{"id":33021,"date":"2023-10-25T00:19:19","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T04:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/?p=33021"},"modified":"2023-10-25T00:19:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T04:19:24","slug":"recap-2023-skate-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/recap-2023-skate-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Recap: 2023 Skate America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

by Matteo Morelli<\/em><\/p>\n

Skate America kicked off the 2023\/2024 Senior Grand Prix Series, with the event taking place in Allen, Texas.<\/p>\n

The ice dance field saw World Champions Madison Chock & Evan Bates debuting their new programmes and adding another gold to their three previous gold medals won at their home Grand Prix; they were joined on the podium by Canada\u2019s Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha in second place, and France\u2019s Evgeniia Lopareva & Geoffrey Brissaud in third place.<\/p>\n

Event Recap
<\/strong>Madison Chock & Evan Bates came back to competitions, entering their thirteenth year together and their fifth Skate America attendance, where they have always won apart from one silver medal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a lot to think about after accomplishing that huge goal (of becoming world champions) that we had set for ourselves many years ago and that we have worked hard towards our entire career\u201d, Chock shared. \u201cWe wanted more, we have more to give, more creativity to share. While we were on tour we decided we wanted to compete some more on the competitive stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like last season, they decided to take the risk of debuting their new programmes at Skate America. Unlike the previous year, this time they came into the competition with a lot of confidence and already solid programmes.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing off an Olympic season is always a challenge, it was a bit more of a slow start last season compared to this spring and summer when we were very motivated, and even when we were on tour we were working on our new material\u201d, Chock said. \u201cWe had all our planning done and we are really prepared\u201d.<\/p>\n

The day of the rhythm dance started with a little drama for them, with Madison falling on the ice at practice while practicing one of their lifts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis morning I lost control of the lift at the end of our programme\u201d, Bates said. \u201cIt was a scary moment but our coaches and the doctors were wonderful, they checked on both of us and Madi in particular\u201d.<\/p>\n

With their safety being assessed, the experienced team took the ice to deliver an already very strong rhythm dance on the 80s\u2019 repertoire from iconic band Queen, which they decided to skate after watching the Bohemian Rhapsody movie whilst on tour in the summer. Madison wore a deconstructed yellow jacket dress, an ode to the famous jacket wore by Freddie Mercury in their concerts.<\/p>\n

Their free dance is based on music from the album \u201cThe dark side of the moon\u201d by Pink Floyd, which celebrates its 50th<\/sup><\/span> anniversary this year. This is a programme that they have been thinking about since last year, but only decided to present this year. Although it was only debuted at this event, their free dance was already rich of nuances and fine detail, alongside complex transitions and technical elements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe chose time and delved deeper into this concept, into the storytelling of time being a construct that we have made as humans and this narrative of trying to break free of this construct to appreciate the time that we have\u201d, Evan explained.<\/p>\n

In second place were Canada\u2019s Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha. This was their third Grand Prix medal, after two bronzes won at Skate Canada and Wilson Trophy last season.<\/p>\n

Their rhythm dance was an homage to Michael Jackson\u2019s Thriller: the duo not only looked the part with perfect costumes that recalled the iconic music video, but also included the famous moves that the King of Pop used to do when performing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is pretty easy to feel the music, a lot of amazing artists were from the 80s and it is an honour to skate on such a wonderful artist\u201d, Lagha shared.<\/p>\n

Their free dance was co-created with Olympic Champion Guillaume Cizeron.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince worlds are in Montreal, we really wanted to find something that was from Montreal. We listened to a lot of music and then had a section with Guillaume, he played different songs including the one we picked\u201d, Lajoie shared. \u201cWe don\u2019t like to have a specific story, we prefer to have emotions and connections and enjoy the movement\u201d.<\/p>\n

To complete a full Ice Academy of Montreal podium, in third place were Evgeniia Lopareva & Geoffrey Brissaud of France. They also worked with Guillaume Cizeron, who choreographed both their programmes.<\/p>\n

Their rhythm dance to French music allowed them to achieve a personal best.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis French artist (Mylene Farmer) is very 80s, the story telling is really interesting and we really liked this music\u201d, Brissaud shared.<\/p>\n

Their free dance is based on Rachmaninov music and tells the story of the celebrated composer himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe chose the music with our choreographer, Guillaume\u201d, Brissaud said. \u201cWe built a story with this and finalised it in only four days\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe story is about Rachmaninov, when he was about to leave Russia to go to America\u201d, Lopareva added. \u201cGeoffrey is Rachmaninov, and I represent all these things and thoughts that were happening to him during this moment in his life\u201d.<\/p>\n

USA\u2019s Caroline Green & Michael Parsons managed to go up from firth to fourth place overall and make up for a start of the season at the Lombardia Trophy Challenger Series. They overtook Nat\u00e1lie Taschlerov\u00e1 and Filip Taschler, who had an issue with a choreo lift. The Czech siblings\u2019 free dance is a moving programme dedicated to their father, who sadly passed away a few years ago.<\/p>\n

In sixth place at their Grand Prix debut is the newly formed couple of Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck, representing Spain. This team brings in a lot of experience that already shows despite of having skated together for a few months only, and their free dance based on Elvis received a warm response from the audience.<\/p>\n

Oona Brown and Gage Brown were the third American ice dance team at this event. They presented an engaging rhythm dance on music by Elton John and a free dance on the famous \u201cAll by myself\u201d song.<\/p>\n

Coming into the senior field after ending on the world junior podium last season were siblings Kate\u0159ina Mr\u00e1zkov\u00e1 and Daniel Mr\u00e1zek of Czech Republic, and Hannah Lim and Ye Quan of Korea, who finished respectively in eighth and ninth place. With both having two Grand Prix assignments, it will be interesting to follow how their journey develops as seniors.<\/p>\n

In last place were Australia\u2019s Holly Harris and Jason Quan, which brought 80s\u2019 Madonna vibes for their rhythm dance and an ocean theme for their free dance.<\/p>\n

Qualification standings
<\/strong>After Skate America, the qualification standings for the Grand Prix Final are:<\/p>\n