US Ice Dance 2024-25 News & Updates

[dancefan17]

The Shibs have always been master technicians. From a technical perspective, and assuming they will be in shape, they are certainly in contention for the US podium and the Olympics. The question for me is what can they bring to the table artistically for new and fresh programs. This is where (and I know there are different opinions on this!) C/B have the potential to shine and CarPon are developing. I think Massimo Scali has done an amazing job with Alysa and may help bring fresh perspective to the table.

 

[Karen-W]

It’s interesting that the consensus is this is much too late for this couple to return to competition


but the couple that’s representing France who has not ever competed together are going to be great

Ice dance fan matrix.

Yes, wish-casting the downfall of the four teams at the top and residual Cizeron love are the main reasons the FS fandom is of the opinion that FBCiz will destroy the field from the get go, lol.

Shibs have been away from competition or even doing shows for so long, plus their strengths don't really seem to lend themselves to success in the current competitive environment, which raise a lot more question marks than unbridled optimism they can take out the top 4.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I’m excited for two reasons, they have fantastic twizzles and a possible reaction from Charlene?

Tee-hee

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

The Carolina Kostner fans (all 5 of them) will zerg rush you with their walkers

The audacity and the nerve.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I just want to clarify. The theory that some people are running with is that the Shibs influencer star is fading, which you can tell not because people aren’t interacting, but because they aren’t posting. A surefire way to build back your brand.

And because their influencer careers are stagnating, they are coming back to figure skating, not because they want to, but for IMPURE REASONS.

Specifically to… harness the awesome mainstream star making power of Ice Dance in the US????

 

[Tinycities]

I don't think the Shibs are coming back with the goal to be US #3 or even #2. Whether they or their team are delusional about their prospects is another story.

The USFS blurb is that they’re eyeing the Olympics. If they don’t want #3 or even #2, that means they want #1. Not saying they’ll get it.

I think it’s naive to assume USFS won’t give them a political push. They’re Olympic medalists.

 

[Allskate]

As far as training, per their social media, the Shibs have been doing a lot of travel both in the U.S. and abroad the past 8 months. Maybe they've been training in between, and now they'll probably hunker down, but the other top U.S. teams have been hunkering down for the past 7 seasons.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Chock and Bates travel more than the Shibs do. And I say that as a C&B fan. We have no idea how much training the Shibutanis have done.

Look, if they aren't good enough, they won't go anywhere. It's hard for the young teams. It's hard. But at least they didn't drop this announcement on them right before 4CCs or Worlds.

If people on this board heard about this at Skate America, I sincerely doubt that other dance teams are just learning about this today.

I have no way of knowing what their motivation is for returning to competitive skating (or even if they both share the same motivation) and nobody else here does, either. The nastiness in some of these posts is ick.

Also, I'm getting so tired of people saying that certain skaters shouldn't be competing or competing at certain events because they want other skaters to be able to skate at those events.

Shibutanis or not, it's going to be heartbreaking to see some skaters miss out on going to the Olympics.

 

[tony]

I want to clarify I heard it from an international coach who has had some ties to the Zoueva camp in the past and was sitting with me during practices at SA. It wasn't random fan chatter that was overheard or spilled.

That said, I highly doubt any of the top dance teams in the US were surprised or taken off guard by this today.

 

[MRani]

I just want to clarify. The theory that some people are running with is that the Shibs influencer star is fading, which you can tell not because people aren’t interacting, but because they aren’t posting. A surefire way to build back your brand.

And because their influencer careers are stagnating, they are coming back to figure skating, not because they want to, but for IMPURE REASONS.

Specifically to… harness the awesome mainstream star making power of Ice Dance in the US????

Yes the Shibs and their impure motives really must be stopped

For real though, athletes make comebacks all the time. There are plenty of valid reasons to have mixed feelings about it but casting all these aspersions on their character is just weird.

 

[Debbie S]

Specifically to… harness the awesome mainstream star making power of Ice Dance in the US????

Come on, it's an Oly season. You know that anyone competing in the Olys in figure skating is going to get a lot of attention, particularly if they are returning medalists, ice dance or not. From the number of posts I've seen from USFS, NBC, the Olympics, ISU....they've gotten more publicity today than they have in years. They have an agent, who can now pitch them to Oly sponsors. They're not going to be training for the Olys in obscurity.

 

[On My Own]

Skating drama is the best drama ever.

What if Plushenko came back?

 

[Jammers]

This is where I'm at, too. I liked the Shibs when they were skating. I genuinely enjoyed the three-way rivalry era. And I do understand that the Shibs - as opposed to other last-minute "return" skaters - may have felt they had unfinished business, with their careers being cut shorter than expected and a serious health scare. I hope they're happy and healthy and stay that way, regardless of my feelings about their comeback.

But this is ice dance. It's not singles or pairs where there are jump elements that can't be ignored. It is the most political, "wait your turn" discipline in an already-political sport, and pretending otherwise is willful blindness, imo. I'm reminded of the mass exodus of second-tier/up-and-coming Canadian ice dance post-VM, which totally decimated the pipeline. I fear we're seeing the same thing in France now, and I would hate for it to happen in the US. I'm saddest for teams like Green/Parsons, who I'm not sure really have another quad in them, and I'm also sad for rising teams like CPom and ZingKol, who could lose valuable "reputation" boosts heading into a new quad.

No way are we going to see a mass exodus in US Ice Dance like we did in Canada there are so many more good young teams the US has then Canada had when V/M came back who are looking to 2030 who had no chance to make the 2026 teams anyways and i doubt the Shibs are sticking around after Milan and if they do it might be just for another year or two.

 

[PRlady]

I think Shibs have the technical goods to beat z/k because of Zingas’ lack of experience relatively in ice dance.
G/p too possibly.l because they fill the same niche for lack of better description (not sexy non romantic programs)

I can see Shibs being number 3 and with political push maybe number two.

But I hope number three since c/p are on the rise

The only thing Shibs have in common with G/P is not skating romantic programs (and Piper and Paul did a wonderful Wuthering Heights.) G/P is all about the performance, hardly the Shibs’ strength. If they make the Oly team and if they haven’t changed their style, they’re more competition for LaLa and the Finns, also technically good teams.

Yes the Shibs and their impure motives really must be stopped

For real though, athletes make comebacks all the time. There are plenty of valid reasons to have mixed feelings about it but casting all these aspersions on their character is just weird.

I keep thinking of Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Superbowl. Boy did he take shit before and after.

 

[Dobre]

Also, I'm getting so tired of people saying that certain skaters shouldn't be competing or competing at certain events because they want other skaters to be able to skate at those events.

When it comes to dance, I think I have a much slower clock of expectations for turnover than a lot of skating fans.

I always think of how it took Klimova & Ponomarenko 3 Olympiads to climb from bronze to gold.

I remember back in 2016, when the U.S. had 3 of the top 4 teams at the Junior Grand Prix Final and people on Golden Spin were predictably predicting the junior teams climbing to the top that I wrote a post saying that in ice dance--with such a deep senior field at the time--it was a long wait. That you were probably talking two years for a spot to open up, then another four years for another one, and maybe another four for another one. I'm sure some people probably think/thought this was a knock on the sport; but no. It was an acknowledgement of how good those top teams were. We spent decades without that being the case.

I also have a gymnastics-fan perspective on comebacks. I remember that a. a vacuum always leads to more people trying to come back (we have an unusual vacuum this quad in ice dance because the Russians have been out), b. last season comebacks are way unpredictable, and c. sometimes people surprise you. Hence, Amy Chow and Dominique Dawes make the team while Shannon Miller and Dominique Moceanu do not. My take on comebacks is that a. they are HARD and b. the best sign for a comeback is a lack of hubris.

 

[Willin]

Then why bring it up? And repeat the accusations? We were talking about your impressions, not the overall optics as it looks to a bunch of Reddit skating fans that are pushed to justify thinking less of them that you don’t happen to prescribe to. Honestly, it might as well be said what they are accused of doing because this innuendo is just game playing.

Because it’s important to understand that not everyone is happy about this and not everyone will be so open to this comeback. I was seeing a lot of rosy reactions here, and quite frankly it’s good to understand that that will not be the reaction everywhere.

It’s not just Reddit. I’ve heard X is a LOT worse on there but I don’t venture there.

And while I’m not nearly the most extreme I’ve seen, in ice dance I’d much rather see skaters who have been dedicated and “earned it” over the past two cycles then Olympic season only comeback people - Shibutanis or Cizeron or whoever else. The other disciplines I’m much more whatever about it because there isn’t this sense where “earning it” and being dedicated to the sport is so important. You have to do your time and build your rep - but it sounds like this won’t necessarily be that and that’s not fair to the other skaters.

 

[PRlady]

I’m really really sad about Lopareva being shafted, since they HAVE improved, slowly worked their way up, and bring a very different style to dance. Still, they will almost certainly go to the Olys themselves.

Dem/Mer and Gre/Par are most at risk for disappearing without even a trip to the Olys. Emilea and Vadym are young, flashy and have plenty of time if they’re patient. But the even younger teams like Nes/Mar are now a further step back….

 

[Willin]

I’m really really sad about Lopareva being shafted, since they HAVE improved, slowly worked their way up, and bring a very different style to dance. Still, they will almost certainly go to the Olys themselves.

Dem/Mer and Gre/Par are most at risk for disappearing without even a trip to the Olys. Emilea and Vadym are young, flashy and have plenty of time if they’re patient. But the even younger teams like Nes/Mar are now a further step back….

Yes. I’ve seen people saying that the ShibSibs are being clear that only the Olympics are acceptable- I did not get this from the interview at all.

But what is clear from that article is that USFS is willing and ready to dump their hardworking teams that stuck it out in favor of the ShibSibs. Which is the worst part of this whole thing.

 

[PRlady]

Ah! I know! The Shibs and Browns should split and form two non-sib teams! Maia is small enough for Gage and they’re all technically good skaters.

 

[Allskate]

I want to clarify I heard it from an international coach who has had some ties to the Zoueva camp in the past and was sitting with me during practices at SA. It wasn't random fan chatter that was overheard or spilled.

I doubt you were the only one that she told.

You have to do your time and build your rep - but it sounds like this won’t necessarily be that and that’s not fair to the other skaters.

They are not novices who are coming out of nowhere and did nothing to build their rep. They spent years training and earning their reputations. (Ditto for Cizeron, though I wish he would take his "written in the stars" B.S. and go away for other reasons.)

Having said that, it's a bit premature to assume that the Shibutanis are going to get spots on the Olympic team that, based on actual performance, should go to another team. Although, you and others seem to be suggesting that you will be unhappy even if they skate better than other teams and actually deserve their spot based on actual skating. Not because they haven't put in time, but because they haven't competed enough in recent years.

 

[Dobre]

Ah! I know! The Shibs and Browns should split and form two non-sib teams!

Go watch your umpteen non-sib teams and leave our teams with otherworldly unison and a genuine personal connection alone.

 

[tony]

I doubt you were the only one that she told.

I didn't suggest that I was.

Anyways, as always with skating fandom, it's pick and choose whether a comeback is absolutely brilliant or the end of the world for every other skater and just the worst thing ever with as many assumptions and digs at said skaters as possible.

And yes, they probably are starting to stall (or have already stalled) on ideas keeping them visible and relevant outside of the rink. Same story for just about everyone else that retires and tries to get into this or that other venture, and it's true of most things outside of the figure skating world, too. If they have the drive to get back and work hard (judging boosts and reputation aside, although it can't be avoided in this sport), then why not? I have this very strong feeling based on posting history that many members here would go completely mental if anyone told them they couldn't ever return to something they previously did/were good at.

 

[jlai]

Let’s wait and see how they do first.

The only thing Shibs have in common with G/P is not skating romantic programs (and Piper and Paul did a wonderful Wuthering Heights.) G/P is all about the performance, hardly the Shibs’ strength. If they make the Oly team and if they haven’t changed their style, they’re more competition for LaLa and the Finns, also technically good teams.


I keep thinking of Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Superbowl. Boy did he take shit before and after.

I was talking Green and Parsons

 

[PRlady]

Let’s wait and see how they do first.

I was talking Green and Parsons

Oops.

 

[litenkyckling]

It’s interesting that the consensus is this is much too late for this couple to return to competition


but the couple that’s representing France who has not ever competed together are going to be great

I find this such an interesting take because I’ve seen nothing but distain or apathy for FBC coming back to competition?

In terms of their success likelihood - to be fair one of the team has silver and gold Olympic medals and multiple world titles and the other last competed just over a year ago and they have both competed under post-2018 ice dance judging rules so…. Not exactly comparable in this discussion.

 

[PRlady]

Go watch your umpteen non-sib teams and leave our teams with otherworldly unison and a genuine personal connection alone.

OK, I’m biased against sibling teams because their repertoire is restricted (although I rather like the Mrazeks.) But no one is listening to me anyway. And Jean-Luc/Maia is a better fantasy based on age and experience.

 

[Karen-W]

But what is clear from that article is that USFS is willing and ready to dump their hardworking teams that stuck it out in favor of the ShibSibs. Which is the worst part of this whole thing.

Are you talking about the USFS' press release? If so, that was mild and pretty standard. I'm sure someone can compare the press release for Alysa's return last year to this one and it would remarkably similar, right down to the exuberant quote from Justin Dillon at the end.

If you want to read a press release that completely tosses the rest of your teams off the ship, go read the FFSG's announcement introducing Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron. That was brutal - and it even caused some Vaguebook comments on FB from Brissaud's mama, IIRC.

Plenty of Olympic medalists make comeback attempts. The Shibs aren't even the first ones aiming for Milano-Cortina. Team USA & NBC are massively hyping Lindsey Vonn's current quest. Of course they're all happy to have likeable, relatable Olympic medalists returning to try again. I do give credit to the Shibs for the timing of this announcement - didn't rain on the parade of any of the teams competing at Worlds, gave them all time to bask in & come down from that high, and gave us all something interesting to discuss as the season winds down completely.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Come on, it's an Oly season. You know that anyone competing in the Olys in figure skating is going to get a lot of attention, particularly if they are returning medalists, ice dance or not. From the number of posts I've seen from USFS, NBC, the Olympics, ISU....they've gotten more publicity today than they have in years. They have an agent, who can now pitch them to Oly sponsors. They're not going to be training for the Olys in obscurity.

There’s a big difference between obscurity and it being a good way to relaunch your career as an influencer. US Ice Dance has no history of generating attention that lasts much past the games, never mind enough to fuel a career.

Because it’s important to understand that not everyone is happy about this and not everyone will be so open to this comeback. I was seeing a lot of rosy reactions here, and quite frankly it’s good to understand that that will not be the reaction everywhere.

I’m going to go ahead and say that there’s actually nothing “important” about knowing that people on Reddit and X are mad. You just want to sling mud and then pretend you didn’t throw it.

 

[Debbie S]

I do give credit to the Shibs for the timing of this announcement - didn't rain on the parade of any of the teams competing at Worlds, gave them all time to bask in & come down from that high, and gave us all something interesting to discuss as the season winds down completely.

The timing was likely determined by USFS, not the Shibs themselves. For obvious reasons, USFS would want the pre-Worlds focus to be on the skaters competing. And then wanted to announce their new CEO.

Hopefully the SA location will be the next announcement, and soon.

 

[BittyBug]

Ah, ice dance and Olympic spots.

And two of the top four teams are currently ineligible for the Olympics due to lack of citizenship, so at this point I wouldn't place any bets on who will be on the US team other than Chock and Bates assuming they stay healthy.

 

[BlueRidge]

So assuming that USFS is playing a big role in getting Shibs back, maybe the fact that those two teams may not be eligible to go to Olys has something to do with it?

I don't pay much attention to that, can someone summarize where things are for CPom and Z&K in terms of citizenship?