2025-26 U.S. Ice Dance | Page 4 | Golden Skate

2025-26 U.S. Ice Dance

I don't follow them closely, that's why I was surprised to see his name removed in the program for the upcoming Nationals.
 
With US Nationals coming up, next week (yay), are there any coaching changes for the teams you would like to see after this season? (Move to a different academy, add someone(s) to their coaching team, etc.)
 
BlissfulSynergy said:
Christina definitely improved under Scott Moir's close tutelage and Maddie Hubbell's (plus Tessa Virtue's) mentoring. Anthony doesn't look quite as good since coming back from surgery a couple of seasons ago. Christina is now arguably stronger in some respects than Anthony. They were both helped in improving their expressive skills with the FD they had last season, which was much better than the flat, empty programs they have this season.
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Ah, so I heard that Carreira/ Ponomarenko are bringing back their last season's FD. A smart, no-brainer move after the poorer results they've had with this season's FD.
 
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bckabck said:
With US Nationals coming up, next week (yay), are there any coaching changes for the teams you would like to see after this season? (Move to a different academy, add someone(s) to their coaching team, etc.)
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I really hope Isabella Flores can find a better suited partner (of course, she already had the perfect partner in Desyatov b/f their forced split). She's still very young and hugely talented. She would have gone far with both Dima Tsarevski and Ivan Desyatov. Thus, to now be in a struggle partnership that requires so much improvement, plus the uncertainty of Jepsen's need for U.S. citizenship while also training in France, it just seems that Flores deserves a more promising partnership and coaching situation.

Seemingly, all the MIDA students are loyal to their remaining coaches. And perhaps someone else may be brought in to replace Charlie? 🤔 I wonder if Charlie will go elsewhere to coach or go back to a focus on choreographing, and maybe commentating, too. Charlie and Tanith were great commentators. I have missed them in that capacity. They did the commentating gig together for Peacock streams for two years, and they were excellent. It doesn't seem that they have had huge success so far with their ice dance academy venture, which may have placed a lot of stress on their marriage. Of course, U.S. fed has certainly been backing MIDA and their students, but there have been a lot of struggles and setbacks.
 
I read that Flores/ Jepsen are participating this week in an ice dance workshop at IAM Ontario, with Scott Moir, apparently tweeted by Jepsen's mother. Has anyone else heard about this workshop and have info on who else was there?
 
BlissfulSynergy said:
I read that Flores/ Jepsen are participating this week in an ice dance workshop at IAM Ontario, with Scott Moir, apparently tweeted by Jepsen's mother. Has anyone else heard about this workshop and have info on who else was there?
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That's interesting and probably good if Jepsen is going to work on US citizenship. He could do what Christina did for awhile there of commuting from MI. Maybe it will help them also gel more.

I was wondering is Neset/Markelov would also consider Moir's school (I know it's still IAM but I feel like the skating skills are different than what Montreal IAM has).
 
bckabck said:
That's interesting and probably good if Jepsen is going to work on US citizenship. He could do what Christina did for awhile there of commuting from MI. Maybe it will help them also gel more.

I was wondering is Neset/Markelov would also consider Moir's school (I know it's still IAM but I feel like the skating skills are different than what Montreal IAM has).
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I don't know whether this means F/J are switching to Moir/ Hubbell training camp. The news is just that they are participating in a workshop there the week prior to U.S. Nat'ls kicking off.

I'd like to learn more about this workshop which is why I asked if anyone had more details. I still feel, so far, that Flores/ Jepsen are not well-matched. But I guess the Moir/ Hubbell camp is quick becoming a place to help teams who need a lot of refinement work. Jury is still out on whether Flores/ Jepsen are a viable team long term. Flores has already proven her huge talent with two former partners, while Jepsen has not had much success with a number of partners. Moir seems to be a very good coach. Perhaps he has a good enough eye to offer analysis, advice, and to judge if there's something there that can be brought out with F/J. However, I don't know if they are there simply for brief workshop tips or for a more deeper analysis that might lead to accepting them for coaching. Location-wise, London, Ontario, is certainly better than commuting to-and-from France for adherence to U.S. citizenship application pursuit for Jepsen.

Regarding Neset/Markelov, I doubt they are contemplating a move from WASA in Colorado. Elena Dostatni has developed a very good ice dance program at WASA, even if political clout and connections don't exist there at the level currently wielded by IAM. Not every ice dance team with high level potential or aspirations can be nor should be absorbed by IAM. Yet clearly, at the moment, Moir/ Hubbell/ Diaz camp in Ontario is an enviable place to be, especially for teams looking to improve or to develop a fresh perspective.

For example, Lauriault/ LeGac were significantly helped since their switch to IAM Ontario. I have seen fans hoping that Lajoie/Lagha might move there. But once again, not everyone can. I was surprised to see the Peal siblings accepted there straight out of juniors. But the Peals are looking much more confident and competitive since their switch. Contrast with some of the issues teams at MIDA have weathered. It will be interesting to see what direction MIDA will go in post Charlie White's departure.
 
BlissfulSynergy said:
I'd like to learn more about this workshop which is why I asked if anyone had more details. I still feel, so far, that Flores/ Jepsen are not well-matched. But I guess the Moir/ Hubbell camp is quick becoming a place to help teams who need a lot of refinement work. Jury is still out on whether Flores/ Jepsen are a viable team long term. Flores has already proven her huge talent with two former partners, while Jepsen has not had much success with a number of partners. Moir seems to be a very good coach. Perhaps he has a good enough eye to offer analysis, advice, and to judge if there's something there that can be brought out with F/J. However, I don't know if they are there simply for brief workshop tips or for a more deeper analysis that might lead to accepting them for coaching. Location-wise, London, Ontario, is certainly better than commuting to-and-from France for adherence to U.S. citizenship application pursuit for Jepsen.
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Totally agree :)

BlissfulSynergy said:
Regarding Neset/Markelov, I doubt they are contemplating a move from WASA in Colorado. Elena Dostatni has developed a very good ice dance program at WASA, even if political clout and connections don't exist there at the level currently wielded by IAM. Not every ice dance team with high level potential or aspirations can be nor should be absorbed by IAM. Yet clearly, at the moment, Moir/ Hubbell/ Diaz camp in Ontario is an enviable place to be, especially for teams looking to improve or to develop a fresh perspective.
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I also agree that not everyone should move to an IAM center. Maybe controversial, I kind of would like to see the amount of teams actually cut down and spread more with other academies. Also agree that Elena has really built up WASA, and done a great job coaching the skaters' there skills. Watching Neset/Markelov this season, and yes they have great skating skills, I just wonder if there is a cap that maybe moving training would help to bust through since they haven't improved scores wise from last season. Now, could the scores be more political.....sure, haha. Could it be they just need a fresh perspective....sure. I know they did work with Barbara Fusar-Poli over the summer.

BlissfulSynergy said:
For example, Lauriault/ LeGac were significantly helped since their switch to IAM Ontario. I have seen fans hoping that Lajoie/Lagha might move there. But once again, not everyone can. I was surprised to see the Peal siblings accepted there straight out of juniors. But the Peals are looking much more confident and competitive since their switch. Contrast with some of the issues teams at MIDA have weathered. It will be interesting to see what direction MIDA will go in post Charlie White's departure.
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I don't want LaLa to move. I think they have a good formula where they train now. No surprise though about the Peals since they were already co-coached by IAM while in Juniors.

I was sad to hear about the White situation and Charlie removed from MIDA. It will be interesting to see what happens next with that academy. I wonder if Baker would consider more of a role there if they offered (its a reach I know).
 
bckabck said:
Neset/Markelov this season, and yes they have great skating skills, I just wonder if there is a cap that maybe moving training would help to bust through since they haven't improved scores wise from last season. Now, could the scores be more political.....sure, haha. Could it be they just need a fresh perspective....sure. I know they did work with Barbara Fusar-Poli over the summer.
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I did not know that N/M worked with Fusar-Poli over the summer. I do know that Dostatni tries to bring in and/ or expose her students to other expert voices and assistance in order to continue improving and expanding their learning experiences. I understad the tendency for fans to think an already good team could flourish with the politically well-connected IAM operation. Still, I do not think N/M are interested in leaving Dostatni, nor Colorado. At least, not at this point in time, if ever.

IMO, a big reason why Neset/ Markelov have not improved scores-wise from last season is the 'young marriages' negative busybody gossip, purposely gabbed about with the intent to harm perceptions of them. The fact and timing of their marrying has nothing to do with their talent, ability, or promising potential. A pox on the person(s) who maliciously leaked the Flores/ Desyatov marriage revelation to Dave Lease which prompted his snooping and the eventual nasty, judgemental takes designed to cast WASA ice dance in a bad light. Who gets married when and why is no one else's business. I remember when Melissa Gilbert Gregory & Denis Petrov Petukhov were gossiped about and criticized for marrying many years ago when they competed in ice dance for the U.S. Well, today they are still married and coaching a number of promising ice dance teams in Connecticut.

Overall, perhaps N/M are just being made to wait because of their relative youth. I still think they are one of the more talented rising ice dance teams for the U.S., and I look forward to seeing their progress over the next four seasons.

I also was not aware of the Peals' being connected with IAM as juniors. When did that happen? They have been training under their Dad. Probably, he had a connection to someone in the Ontario IAM camp. I would also think that the Peals' Dad saw how the Brown siblings' arrangement with IAM helped them show visible improvement in the senior ranks.
 
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Umm @BlissfulSynergy you mean Melissa Gregory, not the actress Melissa Gilbert. N/M are talented but so are many of the seniors in USA dance. If they work hard have memorable programs, and perform them to the best of their ability, they'll move up, maybe not as fast as they would prefer, But there is opportunity to be in the top tier as the seasons go by.
 
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Spiralgraph said:
Umm @BlissfulSynergy you mean Melissa Gregory, not the actress Melissa Gilbert. N/M are talented but so are many of the seniors in USA dance. If they work hard have memorable programs, and perform them to the best of their ability, they'll move up, maybe not as fast as they would prefer, But there is opportunity to be in the top tier as the seasons go by.
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Yes, Melissa Gregory, that's who I mean, of course! Thanks for the correction. Of course, I know the difference between these two different ladies, but accurate name recall for the Melissa I was referencing, failed me. 🤭 And I have tended to get Denis' correct last name mixed up. No excuses.

Regarding Neset/ Markelov, yes, there are a lot of ice dance teams in the U.S., but N/M's abilities are as good as or better IMO, than Bratti/ Somerville and Pate/ Bye, as well as competitive and comparable with Wolf/ Tsar. The marriage gossip hurt perceptions of N/M, unfairly of course. I don't think it will have any lasting negative impact. But, it was uncalled for to begin with. This can be such a cutthroat sport.

For sure, N/M are still growing and improving. No team is perfect. The learning curve is constant. But once again, they have been dropped in the scoring quite unfairly since last season. In any case, ice dance scoring has been fluctuating quite a bit from event-to-event this season, with confusion and complaints from everyone, including top skaters.
 
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bckabck said:
I wonder if Baker would consider more of a role there if they offered (its a reach I know).
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I'd rather see Jean-Luc Baker doing more commentary. He'd be perfect for the Peacock streams, and let someone else cover the practices with Jackie Wong. Jean-Luc also does choreography, sometimes in collaboration with other IAM alums. I am not sure whether he's interested in coaching, but obv he could continue choreographing along with taking on more major commentating gigs. I do not see Baker becoming connected with MIDA as a coach. He could and likely does do some coaching on occasion at IAM.
 
Even predicting 2nd and 3rd is not a slam dunk. I think Zingas/Kolesnik may be able to grab second place, but Car/Pom are bringing back their well-received Perfume FD from last season in order to be more competitive. So, C/P might have a shot at 2nd, but more likely third, with Green/Parsons, the Shibs, and Wolf/ Tsar also jockeying for top positions.
 
BlissfulSynergy said:
I'd rather see Jean-Luc Baker doing more commentary. He'd be perfect for the Peacock streams, and let someone else cover the practices with Jackie Wong. Jean-Luc also does choreography, sometimes in collaboration with other IAM alums. I am not sure whether he's interested in coaching, but obv he could continue choreographing along with taking on more major commentating gigs. I do not see Baker becoming connected with MIDA as a coach. He could and likely does do some coaching on occasion at IAM.
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Real quick about commentary, I would love Baker to replace Johnny and I miss Agosto's commentary as well. I remember Agosto really commentating on the technical aspect of ice dance and explaining why things would get called. No offense to Terry, but for ice dance can we have Baker, Agosto and Gabby? :)
 
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