Detroit Skating Club presents “Crystal Anniversary, 15 Years of Talent”

The Detroit Skating Club is excited to announce the 15^th annual ice show, “Crystal Anniversary, 15 Years of Talent,” to be performed June 5-8 at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

The spectacular show will include skaters of all disciplines, from the littlest tot all the way to top international competitors. Skaters of all levels will perform singles, ice dance, pairs and synchronized skating in solo, group and feature performances.

Guest skaters will include 2014 Olympic silver medalist Patrick Chan, 2014 World Team member Elladj Balde, 2014 World Team members Alexandra Aldridge and Daniel Eaton, two-time U.S. champion Alissa Czisny, 2014 World Junior champions Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker and four-time Greek champion Georgia Glastris. Guest skaters will only be featured at select performances.

Performance Schedule:

Thursday, June 5: 7 p.m.

Friday, June 6: 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 7: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sunday, June 8: 2 p.m.

Guest skater performance schedule:

Patrick Chan – June 8

Elladj Balde – June 6, June 7 (both shows)

Alexandra Aldridge & Daniel Eaton – all performances

Alissa Czisny – June 5-7 (both Saturday shows)

Kaitlin Hawayek & Jean-Luc Baker – June 6, June 7 (7 p.m. show), June 8

Georgia Glastris – June 6, June 8

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased for $17 to $27 at www.dscclub.com.

 

Alissa Czisny

Kaitlin Hawayek & Jean-Luc Baker

Third annual “An Evening on Ice” set for July 20 at the Toyota Sports Center

An all-star cast of athletes is scheduled to perform at “An Evening on Ice,” including 16 U.S. champions, six Olympians and five World and World Junior champions. Two performances are set for Saturday, July 20, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, Calif., with all proceeds benefiting the U.S. Athletic Foundation.

Douglas Razzano, a recipient of U.S. Athletic Foundation funding, is set to skate in this year’s performance.

Now in its third year, “An Evening on Ice” strives to raise funds to support top competitive skaters who have demonstrated financial need, have a track record of success but who do not have other funding avenues available to them through the U.S. Athletic Foundation.

This year’s event, hosted by five-time U.S. pairs champions Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner, will feature performances from 2006 World champion Kimmie Meissner, two-time U.S. champion Alissa Czisny, 2010 U.S. champion Rachael Flatt, 2012 U.S. champions Caydee Denney and John Coughlin, World Junior champion Joshua Farris and 2012 U.S. silver medalist Adam Rippon. Also scheduled to take the ice are 2006 U.S. bronze medalist Emily Hughes and eight-time British champion Steven Cousins, among others.

The U.S. Athletic Foundation is a non-profit, donor-funded organization that offers financial management services to nationally and internationally competitive figure skaters. The foundation was envisioned by 2002 U.S. junior champion Nicholas LaRoche and his sister, Tricia. Working together, they created a training assistance fund to help promising athletes who are held back from their potential due to financial hardship. Among the beneficiaries of the fund are Czisny, two-time U.S. pairs silver medalist Mark Ladwig, Ice Challenge silver medalist Douglas Razzano and U.S. pewter medalist Courtney Hicks.

Tickets range from $35 to $105 and are available at the door or online at http://www.usathleticfoundation.org/events.html. Donations to the U.S. Athletic Foundation can be made online at http://www.usathleticfoundation.org/donations.html.

13th Annual “An Evening with Scott Hamilton & Friends” set for Saturday, Nov. 3

The number 13 has earned some negative connotations over the years, a reputation even 1984 Olympic champion Scott Hamilton can admit.

“When I heard the number 13, I kind of got scared about it being unlucky,” Hamilton said. “In the history of figure skating, though, there have been 13 skaters from the United States to win the Olympic gold medal— so it’s kind of a nice number.”

So nice in fact, that it seems to be the underlying theme of Hamilton’s 13^th annual show, “An Evening with Scott Hamilton & Friends,” at which all 13 U.S. Olympic champions are expected to attend, together in the same room, for the very first time.

The show’s proceeds will benefit the Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute, where Hamilton won his own battle with testicular cancer in 1997, and Scott Hamilton’s CARES (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship) Initiative, which Hamilton founded 13 years ago, in 1999.

At least thirteen U.S., World and Olympic medalists are expected to perform, including reigning U.S. champions Ashley Wagner and Jeremy Abbott, along with Alissa Czisny, Rockne Brubaker and Ryan Bradley. The evening will also feature a performance by five-time Grammy award winning artist Wynonna Judd, who has sold more than 10 million albums in her three decade career.

Hamilton’s CARES Initiative strives to further the war on cancer by empowering patients and their families via education and guidance, and support those affected by the disease through the 4th Angel Mentoring Program, which offers free, one-on-one, confidential outreach and support from mentors who have successfully made the journey from diagnosis to recovery.

The CARES Initiative also informs patients through Chemocare.com, a website is designed to provide the latest information and answers to questions about chemotherapy to patients and their families, caregivers and friends. In addition to patient support, the CARES Initiative’s vision is to promote and support world class research that might ultimately lead to a cure for cancer.

The show, held annually at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, is set to take place Sat. Nov. 3 at 5 p.m., followed by a gala benefit at Cleveland’s Renaissance Hotel ballroom. Tickets are available at theqarena.com and 1-800-332-2287 or 216-420-2200.

Tickets to the gala benefit dinner are available by calling Liz Lindecke, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic at 216- 445-0099.

For more information on The Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative call the CARES hotline at 216-445-2573 or visit scottcares.org.

U.S. Assignments Announced for 2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series

The International Skating Union (ISU) announced today the athlete selections for the 2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. The Grand Prix begins Oct. 21-23 with 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America from Seattle/Kent, Wash.

The Grand Prix Series, entering its 18^th season, incorporates six international figure skating competitions as a unified point-scoring series that awards prize money to eligible skaters. At the conclusion of the series, athletes’ points are totaled, and the top six ladies, men, pairs and ice dancing teams are invited to compete at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The Grand Prix Final is scheduled for Dec. 5-9, 2012, in Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The event will run concurrently with the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.

Skate America will feature the four reigning U.S. champions including Ashley Wagner (ladies), Jeremy Abbott (men’s), Caydee Denney and John Coughlin (pairs) and Meryl Davis and Charlie White (ice dancing). Other notable competitors include Russia’s Alena Leonova, the 2012 World ladies silver medalist and Michal Brezina of the Czech Republic, who is the 2011 Skate America champion. Pairs team Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov, also of Russia, are two-time reigning World silver medalists.

Gracie Gold, the 2012 U.S. junior champion and World Junior silver medalist, will make her Grand Prix debut in the Series’ second event, Skate Canada. She will compete at Rostelecom Cup alongside Johnny Weir. Weir, a three-time U.S. champion and two-time Olympian, is set to return to competition for the first time since the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, when he takes the ice at Rostelecom Cup (Moscow) and Trophée Eric Bompard (Paris).

Two newly formed American pairs teams received one assignment each with Caitlin Yankowskas and Joshua Reagan competing at Cup of China (Shanghai) and Lindsay Davis and Mark Ladwig skating at NHK Trophy (Miyagi, Japan). With the exception Davis, each skater competed on the Grand Prix Series with their previous partners.

The full list of Team USA’s assignments, as well as the full international lineup for Skate America, are below (listed alphabetically). Visit www.isu.org for the full list of selections across the Grand Prix Series.

2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America — Seattle/Kent, Wash. — Oct. 19-21

Ladies:

Rachael Flatt – Will make her fourth Skate America appearance; earned the silver medal in 2009, ‘10

Christina Gao – Made Gran Prix Series debut in 2011, placing fifth at Cup of China and 10^th at Rostelecom Cup

Ashley Wagner – Makes Skate America debut as reigning U.S. and Four Continents champion

Men’s

Jeremy Abbott – Begins sixth Grand Prix Series with first-ever appearance at Skate America

Douglas Razzano – Placed seventh at 2011 Skate America in Ontario, Calif.

Pairs

Caydee Denney and John Coughlin – Finished fourth at 2011 Skate America in their Grand Prix debut

Gretchen Donlan and Andrew Speroff – Only other international completion included a fourth-place finish at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy

Ice Dancing

Meryl Davis and Charlie White – Look for third consecutive Skate America gold; finished fourth in 2007

Lynn Kriengkrairut and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt – Return to Skate America after finishing sixth in 2010

Skate Canada International — Windsor, Ontario — Oct. 26-28

Ladies

Gracie Gold – Is the 2011 JGP Estonia gold medalist

Caroline Zhang – Makes third Skate Canada appearance; finished fifth in 2008, eighth in 2009

Men’s

Ross Miner – Looks to improve on sixth-place finish in 2011

Pairs

Mary Beth Marley and Rockne Brubaker – Debuted on Grand Prix in 2011 with seventh-place showing at Skate America

Tiffany Vise and Don Baldwin – Also competed on Grand Prix for the first time at 2011 Skate America (6^th)

Ice Dancing

Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue – Begin second season together; are the 2012 U.S. bronze medalists, finished 10^th at 2012 World Championships

Cup of China — Shanghai — Nov. 2-4

Ladies

Mirai Nagasu – Makes fourth straight Cup of China appearance; reigning silver medalist; owner of two Grand Prix Series medals

Men’s

Adam Rippon – Starts fifth Grand Prix season; has won two Series medals

Pairs

Caitlin Yankowskas and Joshua Reagan – First Grand Prix assignment as a partnership.

Ice Dancing

Madison Chock and Evan Bates – Begin second season; finished fourth and fifth, respectively, at 2011 Skate Canada and 2011 Trophée Eric Bompard

Rostelecom Cup — Moscow — Nov. 9-11

Ladies

Gracie Gold

Agnes Zawadzki – Competes at third straight Rostelecom Cup (fourth in 2010, seventh in ’11)

Caroline Zhang – Has competed on Grand Prix circuit since 2007; first appearance in Russia

Men’s

Richard Dornbush – Starts second Grand Prix season after finishing fourth at 2011 Skate America, sixth at 2011 Cup of China

Johnny Weir – Has medaled in four of five entries at Rostelecom Cup

Pairs

Caydee Denney and John Coughlin

Ice Dancing: Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani – Commence third Grand Prix season; have medaled at all four Grand Prix assignments, qualified for 2011 Grand Prix final and placed fifth

 

Trophée Eric Bompard — Paris — Nov. 16-18

Ladies

Ashley Wagner – Won bronze in only other appearance at this event (2007)

Men’s

Jeremy Abbott – Has won seven Grand Prix medals, including 2008 Grand Prix Final gold

Johnny Weir – Won 2004 Trophée Bompard title

Ice Dancing

Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue – Finished sixth at 2011 Skate America in only other Grand Prix experience

 

NHK Trophy — Miyagi, Japan — Nov. 23-25

Ladies

Alissa Czisny – 2012 marks ninth Grand Prix season; finished sixth at only other appearance at NHK Trophy (2007)

Agnes Zawadzki – Finished eighth at 2011 NHK Trophy

Men’s

Richard Dornbush

Ross Miner – Reigning NHK Trophy bronze medalist

Adam Rippon – Placed sixth at 2009 NHK Trophy

Pairs

Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir – Placed seventh at 2011 NHK Trophy; have competed on Grand Prix since 2009

Lindsay Davis and Mark Ladwig – First Grand Prix assignment of their partnership.

Mary Beth Marley and Rockne Brubaker

Ice Dancing

Meryl Davis and Charlie White – Won this event in 2009, ’10; placed fourth in only other appearance (2006)

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani – Reigning NHK Trophy champions and 2010 bronze medalists

2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America

U.S. Figure Skating has announced that 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America will be held on October 19-21 at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington (Seattle).

Useful Links

2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America Official Site

All-Event Tickets (Public tickets will go on sale May 5th at 1 p.m. ET)

*Single session tickets will be available at a later date*

Official 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America Press Release

2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America Fact Sheet (PDF)

Important Dates

The list of athlete entries for the 2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, including Skate America, will be announced on May 21, 2012.

Thursday, Oct. 18: Official Practice 11 a.m. (All times Pacific)
Friday, Oct. 19: Pairs short, Men’s short 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20: Ladies short, Short dance 12:30 p.m., Men’s free, Pairs free 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 21: Free dance, Ladies free 11:45 a.m., Skating Spectacular (exhibition) 6 p.m.

Skate America on TV

NBC Sports will broadcast coverage of the 2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series throughout the fall, including a live afternoon broadcast from 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America.

NBC’s broadcast from ShoWare Center is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. (ET) on Oct. 21. (subject to change)

Live and on-demand streaming of the event will also be available with details to be released later this summer.

About Skate America

Skate America is an Olympic-style international figure skating competition held since 1979 that will feature three days of competition featuring 52 world-class figure skaters in ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dancing. Skate America is one of the six events that makes up the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Skate America champions include five-time World champion and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan and Olympic champions Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano and Evan Lysacek.

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The Grand Prix Series, now in its 18th season, consists of six international events in a cumulative point-scoring format. Approximately 300 athletes from 30 countries are expected to participate. Each athlete is eligible to score points in two of the six scheduled events. The top six point-earners in each discipline qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Dec. 6-9, in Sochi, Russia, home of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Athletes will compete for a total of more than $1.35 million in prize money throughout the series. Skate America was accepted into the Grand Prix Series in 1995, when the series was developed.

2011 Hilton HHonors Skate America

Last year, 2011 Hilton HHonors Skate America took place from Oct. 21-23 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif. The event featured future 2012 World champions Carolina Kostner and Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy. Team USA earned two of the four gold medals as 2012 U.S. silver medalist Alissa Czisny claimed the ladies crown by .13 points ahead of Kostner and 2012 World silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White earned ice dancing gold by nearly 22 points. The top U.S. male was Richard Dornbush who finished in fourth place behind Michal Brezina and the top U.S. pair was Caydee Denney and John Coughlin who finished in fourth behind Savchenko and Szolkowy.

2012 World Championships: Day 4 Recap

Saturday, March 31st –Palais des Expositions– Nice, France

Useful Links

Twitter  #12Nice  |   icenetwork.com Event Page

Official Event Page   |   icenetwork.com Event Photos

Schedule   |   Live Results/Starting Orders

How to View the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships

That’s a wrap from Nice! The final gold medal of the week belongs to Italy’s Carolina Kostner. She earned her first World title, and fourth overall World medal, with 189.94 points. Silver went to Alena Leonova of Russia, the short program winner, and bronze to Japan’s Akiko Suzuki.

Ashley Wagner, who finished fourth, gave the crowd something to cheer about with Black Swan free skate. She received 120.35 points for the segment and totaled 176.77 for the week.

Wagner, smiling from ear to ear after the performance, acknowledged the fans’ support.

“The free skate was incredible. I’m so happy with it,” she said. “The crowd was on its feet clapping as loud as it could while I was in my spin. It took all of my effort not to come out of my spin and hit my final pose because I was so excited. Today couldn’t have been any better for me.”

Alissa Czisny finished 22nd with 124.11 points.

In the men’s event, Canada’s Patrick Chan repeated as World champion, totaling 266.11 points. The raucus crowd was treated to riveting performances, including those from Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi and Yuzuru Hanyu, who won silver and bronze, respectively. For the first time in history, Japan won two World medals. The host nation was well represented with Brian Joubert placing fourth and Florent Amodio, fifth.

For Team USA, Jeremy Abbott fought back in his free skate after Friday’s short program. He earned 151.34 points for the free skate and 226.19 overall. He finished eighth. After the skate, Abbott noted that he was skating today to make himself proud.

“I knew after yesterday I was going to have to come out clawing and scratching for everything because I was not going to lie down and take it,” he said. “I came into this championships more prepared than ever. I felt confidence and I believed deep within myself that it was going to happen for me. Yesterday, it didn’t. Today, I forgot about yesterday. This is for me. Forget the expectations, forget the placement, every other competitor, the media. This was for me and I fought my way through that program.”

Adam Rippon, in his second World Championships, placed 13th with a total score of 216.63 points. Like Abbott, he was more pleased with his performance in the free skate than in the short program.

“It wasn’t my best, but I felt like I fought through the entire program,” he said. “I felt really strong especially at the end. I put out a strong performance and can be nothing but proud of what I did today. I’m satisfied.”

Team USA will next be in action at the 2012 ISU World Team Trophy set for April 19-22 in Tokyo. Look for more details later this week.

 

2012 World Championships: Day 3 Recap

Friday, March 30th –Palais des Expositions– Nice, France

Useful Links

Twitter  #12Nice  |   icenetwork.com Event Page

Official Event Page   |   icenetwork.com Event Photos

Schedule   |   Live Results/Starting Orders

How to View the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships

Hello again! The second medals of the week were awarded following tonight’s pairs free skate. Germany’s Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy became back-to-back World champions after netting 201.49 points overall. They edged silver medalists Tatiana Volosozhar & Maxim Trankov of Russia by 0.11 points. The Russian team climbed up from eighth place after the short program to earn silver. Bronze belongs to Japan’s Narumi Takahashi & Mervin Tran.

Caydee Denney & John Coughlin, in his words, “answered the bell” after the enthusiastic crowd rose to its feet for the Chinese team of Wenjing Sui & Cong Han, who skated immediately before the Americans.

“This is by far the best field we have ever been in. We were in a warm up with people that, on any given day, could be World medalists,” he said after the team totaled 117.89 points for the free skate. “The people skating after us are World silver medalists, the people before us, Sui and Han, are three-time World Junior champions and Four Continents champions. We just overtook them which is huge for us. We answered the bell when they had brought the crowd to its feet right before us. What a great first Worlds together.”

Denney & Coughlin, who have skated together since last May, earned 180.37 points overall and placed eighth.

Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker totaled 170.90 points in their first Worlds together, including 111.28 for the free skate, to finish 10th. The program was clean with the exception of a Marley fall on the side by side double Axels. Afterward, Marley discussed the excitement of skating on the World stage.

“It was amazing,” she said, smiling. “To think, when you’re in your opening spot, that you’re where you’ve been dreaming of and training for your entire life, then to keep focused and do what you train to do every day is amazing.”

Earlier today, everyone at the Palais was excited for the final short programs of the week with the men’s field taking the ice. Canada’s Patrick Chan, the reigning World champion, leads by a short margin with 89.41 points. He has less than two points over Michal Brezina of the Czech Republic, while the top five are separated by less than eight.

For Team USA, Jeremy Abbott suffered a fall on his opening combination. He scored 74.85 points and is in ninth position. Though disappointed in the mistakes, he strived to put on a good performance for the crowd.

“I enjoy the program so much that I didn’t want to let it suffer because I made mistakes,” he said. “I tried to stay in the moment and enjoy the performance as best I could, smile and get the audience clapping and enjoying their time.”

Abbott noted he feels extremely prepared for the competition and looks forward to showcasing a strong free skate tomorrow, saying, “I did all the training for the last year and from nationals until now. I have one more program to show how prepared I am for this competition.”

Adam Rippon rounded out the third of five groups. He earned 73.55 points and sits in 10th place. Despite stepping out of his Axel and Lutz, Rippon feels prepared for the competition and ready for tomorrow’s free skate.

“I feel physically good and mentally prepared,” he said. “If I take the mistakes away, I feel it was a strong program. Going into the free, I know I can skate a lot better and that I’m prepared for it.”

Saturday’s Schedule (Times are Eastern and approximate)

The men’s free skate begins at 6:55 a.m. Starting orders will be determined after Friday’s short program.

Rippon: 9:10 a.m.

Abbott: 9:35 a.m.

The event’s finale features the ladies free skate at 12:30 p.m. Russia’s Alena Leonova, the national bronze medalist, leads the event. Currently in eighth place, Ashley Wagner is less than five points from bronze-medal position.

Alissa Czisny: 2:03 p.m.

Ashley Wagner: 3:20 p.m.

2012 World Championships: Day 2 Recap

Thursday, March 29th –Palais des Expositions– Nice, France

Useful Links

Twitter  #12Nice  |   icenetwork.com Event Page

Official Event Page   |   icenetwork.com Event Photos

Schedule   |   Live Results/Starting Orders

How to View the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships

Good evening!

Team USA has its first medal of the World Championships! Meryl Davis & Charlie White earned the silver with a total score of 178.62 points. Davis & White have now won three straight Worlds medals, including two silver and one gold medal. Gold belongs to Canada’s Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir who edged the Americans with 182.65 points. Representing the host country, Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat took bronze in front of an extremely excited and supportive crowd.

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani, despite a stumble in their twizzle element, finished eighth for the week with a total score of 144.72 points, while Madison Hubbell & Zach Donohue, in their Worlds debut, finished 10th. Totaling 143.95 points, the duo accomplished its goal of a top 10 finish in Nice.

The day started out with the ladies short program. Russia’s Alena Leonova leads the way after skating to a season-high 64.61 points. The reigning Russian bronze medalist leads Japan’s Kanako Murakami and Italy’s Carolina Kostner. Team USA’s Ashley Wagner earned 56.42 points and is in eighth place while Alissa Czisny is in 16th with 48.31 points.

Wagner is looking forward to her free skate to music from Black Swan, which has been her signature program this year.

“For the free program, I’m going to focus on skating as strong as I possibly can,” she said. “At this point, nothing is hopeless, but I have nothing to lose. I have to go out there and skate strong.”

Friday’s Schedule (Times are Eastern and approximate)

The men will be the last to skate the short program, with the competition beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Adam Rippon: 8:58 a.m.

Jeremy Abbott: 9:38 a.m.

The pairs event, led by reigning World champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany, continues Friday with the free skate at 1:30 p.m.

Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker (10th place): 2:25 p.m.

Caydee Denney & John Coughlin (7th place): 3:29 p.m.

Saturday’s Schedule (Times are Eastern and approximate)

The men’s free skate begins at 6:55 a.m. Starting orders will be determined after Friday’s short program.

The event’s finale features the ladies free skate at 12:30 p.m.

Alissa Czisny: 2:03 p.m.

Ashley Wagner: 3:20 p.m.

2012 World Championships: Day 1 Recap

Wednesday, March 28th –Palais des Expositions– Nice, France

Useful Links

Twitter  #12Nice  |   icenetwork.com Event Page

Official Event Page   |   icenetwork.com Event Photos

Schedule   |   Live Results/Starting Orders

How to View the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships

Good evening from Nice! The first short programs of the week began today with the pairs short and short dance.

With 70.98 points, Meryl Davis & Charlie White, reigning World champions, trail Canada’s Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir by just more than one point heading into Thursday’s free dance. Davis & White are poised to earn their third consecutive Worlds medal.

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani totaled 62.35 points and sit in seventh place. Less than 10 points separate places one through seven. In the evening’s short dance, Madison Hubbell & Zach Donohue started things off on the right step for Team USA, earning their best score of the season with 59.56 points. They are in eighth place. Hubbell sported a new dress that got rave reviews backstage.

In pairs, reigning World champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany lead with 68.63 points. They are followed by China’s Qing Pang and Jian Tong (67.10 points) and Japan’s Narumi Takahashi and Mervin Tran (64.37). Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov lead the Russian contingent and are in fourth place with 65.02 points.

Team USA, whose delegation includes teams that are each skating at their first Worlds together, put out solid performances. Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker skated fourth (last in the first warm up group) and earned 59.62 points, just off their best score for the season. They are in 10th place. Two groups later, U.S. champions Caydee Denney & John Coughlin took the ice. With a fist pump to accompany their bows, the duo was clearly excited after the skate. Their efforts were recognized with 62.48 points and seventh place after the short.

Coughlin noted that Team USA had a successful outing today.

“We’re cheering for them (Marley and Brubaker) because, as they go so goes American pairs. We’re a group,” he said. “We need them to skate as well as they can and they need to skate as well as we can. We are in this together and it’s nice to have friends we’re doing it with.”

Competition continues Thursday with the ladies short program and free dance.

Thursday’s Schedule (All times Eastern and approximate)

The ladies short program will begin at 6:30 a.m.

Ashley Wagner: 9:44 a.m.

Alissa Czisny: 10:20 a.m.

The free dance will begin at 1:00 p.m.

Hubbell and Donohue: 2:52 p.m.

Shibutani and Shibutani: 3:24 p.m.

Davis and White: 3:38 p.m.

2012 ISU World Figure Skating Championships Notes

Click the image below to view the competition notes for the 2012 ISU World Figure Skating Championships.