US Ice Dance 2024-25 News & Updates

[skatfan]

Did the Shibs ever formally retire?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Did Michelle Kwan?

 

[Sylvia]

Congrats to Mullen/Mullen for bronze in Slovenia JGP. . And to Brown/Brown for silver at Denis Ten Memorial.

Great weekend for sibling teams!

May the Peal siblings keep it going this week in Wuxi! Ilin/Cain are the 2nd team.

 

[emilieh]

Did the Shibs ever formally retire?

I'm not sure if they ever announced a retirement, but they got inducted into the USFS Hall of Fame, which seems to require being out of competition for a particular length of time. Not sure if this is a formal requirement or not.

 

[skatfan]

I'm not sure if they ever announced a retirement, but they got inducted into the USFS Hall of Fame, which seems to require being out of competition for a particular length of time. Not sure if this is a formal requirement or not.

That’s my point - they didn’t do anything publicly, though I assume at some pint they let the USADA know so they wouldn’t have to be tested.

 

[Rukia]

That’s my point - they didn’t do anything publicly, though I assume at some pint they let the USADA know so they wouldn’t have to be tested.

I suspect at first they wanted to leave their options open, but when Maia got her cancer diagnosis that may have changed things. She said that was a very difficult recovery. So I feel like they faded away more out of necessity rather than them planning it out that way. But I could be wrong lol.

 

[jackson]

Per AnythingGOEs -

x.com

x.com

Oh wow!

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ Michelle Deych's IPS profile as of Sept. 15: https://icepartnersearch.com/showbio.php?i=6401

 

[Sylvia]

May the Peal siblings keep it going this week in Wuxi! Ilin/Cain are the 2nd team.

The Peals filmed this video in Wuxi and Olivia is featured prominently in it :

Ethan&Elliana Team USA 🇺🇸 on Instagram: "First day at JGP Wuxi, China Follow along for more!!"

114 likes, 8 comments - e_squared_teampeal on October 9, 2024: "First day at JGP Wuxi, China Follow along for more!!".

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Day 2 in Wuxi with the Peals & their pals:

Ethan&Elliana Team USA 🇺🇸 on Instagram: "DAY 2 AT JGP WUXI, CHINA Follow along for more!!"

147 likes, 3 comments - e_squared_teampeal on October 10, 2024: "DAY 2 AT JGP WUXI, CHINA Follow along for more!!".

www.instagram.com

Elliana & Ethan set an ISU PB (65.31) today in their RD and have a 4+ point lead going into Saturday's FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moNUyksQ4nw

 

[Sylvia]

Congratulations to Elliana & Ethan Peal on winning their first JGP GOLD medal in Wuxi today -- new ISU PBs as well in the FD (95.19) & Total (160.50) -- and qualifying for the JGP Final (with Wolfkostin/Tsarevski) - here's their winners' interview with Ted Barton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x__6ZEXHkcA

The Mullens and Aboian/Veselukhin are the 1st & 2nd JGPF alternates.

ETA:

Olivia Ilin/Dylan Cain finished 4th in Wuxi (their highest JGP placement to date) with ISU SB scores (56.58 in RD, 85.63 in FD, 142.21 total).

Day 3 with the Peals (Rhythm Dance Day; features a Rio Nakata cameo with Team USA in the stands ):

Ethan&Elliana Team USA 🇺🇸 on Instagram: "DAY 3 AT JGP WUXI, CHINA Follow along for more!!!"

147 likes, 6 comments - e_squared_teampeal on October 11, 2024: "DAY 3 AT JGP WUXI, CHINA Follow along for more!!!".

www.instagram.com

Day 4 (includes shopping at the mall on their day off):

Ethan&Elliana Team USA 🇺🇸 on Instagram: "DAY 4 AT JGP WUXI, CHINA Follow along for more!!!"

87 likes, 0 comments - e_squared_teampeal on October 12, 2024: "DAY 4 AT JGP WUXI, CHINA Follow along for more!!!".

www.instagram.com

 

[DreamSkates]

I suspect at first they wanted to leave their options open, but when Maia got her cancer diagnosis that may have changed things. She said that was a very difficult recovery. So I feel like they faded away more out of necessity rather than them planning it out that way. But I could be wrong lol.

And it seemed they had other opportunities, new paths to follow.

 

[Sylvia]

Day 5 (Free Dance) with the Peals & their friends in Wuxi:

Ethan&Elliana Team USA 🇺🇸 on Instagram: "DAY 5 AT JGP WUXI, CHINA Thanks for following along! See you at our next adventure ☺️"

116 likes, 3 comments - e_squared_teampeal on October 13, 2024: "DAY 5 AT JGP WUXI, CHINA Thanks for following along! See you at our next adventure ☺️".

www.instagram.com

Ethan has promised to make more videos in Grenoble.

Anything GOEs’ Izumi Yoneyama chatted with Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (13 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXbzsjtGhlc

Izumi spoke to Junior World Champions Leah Neset and Artem Markelov ahead of their senior Grand Prix debut at Skate America! They talked about choosing music and the story behind their new Free Dance, the transition from junior to senior, and their goals for the season!

 

[Sylvia]

Here’s a Leah Neset Q&A by Namita Nayyar that was published 2 months ago:

Leah Neset: Junior World Figure Skating Champion 2024 Believes - Women Fitness

Leah Neset is an American ice dancer. With her skating partner, Artem Markelov, she is the 2024 Junior World champion.

www.womenfitness.net

about Flores/Desyatov’s last-minute withdrawal (reason not yet made public) from Skate America - replaced by Morozov/Chen.

 

[Sylvia]

FWIW, F/D were included in USFS' press release yesterday: https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...grand-prix-series-home-ice-2024-skate-america

ETA: Logic points to a last-minute injury, which really s*cks for them if that's the case.

 

[Rukia]

It seems to be going around twitter that this is some kind of political move which makes absolutely no sense. Idk where they are getting it from but let's be real. Hopefully both Bella and Vanya are doing as well as can be under whatever the circumstances.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

It seems to be going around twitter that this is some kind of political move which makes absolutely no sense. Idk where they are getting it from but let's be real. Hopefully both Bella and Vanya are doing as well as can be under whatever the circumstances.

Yeah I saw people saying that USFS must know that a spot at CoC is going to open up for Bella and Vanya, but even if that is the case, to pull them from their very first GP with one day’s notice would be total bullcrap.

 

[tangerine dream]

Yeah I saw people saying that USFS must know that a spot at CoC is going to open up for Bella and Vanya, but even if that is the case, to pull them from their very first GP with one day’s notice would be total bullcrap.

I don't know if that's even possible -- IIRC withdrawing from your first GP removes you from the alternates list (at least that used to be the case).

 

[Karen-W]

I don't know if that's even possible -- IIRC withdrawing from your first GP removes you from the alternates list (at least that used to be the case).

Hmmmm... It may not apply to them since the SkAm GP assignment was a host assignment. If the USFS switched them out but they remain on the GP Alternates list then they'd be eligible for 1 additional assignment still, I think. Not that it seems very likely to happen given that the USA is nearly maxed out with dance teams on the GP.

 

[tangerine dream]

Hmmmm... It may not apply to them since the SkAm GP assignment was a host assignment. If the USFS switched them out but they remain on the GP Alternates list then they'd be eligible for 1 additional assignment still, I think. Not that it seems very likely to happen given that the USA is nearly maxed out with dance teams on the GP.

True, rules may be different since it was a host spot.

 

[kwanfan1818]

There are no distinctions in the rules for host vs. non-host skaters/teams for getting replacement events when they withdraw from their assignments . There are two explicit statements about Non-Seeded Skater/Couples, in 2.2 k and l:

"k) Non-Seeded Skaters/Couples will not be invited to another event in replacement if they choose not to skate in an assigned event.​

l) Non-Seeded Skaters/Couples will not be invited to another event in replacement if, by medical reason,they withdraw from an assigned event."​

In section 3.4 (Obligation of Seeded Skaters), I think it is implicitly stated that there won't be replacements for seeded skaters/couples (emphasis mine):

"Seeded Skaters/Couples who agreed to participate in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series andSkaters/Couples who qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final must skate in their assigned events and in the Final." There are provisions for withdrawals.​

Of course, that never means they'll follow their own rules, which include needing to sign off on all replacements, but that's what it says.

It doesn't address skipping a potential assignment from the alternates list, ie, if they can choose to skip one and stay on the list, because there's a financial obligation for the skater/team's fed to pay the difference between the cost and host "travel contribution" for more than 14 days before the event and to pay for transportation in full within 14 days of the event. The hosts can get sign-off for not replacing skaters within 7 days because of travel, visa, or other hardships, but they aren't on the hook financially. For the invited skater/team's fed, they might, for example, want to not send their skaters to an expensive destination if they can skip it and be assigned to one that is cheaper. It isn't clear what happens if an invite is declined, and if that depends on the reason given, if any.

The incentive is still to throw host spots back into the pool within the 14-day mark, especially now that they have to pick from the top of the list instead of the bottom to avoid competition for its own skaters -- they no longer have to subsidize other skaters to beat their own -- but it takes away the financial obligation to subsidize travel expenses within 14 days, and they may not care about the competition if their skaters are likely to be stronger or at the bottom of the pack anyway.

 

[Sylvia]

A bit more info on F/D here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...jected-alternates.111825/page-15#post-6661287

 

[RoseRed]

There are no distinctions in the rules for host vs. non-host skaters/teams for getting replacement events when they withdraw from their assignments . There are two explicit statements about Non-Seeded Skater/Couples, in 2.2 k and l:

"k) Non-Seeded Skaters/Couples will not be invited to another event in replacement if they choose not to skate in an assigned event.​

l) Non-Seeded Skaters/Couples will not be invited to another event in replacement if, by medical reason,they withdraw from an assigned event."​

What's never been totally clear to me is how this applies to skaters/teams who started with only one spot. If they already had two, then WD from one, it's clear that picking up another would be a replacement for the one they missed. But if they only had one, then WD from that, would picking up a spot at a later event be a replacement for the missed one, or just picking up a 2nd spot?

 

[kwanfan1818]

Historically from behavior, it would appear to be considered a replacement, ie, that once a skater/team withdraws, they are out of consideration for another GP for the rest of the season. I don't even remember seeing a skater/team who has withdrawn from a GP being assigned later as a replacement to their own host event. For example, skater/team from GP host 5 is assigned initially to GP's 1 and 6. They withdraw from GP 1, but then are assigned to 5, whether for an open spot or a host fed internal swap.

However, almost all of that history occurred before this season, where hosts could cherry pick from the bottom of the list -- never published publicly -- and which made for less competition for their own skaters.

I think the next couple of years will prove out how that works. So far, it looks like the Alternate List updates lag behind the grids, and it's harder to establish cause and effect.

 

[Sylvia]

Very that Jenna Hauer is featured as one of the University of Maryland’s “Fresh Faces for Fall 2024” :

Fresh Faces for Fall 2024

From Artists to Activists to Athletes, Meet 10 Standout First-Year Terps

today.umd.edu

Ever since she first stepped onto the ice at a “Mommy and Me” class at 3 years old, Jenna Hauer has been gliding her way to success as an international ice dancer. Originally from Northern Virginia, she moved to Connecticut and switched to online school in sixth grade to accommodate her rigorous training schedule with her partner; they landed a Team USA assignment in 2022 and a spot at Junior Worlds. In addition, she started coaching in 2021, and, inspired by her sister on the autism spectrum, she’s worked with and performed for Special Olympics athletes. Now, while Hauer is taking a break from international events, she hopes to join the Maryland Figure Skating Club as she studies business at UMD. “My life’s been so oriented toward skating—and I still want to keep that in my life—but I want to find additional things that make me who I am,” she said.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Yeah I saw people saying that USFS must know that a spot at CoC is going to open up for Bella and Vanya, but even if that is the case, to pull them from their very first GP with one day’s notice would be total bullcrap.

A lot of people on twitter don’t actually understand how anything works.

My guess would be sudden illness, injury, or family emergency.

 

[AYS]

Isabella posted and acknowledgment of their WD and thanks for support, but no explanation.

Isabella Flores on Instagram: "Hi everyone, as some of you already know, Vanya and I withdrew from our upcoming competition Skate America. We are really disappointed we won’t be there, but we’re incredibly grateful for all of the encouragement and su

23K likes, 180 comments - isabellaflores_ on October 16, 2024: "Hi everyone, as some of you already know, Vanya and I withdrew from our upcoming competition Skate America. We are really disappointed we won’t be there, but we’re incredibly grateful for all of the encouragement and support we’ve...

www.instagram.com

 

[kosjenka]

I dont understand the purpose of her instagram post. Their withdrawal is official and its just weird. All that keeps going is stirring up drama and if Morozov Chan were not the substitute, i bet it would be 90% less.

I have other thoughts but will keep them offline.

 

[Karen-W]

I dont understand the purpose of her instagram post. Their withdrawal is official and its just weird. All that keeps going is stirring up drama and if Morozov Chan were not the substitute, i bet it would be 90% less.

I have other thoughts but will keep them offline.

You know, I've got thoughts too and I'm not afraid to say them. Bella is a talented skater and has worked hard to develop quite the social media following. Superficially, she has a great personality - and that may be true in general about her - but this is twice now that something very weird and mysterious has happened with her and a major competition.

I actually don't think it would matter who was replacing them - right now Morozov/Chen appear to be the "hot" lower US top 10 that FlorDes are fighting for position with (along with WolfTsar) - but there would be uproar and anger if FlorDes was replaced by Pham/Spiridonov or Koncius/Shchepetov - the Bella fans would see them as clearly lesser & undeserving (and, in the case of PhamSpir, the anger would be directed at the fact that they're an IAM team, thus they have IAM politics behind them).

That MorChen are the replacement only gives the Bella fans additional ammunition to shoot off - they're nepo-babies, he's maybe a bad guy who discards his partners after treating them badly. They would find ammunition and reason for outrage at ANY replacement.

And, make no mistake - I mean to call these people "Bella fans" - they have yet to express any sympathy or outrage on Vanya's behalf - they care only about Bella and that makes me circle back to what I said up at the top - they became fans of her when Tsarevski mysteriously disappeared and refused to have any contact/communication with her after ending their partnership. These "Bella fans" are emotionally attached to her and her alone - she's become their avatar - and they will follow her anywhere. If she winds up with a new partner at some point down the road, this fanbase is going to follow and they will be loud, loyal, irrational, drama-loving fans. As long as she brings the drama, they're all in.

 

[Wyliefan]

Not sure what any of that has to do with what the purpose of their withdrawal might be?