Team USA - Blossom on Ice

November 15, 2019June 15, 2020

Mariah Bell: “I know only the good words in Russian”

The 2019 Rostelecom Cup will be the fifth event of the 2019–20 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. It will be held at Megasport Sport Palace in Moscow, Russia from November 15 to 17.

The 2016 Skate America silver medalist, the 2019 Internationaux de France bronze medalist, the 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy gold medalist, and two-time U.S. national bronze medalist (2017, 2019), Mariah Bell, is among the competing skaters.

She shared her memories from her performance in Moscow two years ago, mentioned which feature of Megasport stands she remembered the most, and also demonstrated her knowledge of the Russian language.

This year, you started the season really strong, winning the gold medal in Oberstdorf and taking the third place in France. How do you feel about it?

Mariah:

I feel really good, I’m so happy with it. I’ve been working really hard, I reevaluated my training and I’m excited that it’s really paid off. Obviously, I have a lot of room to grow. But yeah, I’m really proud of it.

November 6, 2019June 15, 2020

Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker: “It’s not fun to be competitive in a negative way”

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating continues this Friday with the Shiseido Cup of China. The 2018 Four Continents champions, 2018 NHK Trophy champions, and 2019 U.S. national bronze medalists Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker are among the competing skaters.

They talk about their programs, their ultimate goals for this season, tough competition, and more.

Last season, you struggled a lot with injuries. Is everything OK now?

Jean-Luc:

Everything’s okay. I had a concussion at the beginning of last season, which held on to me for quite a while, pretty much through until the end of Worlds. But the recovery process was really good, and my team, including Kaitlin, the coaches, and U.S. Figure Skating, were extremely supportive in every step.

October 31, 2019June 15, 2020

Haven Denney/Brandon Frazier: “We’re ready to step up to the plate and handle anything that’s thrown our way”

The 2019 Internationaux de France will be the third event of the 2019–20 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. It will be held at Patinoire Polesud in Grenoble, France between November 1–3.

The two-time Skate America silver medalists (2014, 2016), 2014 CS Lombardia Trophy champions, 2013 World Junior champions and 2017 U.S. national champions Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier are among the competing skaters.

They talk about their programs, the Lion King movie, their switch from roller skating to figure skating, their favourite Harry Potter books, and explain why they split up back in 2008 and paired up again a few years later.

Your most successful Grand Prix event so far is Skate America, where you’re two-time silver medalists and placed third this year. Does that mean that skating at home, in front of the home crowd, is easier for you?

Brandon:

No, I wouldn’t say that. When I think back to all the Grand Prix’s international skating, all the Skate Americas we medalled at, they were very tough competitions. They were stacked. And I remember we didn’t really think too much. We just gave our all.

I think competing in the homeland does bring a little bit more of that energy, that’s the benefit of it. But at the end of the day, it’s just the same as any competition. We just keep trying to perform our best.

Haven:

I think we enter into any competition with the same goals and the same mindset. Whether it’s a little competition at our home rink, or the National Championships, or a Grand Prix, we try to treat it all the same.