US Ice Dance 2024-25 News & Updates

[Trillian]

Honestly I'm not looking forward to this. I think if they'd have come back 1-2 seasons ago I would've been more open to it, but coming back just for the Olympics (and just as USFS has well and truly moved from using you for fluff pieces and your other pursuits like book deals and YouTube are suffering from your time out of the sport) is a true copout.

I loved them when they competed, but since then I feel like they've become self-serving influencers with no real ties to skating beyond hyping up their past skating. Like, they're influencers but they're not using that influencing at all to promote the sport like retired Russian/Japanese/Korean skaters or Americans Olympians of the past. Every time there's a competition or show on TV Kristi is still out there doing the press tour even if she's not attending. Adam Rippon and Ashley Wagner have their podcast. Brian Boitano is a celebrity chef, but still promotes skating as much as he can. Polina Edmunds is bonified influencer - but she also interviews current skaters and recaps events for her fans. Meanwhile the ShibSibs didn't even really post themselves skating on social media unless it was a throwback.

It's just so weird and makes the comeback feel like it's not about the skating or love of the sport as much as it is about that $$$.

I know you might take a little heat for this post, but honestly, I’ve kept following them over the years since 2018 and I agree that their lack of obvious connections to the current U.S. skating community is…striking and unusual, at least for retired Olympic medalists. Particularly since they’re young enough to have a few former peers still competing. I’m aware of a lot of the gossip and speculation as to why, and maybe some of that is overblown. Maybe they’ve kept in touch with more people than their social media suggests. But they have given the impression over the last few years of not maintaining a lot of close connections in the sport - for whatever reason - which I’m sure is why a lot of us are surprised by this. It’s been noticeable enough to complicate the comeback narrative a little.

I liked their skating a lot back in the day and I’m interested to see what they put on the ice now. I wouldn’t bother to speculate how hard USFS is going to push them, though, because I’d imagine that will depend a lot on GP results. Let’s see how excited the international judges get first.

 

[skatfan]

Color me surprised that they are coming back as I really haven't seen them very connected to the skating world. They had seemed to be off on their own adventures (funded by family?). But hey, I loved their programs toward the end of their careers (particularly that final short dance), and it will be fascinating to see what happens.

 

[marshallpond]

Maybe the ice dance clinics they've been giving in other countries (they were in the Philippines in February 2025) made them realize they still want to compete.

 

[VGThuy]

Honestly I'm not looking forward to this. I think if they'd have come back 1-2 seasons ago I would've been more open to it, but coming back just for the Olympics (and just as USFS has well and truly moved from using you for fluff pieces and your other pursuits like book deals and YouTube are suffering from your time out of the sport) is a true copout.

I loved them when they competed, but since then I feel like they've become self-serving influencers with no real ties to skating beyond hyping up their past skating. Like, they're influencers but they're not using that influencing at all to promote the sport like retired Russian/Japanese/Korean skaters or Americans Olympians of the past. Every time there's a competition or show on TV Kristi is still out there doing the press tour even if she's not attending. Adam Rippon and Ashley Wagner have their podcast. Brian Boitano is a celebrity chef, but still promotes skating as much as he can. Polina Edmunds is bonified influencer - but she also interviews current skaters and recaps events for her fans. Meanwhile the ShibSibs didn't even really post themselves skating on social media unless it was a throwback.

It's just so weird and makes the comeback feel like it's not about the skating or love of the sport as much as it is about that $$$.

They’re kind of inactive to be seeking a career as influencers nor do they look like they are chasing sponsorships and are shilling things the way influencers need to do to make a career out it. They’ve even stop vlogging long ago. I’m sure a lot of what they do has not been documented on social media as they don’t actually post that much. They seemed more private these past few years, but have posted about public works they've been doing. I’m just amazed that somany here have been projecting all kinds of things to them, and making the worst judgments about their lives… as if they have to follow some formula for an aspirational life.

 

[Willin]

@skatfan I think they've mostly funded by their influencer careers and the books they wrote. Those books got a lot of love and press when they were released and were somewhat successful, but for whatever reason the hype died out.

I think it's sad. I think if they'd stayed retired or come back in a more sensical manner (like 1-2 seasons ago and after maintaining a more public relationship with skating) I would still see them as one of my favorite ice dance teams. They were unique in an era when everyone was trying to emulate the romance baiting of V/M except them. As bored as I got with their Coldplay three-peat (mostly adding the "fix you" snippet), each program was unique and distinctive from the field. I didn't think about them a lot because they didn't stay involved with skating, but I stayed out of the other gossip/negativity and generally had a good impression.

But this really made me recall all my annoyance at their influencing career and how USFS/USOPC has been advertising them more than many currently competing athletes. They even got a People magazine feature about them being at Paris 2024. So a lot of my lack of excitement and skepticism is about the optics of the situation - which, as I've pointed out (and @Trillian expanded on) are definitely odd.

@VGThuy Well, that's why I think it's fizzled out. They certainly have been private and out of the sport, but not without trying. Just seems they focused more on photo-ops and press than their social media. ETA: They've been doing regular "where are they now" fluff pieces other skaters don't get for USFS, Olympics.com, NBC, and various smaller news sources. A quick google shows at least a fluff piece every couple months for the last three years. Maybe because Alex was focusing on coaching and Maia was doing other stuff in LA.

 

[VGThuy]

@skatfan I think they've mostly funded by their influencer careers and the books they wrote. Those books got a lot of love and press when they were released and were somewhat successful, but for whatever reason the hype died out.

I think it's sad. I think if they'd stayed retired or come back in a more sensical manner (like 1-2 seasons ago and after maintaining a more public relationship with skating) I would still see them as one of my favorite ice dance teams. They were unique in an era when everyone was trying to emulate the romance baiting of V/M except them. As bored as I got with their Coldplay three-peat (mostly adding the "fix you" snippet), each program was unique and distinctive from the field. I didn't think about them a lot because they didn't stay involved with skating, but I stayed out of the other gossip/negativity and generally had a good impression.

But this really made me recall all my annoyance at their influencing career and how USFS/USOPC has been advertising them more than many currently competing athletes. They even got a People magazine feature about them being at Paris 2024.

@VGThuy Well, that's why I think it's fizzled out. They certainly have been private and out of the sport, but not without trying. Just seems they focused more on photo-ops and press than their social media. Maybe because Alex was focusing on coaching and Maia was doing other stuff in LA.

First thing… what Coldplay three peat? They did two FDs to Coldplay. Maybe one too many, but it wasn’t 3. Second, if they wanted to revive their influencer career, not that they ever were making a career out of it, they would have done much more public and skating related things long ago because they’ve been quiet for a long time, only sharing bits and pieces. None of us know what they’ve been doing in their lives, but it’s quite jarring for people to make these negative fan fictions about them.

 

[jlai]

I'm just waiting for the Vincent Zhou comeback announcement at this point.

I know, not ID, but it's not as if we're getting KniFraz back in pairs & we already had Alysa come back in women, so gotta play the odds with the remaining disciplines, lol.we

I'm just waiting for the Vincent Zhou comeback announcement at this point.

I know, not ID, but it's not as if we're getting KniFraz back in pairs & we already had Alysa come back in women, so gotta play the odds with the remaining disciplines, lol.

We need a comeback in men more than we do in dance or ladies so please come back Vincent!

 

[Willin]

@VGThuy Umm... We know exactly what they've been doing based on the fluff pieces? Continuing to write books, acting as AAPI organization ambassadors (and a lot of the fluff pieces are from AAPI publications), showing up at various events, doing public speaking at other events, Alex has been learning photography (and hosted at least on exhibition), they're working for LA2028, and both apparently parlayed their YouTube Channel into professional media jobs. In fact, last summer Alex told the Olympics website that while he took a break for YouTube to focus on photography, it was an escape/break.

This is not a secret. You can google the same articles I did. They're hardly that private at all. You don't do a People Magazine feature about your life if you want to be private.

They did do a Coldplay threepeat: their exhibition in 2014-2015, Fix You in 2015-2016 (done as an exhibition numerous times in subsequent seasons), and Paradise in 2017-2018.

 

[MacMadame]

Maybe the ice dance clinics they've been giving in other countries (they were in the Philippines in February 2025) made them realize they still want to compete.

If they are doing ice dance clinics, they are more connected to the skating world than some people are making out.

 

[Willin]

@MacMadame AFAIK this was exactly clinic and was done as part of their promotion of AAPI in sports. I haven't heard of or seen any other clinics they've done advertised.

 

[MacMadame]

@MacMadame AFAIK this was exactly clinic and was done as part of their promotion of AAPI in sports. I haven't heard of or seen any other clinics they've done advertised.

But Alex is said to be coaching and they are both working with various ice shows.

 

[Willin]

@MacMadame Then why are said ice shows not advertised, they don't talk about actively skating or doing ice shows in their fluff pieces, and Alex is only discussing just beginning choreography? And why do they not follow many fellow skaters and those skaters don't follow him back - including skaters where he was said to be coaching (Canton)?

The optics are just bizarre - and that's a huge part of my concern. As I said, the optics wouldn't be nearly as bad if either they a) kept a lot more open involvement in the sport and with fellow currently competing skaters and b) came back a season or two sooner.

I think part of what this forum is missing about the optics we're missing because many people here aren't on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram/TikTok or other younger places - and frankly I didn't know about this stuff until today - but lots of fans have this perception that the ShibSibs (Alex in particular) treats other skaters poorly. My personal loop hasn't heard that, but the fan conspiracy theory about 2018 goes much deeper. And this - coming back the Olympic season only - is seen by the younger skating fans as another sign of them being nasty. Again, I don't prescribe to this particular nitpik as I have no evidence of it, but I have my own reasons for thinking the optics of this are terrible.

 

[MRani]

I don’t think the Shibs “owed” anyone a continued public connection to figure skating to “deserve” a chance to come out of retirement and skate competitively again. They did more than enough to represent the sport and bring in new fans when they were actively competing imo. This is a rather high and unreasonable standard y’all are holding them to here.

Anyway I’m happy and excited for them. I don’t have any high expectations of them getting into medal contention or even making the Olympic team but just hope they skate well and have enjoyable programs

 

[Wyliefan]

I certainly bear the Shibs no ill will -- I always liked their skating -- and I don't particularly care what they have or haven't been doing, as long as it worked for them. My concern is all for the younger teams who've been working hard for the Olympics and now may get shut out. It's all very well to say "the younger teams just need to be good enough to beat them," but we all know ice dance doesn't work that way.

 

[ChelleC]

Skating never fails to bring the drama

Skating drama is the best drama ever.

 

[VGThuy]

@VGThuy Umm... We know exactly what they've been doing based on the fluff pieces? Continuing to write books, acting as AAPI organization ambassadors (and a lot of the fluff pieces are from AAPI publications), showing up at various events, doing public speaking at other events, Alex has been learning photography (and hosted at least on exhibition), they're working for LA2028, and both apparently parlayed their YouTube Channel into professional media jobs. In fact, last summer Alex told the Olympics website that while he took a break for YouTube to focus on photography, it was an escape/break.

This is not a secret. You can google the same articles I did. They're hardly that private at all. You don't do a People Magazine feature about your life if you want to be private.

They did do a Coldplay threepeat: their exhibition in 2014-2015, Fix You in 2015-2016 (done as an exhibition numerous times in subsequent seasons), and Paradise in 2017-2018.

That’s a few events in a span of like 9 years. I didn’t say they were completely private, but it’s not like they document their lives the way influencers do. There’s way more things going on in a person’s life than what they share. Like I said, they share a few public projects they’re working on. They don’t even update their social media posts as often as one would expect if they were just chasing an influencer life. Maybe you’re right, but you don’t know.

As for that other stuff… it sounds conspiracy theory-ish and sour grapes to me. We’ve all seen what the skating fandom is capable of in the name of stanning. It’s easier to paint rivals of your faves and completely nasty people because people aren’t multi-faceted.

Also, I didn’t think we were counting exhibition programs. If we were then they did a four-peat .

 

[jlai]

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

 

[Carolla5501]

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

 

[VGThuy]

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.

 

[Willin]

@Wyliefan I do wonder this... They've obviously been very successful in media, and they have made names for themselves doing non-skating stuff. Their vlogging and influencing earlier on gave them a much more successful post-skating career than most athletes.

But Ice Dance has changed quite a bit: the patterns are essentially no more, the lift requirements have changed, and IAM vs. Marina/Igor are dominating the politicking game.

@VGThuy As odd as it is to say, on my part it's less sour grapes - as I've said, I don't necessarily subscribe to the conspiracy theories of other younger fans I've seen about them being nasty people to other skaters - and more just, like, they're not giving that they actually want to skate. It's not Alysa's crazy comeback video or V/M coming back a season early when they were probably the only team that didn't need to.

I also think it's annoying to me because while they've been mostly ignoring skating, the other teams have been working their butts off year in and year out to be the number 2/3 teams and one will get bumped off a team they otherwise would've made - and based on Dillon's statement it sounds like there's a real shot that will happen. Which also sets US Ice Dance up poorly for the next quad that Olympic experience and reputation gain is valuable for the teams that go.

@Carolla5501 Nah, I'm even less excited for them. I just don't think they'll be anywhere near the podium or possibly even the French Olympic team - we don't even know if her citizenship will be fast-tracked fast enough.

 

[VGThuy]

@VGThuy As odd as it is to say, on my part it's less sour grapes - as I've said, I don't necessarily subscribe to the conspiracy theories of other younger fans I've seen about them being nasty people to other skaters -

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.

 

[Debbie S]

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

Well, I don't want to see them either, for different reasons.

I think the key point people here are making is length of time away. Guillaume has only been out of comp for 3 seasons and in that time, he did shows with Gabby and remained active in his training center by doing choreo for top teams. Laurence competed through last season and trained with Nik until his ban in Oct, so basically no time off.

 

[Stephanie]

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

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.

 

[bwayrose7]

I certainly bear the Shibs no ill will -- I always liked their skating -- and I don't particularly care what they have or haven't been doing, as long as it worked for them. My concern is all for the younger teams who've been working hard for the Olympics and now may get shut out. It's all very well to say "the younger teams just need to be good enough to beat them," but we all know ice dance doesn't work that way.

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.

 

[MRani]

I think people are over-estimating the political pull the Shibs are going to have with this comeback. They never had that much political pull to begin with even at their peak. They were always fighting the anti-sibling bias and their last season was somewhat precarious. H/D would’ve won that Olympic bronze if they skated clean. I truly think they have the most uphill of battles to even have a shot at an Olympic spot.

USFS has no reason to push them competitively when they already have such a strong ice dance line-up, but I’m sure they’ll use them for marketing and publicity as much as possible because it’s a nice story and they’re well-suited for that.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

In a choreographic elements, -5 to +5 GOE world, I don’t think Chock/Bates have much to worry about with the Shibs. Shibs’ strength was technical precision in one foot skating and edge work; they were a bit weaker on lifts, stretch, and some posture/positioning. I doubt they’ve become acrobatic specialists. If anyone has to worry about the Shibs, it’s probably Guignard/Fabbri.

I bet they can design a good concept for the RD though.

Oh, and this just feels like the right place to put this now, I’m an Alex should have kept the platinum blonde hair truther.

 

[Wyliefan]

And @VGThuy and @Dobre and anyone else who's unreservedly happy, I do want to say sorry for raining on your parade. I'm sure it must feel frustrating.

 

[MRani]

In a choreographic elements, -5 to +5 GOE world, I don’t think Chock/Bates have much to worry about with the Shibs. Shibs’ strength was technical precision in one foot skating and edge work; they were a bit weaker on lifts, stretch, and some posture/positioning. I doubt they’ve become acrobatic specialists. If anyone has to worry about the Shibs, it’s probably Guignard/Fabbri.

I bet they can design a good concept for the RD though.

Oh, and this just feels like the right place to put this now, I’m an Alex should have kept the platinum blonde hair truther.

Blasphemy! Black hair supremacy for sure!!

 

[livetoskate]

The Shibs were at the AAPI Skating Clinic during Worlds in Boston. When Alex took the microphone, he talked about how he and Maia had been teaching ice dance in the Philippines and hoped to help grow competitive teams in the Philippines. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do as competitors again.

 

[BittyBug]

I think people are over-estimating the political pull the Shibs are going to have with this comeback.

Indeed. Zoueva has basically disappeared from the sport too, so how much pull does she still have? If they were coming back to train at IAM, I might feel differently, but I don't see what kind of politics they're going to have behind them that would be greater than the advantage that so many other teams already receive because of where they train or which country they represent.

Remember all the griping about Davis and Smolkin? How they would get an unfair advantage because of Tutberidze? Didn't happen.

And Morosov and Chen were supposed to rocket to the top because of her dad's influence. Didn't happen.

So maybe wait to see what happens on the ice?