2004 Skate America: Men’s Highlights

Skate America was the first of six events of the Grand Prix series and was held at the Mellon Arena, October 21-24, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Over 60 skaters from 15 different countries competed for points and/or monies totaling $180,000 in U.S. dollars. The points go toward qualification for the Grand Prix Final, to which the top six competitors in points standings from each discipline will be invited. The Grand…

2004 Skate America: Ladies Highlights

USA’s Angela Nikodinov won her first gold medal in a senior Grand Prix event at her fifth visit to Skate America. Canada’s Cynthia Phaneuf won the silver, while Miko Ando of Japan won the bronze.

Skating to Gypsy Soul, Ando landed a triple Lutz-triple loop combination followed by a triple flip and a double Axel to earn 53.64 points for a first place finish after the short.

“I am glad…

2004 Skate America: Ice Dance Highlights

In ice dance, USA’s Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto won their second consecutive gold medal in this event, while Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski of Israel won the silver. Canada’s Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe won the bronze, their first senior Grand Prix medal.

The Compulsory Dance for Skate America was the Golden Waltz. The dance was invented by Natalia Dubova, Marina Klimova, and Sergei Ponomarenko and was…

2004 Skate America: Pairs Highlights

Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang of China were the gold medal winners in the pairs event while Julia Obertas and Sergei Slavnov of Russia were second and Rena Inoue and John Baldwin Jr. of the United States were third.

The pairs event ended on a scary and solemn night. Russia’s Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin were in first place and last to take the ice for the free skate.

During a…