Figure skating news

World's best figure skaters slide into Allen for 2023 Skate America competition

The top figure skaters and ice dancers in the world are headed to North Texas this fall for one of the biggest competitions of the year: Skate America will take place October 20-22 at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen.

The traditional kick-off to the International Skating Union's Grand Prix series, Skate America will encompass women's and men's singles, pairs, and ice dancing competitions. Contestants will include past Olympic medalists, as well as up-and-comers in the mix for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortino, Italy.

Announced June 28 on the ISU website, Skate America competitors coming to Dallas-Fort Worth will include world ice dance champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates (veterans considered ice dance royalty); as well as American superstars Isabeau Levito and Ilia Malinin, both aiming for the 2026 Olympics.

Malinin, the self-proclaimed "Quad God," will no doubt attempt his signature quadruple Axel, considered the hardest jump in the world - and one that only he has completed successfully in competition.

The crowds will roar for Plano's Amber Glenn, also competing at Skate America. American fan-favorite ice dancers Caroline Green and Michael Parsons will also be there.

Other big names competing include pairs champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan, and Olympians Kevin Aymoz of France and Loena Hendrickx of Belgium.

Here are the complete lists of men's, women's, pairs, and ice dance competitors.

The schedule will be as follows:

Friday, October 20: Pairs and Men's Short Program

Saturday, October 21: Ice Dance Rhythm Dance, Ladies Short Program, Pairs and Men's Free Skate

Sunday, October 22: Ice Dance Free Dance, Ladies Free Skate

Skate America is the first of six Grand Prix-series competitions around the world throughout fall that will culminate with the Grand Prix Finals in Beijing, China, December 7-10. (The complete Grand Prix schedule is here.)

Competitors get invited to compete and accumulate points (and prize money) to earn spots in the final. As of late June, 41 men, 36 women, 25 pairs and 34 ice dance couples representing 25 ISU member countries had been invited.

No skaters from Russia or Belarus will be allowed to participate, due to the Russian war on Ukraine.

Skate America will be streamed on Peacock, with highlights broadcast on NBC.

However, local fans have the rare chance to attend in person. Ticket information has not yet been released, but fans can check the Skate America website and social media accounts for updates.

Facebook/ISU

Chock and Bates will be competing in Allen.

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