The ISU figure skating powers-that-be meet this Wednesday and Thursday to set out the coming season’s Grand Prix assignments across six events — this year, in a minor shake-up of schedule, Skate America, Skate Canada International, Rostelecom Cup, the renamed Trophée de France, Cup of China and NHK Trophy. With only eight slots per event…
As the partnered disciplines go, pairs lends itself most readily to analysis by technical improvement — a fall or aborted element are explicit, easily marked errors and likewise, GOE typically does fairly well in grading an element’s obvious level of execution. TES is also democratic; Olympic champions can fall short if the technique fails them…
Defense of a Canadian title is nothing new for four-time national champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, who in past seasons had to battle through a tight rivalry with Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch. This time around, the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships present a chance for the pair to regroup after the stresses of…
In recognition of the Year That Was, Two for the Ice highlights ten of its favorite 2015-16 programs from the U.S. and Canada’s senior dance and pairs couples — and we invite our readers to share their own favorites by tweeting us at @twofortheice or commenting below. ICE DANCE 1. Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker,…
by Jacquelyn Thayer Even quick on-ice successes for a new U.S. pair can come with a struggle increasingly common — and increasingly public — for athletes in Olympic sport. Jessica Pfund and Joshua Santillan, based at the rising pairs camp in Ellenton, Florida, have seen limited funds make an impact at the most fundamental level…
Note: While the Grand Prix Final was called the Champions Series Final in its first three seasons, the event is considered here the GPF for the sake of simplification. North American dance and pairs entries, Grand Prix Final: 7 Dance: Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN), Madison Chock & Evan Bates, Maia & Alex Shibutani,…
by Jacquelyn Thayer After competing at the 2014 Olympics and World Championships, four-time Canadian pairs bronze medalist Rudi Swiegers parted ways with Paige Lawrence, his partner of nine years, and took a step back from the realm of competitive skating, making some time for daily life. “I really took my year off for myself,” he…
by Jacquelyn Thayer NOTE: Due to the costs and time involved in maintaining and further growing Two for the Ice as an outlet, we’ve recently launched a funding option through Patreon, with small suggested donation fees per article. We appreciate any support! After a world junior silver medal, Canadian senior bronze and a top eight…
Dance This season, Two for the Ice is adding to its analytical series by tracking first events to first events* — how leading dance teams fared in 2014-15’s debut against this season’s. As a matter of further interest, the four top U.S. and Canadian dance couples who competed at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic…
by Jacquelyn Thayer British Columbia/Yukon Territory Super Series SummerSkate BC SummerSkate is unusual among the pre-season regional competitions for — like a regular season event — holding short and free segments as a combined event; this is due to its status as part of the BC/YT Super Series. For our purposes, it might also be…
