USA’s Chock and Bates win fifth Skate America gold
2025 Skate America: Ice Dance
USA’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates won their fifth Skate America gold in Lake Placid, New York on Sunday afternoon. Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha of Canada pocketed the silver, while France’s Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud took the bronze.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates
Three-time World champions earned a new season’s best in their rhythm dance to selections by Lenny Kravitz, placing first with 84.77 points. However, the team lost some levels since their last outing at 2025 Cup of China. Chock lost two levels on the twizzles, and the partial steps were graded a level one. The level-two midline steps were smooth, and the rotational lift was graded a level four. All elements, particularly the twizzles, earned mostly +4 grades of execution (GOE) throughout.
“We were so happy to perform today!” said Chock. “It was so fun performing for that crowd. They were incredible. We heard them cheering on all of the competitors before us and then when we stepped out it, was such a warm reception. It just made me really happy to be out there and to perform with Evan. I feel like we made a lot of improvements since Cup of China and we performed those really well today. I’m just really proud of how we skated and how we enjoyed the moment together.”
The two-time Grand Prix Final champions presented a gritty and explosive flamenco free dance to “Paint It Black” sans the large red skirt Chock wore at Cup of China. Chock and Bates earned many high GOEs throughout their fiery “matador and bull” routine, earning a level four on the lifts, dance spin, and twizzles. They lost some levels on their one-foot and diagonal steps since their last outing, but both ice dancers admitted they still have lots of work to do on the program. Still, they scored a new season’s best for first place in the free dance and overall (127.81/212.58) for their fifth Skate America gold.
“It’s so special for us every time we get to compete on home ice, and Skate America is a very near and dear competition to our hearts,” said Chock. “We’ve been doing it for many years, and I’ve always admired it in my entire career. It’s an honor to compete here in Lake Placid, especially in this historic venue that’s been beautifully remodeled. We really enjoyed our whole week here in Lake Placid.”
Chock explained that she has a “practice skirt” that she trains with at home so she can “get used to the movements.”
“So, when we get to competition, it’s just like breathing and using the skirt,” she said. “It’s part of my outfit, but it feels like another addition to dance. You have hairography, you have skirtography now, and it’s really fun to have this side of movement and use it to do a lot of storytelling.”
“It becomes really second nature and now we’ve kind of figured out all the little parts of the program where we might need to do a little negotiating with the skirt,” added Bates. “But I think overall, it adds so much to the program. Just in the last two weeks, I feel like we really took a big step forward from Cup of China. It’s really exciting to think about where this program could be by February.”
They will compete next at the 2025-26 Grand Prix Final next month.
Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha
The two-time Four Continents bronze medalists gave a spirited rhythm dance which is a medley of sports anthems. The team displayed good extensions throughout, while picking up a level four on the twizzles and rotational lift. The midline and partial steps were graded a level one, and they placed second with a new season’s best of 77.42.
“Today was really, really fun!” said Lajoie. “I think we were able to connect with each other and also with the crowd. We could hear them scream, especially during the music. It was really, really nice.”
Of the costumes, Lagha explained that it was their coach Marie-France Dubreuil’s idea.
“Because the theme is sport-centered and it’s kind of an homage to the Olympic Games,” he pointed out. “And yeah, as long as I have a nice fit, I don’t care.”
The six-time Grand Prix medalists delivered a powerful and mesmerizing free dance to “Nureyev” from The White Crow, showcasing strong interpretation throughout. They showed good extensions in their midline steps and earned a level four on all three lifts, but the twizzles were only graded a level two. Lajoie and Lagha earned mostly +3 and +4 GOEs on all elements throughout their routine, placing second in the free dance and overall (116.46/192.41).
“We’re very proud and happy with our skate and the result,” said Lajoie. “It means a lot for us to finish second here. We worked really hard in between Skate Canada and Skate America. We only had a week and a half and I think we did a pretty good job.”
“We have a lot of energy when we skate, and the short program shows that, and that’s the card we’re playing,” Lagha added. “It’s also kind of an homage to sports in general. That was the thought process behind it. For the free, I really enjoy to skate on classical music, and I think that we’re trying to deepen our connection between each other. We want to bring an elegance to our skating, and, actually, I think we really enjoy it.”
Lajoie and Lagha are currently ranked fourth in the Grand Prix standings for qualifying for the Final with 24 points.
Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud
The 2025 European silver medalists gave a good rhythm dance, showing good speed and edges throughout. Their routine to music by Eiffel 65 and Daft Punk included a difficult entry into a level-four stationary lift and level two partial steps. The midline steps were given a level one, while the twizzles were graded a level three and four. The team placed third in this segment with 76.72 points.
Lopareva and Brissaud had hinted that they would have new costumes at this event, and they didn’t disappoint.
“We explore different concepts, so 90s is good, we like it,” said Brissaud. “And in these times, they were a little bit crazy, so we like this because we like to be different. Last time in China it was red, because the arena is red. Now we change for blue because blue is the color of it, and we feel it’s the moment to change.”
Skating to Björk and Clann, the 2025 Cup of China bronze medalists delivered an enigmatic free dance which featured difficult midline steps. All three lifts and the dance spin were awarded a level four, while the twizzles garnered a level two and three. They placed third in the free dance and overall (115.89/192.61).
Lopareva noted that people sometimes view them as a “weird” team.
“Every time when we search for ideas for the programs, we try to find something unique,” she explained. “We’re trying to do something that will be in our way and that we don’t repeat ourselves. So this season we went with Björk. She herself is a very specific person, a very specific artist.”
Loicia Demougeot and Theo le Mercier
Loicia Demougeot and Theo le Mercier of France finished fourth with a new season’s best of 73.47 points in the rhythm dance. Their routine to “No scrubs” and “Sing Hallelujah” was highlighted by fast level-four twizzles and difficult changes of position in their level-four rotational lift.
The three-time Challenger Series medalists delivered a story-driven and unique free dance to “The Curse of the Sad Mummy” and “Enemy” which featured level-four lifts and dance spin, as well as level-two footwork. The twizzles were graded a level four and two, and they placed fifth in this segment with a new season’s best of 113.22. With a total score of 186.69, they were able to maintain fourth place overall.
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko
USA’s Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko placed fifth in the rhythm dance with 72.74 points. The two-time Four Continents bronze medalists only received base value for the partial steps, but the twizzles and lift were graded a level four.
The 2025 Skate Canada bronze medalists displayed strong expression throughout their dramatic free dance to selections from Notre-Dame de Paris. Their routine was highlighted by two level-four lifts, twizzles and dance spin. They placed fifth in the free dance and overall (113.29/186.03).
USA’s Oona Brown and Gage Brown placed sixth overall with a new season’s best score (182.11) and will compete next week at Finlandia Trophy.
Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek of the Czech Republic finished seventh (176.04), followed by Great Britain’s Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez (173.16).
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