2026 U.S. Nationals Practice Reports

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Christina and Anthony absolutely made the right decision returning to their Perfume free dance. They skate like a completely different team than earlier in the season. With this program, I can so easily see the quality that earned them 5th place at Worlds; that Notre Dame free dance they had earlier in the season was so cookie-cutter and hid some of their best attributes imo.

I'm pondering that. Even live and especially looking at the ice coverage, I perceive differences. I mean, I adore C/B, but they often don't cover a lot of ice for whole sections of their programs. But who am I to question JLB?

I think a lot of the teams have comparable baseline speeds, but it varies a lot in program. Emilea and Vadym tend to attack their programs more, so they have more speed sometimes in competition, while a Maddie and Evan might be a little more deliberate and controlled in their programs which slows down their program just a tad. Maddie and Evan also have more intricate choreo, whereas some teams like Marjorie and Zach have less intricate choreo but more speed.

 

[museksk8r]

I still think Madi looks awkward and clumsy getting up into that first lift.

 

[museksk8r]

If practices were judged, the results here would be: 1) Z/K, 2) B/S, 3) C/P.

 

[skylark]

I'm throwing my remarks back tothe beginning, because I'm so happy Jean-Luc agrees with me! He says Isabella Flores is one of the strongest female ice dancers we (U.S.) have. And he predicts that the team Flores/Jepsen are going to be a major force in US Ice Dance.

What he didn't address (even tho' he kept up commentary all the way through their run-through) is something I think is so wonderful about Isabella. After watching her with 3 different partners, I think she's extraordinary at keeping a fluid response to her partner. And she does this without sacrificing any of her personality and style of her own. Jean-Luc gives good advice to Linus: keep your wildness, while you firm it up (with some things J-L specifically recommended).

Isabella's amazing, and I'm thrilled to look forward to their skating in years to come. And also, my current favorites, Emilea and Vadym.

 

[Arriba627]

Thx to all for your practice reports. @labgoat appreciate all your comments from yesterday. Thx for taking the time to do all that.

 

[labgoat]

Michael Xie has done such a beautiful skate to The Mission.

 

[labgoat]

Thx to all for your practice reports. @labgoat appreciate all your comments from yesterday. Thx for taking the time to do all that.

You're welcome. I couldn't do today. I can't think sometimes when I am trying to concentrate on the actual dancers and others want to pick the umpteenth Chock & Bates debate during the time I am trying to process what I am learning from JLB. Typing is not an option at that point - I am not here to defend so I choose to leave. I probably will be chased away during the dance final. My comments will remain private - the cost of disruptions - sorry, but not sorry.

 

[labgoat]

Love to watch Sam Mindra and appreciate the creativity and musicality that he adds - and others will copy.

 

[labgoat]

Nice correction on the axel Renzo! You sir are a quick learner.

 

[labgoat]

This is one of my favorite pieces of music - it is something I would've chosen to skate to. Love how sweeping and emotive it is - perfect for skating.

 

[labgoat]

Watching both Bradie & Camden make Olympic pins over and over again is painful and cruel USFS

 

[ramurphy2005]

Watching both Bradie & Camden make Olympic pins over and over again is painful and cruel USFS

Yeah

I want more dog personality test vids. The ones they put out on Instagram with Shin/Nagy and Alysa are so funny.

 

[labgoat]

Don't let the nerves get to you Goku - you are a fabulous skater. Just be you.

 

[museksk8r]

I hope Sam Mindra never loses his light and what makes him so special. Hopefully, he will follow the Jason route and ignore all the background noise and continue to harness what makes him so unique. Obviously, it would be wonderful to see him somehow be able to adopt Jason’s consistency as an upcoming athlete as well.

 

[labgoat]

Time to rain men from Jimmy.

 

[ramurphy2005]

JLB humming along with Jimmy's music, lol

 

[labgoat]

JLB humming along with Jimmy's music, lol

He brings everyone onto the ice with him. He also has the best arabian in the men's event.

 

[labgoat]

I hope @moonvine is okay, she was pretty broken for Jimmy

 

[museksk8r]

Lucius is 6’2”, not quite the 6’5” of Nikolaj Memola, but that is a lot of body to get to rotate a quad jump.

 

[labgoat]

The eye contact that the skater makes during a program can make such an impression on an audience. I took my mom to see an international skating challenge with kwan, cohen, yagudin and plushenko and our seats got upgraded to row 2. Plushenko flirted with my mom and she never ever forgot it.