NEW CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT 2018 WORLDS

NATHAN CHEN BACKSTAGE IN THE MINES OLYMPIC GOLD MIXED IN ZONE

CANADA & U.S. REBUILD FOR NEW OLYMPIC CYCLE

RUSSIA DOMINATES JUNIOR JUNE 2018 WORLDS Elegance in Performance

www.taniabass.com MADE IN NEW YORK CITY 212-246-2277 No regrets. oficially announced his retirement from competitive skating on April 16. “Skating has been a big part of my life, and now I’m ready to take what it’s given me and transfer it over into something else, whatever that may be.”

Photo: Susan D. Russell Contents 22 Features

VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 3 | JUNE 2018

KEEGAN MESSING 6 ’s Leading Man 10 A Season of Firsts RUSSIAN REVOLUTION 12 At World Junior Championships JUMPING JUNIORS 16 New Generation: Quads and Triple Axels SYNCHRO WORLDS 18 Dominates in Sweden BACKSTAGE IN PYEONGCHANG 20 Behind the Scenes in the Olympic Mixed Zone

ON THE ON TOP OF THE WORLD COVER Ê 22 Top Names, Rising Stars Take Centre Stage at 2018 World Championships

SKATE CANADA REBUILDS 36 End of an Era: What’s Next? U.S. 39 TRANSITIONS Developing a Youthful Strategy

Departments VALLE PHOTO: FLAVIO

4 FROM THE EDITOR 44 FASHION SCORE

32 INNER LOOP 46 TRANSITIONS Reflections From Milan Moving On From the Competitive Ranks 42 THEY SAID IT Quotable Moments 48 QUICKSTEPS from 2018 Worlds

COVER PHOTO: ROBIN RITOSS

2 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 and Morgan Ciprès broke an 18-year drought for when they captured the bronze medal in pairs at the 2018 World Championships.

Photo: Flavio Valle Season Ends on High Note

hough a handful of the top competitors from the 2018 Olympic developing its men’s and ladies programs if it hopes to once again Winter Games chose not to contest the subsequent World be a major player as it was throughout the past two Olympic cycles. Championships, their absence did not diminish the event in any way. he U.S. is also in a state of transition, and given the collective he skaters that did compete in Milan put on quite the show, results of its 2018 Olympic and World Championships teams, a many earning personal bests and, in some cases, providing a glimpse new strategy is being proposed, aimed speciically at developing into what the future of skating holds. younger skaters earlier than it has in the past. I really enjoyed watching the younger skaters and teams that Rules changes are afoot for next season in both igure and were given the opportunity to show their talent and skills on such . We will not know exactly what those changes a major international stage and look forward to seeing more from will be until after the International Skating Union (ISU) Congress themjust a few months from now. takes place in June. A couple of weeks before senior Worlds the junior edition took Synchronized skating is moving closer to becoming part of the place in Soia, Bulgaria. here were a number of surprises at that Olympic program — perhaps as early as 2022 — and the ISU competition, with the standout being the two- free skate by technical committee that governs the sport plans to tighten the ’s 13-year-old . Many of the skaters from reins in many areas. Junior Worlds will be hitting the senior circuit next season, so it We hope you enjoyed the past season as much as we did. It was was another great opportunity to gain some insight into the level exhausting for many but after a few months of downtime skaters of technique and performance we will see next season. will be eager to get back into the competition arenas and we will be As with all Olympic years, retirements are aplenty so now is a just as eager to see them. Next season promises to be very interesting good time to review where Canada and the U.S. stand with respect with many new faces in national line-ups. to ielding strong national teams going forward. So far, Canada has been hit the hardest with a number of its elite Susan D. Russell, team members announcing their retirements. hough its pairs and Publisher programs are solid, will need to focus on

PUBLISHER Susan D. Russell [email protected]

NORTH AMERICAN EDITOR Robert Brodie EUROPEAN EDITOR Tatjana Flade

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4 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 French ice dancers and claimed their third World ice dance title in Milan.

Photo: Flavio Valle

Canada’s Leading Man BY ROBERT BRODIE eegan Messing became the leading man in Canadian igure skating in April, but he had already received an early education about the responsibility that comes with being No. 1. Khe 26-year-old, a dual citizen who skates for Canada but calls Alaska home, found himself in a high-pressure spot back in March at the World Championships in Milan, Italy. His teammate at that event, , did not qualify for the free skate, meaning that Messing needed a top 10 placement to earn two spots for next year’s Worlds in Saitama, . “I actually thought it was top 12 that got the (two) spots,” Messing told IFS. “But whenever I started thinking about it, it made me feel a little more nervous, so I tried not to do that. I really wanted to go out and skate my best and focus on my own worries.” Fortunately, Messing put himself in good position in the short, posting a personal best score of 93.00 that had him in eighth place. hough he placed 11th in the free, he remained eighth overall with a 252.30 total. His mission was complete. “After I was told later it was top 10 and I’d made eighth place, I was like ‘Yes! Awesome, we got it back.’ I was pretty happy we were able to keep the two spots.” With the retirement of 10-time Canadian champion Patrick Chan, Messing — the silver medalist at the 2018 Canadian Championships — is now thrust into a more prominent role heading into the 2018-2019 season. It is one he is eager to embrace. “he feeling is great, I have to say,” he said about being the new No. 1 man in Canada. “I’ve never been in this spot before, and I just want to attack the upcoming season like I did last season … I want to go into it with three quads in the long program and one or two quads in the short. I feel like I’m at the top of my game, but I feel like I still have room to grow.” Messing said he wants the quad Lutz to be the third four-revolution jump in his long program. He has been working diligently at it over the last year and if all goes as planned, it will be reined enough to bring to competition in the season ahead. hat he inds himself in this position is a testament to hard work. He said he barely took a break after the 2016- 2017 season ended. Messing also credits choreographer Lance Vipond with improving his on-ice presentation. “Lance got me to cut my hair and style it for the short program and got me to really engulf a character this year in how I took to the ice, how I presented myself, or even just approached a competition,” Messing explained. “He really changed the way I thought about doing some of the things that I had always done. He literally has been the biggest help to me.” Messing also beneits from a 20-year partnership with his coach, Ralph Burghart, a seven-time Austrian champion who competed at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. Burghart is based in Anchorage, Alaska, where Messing spends the majority of his training time. “Ralph has been a second father igure to me,” said

PHOTOS: SUSAN D. RUSSELL Messing. “We know each other so well at this point. We

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 7 have that experience together so that ive rings. said Messing. we can really ine-tune my training. He “It was like living a dream,” he said. “I “Then getting on the ice, my eyes knows how my body works, I know how was there for three weeks and it did not feel wandered from him to the corner and his training works and we know what to like three weeks … it was such an amazing they had the giant rings up there. hen expect from each other. I feel like that’s a experience and the camaraderie (among the the thought went through my head ‘I’m positive thing to have.” athletes) was absolutely amazing.” about to have my Olympic skate.’ It was Burghart who delivered the Messing can recall with precision the “I almost started crying right there, and I biggest news of Messing’s career in January, moment that he stepped onto the ice for had to bring myself back. I just told myself, when he relayed the message that he had his Olympic debut in the short program in ‘you’re going to perform and have a great made the Canadian Olympic team. PyeongChang, . time.’ But just stepping out on the ice and Two months later Messing still inds “I remember stepping up to the ice rink, seeing the crowd … it was incredible.” it overwhelming to talk about his irst all dressed up, and getting ready and I was Messing placed 10th in the short program experience competing beneath the clapping for the guy who skated before me,” and, though he slipped to 12th in the inal

8 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 standings, he produced personal best scores for both the free skate (170.32) and overall (255.43). “I made a couple SILVER BLADE TOURS, INC. of mistakes but all in all, I had such a great time skating my long program,” said Messing. “I nailed both quads and Skating Tour Experts for I nailed a triple Axel at the end of my program, and I was 37 Years! able to perform to my fullest extent. It was incredible. “I got of the ice feeling like I accomplished what I went DELUXE TOUR PACKAGES there to do, just to go out and skate as well as I possibly TO SKATING EVENTS IN THE U.S. & AROUND THE WORLD! could and have fun with my Olympic dream.” What made the occasion even more enjoyable was that 2018 SKATE 2019 U.S. his parents, Bob and Sally, his older brother Tanner and his AMERICA CHAMPIONSHIPS girlfriend Lane Hodson were in the stands at Gangneung EVERETT, WASHINGTON DETROIT, MICHIGAN Ice Arena to watch him skate. All were able to attend thanks OCTOBER 19-21, 2018 JAN 19-27, 2019 to a fundraiser held in his hometown of Girdwood, Alaska. 2018 SKATE 2019 FOUR “We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to send my CANADA CONTINENTS family to the Olympics,” said Messing. “But we got so much LAVAL, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 26-28, 2018 support from my hometown … Having them all there just FEBRUARY 4-10, 2019 made the entire experience that much cooler.” 2018 GRAND 2019 WORLD hough he was born in Alaska, both Messing’s mother PRIX FINAL CHAMPIONSHIPS , CANADA SAITAMA, JAPAN and grandmother are Canadian, which is how he is able to DECEMBER 5-9, 2018 MARCH 18-24, 2019 represent the country internationally. He competed for the U.S. for several years but said making Claudyne Cassella Hutchinson the choice to switch to Canada “was the best decision I’ve TEL: (386) 943-4071 - FAX: (386) 738-2512 ever made in my life. hey (Skate Canada) stood behind me 2672 FLOWING WELL ROAD, DELAND, FL 32720-8903 USA instantly and helped me out. After all that, I felt so much [email protected] pride to put the maple leaf on and represent Canada to the www.silverbladetours.com best of my ability.” Messing has become known for the light-hearted programs he brings to the ice and there is a good chance EXPERIENCE THE THRILL AND EXCITEMENT he will keep his Charlie Chaplin-themed long program for OF LIVE COMPETITION! the upcoming season. He is a show skater at heart he said. “That’s honestly where a big part of my passion in skating lies. hat’s something I’ve really tried to grasp in my competitive skating — treat a competition as a show and WILLY BIETAK PRODUCTIONS, INC. CASTING go out and give an entertaining performance. Just because it’s competitive, just because it’s serious, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it. “I kind of forget that sometimes, until I go back out on the ice and perform again. I get on the ice, I hear the crowd and I just have this sense of joy in performing my program. It’s such an incredible feeling to step on the ice and really do what I love to do, and just see how it makes people happy that I do it.” Messing’s current plan is to continue competing for two more seasons, but the experience at the Olympics has him also thinking he might want a little more than that. “Right now, at this point, I would love to hit four more NOW CASTING: years. As much fun as the Olympics were, I would love • Male and Female Soloists to make it to (in 2022), put the maple leaf back • Pair/Adagio Skaters • Dance Teams on and represent Canada the way I represented it at the • Comedy and Variety Acts PyeongChang Olympics,” he said. For our worldwide award- “But right now, my plan is to go two years, then assess winning productions and things and see how much (more) young talent comes on to Royal Caribbean cruise ships the scene. Just in the last four years, the amount of talent that has emerged in our sport has been astronomical. Please send a current skating video, resume and photo to: “But honestly, if I can keep going out onto the ice and Sylvia Froescher, Producer having fun — putting down solid performances and making [email protected] the crowd excited for what I do — I think it will be worth 1404 Third St. Promenade, Ste. 200 Santa Monica, CA 90401 For more information, visit IFS it for me.” Phone: (310) 576-2400 BietakProductions.com/casting

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 9

BRADIE TENNELL $6ƞƚƬƨƧƨƟ)ƢƫƬƭƬ BY SUSAN D. RUSSELL

A year ago Bradie Tennell could not have imagined she would be leading the life she is today. hough she had dreamed of being successful in her skating career, it was not until last season that she inally had a breakthrough. After winning the 2015 U.S. junior title, Tennell found no success on the international stages, placing 11th and seventh, respectively, at her two World Junior Championships appearances in 2016 and 2017. At the end of the 2016 season Tennell sufered a stress fracture in her back that required her to wear a brace. he injury reoccurred the following year and once again she was of the ice in a brace. hough frustrating at times, Tennell dealt with those back problems, knowing that other athletes had come back from far worse injuries. With just one senior competition under her belt — 2016 Trophy where she claimed the bronze medal — Tennell moved into the senior ranks fulltime for the 2017-2018 season. She won her first competition, the Philadelphia Summer Championships, in September 2017. Two months later, she captured bronze at , her irst and only senior Grand Prix event. It was her success in Lake Placid that brought her to everyone’s attention and placed her squarely in the Olympic discussion. Overnight, Tennell went from being a virtual unknown to someone many were predicting could earn the third spot on the 2018 U.S. Olympic team. She lived up to the hype, winning the 2018 U.S. national title over and . hat victory assured her a place on the 2018 U.S. Olympic team. Tennell described her irst trip to the Winter Games as surreal. “I grew up watching the Olympics so walking in the opening ceremony, seeing all the lights and the lame was a lot of fun. he stadium was packed and the light show was incredible. To be there to see it was amazing. It was neat to see all the diferent athletes coming together in one place to celebrate all the sports. It was just a very cool experience not many people get to have.” Tennell made her Olympic debut in the short program in the Team Event, skating into ifth place and earning the second highest technical score of the segment. Team USA went on to claim the bronze medal.

It was an experience she said she would never forget. “It was PHOTOS: SUSAN D. RUSSELL a little nerve wracking because my team explore a little bit and see diferent events. Tennell’s success earned her a place on was relying on me, but that was my irst I got them into the Athletes Village so they the U.S. tour, another irst. “It is Olympic performance. It was incredible to got to see that and kind of see what living very diferent to what I was expecting — I go out there and see the rings on the ice there was like. I got to go out with them don’t really know what I was expecting, but and when you looked up at the rafters, there for a Korean barbeque one night, which it is a lot of fun,” she said. “It is challenging were the rings again. I had butterlies before was a lot of fun. because you are constantly on the road. I my program but once the music started I “It was the irst trip outside the U.S. for feel like I am home for three days and gone just got wrapped up in the performance. It my brothers. Going overseas to an Asian for four days. But I love experiencing new was crazy but it was so much fun, and the country … it was like a whole diferent things like this and what a year to do it.” crowd was amazing. world for them. But they got to see a little On her days off Tennell continues “Skating is such an individual sport so bit of what the world is like and I was very to train in preparation for next season. being part of a team is a unique thing. It was happy to be able to share that experience She has made no decisions about what a very special experience that I am so happy with them.” her new programs will be, or who will I got to be part of. Standing on the choreograph them. medal podium watching the American Tennell said she is a person who lag being raised was probably one of likes to take each moment as it comes my favorite moments of the entire along and not get ahead of herself. “I Olympics. I was speechless standing took last season one step at a time. there — it was the most incredible When I medaled at Skate America I feeling. I was so happy. It was really a was not looking ahead to nationals or dream come true.” anything else. First to skate the short program in “You can only control what you are the individual event, Tennell, who doing in the moment so thinking about is known for her consistency and as the future, or stressing about the future someone who never falls, did just that is not really productive.” — losing the landing on the second Though her life has changed jump of her opening triple Lutz-triple dramatically from a year ago, Tennell toe combination and crashing to the said she believes that while all the ice. “he Olympics does funny things,” experiences of last season made her a the 20-year-old from Carpentersville, better skater, she still remains the same Illinois said with a laugh. person she was before. Tennell ranked 11th in that segment, “Now I just have a couple of new qualifying for the free. Aside from two titles in front of my name. It has given under-rotation calls, she skated a clean me more conidence and I have grown long program, and at the end of the up a little bit more. It has been a lot competition sat in ninth, ahead of her of fun. It is hard to describe actually. two teammates, Nagasu and Chen who “I think it (my success) has taken my placed 10th and 11th, respectively. mom a little bit by surprise as well. She “When I’m skating my long program has always been right there with me I go on auto-pilot,” she said. “I had and always believed in me. I know that trained that program so many times wherever I go she will be there, right that I knew what every beat in the behind me supporting me all the way.” music was and where I should be on here were times throughout the that beat.” season — Tennell admitted — when Tennell, who shared a room in the he short turnaround time from the she had to pinch herself to be sure this was Athletes Village with U.S. ice dancer end of the Olympic Winter Games to the all really happening. “here were so many , likened the experience start of the World Championships in Italy great moments last season — hugging my to living in a college dormitory. “I met a was also a new experience for Tennell. “It mother after I found out I won nationals, lot of diferent people from many diferent was very diicult. You don’t get very much looking up into the rafters and seeing the countries and I got to trade pins and downtime after the Olympics, so to come Olympic rings after I inished my irst made some new friends. It was a very cool home and start training right away was short program (in PyeongChang) are two experience and a lot of fun.” extremely challenging,” she said. of them,” Tennell said. She was grateful her mother and two Despite that, Tennell placed sixth in “his season has really been a season of brothers were also able to make the trip to Milan, once again the highest-ranking irsts for me and I’m very proud of the way Korea, courtesy of United Airlines who lady of the three American entries that I’ve handled it and skated. gave her family three free air tickets. competed. “That was my first time in “I had always dreamed about it, but to “My family loved the Olympic Milan and I loved it,” she said. “It was have it happen has been a crazy whirlwind. experience. It was a lot of fun for them,” very beautiful and the shopping is, of I think there’s a lot in store for me in said Tennell. “hey got to go out and course, fabulous.” the future.” IFS

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 11 Russian at the 2018 Wor ld

BY TATJANA FLADE

The World Junior Championships can be likened WRDFU\VWDOEDOORIƓJXUHVNDWLQJŋVRPHWLPHV\RX VHHWKHIXWXUHEULJKWDQGFOHDUDQGVRPHWLPHV it is not so obvious. Many skaters who shine at the junior level often QHYHUƓQGVXFFHVVLQWKHVHQLRUUDQNV Then there are those who did not stand out LQWKHMXQLRUUDQNVEXWULVHWRWKHWRSDWWKH senior level. -XQLRU:RUOGVLVDOZD\VDQH[FLWLQJFRPSHWLWLRQ It provides an opportunity to discover new WDOHQWLWRIIHUVDSUHYLHZRIWKHIXWXUHRIƓJXUH VNDWLQJŋDQGWKHUHDUHDOZD\VVXUSULVHV. Russia dominated the 2018 World Junior &KDPSLRQVKLSVLQ6RƓD%XOJDULDFDSWXULQJDOO IRXUWLWOHV WKHƓUVWWLPHVLQFH DQGWRRN KRPHQLQHRIWKHPHGDOVDZDUGHG,WDO\ Japan and the U.S. claimed one medal each. With many of the skaters that competed in Alexandra Trusova 6RƓDPRYLQJXSQH[WVHDVRQWKHUHZLOOEHDORW RIQHZIDFHVJUDFLQJWKHVHQLRUFLUFXLWWKLVIDOO

12 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 Revolution Junior Championships

istory was made in of Japan was a surprise as she did not performances in , placing fourth Soia when 13-year-old qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final overall, she was sent to senior Worlds Alexandra Trusova of last December. in Milan as the substitute for Evgenia Russia became the irst In Sofia, however, she skated clean Medvedeva. Her progress is hindered by female skater to land a with her usual arsenal of triple jumps. he the fact that she struggles with under- Hquad toe loop in competition — 15 years 15-year-old student of Machiko Yamada rotations and inconsistency. and three months after Japan’s and Mihoko Higuchi, who trains with South Korea has a few up and coming landed a quad Salchow, the irst and, until , is age eligible for the senior ladies, such as Eunsoo Lim and Young You, now, only lady to land a four-revolution level next year. who inished ifth and ninth, respectively. jump in competition. Stanislava Konstantinova, 17, is a Japan’s did not skate her best But Trusova went one better, also talented skater from St. Petersburg who in Soia. She popped two planned triple landing a second quad, a Salchow, in trains with Valentina Chebotareva (the Axels into singles and inished eighth. her long program, making her the irst coach of ). Lim and Kihira are age-eligible for female skater to include two quad jumps Though she did not have her best seniors next season. in a competitive program. Twenty of the 44 ladies in Soia went for a triple-triple combination, and those at the top are pushing the technical envelope to set themselves apart from the rest. Trusova won with a score (225.52) that would have had her second in the junior men’s event and, considering the men have one more jumping pass and a diferent component-scoring factor, she actually would have won the men’s competition ahead of her teammate Alexey Erokhov. Trusova was a standout, but the overall level at Junior Worlds was high, just as it was in many other junior competitions last season. , 14, who trains with Trusova under Eteri Tutberidze, Sergei Dudakov and Daniil Gleikhengauz in , was a close second in the short program and inished second overall. She is already an artistic skater and is also determined to up the ante technically. In Sofia, Kostornaia came armed with two triple-triples and one three- jump combination. Trusova and Kostornaia will not be Alexey Erokhov age eligible for senior-level competitions until the 2019-2020 season so both could dominate the junior ranks again next season. Bronze medalist

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 13 INCONSISTENT MEN Krasnozhon won the short program, under-rotated triple Lutz. Interestingly enough, there were not as but had to withdraw at the start of his he free skate went much better and many quads in the men’s event at Junior free skate after injuring his ankle on a the 18-year-old, who is coached by Tom Worlds as one might have expected. quad Salchow attempt. Zakrajsek, moved up from 17th to sixth he men with multiple quads who were Canada has a new hope in Joseph place overall. last year’s medalists — of Phan. he 16-year-old from Montréal, , also from the U.S., the U.S. and the two Russians, Dmitri who trains under Yvan Desjardins and was the World Junior bronze medalist Aliev and Alexander Samarin — had Violaine Émard, soared from 14th in the in 2016, but he has struggled with moved up to the senior level. short to fourth overall, ranking third in consistency ever since. Junior men are not allowed to include the free skate. He attempted a quad toe, However, his seventh-place finish, quads in their short programs. but it was not clean. combined with Pulkinen’s result, secured Erokhov, 18, was second in the short program behind of the U.S., but he claimed the title, adding a third medal to the collection won by Tutberidze’s group at this event. He is the irst Russian man to win the World Junior title since Andrei Griazev in 2004. Though Erokhov had three quads planned in his long program — two toes and a Salchow — he executed the Salchow and one toe but tripled the second attempt. He also made other errors and, like most of the men these days, he lacks consistency. he Russian junior champion plans to turn senior next season, although he is still eligible to compete in juniors for another year. Russia has another promising talent in . he 14-year-old from Volgograd moved to Moscow last year to train at Elena Vodorezova’s (Buianova) club, where training conditions are better. He has no quad yet, but has solid triples including the Axel and strong presentation and skating skills. Danielian stood in eighth following the short program after falling on his combination jump, but rallied with a clean free to take the silver medal. He will stay in the junior ranks and is targeting and the top of the podium next year. Matteo Rizzo, a solid skater who is improving year by year, became the from Moscow, who three spots for the U.S. at the 2019 World irst Italian man to medal at a World inished ifth, is a strong jumper with Junior Championships. Junior Championships. a triple Axel, and two quads — toe and he 19-year-old wanted to use this last Salchow — but he falls short in other QUANTUM LEAP opportunity to win a medal and he did — aspects of his skating. It will not be easy In Sofia, 17 pairs teams from 12 although he knows mining bronze was a for the 18-year-old to make the national nations competed. lucky strike. team in Russia at the senior level. It was inspiring to see not only those Rizzo ranked sixth in both segments, After winning silver at the Junior from the major players such as Russia, but when of Japan, third Grand Prix Final, China, Canada and the U.S., but also after the short, struggled in the free and of the U.S. was a medal contender at from countries with less tradition in the dropped to ninth, and the skaters who Junior Worlds, but that opportunity discipline such as Japan, Spain and Israel. ranked fourth and ifth after the short, was lost after a faulty short program in For the irst time in the event’s history fell to eighth and 11th, respectively, Rizzo which he did only a double lip-double one nation — Russia — swept the ended up in third place. toe combination and stumbled on an pairs podium.

14 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 Daria Pavliuchenko and Denis DANCE DOMINANCE Khodykin from Moscow took the In ice dance, Russia and gold ahead of two teams from St. the U.S. confirmed their Petersburg, and dominance in the discipline, Dmitri Ialin, and and taking six of the top seven Aleksandr Galiamov. spots in Sofia. Canada Mishina was the only skater of these managed to sneak in one six who had previously competed at a couple in fourth place, that World Junior Championships, winning being and the silver medal in 2016 with former . partner Vladislav Mirzoev. Last year’s Interestingly, the three silver medalists, Aleksandra Boikova and Russian teams and trio of Dmitrii Kozlovskii, did not qualify for this American couples all come event at Russian junior nationals. his once from different skating again shows the depth in Russian pairs. schools and all the top he top teams now all have side-by- schools were represented side triple jumps, as well as three-jump at these Championships: combinations in their programs that are Svetlana Alexeeva and far more diicult than those attempted by Elena Kustarova (Moscow); some of their senior counterparts. (Novi, The top two teams went for three Michigan); Marie-France triples in the free skate: a triple toe- Dubreuil, triple toe sequence and a triple Salchow and Romain Haguenauer by Pavliuchenko and Khodykin; and a (Montréal); Irina Zhuk triple Salchow-single loop-triple Salchow and Alexander Svinin sequence and a triple toe by Kostiukovich (Moscow); Elena Novak, and Ialin, who also executed a quad twist. Alexei Kiliakov and Dmitri hey were the only ones to attempt this Ilin (Rockville, Maryland); element in Soia. As with the jumps, a and triple twist has become the standard for (Canton, Michigan). junior pairs now. Alexei Gorshkov from It is likely all three Russian teams will Odintsovo, Russia, is back remain in the junior ranks next season. in the club with bronze Whether any or all make it out of 2019 medalists Arina Ushakova Russian junior nationals remains to be seen. and Maxim Nekrasov. and of Gorshkov had a lot of the U.S. also attempted three side-by-side success with two-time Anastasia Skoptcova and triple jumps in their long program. heir World champions Albena ifth place inish was impressive, given that Denkova and Maxim the duo only had three junior Grand Prix Staviski of Bulgaria (2006-2007) and Skoptcova and Aleshin age out of juniors events under their belt prior to making Russia’s and Maxim this year and will move up to the senior their debut at Junior Worlds. Shabalin, before they switched to Natalia level. he other leading teams will still be China’s Yumeng Gao and Zhong Xie Linichuk. However, in the past few years junior age eligible next season and most have made a lot of progress since they won he has not had any top students. will likely not move up as the competition the bronze medal in their Junior Worlds The new champions, Anastasia in their respective countries at the senior debut in 2017. However, this time they Skoptcova and Kirill Aleshin, who train level is very strong. had to settle for fourth place, mainly under Alexeeva and Kustarova, delivered However, everyone else except Russia because they only attempted a double toe strong performances and won by more than and the U.S. needs to catch up. In combination due to an injury and their seven points. addition to Canada, only France, Georgia triple Salchow was downgraded. he expected duel with their strongest and Germany were able to place a team The pairs are not only progressing rivals and Anthony in the top 10. And the Georgian duo of technically. he Pavliuchenko-Khodykin Ponomarenko of the U.S. who are coached Maria Kazakova and Georgy Reviya, who and Kostiukovich-Ialin duos also showed by Shpilband, izzled after Ponomarenko inished in a surprising ninth place, are interesting and innovative choreography missed a in the leaving actually from Russia, where they also train. and transitions. the couple in sixth. Russia and the U.S. were the only The International Skating Union hey made up ground with a strong free countries to earn three ice dance spots for development program for pairs that dance, but were too far behind to really the 2019 World Junior Championships. was started more than 10 years ago is threaten the Russians. he American team Canada, France, Georgia and Germany bearing fruit. placed second overall. each earned two. IFS

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 15 NEXT GENERATION: JumpingQUADS Juniors & TRIPLE AXELS BY TATJANA FLADE

here have been many heated debates over the past two seasons with respect to the number of Tquads senior men have been including in their programs. Some feel this is a sign of the sport’s evolution and applaud those pushing it to a higher level. Others feel it detracts from the programs and sacriices artistry, which makes them less enjoyable to watch. hat quad trend has extended to the junior ranks — albeit at a much slower pace — but it picked up speed this past season, particularly with some of the junior ladies. It is interesting to note that when Japan’s Miki Ando executed a quad Salchow at the Junior Grand Prix Final in 2002, it did not lead to a wave of ladies attempting quads. here were several reasons for that. As with the men, the introduction of the International Judging System (IJS) shifted the attention from jumps to other elements such as spins and footwork, and also to the skills that are graded in the program component scores (PCS). After that historical leap, Ando herself rarely attempted a quad Salchow in competition, and only a few ladies during that decade began working on triple Axels — Japan’s being the most notable. Triple-triple combinations also came out of the junior ranks. landed the irst — a triple toe loop-triple toe loop combination at the 1982 World Junior Championships. Alena Kostornaia In subsequent years, only the top ladies who were challenging for medals included triple-triple combinations in their programs, but as the sport has evolved it is now almost a necessity to qualify for either of the Grand Prix Finals or to be competitive at a Championship event, especially in the junior ranks. Alexandra Trusova, Russia’s 13-year-old PHOTOS: SUSAN D. RUSSELL

16 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 wunderkind, who landed two quads in her free skate at the 2018 World Junior Championships, is not the only one working on triple Axels and the four- revolution jumps. Japan’s Rika Kihira, 15, has been practicing quad toes and has landed triple Axels in competition. Less than a month after winning silver at Junior Worlds, Russia’s Alena Kostornaia, 14, landed a triple Axel in practice with online video footage providing the proof. Trusova has attempted a quad Lutz and though the one I saw seemed under-rotated, it was still impressive. South Korea’s Young You, 13, recently posted a video of herself on Instagram landing a triple Axel-triple toe combination. The fact that these young ladies are executing these jumps proves that it is not only the men who can do them, and their success will encourage others to start learning them. Indeed, just as triple-triple combinations have become almost a requirement in the junior ranks, the triple Axel and the quads may not be too far behind. Some observers believe that the current crop of teenage ladies will lose their quads and triple Axels once they hit puberty. Alexandra Trusova Rika Kihira However, Ito, Asada and Mirai Nagasu of the U.S. as well as Russia’s landed triple Axels well past puberty and, in the case of Tuktamysheva are taking the next step to learn more Alexei Krasnozhon, a Russian-born and Nagasu, only started doing the triple difficult elements. But that’s not only skater who competes for the U.S., has Axel at the senior level. the case in Russia. In Japan, Rika Kihira been working on the quad loop and Obviously, the physical health of the does a triple Axel and Mirai Nagasu does quad Salchow. skaters is a primary concern for coaches it, although she is not the youngest and he 2018 World junior silver medalist who need to ensure that injury prevention smallest skater.” Artur Danielian of Russia, 14, and bronze comes irst. his, however, seems to be an analogous medalist Matteo Rizzo of Italy did not “A lot will depend on the athletes development for the men who have started attempt a quad at Junior Worlds, but they, themselves,” said Daniil Gleikhengauz, to train a number of diferent quads over like most of the other men, are working on who coaches in Eteri Tutberidze’s group the past few years. the four-revolution jumps. in Moscow. “If they continue to look after It is interesting to note that the current At Junior Worlds, no one attempted themselves, their nutrition, work as they generation of junior men has fewer quads more than two quads, and all were the toe have to, then they won’t get out of shape. in their arsenals than the top senior men. or Salchow. “Obviously, if a girl grows tall to say 180 Alexey Erokhov, the 2018 World Junior Depending on what rule changes the cm (5-foot-9), it will be tough for her to do champion from Russia who is also coached ISU Congress adopts at its annual meeting a quad. But with normal height it should be by Tutberidze, Gleikhengauz and Sergei this summer, the junior men might not ine. But there are no examples yet, so we Dudakov, has the quad toe and quad be chasing quads so much going forward. have nothing to compare. We will have to Salchow in his arsenal, but he has also he rule changes should not afect the see and watch Sasha (Trusova) and others.” landed other quads in practice. ladies, however, as it is unlikely that any International Skating Union (ISU) vice “I’ve tried already the loop and the lip. will attempt four or more quads in their president Alexander Lakernik, who hails I did them in practice before the (2017) programs anytime soon. from Russia, agrees. Junior Grand Prix Final,” he said. “But then But, if their development follows the “With the right technique the jumps are I had a little injury and we put them aside. pattern of the men, we will probably see not lost, even when the girls are growing. “Now we’ll get these jumps and I’ll try female skaters including a triple Axel and he girls, especially in Eteri Tutberidze’s to do them consistently. Maybe I’ll show one or two quads in their programs in the group, are correctly taught,” he said. “hey them next season, but I can’t tell for sure.” not too distant future. IFS

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 17 TEAM MARIGOLD ICE UNITY Synchronicity FINLAND CLAIMS 2018 WORLD CROWN

he World Synchronized Skating all synchro teams compete both the short marks for performance, composition and TChampionships celebrated its 19th and long programs. Each team comprises interpretation — and mined gold with a anniversary in , Sweden 16 skaters, plus alternates. With so many combined score of 209.02. his marked in early April. hough it was the third time people to manage, strict schedules are set the ifth time an MIU team had claimed that nation had hosted the event, it was the for entry and exit of the dressing rooms, the a World title, previously winning in 2002, irst time the Championships was held in ice, and the kiss and cry to keep the event 2004, 2006 and 2014. its capital city. moving along at an even pace. “We have never skated in front of such In almost two decades at the World level, In the first eight years the World an amazing crowd. It was so wonderful. Finland has been a dominant force, with Synchronized Championships were held, We want to thank all the Swedish people three separate teams winning a combined Sweden’s Team Surprise and Finland’s that made this competition amazing,” said 22 medals, eight of which were gold. Team Marigold Ice Unity (MIU) domin- Team captain Camilla Sundgren. With 25 teams representing 20 Inter- ated the sport, winning every title from To the delight of the hometown crowd, national Skating Union (ISU) members 2000 to 2007. This year, for the fifth Team Surprise inished a close second, contesting the 2018 Championships time, the teams placed one-two in the earning 135.16 points for its “Mother there was a lot of action on and of the inal standings. Nature - Planet Earth” long program and ice in Stockholm. The sport enjoys a Team MIU, third after the short 207.99 points in total. “We worked hard for strong following in the Nordic countries, program, won the title with an innovative this,” said team captain Nathalie Lindqvist, particularly Sweden and Finland, but and technically demanding long program, who was excited that the event was shown many fans from Spain, France and other “Integration From Azul,” which was live on Swedish television for the irst European nations were in the stands to set to music from water themed shows. time. “hat is very important that we are cheer on their favorite teams. he team earned 136.41 points for the showing our sport in the media to become

Unlike the igure skating disciplines, long program — with 13 perfect 10.0 perhaps in the future an Olympic sport.” PHOTOS: ELINA PAASONEN

18 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 With six World titles and a total of 12 medals accumulated over an 18-year period (with various formations), Team Surprise is now the most decorated in synchronized skating history. Russia’s Team Paradise, the two-time and defending World champions, skated 15th out of the 25 entries in the short and at the end of the segment remained in irst place. But errors in its “Age of Heroes” free skate, including an aborted lift by four members in the second group lift, dropped the team to fourth in the segment. It held on to capture bronze with a combined total of 200.97 points. “Today we made some mistakes but all bad experiences will be good in the future for us. We will go back and work harder,” said team captain Elya Matveeva. Despite the success the St. Petersburg team has enjoyed on the world stage, synchronized skating is still not popular in Russia. “Our team is trying to develop the sport in our country and we hope in the future all Russian people will have fun like in Finland and Sweden,” Matveeva explained. Finland’s Team Unique, third in the free, placed fourth overall with 196.37 points. Canada’s Team Les Suprêmes inished ifth with 192.88 points followed by Team Tartarstan from Russia in sixth (192.46 points). Team Haydenettes of the U.S. dropped from fourth to seventh (191.19) and Canada’s Nexxice, the 2017 World bronze medalists, placed eighth (190.45 points). he 2019 World Synchronized Championships TEAM SURPRISE will be held April 12-14 in , Finland. SPORT GEARS UP FOR POSSIBLE 2022 OLYMPIC DEBUT

With the distinct possibility that teams ielding less than the required 16 “Another issue has been that some synchronized skating will become an skaters will be hit with a heavy ive-point programs have become more theatre on Olympic sport in 2022, the International penalty that will be deducted from the ice. he ISU has a separate recreational Skating Union (ISU) Synchroized Skating inal score. division for theatre on ice, which we do not Technical Committee unveiled signiicant As with the other disciplines, intend to merge (with this one).” rule changes at its annual meeting in April. synchronized teams will be required to Programs will also now include a he proposed changes will need to be commence a program within the mandated (such as steps, approved at the ISU Congress in June and, 30-second timeline. Failing to do so will turns, spirals, spread eagles, Ina Bauers once adopted, the new rules will go into result in a deduction of one point. and ). efect starting with the 2018-2019 season. If a team does not start its program Also proposed is a change to the grade Following the outcry from the synchro within 60 seconds, it will be considered of execution scores. As with the other world over a 2017 World Championships withdrawn and will not be permitted skating disciplines, the range will be from victory by Russia’s Team Paradise with only to compete. a plus 5 for an element executed at a high 15 skaters competing, teams will no longer he ISU is also enforcing the “team” level to a minus 5 for an element that is be permitted to contest any Championship aspect of synchronized skating by im- poorly executed. event with less than the required 16 skaters. plementing guidelines that require all Facial adornments, such as rhinestones, If a skater is injured or unable to continue skaters performing a program to execute feathers, etc., are now strictly forbidden. a program once it has begun and the team elements or moves that are connected. “One of the things we are ensuring continues with less than 16 skaters, it will “here has been a tendency for programs (with these changes) is that the sport is incur a deduction. Any skater claiming to have 16 skaters who happen to be on moving forward in the right direction,” illness or injury will have to be cleared by the ice at the same time, but not really Buchanan said. an ISU medical oicer and not by one of performing a program together. his is a “We have to be conscious that, hopefully, its own choosing. team sport,” technical committee chairman this is becoming an Olympic sport — and For other international competitions, Christopher Buchanan explained. it is a sport, not a show.”

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 19 MANNING THE OLYMPIC MIXED ZONE

BY JAMES COWLING

had the good fortune to work as the a igure or short track skater more than written in a very short period of time to ile Mixed Zone Supervisor for igure an hour to get through the television and with their respective publications. Iskating and short track speed skating press interviews in the mixed zone at the For each event, I had to decide where in at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. . Talk about pressure! the mixed zone to put them. If I thought Although I had worked at four previous In theory, my job was pretty straight- there were going to be a lot of journalists, Games for the Olympic News Service, this forward. Accompany the skaters as they then they had to go into a bigger space was my irst time in this position. walk through a maze of aisles with a wall near a speaker. he role of a Mixed Zone Supervisor on one side and a barrier that separates the We often had athletes use a microphone primarily involves guiding athletes athletes from the press on the other. because it was hard to hear them through a restricted area where the writing Athletes stop at various places along without one. press wait to speak to them about their the way to answer questions posed by If a journalist couldn’t hear every single competitive performances immediately journalists.In reality, it was a little more word they would shout: “Speak up, I can’t after they leave the kiss and cry. Basically, complicated. First of all, there were the hear,” or “Can you turn the speaker up?” it is the place where athletes and journalists egos and sometimes divas to deal with With only one entrance, used by both ‘mix.’ — and those were just the journalists. In athletes and journalists, I had to be always While a igure skating short program or PyeongChang, there were between 200 conscious that they were not blocking the a 500-metre race in short track may take and 300 print journalists covering igure narrow pathway that everyone used to 2 minutes and 40 seconds and 1 minute skating and short track. In fairness, they come to and go from the area, which was and 30 seconds, respectively, it could take had deadlines and needed to get stories sometimes not an easy task. PHOTOS: JAMES COWLING

20 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 The Russian journalists were bronze medalist. On two occasions I the most patient as many Olympic had to ask a Canadian coach to leave. Athletes From Russia walked She subsequently asked someone right by them, both figure and from Skate Canada who I was and short track, without saying a word. then said, “I don’t like him.” While athletes are required to go Sorry, but it’s all about keeping through the mixed zone, they are order, otherwise it would be chaos not obligated to speak to anyone. for the journalists and the athletes. On more than one occasion, all he reason coaches and others are the Russian journalists got was a not permitted to be in the mixed zone “nyet” (no). is to allow the athletes to speak freely America’s was one about any subject and not be swayed of the biggest hits with journalists. into talking to some journalists and hey couldn’t wait for him to arrive not to others. in the mixed zone and when he did, One of the most amusing moments he had them eating out of the palm was when the Dutch press attaché of his hand and laughing most of handed Suzanne Schulting, a short the time at various and sundry track skater from the Netherlands, comments he made about his life. a mobile phone as she was walking Rippon is very media savvy and he through the mixed zone after her win used this platform to his advantage. in the women’s 1000-metre race. I had the most sympathy for “What’s going on?” I asked. “It’s Gabriella Papadakis of France as the King,” the attaché whispered. she walked through the mixed zone Although I let the athlete talk to after her costume malfunction in the King, I told her to make it quick the short dance. as the Dutch journalists were waiting. She was asked time after time Good thing the King was only on the about her costume failure. You telephone and not there in person. It could tell the mixed zone was of course, . Anticipating would have been tough to ask him the last place she wanted to be, but she the number of journalists that would want to leave. remained stoic. Her partner, Guillaume to speak to him after his irst session in It was a challenging job, but all in all, Cizeron, did most of the talking. the practice arena, the Japanese federation it was a great experience with journalists hen there was the Canadian, Gabrielle decided Hanyu would just walk through getting great material and writing many Daleman. After a seventh-place inish the mixed zone on that occasion and not excellent stories. Mission accomplished. in the short program, a disastrous free say anything. skate left in her in 15th place overall. Her he following day, a press conference appearance in the mixed zone was delayed was held so that he could address the media for some time as she came to terms with after his practice session in the main arena. one of the worst performances of her It was a good decision. he room was career. She eventually appeared and put packed with nearly 300 people waiting to on a very brave face as she talked to the hear, for the irst time in months, what Canadian journalists. Hanyu had to say. North Korea’s Tae Ok Ryum and Ju Sik he mixed zone (as per International Kim were a big draw, even though they Olympic Committee rules) is only open didn’t say a word after the short program. to skaters, press attaché and professional hough I had previously conirmed that journalists who work for newspapers, the pairs team would speak to the media, agencies and magazines and accredited that did not happen. hey did smile and fans who run igure skating websites. giggle a lot, however. No coaches, parents, judges, federation After the long program, there were so or skating oicials, and no one from a many journalists waiting to speak to them, television network or radio station (who but the team never showed up. At one interview athletes in the broadcast area) are point, a North Korean oicial was about permitted to be in the mixed zone. to enter the mixed zone, but was obviously So, whom did I have to ask to leave startled by the number of people waiting. the area? All that came out of his mouth was ‘Ah,’ Well, a 1984 Olympic champion, the before he stepped back into the broadcast president of a European igure skating area and out of sight. federation, a high ranking Russian he biggest draw in the mixed zone was, federation oicial and a French Olympic ON TOP OF THE

TOP NAMES, 5ƢƬƢƧƠƬƭƚƫƬ ƭƚƤƞƜƞƧƭƫƞƬƭƚƠƞ ƢƧƦƢƥƚƧ BY SUSAN D. RUSSELL WORLD

The competitive re on display at the 2018 World Championships was erce. Records tumbled — as did a number of skaters — personal best scores were achieved, and new champions were crowned in three of the four disciplines. Nathan Chen rebounded from a disappointing 2018 Olympic Winter Games experience to claim the top step of the men’s podium in Milan. rewrote Canada’s skating history as the rst lady in 45 years to win a global crown. and continued their winning streak, claiming the top step of the World pairs podium for the rst time. The French ice dance team of Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron were the only ones to repeat as gold medalists, capturing their third World title in a city that holds fond memories for them. PHOTOS: SUSAN D. RUSSELL ith Yuzuru Hanyu and the four quads he attempted — two of Determined to Javier Fernández (who which also received downgrades for under- Whad collectively claimed rotations. He pulled it together near the exorcise the demons every World crown end of the program, landing three clean since 2014) absent from the 2018 World consecutive combinations. A combined that haunted him Championships, the door was open for a score of 273.77 — more than 46 points new champion to emerge. below his personal best — had him in irst in PyeongChang, And Nathan Chen, despite his Olympic with four skaters left to compete. diiculties, was one of three men — along Next out of the gate was Jin. Seemingly Nathan Chen headed with Japan’s Shoma Uno and Boyang Jin unable to find his feet, he fell on five of China — who were considered the jumping passes. He managed to land to the 2018 World frontrunners to claim the 2018 World title. a double Salchow, a triple Axel and a At a practice session the day prior to the triple Axel-single loop-triple Salchow Championships with start of the men’s event, Uno left the ice combination but the falls proved costly. after just ive minutes, apparently sufering Jin ranked 23r in the free and a total tally of a different mindset from a foot injury. hat led to speculation 223.41 left him in 19th place overall. It was he would withdraw from the competition. a shocking result for the Chinese champion than the one he had six he Japanese federation quickly quashed who ranked fourth at the Olympic Games the rumours, conirming Uno would be a month earlier. weeks earlier marching taking the ice for the short program. hings did not go as badly for Kolyada, Chen was looking to “redeem himself” who fell on two quad attempts but landed a into the Olympic in Milan and got that show on the road quad toe loop, two triple Axels along with with a solid outing in the short program, two more triple jumps. He ended the day Winter Games. landing a quad Lutz-triple toe, a quad lip with 272.32 points. and a triple Axel. Skating second to last, Zhou had an With a sixth-place “Compared to the Olympics, this was a ambitious program that included six quads. lot better and I’m much happier,” said the But like those before him, he buckled under finish at the World 19-year-old California native, who earned the pressure and fell on three of the four- a score of 101.94. “It is deinitely a little bit revolution jumping passes. He was also Championships a year of redemption.” nailed with six under-rotation calls. Zhou Chen was unchallenged by Jin and Uno placed 19th in the free and tumbled from earlier clearly in his in the short program. Jin placed fourth third to close out the competition in 14th after under-rotating a quad toe, earning a place with 235.24 points. rear-view mirror, Chen score of 95.85 points. Uno executed a quad Given what had transpired with the ive toe and a triple Axel, but downgraded his men before him, all Chen had to do was was on a diferent track combination to a triple Salchow-double stay vertical. he audience was looking to toe and landed in ifth with 94.26 points. the inal skater to close out the competition in Milan. Instead, it was two dark horses, Russia’s on a high note and the young American Mikhail Kolyada and Vincent Zhou of the gave them what they had been waiting for. Rather than focusing U.S., who slid into the second and third His performance to “Mao’s Last Dancer” spots, respectively. and “Sacre du Printemps” included six on the outcome of the Kolyada, who earned 100.08 points, later quad attempts (Lutz, two lips — one stated he was “in a ighting mood,” adding, in combination with a double toe — and competition or the “I did everything I know how to, and I two toes, one in combination). His only did it well. In order to get to the podium, miscue was stepping out of the inal jump, possibility of winning, you should not think about making the a quad Salchow. podium, just do your job.” he audience was on its feet at the end he had wisely listened Zhou, the youngest competitor in Milan of his program. Chen was in disbelief. at age 17, landed two quads in his short He scored 219.46 points for the free and to advice from his program and was awarded a personal best 321.40 in total — both personal bests — score of 96.78. to claim his irst World title. It had been coach and structured Canada’s Keegan Messing — sixth nine years since an American man (Evan after the short — was the irst man in the Lysacek in 2009) had stood on the top step a plan that had the inal light to take the ice for the free. he of a World podium. 26-year-old fell on a quad toe midway “It’s just a dream come true. It’s some- potential to work for through his program and, though no one thing I have wanted to achieve my whole knew it at the time, it set the tone for the career. I’m just so glad I was able to do it,” him this time around. next four skaters that would follow. Chen said of his victory. “I don’t want to see First up was Uno, who fell on three of my competitors fail or do badly — I want

24 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 them to be pushing me and pushing each other, but I’m glad I was able to do what I needed to do. I felt the audience really wanted a good performance and they motivated me to do it.” Despite his subpar performance and low score, Uno still ranked the second best skater of the day and claimed his second consecutive silver medal at a World Championships. “Unfortunately, I am injured. It was a really hard competition for me, but this experience is going be my power for the future,” he explained. “My quad loops and lips were rather rough, but still I decided to go for them. I made mistakes in the beginning, but I came back at the end of the program and I am satisied that I inished the free skate like this.” It’s just a dream come true. It’s something I have wanted to achieve my whole career.

—Nathan Chen

Kolyada’s score also held up for a podium spot. He captured the bronze, the irst global medal of his career and the irst for Russian men since Artur Gachinski mined bronze at 2011 Worlds in Moscow. “We need to raise the level of men’s skating in Russia. I think this (medal) will be a positive experience for me and the other guys,” Kolyada said. of Israel pulled up from seventh to inish fourth with 258.28 points, marking the best result of his career. Japan’s Kazuki Tomono, who replaced the recently retired Takahito Mura, inished ifth in his World Championships debut with 256.11 points, and Deniss Vasiljevs of was sixth with 254.86 points. he U.S., will ield three men at the 2019 World Championships in Saitama, Japan, thanks to last minute replacement , who inished 11th. As the third alternate, he never expected to get the call for this competition and had not trained for a month prior to Worlds. (Jason Brown and , the irst and second alternates, both declined the invitation). Speaking to the press following the short program, Aaron’s words had a prophetic ring given the outcome of the competition. “I’m here just to support Nathan and Vincent. If something were to go wrong, hopefully I could sneak in and help get the three spots, but I’m pretty conident that those boys are going to lay it down and hopefully bring home two World medals. I’m like the support dog.” Japan also earned three berths for men at the 2019 World Championships, as did Russia — for the irst time since 2004.

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 25

CANADIAN UPSET the competition with a total tally of 223.23, score of 210.08, inished in third place. “I With decisive wins at the Grand Prix almost eight points lower than the score didn’t expect to get this bronze medal — it Final, the European Championships and she earned a month earlier at the Games. is very unexpected,” the 20-year-old said. the Olympic Winter Games under her belt, All Osmond could do was wait for the “I was stif and the jumps were small, so I Russia’s was the odds-on inal ive to compete and hope that her have to do more. I want to be a skater that favorite to capture the ladies’ title at the score would hold up for a podium inish. moves people’s hearts, so I have to work on 2018 World Championships. In a scenario similar to what transpired dance, ballet, everything. Heading into Milan, none of the other in the men’s event, Russia’s , “It’s the last competition of the season top contenders said they entertained the Canada’s , Miyahara, so it gave me a lot of conidence that I was thought of winning. It was expected Zagitova and inally Kostner all stumbled able to show everything I had. I wanted to Zagitova would capture the global crown, and/or fell, and all failed to match or beat do my best so that I had no regrets at the so the focus was on claiming one of the Osmond’s score. end of the season.” remaining two steps on the podium. When Kostner’s final result was Kostner inished fourth with a score of But, slippery ice often produces announced Osmond, who was watching 208.88. he Italian star, in what might be surprising results, and that is exactly what the competition backstage, was speechless. her last World Championships, missed the happened in Milan. She had just won the World title — the third step of the podium by just 1.20 points. With out of the irst Canadian lady to win the global crown “I wish I could have skated better to picture (recovering from an ankle injury), since in 1973. show the Italian audience how much I care Canada’s Kaetlyn Osmond entered the “Winning never crossed my mind until about this sport,” she said. “It’s not easy to competition as the second highest ranked it actually happened,” said the 22-year-old inish fourth, but the crowd helped me get skater in the ladies’ ield. Right behind her in obvious disbelief. “To make the podium back up and go home with a smile.” was of Japan, who placed was my ultimate goal, but I never thought It was a rough day for Zagitova, who fourth in PyeongChang. that being champion was possible. fell three times and landed in ifth with As has happened throughout the season, 207.72 points. the short program did not go as planned for hough her coaches said she was not able either Zagitova or Osmond. he Russian Winning never to deal with her nerves, it seemed an odd skater landed in second behind homeland crossed my mind statement given the 15-year-old had won favorite and ahead of until it actually the Olympic title under far more intense Miyahara, who placed third. Osmond sat happened. pressure just one month earlier. in fourth, 7.54 points behind the leader. Reigning U.S. champion Bradie Tennell “I certainly did not think about getting —Kaetlyn Osmond ranked highest of the three American ahead of Alina Zagitova. It’s incredible,” ladies, sliding into sixth with 199.89 points. said Kostner, who earned a personal best When asked how she handled per- score of 80.27. “For me it’s a big honor, “his year has been a giant learning forming on the world’s biggest stages for like a big cherry on the cake. Skating in experience for me. At each competition I the irst time this season, Tennell said, “I my home country is so, so special and so have learnt something about myself, about try to think of it as my new normal because emotional. I could feel the support. my skating style and the way I compete if I thought about it any other way it would “I remember 15 years ago when I started best. Being able to peak at the right time be very overwhelming. So, I’ve made to compete internationally, nobody came — at Olympics and then here — I realized myself get used to it. to watch igure skating in Italy and now I had learned how to train at home to be “For me, these competitions are very we ill up this big venue.” able to do that. Just the knowledge I can do exciting, and I feel like being part of that Zagitova admitted it was a challenge all this, not just in practice, but that I can is a very cool thing.” to get back into a training schedule after inally do it at competitions — that’s the the Olympic Games “because there real learning experience for me.” GERMAN VICTORY were so many events to attend. Every Second place went to Japan’s Wakaba With the performance level in the pairs day something was going on. We had a Higuchi, who had skated in the second to discipline continuing the rapid rise that reception with our president who awarded last group. Higuchi, 17, landed seven clean has carried through the last two seasons, us medals, and we got a lot of presents.” triples including two triple Lutz-triple toe just making it to the free skate at these Osmond drew irst to skate in the inal loop combinations and racked up 210.90 Championships was a victory in itself. light of the long program. Her “Black points to capture the silver medal. For the second year in a row 28 teams Swan” routine had not let her down all “I felt like we lost one spot (at Worlds) qualiied to compete, and it was a battle season and the newly minted Olympic last year due to my mistakes, so I felt from the outset to capture one of the 16 bronze medalist was hoping to keep that responsible for getting it back this year,” berths allotted for the free. lucky streak alive in Milan. Higuchi admitted. “After the mistakes in It would have been so easy for Aljona Looking strong and sharp, Osmond the short program I was determined to Savchenko and Bruno Massot to skip the executed seven triple jumps in her program, give everything that I did in practice in World Championships, which took place four of which were done in various the free.” a month after their golden moment at the combinations. She earned positive grades Miyahara hit ive clean triples in her 2018 Olympic Winter Games. of execution on all but one and closed out “Madame Butterly” routine and, with a But having never won a World title as a

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 27 team, they had their own personal reasons “Physically it was hard, but we came she was back on her feet and continued as for competing in Milan. here for our families and friends,” Massot if nothing had happened. With many of their family members, added. “We didn’t have much preparation, A season’s best of 143.04 points for the friends and fans in attendance, they so we really did it thanks to our mental free and 218.36 overall assured the French dedicated their performances to those strength and our hearts. duo the bronze, the irst World medal in that were unable to attend the Olympic “We really wanted to give a good eight appearances. spectacle in South Korea. performance for our families that are “I got the wind really knocked out of Still riding the wave following their sitting up there in the stands. It was hard me,” James said. “Morgan was asking if victory in PyeongChang, Savchenko and but it was magical.” I was OK, but I didn’t even respond. I Massot were determined to continue their Tarasova and Morozov were the last thought I should get right back into it — golden roll in Italy. team to take the ice in the free skate and we can’t let any more points go. he pain The German duo captured the lead though the routine started out well with a was there, but it went away very quickly. with their irst clean short program of the quadruple twist, a throw triple Salchow and I think I felt it more after the program. season, but Russia’s and a throw triple loop, Morozov then doubled “I’ve learned a lot over the last two seasons Vladimir Morozov were just 1.69 points the side-by-side Salchows and struggled — one mistake isn’t much, but how you get behind them. with the second combination jump. back from it can change everything.” Few thought it was possible that With 144.24 points for the free — 18.62 For Ciprès, winning the medal was a Savchenko and Massot could perform at less than the German team earned — and dream come true. a higher level than they did at the Olympic 225.53 points in total, the Russian duo had “Today is just like a gift. here hasn’t Winter Games. But skating second to last to settle for silver. It was a step up from the been a medal for France in the pairs event in the free, they delivered a long program bronze they won a year earlier in Helsinki. in 18 years,” he said. and in Milan that had a ire and energy not Stéphane Bernadis mined bronze in , present in Korea. France, in 2000. People were out of their seats and on We really wanted Ciprès went on to explain that he and their feet long before the program ended. to have a good James were not expecting to medal in As the music faded, the cheering that performance for Milan, given what had transpired in the took place throughout their performance our families. It was days following their fifth-place finish reached a fever pitch as the entire arena in Korea. rose to applaud their eforts. hard but it was “Two days after the pairs event I twisted It was the end of a season-long emotional magical. my neck doing a lift in practice and was roller coaster for Savchenko who, along unable to turn my head to either side,” with Massot and their coaches, Alexander —Bruno Massot he explained. König and Jean-François Ballester, were “It got better when we went back to in tears. Florida but three days later it happened As they waited for the scores in the kiss “We were able to redeem ourselves after again, and I could not skate with Vanessa and cry, there was a mix of happiness and the unsuccessful performance in Korea,” for a week and a half.” anxiety until the marks were announced: Tarasova said in reference to their fourth Russia’s and Alexander 162.86 points for the segment and 245.84 place inish at the Games. Enbert placed fourth with 207.88 points, in total, both new World records. “It was OK. Second place is good. just ahead of Italy’s In the end, it was a runaway victory for We didn’t manage everything in the and , who inished ifth Savchenko and Massot, who claimed the free program,” said Morozov. “We felt with 206.06. irst World title of their career by a 20.31- positive emotions because this was the last Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael point margin. he 21 perfect 10.00s the competition of the season. Marinaro, the only team among three duo received for performance, composition “We were here to get revenge after the Canadian entries to qualify for the long and music interpretation were well deserved Olympics, deinitely.” program, moved up from 10th after the on this day. Success on the Worlds stage was a long short to inish sixth with 204.33 points. he victory marked the sixth global title time in coming for Vanessa James and heir result guaranteed Canada two teams for Savchenko and the irst for Massot. Morgan Ciprès of France. for 2019 Worlds in Japan. With 11 World medals to her credit When the free program they performed It was not a good competition for the Savchenko is now tied with the legendary early in the season met with mixed reviews, U.S. pairs teams. Alexa Scimeca Knierim , who claimed 10 gold and one they decided in early 2018 to return to and Chris Knierim dropped from 11th after silver medal during her career. “he Sound of Silence” long program that the short to inish in 15th place overall, “It was tough, but we were focused and had won rave reviews the previous year. 63.80 points behind the winning team. did everything. We tried to enjoy it even he team sailed through the early part Competing in their first World more than at the Olympic Games, but of the routine but a minute and a half Championships, Florida-based Deanna it was diferent,” Savchenko said. “I was into the program, James crashed to the Stellato and Nathan Bartholomay placed really focused on the elements. At the end, ice face irst on the landing of the throw 17th in the short program and did not I kissed the ice and thanked it.” triple Salchow. Without missing a beat, qualify for the free skate.

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 29 TRIPLE CROWN of quality in our program,” said Cizeron. “It turned out it was.” Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume “It is a beautiful victory. It’s cool. We are Canada’s and Andrew Cizeron of France were the only ice dance very proud of this third gold medal. I think Poje captured the third spot in the short medalists from the 2018 Olympic Winter this will be one of the moments for us to dance, narrowly edging out Italy’s Anna Games who chose to compete in Milan. remember. We beat three World records — Cappellini and Luca Lanotte. hough the Canada’s and in the short, the free and overall.” Italian team placed third in the , ended their season in PyeongChang, while “Perfection doesn’t exist, but we try to be the Canadians held on to take the bronze Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the the best we can be always and if it can get medal with 192.35 points. U.S. sat this one out after competing at us close to the perfect score, we’re happy,” It had been three years since Weaver and seven consecutive World Championships. Papadakis added. Poje had stood on a World podium and the Both spots were illed by teams that “I think there’s always room to grow moment was not lost on them. had never previously competed at a or improve. Also, there are going to be “his was one of our best skates and to World Championships, but turned in changes in the rules next year, so we won’t know we’re still being appreciated for our impressive outings in Milan: Canada’s get bored. here are always going to be skating is very gratifying,” said Weaver. Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus, who things to improve on and competitors to “his season has been a struggle. here train alongside Papadakis and Cizeron in be scared of. It’s the sport.” have been injuries and low places in the Montréal, placed 14th in their debut, and and last couple of years, so it’s a great feeling and Jean-Luc Baker of of the U.S. placed second in the short dance to end on this high note with our favorite the U.S., who were coached by Detroit- with 80.42, which put them 3.31 points program (“Je suis malade”) and probably based Pasquale Camerlengo and Anjelika behind the leaders. the best performance we’ve had.” Krylova at these Championships, inished It was just the third time in the Cappellini and Lanotte ranked fourth 10th overall. Americans’ career that they had ranked overall with 192.08 points, missing the In mid-April, Hawayek and Baker top three in the segment. third step of the podium by just 0.27 announced they had made a coaching of point. change and were moving to Montréal to “Whatever the result, today was train with Marie-France Dubrueil and It’s a beautiful probably the biggest emotion we have Patrice Lauzon. victory. It’s cool. ever had skating,” Lanotte said. “We never he last time Papadakis and Cizeron We are very proud imagined when we were children that we competed in Milan was at the 2013 of this third gold would arrive so high and get so far.” World Junior Championships, where they Madison Chock and of captured a silver medal. Five years later, medal. the U.S. were ifth with 187.28 points. they were the odds-on favorites to mine Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier —Guillaume Cizeron gold at the senior level. landed in sixth with 186.10, earning It came as no surprise that the French personal best scores for the short, free and duo’s domination of the competition combined total. began with a clear victory in the short At the two previous competitions, the Canada, the U.S. and Italy will dance. World records in ice dance had duo failed to make the podium after the ield three ice dance teams at the 2019 been toppling all season and Papadakis free dance. hey were determined not to World Championships. and Cizeron continued the trend in Milan. make it three in a row in Milan. The two Russian teams, Alexandra Their World record score of 83.73 Last to skate in the inal light of the Stepanova and and Tifani was 0.06 of a point higher than the one free, Hubbell and Donohue laid down their Zahorski and , inished established by Virtue and Moir at the best performance of the season, earning seventh and eighth, respectively, earning Games a month earlier. seven Level 4s for their elements, and a two places for their nation. Performing to Beethoven’s “Moonlight personal best score of 116.22 points. Following Worlds, Papadakis and Sonata” one last time, Papadakis and When the inal result was announced Cizeron performed on the annual French Cizeron skated an efortless, light, lowing —196.64 points overall and second place skating tour that ran throughout the free dance that ignited the audience and — neither could believe it. After narrowly month of April before taking a well- impressed the judges. missing the podium in PyeongChang a earned vacation. he team was rewarded with 30 perfect month earlier, it was redemption for the Hubbell headed to , Spain for 10.00s for program components, which Montréal-based team. a vacation where her boyfriend, Spanish ice included perfect scores from all nine judges “It’s a bit overwhelming. We feel we have dancer Adrià Díaz, proposed. for performance. done a lot of work tackling our demons and She and Donohue then joined the U.S. he French duo closed out the season fear, and all the ‘what ifs’ that go through Stars on Ice tour, which runs through with two more World record scores: 123.47 our minds,” Hubbell explained. May 20. points for the free dance and a combined “We’ve had a history of making errors Weaver and Poje are currently on the total of 207.20. and giving up placements so today’s Canadian leg of that production. “We’re really happy, of course because performance met our goal of staying in Poje said he and Weaver plan to “enjoy of the scores but also because it was one the moment, keeping the connection, and some down time (after the tour) and decide of the irst times we achieved such a level believing what we did was enough. what the future is from there.” IFS

30 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018

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Milan Moments

PHOTOS BY FLAVIO VALLE

32 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE:

„Canada’s Kaetlyn Osmond celebrated her golden moment with a victory lap at the 2018 World Championships.

„U.S. ice dancers Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue were excited to claim their irst medal on the World stage, a silver.

„Russia’s Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov shared a tender moment following the pairs medal ceremony. THIS PAGE:

„ and Satoko Miyahara captured the silver and bronze medals, earning three places for Japan at their homeland Worlds in Saitama in 2019.

„Men’s medalists: Shoma Uno (Japan - silver), Nathan Chen (U.S. - gold), and Mikhail Kolyada (Russia - bronze)

OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE:

„A celebratory moment for French pairs skaters Vanessa James and Morgan Ciprès who captured bronze, the irst World medal of their career.

„An emotional moment for Germany’s Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot after winning their irst World title as a team.

„Ice dance medalists: Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue (U.S. - silver), Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron (France - gold), and Kaitlyn Weaver and (Canada - bronze) THIS PAGE:`

„Ladies medalists: Wakaba Higuchi, Kaetlyn Osmond and Satoko Miyahara

„Pairs podium: Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov, Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot, and Vanessa James and Morgan Ciprès END OF AN ERA WHAT’S NEXT FOR SKATE CANADA?

BY ROBERT BRODIE

Meagan Duhamel and Patrick Chan Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir

n soccer parlance, the term is he heart of that gold-medal team took around for Beijing 2022 are probably slim “golden generation” — that rare its inal bow in PyeongChang. Patrick at best. conluence of exceptional talent Chan oicially announced his retirement in So clearly, the makeup of the Canadian that combines to produce an April. he pairs team of team is undergoing a massive change, the unprecedented string of success. and Eric Radford ended their career likes of which has not happened in almost ICanadian skating fans have had a golden following their free skate at the Games. a decade. generation of their own to savour the past And though ice dancers Tessa Virtue It is possible that only one of the eight years, one that produced World and Scott Moir have yet to announce their senior champions from 2018 nationals — champions in all four individual disciplines future plans, it is a certainty that they will Gabrielle Daleman — will be part of the — and collectively, that group stood on the not be around in 2022 to attempt to add team next season. With Chan, Virtue and top of the Team Event podium at the 2018 to their vast medal collection. Moir and Duhamel and Radford out of the Olympic Winter Games. It will be interesting to see what comes picture, the podiums at 2019 nationals will It has been an era unlike any other in next for Kaetlyn Osmond, who won bronze have a vastly diferent look. Canadian skating history, one that reached in PyeongChang, and three weeks later Canadian skaters won eight medals in its peak with a four-medal performance became the irst ladies’ World champion the six-event Grand Prix Series in 2017 — in PyeongChang (the most ever for the from Canada in 45 years. She has yet to half of them produced by retiring athletes. country at a Winter Games), and one that announce whether she will stay in the he exceptions were Osmond, Kaitlyn came to a close in the days after the lame competitive world but, even if she continues Weaver and Andrew Poje and Kirsten

was extinguished in South Korea. for a year or two, the chances of her being Moore-Towers and . PHOTOS: SUSAN D. RUSSELL

36 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 Skaters now absent from the scene Worlds, are most likely to be at the front depending on the discipline. he program claimed two of the three medals Canada of the new wave. is funded by Own he Podium, a not-for- won at the 2017 Grand Prix Final. Should Osmond choose to return — proit organization primarily supported by An indication of what lies ahead in the and some of her recent media interviews federal government money that invests in Canadian men’s ield came at this Final suggest that is a possibility — it would give Canadian sports with medal potential at where no man qualiied — the irst time Canada a World champion to lead the way. the Olympic level. since 2014. “A lot of it is patience. You have to have “It gives us an opportunity to get our Chan, Canada’s only hope of making patience with the skaters coming up behind athletes on a progression plan,” said that top six, landed in fourth at Skate and not have them step in and feel like Slipchuk. “Get them involved in sport Canada and then withdrew from his they have to replace Patrick, or they have science at a younger age so as they move second event, NHK Trophy. to replace Tessa and Scott, or Meagan through and get to the high-performance Given what transpired in the wake and Eric,” said Slipchuk. “hose athletes level, it’s more ingrained in their training of PyeongChang and the season that were there for a long time: Tessa and Scott … when it’s a deined program, it’s a lot preceded it, there is much work that needs were at the World level for 11 years, Patrick easier for the athletes and coaches to buy in. to be done to rebuild the national team over for 10 years, Meagan and Eric combined “It gives us an opportunity to have an the next four years. probably eight years. expanded pool at a lower level, and to Skate Canada got a glimpse of what is really see what we have rather than trying likely coming next at the post-Olympic to hitch our wagon to one or two kids and Worlds in Milan, Italy. We walked out of see where they go. Having a big pool is the While Osmond’s victory was the obvious key, because you never know where these high point and Weaver and Poje skated Worlds pretty much athletes are going to go.” to a bronze medal, there were also four with the team size he program, which Slipchuk said is still Canadian entries at the event that did not in its “infancy stage,” has already begun to qualify for the long programs, which put we were expect- bear some fruit. , a 16-year- Keegan Messing (men) and Moore-Towers ing (for 2019). Now old from Vimont, Québec, produced a and Marinaro (pairs) in the pressure- silver-medal on the Junior Grand Prix illed situation of needing top-10 inishes we move on to the circuit last season and inished the year to preserve two Canadian spots for the with a fourth place inish at the World 2019 Worlds. next quad and start Junior Championships. He also earned the Indeed, the most alarming result for to build that depth fourth-highest overall men’s score during Canada at Worlds came in pairs. Julianne the Junior Grand Prix season. Séguin and were ninth and get ready for Ice dancers Marjorie Lajoie, 17, and at the Olympic Games, but landed in a 2022. Zachary Lagha, 18, who train at the disastrous 22nd place in the short program Montréal camp of Marie-France Dubreuil in Milan, far below the cut to reach the and Patrice Lauzon, earned gold and silver free skate. —Michael Slipchuk medals at their Junior Grand Prix events, hough Messing and Moore-Towers and qualiied for the Final (where they were Marinaro were successful in retaining two “We have some really good young skaters sixth) and placed fourth at Junior Worlds. spots in each of their respective disciplines coming up, especially in the men’s, but we Perhaps the most intriguing young talent for 2019, it was yet another indication that just have to not put unrealistic expectations is 13-year-old who will the next generation in Canada will not on them. We have to let them develop. Our make his Junior Grand Prix debut later soon be illing the shoes of those who have plan is to keep developing a well-rounded this year. now moved on. team leading into 2022 and possibly be Gogolev inished 10th among the senior “Worlds was a mixed bag for us, but we even stronger by 2026.” men at the 2018 Canadian Championships, knew that going in,” said Michael Slipchuk, With this being an Olympic year, Skate landing a quad-triple combination and Skate Canada’s high-performance director. Canada gave some of its younger skaters a triple Axel in his free skate. His potential “We targeted two disciplines that we felt chance to get their feet wet internationally seems boundless. we had the ability to medal in (ladies and at Four Continents in late January. he most “With Stephen, we’re excited to see him dance) and we did. We walked out of encouraging result from that competition get out internationally and see where he its Worlds pretty much with the team size we came from the rising ice dance team of in,” said Slipchuk. were expecting (for 2019). Now we move Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus, who NextGen has yet to show similar gains on to the next quad and start to build that claimed the silver medal — Canada’s lone in the ladies’ area, where Slipchuk admitted depth and get ready for 2022.” podium inish. “there’s just a lot in development. We’re It will take time, Slipchuk admitted, A long-range plan must be a part of any going to need a year or two to see how to build in behind whoever the returning continued growth and that is where Skate some of them are tracking.” group will be, although Daleman, Messing, Canada’s NextGen program its in. here is a clear need for new depth in Moore-Towers and Marinaro, and ice Headed up by Andre Bourgeois, it is that discipline. Based on the results at 2018 dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, who focused on promising skaters that generally nationals, a large drop-of exists below were eighth in PyeongChang and sixth at fall between 12 and 18 years of age, Osmond and Daleman.

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 37 The bronze medalist at “Camille (Ruest) and Drew nationals, , Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (Wolfe), and Trennt (Michaud) made her Olympic debut in and Evelyn (Walsh) will be PyeongChang but did not seniors. We need to give those advance past the short program teams time to get into the senior either there or at the ensuing mode and work themselves Worlds in Milan. through … I know we’ll see a few Former Canadian champion new pairs teams come together. was the top We just have to keep working ladies’ inisher (eighth) at Four through it.” Continents, but her results Ruest and Wolfe, seventh have been in decline for two at Four Continents, made years now. their Worlds debut in Milan On the Junior Grand Prix but did not advance past the circuit, Canadian ladies short program. produced only four top-10 Walsh and Michaud placed inishes in seven events — two sixth at the World Junior each by and Championships, falling one spot Alison Schumacher, with lower than what they achieved Cotop’s seventh at the season- in 2017. opener in Brisbane being the However, Skate Canada sees high-water mark. the possibility for growth with A key benchmark for the both teams. entire program’s development The start of every Olympic will be the 2020 World cycle raises questions, and there Championships in Montréal. are no doubt many for Skate When Canada hosted the Canada going forward. event in 2013 it produced Given its continued success three medalists, but it will be throughout the last eight years, a stretch to see similar results there is a much more imposing in Montréal. standard now, which will Slipchuk said Skate Canada be difficult to match in the is hopeful that some, such as next quadrennial. Osmond, may see the event as “To be at the top of their game a lure to stay in the competitive for 10-years plus is phenomenal ranks. For the most part, in this day and age and I don’t though, it will be a Canadian know if we’re going to see that in team still finding its legs the future,” Slipchuk said of the halfway down the road to the group that exited the competitive next Olympic Winter Games scene after PyeongChang. in Beijing. “It’ll be some time before we Skate Canada is looking at see a team that is like that. he 2020 Worlds as the midpoint and Firus, who placed 14th in their Worlds group was a long time in making to really get a sense of who they see as debut in Milan. — since the junior ranks. But we will see potential Olympic team members in 2022, he program is also gaining Laurence it and hopefully, sooner rather than later.” and who might be tracking toward the Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sørensen, The nature and history of the sport podium in Beijing. who previously skated for Denmark but suggests there may well be someone out “I think we’ll still be in transition, but will represent Canada starting in the 2018- there who has yet to make their mark — we’ll have some legit athletes in there vying 2019 season. hey also train with Dubreuil but could rise to prominence in a hurry. for medals,” said Slipchuk. “For some, it and Lauzon. Osmond is one such skater who it that might be their irst World Championships. “hey’re a top 12 team in the world,” scenario. She went from being an unknown We see ourselves being a competitive team, Slipchuk said of the duo, “so, our depth junior in 2010 to Canadian champion three but we will be feeling out where we are in ice dance will be strong.” years later. with everyone.” hat is what needs to be developed in Whether there are more like her out Canada should ind itself in the strongest pairs. Only seven teams competed in the there at the lower levels of Canadian position in the ice dance discipline in 2020. senior event at 2018 Canadian nationals — skating waiting to bloom, but perhaps not Gilles and Poirier could be on the verge and that number included Duhamel and yet showing just how good they can really of challenging for a medal, and there is Radford. “In pairs, we have only four teams be … it may indeed take a full quadrennial obvious promise in the form of Soucisse in the cycle right now,” Slipchuk admitted. for Skate Canada to ind its way back.

38 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 TRANSITIONS U.S. DEVELOP YOUTHFUL STRATEGY

BY ELVIN WALKER

Madison Hubbell and Bradie Tennell Zachary Donohue Vincent Zhou

he 2017-2018 season was a of commitment to training, Wagner just triple Axel in the free skate, but in her mixed bag for Team USA. could not overcome her curse of fourth- individual competition she seemed tired hough there were some bright place inishes at the U.S. Championships in and lacked focus. spots along the way, it was the Olympic years and failed to make the 2018 At the World Championships, Nagasu Tkind of year an American team would squad, leaving the American ladies without equaled her 10th place finish at the expect from a post-Olympic rebuilding a solid leader heading into PyeongChang. Olympics. With her attention now shifted season, not one in prime time. Instead, it was a relative unknown, to “Dancing With the Stars: Athletes he ice dancers continued to lead the Bradie Tennell, who rose to the top. A Edition,” it is unknown if Nagasu will U.S. contingent on the international stage steely competitor with a penchant for make another go of it on competitive ice. and show no signs of ceding that status, but consistency, Tennell would have been better he third Olympic team member, Karen in the other three disciplines, Team USA served to play the bridesmaid in her irst Chen, should have been a lock for a spot could use some help. year of senior international competition. on the team, but her frantic fall season put he American ladies seemed unprepared hough she did well to manage the that into question. Not only was the 2017 from the moment last season began and bright lights of the Olympic Games, U.S. champion unable to settle on what it was immediately evident they would Tennell placed ninth in PyeongChang — programs to skate until late in the season, not be in contention for medals at the the lowest inish by a U.S. ladies champion her claim of boot issues persisted. 2018 Olympic Winter Games or the in history. She improved to sixth place at Making the team by the skin of her World Championships. the World Championships a month later, teeth, Chen threw away a chance at was not able to regain the but Tennell still has a long way to go to a medal through indecisiveness and form that propelled her to her only World compete with the best ladies in the world. second-guessing. podium in 2016, and faded as the season Mirai Nagasu was a bright spot in the Looking to the next generation, Ting

progressed. Whether it was nerves or a lack Team Event in PyeongChang, nailing a Cui, 16, seems to be a strong contender PHOTOS: ASUSAN D. RUSSELL

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 39 points to inish in sixth place. However, a stricter panel at Worlds hammered him with under-rotation and downgrade calls. He inished 14th in Milan. Adam Rippon ranked a respectable 10th at the Olympic Games, but given his age and his newfound celebrity status, it is highly unlikely he will be in the mix going forward. Beyond the top tier of American men, there is a handful of up-and-comers who showed potential last season. hree men qualiied for the Junior Grand Prix Final, which Alexey Krasnozhon won. If not for his unfortunate accident at the World Junior Championships, it is possible that Team USA would have claimed both the junior and senior World titles in the same season. The ice dancers were the feather in American skating’s cap, winning medals at all six senior Grand Prix events and four on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. hree teams qualiied for the senior Grand Prix Final for a third consecutive season, while 2018 U.S. junior champions Christina Carreira and won silver in their second trip to the junior Final. Maia and Alex Shibutani continued a string of podium inishes for American ice dancers at the Olympic Winter Games dating back to 2006, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue’s silver at the World Championships was the 11th year in the last 13 that a U.S. team had won a medal at the global event. A bumper crop of young teams will ight it out to ill the void left by the one- year hiatus of the Shibutanis. hough not as seasoned, Team USA boasts three teams from the World Junior Alexey Krasnozhon Championships that will likely begin to challenge for international medals in the next quadrennial. American pairs continued their to challenge for a podium spot at the Nathan Chen took himself out of downward spiral on the international scene 2019 U.S. Championships and beyond. contention with a disastrous short program last season, with U.S. champions Alexa She is capable of executing world-class that left him in 17th place. Despite winning Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim technical content and is becoming a the free skate, Chen could not overcome inishing in a dismal 15th place at both strong competitor. the deicit and inished ifth. the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and the Though too young for senior He redeemed himself at Worlds, subsequent World Championships. internationals until 2022, , the capturing the title by nearly 50 points Last season, no U.S. pairs team stood 2018 junior champion, could be the answer over injured silver medalist Shoma Uno on a Grand Prix podium (junior or senior) to U.S. Figure Skating’s prayers. She is a of Japan. and just two medals were won during the fearless competitor who is already tackling Vincent Zhou blew hot and cold Challenger Series. triple Axel combinations in practice. throughout the season, mainly due and Danny O’Shea won The men fared somewhat better in to questionable landings on his quad the 2018 Four Continents title in a depleted PyeongChang — ifth, sixth and 10th — jumps. he technical panel was lenient in ield in late January, but withdrew from the but still fell short of pre-event expectations. PyeongChang and Zhou racked up the World Championships citing injury.

40 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc his year a proposal has been made they need, and get them competing also seem poised to make a move up the to limit the U.S. Championships to the internationally sooner.” ladder after capturing the silver medal senior and junior levels, with the novice, he way in which the World Junior at Four Continents in just their second intermediate, and juvenile competitors Championships teams will be selected will season together. ending their domestic season at the also be revamped for the 2018-2019 season. he U.S. junior champions, Audrey Lu sectional level. “his year our intent is have our entire and Misha Mitrofanov, have shown great “I think we spend a lot of time trying to team named at the World Junior camp,” promise, inishing ifth at 2018 World win national titles in the U.S. at the lower Dillon said. “We will look at this person’s Juniors with the highest score of a U.S. levels because it’s a great achievement to entire season and see how competitive they team in the event’s history. be the best skater in our country,” he said. can be at the right time. At the end of the But the problems at the center of “But right now the best skaters in our two-day camp, you will have your named American pairs skating remain. Most of country are not the best skaters in the team and ranked alternates.” the teams focus on doing the elements world. Our ladies were ninth, 10th, and U.S. Figure Skating will also have a and pushing the technical envelope with 11th at the Olympics, so we need to create jump camp for the second year, bringing quadruple twists and throws, but forget an environment where those ladies are together some of the top coaches across about the basics. pushing towards the podium. the country with more than 100 athletes In comparison with the top international to focus on all things jumping. teams, the U.S. falls short in terms of he organization has once again invited cleanliness and fails to capture the extra I think we spend Russia’s and her coaching grade of execution points. A quick ix is team to work with American pairs teams not going to happen here and unless the a lot of time trying to at a camp in early June. top teams start focusing on quality instead “Detail is the most important piece to of quantity, the results will continue to win national titles in improvement in our pairs program. We be disappointing. look at the Russian pairs teams in their the U.S. at the lower side-by-side spins and footwork, and they DEVELOPMENT PLAN are racking up so many points in grades of Justin Dillon, the director of high levels because it’s a execution,” Dillon explained. performance development for U.S. Figure “I listened to (Mozer) last year at our Skating, is charged with identifying and great achievement to seminar, and she was about the toe point, growing the next generation of champions. the detail, the exit — everything is so In his role, Dillon has identiied one trend be the best skater in reined that it’s a well-oiled machine. From that is redeining the sport — youth. physique to strength training to the spin “Speciically in ladies singles, we have a our country. on the ice, they look at every single detail. very young trend going on,” he said. “he hey are not just teaching them a skill and World Junior champion is 13 years old with —Justin Dillon then saying, ‘that’s good enough.’” two quads and the Olympic champion is But no matter what U.S. Figure Skating 15. We deinitely see this generation of does to grow young talent, Dillon sees skaters having success at a younger age.” “We’ll try to get these athletes through the top skaters being strong inluencers of With that trend in mind, Dillon revealed the levels faster so that they are at the junior future success. some of the key initiatives that U.S. Figure and senior levels at a younger age.” “We need to continue to cater to Skating is hoping will improve athlete Dillon has a development plan for our top talent at the senior level, while performance and, in turn, create better skaters at the novice level and below. simultaneously fostering our younger talent placements over the next four years. “he top two from each section in novice so that we continue to build for the future,” “One of the things we are working on singles would get invited to compete at the he said. is getting athletes through the competitive U.S. Championships at the junior level,” “he top skaters can be role models for structure sooner,” he said. “U.S. Figure he explained. the next generation and inluence them to Skating ofers more levels than many other “We would have a training summit reach new heights. federations in the world (eight in total), or camp for those that would have “But when they continually inish in and one of the things that we are tackling (previously) qualiied for nationals, but the eighth, ninth and 10th range, it’s hard at this summer’s Governing Council is to rather than spend all that money for one for the younger ones to see that there is a look at our competition structure — to competition, they will come together to pathway to the top. So, we really have to ofer development opportunities for those train for a number of days, have that head- take care of the top. athletes at the lower levels and make to-head experience, and receive training “It’s a new quadrennial, so if we are nationals really about junior and senior.” opportunities with officials who will going to do anything revolutionary or Dillon refers to the 2018 Governing provide feedback to help them grow into crusader-like, now is the time to do it. hat Council, an annual meeting for the stronger competitors. is why we are going to take a stab at these organization that serves to vote on changes “At this camp we will be looking at initiatives and see how it goes. to existing rules within the national talent identiication. his will allow us to “If it works, great, and if not, then we’ll structure, among other things. get them the development opportunities go back to the drawing board.”

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 41 2018 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

We were joking in the At most of my other I am very lucky to be change room that we competitions I have cried here. I came as the only have 10 minutes to at the end, but this time substitute, but I want to go until the end of the there was no need to cry be a real and dignified — — season. $XVWUDOLD·V.DLODQL so that was very good. representative of — &UDLQHSULRUWRWKHIUHHVNDWH -DSDQ·V:DNDED+LJXFKLRQZLQQLQJ Japan. .D]XNL7RPRQRZKR WKHVLOYHUPHGDO UHSODFHG7DNDKLWR0XUD I made big   mistakes on the Some days you Mexico is not a jumps and they make a mistake gure skating weren’t the kind and you can pick country. Being you could hide. here is such a big —5XVVLDQSDLUVVNDWHU9ODGLPLU up and carry on accomplishment. 0RUR]RYRQKLVIUHHVNDWH OK, and other To have qualied To be honest, days it all starts (for the free) and when we stepped to unravel. This got two personal onto the ice I was one of best scores is the wasn’t sure I would those days. best that could have — make it to the $OH[D6FLPHFD.QLHUHPRIWKH happened to me. 86DIWHUWKHSDLUVIUHHVNDWH — end. “Fake it till 'RQRYDQ&DUULOOR you make it” is our theme this week. It was deinitely the Most of the coaches —&DQDGD·V.LUVWHQ0RRUH7RZHUV skate I was dreaming RQVNDWLQJZLWKDQLQMXUHGIRRW I have worked with of last night. My think I am a very I tried my best. I roommate said I was good jumper, but couldn’t do more. talking in my sleep: To me it is a great Nikolai said: ‘I don’t achievement. — “Nail the Quad.” ,WDO\·V — care if you can do &DUROLQD.RVWQHURQSODFLQJIRXUWK &DQDGD·V.HHJDQ0HVVLQJ 50 quads. You’re Training to go to I really tried so boring!’ Having a competition and to involve the someone kick me training to maybe crowd and wake in the butt like that go to a competition everyone up as it is really helped me require a different — 10 in the morning! this season. $XVWUDOLD·V mindset. — 0DULDK%HOORIWKH —0DOD\VLD·V-XOLDQ=KL-LH

42 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 Carolina Kostner Kirsten Moore-Towers

Alexa Scimeca Knierim Brendan Kerry

Kailani Craine Vladimir Morozov 2018 Ladies Fashion SCORE OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE:

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„ (Japan) „ Isadora Williams (Brazil) „ Egvenia Medvedeva (Russia) Transitions MOVING ON

anadian pairs skater , 33, announced that Che is hanging up his competitive skates after a decade on the national team. Moscovitch began his career as a singles skater. In 2004, he placed second in the junior men’s event at the Canadian Championships behind his good friend Eric Radford. he late Paul Wirtz coached both skaters at the time. In a statement released by Skate Canada on April 10, Moscovitch thanked the three partners with whom he competed: sister Kyra, his irst partner (2003-2008), Kirsten Moore-Towers (2009-2014) and Lubov Ilyushechkina (2014-2018). With Moore-Towers, he won the 2011 Canadian title and silver in the Team Event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Moscovitch also thanked those who had coached him throughout his career, in particular , and “for renewing my love for skating and taking my level of growth as both an athlete and a person beyond what I could have ever hoped. “Skating was my irst love and forever my passion. Representing Canada on both the world and Olympic stage has been an honour and a privilege. “I wish Kirsten and Lubov the best of luck in their respective careers in the years to come. hank you to all for sharing this journey with me.” Moscovitch plans to remain in the skating fold through coaching, conducting seminars and mentoring young skaters. He is also interested in pursuing a career in acting and television commentary.

urkish ice dancers Alisa Agafonova and Alper Uçar announced Tthe end of their career following their free dance at the 2018 World Championships. Agafonova, originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine, moved to Turkey in 2010 to team up with Uçar. he duo relocated to Moscow in 2012, where they were coached by and Oleg Volkov. In 2014, the duo made history as Turkey’s irst participants in an Olympic Winter Games. In December 2015, as a consequence of political diferences that had arisen between the two nations, Agafonova and Uçar were forced to leave Russia. hey moved to the U.S. to work with Anjelika Krylova and Pasquale Camerlengo in Detroit. “We feel really grateful because this was our last competition. We inish our career right here, that is why we are so emotional,” Agafonova explained. “It has been a long and hard journey for us to get to where we are now, to be in the strongest group and to get into the top 20 at the Olympics. We are really proud of it.” Both athletes have their immediate futures planned out. Agafonova, 27, is moving to France to be with her boyfriend. “I will start a new life. Also, I will start a new life as a coach as well,” she explained. Uçar, 33, will take up a coaching position in Detroit and work with a new generation of ice dancers. In the future, he would like to work for the International Skating Union (ISU). He is currently a member of the ISU Athletes Commission.

46 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 apan’s Takahito Mura announced his retirement from competitive Jskating on March 16. he 2008 national champion at the junior level, Mura had mixed results in his decade on the senior international circuit. He won the French Grand Prix in 2012, but did not win another until Skate Canada in 2014. hat same year he claimed the Four Continents title. It would be his only medal in six appearances at that competition. Mura was aiming for a place on the 2014 Japanese Olympic team, but a sixth-place inish at nationals quashed that dream. Four years later he inished third at Japanese nationals, which would normally have qualiied him for the Olympic squad. However, the third spot on the men’s team was given to Yuzuru Hanyu, who missed the event because of injury and was given a bye. Mura subsequently declined the 2018 World Championships assignment that opened when Hanyu had announcced he was injured and would not be contesting his title. he inal competition for Mura, a 27-year-old father of two, was 2018 Four Continents, where he placed 12th. After not making the 2014 Olympic team, Mura said he considered leaving the sport, but he decided to put in four more years of hard work in the hope of making the cut in 2018. He plans to continue his skating career in the professional ranks. Mura was coached by his father, Takashi Mura, the 1976 World Junior men’s silver medalist.

evin Reynolds, who had been a ixture on the Canadian Knational team for a decade, has bid farewell to his competitive career. hough he was hoping to close it out with one inal Olympic appearance, a ifth-place inish at nationals in January scuttled that dream. He ranked seventh at his inal competition, 2018 Four Continents, an event he previously won in 2013. Reynolds irst came to prominence as a 17-year-old at the 2008 Canadian Championships where he landed a quad-triple- triple combination in his long program, the irst ever executed by a Canadian man. At Skate Canada International two years later, he became the irst skater to ever land two quad jumps in a short program. In 2014, Reynolds earned a place on the Canadian Olympic team. His second-place inish in the Team Event helped secure the silver medal for his nation. He did not fare so well in the men’s singles competition, landing in a distant 15th place overall. he now 27-year-old was plagued by injuries and boot problems throughout his career. In the 2013-2014 season and again the following year, one and/or both of those issues forced him to withdraw from his Grand Prix assignments. In six appearances at the World Championships his highest placement was ifth, which he achieved in 2013. Reynolds is currently completing his studies in international relations (with a minor in Japanese) at the University of .

JUNE 2018 IFSMAGAZINE.COM 47 Quicksteps

XYALE BOUND on March 31. Her iancé, 2014 Olympic champions Newly minted World Dalton Gribble, went to a and champion Nathan Chen lot of trouble to make the and the announced in early April proposal a memorable one, current coach of Russia’s that he plans to attend Yale building a gazebo with top pairs teams will move University starting this fall. a “Marry Me” neon sign away from active coaching. The Ivy League school, inside it. “I said to my skaters: located in New Haven, ‘Guys, your wishes will not , is 2,900 miles change (my mind). I’m so from his home and training tired. I need to restore my base in Los Angeles. health, psyche and energy.’” Chen intends to continue Five-time World pairs training with his long-time and are incredibly excited champion coach about our new projects and has worked with Mozer and “will igure out opportunities and look for- for the past four years, co- the details.” ward to sharing them with coaching Evgenia Tarasova The 19-year-old said he is everyone soon,” Alex said. and Vladimir Morozov. still focused on competing Mozer said she would at the 2022 Olympic Winter XGOING HOME “That night was a full like Robin to stay, “but Games in Beijing. Ice dance coach Anjelika moon and behind us was everything depends on the Krylova announced she a pond where the moon inancial policy in the sport is moving back to her was reecting off of the of our country. Robin will Russian homeland. water. It truly was more than not work for free.” The Moscow native, who anything I could have ever has coached at the Detroit dreamed of,” Cain wrote in XGRAND PARADE Skating Club for 12 years, a Facebook post. A parade celebrating said she is looking for a new Madison Hubbell, the 2018 Olympic champion challenge. reigning U.S. ice dance Yuzuru Hanyu took place champion with Zachary in his hometown of Sendai, Donohue, is also headed to Japan, on April 22. the altar. More than 100,000 people lined both sides of a downtown street to Chen welcomed a new welcome home the deco- training mate at the end of rated Olympian. April. Japan’s has relocated to California to train with Arutyunyan. Honda’s up-and-down results last season are said to be a result of her incon- “I really wanted to go sistent work habits. She is back to Russia for a long hoping a change of envi- time. I feel that in Detroit I Her boyfriend, Adrià ronment will inspire her to have buried myself in some Díaz, proposed during work harder. kind of creative impasse,” a vacation in Barcelona, the 44-year-old told Russia’s Spain, following the 2018 XNEW VENTURES RIA Novosti. World Championships. Maia Shibutani and Alex She will reportedly join Díaz, also an ice dancer, “I am so grateful. I have Shibutani are sitting out the ice dance coaching represents Spain with Olivia this medal because of the 2018-2019 competitive team of Elena Tchaikovskaya Smart. your support,” he said. season, but the siblings at the Yantar Sports Center “I’m happy to be able to stopped short of ruling out in Moscow. XSABBATICAL say to Sendai, ‘I’m home,’ a return to competition in Russian pairs coach Nina with my second consecu- the future. XWEDDING BELLS Mozer announced she is tive Olympic victory and “We will be skating in U.S. pairs skater Ashley taking a six-month break with my gold medal in my shows throughout the year Cain, 22, got engaged from work. The coach of hands.”

48 IFSMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2018 Russia's Team Paradise executed a daring move at the beginning of its long program at the 2018 World Synchronized Skating Championships. The team captured the bronze medal.

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