‘I live for this event’
U.S. wins bronze medal at World Team Trophy
(Top left) Back row (l-r) Team USA’s Nathan Chen, Tim LeDuc, Evan Bates and Jason Brown; and front row (l-r) Ashley Wagner, Ashley Cain, Madison Chock and Karen Chen showcase their bronze medals at World Team Trophy. (Above) Team USA gets into the spirit of the event during the men’s free skate.
BY LYNN RUTHERFORD
When skaters don fright wigs, wave pom-poms and line up for Rockette kicks, you know it’s ISU Team Trophy time. “Tis competition is really special,
because it’s a chance to go out and enjoy your programs,” said Ashley Wagner, who was elect- ed team captain by her fellow skaters. “Tere is pressure, but everyone has a really relaxed mindset. We’re able to go out on the ice and be a little more free, and I enjoy that.” Te fifth edition of the spirited event,
held over three days in front of sellout crowds at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Stadium, gave skaters a final chance to shine in the 2016–17 season, and amidst generous judging, many came away with season’s best scores. Six teams qualified based on ISU world standings: Canada, Japan, United States, Rus- sia, China and France, with each fielding two ladies, two men, one pairs and one ice dance team. Points were awarded for placements in the short program/dance and free skate/dance.
10 JUNE/JULY 2017 U.S. skaters won three of the four
previous World Team Trophy events, which are held every odd-numbered year. Tis year’s group settled for bronze with 97 points, fin- ishing behind Japan (109 points) and Russia (105 points), but one thing is certain: a good time was had by all. “Nothing makes me happier than when
everyone is together and we’re all part of a team,” head cheerleader Jason Brown said. “It’s so special; it brings me so much joy that it’s amazing. I really feed off being a team player in an individual sport and I live for this event.” Madison Chock and Evan Bates were the top point-earners for Team USA, gaining personal-best ISU scores in both programs. Te two-time World medalists kicked things off with a rousing rendition of their blues and hip-hop “Bad to the Bone” short dance, claiming first place with 79.05 points. Two days later, the U.S. silver medalists took second place with an exciting outing of their “Under Pressure” free dance, marred only slightly by Bates’ small stumble in a step
sequence. “Tis has been a very long and chal-
lenging year for us,” Bates said. “It has been up-and-down and it makes you tired by the end of the year. We’re ready to start our new programs and have a clean slate. We’re ready to go through that creative process again, which is one of the reasons we love this sport so much.” Nathan Chen rebounded from boot
problems at the 2017 World Figure Skat- ing Championships to hit a quadruple flip combination and quad toe in a clean short program that placed second with 99.28 points. He landed four more quads in his free skate, but popped a quadruple Salchow into a double to take fourth place. “Tis was the last program of my season,
so it’s great to now be able to get some rest,” the U.S. champion said after the free skate. “I’m ready for next season. I think today went well. I need to try more to get into the music and connect with the audience. I made some mistakes today, but I will address them all for next season.”
ATSUSHI TOMURA-ISU/ISU VIA GETTY IMAGES
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