing up on his back and then posing). It does not work.

I love g/p, but I knew exactly what their score would be after watching them. They were much slower than I expected, didn't really cover the ice well, and just looked like they didn't have enough practice with it. I think the the score for the rd was fair. I did expect it to be a bit higher perhaps in the free, but even then they really only stick to the front half of the ice surface. However, they did look faster and smoother in the free.

 

[Karen-W]

Hawayek/Baker are out of GPdF.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I love g/p, but I knew exactly what their score would be after watching them. They were much slower than I expected, didn't really cover the ice well, and just looked like they didn't have enough practice with it. I think the the score for the rd was fair. I did expect it to be a bit higher perhaps in the free, but even then they really only stick to the front half of the ice surface. However, they did look faster and smoother in the free.

I love G&P too. I think they are a work in progress this season. After scrapping what I thought was total mess of a RD, with a program that they have had for 2 weeks, they upped their RD score by 6.61 points over Lombardia and they did that with a less than stellar performance. Their score on the FD improved by 9.9 points which is substantial.

However. I think that several strategies are in order for them as well as MIDA in general:

- In the RD and other programs that they have had, they tend to use lifts that utilize a step up on Michael's thigh with a leg raise which inherently makes sure that Caroline looks awkward and not smooth in the ascent.

- In the FD, I think that potentially interjecting a faster moving piece of music into the middle or even the rest of the dance is in order to speed them up and/or use choreography that encourages more ice coverage. This music selection by itself does not compare with their 2021-2022 season FD music selection in terms of moderation of tempo.

- Second, where the hell are Charlie and Tanith? I think that they need to be showing up and as one fan this morning X'ed that they need to be politicking or at least looking for judge feedback.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I don’t comment all that often in dance because I’m not as well versed as all of you all. although I have been watching it forever. I love Madison and Evan free program, but did they throw everything including the kitchen sink into the choreography? Sometimes I feel like there was so much choreography there wasn’t much skating around? Or maybe I need to watch it again? I love them. I feel like they have the same innovative type of dance that green and Parsons had two seasons ago.

 

[layman]

I thought that Green/Parsons skated their FD at Skate America with 10x more speed than they did at Lombardia and I also thought their ice coverage was excellent.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I thought that Green/Parsons skated their FD at Skate America with 10x more speed than they did at Lombardia and I also thought their ice coverage was excellent.

I wasn't there but was commenting on the previous individual. Good to know.

 

[Laura4]

I'm worried about Green/Parsons. At this rate they won't make it to the GP Finals, and with Zingas/Kolesnik on the rise, who knows what will happen at Nationals. A part of me wishes they had stayed with Team Kiliakov just to see what kind of programs they would've gotten with them. If choreography is the problem, why not bring in someone new to work with them? Jimmy Manners gave them a great RD that last season before they made the move to MIDA. And I agree that Charlie and Tanith or at least one of them should've been there. GP is their top team and as such, should be their priority.

 

[Rukia]

I wasn't there but was commenting on the previous individual. Good to know.

lol I actually was at skam though if that helps any

 

[layman]

I'm worried about Green/Parsons. At this rate they won't make it to the GP Finals, and with Zingas/Kolesnik on the rise, who knows what will happen at Nationals. A part of me wishes they had stayed with Team Kiliakov just to see what kind of programs they would've gotten with them. If choreography is the problem, why not bring in someone new to work with them? Jimmy Manners gave them a great RD that last season before they made the move to MIDA. And I agree that Charlie and Tanith or at least one of them should've been there. GP is their top team and as such, should be their priority.

This may be a dumb question but why wouldn't Tanith or Charlie accompany Green/Parsons to Skate America? Were they busy elsewhere?

 

[Debbie S]

This may be a dumb question but why wouldn't Tanith or Charlie accompany Green/Parsons to Skate America? Were they busy elsewhere?

Greg was also with G/P at Worlds. Remember, he coached at WISA for a year so he has a bit more history with them than Charlie and Tanith. Maybe they feel more comfortable with Greg at comps? Maybe Charlie and Tanith had a family commitment or don't want to travel too much given that they have a young child? They'll presumably be traveling more as the season goes on so maybe this time, it was agreed Greg would go.

I wouldn't read anything into it. When groups of coaches have multiple students/teams, they usually divide up the assignments/travel between them. Charlie and Tanith do have other teams at home preparing for GP/JGPF/U.S. Dance Final.

 

[tony]

Greg was also with G/P at Worlds. Remember, he coached at WISA for a year so he has a bit more history with them than Charlie and Tanith. Maybe they feel more comfortable with Greg at comps?

Yeah, exactly. I'm not so sure why Tanith or Charlie would have to be with them as Greg has a lot of experience working with them and as a coach.

And no, Charlie and Tanith can't just show up and politick like some people imagine happens Whatever feedback they would get, Greg can certainly do the same, if not more honestly.

 

[RoseRed]

I'm worried about Green/Parsons. At this rate they won't make it to the GP Finals, and with Zingas/Kolesnik on the rise, who knows what will happen at Nationals. A part of me wishes they had stayed with Team Kiliakov just to see what kind of programs they would've gotten with them. If choreography is the problem, why not bring in someone new to work with them? Jimmy Manners gave them a great RD that last season before they made the move to MIDA. And I agree that Charlie and Tanith or at least one of them should've been there. GP is their top team and as such, should be their priority.

I wasn't really expecting Gr/Pa to make the final this season, so I'm not too worried about that. I did think they'd be in the mix with Lajoie/Lagha for the last spot, but I thought L/L were more likely since they beat Gr/Pa both times they faced them last season. To not medal at Skate America is more disappointing, especially since they were way ahead of Lopareva/Brissaud when they last faced them at Worlds (and also beat them at NHK 2022). They started slow last season and got things on track, so I think they can again, though of course you would have hoped to avoid the slow start. I do think the rankings in US ice dance behind Chock/Bates are not set right now, so that's going to be interesting to watch, and Gr/Pa will have to improve on what they showed here to maintain their position as the US #2 team.

 

[sk9tingfan]

lol I actually was at skam though if that helps any

In person always counts for more!

 

[BittyBug]

I'm not so sure why Tanith or Charlie would have to be with them as Greg has a lot of experience working with them and as a coach.

Seriously. People may remember Tanith and Charlie more because they had longer and more recent skating careers, but Zuerlein is by far the more experienced coach as he's been coaching since he left skating after winning Junior Worlds in 2009.

 

[tony]

Seriously. People may remember Tanith and Charlie more because they had longer and more recent skating careers, but Zuerlein is by far the more experienced coach as he's been coaching since he left skating after winning Junior Worlds in 2009.

Well, he stuck around with Chock until 2011 and was at Worlds with her that year; I think they won two GP medals, too. Definitely Skate Canada. But after that, exactly. He knows what he’s doing just fine.

 

[peibeck]

With (ostensibly) Hawayek/Baker back (although apparently not for the GP in France), the judges are slotting Green/Parsons back into that "third ranked US ice dance team" position. How long have y'all watched ice dance? Did you really think they were going to stay in that 6th in the world slot?

 

[Lacey]

Well, he stuck around with Chock until 2011 and was at Worlds with her that year; I think they won two GP medals, too. Definitely Skate Canada. But after that, exactly. He knows what he’s doing just fine.

Call me crazy, was Zuerlein the one who was playing around with being a FG kicker in pro football, so he had time off for that?

 

[tony]

Call me crazy, was Zuerlein the one who was playing around with being a FG kicker in pro football, so he had time off for that?

That's a different Greg Zuerlein. Not sure where you'd think it's the same Greg ETA- looks like they both stayed in their 'own lanes' as far as their sports went.

 

[VGThuy]

With (ostensibly) Hawayek/Baker back (although apparently not for the GP in France), the judges are slotting Green/Parsons back into that "third ranked US ice dance team" position. How long have y'all watched ice dance? Did you really think they were going to stay in that 6th in the world slot?

Maybe those four years that started with Chock/Bates nearly winning Worlds in 2015 with the Shibs being a distant nearly ten points behind them and then Hubbell/Donohue behind the Shibs by over 15 points and ended with things were looking mighty different by 2018 made us think those things can happen again. Not to mention Davis/White unseating Belbin/Agosto, the reigning World silver medalists, as the No. 1 US team during an Olympic year also added to the idea that preconceived national protocol rankings can be upended.

Of course, we’re at the start of the second season of the four-season Olympic cycle, so who knows how things will look by 2026. I do know the teams have to really work to upset the apple cart though.

 

[peibeck]

Call me crazy, was Zuerlein the one who was playing around with being a FG kicker in pro football, so he had time off for that?

Aren't the gays in football tight ends, not kickers?

 

[jlai]

It's kind of exciting to see so many ice dance teams worthy of international assignments. Used to be that it's just the top 6-7, now it's the top 10. The drama is as fun as the dancing.

 

[coralline]

I thought that Green/Parsons skated their FD at Skate America with 10x more speed than they did at Lombardia and I also thought their ice coverage was excellent.

I think GPar have improved since Lombardia, but comparing to some other teams here (Czech siblings, LaLa) , they obviously need work.
They will face these same competitors in the COC, let’s see what they can do there.

 

[haribobo]

With (ostensibly) Hawayek/Baker back (although apparently not for the GP in France), the judges are slotting Green/Parsons back into that "third ranked US ice dance team" position. How long have y'all watched ice dance? Did you really think they were going to stay in that 6th in the world slot?

Well they are currently rocking the 5th best US isu sb and that's before h/b compete if they do...

 

[RoseRed]

With (ostensibly) Hawayek/Baker back (although apparently not for the GP in France), the judges are slotting Green/Parsons back into that "third ranked US ice dance team" position. How long have y'all watched ice dance? Did you really think they were going to stay in that 6th in the world slot?

Lajoie/Lagha are the 3rd ranked Canadian team, and outscored them by nearly 12 points, so obviously it's about more than just national ranking.

 

[jlai]

L/L is a team on the rise, but hampered by being the 3rd place team in Canada and there were only 2 world spots last year.
G/P was a team on the rise and benefitted from H/B dropping out and L/L not getting a world spot, and getting some lime light. Now they are expected to skate like US #2, but they in reality are more US#3 (because H/B is technically #2 still) with 2 more teams gunning for them.

 

[Ena Grins]

I did (do?) expect Hawayek/Baker to be capable of coming back in at US #2. They were easily in that category last season before they decided to take time off. But currently competition looks tight among Green/Parsons, Carreira/Ponomorenko and Zingas/Kolesnik.