Nebelhorn Trophy will get underway in Oberstdorf, Germany this week. For many, this will be their first international competition of the 2014-2015 season. Here is a preview of the Team USA skaters competing.
Ladies
For the ladies, Team USA will be lead by 2014 U.S. champion and Olympic team bronze medalist Gracie Gold. This is Gold’s first international competition since the Sochi Olympics and 2014 World Championships, where finished fourth and fifth respectively. Joining Gold will be 2013 U.S. junior silver medalist Mariah Bell, who will be competing in her first senior international competition. Bell is coached by Kori Ade and trains alongside 2014 U.S. silver medalist and Olympic team bronze medalist Jason Brown, who is also competing in Germany.
Men
Brown will lead the Team USA men at Nebelhorn Trophy. This is Brown’s first international competition since the Sochi Olympics. He will be putting his famed “Riverdance” free skate aside and showcasing two new programs at this competition. Returning to the ice and joining Brown is Alexander Johnson. Johnson sat out last season after suffering a serious ankle injury. This will be his first international competition since the 2013 Challenge Cup, where he took home the silver medal.
Pairs
Just two weeks after winning gold at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic in Salt Lake City, Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim are back on international ice, looking to take home their second international medal of the season. They are joined by U.S. junior champions Madeline Aaron and Max Settlage, who took home the bronze medal in their senior international debut in Salt Lake.
Dance
2014 U.S. silver medalists and Olympians Evan Bates and Madison Chock will make their international debut at Nebelhorn Trophy. The team withdrew from the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic two weeks ago. U.S. world junior champions Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker will make their senior international debut. For more on the ice dance competition, visit Ice-Dance.com.
Streaming
For the first time, Nebelhorn Trophy will be streamed live.
Live stream link: http://bit.ly/Y3Lhao
Schedule (EST)
Thursday September 25:
6:00a.m. – Short Dance
8:30 a.m. -Pairs’ Short Program
1:00 p.m. -Men’s Short Program
Friday September 26
4:30 a.m. – Ladies’ Short Program
8:00 a.m. – Pairs’ Free Skate
12:45 p.m. -Men’s Free Skate
Saturday September 27
4:3o a.m. -Ladies’ Free Skate
8:20 a.m. -Free Dance
Blogging
Jason Brown will be blogging for Team USA in Germany. To read his blogs, click here.
