Nagasu loves it all, good and bad Mirai Nagasu didn’t medal, but her mixed
zone interviews were the best off-ice show at the Sears Centre. The U.S. bronze medalist, who won the
2008 U.S. title when she was just 14 years old, never fails to delight reporters with her hones- ty and impish sense of humor. Some thought not being named to the
2014 U.S. Olympic team might prompt Naga- su, who placed fourth at the 2010 Olympics, to retire. Instead, the 21-year-old left her home in Southern California this spring, moving to Col- orado Springs so she could rededicate herself to the sport and train under Tom Zakrajsek. “I love training, I love the process, I love
being tired, I love complaining about how tired I am,” Nagasu said. “I love every minute of being out on the ice with my friends and even the people I don’t like, even the people who get in my way.” Nagasu practiced well at the Sears Cen-
tre, but placed sixth after falling on a triple Lutz in her short program and having several jumps judged underrotated in her free skate. “When I get to competition I get a little
bit timid, so I’m going to work on being more aggressive and attacking more,” she said. “I want to do my best and the fact I didn’t makes me mad. I want to go home and work for next time.”
— Lynn Rutherford
keeping a U.S. team atop the Skate America podium for the sixth consecutive year, but finishing first and second in the event, mark- ing the first time the U.S. has held the top two spots in any of the four disciplines in the two-decade history of the Grand Prix Series. “I think it’s something to be really proud
of,” Bates said. “Without Meryl and Charlie competing this year, I think that there’s still a lot of interest to be had in American ice dance. Through the years it’s a process, and learning from Meryl and Charlie has definitely been a huge part of that. They paved the way and I think we all want to work hard and keep the standards high.”
— Mimi Whetstone
Caydee feels the nerves as big sister As a two-time U.S. champion and 2010
Olympian, Caydee Denney isn’t used to spec- tating. Her routine usually includes training, competing and concentrating on herself. This year, however, Caydee and her partner John Coughlin aren’t competing as she continues to rehab from offseason ankle surgery. So when the time came for her young-
Team USA ice dancers make history Team USA’s ice dancers had something to
prove when they took the ice in Chicago. With Olympic champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White sitting out the 2014–15 competitive season, it was up to U.S. silver medalists Mad- ison Chock and Evan Bates, and U.S. bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani, to show that the U.S. is still a force to be reckoned with. The dancing duos did just that, not only
18 DECEMBER 2014
er sister, Haven, to take the ice in Chicago, Caydee was in the stands watching alongside family members and fans. “I cannot even explain the nerves and the
feeling I had watching Haven compete com- pared to how I feel as a competitor,” Caydee
said. “I could not feel my legs, I was shaking, I couldn’t sit still, and I wanted to cry. “When I’m competing, I am in control of
myself and my focus. The love I have for Ha- ven makes it so difficult to sit in the stands and watch, because I want the best for her. I thought, ‘Boy, is this what my mom feels when we skate?’ ” Haven and partner Brandon Frazier rose
to the occasion, winning the silver medal and setting personal best scores along the way. — Renee Felton
It takes a coaching village Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier’s sil-
ver at Hilton HHonors Skate America was the highest Grand Prix finish from an American pair since Rena Inoue and John Baldwin took silver at 2008 NHK Trophy. The 2013 World Junior champions gave
full credit to their star-studded coaching team. The skaters moved to Coral Springs, Fla., in the fall of 2012 to train under three-time U.S. pairs champion John Zimmerman and his wife, five- time Italian champion Silvia Fontana. This summer, Germany’s 1997 World pairs champion Ingo Steuer, who coached Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy to five World titles, joined the group. Soon after, two-time British European ice dance bronze medalist John Kerr came aboard. The popu- lar Scotsman moved to Florida after his June wedding to Dr. Nadine Ahmed, a graduate of University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. “John does mainly stroking with us and
works on our footwork,” Frazier said. “If we’re having trouble with our transitions, we ask for his help.” Kerr’s expertise came in handy training
the pair’s short program to The Godfather’s “Speak Softly Love,” which incorporates ball- room touches including rolls. “He helps us with the (dance) holds,”
Frazier said. “He knows exactly how to put the lady where she needs to be, and he’s still young and very athletic, so he gets on the ice with us. He was the last piece of the team we needed.”
— Lynn Rutherford
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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