2023 Skate America Hub

The 2023-2024 Grand Prix season kicks off Oct. 20 with Skate America, taking place at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas.

Figure Skaters Online will be covering Skate America. Check back for our coverage on the event.

Entries

Pre-Skate America Interview Quotes

(complied by Maura Sullivan Hill and Scott Mammoser)

2023 World Ice Dance Champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates announced their programs for the season will be a Queen rhythm dance and a Pink Floyd free dance. “The theme of the free dance is time,” Chock said.

“As our time passes as athletes, and in general, as we have matured as adults & gone through life, we realize how precious time is & how fleeting it can be, especially in sport. And just in general, you really have to cherish the moments you have,” Chock said on the free dance.

Chock and Bates’ Queen RD will include “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Who Wants to Live Forever,” and “I Want It All.” Chock said,: “It’s a very fun, upbeat, just groovy program that we’re super into. Love our costumes, we’re very excited to debut the program.”

Asked about how long they plan to keep competing, Chock said, “We’re taking it season by season, seeing how we feel. But as of right now, we’re still very inspired and passionate about skating. And we’ll see where that takes us.”

When asked about the ongoing CAS doping case and delay in receiving their 2022 Olympic medals, Bates pointed out, “We’re the only ones from that team who are still competing.”

“As an athlete who grew up dreaming of winning an Olympic medal, this was never part of the dream…that’s the disappointing part. Maybe the optimist in me would hope that this will be a landmark case for the Olympic movement & we can see some real change moving forward,” Bates continued.

2023 U.S. bronze medalist Amber Glenn on competing at Skate America in her home state of Texas: “I feel like I’ll go in and have a certain amount of like, pride and passion, just knowing that this is my home. This is where I grew up.”

Amber announced that she will skate to “Heads Will Roll” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for her short program and “Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)” by Muse for her free skate.

Glenn said the Muse free skate is a letter to her younger self: “It talks about let’s start over again, let’s just go back, and for me, it’s wishing you had treated your younger self with more kindness and more grace.” 

2023 U.S. Champion Ilia Malinin is currently taking two courses at George Mason University right now. The family is considering moving to California, which is where choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne is.

“Going to the Olympics is always one of my goals, but I always try to keep it real with my health going into each competition,” Malinin said.

In regards to all of the eyes/pressure being on him at each competition, Malinin said, “When I get on the ice, I just want to get into that zone,” He is also taking a dance class at George Mason University for his artistry/ trying to make it cleaner.

Malinin said he is not planning to include the quad Axel during  during the Grand Prix Series. His goal is to make the Final, where he could perform them.

“It makes sense to keep doing triple Axels for the base value, but for me, I like to take risks (with the quad Axel). I am going to keep practicing and maybe some day bring it to the long program.”

Ilia Malinin said he still thinks the ‘Quad God’ is an appropriate nickname. If his body is healthy, he would like to defy physics with his jumping. He wants to try unique jumps and rotations towards the end of the season.

Event Schedule

Friday, October 20, 2023

Pairs’ Short Program: 6:30 p.m. (CT), 7:30 p.m. (ET) / 4:30 p.m. (PT)
Men’s Short Program: 7:53 p.m. (CT), 8:53 p.m. (ET) / 5:53 p.m. (PT)

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Rhythm Dance: 2:03 p.m. (CT), 3:03 p.m. (ET) / 12:03 p.m. (PT)
Pairs’ Free Skate: 3:39 p.m. (CT), 4:39 p.m. (ET) / 1:39  p.m. (PT)
Women’s Short Program: 6:16 p.m. (CT), 7:17 p.m. (ET) / 4:16 p.m. (PT)
Men’s Free Skate: 8:04 p.m. (CT), 9:04 p.m. (ET) / 6:04 p.m. (PT)

Sunday, October 22, 2023
Free Dance: 1:15 p.m. (CT), 2:15 p.m. (ET) / 11:15 a.m. (PT)
Women’s Free Skate: 3:00 p.m. (CT), 4:00 p.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (PT)

TV Schedule

Friday, October 20, 2023

7:30-10:30 p.m. ET (Pairs’ and Men’s Short Programs) E!

Saturday, October 21, 2023

8-11 p.m. ET (Day 2)  E!

Sunday, October 22, 2023

12-2 p.m. Skate America Highlights – NBC
3-6 p.m. ET (Free Dance and Women’s Free)  E!

Streaming Schedule

Peacock Premium

Thursday, October 19, 2023
Practice Cam: 11 a.m. – 5:05 p.m. (ET)

Friday, October 20, 2023

Practice Cam: 11 a.m. – 4:05 p.m. (ET)
Pairs’ Short Program: 7:25 – 8:35 p.m. (ET)
Men’s Short Program: 8:50 – 10:21 p.m. (ET)

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Practice Cam: 9 a.m. – 2:05 p.m. (ET)
Rhythm Dance: 3 p.m. – 4:21 p.m. (ET)
Pairs’ Free Skate: 4:55 p.m. – 5:55 p.m. (ET)
Women’s Short Program: 7:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. (ET)
Men’s Free Skate: 9 p.m. – 11:25 p.m. (ET)

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Practice Cam: 10 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. (ET)
Free Dance: 2:10 p.m. – 3:46 p.m. (ET)
Women’s Free Skate: 4 p.m. – 5:50 p.m. (ET)
Gala: 8:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. (ET)