Current world champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier they can become national champions again.
After missing United States Figure Skating Championships in 2022, thanks to a positive Covid-19 test for Frazier, the 2021 US winners climbed to the top of the podium in San Jose, California on Saturday evening (January 28) at the SAP Center.
They won by walking away, sweeping the crowd to their feet as 146.01 in the free skate gave them an overall score of 227.97, a 30-point gap between them and the runners-up Emily Chan and Spencer Howewho rode last and scored a total of 196.86 (130.00 free).
This is the fifth national title for Knierim, who previously won three with her husband Chris, and the third for Frazier, who previously skated with Haven Denney.
Earlier in the dance on ice, another duet of veterans in Madison Chock and Evan Bates they won their fourth national title and second in a row, landing on the podium for the 11th time in 12 appearances. Chock/Bates first won gold in 2015, then added titles in 2018 (also in San Jose), 2022 and this year.
The three-time world medalists won with a score of 229.75, over 20 points ahead Caroline Green and Michael Parsonswho won silver with a score of 207.46.
Both Knierim/Frazier and Chock/Bates will lead their three-man squads for March games World Cup in Japan, Figure skating in the USA announced on Saturday night.
On Friday (January 27), a 15-year-old Isabella Levito she won her first national title, holding off the two-time champion Brady Tennell. Ilia Malininmeanwhile, he’s running a medium-sized party heading into Sunday’s (January 29) free skating.
Pairs: Knierim/Frazier see the win as an advancement to the future
Knierim/Frazier felt a lasting satisfaction when they were done Harry Styles Free Skating “Sign of the Times”, the two embracing in the middle of the ice as the SAP Center explodes around them. The team won two Grand Prix gold medals that season, but was second behind the Japanese duo Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi during last year’s Grand Prix Final.
The rivals are to meet in the Four Continents next month, but above all at the World Championships in Japan in March.
“We had a late start to the season; we took advantage of the time after the game [exhibition] the tour will continue for another season,” explained Frazier. “We treat all competitions with the same intensity, but we try to make progress every time we skate. This week was all about advancing from the Grand Prix Final.”
The team was solid throughout, their side-by-side triple salchows looked strong, and their two Lasso cargos scored the biggest GEOs of the night.
Chan and Howe were behind them, but the national title was already sealed.
Newcomer Ellie Kam and veteran Danny O’Sheaa new team this season, won the bronze medal with a score of 184.01.
At Worlds, the top three teams (Knierim/Frazier, Chan/Howe, and Kam/O’Shea) will represent Team USA, with Chan/Howe and Kam/O’Shea joining the fourth-place finishers Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez in Four continents.
Ice Dancing: Chock/Bates is an off-road class
More than a decade ago – in 2012 – Chock/Bates appeared together for the first time at the Nationals, and the competition was held in the same building. Their fifth place this year is the only time they have failed to land a podium finish at the US Nationals in 12 visits.
“With the development of sports, there is an increase in the longevity of athletes who play a variety of sports,” explained Chock, 30. “It is a great achievement for us to be part of this group of people. We love to work hard and this is something that drives us forward in our careers.”
Their free dance “Souffrance”/”Les Tectonique” swept the crowd and they were rewarded for it – 137.85, the highest score of the day, by more than 10 points. They were level 4 in most of their elements, including during the side-by-side twizzles show, which – when completed – caused a roar in the arena.
Do three-time Olympians think about competing until 2 p.m Milan Cortina 2026?
“Right now, we’re fully committed to our own process,” Chock replied. “We don’t know what the next four years will bring, but we are committed to each other and our goals. We’ll decide when the time comes, take it season by season.”
Their training buddies Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker he was sitting at the party, and although Green and Parsons won silver, they did Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko who won bronze, moving up from fourth place after the rhythm dance (198.45).
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik he finished fourth (198.13).
The Worlds ice dance team will feature Chock/Bates and Green/Parsons, as well as Hawayek/Baker. Carreira/Ponomarenko were nominated for Four Continents, in addition to Chock/Bates and Green/Parsons.
