The Taschlers Return from Career-Threatening Injury

Two-time Czech ice dance champions Natalie Taschlerova and Filip Taschler were excited to start their season this fall. The brother/sister team earned medals at two Challenger Series events and placed 5th at Skate America. There was one big problem, though: Filip Taschler was increasingly suffering from back pain. “I’d had a problem with my lower …

Continue reading The Taschlers Return from Career-Threatening Injury

Coaches’ Corner at 2023 Skate America

At Skate America, we caught up with a few coaches to get their thoughts about their students’ performances at the first Grand Prix event of the season. Patrice Lauzon (I.AM) Ice dancers from the I.AM (Ice Academy of Montreal) school swept the podium at Skate America, with Chock/Bates taking gold, Lajoie/Lagha winning silver, and Lopareva/Brissaud …

Continue reading Coaches’ Corner at 2023 Skate America

“We’re Back”: The Surprising Return of Chelsea Liu & Balazs Nagy

Chelsea Liu and Balazs Nagy will make their Grand Prix debut as a team this weekend at Skate America in Texas. Earlier this fall, they finished just off the podium at Autumn Classic International in Montreal, Quebec. Without question, it’s been a good start for their new partnership. Yet, arguably, Liu and Nagy shouldn’t be …

Continue reading “We’re Back”: The Surprising Return of Chelsea Liu & Balazs Nagy

Coach Spotlight: Marie-France Dubreuil

Marie-France Dubreuil, co-head coach and co-founder of the Ice Academy of Montreal (I.AM), coaches many of the top ice dance teams in the world, including reigning World champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Dubreuil is also a highly esteemed choreographer–and not only for ice dancers, but other disciplines as well.   Dubreuil had to tackle some …

Continue reading Coach Spotlight: Marie-France Dubreuil

Lim/Quan: Finding the Perfect Balance

Last season’s ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) series was notable for the emergence of several standout new talents in ice dance. Among the new stars were Hannah Lim and Ye Quan of South Korea. They captured fans’ attention starting with their first JGP event last year, where they skated with unexpected fire and aplomb. Lim …

Continue reading Lim/Quan: Finding the Perfect Balance

Ilia Malinin: New Look for a New Season

A year ago this month, Ilia Malinin jumped into figure skating history when he landed the first-ever quadruple Axel in Lake Placid, NY. The skating world was stunned by his feat, which made international news. Malinin wowed skating fans by continuing to land the unprecedented jump in multiple competitions last season, including the 2023 ISU …

Continue reading Ilia Malinin: New Look for a New Season

Ben Agosto: From Champion to Commentator

Ben Agosto is a man who needs little introduction for figure skating fans. During his 12 years competing with partner Tanith Belbin [now Tanith White] (1998-2010), Agosto amassed a pile of medals and played a pivotal role in bringing the United States into the top echelon of the ice dance world. In 2002, Belbin and …

Continue reading Ben Agosto: From Champion to Commentator

Lajoie/Lagha: “Worlds is the piece that is missing to have had the perfect season”

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha have had a breakout season in 2022-23. But when the rhythm dance starts next week at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, they will  unfortunately be missing from the roster. It’s their misfortune that Canada has only two ice dance spots at Worlds this year–and three high-ranked ice dance teams. …

Continue reading Lajoie/Lagha: “Worlds is the piece that is missing to have had the perfect season”

Kam/O’Shea Seize the Moment

Photos by Robin Ritoss Photography Three competitions, three medals. It appears the new partnership of Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea has found instant success. Last month, the new pairs team won the bronze medal at the 2023 U.S. Championships in San Jose, California. They will compete this week at the 2023 ISU Four Continents Championships …

Continue reading Kam/O’Shea Seize the Moment