2012 SKAM program - US Figure Skating

Transcription

2012 SKAM program - US Figure Skating
Here’s to all the effort that
goes into making it look effortless.
AT&T I S A P R O U D S P O N S O R O F U. S. F I G U R E S K AT I N G .
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Welcome to Washington!
On behalf of U.S. Figure Skating, it is my pleasure to welcome you to 2012 Hilton
HHonors Skate America in Kent, Washington. The days ahead promise to be exciting,
full of great skating and excellent competition.
We would like to thank Production Sports and the ShoWare Center for their
dedication to organizing this event.
As the first of seven events in six countries of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
Series, Skate America welcomes more than 50 competitors from 13 countries
gathering here to showcase their remarkable skills and talents. The top skaters at
the conclusion of the series qualify for the Grand Prix Final, taking place December,
6-9, in Sochi, Russia, host of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
Over the next three days, many of the top skaters in the world will compete for medals
in ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dancing. These athletes have already accomplished so
much to get here, and we wish them the very best.
On behalf of the more than 173,000 members of U.S. Figure Skating, I would like to
thank the athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents and fans for their continued
involvement and support of the sport of figure skating.
The stage is set for an exciting event! To all the skating fans, we hope you thoroughly
enjoy this year’s competition.
Sincerely,
Patricia St. Peter
President, U.S. Figure Skating
October 2012
On behalf of Hilton HHonors™, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the 2012 Hilton
HHonors Skate America competition. As an award-winning guest rewards program,
Hilton HHonors does more than just help people travel - we help them transform points
into experiences they can’t help but share in 91 countries worldwide. We hope you have
many experiences worth sharing at this year’s exciting event.
As a proud sponsor of U.S. Figure Skating, Hilton HHonors knows that giving it your all
starts with a good night’s sleep. That’s why Hilton HHonors works to ensure that athletes
always have the perfect place to stay, whether they’re already on the Road to Gold or just
beginning their training. Because no matter the dream you are chasing, you deserve the
perfect bed to dream in.
With over 3,900 hotels and resorts within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, you can enjoy
the flexibility of staying at any of our 10 distinct brands, including participating Waldorf
Astoria®, Hotels & Resorts, Conrad®, Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree
by Hilton™, Embassy Suites™, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hampton®, Homewood Suites by Hilton®,
Home2 Suites by Hilton®, and Hilton Grand Vacations®, So no matter where your journey
takes you, Hilton Worldwide has destinations in 91 countries ready to cheer you on.
While you are at the event we invite you to come dream with us. Visit our activation booth
to receive a free gift, sign our dream wall, take a memorable photo, and learn about hotel
discounts available for figure skating fans. For more info on all of our U.S. Figure Skating
and Team USA™ initiatives, please visit HHonors.com/Dream.
Best of luck to all the athletes competing.
Thank you for joining us in Kent, Washington. We hope you enjoy what is sure to
be a great competition!
Jeffrey Diskin
Senior Vice President, Hilton Worldwide
Duvall Ave NE
Renton
Landing
Clinic
WELCOME SPECTATORS!
U.S. Figure Skating welcomes you to 2012 Hilton HHonors
Skate America at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. For
three days, some of the best athletes in the sport of figure
skating will compete for ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dance
titles. The 18th annual ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
Series includes six competitions held in October and November in the United States, Canada, Japan, China, Russia
and France. Skaters are awarded points at the two events
in which they compete. The top six point-earners in each
discipline secure spots at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure
Skating Final in Sochi, Russia.
2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America includes competitors
from the United States, Canada, China, Czech Republic,
France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Russia and Sweden.
U.S. champion Ashley Wagner leads the ladies’ contingent at the event. She’ll face off against 2012 World silver
medalist Alena Leonova of Russia and 2010 U.S. titlist Rachael Flatt.
In the men’s event, Evan Lysacek is making his first appearance in ISU competition since his 2010 Olympic gold
medal performance in Vancouver. Also expected to contend for medals are three-time U.S. champion Jeremy Abbott and 2012 World bronze medalist Yuzuru Hanyu of
Japan.
U.S. champions Caydee Denney and John Coughlin will
go head-to-head against some of the best pairs teams
in the world, including 2010 Olympic silver medalists
Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China and two-time World
silver medalists Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of
Russia.
2011 World champions and 2010 Olympic silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White are favored to win
their third consecutive ice dance title for the U.S. at
Skate America. They could face a stiff challenge from
the standout Canadian team of Kaitlyn Weaver and
Andrew Poje.
U.S. Figure Skating and the ISU hope you enjoy
the 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America and your
visit to Kent.
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2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
5
Skate America preview
6
Grand Prix assignments
8
Schedule and competitors
10 Kent/Seattle profile
14 Ben Agosto
16 Ladies profiles
21 Ladies scoring guide
24 Men’s profiles
29 Men’s scoring guide
32 Pairs profiles
37 Pairs scoring guide
38 Ice dancing profiles
43 Ice dancing scoring guide
44 About U.S. Figure Skating
46 Northwest skating success
50 Disson Skating
54 Skate America medalists
58 Seattle skating legacy
60 International judging system
66 ISU Grand Prix Series
Home opener
SUPERIOR FIELD SET TO PERFORM IN KENT
By Troy Schwindt
The push begins.
With only 16 months left until the start of
the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi,
Russia, the top skaters from the United
States and around the world are gearing
up to turn some heads and build momentum.
Their first chance comes this weekend at
the 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America in
Kent, Wash. The competition, Oct. 19–21, is
the first of six ISU Grand Prix Series events
that lead up to the Grand Prix Final in December in Sochi.
One of those U.S. skaters hoping to once
again make headlines is Evan Lysacek, who
captured the 2010 Olympic title in Vancouver, Canada. Lysacek, who hails from Illinois
and trains in California, has resumed training after a two-year layoff.
Lysacek won his first of two consecutive
U.S. titles in the Pacific Northwest when
he turned in a magical performance at
the 2007 U.S. Championships in Spokane,
Wash.
His performance in Kent and comeback bid
will be watched closely as the countdown
to Sochi begins.
Joining Lysacek in Kent will be all of the
2012 U.S. champions: Ashley Wagner, Jeremy Abbott, Caydee Denney and John
Coughlin, and Meryl Davis and Charlie
White.
Rachael Flatt, the 2010 U.S. champion and
2010 Olympian, will make her fourth appearance at Skate America. She earned the
silver medal at the event in 2009 and 2010.
This all-star lineup, pitted against several
of the world’s top skaters and teams, make
Skate America one of the most exciting figure skating events of the season. The competition can be seen on icenetwork.com
and live on NBC at 4 p.m. ET., Oct. 21.
Flatt trains in California under Justin Dillon
and Lynn Smith and attends Stanford University, where she’s pursuing a degree in
the medical field.
LADIES
Christina Gao finished fifth at the last three
U.S. Championships. A student at Harvard
University, she trains in Boston under Mark
Mitchell and Peter Johansson.
Russia’s Alena Leonova, the 2012 World silver medalist, brings her explosive talents to
Skate America for the first time. She is one
of the sport’s rising stars, having placed
ninth at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
No question about it, the men’s division will
be the most hotly contested of the competition, with champions aplenty.
Country mate Adelina Sotnikova, the sublimely flexible 2011 World Junior champion, is also exciting to watch and could
figure in the medal chase.
Lysacek, the Olympic titlist, leads this stellar
field. He announced his return to competition in August at the London Games, with
the intent of defending his crown in Sochi.
U.S. champion Ashley Wagner is making
her Skate America debut, having won five
Grand Prix Series medals to date.
He’s back training under legendary coach
Frank Carroll in California.
Wagner trains in California under legendary coach John Nicks. She won her first senior-level international event in February at
the 2012 Four Continents Championships
in Colorado Springs, Colo.
MEN
Lysacek owns one Skate America title from
2009, the same year he won the World title.
He has also earned three silver medals and
one bronze medal at Skate America.
He’ll be challenged by three-time and
Evan Lysacek
Jeremy Abbott
Ashley Wagner
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
5
reigning U.S. champion Jeremy Abbott. Abbott finished ninth at the 2010 Olympics.
He trains in Detroit under Yuka Sato and
Jason Dungjen.
The Czech Republic’s Michal Brezina is back
to defend his Skate America title. He placed
sixth at the 2012 World Championships.
Japan’s Takahiko Kozuka, the 2008 Skate
America titlist, is also in the elite field, along
with country mates 2012 World bronze
medalist Yuzuru Hanyu and Tatsuki Machida.
Douglas Razzano returns for his second
Skate America, having placed seventh in
2011. Razzano trains under Doug and Lara
Ladret and Grant Rorvick in Arizona.
PAIRS
Powerhouse teams from Russia and China
arrive as the teams to beat.
Russia’s Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim
Trankov, silver medalists at the last two
World Championships, won both of their
Grand Prix Series events in 2011 and finished second at the Grand Prix Final. Both
skaters have competed at the Olympics
with other partners.
lin and former partner Caitlin Yankowskas
claimed the U.S. crown in 2011.
Gretchen Donlan and Andrew Speroff have
made steady gains as they enter their third
season together. Fourth at the 2012 U.S.
Championships, Donlan and Speroff will
be competing at their first Grand Prix Series
competition.
Their Boston-area teammates, Marissa
Castelli and Simon Shnapir, will attempt
to secure a medal in their fifth Grand Prix
Series event of their careers. They narrowly
missed winning some hardware at 2010
Skate Canada, where they placed fourth.
SKATE AMERICA
OCT. 19–21, KENT, WASH.
Rachael Flatt
Christina Gao
Ashley Wagner
Jeremy Abbott
Evan Lysacek
Douglas Razzano
Marissa Castelli/Simon Shnapir
Caydee Denney/John Coughlin
Gretchen Donlan/Andrew Speroff
Anastasia Cannuscio/Colin McManus
Meryl Davis/Charlie White
Lynn Kriengkrairut/
Logan Giulietti-Schmitt
SKATE CANADA
OCT. 26–28, WINDSOR, ONTARIO
Gracie Gold
Caroline Zhang
Ross Miner
Lindsay Davis/Mark Ladwig
Tiffany Vise/Don Baldwin
Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue
Castelli and Shnapir finished fifth at the last
two U.S. Championships.
CUP OF CHINA
NOV. 2–4, SHANGHAI, CHINA
Christina Gao
Mirai Nagasu
Adam Rippon
Caitlin Yankowskas/Joshua Reagan
Madison Chock/Evan Bates
ROSTELECOM CUP
NOV. 9–11, MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Gracie Gold
Agnes Zawadzki
Caroline Zhang
Richard Dornbush
Johnny Weir
Caydee Denney/John Coughlin
Tiffany Vise/Don Baldwin
Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani
This will mark the fourth time that Pang
and Tong have competed at Skate America.
They earned a medal in their previous three
appearances, including gold in 2003. They
became engaged in June 2011.
Trying to knock off these two juggernauts
are six teams, including a strong U.S. contingent led by U.S. champions Caydee Denney and John Coughlin.
TROPHÉE BOMPARD
NOV. 16–18, PARIS, FRANCE
Christina Gao
Ashley Wagner
Jeremy Abbott
Johnny Weir
Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue
Denney and Coughlin, who train in Colorado Springs, Colo., united last year and
enjoyed immediate success. They finished
fourth at Skate America and captured the
silver medal at the Four Continents Championships.
Before their partnership, Denney won the
U.S. title with Jeremy Barrett in 2010. Cough-
Caydee Denney
and John Coughlin
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
(Lineups subject to change)
“Our goals for Skate America are to show
up and make a splash,” Castelli said. “We’re
at the point where we are ready to break
through and we want to do it. We are ready
to become the competitors and skaters we
know we can be. Now it is time to show everyone else.”
China’s Qing Pang and Jian Tong are the
2010 Olympic silver medalists and twotime World champions (2006, 2010). They
have skated together since 1993.
6
U.S. GRAND PRIX
ASSIGNMENTS
NHK TROPHY
NOV. 23–25, SENDAI, JAPAN
Alissa Czisny
Agnes Zawadzki
Richard Dornbush
Ross Miner
Adam Rippon
Marissa Castelli/Simon Shnapir
Lindsay Davis/Mark Ladwig
Caitlin Yankowskas/Joshua Reagan
Meryl Davis/Charlie White
Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani
The complete list of skater selections
for the 2012 Grand Prix Series is
available at www.icenetwork.com.
ICE DANCING
Meryl Davis and Charlie White are the favorites as they shoot for their third consecutive Skate America crown. The Michigan
natives, winners of the 2011 World title and
2010 Olympic silver medal, have won nine
Grand Prix medals (seven gold and two
bronze) in their career together that began
in 1998.
The four-time reigning U.S. titlists are also
vying for their fourth consecutive Grand
Prix Final title, which gives them added incentive at Skate America.
The Canadian team of Kaitlyn Weaver and
Andrew Poje figure to push the champs the
hardest. Partners since 2006, they won the
bronze medal at the 2012 Four Continents
Championships and finished fourth at the
2012 World Championships. They placed
second at all three of their Grand Prix Series
events last year.
Russian champions Ekaterina Bobrova and
Dmitri Soloviev and the Lithuanian team
of Isabella Tobias and Deividas Stagniunas,
third at Skate America in 2011, could also
challenge for a medal.
On the rise, the U.S. duo of Lynn Kriengkrairut and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt are also
part of the medal conversation, having
finished fourth at the 2012 U.S. Championships.
“We will be competing among such a
strong group of dancers, and our goal is
to just sell our programs, have a strong
skate and bring it a few notches up from
the last time we were in front of a crowd,”
Kriengkrairut said. “We have selected popular, upbeat and emotional songs for both
programs, and we hope it will get the audience more involved. They are fun for us so
we are excited to entertain.”
The Michigan-based pair has skated together since 2007 and each year has
climbed the competitive ranks of U.S. ice
dancing.
Sixth at the 2012 U.S. Championships, Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus will
be competing in their first Grand Prix Series
event. They’ve skated together since 2009.
Meryl Davis and
Charlie White
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
7
INVITED COMPETITORS
EVENT
SCHEDULE
LADIES
PAIRS
Mae Berenice Meite
Qing Pang/Jian Tong
Sarah Hecken
Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres
Valentina Marchei
Stacy Kemp/David King
Haruka Imai
Danielle Montalbano/Evgeni Krasnopolski
Alena Leonova
Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov
Adelina Sotnikova
Marissa Castelli/Simon Shnapir
Viktoria Helgesson
Caydee Denney/John Coughlin
Rachael Flatt
Gretchen Donlan/Andrew Speroff
FRANCE
GERMANY
ITALY
JAPAN
RUSSIA
RUSSIA
SWEDEN
UNITED STATES
CHINA
FRANCE
FRIDAY, OCT. 19
Pairs short program
GREAT BRITAIN
ISRAEL
RUSSIA
7 p.m.
Men’s short program
8:35 p.m.
UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES
SATURDAY, OCT. 20
Ladies short program
Christina Gao
12:30 p.m.
UNITED STATES
Ashley Wagner
UNITED STATES
Short dance
2:15 p.m.
MEN
ICE DANCING
Michal Brezina
Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje
Tomas Verner
Nelli Zhiganshina/Alexandra Gazsi
Yuzuru Hanyu
Lorenza Alessandrini/Simone Vaturi
Takahiko Kozuka
Isabella Tobias/Deividas Stagniunas
Tatsuki Machida
Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev
Konstantin Menshov
Anastasia Cannuscio/Colin McManus
SUNDAY, OCT. 21
Alexander Majorov
Meryl Davis/Charlie White
Free dance
Jeremy Abbott
Lynn Kriengkrairut/Logan Giulietti-Schmitt
CZECH REPUBLIC
CZECH REPUBLIC
JAPAN
JAPAN
JAPAN
RUSSIA
SWEDEN
UNITED STATES
CANADA
GERMANY
ITALY
LITHUANIA
RUSSIA
UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES
Evan Lysacek
7:05 p.m.
Pairs free skate
9 p.m.
11:45 a.m.
Ladies free skate
UNITED STATES
1:20 p.m.
Douglas Razzano
UNITED STATES
Smucker's Skating
Spectacular
JUDGES
Lorna Schroder, CAN
Jean Senft, CAN
Feng Huang, CHN
Wei Shi, CHN
Richard Kosina, CZE
Florence Vuylsteker, FRA
Elke Treitz, GER
Christian Baumann, GER
Vanessa Riley, GBR
Men’s free skate
6 p.m.
Franco Benini, ITA
Michela Cesaro, ITA
Mayumi Kato, JPN
Laimute Krauziene, LTU
Alexander Kogan, RUS
Yulia Andreeva, RUS
Emile Billow, SWE
(All times are Pacific)
Tina Lundgren, USA
Wendy Enzmann, USA
Todd Bromley, USA
Sharon Rogers, USA
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
9
Experience Kent!
SEATTLE AREA OFFERS UNMATCHED BEAUTY, OPPORTUNITIES
While the skating action inside the ShoWare Center promises
to be electric, visitors to Kent and the Seattle area can also take in
some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery and alluring attractions.
The beauty of the Pacific Northwest can be seen in its majestic
mountains, wondrous ocean and picturesque shorelines. Never a
shortage of things to do, the Seattle area offers a plethora of interesting and exciting destinations.
Listed below are some of the more notable attractions that are
just a short drive from the skating competition in Kent.
DES MOINES MARINA DISTRICT
Located between Seattle and
Tacoma on the Puget Sound, the
Des Moines Marina District features
six miles of shoreline that includes
public beaches, waterfront parks
and a boardwalk with the Olympic
Cascade Mountains as the backdrop. A dazzling marina is home
to large sailing yachts, as well as
small fishing boats for family fun.
The Des Moines Marina District offers an extensive selection of fine
dining, fresh seafood and boutique
shopping that guarantees entertainment for all ages.
THE SHOWARE CENTER
Proud home of the Seattle Thunderbirds, the ShoWare Center is
North America’s first sports and
entertainment arena to achieve
GOLD certification in Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (L.E.E.D.) by the U.S. Green
Building Council. Because of its
intimate design and flexible scale,
the ShoWare Center hosts a wide
array of events including concerts,
family shows, professional and exhibition sports, trade shows and
community gatherings.
BOEING FACTORY
The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Factory Tour is located in
Mukilteo, Wash., 25 miles north of Seattle. During the tour of the world’s
largest building by volume (472,000,000 cubic feet), visitors watch airplanes
being built for a worldwide base of airline customers. By incorporating and
expanding the existing Boeing Tour, the Future of Flight offers a remarkable
opportunity to see commercial jet production today and the direction aviation is headed in the future.
10
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
BALLARD LOCKS
Built in 1911, The Hiram M. Chittenden (known
locally as Ballard Locks) provides a link for boats
between the salt water of Puget Sound and the
fresh water of the Ship Canal. Tourists and locals
can enjoy watching the parade of vessels passing
through, as the locks’ water levels are adjusted to
allow their safe passage. Glass panels below the
water line allow visitors to watch the fish as they
swim through the famous fish ladder, built to allow salmon to navigate their way between the
fresh and salt water.
HIGHLINE SEATAC BOTANICAL GARDEN
The Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden covers 10.5 acres of display gardens, woodlands and trails reclaimed from a suburban brownfield. Highlights of the currently developed three acres include the Seike Japanese
Garden, Elda Behm’s Paradise Garden, the Sensory Garden (located
adjacent to the SeaTac Senior Center) and display gardens planted and
maintained by the King County Iris Society, Puget Sound Daylily Club,
Seattle Rose Society and the City of SeaTac Parks Department.
MOUNT RAINIER
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount
Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington
landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is
the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.,
spawning six major rivers. Wildflower meadows
ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks
Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in
the park’s ecosystems. Visitors can watch as clouds
shroud the mountain, visit the historic buildings,
climb to the summit or just sit back and listen to
the glaciers crack.
PIKE PLACE MARKET
Nine acres and more than a century of operation comprise
one of the area’s most iconic attractions. Pike Place Market,
nicknamed the “Soul of Seattle,” includes aisles of fruits and
vegetables, tables overflowing with fresh floral bouquets, and
booth after booth of locally made jewelry, clothing and gifts
provide visitors and locals with a unique shopping experience.
The market is home to more than 200 businesses, including the
original Starbucks Coffee Co., 190 crafts people and about 100
farmers. More than 10 million people visit annually.
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
11
MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one
of the largest air and space museums in the world, attracting more than 400,000 visitors annually. The museum’s collection features several unique and inspiring exhibits including more than 150 historic air and
spacecraft, the largest aviation and space library and
archives on the West Coast, and the Red Barn — the
original manufacturing facility of The Boeing Company.
There is something for everyone to experience in these
dynamic displays presenting events that have carried
explorers from Kitty Hawk to the moon.
SPACE NEEDLE
IFLY INDOOR SKYDIVING
The Space Needle is unmatched in its
360-degree panoramic view. Take an
elevator ride to the observation deck
and visitors can see the sparkling waters of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, the
city’s most beautiful skyscrapers, the
Cascade Mountains to the east and the
majestic Olympics to the west. Float
planes land below on sparkling Lake
Union as ferries, cruise lines and cargo
ships cross Elliott Bay. After experiencing the sights, guests can dine in the famous rotating Sky City Restaurant. The
entire dining area moves 360 degrees,
allowing patrons to take in each course
of the city as they take in each delicious
course of the meal.
Visitors soar on a column of air inside a vertical
wind tunnel. Multiple fans located at the top of the
flight chamber produce wall-to-wall airflow that is
smooth, fun and safe. Professional instructors provide all of the flight gear, as well as providing fundamental skills for body flight through a classroom
training session. All that guests have to do is get
ready to smile through the most exciting indoor
flight experience possible.
FUN FACTS
In 2003 the city was recognized
by Sports Illustrated as “Sportstown
of the year” for the state
of Washington.
Mt. Ranier, along with the
Cascade and Olympic Mountains,
can be seen from the city.
The average annual rainfall
is 39 inches.
A Boeing facility and the headquarters of REI and Oberto
Sausage are located in the city.
Kent was incorporated
in 1890 and was earlier
known as Titusville.
Kent Station is a huge entertainment center that also
includes retail businesses
and numerous restaurants.
In 1906 the “Great Flood”
temporarily changed the
valley into an enormous
lake.
Kent is the sixth largest city
in Washington.
KENT AT A GLANCE
Population: 118,200
County: King
Mayor: Suzette Cooke
Average temperature: October 62/44
Largest employer: Boeing,
4,000 employees
Notable people: Josie Bissett, actress;
Kenny Mayne, ESPN analyst;
Earl Anthony, professional bowler
Elevation: 500 feet
12
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
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Honorary chair
AGOSTO ENJOYING SECOND CHAPTER
OF SKATING CAREER
By Mimi Whetstone
Honorary chair Ben Agosto
addresses the media
at a press conference
announcing that 2012
Hilton HHonors Skate
America will be held
in Kent, Wash., at the
ShoWare Center.
As a figure skating fan, when you hear the name Ben Agosto, you
probably remember the five U.S. titles or four World Championships medals he won with partner Tanith Belbin.
Maybe you remember the pair clenching their silver medals in Torino, Italy, in 2006 as they became the first U.S. ice dancers to earn
higher than a bronze at an Olympic Games.
Perhaps you think of his positive influence, genuine smile or the
all-around good nature he maintained as the duo ushered in a
new era in North American ice dancing.
While all of that holds true, for his new role, Agosto has traded in
his elaborate skating costumes for a suit and tie, stepping in as
Skate America’s honorary chair.
“I’ve never been involved in skating in this way before,” Agosto
said. “It’s exciting to be involved and to see a Grand Prix event
come together in my new neck of the woods.”
Since retiring in 2010, Agosto relocated from the East Coast, settling down in Lacey, Wash., with Merrie Schultz, his girlfriend of
more than 12 years.
“It’s been a really interesting time in my life,” Agosto said. “Merrie
is originally from the Seattle area, so we’ve always had long-term
plans to move out to the West Coast. The opportunity came after
I retired, and we finally made it happen.”
Although he moved away from his former training grounds,
Agosto couldn’t walk away from the sport completely. He began
training local singles skaters and dance teams of all ages, even
coaching a team to the championship ice dancing title at this
year’s U.S. Adult Championships.
“It’s something that I never thought I wanted to do,” Agosto said.
“I remember saying ‘Oh, I never want to coach skating. I just want
to move on and do something completely different.’ Then I started coaching a little bit and I got a lot of satisfaction from it.”
Although he’s considered a veteran of the sport, Agosto was originally caught off guard by the pressure of his new position.
“I actually caught myself gripping the boards at one point,” Agosto said. “As a coach, it’s all completely out of your hands. All you
can do is hope you’ve prepared your skaters enough. I definitely
have a newfound respect for what my coaches went through
when I stepped on the ice.”
In addition to coaching, Agosto also tried his hand at choreography, working with Disney on Ice’s 2011 production “Dare to
Dream.” This year, he repeated his role for Disney’s new show, “A
Rockin’ Ever After,” featuring characters from The Little Mermaid,
Tangled, Beauty and the Beast and Brave.
“There’s a lot of hair going on in this show,” Agosto chuckled. “It’s
so much fun to be a part of. You put together some steps and
then you see them performed by a cast of 40 people. Then we
add the costumes, the lights and the set. It’s so incredible to see
it all come to life.”
While Agosto doesn’t know exactly what the future holds, this
week in Seattle, he’ll take pride in his hometown role as honorary chair.
“It’s a nice opportunity for me to be back and involved in competitive skating, without actually competing,” Agosto said. “The
West Coast hasn’t had a big history of dance and I think it’s a great
place for me to carve a spot for myself. For now, I’m taking everything one step at a time and enjoying every second of this new
road that I’m on.”
14
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
Still ahead
of its time
A champion 50
years in the making
www.spaceneedle.com
800.937.9582
Located in the Seattle skyline since 1962
Ashley Wagner
UNITED STATES
2012 U.S. champion
2012 Four Continents champion
BORN:
May 16, 1991
BIRTHPLACE:
Heidelberg, Germany
HEIGHT: 5’3”
HOMETOWN:
Alexandria, Va.
TRAINING TOWN:
Aliso Viejo, Calif.
COACHES:
John Nicks, Phillip Mills
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Phillip Mills
Rachael Flatt
UNITED STATES
2010 U.S. champion
2010 Olympian
BORN:
BIRTHPLACE:
July 21, 1992
Del Mar, Calif.
HEIGHT: 5’2”
HOMETOWN: Del Mar, Calif.
TRAINING TOWN:
San Jose, Calif.
COACHES:
Justin Dillon, Lynn Smith
CHOREOGRAPHERS:
Lori Nichol
Justin Dillon
Rachael Flatt
16
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
Alena Leonova
RUSSIA
2012 World silver medalist
2011 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist
BORN:
Nov. 23, 1990
BIRTHPLACE:
St. Petersburg, Russia
HEIGHT: 5’5”
HOMETOWN:
St. Petersburg, Russia
TRAINING TOWN:
St. Petersburg, Russia
COACHES:
Nikoli Morozov,
Alla Pyatova
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Nikoli Morozov
Christina Gao
UNITED STATES
2009 Junior Grand Prix Final
bronze medalist
BORN:
March 7, 1994
BIRTHPLACE:
Cincinnati
HEIGHT: 5’5”
HOMETOWN:
Cincinnati
TRAINING TOWN:
Boston
COACHES:
Peter Johansson,
Mark Mitchell
CHOREOGRAPHERS:
David Wilson
Mark Mitchell
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
17
Sarah
Hecken
GERMANY
2008, 2010-11 German champion
BORN:
Aug. 27, 1993
BIRTHPLACE:
Mannheim, Germany
Mannheim, Germany
TRAINING TOWN:
COACH:
2012 Italian champion
BORN:
May 23, 1986
BIRTHPLACE:
HEIGHT: 5’7”
HOMETOWN:
Valentina
Marchei
ITALY
Mannheim, Germany
Peter Sczypa
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Edoardo de Bernardis
Milan, Italy
HEIGHT: 5’3”
HOMETOWN:
Milan, Italy
TRAINING TOWN:
COACHES:
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Jason Dungjen, Yuka Sato
CHOREOGRAPHERS:
Viktoria
Helgesson
SWEDEN
2012 Swedish champion
BORN:
Sept. 13, 1988
BIRTHPLACE:
Tibro, Sweden
Mae
Berenice Meite
FRANCE
2012 French silver medalist
BORN:
Sept. 21, 1994
HEIGHT: 5’5”
BIRTHPLACE:
HOMETOWN: Tibro, Sweden
HEIGHT: 5’4”
TRAINING TOWN:
COACHES:
Tibro, Sweden
Regina Jensen, Christina Helgesson
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Catarina Lindgren
Paris
HOMETOWN: Vitry sur Seine, France
TRAINING TOWN:
COACH:
Paris
Katia Krier
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Haruka
Imai
JAPAN
2009 Japanese junior champion
BORN:
Aug. 31, 1993
BIRTHPLACE:
Tokyo
2012 Russian champion
2012 World Junior bronze medalist
Jan. 7, 1996
BORN:
HOMETOWN: Tokyo
BIRTHPLACE:
COACHES:
Detroit
Jason Dungjen, Yuka Sato
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Yuka Sato
Moscow
HEIGHT: 5’3”
HOMETOWN:
Moscow
TRAINING TOWN:
COACH:
Moscow
Elena Buianova
CHOREOGRAPHERS:
18
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
Karine Arribert
Adelina
Sotnikova
RUSSIA
HEIGHT: 5’3”
TRAINING TOWN:
Yuka Sato, Massimo Scali
Irina Tagaeva, Tatiana Tarasova
Alissa Czisny
2011 SKATE AMERICA
CHAMPION
Alissa Czisny captured the
gold medal at her third Skate
America, edging Italian champion
Carolina Kostner by 0.13 points. Czisny
went on to claim the bronze medal
at Trophée Eric Bompard in France to
earn a spot at the Grand Prix Final in
Quebec City, Canada, where she sustained an injury and finished fifth. The
Detroit-based skater secured the
silver medal at the 2012 Prudential U.S. Championships in San
Jose, Calif. She wrapped up
the season with a disappointing performance at
the World Championships in Nice, France,
where she finished
22nd. After the season,
it was discovered that
Czisny had suffered a
hip injury earlier in the
year that likely contributed to her lateseason problems.
PAST CHAMPIONS
Note: Skate America competitions were not
held in 1980, 1984 and 1987.
Alissa Czisny (USA) .................. 2011
Kanako Murakami (JPN)......... 2010
Yu-Na Kim (KOR)....................... 2009
Yu-Na Kim (KOR)....................... 2008
Kimmie Meissner (USA).......... 2007
Miki Ando (JPN)......................... 2006
Elena Sokolova (RUS).............. 2005
Angela Nikodinov (USA)........ 2004
Sasha Cohen (USA).................. 2003
Michelle Kwan (USA)............... 2002
Michelle Kwan (USA)............... 2001
Michelle Kwan (USA)............... 2000
Michelle Kwan (USA)............... 1999
Maria Butyrskaya (RUS).......... 1998
Michelle Kwan (USA)............... 1997
Michelle Kwan (USA)............... 1996
Michelle Kwan (USA)............... 1995
Surya Bonaly (FRA)................... 1994
Oksana Baiul (UKR)................... 1993
Yuka Sato (JPN)......................... 1992
Tonya Harding (USA)............... 1991
Kristi Yamaguchi (USA)........... 1990
Tonya Harding (USA)............... 1989
Claudia Leistner (FRG)............. 1988
Tiffany Chin (USA).................... 1986
Debi Thomas (USA).................. 1985
Tiffany Chin (USA).................... 1983
Rosalynn Sumners (USA)....... 1982
Vikki de Vries (USA).................. 1981
Lisa-Marie Allen (USA)............ 1979
20
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
LADIES SCORING GUIDE
SHORT PROGRAM
AND FREE SKATE
TOTAL ELEMENT SCORE
(TECHNICAL)
SHORT
PROGRAM
FREE
SKATE
TOTAL PROGRAM
COMPONENTS SCORE
SHORT
PROGRAM
FREE
SKATE
TOTAL SEGMENT
SCORE
SHORT
PROGRAM
FREE
SKATE
SEGMENT PLACE
SHORT
PROGRAM
FREE
SKATE
Christina Gao, USA
Rachael Flatt, USA
Sarah Hecken, GER
Viktoria Helgesson, SWE
Haruka Imai, JPN
Alena Leonova, RUS
Valentina Marchei, ITA
Mae Berenice Meite, FRA
Adelina Sotnikova, RUS
Ashley Wagner, USA
COMPILED SCORES
AND FINAL STANDINGS
SHORT PROGRAM
FREE SKATE
TOTAL COMPETITION
FINAL PLACE
Christina Gao, USA
Rachael Flatt, USA
Sarah Hecken, GER
Viktoria Helgesson, SWE
Haruka Imai, JPN
Alena Leonova, RUS
Valentina Marchei, ITA
Mae Berenice Meite, FRA
Adelina Sotnikova, RUS
Ashley Wagner, USA
REQUIRED ELEMENTS
The short program consists of seven required moves or elements:
three jumps, three spins and one step sequence to music selected by
the skater.
• Duration: 2:50 (maximum)
• Jumps: Double or triple Axel; a solo jump that must be a triple with
entry steps required; a combination jump consisting of either a
triple-triple or triple-double
• Spins: A flying spin with a minimum of eight revolutions; a
combination spin with only one change of foot, all three basic
positions and a minimum of six revolutions on each foot; a layback
or sideways leaning spin with a minimum of eight revolutions
• Steps: Any step sequence
The well-balanced free skate includes a maximum number of elements
but has no minimum. The skater should pay attention to interesting
transitions, connecting steps and movements between elements.
• Duration: 4 minutes (+/- 10 seconds)
• Jumps: Can include a maximum of seven jump elements; one
must be an Axel-type jump; only two triple or quad jumps can
be repeated, and, if repeated, at least one attempt must be part
of a jump combination or jump sequence; there may be up to
three jump combinations or sequences; no more than one jump
combination may consist of three jumps.
• Spins: A maximum of three spins of a different nature, one of which
must be a spin combination; one must have a flying entry; and one
must have only one position
• Steps: A maximum of one step sequence; maximum of one spiral
sequence with one 6-second spiral or two 3-second spirals
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
21
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BOOK
USING
THE THE
U.S. FIGURE
SKATING
CODE: ZMHC
BOOK
USING
U.S. FIGURE
SKATING
CODE:707966
563EE
Douglas Razzano
UNITED STATES
BORN:
Oct. 22, 1988
BIRTHPLACE:
Mineola, N.Y.
HEIGHT: 5’7”
HOMETOWN:
TRAINING TOWN:
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Chandler, Ariz.
COACHES:
Doug Ladret,
Lara Ladret,
Grant Rorvick
CHOREOGRAPHERS:
Doug Ladret,
Douglas Razzano,
Grant Rorvick
Evan Lysacek
UNITED STATES
2010 Olympic champion
2009 World champion
2007, 2008 U.S. champion
BORN:
June 4, 1985
BIRTHPLACE:
Chicago,
HEIGHT: 6’2”
HOMETOWN:
Los Angeles
TRAINING TOWN:
Los Angeles
COACHES:
Frank Carroll,
Karen Kwan Oppegard
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Lori Nichol
24
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
Michal Brezina
CZECH REPUBLIC
2011 Skate America champion
March 30, 1990
BORN:
BIRTHPLACE:
Brno, Czech Republic
HEIGHT: 5’8”
HOMETOWN:
Brno, Czech Republic
TRAINING TOWN:
Hackensack, N.J.
COACH
Jeremy Abbott
UNITED STATES
2009, 2010, 2012 U.S. champion
CHOREOGRAPHER:
2010 Olympian
Pasquale Camerlengo
BORN: June 5, 1985
Viktor Petrenko
BIRTHPLACE:
Aspen, Colo.
HEIGHT: 5’10”
HOMETOWN:
Aspen, Colo.
TRAINING TOWN:
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
COACHES:
Yuka Sato, Jason Dungjen
CHOREOGRAPHERS:
Buddy and Benji Schwimmer,
Y Sato, R. Campanella,
Jeremy Abbott
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
25
Yuzuru Hanyu
JAPAN
2012 World bronze medalist
2011 Four Continents silver medalist
BORN:
Dec. 7, 1994
BIRTHPLACE:
Sendai, Japan
HEIGHT: 5’7”
HOMETOWN:
Sendai, Japan
TRAINING TOWN:
COACHES:
Toronto
Brian Orser, Tracy Wilson
CHOREOGRAPHERS:
David Wilson, Jeffrey Buttle
Takahiko Kozuka
JAPAN
2011 World silver medalist
2012 Japanese silver medalist
BORN:
Feb. 27, 1989
BIRTHPLACE:
Nagoya, Japan
HEIGHT: 5’7”
HOMETOWN:
Toyota, Japan
Yokohama, Japan
Nobuo Sato, Kumiko Sato
CHOREOGRAPHERS: David Wilson,
Marina Zoueva, Fedor Andreev
Tatsuki Machida
JAPAN
BORN:
March 9, 1990
BIRTHPLACE:
Kanagawa, Japan
BORN:
July 19, 1991
BIRTHPLACE:
Hiroshima, Japan
TRAINING TOWN:
Lake Arrowhead, Calif.
Anthony Liu, Azumi Hata,
E. Nakayuki, E. Kikkawa
COACHES:
CHOREOGRAPHERS:
Stephane Lambiel, Phillip Mills
St. Petersburg, Russia
HEIGHT: 5’6”
HOMETOWN:
Lulea, Sweden
TRAINING TOWN:
COACH:
Lulea, Sweden
Alexander Majorov, Sr.
CHOREOGRAPHERS:
Irina Majorova
RUSSIA
2011 Russian champion
BORN:
Feb. 23, 1983
St. Petersburg, Russia
HEIGHT: 5’5”
HOMETOWN:
St. Petersburg, Russia
TRAINING TOWN:
COACH:
St. Petersburg, Russia
Evgeni Rukavicin
CHOREOGRAPHER:
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
Olga Glinka
Tomas Verner
CZECH REPUBLIC
Two-time Olympian
Eight-time Czech champion
June 3, 1986
BIRTHPLACE:
Pisek, Czech Republic
HEIGHT: 5’11”
HOMETOWN:
Borovany, Czech Republic
TRAINING TOWN:
COACH:
Toronto
Robert Emerson
CHOREOGRAPHER:
26
Catarina Lindgren,
Konstantin Menshov
BORN:
HEIGHT: 5’4”
HOMETOWN:
SWEDEN
2012 Swedish champion
2011 World junior bronze medalist
BIRTHPLACE:
TRAINING TOWN:
COACHES:
Alexander Majorov
Pasquale Camerlengo
LI VE
HILTON HHONORS
SKATE AMERICA
Oct. 21
TROPHÉE ERIC BOMPARD
LI VE 4-6 p.m.
2-4 p.m.
(Japan)
Nov. 25
4-6 p.m.
(Russia)
Dec. 9
ROSTELECOM CUP
(Russia)
Nov. 11
2-4 p.m.
2013 PRUDENTIAL
U.S. FIGURE SKATING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
3-5 p.m.
Jan. 26
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
NHK TROPHY
SKATE CANADA
Oct. 28
(France)
Nov. 18
ISU GRAND PRIX FINAL
Noon-2 p.m.
LI VE 3-6 p.m.
LI VE 9-11 p.m.
LI VE 4-6 p.m.
SMUCKER’S SKATING
SPECTACULAR
Feb. 2
1-3 p.m.
Times subject to change. All times are Eastern.
PAST CHAMPIONS
Note: Skate America competitions were not held in 1980, 1984 and 1987.
Michal Brezina (CZE)........................ 2011
Brian Joubert (FRA).......................... 2002
Christopher Bowman (USA).......... 1991
Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)................. 2010
Timothy Goebel (USA).................... 2001
Viktor Petrenko (URS)...................... 1990
Evan Lysacek (USA).......................... 2009
Timothy Goebel (USA).................... 2000
Christopher Bowman (USA).......... 1989
Takahiko Kozuka (JPN).................... 2008
Alexei Yagudin (RUS)....................... 1999
Christopher Bowman (USA).......... 1988
Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)................. 2007
Alexei Yagudin (RUS)....................... 1998
Brian Boitano (USA)......................... 1986
Nobunari Oda (JPN)......................... 2006
Todd Eldredge (USA)....................... 1997
Josef Sabovcik (CZE)........................ 1985
Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)................. 2005
Todd Eldredge (USA)....................... 1996
Brian Boitano (USA)......................... 1983
Brian Joubert (FRA).......................... 2004
Todd Eldredge (USA)....................... 1995
Scott Hamilton (USA)...................... 1982
Michael Weiss (USA)........................ 2003
Todd Eldredge (USA)....................... 1994
Scott Hamilton (USA)...................... 1981
Viktor Petrenko (UKR)...................... 1993
Scott Hamilton (USA)...................... 1979
Todd Eldredge (USA)....................... 1992
Michal Brezina
2011 SKATE AMERICA CHAMPION
Michal Brezina of the Czech Republic used
a stellar short program to capture his Skate
America debut in Ontario, Calif. Brezina captured the bronze medal at Trophée Eric Bompard to qualify for the Grand Prix Final in
Quebec City, Canada, where he placed
sixth. Brezina finished strong, winning the silver medal at the
Czech Championships, placing fourth at the European
Championships and
sixth at the World
Championships.
28
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
MEN'S SCORING GUIDE
SHORT PROGRAM
AND FREE SKATE
TOTAL ELEMENT SCORE
(TECHNICAL)
SHORT
PROGRAM
FREE
SKATE
TOTAL PROGRAM
COMPONENTS SCORE
SHORT
PROGRAM
FREE
SKATE
TOTAL SEGMENT
SCORE
SHORT
PROGRAM
FREE
SKATE
SEGMENT PLACE
SHORT
PROGRAM
FREE
SKATE
Jeremy Abbott, USA
Michal Brezina, CZE
Yuzuru Hanyu, JPN
Takahiko Kozuka, JPN
Evan Lysacek, USA
Tatsuki Machida, JPN
Alexander Majorov, SWE
Konstantin Menshov, RUS
Douglas Razzano, USA
Tomas Verner, CZE
COMPILED SCORES
AND FINAL STANDINGS
SHORT PROGRAM
FREE SKATE
TOTAL COMPETITION
FINAL PLACE
Jeremy Abbott, USA
Michal Brezina, CZE
Yuzuru Hanyu, JPN
Takahiko Kozuka, JPN
Evan Lysacek, USA
Tatsuki Machida, JPN
Alexander Majorov, SWE
Konstantin Menshov, RUS
Douglas Razzano, USA
Tomas Verner, CZE
REQUIRED ELEMENTS
The short program consists of seven required moves or elements:
three jumps, three spins and one step sequence to music selected by
the skater.
• Duration: 2:50 (maximum)
• Jumps: Double or triple Axel; a solo jump that must be a triple with
entry steps required; a combination jump consisting of either a
triple-triple or triple-double
• Spins: A flying spin with a minimum of eight revolutions; a
combination spin with only one change of foot, all three basic
positions and a minimum of six revolutions on each foot; a layback
or sideways leaning spin with a minimum of eight revolutions
• Steps: Any step sequence
The well-balanced free skate includes a maximum number of elements
but has no minimum. The skater should pay attention to interesting
transitions, connecting steps and movements between elements.
• Duration: 4 minutes (+/- 10 seconds)
• Jumps: Can include a maximum of seven jump elements; one
must be an Axel-type jump; only two triple or quad jumps can
be repeated, and, if repeated, at least one attempt must be part
of a jump combination or jump sequence; there may be up to
three jump combinations or sequences; no more than one jump
combination may consist of three jumps.
• Spins: A maximum of three spins of a different nature, one of which
must be a spin combination; one must have a flying entry; and one
must have only one position
• Steps: A maximum of one step sequence; maximum of one spiral
sequence with one 6-second spiral or two 3-second spirals
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
29
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ABOUT US
U.S. Figure Skating is the national
governing body for the sport of
figure skating in the United States.
With approximately 173,000
members, it is one of the strongest
and most active governing bodies
within the Olympic movement.
U.S. Figure Skating is made up of
member clubs, collegiate clubs,
school-affiliated clubs, Basic Skills
programs and individual members.
Whether you’re a participant or
a spectator, icenetwork.com
is the ultimate online figure
skating destination. Visit
icenetwork.com for the latest
news, videos, photos and competition results as well as skater
profiles and the icenetwork.com
World Figure Skater Rankings.
GET INVOLVED
*Times subject to change
U.S. Figure Skating offers
numerous programs that make
it easy for athletes of any skill
and interest level to participate
in skating, including adult,
collegiate, synchronized and
Theatre On Ice. Visit
www.usfigureskating.org and
click “Programs” for more
information on these and other
skating programs.
GRAND PRIX SERIES BROADCAST SCHEDULE
AIR DATE
EVENT
Oct. 21
Hilton HHonors Skate America
TIME/ET
Oct. 28
Skate Canada
2-4 p.m.
Nov. 11
Rostelecom Cup (Russia)
4-6 p.m.
Nov. 18
Tropheé Eric Bompard (France)
2-4 p.m.
Nov. 25
NHK Trophy (Japan)
2-4 p.m.
Dec. 9
ISU Grand Prix Final (Russia)
1-3 p.m.
LI VE
4-6 p.m.
2013 PRUDENTIAL U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
BROADCAST SCHEDULE
JOIN
There are a number of
membership categories
available through U.S.
Figure Skating, including
full, Basic Skills, individual
and collegiate. For more
information on becoming
a member of U.S. Figure
Skating, visit
www.joinusfigureskating.com.
SUPPORT
There are several ways for you to
show your support of U.S. Figure
Skating. The two most popular are by
joining Friends of Figure Skating and
donating to the Memorial Fund. For
more information on these and other
giving opportunities, please visit
www.givetousfigureskating.com.
AIR DATE
EVENT
Jan. 26
Pairs, Ice Dancing
Jan. 26
Ladies
Jan. 27
Men’s
Feb. 2
Smucker’s Skating Spectacular
TIME/ET
LI VE 3-6 p.m.
LI VE 9-11 p.m.
LI VE 4-6 p.m.
1-3 p.m.
Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov
RUSSIA
2012 European champions
2011, 2012 World silver medalists
2011 Russian champions
TRAINING TOWNS: Moscow; Hackensack, N.J.
COACHES: Nina Mozer, Stanislav Morozov
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Alla Kapranova,
Nikoli Morozov
Gretchen Donlan/Andrew Speroff
UNITED STATES
Brighton, Mass.
COACHES: Bobby Martin, Carrie Wall
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Tanith Belbin, Sheryl Franks
TRAINING TOWN:
DONLAN
Nov. 18, 1993
BIRTHPLACE: Boston
HEIGHT: 4’11”
HOMETOWN: Hingham,
Mass.
BORN:
32
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
SPEROFF
May 19, 1988
BIRTHPLACE: Newark, N.J.
HEIGHT: 5’10”
HOMETOWN: Colorado
Springs, Colo.
BORN:
VOLOSOZHAR
BORN: May 22, 1986
BIRTHPLACE: Dnepropetrovsk,
Russia
HEIGHT: 5’3”
HOMETOWN: Kiev, Russia
TRANKOV
BORN: Oct. 7, 1983
BIRTHPLACE: Perm, Russia
HEIGHT: 6’1”
HOMETOWN: St. Petersburg,
Russia
Marissa Castelli/Simon Shnapir
UNITED STATES
TRAINING TOWN: Boston
COACHES: Bobby Martin, Carrie Wall, Mark Mitchell,
Peter Johansson
CHOREOGRAPHER: Julie Marcotte
CASTELLI
SHNAPIR
Aug. 20, 1990
BORN: Aug. 20, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Providence, R.I. BIRTHPLACE: Moscow, Russia
HEIGHT: 5’
HEIGHT: 6’4”
HOMETOWN: Cranston, R.I.
HOMETOWN: Sudbury, Mass.
BORN:
Caydee Denney/
John Coughlin
UNITED STATES
2012 U.S. champions
TRAINING TOWN: Colorado
Springs, Colo.
COACHES: Dalilah Sappenfield,
Larry Ibarra
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Pasquale Camerlengo
DENNEY
June 22, 1993
BIRTHPLACE: Ocala, Fla.
HEIGHT: 5’1”
HOMETOWN: Ocala, Fla.
BORN:
COUGHLIN
Dec. 1, 1985
BIRTHPLACE: Kansas City,
Mo.
HEIGHT: 6’2”
HOMETOWN: Kansas City,
Mo.
BORN:
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
33
Vanessa James/ Morgan Cipres
FRANCE
2012 French silver medalists
TRAINING TOWN: Paris; Dammarie les Lys, France
COACH: Claude Peri-Thevenard
CHOREOGRAPHER: Romain Haguenauer
ISRAEL
Hackensack, N.J.
COACH: Kyoko Ina
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Galit Chait Moracci
TRAINING TOWN:
JAMES
BORN: Sept. 27, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Scarborough, Ontario
HEIGHT: 5’6”
HOMETOWN: Charenton Le Pont, France
MONTALBANO
BORN: Jan. 23, 1989
BIRTHPLACE: Manhasset, N.Y.
HEIGHT: 4’11”
HOMETOWN: Hackensack, N.J.
CIPRES
BORN: April 24, 1991
BIRTHPLACE: Melun, France
HEIGHT: 6’0”
HOMETOWN: Saint Fargeau-Ponthierry, France
KRASNOPOLSKI
BORN: Oct. 4, 1988
BIRTHPLACE: Kiev, Ukraine
HEIGHT: 5’11”
HOMETOWNS: Hackensack, N.J./
Kiryat Shmona Israel
Stacey Kemp/ David King
GREAT BRITAIN
2006-12 British champions
TRAINING TOWN: Ellenton, Fla.
COACHES: Jim Peterson, Lyndon Johnston,
Alison Smith
CHOREOGRAPHER: Jim Peterson
KEMP
BORN: July 25, 1988
BIRTHPLACE: Preston, Great Britain
HEIGHT: 5’1”
HOMETOWN: Preston, Great Britain
KING
May 8, 1984
BIRTHPLACE: Carlisle, Great Britain
HEIGHT: 6’2”
HOMETOWN: Carlisle, Great Britain
BORN:
34
Danielle Montalbano/
Evgeni Krasnopolski
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
Qing Pang/ Jian Tong
CHINA
2011 World bronze medalists
2010 World champions
2010 Olympic silver medalists
TRAINING TOWN: Beijing, China
COACHES: Bin Yao, Wei Liu
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Lori Nichol, David Wilson
PANG
BORN: Dec. 24, 1979
BIRTHPLACE: Harbin, China
HEIGHT: 5’4”
HOMETOWN: Beijing, China
TONG
BORN: Aug. 15, 1979
BIRTHPLACE: Harbin, China
HEIGHT: 5’11”
HOMETOWN: Beijing, China
KENT
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REPORTER
The Kent Reporter was part of a three-newspaper group (also including Auburn and Renton) launched in South King County in 1995.
TODAY, the Kent Reporter covers the city’s geographic area of 29 square miles, including outlying unincorporated areas adjacent to city
limits. The City of Kent is the fourth-largest city in King County, with a population more than 119,000. As a culturally rich destination,
Kent’s quality of life features neighborhoods with strong community ties, 60 parks, an exceptional school district, and nationally
accredited police and fire departments. In recent years, Kent has experienced impressive economic growth, and is nationally known
as a prime location for manufacturing.
Welcome to Washington’s largest
community news organization
Founded in 1987, Sound Publishing, Inc. is the largest
community news organization in Washington State. Today, more
people read Sound Publishing community newspapers than
traditional dailies in the markets we cover.
Our titles deliver relevant, local news that directly affects
the lives of those who raise families and work in the
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Shopping | Dining | Movies
Coldwater Creek • Chico’s • LOFT
The Ram • Duke’s Chowder House
14 Screen AMC Theaters with IMAX, over 50 stores, 18
eateries, located across the street from ShoWare. Find a
complete store listing at:
www.KentStation.com
PAST CHAMPIONS
Note: Skate America competitions were not held in 1980, 1984 and 1987.
Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER).....................2011
Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER).....................2010
Xue Shen/Hongbo Zhao (CHN).........................................2009
Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER).....................2008
Bryce Davison/Jessica Dubé...............................................2007
Rena Inoue/John Baldwin (USA).......................................2006
Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN)...........................................2005
Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN)...........................................2004
Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN)................................................2003
T. Totmianina/M. Marinin (RUS).........................................2002
Jaime Salé/David Pelletier (CAN)......................................2001
Jaime Salé/David Pelletier (CAN)......................................2000
Jaime Salé/David Pelletier (CAN)......................................1999
E. Berezhnaya/A. Sikharulidze (RUS)................................1998
Marina Eltsova/Andrey Bushkov (RUS)...........................1997
O. Kazakova/A. Dmitriev (RUS)..........................................1996
Marina Eltsova/Andrey Bushkov (RUS)...........................1995
Marina Eltsova/Andrey Bushkov (RUS)...........................1994
E. Shishkova/V. Naumov (RUS)...........................................1993
Marina Eltsova/Andrey Bushkov (RUS)...........................1992
Calla Urbanski/Rocky Marval (USA).................................1991
Marina Eltsova/Andrey Bushkov (URS)...........................1990
N. Mishkutenok/A. Dmitriev (URS)...................................1989
N. Mishkutenok/A. Dmitriev (URS)...................................1988
Katy Keeley/Joseph Mero (USA)......................................1986
Jill Watson/Peter Oppegard (USA).................................1985
K. Carruthers/P. Carruthers (USA)....................................1983
Elena Valova/Oleg Vasiliev (URS)....................................1982
Barbara Underhill/Paul Martini (CAN)...........................1981
Sabine Baess/Tassilo Thierbach (GDR)..........................1979
Aliona Savchenko and
Robin Szolkowy
2011 SKATE AMERICA
CHAMPIONS
Germany’s Aliona
Savchenko and Robin
Szolkowy rallied from a
fifth-place finish in the short
program to capture their
third Skate America title by
more than five points. After
a disappointing bronzemedal finish at NHK Trophy,
Savchenko and Szolkowy
were perfect for the rest of
their season, earning gold at
Rostelecom Cup and the Grand Prix Final,
as well as the German, European and World
Championships. It was their
fourth World title.
36
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
PAIRS SCORING GUIDE
SHORT PROGRAM
AND FREE SKATE
TOTAL SEGMENT
TOTAL ELEMENT SCORE TOTAL COMPONENTS
SCORE
(TECHNICAL)
SCORE (PROGRAM)
FREE
FREE
FREE
SHORT
SHORT
FREE
SHORT
FREE
SKATE
SKATE
SKATE
PROGRAM
PROGRAM
SKATE
PROGRAM
SKATE
SEGMENT PLACE
SHORT
PROGRAM
FREE
SKATE
Marissa Castelli/
Simon Shnapir, USA
Caydee Denney/
John Coughlin, USA
Gretchen Donlan/
Andrew Speroff, USA
Vanessa James/
Morgan Cipres/CAN
Stacey Kemp/
David King/CAN
Danielle Montalbano/
Evgeni Krasnopolski/ISR
Qing Pang/
Jian Tong, CHN
Tatiana Volosozhar/
Maxim Trankov, RUS
COMPILED SCORES
AND FINAL STANDINGS
SHORT PROGRAM
FREE SKATE
TOTAL COMPETITION
FINAL PLACE
Marissa Castelli/
Simon Shnapir, USA
Caydee Denney/
John Coughlin, USA
Gretchen Donlan/
Andrew Speroff, USA
Vanessa James/
Morgan Cipres/CAN
Stacey Kemp/
David King/CAN
Danielle Montalbano/
Evgeni Krasnopolski/ISR
Qing Pang/
Jian Tong, CHN
Tatiana Volosozhar/
Maxim Trankov, RUS
REQUIRED ELEMENTS
The short program consists of seven required moves or elements:
lifts, jumps, a pair spin, footwork and a death spiral, all performed to
music of the skaters’ choice.
• Duration: 2:50 maximum
• Lifts: Any hand-to-hand lift takeoff and a double or triple twist lift
• Jumps: Any double or triple throw jump and any double or triple
solo jump
• Spins: Any pair spin combination with only one change of foot and
at least one change of position
• Death spiral: Backward outside
• Step sequence: Any step sequence
The well-balanced free skate includes a maximum number of
elements but has no minimum.
• Duration: 4:30 (+/- 10 seconds)
• Lifts: Maximum of three lifts and one twist lift
• Jumps: Maximum of two different throw jumps; a maximum of one
solo jump; and a maximum of one jump combination or sequence
• Spins: Maximum of one solo spin combination and a maximum of
one pairs spin combination
• Death spiral: Maximum of one.
• Steps: Maximum of one spiral sequence with one 6-second
sequence or two 3-second spirals by each partner
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
37
Lynn Kriengkrairut/
Logan Giulietti-Schmitt
UNITED STATES
2007 U.S. junior bronze medalists
Ann Arbor, Mich.
COACHES: Yuri Chesnichenko,
Yaroslava Nechaeva
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Yuri Chesnichenko,
Yaroslava Nechaeva
TRAINING TOWN:
38
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
KRIENGKRAIRUT
BORN: Oct. 4, 1988
BIRTHPLACE: Staten Island, N.Y.
HEIGHT: 5’4”
HOMETOWN: Bismark, N.D.
GIULIETTI-SCHMITT
BORN: Aug. 16, 1985
BIRTHPLACE: Chicago, Ill.
HEIGHT: 5’10”
HOMETOWN: Oak Park, Ill.
Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje
CANADA
2012 Canadian silver medalists
TRAINING TOWN: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
COACHES: Pasquale Camerlengo,
Angelika Krylova, Shae-Lynn Bourne
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Shae-Lynn Bourne,
Pasquale Camerlengo
WEAVER
BORN: April 12, 1989
BIRTHPLACE: Houston,
Texas
HEIGHT: 5’6”
HOMETOWN: Waterloo,
Ontario
POJE
Feb. 25, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Waterloo,
Ontario
HEIGHT: 6’4”
HOMETOWN: Waterloo,
Ontario
BORN:
Meryl Davis/Charlie White
UNITED STATES
2009-12 U.S. champions
2012 World silver medalists
2011 World champions
2010 Olympic silver medalists
TRAINING TOWN: Canton, Mich.
COACHES: Marina Zoueva,
Johnny Johns,
Oleg Epstein,
Maurizio Margaglio,
Olena Morgan
CHOREOGRAPHER: Marina Zoueva
DAVIS
BORN: Jan. 1, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Royal Oak, Mich.
HEIGHT: 5’3”
HOMETOWN: West Bloomfield, Mich.
WHITE
BORN: Oct. 24, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Royal Oak, Mich.
HEIGHT: 5’9”
HOMETOWN: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Anastasia Cannuscio/Colin McManus
UNITED STATES
2011 U.S. junior bronze medalists
TRAINING TOWN: Newark, Del.
COACHES: Karen Ludington, Alexandr Kirsanov,
Christie Moxley-Hutson, Kat Arbour
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Karen Ludington,
Alexandr Kirsanov
CANNUSCIO
BORN: July 1, 1992
BIRTHPLACE: Philadelphia
HEIGHT: 5’2”
HOMETOWN: Egg Harbor
Township, N.J.
MCMANUS
March 10, 1990
BIRTHPLACE: Melrose, Mass.
HEIGHT: 6’0”
HOMETOWN: Saugus, Mass.
BORN:
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
39
Lorenza Alessandrini/ Simone Vaturi
ITALY
2011-12 Italian bronze medalists
TRAINING TOWNS: Trento, Italy; Milan; Detroit
COACHES: Pasquale Camerlengo, Massimo Scali,
Anjelika Krylova
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Corrado Giordani,
Massimo Scali, Pasquale Camerlengo
ALESSANDRINI
BORN: Aug. 6, 1990
BIRTHPLACE: Milan
HEIGHT: 5’5”
HOMETOWN: Milan
VATURTI
BORN: July 20, 1988
BIRTHPLACE: Milan
HEIGHT: 6’1”
HOMETOWN: Milan
Ekaterina Bobrova/ Dmitri Soloviev
RUSSIA
2012 Russian champions
2012 European silver medalists
TRAINING TOWN: Moscow
COACHES: Alexander Zhulin, Oleg Volkov
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Alexander Zhulin,
Sergey Petukhov
BOBROVA
BORN: March 28, 1990
BIRTHPLACE: Moscow
HEIGHT: 5’5”
HOMETOWN: Moscow
SOLOVIEV
BORN: July 18, 1989
BIRTHPLACE: Moscow
HEIGHT: 6’0”
HOMETOWN: Moscow
40
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
Nelli Zhiganshina/ Alexander Gazsi
GERMANY
2011-12 German champions
TRAINING TOWN: Oberstdorf, Germany
COACHES: Rostislav Sinicyn, Martin Skotnicky
CHOREOGRAPHER: Ilia Averbukh
ZHIGANSHINA
BORN: March 31, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Moscow
HEIGHT: 5’5”
HOMETOWN: Oberstdorf, Germany
GAZSI
BORN: October 6, 1984
BIRTHPLACE: Chemnitz, Germany
HEIGHT: 6’0”
HOMETOWN: Oberstdorf, Germany
Isabella Tobias/ Deividas Stagniunas
LITHUANIA
2011 Lithuanian champions
TRAINING TOWN: Novi, Mich.
COACH: Igor Shpilband
CHOREOGRAPHER: Igor Shpilband
TOBIAS
BORN: Aug. 23, 1991
BIRTHPLACE: New York, N.Y.
HEIGHT: 5’4”
HOMETOWN: New York, N.Y.
STAGNIUNAS
BORN: April 28, 1985
BIRTHPLACE: Kaunas, Lithuania
HEIGHT: 6’0”
HOMETOWN: Kaunas, Lithuania
PAST CHAMPIONS
Note: Skate America competitions were not held in 1980, 1984 and 1987.
Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA)......................................2011
Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA)......................................2010
Tanith Belbin/Ben Agosto (USA).......................................2009
Isabelle Delobel/O. Schoenfelder (FRA).........................2008
Tanith Belbin/Ben Agosto (USA).......................................2007
Albena Denkova/Maxim Staviski (RUS)..........................2006
Tanith Belbin/Ben Agosto (USA).......................................2005
Tanith Belbin/Ben Agosto (USA).......................................2004
Tanith Belbin/Ben Agosto (USA).......................................2003
E. Grushina/R. Goncharov (UKR)........................................2002
Shae-Lynn Bourne/V. Kraatz (CAN)..................................2001
B. Fusar-Poli/Maurizio Margaglio (ITA)............................2000
B. Fusar-Poli/Maurizio Margaglio (ITA)............................1999
M. Anissina/G. Peizerat (FRA).............................................1998
E. Punslan/J. Swallow (USA)................................................1997
A. Krylova/O. Ovsyannikov (RUS)......................................1996
Oksana Grishuk/Evgeny Platov (RUS)..............................1995
E. Punsalan/J. Swallow (USA)..............................................1994
S. Moniotte/P. Lavanchy (FRA)...........................................1993
Maia Usova/Alexander Zhulin (RUS)................................1992
Tatiana Navka/Samvel Gezalian (URS)............................1991
S. Calegari/P. Camerlengo (ITA).........................................1990
Maia Usova/Alexander Zhulin (URS)................................1989
Susan Wynne/Joseph Druar (USA)...................................1988
Isabelle & Paul Duchesnay (FRA).......................................1986
Renee Roca/Donald Adair (USA).......................................1985
Elisa Spitz/Scott Gregory (USA).........................................1983
Elisa Spitz/Scott Gregory (USA).........................................1982
Judy Blumberg/Michael Seibert (USA)...........................1981
Kriszina Regoczy/Andras Sallay (HUN)...........................1979
Meryl Davis and Charlie White
2011 SKATE AMERICA CHAMPIONS
2011 World champions Meryl Davis and Charlie
White won the Skate America title for the second
consecutive year.
The Americans performed
an elegant free dance to Johann
Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus,” beating silver medalists Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian
Bourzat of France by more than 21 points. The
Michigan duo went on to win gold at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow and the Grand Prix Final
in Quebec City, Canada, for the third consecutive
year. Their season finished on a high note when
they won their fourth consecutive U.S. title before
claiming the silver medal at the Four Continents
Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo. At the
2012 World Championships, Davis and White
turned in two fine performances and carted home the silver medal.
42
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
ICE DANCING SCORING GUIDE
SHORT DANCE
AND FREE DANCE
TOTAL ELEMENT SCORE
(TECHNICAL)
FREE
FREE
SHORT
SKATE
DANCE
DANCE
TOTAL PROGRAM
COMPONENTS SCORE
FREE
SHORT
FREE
SKATE
DANCE
DANCE
TOTAL SEGMENT
SCORE
SHORT
FREE
DANCE
DANCE
SEGMENT PLACE
SHORT
DANCE
FREE
DANCE
Lorenza Alessandrini/
Simone Vaturi, ITA
Ekaterina Bobrova/
Dmitri Soloviev, RUS
Anastasia Cannuscio/
Colin McManus, USA
Meryl Davis/
Charlie White, USA
Lynn Kriengkrairut/
Logan Giulietti-Schmitt, USA
Isabella Tobias/
Delvidas Stagniuas, LIT
Kaitlyn Weaver/
Andrew Poje, CAN
Nelli Zhiganshina/
Alexandra Gazsi, GER
COMPILED SCORES
AND FINAL STANDINGS
SHORT DANCE
FREE DANCE
TOTAL COMPETITION
FINAL PLACE
Lorenza Alessandrini/
Simone Vaturi, ITA
Ekaterina Bobrova/
Dmitri Soloviev, RUS
Anastasia Cannuscio/
Colin McManus, USA
Meryl Davis/
Charlie White, USA
Lynn Kriengkrairut/
Logan Giulietti-Schmitt, USA
Isabella Tobias/
Delvidas Stagniuas, LIT
Kaitlyn Weaver/
Andrew Poje, CAN
Nelli Zhiganshina/
Alexandra Gazsi, GER
REQUIRED ELEMENTS
The short dance consists of required elements, including dance lifts,
twizzles, step sequences and/or sections of pattern dances.
• Duration for the short dance: 2:50 (+/- 10 seconds)
• Music: For the 2012-13 season, the short dance must be to either
polka, march or waltz rhythms.
• Lifts: One short lift, not to exceed six seconds
• Twizzles: One set of sequential twizzles
• Step Sequences: One midline (not touching) or circular step
sequence
• Pattern dance requirement: Two sections of the Yankee Polka.
A well-balanced free dance (FD) displays a full range of technical skills,
interpretation and inventiveness to music. Music is the skater's choice.
• Duration for the free dance: 4:00 (+/- 10 seconds)
• Music: Must have an audible rhythmic beat and an uplifting effect
• Lifts: Two different short lifts and one long lift or four short lifts chosen
from a list of three different types and one transitional dance lift after
all other dance lifts
• Dance Spin: Up to two dance spins selected from spin or spin
combination
• Twizzles: One set of synchronized twizzles (additional sets are
permitted)
• Step Sequences: One midline or diagonal step sequence and one
circular or serpentine step sequence
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
43
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the
sport of figure skating in the United States. Organized in
1921, U.S. Figure Skating is a member of the International
Skating Union (ISU), the international federation for the
sport of figure skating and the United States Olympic
Committee (USOC).
Skating competitions at every level provide an incentive
for figure skaters to train, develop and improve their
proficiency. By ascending U.S. Figure Skating’s competition
ladder, competitors qualify to compete not only at the U.S.
Figure Skating Championships but also at international
events, including the Olympic Winter Games and the World
Figure Skating Championships.
PROGRAMS
The U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program was designed
to be the best beginning ice skating program in the United
States. Fun, challenging and rewarding, this program serves the
needs of both the recreational and the competitive skater. There
are approximately 115,000 skaters registered in more than 1,000
programs across the country.
Adult figure skating has shown tremendous growth over the last
two decades. U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned the 18th
U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships in 2012.
At the most recent Championships in Bensenville,
Ill., 480 athletes competed, most of them skating
in multiple events. Adult competitions offer
something for adult skaters of all ages and
levels.
Synchronized skating is another
burgeoning U.S. Figure Skating
program. There are approximately
575 synchronized skating
teams registered with U.S.
Figure Skating. Nearly 1,800
skaters representing 90 teams
competed at the 2012 U.S.
Synchronized Skating
Championships. The 2012
World Synchronized
Skating Championships
took place in
Gothenburg, Sweden.
44
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
46 Olympic medals;
more than any other country
186 World Championships
medals won
52 World titles
won by U.S. skaters
More than 700 full
member, collegiate and
school-affiliated clubs
173,000 members
44 professional
staff members at U.S. Figure
Skating Headquarters
More than 1,300 events
sanctioned each year
Always welcome
PACIFIC NORTHWEST LOVES ITS FIGURE SKATING
By Mimi Whetstone
In 2002, Spokane, Wash., played host followed
by stops in Everett, Wash., in 2008, and Portland, Ore., in 2010. Each of those events attracted more than 23,000 spectators, making
them the top four highest-attended events in
Skate America’s 31-year history.
In addition to the area’s success at Skate
America, the U.S. Championships has enjoyed
similar success in the states of Washington
and Oregon. In 2007, Spokane, Wash., hosted
the competition and broke attendance records that stood until The Lilac City shattered
the record again in the 2010 Olympic year. It
was the first time that the U.S. Championships
had been held in the same city within a fouryear Olympic cycle.
Now, as Skate America returns to the Pacific
Northwest, the area is primed to once again
roll out the red carpet for figure skating’s best
athletes.
The following is a look back at some of those
successful competitions held in the Pacific
Northwest in the last 15 years.
Michelle Kwan basks
in the glory of her last
U.S. Championships in
2005 in Portland, Ore.
46
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
USA VS. THE WORLD
KENNEWICK, WASH.
The world’s top skaters gathered at the Tri-Cities Coliseum in Kennewick, Wash., on Dec. 18,
1999, for the Keri Lotion — USA vs. The World
Figure Skating Challenge.
Organized and hosted by U.S. Figure Skating,
the head-to-head competition featured a ladies and men’s event. The impressive field of 12
competitors won a combined 13 World titles,
12 U.S. titles and two Olympic gold medals between them.
When U.S. Figure Skating released a media advisory almost a week before the competition,
tickets to the event were already sold out. The
event aired on ABC Sports on Jan. 9, 2000, as
Americans Sarah Hughes and Michael Weiss
brought a packed house to its feet, leading
the U.S. to a 10-8 victory over the World Team.
“This was such a great crowd,” Weiss said. “You
could tell that a lot of people were really excited to be here.”
Echoing Weiss’ sentiment, nearly every competitor commented on the fans’ enthusiasm
and spirit. First-day ticket sales for the competition doubled the arena’s record, and event
programs sold out 45 minutes after the doors
opened.
SKATE AMERICA TRIVIA
1) Where did Michelle Kwan
win her final Skate America
title?
2) Over the seven years that
Michelle Kwan won her Skate
America titles, how many 6.0s
did she receive?
3) How many times has the
United States swept the ladies
event at Skate America?
4) How many times has the
United States swept the men’s
event?
5) How many times has the
United States won the dance
title?
1) In Spokane, Wash. Michelle Kwan
won her seventh and last Skate
America title in 2002; 2) Two 6.0s:
One in the short program and one
in the free skate at the 1999 Skate
America held in Colorado Springs,
Colo. 3) Two times: 1983 (Rochester,
N.Y.) and 1996 (Springfield, Mass.);
4) Two times: 1988 (Portland, Maine)
and 1992 (Atlanta, Ga.) 5) 14: 1981,
1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1994, 1997,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010
and 2011.
Fifty-two athletes representing 13 countries
have made their way to Kent, Wash., for this
weekend’s 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America.
It marks the fourth time that the event has been
held in the Pacific Northwest in the last decade.
Yu-Na Kim of Korea waves to her legions of
fans at 2008 Skate America in Everett, Wash.
Evan Lysacek brings down the house at the
2007 U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash.
The event included an ice dancing exhibition
by 1999 World Junior champions and 1999
U.S. junior champions Jamie Silverstein and
Justin Pekarek, and featured a special competitive appearance by skating legend Dorothy Hamill, who received a standing ovation.
will protect the skaters better than the old
system,” ISU President Ottavio Cinquanta said.
“I love the event and enjoy participating in it,"
Hamill told ESPN. “Based on what you saw tonight, you can expect to see a lot of talent in
skating for years to come.”
2002 SKATE AMERICA
IN SPOKANE, WASH.
At the beginning of a post-Olympic season,
achieving high attendance would be a challenge
for any competition, and that year, Skate America encountered several additional obstacles.
Of the U.S. champions, only ice dancers Naomi
Lang and Peter Tchernyshev were originally entered, and they withdrew after Lang suffered
an injury. U.S. pairs champions Kyoko Ina and
John Zimmerman did not compete in the eligible ranks that year, and though Michelle Kwan
and Todd Eldredge both kept their eligibility,
neither planned to enter any Grand Prix events.
The event also marked the first use of an Interim Judging System, which temporarily
bridged the gap between the old 6.0 system
and the International Judging System (IJS) in
place today. The transitory system was put in
place to show that the ISU was doing something about the 2002 Olympic Winter Games
scandal, in which Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia won the gold medal
with a mistake-ridden free skate over Jamie
Salé and David Pelletier of Canada, who performed a flawless program. Both teams eventually were awarded the gold medal.
In addition to the American athletes, other top
names pulled out right before the event as
well. World ice dancing silver medalists ShaeLynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canada withdrew because of tendonitis in Bourne’s Achilles
tendon and Olympic champion Sarah Hughes
of the U.S. tore a muscle the week before the
event.
“We were worried about the dropouts,” Toby
Steward, co-chair of the local organizing committee, said. “Normally all the U.S. champions
come to Skate America, but we exceeded all
of our expectations. It’s been kind of like a big
wedding where you can’t wait to go back and
look at the photographs, because you’ve been
too busy to take it all in.”
Despite the obstacles and confusion, the
overall attendance at the event was 28,664,
shattering the record of 26,588 set in Portland,
Maine, in 1986.
2007 U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS,
SPOKANE, WASH.
The nation’s top skaters performed each day
for an audience that filled every seat in Spokane Arena.
Early in the week, when former U.S. Figure
Skating President Ron Hershberger attended
the novice compulsory dance event, the first
competition of the week, he witnessed a
packed house of more than 4,000 fans at Spokane’s Convention Center. As the event continued, a record 154,893 skating fans walked
through the turnstiles during the week-long
competition, breaking the previous record of
125,345 set in Los Angeles in 2002.
“This U.S. Championships was one of the
most successful in history in several respects,”
Hershberger told SKATING magazine. “Not
only to set the attendance record but to
smash the previous high proves that wellmarketed figure skating events have limitless
potential, and that the sport is vibrant and
popular among fans of all ages.”
Regardless of the results, competitors at every level had the opportunity to perform for a
sold-out arena, an experience no one is likely
to forget.
“It was bigger than skating or gold medals,
or silver medals, or bronze medals,” 2007 U.S.
champion Evan Lysacek said. “It helped us as a
sport to move forward.”
U.S. Figure Skating considered the event to be
the most popular in the U.S. Championships'
88-year history, largely because of the city’s
immense enthusiasm and support. Spectators were treated to a hands-on Fanfest, free
samples of Starbucks coffee and dozens of local restaurants and attractions in conjunction
with the competition, making it not only a
viewing event, but an interactive experience.
“This has been an enormously welcoming city
from the moment we arrived,” Hershberger
said. “Everything has been perfect. The community spirit and involvement have been tremendous.”
“We preferred to run the risk of creating confusion for the media and the spectators, rather
than wait another year to do something that
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
47
2008 SKATE AMERICA,
EVERETT, WASH.
Once again, an all-time ticket sales record was
set for the event as 29,477 spectators filled the
seats at Comcast Arena, breaking Spokane’s
2002 record.
“We’re thrilled that we were able to break
the record,” said Laura Lee, co-president of
Production Sports, the event’s local organizing committee. “We knew the fans would
come out to support the event, but we never
imagined we’d be able to break the record. It’s
amazing that Everett now holds this honor.”
The competition featured 60 athletes from
15 countries, including all of the 2008 U.S.
champions. The record-breaking attendance
generated more than $2.5 million of direct
economic impact to the region.
“2008 Skate America was a huge success,” Hershberger said. “The effort of the local organizing committee was evident in every facet of
the competition. The competitors loved the
hotel and the arena, and I know they would
gladly return to Everett for this competition.
And, as evidence of the public’s continuing interest in figure skating, we set an attendance
record for Skate America. U.S. Figure Skating
couldn’t be more pleased.”
Ticket sales for the event began in March, and
fans had the opportunity to purchase their
seats from a large selection of packages, including all-event packs, single-event tickets
and practice-session passes. When the threeday competition started, approximately 25,000
tickets had already been sold. As the event
concluded, additional walk-up sales continued
to boost the already abundant crowds for the
ladies free skate and Skating Spectacular.
“The Pacific Northwest has always been welcoming of our events and the athletes, and
Everett was no exception,” Hershberger told
the United States Olympic Committee. “This
certainly is a testament to how the community of Everett has embraced this event.”
bring high-profile skating events to the region,” Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell said. “In
2006, I met face-to-face with a site selector for
the 2007 Championships to convey the merits
of bringing the event to Spokane. The committee concluded that Spokane was indeed
best-suited to host this national event in 2007,
and Spokane went on to prove the committee
right by shattering the previous attendance
record. No wonder that just three years later
the road to the Olympics are marked with yet
another stop here in Spokane.”
Despite the economic recession, tickets sales
were high and approximately 13.7 million
viewers watched NBC Sports’ coverage of the
event. It aired in more than 125 countries and
was available to nearly 500 million homes
around the world through NBC, Universal
Sports and icenetwork.com.
“The success was even sweeter, as a result of
having to overcome a number of significant
obstacles, not the least of which was the largest recession since the Great Depression,”
event organizer Barb Beddor said. “To achieve
success under the circumstances was a wonderful victory for our community and the 700
amazing volunteers.”
As it did in 2007, the U.S. Championships included a variety of audience participation
features, including “Skate Radio,” free personal
ear pieces with access to NBC Sports, icenetwork.com and expert analysis of the seniorlevel events, and “You Be the Judge,” a daily experience at Fan Fest that simulated what it is
like to sit on the judges and technical panels.
“We were so proud of Spokane,” Beddor said.
“Everybody did their part to make our city
shine in the national spotlight. Spokane is a
magical place with wonderful people, a perfect venue for figure skating and the best figure skating fans anywhere.”
2010 SKATE AMERICA,
PORTLAND, ORE.
Fifty-eight athletes representing 15 countries
made their way to Portland, Ore., in November for the city’s first international event. Skate
America took place at the Rose Garden Arena,
which also served as the site of the 2005 State
Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
“We are pleased to award this competition to
Portland,” U.S. Figure Skating President Patricia
St. Peter said. “The community showed its overwhelming support for the U.S. Championships
in 2005, and we’re delighted that the athletes
and visitors to the city will have the opportunity to experience all Portland has to offer.”
Following the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in
Vancouver, the area had already successfully
generated a following of spectators, which
the arena more than accommodated.
“With the Olympics being held in the Pacific
Northwest, the region is ready and excited for
another opportunity to host an event of this
caliber,” said Chris Oxley, general manager
of the Rose Quarter, the district in which the
Rose Garden is located.
Approximately 12,800 spectators attended
the competition, which bettered the previous year’s attendance in Lake Placid, N.Y. The
competition was broadcast on NBC and Universal Sports for the third consecutive year,
and included 14 hours of live coverage.
Now, as the world’s best head to Kent for 2012
Hilton HHonors Skate America, local officials
are prepared to carry the torch passed to them
by the Pacific Northwest. Up to the challenge,
the ShoWare Center offers a seating capacity
of 3,940 for five ticketed sessions as athletes,
fans, coaches and officials fill the arena.
“This arena and this community are ready,” Kent
Mayor Suzette Cooke told the Seattle Times.
2010 U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS,
SPOKANE, WASH.
For the Olympic qualifying year of 2010, the
U.S. Championships returned to Spokane a
second time. Attendance for the 10-day event
totaled 158,170, beating the record previously
set in the same arena just three years prior.
“I’ve long-supported Spokane’s efforts to
48
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
Tanith Belbin
and Ben
Agosto perform in front
of a packed
house at Spokane Arena at
the 2010 U.S.
Championships.
PHOTO BY MICHELLE HARVATH
A family tradition
Musselman’s Apple Sauce Family Skating Tribute presented by Caesars Atlantic City kicks
off the Pandora NBC Skating Series, which
consists of four two-hour specials produced
by Disson Skating that will start airing on NBC
in November.
Jewel, a four-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, will perform live in this familythemed show featuring such skating stars as
Olympic champions Ekaterina Gordeeva and
Ilia Kulik along with two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan and many more. All of the
skaters, and Jewel herself, are parents, and
both children and parents will be featured in
the show.
The show, which airs Nov. 18, originates from
Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday,
Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. and will be hosted by Olympic
champion Kristi Yamaguchi and three-time
U.S. champion Michael Weiss.
Olympic champion Brian Boitano and multiplatinum music artists Mannheim Steamroller
will be joined by former World champions
Elvis Stojko, Yuka Sato and Kimmie Meissner as well as reigning U.S. champion Ashley
Wagner, 2011 U.S. champion Alissa Czisny
and others in Pandora Unforgettable Holiday
Moments on Ice on Nov. 10 at Grand Canyon
University Arena in Phoenix at 7 p.m.
Mannheim Steamroller will perform live for
the entire show and will be joined on some
songs by Megan Hilty, star of NBC’s musical
drama “Smash,” who is working on a new album to be released in late 2012. This show,
which will be hosted by Yamaguchi, Weiss
DISSON SPECIALS CREATE HOLIDAY MAGIC
Pandora NBC Skating Series
(Check your local TV listings)
AIR DATE
EVENT
TIME/ET
Nov. 18
Musselman’s Apple Sauce Family Skating Tribute
4–6 p.m.
Nov. 25
Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice
4–6 p.m.
Jan. 19
Progressive Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular
4–6 p.m.
Jan. 27
Pandora Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice
2–4 p.m.
and the founder of Mannheim Steamroller,
Chip Davis, will be nationally broadcast on
NBC during Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 25.
Fresh Beat Band of Nickelodeon’s “Fresh Beat
Band” and Ross Lynch of Disney’s “Austin and
Ally,” with his band R5.
Olympic medalists Gabrielle (Gabby) Douglas, Danell Leyva, Jordyn Wieber and Alexandra (Aly) Raisman will join 2008 Olympic allaround gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin
and a cast of 2014 Sochi figure skating hopefuls when the Progressive Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular comes to Jamestown Savings
Bank Arena in Jamestown, N.Y., on Dec. 15 at
7 p.m.
Olympic champions Bart Conner, Nadia Comaneci and Peggy Fleming will host the
show, which will be nationally telecast on
Jan. 19 on NBC.
The figure skating cast will be made up of
World champions and 2010 Olympic ice
dance silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White, reigning U.S. champions Jeremy
Abbott and Ashley Wagner, two-time U.S.
champion Alissa Czisny, 2011 World ice dance
bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani,
reigning U.S. silver medalist Adam Rippon
and up-and-coming elite skater Gracie Gold.
Performing live during the show will also be
The Pandora NBC Skating Series wraps up
on Jan. 27 with Pandora Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice, a Valentine’s Day show
taping at ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. on
Jan. 11, starring Barry Manilow with a skating
cast which includes Nancy Kerrigan, Michael
Weiss, Elvis Stojko and Liz Manley.
“Once again we have a great lineup of shows
as part of the Pandora NBC Skating Series,”
president of Disson Skating Steve Disson said.
“I think this is going to be one of our strongest lineups of shows to date.”
For complete cast and live show ticket information on the Pandora NBC Skating Series
specials, go to www.dissonskating.com.
From left, Nancy Kerrigan, Jeremy Abbott and Nastia Liukin.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISSON SKATING
PHOTO BY BEN SOLOMON
PHOTO BY SHARON MODJESKA
NANCY KERRIGAN
NASTIA LIUKIN
JEREMY ABBOTT
50
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253-335-6951
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Discover
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Dine, shop, and explore
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Check out Kent Station for
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Visit downtownkentwa.com to
find out what else is going on
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WELCOME SKATE FANS!
Kent and our hospitality providers hope
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LADIES
2011
GOLD
Ontario, CA
Alissa Czisny (USA) 177.48
SILVER
Carolina Kostner (ITA) 177.35
BRONZE
Viktoria Helgeson (SWE) 145.75
2010
Portland, OR
Kanako Murakami (JPN) 164.93
Rachael Flatt (USA) 162.86
Carolina Kostner (ITA) 154.87
2009
Lake Placid, NY
Yu-Na Kim (KOR) 187.98
Rachael Flatt (USA) 174.91
Julia Sebestyen (HUN) 159.03
2008
Everett, WA
Yu-Na Kim (KOR) 193.45
Yukari Nakano (JPN) 172.53
Miki Ando (JPN) 168.42
2007
Reading, PA
Kimmie Meissner (USA) 163.23
Miki Ando (JPN) 161.89
Caroline Zhang (USA) 153.35
2006
Hartford, CT
Miki Ando (JPN) 192.59
Kimmie Meissner (USA) 177.78
Mao Asada (JPN) 171.23
2005
Atlantic City, NJ
Elena Sokolova (RUS) 163.02
Alissa Czisny (USA) 159.30
Yoshie Onda (JPN) 150.98
2004
Pittsburgh, PA
Angela Nikodinov (USA) 149.50
Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN) 144.40
Miki Ando (JPN) 142.62
2003
Reading, PA
Sasha Cohen (USA)
Jennifer Kirk (USA)
Shizuka Arakawa (JPN)
2002
Spokane, WA
Michelle Kwan (USA)
Ann Patrice McDonough (USA)
Elena Liashenko (UKR)
2001
Colo. Springs, CO
Michelle Kwan (USA)
Sarah Hughes (USA)
Viktoria Volchkova (RUS)
2000
Colo. Springs, CO
Michelle Kwan (USA)
Sarah Hughes (USA)
Elena Sokolova (RUS)
1999
Colo. Springs, CO
Michelle Kwan (USA)
Julia Soldatova (RUS)
Elena Sokolova (RUS)
1998
Detroit, MI
Maria Butyrskaya (RUS)
Elena Sokolova (RUS)
Angela Nikodinov (USA)
1997
Detroit, MI
Michelle Kwan (USA)
Tara Lipinski (USA)
Elena Sokolova (RUS)
1996
Springfield, MA
Michelle Kwan (USA)
Tonia Kwiatkowski (USA)
Sydne Vogel (USA)
1995
Detroit, MI
Michelle Kwan (USA)
Chen Lu (CHN)
Irina Slutskaya (RUS)
1994
Pittsburgh, PA
Surya Bonaly (FRA)
Michelle Kwan (USA)
Irina Slutskaya (RUS)
1993
Dallas, TX
Oksana Baiul (UKR)
Surya Bonaly (FRA)
Tonya Harding (USA)
1992
Atlanta, GA
Yuka Sato (JPN)
Nancy Kerrigan (USA)
Chen Lu (CHN)
1991
Oakland, CA
Tonya Harding (USA)
Kristi Yamaguchi (USA)
Surya Bonaly (FRA)
1990
Buffalo, NY
Kristi Yamaguchi (USA)
Midori Ito (JPN)
Tonia Kwiatkowski (USA)
1989
Indianapolis, IN
Tonya Harding (USA)
Jill Trenary (USA)
Simone Lang (GDR)
1988
Portland, ME
Claudia Leistner (FRG)
Midori Ito (JPN)
Kristi Yamaguchi (USA)
1986
Portland, ME
Tiffany Chin (USA)
Tonya Harding (USA)
Agnes Gosselin (FRA)
Katrien Pauwels (BEL)
1985
St. Paul, MN
Debi Thomas (USA)
Tracey Wainman (CAN)
1983
Rochester, NY
Tiffany Chin (USA)
Jill Frost (USA)
Kelly Webster (USA)
1982
Lake Placid, NY
Rosalynn Sumners (USA)
Claudia Leistner (FRG)
Kriistina Wegelius (FIN)
1981
Lake Placid, NY
Vikki de Vries (USA)
Elaine Zayak (USA)
Claudia Kristofics-Binder (AUT)
1979
Lake Placid, NY
Lisa-Marie Allen (USA)
Susan Driano (ITA)
Sandy Lenz (USA)
MEN
2011
GOLD
Ontario, CA
Michal Brezina (CZE) 216.00
SILVER
Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL) 212.48
BRONZE
Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) 212.09
2010
Portland, OR
Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) 227.07
Nobunari Oda (JPN) 226.09
Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA) 211.17
2009
Lake Placid, NY
Evan Lysacek (USA) 237.72
Shawn Sawyer (CAN) 203.91
Ryan Bradley (USA) 198.12
2008
Everett, WA
Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) 226.18
Johnny Weir (USA) 225.20
Evan Lysacek (USA) 223.21
2007
Reading, PA
Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) 228.97
Evan Lysacek (USA) 220.08
Patrick Chan (CAN) 213.33
2006
Hartford, CT
Nobunari Oda (JPN) 231.39
Evan Lysacek (USA) 221.09
Alban Preaubert (FRA) 212.67
2005
Atlantic City, NJ
Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) 218.54
Evan Lysacek (USA) 193.71
Brian Joubert (FRA) 190.28
2004
Pittsburgh, PA
Brian Joubert (FRA) 193.46
Ryan Jahnke (USA) 186.71
Michael Weiss (USA) 179.56
2003
Reading, PA
Michael Weiss (USA)
Takeshi Honda (JPN)
Min Zhang (CHN)
2002
Spokane, WA
Brian Joubert (FRA)
Alexander Abt (RUS)
Matt Savoie (USA)
2001
Colo. Springs, CO
Timothy Goebel (USA)
Takeshi Honda (JPN)
Alexander Abt (RUS)
2000
Colo. Springs, CO
Timothy Goebel (USA)
Alexei Yagudin (RUS)
Todd Eldredge (USA)
1999
Colo. Springs, CO
Alexei Yagudin (RUS)
Timothy Goebel (USA)
Elvis Stojko (CAN)
1998
Detroit, MI
Alexei Yagudin (RUS)
Michael Weiss (USA)
Alexei Urmanov (RUS)
1997
Detroit, MI
Todd Eldredge (USA)
Evgeny Plushenko (RUS)
Alexander Abt (RUS)
1996
Springfield, MA
Todd Eldredge (USA)
Alexei Urmanov (RUS)
Alexei Yagudin (RUS)
1995
Detroit, MI
Todd Eldredge (USA)
Michael Weiss (USA)
Alexander Abt (RUS)
1994
Pittsburgh, PA
Todd Eldredge (USA)
Philippe Candeloro (FRA)
Eric Millot (FRA)
1993
Dallas, TX
Viktor Petrenko (UKR)
Brian Boitano (USA)
Alexei Urmanov (RUS)
1992
Atlanta, GA
Todd Eldredge (USA)
Scott Davis (USA)
Mark Mitchell (USA)
1991
Oakland, CA
Christopher Bowman (USA)
Petr Barna (CZE)
Todd Eldredge (USA)
1990
Buffalo, NY
Viktor Petrenko (URS)
Christopher Bowman (USA)
Todd Eldredge (USA)
1989
Indianapolis, IN
Christopher Bowman (USA)
Viktor Petrenko (URS)
Kurt Browning (CAN)
1988
Portland, ME
Christopher Bowman (USA)
Daniel Doran (USA)
Todd Eldredge (USA)
1986
Portland, ME
Brian Boitano (USA)
Viktor Petrenko (URS)
Daniel Doran (USA)
Viktor Petrenko (URS)
1985
St. Paul, MN
Jozef Sabovcik (CZE)
Brian Boitano (USA)
1983
Rochester, NY
Brian Boitano (USA)
Rudi Cerne (FRG)
Bobby Beauchamp (USA)
1982
Lake Placid, NY
Scott Hamilton (USA)
Heiko Fischer (FRG)
Jozef Sabovcik (CZE)
1981
Lake Placid, NY
Scott Hamilton (USA)
Robert Wagenhoffer (USA)
Brian Boitano (US
1979
Lake Placid, NY
Scott Hamilton (USA)
Scott Cramer (USA)
Jan Hoffmann (EGR)
(Event not held in 1980, 1984, 1987)
54
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
PAIRS
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
2011
Ontario, CA
Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) 183.98
Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) 178.66
Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch (CAN) 177.43
2010
Portland, OR
Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) 197.70
Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch (CAN) 175.48 Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) 170.07
2009
Lake Placid, NY
Xue Shen/Hongbo Zhao (CHN) 201.40
Tatiana Volosozhar/ Stanislav Morozov (UKR) 171.82
Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) 168.19
2008
Everett, WA
Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) 180.77
Keauna McLaughlin/Rockne Brubaker (USA) 172.69
Maria Mukhortova/ Maxim Trankov (RUS) 167.67
2007
Reading, PA
Jessica Dubé/Bryce Davison (CAN) 173.26
Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN) 165.19
Vera Bazarova/Yuri Larionov (RUS) 159.58
2006
Hartford, CT
Rena Inoue/ John Baldwin (USA) 169.90
Dorota Siudek/ Mariusz Siudek (POL) 161.47
Naomi Nari Nam/ Themi Leftheris (USA) 161.32
2005
Atlantic City, NJ
Dan Zhang/ Hao Zhang (CHN) 179.14
Rena Inoue/ John Baldwin (USA) 164.44
Julia Obertas/ Sergei Slavnov (RUS) 160.40
2004
Pittsburgh, PA
Dan Zhang/ Hao Zhang (CHN) 166.86
Julia Obertas/ Sergei Slavnov (RUS) 166.26
Rena Inoue/ John Baldwin (USA) 158.10
2003
Reading, PA
Qing Pang/ Jian Tong (CHN)
Maria Petrova/ Alexei Tikhonov (RUS)
Dan Zhang/ Hao Zhang (CHN)
2002
Spokane, WA
Tatiana Totmianina/ Maxim Marinin (RUS)
Annabelle Langlois/ Patrice Archetto (CAN)
Qing Pang/ Jian Tong (CHN)
2001
Colo. Springs, CO
Jamie Salé/ David Pelletier (CAN)
Kyoko Ina/ John Zimmerman (USA)
Tatiana Totmianina/ Maxim Marinin (RUS)
2000
Colo. Springs, CO
Jamie Salé/ David Pelletier (CAN)
Xue Shen/ Hongbo Zhao (CHN)
Tatiana Totmianina/ Maxim Marinin (RUS)
1999
Colo. Springs, CO
Jamie Salé/ David Pelletier (CAN)
Sarah Abitbol / Stephane Bernadis (FRA)
Elena Berezhnaya/ Anton Sikharulidze (RUS)
1998
Detroit, MI
Elena Berezhnaya/ Anton Sikharulidze (RUS)
Kristy Sargeant/ Kris Wirtz (CAN)
Victoria Maksuta/ Vladislav Zhonirski (RUS)
1997
Detroit, MI
Marina Eltsova/ Andrei Bushkov (RUS)
Kyoko Ina/ Jason Dungjen (USA)
Evgenia Shishkova/ Vadim Naumov (RUS)
1996
Springfield, MA
Oksana Kazakova/ Artur Dmitriev (RUS)
Shelby Lyons/ Brian Wells (USA)
Stephanie Stiegler/ John Zimmerman (USA)
1995
Detroit, MI
Marina Eltsova/ Andrei Bushkov (RUS)
Jenni Meno/ Todd Sand (USA)
Elena Berezhnaya/ Oleg Shliakhov (LAT)
1994
Pittsburgh, PA
Marina Eltsova/ Andrei Bushkov (RUS)
Evgenia Shishkova/ Vadim Naumov (RUS)
Radka Kovarikova/ Rene Novotny (CZE)
1993
Dallas, TX
Evgenia Shishkova/ Vadim Naumov (RUS)
Kyoko Ina/ Jason Dungjen (USA)
Karen Courtland/ Todd Reynolds (USA)
1992
Atlanta, GA
Marina Eltsova/ Andrei Bushkov (RUS)
Radka Kovarikova/ Rene Novotny (CZE)
Evgenia Shishkova/ Vadim Naumov (RUS)
1991
Oakland, CA
Calla Urbanski/ Rocky Marval (USA)
Elena Nikonova/ Nickoli Apter (URS)
Peggy Schwarz/ Alexander Koenig (GER)
1990
Buffalo, NY
Marina Eltsova/ Andrei Bushkov (URS)
Radka Kovarikova/ Rene Novotny (CZE)
Mandy Wotzel/ Axel Rauschenbach (FRG)
1989
Indianapolis, IN
Natalia Mishkutionok/ Artur Dmitriev (URS)
Kristi Yamaguchi/ Rudy Galindo (USA)
Peggy Schwarz/ Alexander Koenig (GDR)
1988
Portland, ME
Natalia Mishkutionok/ Artur Dmitriev (URS)
Marina Eltsova/ Sergei Zaitsev (URS)
Natalie Seybold/ Wayne Seybold (USA)
1986
Portland, ME
Katy Keeley/ Joseph Mero (USA)
Denise Benning/ Lyndon Johnston (CAN)
Ludmila Koblova/ Andrei Kalitin (CAN)
1985
St. Paul, MN
Jill Watson/ Peter Oppegard (USA)
Elena Bechke/ Valeri Kornienko (URS)
Gillian Wachsman/ Todd Waggoner (USA)
1983
Rochester, NY
Caitlin Carruthers/ Peter Carruthers (USA)
Jill Watson/ Burt Lancon (USA)
Melinda Kunhegyi/ Lyndon Johnston (CAN)
1982
Lake Placid, NY
Elena Valova/ Oleg Vasiliev (URS)
Lea Ann Miller/ William Fauver (USA)
Nellie Chervotkina/ Victor Teslya (URS)
1981
Lake Placid, NY
Barbara Underhill/ Paul Martini (CAN)
Caitlin Carruthers/ Peter Carruthers (USA)
Elena Valova/ Oleg Vasiliev (URS)
1979
Lake Placid, NY
Sabine Baesz/Tassilo Thierbach (EGR)
Caitlin Carruthers/Peter Carruthers (USA)
Vicki Heasley/Robert Wagenhoffer (USA)
ICE DANCING
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
2011
Ontario, CA
Meryl Davis/ Charlie White (USA) 178.07
Nathalie Pechalat/ Fabian Bourzat (FRA) 156.29
Isabella Tobias/Deividas Stagniunas (LTU) 132.58
2010
Portland, OR
Meryl Davis/ Charlie White (USA) 156.58
Vanessa Crone/ Paul Poirier (CAN) 149.08
Maia Shibutani/ Alex Shibutani (USA) 144.82
2009
Lake Placid, NY
Tanith Belbin/ Ben Agosto (USA) 195.85
Anna Cappellini/ Luca Lanotte (ITA) 171.86
Alexandra Zaretski/ Roman Zaretski (ISR) 171.77
2008
Everett, WA
Isabelle Delobel/Olivier Schoenfelder (FRA) 187.64
Tanith Belbin/Ben Agosto (USA) 186.53
Sinead Kerr/ John Kerr (GBR) 180.20
2007
Reading, PA
Tanith Belbin/ Ben Agosto (USA) 192.95
Nathalie Pechalat/ Fabian Bourzat (FRA) 181.84
Federica Faiella/ Massimo Scali (ITA) 172.28
2006
Hartford, CT
Albena Denkova/ Maxim Staviski (BUL) 201.58
Melissa Gregory/ Denis Petukhov (USA) 180.98
Nathalie Pechalat/ Fabian Bourzat (FRA) 167.28
2005
Atlantic City, NJ
Tanith Belbin/ Ben Agosto (USA) 190.45
Isabelle Delobel/ Olivier Schoenfelder (FRA) 184.47
Oksana Domnina/ Maxim Shabalin (RUS) 169.23
2004
Pittsburgh, PA
Tanith Belbin/ Ben Agosto (USA) 212.87
Galit Chait/ Sergei Sakhnovski (ISR) 204.32
Megan Wing/ Aaron Lowe (CAN) 178.60
2003
Reading, PA
Tanith Belbin/ Ben Agosto (USA)
Elena Grushina/ Ruslan Goncharov (UKR)
Isabelle Delobel/ Olivier Schenfelder (FRA)
2002
Spokane, WA
Elena Grushina/ Ruslan Goncharov (UKR)
Tatiana Navka/ Roman Kostomarov (RUS)
Tanith Belbin/ Ben Agosto (USA)
2001
Colo. Springs, CO
Shae-Lynn Bourne/ Victor Kraatz (CAN)
Galit Chait/ Sergei Sakhnovsky (ISR)
Margarita Drobiazko/ Povilas Vanagas (LTU)
2000
Colo. Springs, CO
Barbara Fusar-Poli/ Maurizio Margaglio (ITA)
Margarita Drobiazko/ Povilas Vanagas (LTU)
Shae-Lynn Bourne/ Victor Kraatz (CAN)
1999
Colo. Springs, CO
Barbara Fusar-Poli/ Maurizio Margaglio (ITA)
Irina Lobacheva/ Ilia Averbukh (RUS)
Naomi Lang/ Peter Tchernyshev (USA)
1998
Detroit, MI
Marina Anissina/ Gwendal Peizerat (FRA)
Irina Lobacheva/ Ilia Averbukh (RUS)
Barbara Fusar-Poli/ Maurizio Margaglio (ITA)
1997
Detroit, MI
Elizabeth Punsalan/ Jerod Swallow (USA)
Barbara Fusar-Poli/ Maurizio Margaglio (ITA)
Anna Semenovich/ Vladimir Federov (RUS)
1996
Springfield, MA
Anjelika Krylova/ Oleg Ovsyannikov (RUS)
Irina Lobacheva/ Ilia Averbukh (RUS)
Sophie Moniotte/ Pascal Lavanchy (FRA)
1995
Detroit, MI
Oksana Grishuk/ Evgeny Platov (RUS)
Anjelika Krylova/ Oleg Ovsyannikov (RUS)
Renee Roca/ Gorsha Sur (USA)
1994
Pittsburgh, PA
Elizabeth Punsalan/ Jerod Swallow (USA)
Marina Anissina/ Gwendal Peizerat (FRA)
Elizaveta Stekolnikova/ Dmitri Kazarliga (KZK)
1993
Dallas, TX
Sophie Moniotte/ Pascal Lavanchy (FRA)
Katerina Mrazova/ Martin Simecek (CZE)
Renee Roca/ Gorsha Sur (USA)
1992
Atlanta, GA
Maia Usova/ Alexander Zhulin (RUS)
Sophie Moniotte/ Pascal Lavanchy (FRA)
Elizabeth Punsalan/ Jerod Swallow (USA)
1991
Oakland, CA
Tatiana Navka/ Samvel Gezalian (URS)
Susanna Rahkomo/ Petri Kokko (FIN)
Dominique Yvon/ Frederic Palluel (FRA)
1990
Buffalo, NY
Stefania Calegari/ Pasquale Camerlengo (ITA)
Isabelle Sarech/ Xavier Debernis (FRA)
Illona Meinchenko/ Gennadi Kaskov (URS)
1989
Indianapolis, IN
Maia Usova/ Alexander Zhulin (URS)
April Sargent/ Russ Witherby (USA)
Jo-Anne Borlase/ Martin Smith (CAN)
1988
Portland, ME
Susan Wynne/ Joseph Druar (USA)
Svetlana Lyapina/ Georgi Sur (URS)
Renee Roca/ James Yorke (USA)
1986
Portland, ME
Isabelle Duchesnay/ Paul Duchesnay (FRA)
Suzanne Semanick/ Scott Gregory (USA)
Jo-Anne Borlase/ Scott Chalmers (CAN)
1985
St. Paul, MN
Renee Roca/ Donald Adair (USA)
Irina Zhuk / Oleg Petrov (URS)
Antonia Becherer/ Ferdinand Becherer (FRG)
1983
Rochester, NY
Elisa Spitz/ Scott Gregory (USA)
Kelly Johnson/ John Thomas (CAN)
Wendy Sessions/ Stephen Williams (GBR)
1982
Lake Placid, NY
Elisa Spitz/ Scott Gregory (USA)
Elena Garanina/ Igor Zavozin (URS)
Karyn Garossino/ Rod Garossino (CAN)
1981
Lake Placid, NY
Judy Blumberg/ Michael Seibert (USA)
Elena Garanina/ Igor Zavozin (URS)
Karen Barber/ Nicky Slater (GBR)
1979
Lake Placid, NY
Kriszina Regoczy/Andras Sallay (HUN)
Natalia Bestemianova/Andrei Bukin (URS)
Lorna Wighton/John Dowding (CAN)
(Event not held in 1980, 1984, 1987)
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
55
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The Hadley family: A Seattle skating legacy
By Patricia Shelley Bushman
The Seattle skating community has been
home to several elite-level pairs teams,
including 1950 World champions Peter
and Karol Kennedy and three-time World
bronze medalists Ron and Cindy Kauffman.
Sandwiched between these sister-andbrother teams was another sibling team
perhaps not as well-known as they had
not reached their prime before their tragic
death more than 50 years ago.
On Feb. 15, 1961, the plane carrying the
1961 U.S. World Figure Skating Team
crashed in Brussels, Belgium, en route to
the 1961 World Championships in Prague,
Czechoslovakia. Seattle’s Ila Ray Hadley
and Ray Hadley, Jr., perished along with 16
teammates, as well as four officials, six family members and six coaches, including their
coach and step-mother Linda Hart Hadley.
Ray Hadley, Sr., had been a roller skating
and ice skating coach in Oregon. Ila Ray
and Ray, Jr., were 4 and 3 years old, respectively, when their father taught them to ice
skate and roller skate. When the Hadleys
moved to Seattle, they arrived just in time
to see the 1951 U.S. Championships. The
highlight for the youngsters was watching
the World champion Kennedys win their
fourth U.S. pairs title.
Soon after the family moved to Seattle, Ray
and his wife, Bette, the mother of Ila Ray
and Ray, Jr., divorced, and Ray assumed
custody of the children. Ray coached at the
Seattle Civic Center and worked at Boeing
while he built up his roster of ice skating
students. He also taught roller skating at
the Ridge, where Ila Ray and Ray, Jr., were
frequent visitors.
In 1954 the lives of the Hadleys changed
dramatically when Ray married Alvah
Lynn “Linda” Hart, a skating coach Ray had
worked with in Oregon. She began teaching alongside her husband at the Seattle
Civic Center and became a coach and stepmother to Ila Ray, 11, and Ray, Jr., 10. The
Hadley siblings had competed in many local competitions, but when Linda began
coaching the kids, they started to medal.
From the beginning, the Hadley siblings
competed in singles, pairs and dance, but it
was clear that they excelled in pairs. In 1957,
they traveled to Berkeley, Calif., for the U.S.
Championships. The youngest in the field
at 14 and 13, they surprised everyone when
they won the U.S. junior pairs title. Building
on that momentum, Linda took Ila Ray and
Ray, Jr., along with the Kauffman pairs team
and their parents, on a cross-country exhibition tour. It was a wonderful opportunity
for them to perform in front of many judges and spectators across the nation. U.S.
Figure Skating then extended an invitation
PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA ADAMS GARL
Ila Ray and Ray Jr.
had the hometown
crowd on their side
at the 1960 U.S.
Championships in
Seattle, where they
made the Olympic and
World teams.
Ila Ray and Ray Hadley, Jr.,
58
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBBIE GANSON LANE
Patricia Shelley
Bushman is the
author of Indelible
Tracings: The
Story of the
1961 U.S. World
Figure Skating
Team, which
can be found
on Amazon.com.
Except for time at school, Ila Ray and Ray Jr. were rarely apart from their
parents. (l-r) Ila Ray, Linda Hart Hadley, Ray Hadley Sr., Ray Jr.
to the Hadley siblings to perform exhibitions
after the 1958 World Championships in Paris.
The Hadley trajectory stalled suddenly when
they advanced to the senior ranks, placing
fourth in both 1958 and 1959. Their practice
regimen stepped into high gear prior to the
1960 U.S. Championships for two important
reasons: the competition would be held in
Seattle, and it was an Olympic year. However,
Ila Ray and Ray, Jr., had a tremendous work
ethic and had never wavered. Linda Hadley,
who had served a brief stint in the U.S. Army
before marrying Ray, was known by all her
students as a no-nonsense coach, but she
was particularly tough on her own children.
Ila Ray and Ray, Jr., were always at the rink,
before and after school, staying late until
both parents were done coaching. Besides
training at the Civic Center, they skated at the
Ballard rink, the Tacoma rink and made weekend journeys to an outdoor rink in Yakima,
which Ray and Linda also managed.
Ila Ray and Ray, Jr., finally made the giant leap
into the senior ranks when they placed third
at the 1960 U.S. Championships and earned
a berth on the 1960 Olympic Team. However,
Squaw Valley’s high altitude affected many
competitors, including the Hadleys, and they
placed 11th. Looking toward the future, the
siblings said: “This one [was] for experience.
Our goal now is to be the first Seattle pair to
win an Olympic gold medal.”
In 1960, Ray and Linda purchased land to
build their own ice studio — the first in the
Northwest. Many skating families helped
them build the studio, from pouring wheelbarrows full of sand onto the ice surface to
painting the interior. In November 1960, the
new Hadley and Hart Studio opened at Aurora and 98th. Weeks later Ila Ray and Ray, Jr.,
performed in the annual Ice Parade show at
the Seattle Civic Center. They had been perennial favorites, but as returning Olympians
they were the stars of the show.
In January 1961, the Hadleys traveled to
Colorado Springs, Colo., to compete at the
U.S. Championships at the Broadmoor World
Arena. Performing to tunes from My Fair Lady,
the Hadleys’ program reflected many of the
innovative moves created by Linda Hadley, including Axels into a flying camel spin.
Their high marks, which placed them close to
champions Maribel Y. Owen and Dudley Richards, left them in second and earned them a
berth on the 1961 World Team.
Returning to Seattle, the Hadleys faced a new
dilemma. U.S. Figure Skating only paid travel
costs for the champions; all other teammates
had to pay their own way. Coaches Ray and
Linda wanted to attend the competition with
their children, but the total cost was close to
$2,500. Team manager Deane McMinn soon
learned that Ila Ray and Ray, Jr., might not
be able to afford to go to Prague, and World
Team alternates Ron Joseph and Vivian Joseph of Chicago were contacted to get ready
to go.
The Seattle skating community took action
immediately — holding bake sales, supporting exhibition fundraisers and donating to a
money jar at the Hadley and Hart Studio. In
the end, the Seattle Skating Club loaned the
family enough money to allow them to travel
to Prague.
Linda, Ila Ray and Ray, Jr., left Seattle on
Wednesday, Feb. 8, for the 1961 North American Championships in Philadelphia, where
the Hadleys placed fourth. Two days later
they boarded Sabena flight 548 at Idlewild
(now JFK) Airport for Europe. Ray, who had
stayed behind to run the studio, planned to
join his family at the end of the week.
On the morning of Feb. 15, Ray received the
devastating news that his family had perished when the plane crashed in a farm field
just three miles north of the Zaventem Airport in Brussels. Bombarded by reporters, Ray
said: “We should have gone together.”
The Seattle Skating Club remembered the
young siblings by creating a Hadley skating
scholarship, and the Hadleys were also listed
on two memorial Pacific Coast pairs trophies.
The greatest legacy, however, has been the
Memorial Fund, which was founded just one
week after the devastating crash to help future generations of skaters. Now in its 51st
year, the Memorial Fund has helped thousands of American skaters, including those
skaters who have won 26 Olympic medals
and 120 World medals. The Memorial Fund
also permanently remembers the loss of a
generation of great skating talent that was
never fully realized, including Seattle’s own
Ila Ray and Ray Hadley, Jr.
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
59
Understanding the International Judging System
The international judging system (IJS) is used at all ISU
competitions as well as most U.S. Figure Skating qualifying
events.
The IJS is based on cumulative points achieved during each
skater’s/team’s performance.
Under the IJS, points are awarded for a technical score combined with points awarded for five program components —
skating skills, transitions/linking footwork and movement,
performance/execution, choreography/composition and
interpretation. Penalties are given for program length violations and other violations.
If a skater performs more than the defined “well-balanced
program elements,” there are no deductions, but the additional elements will not be calculated into the skater’s score.
If a skater performs less than the required elements, he or
she receives fewer points, but not deductions. (The exception to this is ice dancing, which takes a 1.0 deduction for
each extra element.)
Judges no longer compare skaters and figure out where to
place them. Instead, they evaluate the qualities of each performance.
Starting order does not impact a skater’s score. A skater can
win coming from a lower position.
A maximum of nine judges make up the judges panel at a
competition. At ISU events, the judges’ identities will not be
associated with their scores: only the reviewers will know
who gave which scores. For U.S. competitions, all judges’
scores and names are public.
The IJS also uses a trimmed mean method, where the high
and low points are ignored and the average of the remaining
points is calculated.
HOW IT WORKS — THE PLAYERS
A “technical panel” with five people works as a team and has
direct communication. These positions are a technical controller, technical specialist, assistant technical specialist, data
operator and video replay operator.
During each performance, the technical specialist identifies
the elements and the level of difficulty of each element, if
applicable, as defined by the ISU. This allows the judge to
concentrate on marking the quality of each element. Their
marks are based on set criteria for each element and provide
a comprehensive assessment of each skater’s skills and performance.
The technical controller and a second technical specialist
support the primary technical specialist to ensure that all elements are identified correctly. Any element can be reviewed
either by the technical controller, the technical specialist, the
assistant technical specialist or the judges.
Final decisions on elements and levels are determined by
the majority opinion of the three technical positions. Both
specialists and the controller are recorded with an audio
tape during each program, and video will be available to
verify the calls. The elements can be reviewed after a skater’s
performance, and scores can be changed accordingly. The
scores are final once they are posted and announced to the
public.
Under the IJS, the judges focus completely on scoring the
quality of each technical element and the five program
components for each skater. The computer keeps track of
comparative scores, records results and calculates totals to
determine rankings.
Many of the top judges and
officials in the world are here
in Kent, Wash., this weekend
to work the kickoff event of
the Grand Prix Series.
60
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
TECHNICAL SCORE
In the technical score, each element of
the program is assigned a base value.
A group of experts, including experienced skaters and coaches, have determined the base value of each technical element. These base values give
the skaters credit for every element
they perform.
Some elements such as spins and step
sequences have levels of difficulty on
which the base values are established.
During the program, when a skater
Technical panel officials and judges play vital roles at all U.S. Figure Skating events.
executes an element, the technical
specialist identifies the element. The
judge then grades the quality of the
Criteria: Balance, rhythmic knee action and Choreography: Composition: Intentional,
element within a range of +3 to -3, which is precision of foot placement; flow and effort- original arrangement of moves.
added to or deducted from the base value.
less glide; cleanness and sureness of deep
Criteria: Purpose (idea, concept, vision); proFor instance, a double Axel’s base value is 3.3, edges, steps and turns; power/energy and ac- portion (equal weight of all parts); unity (purso a skater has the potential to earn 4.8 points celeration; mastery of multi-directional and poseful threading); utilization of personal
for that jump or as little as 1.8. In this exam- one-foot skating; equal mastery of technique and public space; pattern and ice coverage;
ple, the positive and negative grades are 0.5 by both partners shown in unison (pairs and phrasing and form (movements and parts
ice dancing); ice coverage (ice dancing).
points each.
structured to match the phrasing of the muThe sum of all elements with the grade of ex- Transitions/Linking Footwork & Move- sic); originality of purpose, movement and
ecution forms the technical score. The base ment: The varied and/or intricate footwork, design; shared responsibility in achieving
values for all elements are included in the positions, movement and holds that link all purpose (pairs and ice dancing); conformity
elements.
to pattern and stop requirements (ice dancISU’s Scale of Values chart.
ing).
The judging panel’s scores for each program Criteria: Variety; difficulty; intricacy; quality
component are multiplied by a set factor to (unison in pairs and ice dancing); balance of Interpretation: The personal and creative
ensure the technical score and the program workload between partners; variety of holds translation of the rhythm and/or character and content of the music to the physical
component score are approximately bal- (ice dancing).
anced. The technical score is added to the Performance/Execution: The involvement movements on ice.
program component scores. The skater with of the skater(s) physically, emotionally and in- Criteria: Effortless movement in time to the
the highest competition score is declared the tellectually in translating the music and cho- music; expression of the music’s style, characwinner. For more information about the IJS, reography. Execution is the quality of move- ter and rhythm; use of finesse* to reflect the
including a complete listing of element base ment and precision in delivery.
nuances of the music; relationship between
values, visit www.usfigureskating.org.
Criteria: Physical, emotional and intellectual the partners reflecting the character of the
involvement; carriage; style and individuality/ music (pairs and ice dancing); appropriatepersonality; clarity of movement; variety and ness of music (short dance and free dance);
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
contrast; projection; unison and “oneness” skating primarily to the rhythmic beat (ice
In addition to the technical score, the judges (pairs and ice dancing); balance in perfor- dancing).
will award points on a scale from 0.25 to 10 mance (pairs and ice dancing); management *Finesse: is the skater’s refined, artful manipu(with increments of 0.25) for five program of the distance between partners and chang- lation of nuances. Nuances are the personal
components to grade the overall presenta- es of hold (pairs and ice dancing).
artistic ways of bringing subtle variations to
tion.
the intensity, tempo and dynamics of the music made by the composer and/or musicians.
Skating Skills: Overall skating quality, including edge control and flow over the ice surface
(edges, steps, turns, speed, etc.), clarity of
technique and the use of effortless power to
accelerate and vary speed.
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
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This season marks the 18th year for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The series,
launched in 1995, combines six prestigious, international figure skating competitions as a unified point-earning series that awards prize money to eligible figure
skaters.
SKATER SELECTIONS
SKATE AMERICA
OCT. 19-21, SEATTLE/KENT, WASH.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that each country assigns its own skaters to
the six Grand Prix events. Here, we’ve outlined the selection process, used for the
first time in 2003. Essentially, there are three different classifications of skaters for
the Grand Prix Series. All skaters and ice dancing couples may compete in a maximum of two events.
1. Seeded Skaters/Couples: The top six finishers in each discipline from the most
recent World Championships will be considered to be seeded and be assigned, by
draw, to skate in two events.
2. Invited Skaters/Couples: Skaters or couples who have placed 7–12 in each discipline at the 2012 World Championships are guaranteed to be selected for two
Grand Prix events, provided that these skaters/couples fulfill the requirements of
the minimum score.
SKATE CANADA
OCT. 26-28, WINDSOR, ONTARIO
3. Minimum Score: Each entrant to the Grand Prix events must meet the minimum
total score (SP/SD + FS/FD) to be included in the entry or the alternate list. For the
2012-13 Grand Prix season, the minimum scores are:
Men: 159.66
Ladies: 113.43
Pairs: 120.90
Ice Dance: 109.59
Skaters/couples who have scored at least the above mentioned limit in an ISU
Championships, ISU Grand Prix Final (Junior or Senior) between July 1, 2011, and
May 31, 2012, are eligible for selection into the Grand Prix events 2012-13 or in the
alternate list.
CUP OF CHINA
NOV. 2-4, SHANGHAI, CHINA
POINT SYSTEM
Points are awarded to the competitors at each of the six events based on final placement. At the conclusion of the six Grand Prix events, athletes’ points are totaled,
and the top six point-earners in ladies, men, pairs and ice dancing are invited to
compete at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Here is the breakdown of
points awarded by place:
Men and Ladies
1st place: 15 points 3rd place: 11 points 5th place: 7 points
2nd place: 13 points 4th place: 9 points 6th place: 5 points ROSTELECOM CUP
NOV. 9-11, MOSCOW, RUSSIA
7th place: 4 points
8th place: 3 points
Pairs and Ice Dancing
1st place: 15 points 3rd place: 11 points 5th place: 7 points
2nd place: 13 points 4th place: 9 points 6th place: 5 points
ISU GRAND PRIX OF FIGURE SKATING INDIVIDUAL PRIZE MONEY
TROPHEE BOMPARD
NOV. 16-18, PARIS FRANCE
In addition to receiving points to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final, the top five
place-winners in the Grand Prix Series events are awarded prize money.
Prize money for all disciplines at Grand Prix Series events is (prize is split between
partners in pairs and dance):
1st: $18,000
2nd: $13,000 3rd: $9,000 4th: $3,000
5th: $2,000
Prize money for all disciplines at the Grand Prix Final is (split between partners in
pairs and dance):
1st: $25,000 3rd: $12,000 5th: $4,000
2nd: $18,000
4th: $6,000 6th: $3,000
66
2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA
NHK TROPHY
NOV. 23-25, SENDAI, JAPAN
USA GRAND PRIX FINAL
DEC. 6-9, SOCHI, RUSSIA
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© 2012. Prudential, the Prudential logo, the Rock symbol and Bring Your Challenges are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc., and its related
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0229526-00001-00
PROOF#: 1
OPERATOR: Tom
Sobol
DATE: 8/28/12 - 3:40
PM
JOB#: CORP-A4136
DESC: US Figure
Skating Sponsorship
PUB: Skate America
Program
PUBDATE: October 3
LIVE: 7.875 x 10.375
TRIM: 8.375 x 10.875
BLEED: 8.625 x
11.125
GUTTER:
GCD:
CD:
AD:
CW:
AE:
TRAFFIC:
PROOF:
B:11.125 in
S:10.375 in
T:10.875 in