2026-27 U.S. Ice Dance

[BlissfulSynergy]

OIP/ Jordan Cowan has posted a clip of Car/Pom. I don't know if it's one of their new programs or an exhibition. I think it's Manon, so probably a new program.

Christina posted the OIP clip on her IG. It looks like they are at the outdoor rink at Lake Placid. It's confirmed (and the clip is posted) in New Programs thread here that Car/Pom's new FD is to Manon. It looks and sounds good. It's seemingly an inspired choice, from the 19th-century opera, and the 20th-century ballet, both based on a 1731 French novel, by Abbé Prévost. The opera premiered in 1884, in Paris, with music by composer Jules Massenet. The ballet, L'Histoire de Manon, premiered in 1974, in London, performed by the Royal Ballet, with choreography by Kenneth Macmillan.

I wish there would exist an overall up to the minute database resource to easily check for new programs of athletes/ teams grouped under individual country federations in alphabetical order by last name [of the female partner for teams].

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Cui/ Rogers were interviewed in June by icedance.com

Cui & Rogers: The Journey Continues – Ice-dance.com

www.ice-dance.com

Here's a video of their FD at U.S. Nats in January:

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Cui/ Rogers are such a good team. But they have not received a GP this season. They should have at least one GP opportunity. U.S. fed chose to give Neset/ Markelov and Wolf/ Tsar second GPs at Skate America, which I agree with, as it makes sense for the development of those teams. So, hopefully C/R will get senior B and Challenger events, and take full advantage of every competitive opportunity to shine. ️ Meanwhile, mid to older team, Pate/ Bye (assigned 2 GPs), have decided to stick around longer, which limits opportunities for promising younger teams.

That's the way of this sport. Limited opportunities to compete and to develop for younger teams, while some favored older teams, whose talent level has peaked, want to stay in (which is their right) in part due to lack of pro competitive opportunities, which would seem to be more suitable and productive for P/B. This is where the sport errs. Is there anyone who thinks Pate/ Bye have a chance to make the next Olympics? I don't. So maybe they stayed in because they love performing and competing together. They are a competent team, and they have previously had creative, entertaining programs. But I have seen nothing very memorable from them over the past two seasons in comparison to teams above and below them in the U.S. standings.

Yes, that's just my opinion, and P/B could prove me wrong. Yet, so far, I haven't noticed any technical improvements from them nor any smoothing out of their rough edges. However, they are with a top coach and they happen to be well-liked by U.S. fed.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

The first team featured in the header for this discussion was Wolfkostin/ Tsarevski. They have two GPs now after getting assigned to SkAm. This will be an important year for them to standout and make a move for being considered in the top echelon of U.S. ice dance, and not just a good team in the mid-tier recently up from juniors (and that's somewhat deceptive since they had returned to juniors to gain more opportunities to compete, gain experience, and make an impression.

The second team featured in the header seems to be The Mullens sister-brother pairing. Sadly, for them, they didn't make the cut in their first year move up to senior Nationals, which is a shame and should not have happened. In other words, USfigsk should have increased the field for 2026 ice dance at senior Nationals. It hurts the development of good skaters when they are mercilessly cut from being able to compete. Hopefully, the Mullens will fare better this coming season, along with the federation ensuring the field limit is set at a reasonable limit to accommodate development opportunities for promising skaters.

 

[labgoat]

The first team featured in the header for this discussion was Wolfkostin/ Tsarevski. They have two GPs now after getting assigned to SkAm. This will be an important year for them to standout and make a move for being considered in the top echelon of U.S. ice dance, and not just a good team in the mid-tier recently up from juniors (and that's somewhat deceptive since they had returned to juniors to gain more opportunities to compete, gain experience, and make an impression.

The second team featured in the header seems to be The Mullens sister-brother pairing. Sadly, for them, they didn't make the cut in their first year move up to senior Nationals, which is a shame and should not have happened. In other words, USfigsk should have increased the field for 2026 ice dance at senior Nationals. It hurts the development of good skaters when they are mercilessly cut from being able to compete. Hopefully, the Mullens will fare better this coming season, along with the federation ensuring the field limit is set at a reasonable limit to accommodate development opportunities for promising skaters.

I believe Wolf/Tsar will impress us. They seem to be very hard workers and improve every time I see them. I too though the Mullen should have been at Nationals - they are an impressive team and their setback should only make them hungrier. As for Pate /Bye - it will depend on what their goals are and how they fare among the challengers.