2026 Pacific Coast Sectional Singles and U.S. Ice Dance Final

[ice coverage]

I am a fan of Ryan Hu, and I wish him well. Really hope that he will be feeling OK soon.

I was watching the livestream both yesterday and today, and after the very unfortunate RD fall with Ryan hitting his head, I was horrified by what transpired on both days.
No disrespect to Ryan, but I would use a very different word from "brave" for what happened today.

I know that his partner and he are the reigning U.S. junior pewter medalists, and that leading up to Dance Final, qualifying for nationals naturally would have seemed important to them and their coaches.
My two cents are that I don't think it should have been so important as to risk his short-term and long-term health. He was in obvious physical distress both yesterday and today.

 

[labgoat]

Group 3
Jane & Mark skate to Hunger Games and do very well. Gorgeous handstand lift. Into first.

Kouevi & Homawoo are skating much improved to Four Seasons. They look far more confident than they did earlier this season with this music. They are in second place.

Annelise & Maxim skate to Les Miz with great attack. They are in third place.

Vaclavikova & Lissauer are next skating to Moonlight Sonata solidly, but not as memorably as yesterday. Into second place

Now Effie Chen & Gordei C dressed in shades of grey. They skate to Woodkid music. There is not as strong performance value as yesterday but still very nice. I did not feel they were better than Jane & Mark. Second in free and overall.

 

[labgoat]

I am a fan of Ryan Hu, and I wish him well. Really hope that he will be feeling OK soon.

I was watching the livestream both yesterday and today, and after the very unfortunate RD fall with Ryan hitting his head, I was horrified by what transpired on both days.
I would use a very different word from "brave" for what happened today.

I know that his partner and he are the reigning U.S. junior pewter medalists, and that leading up to Dance Final, qualifying for nationals naturally would have seemed important to them and their coaches.
My two cents are that I don't think it should have been so important as to risk his short-term and long-term health. He was in obvious physical distress both yesterday and today.

I really did not think they would or should skate, but it is their call to make. I sat here watching with praying hands. Olympic level courage to skate risking another fall, but achieving their goal of qualifying. They are made of sterner stuff than I. Just happy that it turned out well. Into concussion protocol with you STAT!

 

[labgoat]

What happened to ION FSC - both teams are listed as Shenandoah FSC now?
Did they move clubs?

 

[moonvine]

You're mathing the wrong way. 8am Pacific time is 11 am Eastern time, so that puts it at 10am central time.

Thank you. This Is how I miss things.

 

[labgoat]

Thank you. This Is how I miss things.

Glad you are here!

 

[labgoat]

Anyone here for Junior Men?
No one, then I will just watch and not comment.

 

[ice coverage]

I really did not think they would or should skate, but it is their call to make. I sat here watching with praying hands. Olympic level courage to skate risking another fall, but achieving their goal of qualifying. They are made of sterner stuff than I. Just happy that it turned out well. Into concussion protocol with you STAT!

Every fan is entitled to their opinion, and the skaters and their team made the call to compete in the FD.
But I for one am absolutely opposed to glorifying what happened as "Olympic level courage" or as any level of "courage".

The 18-year-old skater's concussion-type symptoms were unmistakable on the livestream as soon as their RD music ended, he could be heard saying in the kiss and cry that he felt dizzy, etc. I hoped that the skater immediately would receive thorough medical evaluation and support, and that they would withdraw before the FD. My heart sank today when I saw that they did not withdraw before the FD.

When they needed to interrupt the FD because of concussion-type symptoms that once again were obvious, what would have been courageous to me would have been for the skaters and coaches to prioritize health above anything else and to withdraw.

 

[labgoat]

But I for one am absolutely opposed to glorifying what happened as "Olympic level courage" or as any level of "courage".

I think you misunderstand me - I did not intend to glorify this but indicate that it is the sort of choice that many Olympians across many sports have done. Sorry if I gave a different impression.

 

[ice coverage]

I remember things like Kerri Strug becoming a gymnastics hero for pushing through an ankle injury at the Olympics, with the gold medal at stake for her team.

But for me, pushing through a concussion-type injury seems like a completely different kettle of fish, with potential long-term adverse consequences for the person's health. (I am not in the medical profession.)

( Before I step away from this discussion, just one more comment: If I had just turned 18 and had the courage to take the long view, I hope that my partner and my coaches would support my decision. )

 

[yuumagical]

I've been watching the intermediate men; I stumbled across them on YouTube yesterday and although I tried to watch the juniors too, I really want to see what happens with the intermediates!

 

[Seven Sisters]

Every fan is entitled to their opinion, and the skaters and their team made the call to compete in the FD.
But I for one am absolutely opposed to glorifying what happened as "Olympic level courage" or as any level of "courage".

The 18-year-old skater's concussion-type symptoms were unmistakable on the livestream as soon as their RD music ended, he could be heard saying in the kiss and cry that he felt dizzy, etc. I hoped that the skater immediately would receive thorough medical evaluation and support, and that they would withdraw before the FD. My heart sank today when I saw that they did not withdraw before the FD.

When they needed to interrupt the FD because of concussion-type symptoms that once again were obvious, what would have been courageous to me would have been for the skaters and coaches to prioritize health above anything else and to withdraw.

I just watched this on replay and was pretty horrified. It was obvious that Ryan—a teenager, and so perhaps not in the best position to make appropriate decisions—was not physically able to compete. I cannot imagine why the referee and/or USFS allowed him to continue.

 

[yuumagical]

And Leon Ban just won intermediate men! This kid really has potential!

 

[labgoat]

Now onto senior FD

And Leon Ban just won intermediate men! This kid really has potential!

I'll go back and look for him later! Congratulations Leon!

 

[labgoat]

Go Mikala Michela & Karl!
A Indigenous people theme - done respectfully with a very nice choreo sequence.
I am officially an uber-fan of them now! I need to get her name correct then.

 

[elbkup]

Go Mikala & Karl!
A Indigenous people them - done respectfully with a very nice choreo sequence.
I am officially an uber-fan of them now!

I liked it! Especially the lift near the end

 

[labgoat]

Klara Kowar / Thomas Schwappach skated to Dirty Dancing

 

[labgoat]

Caroline MULLEN / Brendan MULLEN skating very elegantly and dramatically to Night on Bald Mountain.

 

[moonvine]

I really did not think they would or should skate, but it is their call to make. I sat here watching with praying hands. Olympic level courage to skate risking another fall, but achieving their goal of qualifying. They are made of sterner stuff than I. Just happy that it turned out well. Into concussion protocol with you STAT!

See, I don’t think it should be their call to male. Especially in juniors and even more especially in partnered disciplines, where they could hurt their partner by not being able to skate their best due to an injury.
Peoples brains are not fully formed until they are 25. It’s why younger people often display very risky behavior. When I was a teenager I was thrown off a horse into a fence. The doctor said no riding for a month. I would have been riding the next day but no, my parents would not let me. Which was correct of course, even though i disliked it at the time.
He should have been in concussion protocol already which would have meant no skating today. In my opinion of course.

 

[moonvine]

I just watched this on replay and was pretty horrified. It was obvious that Ryan—a teenager, and so perhaps not in the best position to make appropriate decisions—was not physically able to compete. I cannot imagine why the referee and/or USFS allowed him to continue.

Great minds think a like. Or the parents. Where were the parents???