Kaori Sakamoto Retirement Plans and other Skating News
Scoreography
Three time world champion Kaori Sakamoto announces her post-Olympics retirement plan, and we have some feelings about it. Plus lots of new program announcements, and we talk about our experience at the North American Adult Synchronized Skating Camp. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 0:31 — NAASC Synchro Camp Experience 4:52 — Kaori Sakamoto Retirement Plans 10:43 — Other Skating News 11:06 — Young You’s Triple Axel 13:22 — Gabby Daleman returns 14:32 — Kovalevs change coaches 16:05 — US Summer Sizzler and Program Announcements 17:53 — Riku and Ryuchi choreographers 18:33 — Mai Mihara...
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In the Mixed Zone - featuring Judith Dombrowski
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We talk with figure skating journalist Judith Dombrowski about her work with Golden Skate and Pirouette Magazine, and what it’s like conducting interviews in the ‘Mixed Zone’ at skating competitions. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 2:06 — What is the Mixed Zone? 15:28 — Overcoming language barriers 18:12 — Skaters seeking content creators and alternative press 20:32 — A push to find “drama”? 24:40 — How much skating does a reporter actually see? 30:02 — Covering the Road to 2026 Event 33:56 — Familiar faces at events 35:45 — Best skaters in the Mixed Zone 38:50 — Looking...
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Grand Prix 2025 Assignments and Return of Sui and Han
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We dig into all of the Grand Prix assignments for the upcoming figure skating season, as well as the unsurprising return of the Olympic Pairs champions, China’s Sui and Han. It may be skating’s off-season, but there was a lot to be excited about this past week as the 2025 Grand Prix assignments were announced — and two legends of the sport quietly confirmed their long-rumored return. The biggest story to come out of the assignments was unquestionably the return of reigning Olympic pair’s gold medalists, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong from China. While there had been rumors of their...
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Spring Skating News (May 2025)
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We round-up the past week or so of off-season skating news, including new-and-returning programs from Kevin Aymoz, Kaori Sakamoto, and the Brown siblings. Haein Lee’s suspension has formally been nullified, and the Taschler siblings move to Finland with a new coaching team. And lots more. Chapters 1:17 — Stars on Ice and Show Season 4:57 — Kevin Aymoz brings back Bolero 9:09 — Oona and Gage Brown skate to The Godfather 11:18 — Haein Lee does Carmen; suspension is nullified 13:36 — Chaeyeon Kim working with Benoit again 15:03 — Rion Sumiyoshi working with Misha Ge and Shae Lynn...
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Listener Q&A 2025 Edition — Your Questions Answered!
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In our second annual Q&A episode, we answer listener submitted questions about the upcoming Olympic season, our all-time favorite programs, the origin story of the podcast, and lots more. The off-season can feel LONG… especially the off-season before the Olympic season! This is why it was especially fun to dive into some “what if” scenarios, skating nostalgia, and even a few messy predictions for the coming year. We also dig into a few more serious topics, including the pros and cons of getting into the figure skating creator space, why big success for the U.S. in women’s figure...
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The Shib Sibs Return?!
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After SEVEN years away from competitive figure skating, ice dance Hall of Famers the Shib Sibs — Maia and Alex Shibutani — are returning. Just in time for the Olympic season. We have complicated feelings about it (especially Adron). We ruminate on the sport’s inextricable tie to the Olympic quadrennial, how that both helps and hinders skating fandom, and the role of nostalgia in promoting the sport. Referenced in this episode: Follow Scoreography: Website — Instagram — BlueSky —
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Modernizing the Sport with FS.SkatingStan
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We’re joined by Haley from FS.SkatingStan, one of our favorite figure skating Instagram accounts, to talk about her experience at Worlds 2025, the efforts from the ISU to modernize the sport, and the role content creators play in the skating’s future. Modernizing the Sport, and the Role of Content Creators in Skating’s Future This episode of Scoreography features our very first guest on the show. Haley from FS.SkatingStan — one of our favorite figure skating fan accounts on Instagram — drops in for a wide-ranging conversation about the season, her experience at Worlds 2025, and...
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World Team Trophy 2025 RECAP
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We look back at all the fun shenanigans and terrific performances from the 2025 World Team Trophy competition in Japan, including a dominant win from Team USA and first WTT medal for Team Italy. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 1:51 — Predictions and Results 3:09 — Women's Competition 15:49 — Pairs Competition 23:27 — Men's Competition 33:00 — Ice Dance Competition 40:05 — Mao Shimada in the Gala 41:50 — Gold in our Hearts 46:16 — Wrap-Up Recap of 2025 Figure Skating World Team Trophy The 2024/2025 figure skating season finally came to its official end in Tokyo, Japan, at the World Team...
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World Team Trophy 2025 PREVIEW
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We look ahead to one of our favorite and most fun figure skating events, the bi-annual World Team Trophy. The competition features teams from the USA, Japan, Canada, Italy, Georgia, and France. Chapters 0:00 — World Team Trophy Overview 9:57 — Team Rosters 29:50 — World Team Podium Predictions 32:22 — Wrap-Up Follow Scoreography: Website — Instagram — BlueSky —
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Scoreography Awards 2025, ISU Awards, and Olympic Qualifications
Scoreography
We reflect on the post-Worlds ISU Awards, dig through the official Olympic Qualifications, and then hand out our own 2025 Scoreography Awards across 10 different categories. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 0:54 — Olympic Spot Qualifications 19:43 — ISU Awards 28:38 — The Scoreography Awards 29:10 — Favorite Program: Men 31:09 — Favorite Program: Women 32:27 — Favorite Program: Pairs 34:03 — Favorite Program: Ice Dance 35:15 — Breakout Skater or Team 38:44 — Best Costume 41:16 — Best Gala Performance 44:03 — Future Star 45:48 — Skater or Team of the Year 48:34 — Moment of the...
info_outlineWe discuss the results from Korean National Championships 2025, including great performances from Chaeyeon Kim and Junhwan Cha, as well as the return of Haein Lee. We also preview Canadian Nationals and the 2025 FISU World University Games.
It’s Nationals season, and this week, we’re catching up on the Korean National Championships and getting ready for our favorite Canadians to hit the ice. Also, who knew the World University Games would be this stacked?!
Korean National Championships 2025
In the men’s division, Junhwan Cha left no crumbs while winning his ninth national title. 9th!! He was not perfect, but with a fantastic free skate that is definitely the best we’ve seen this season so far, it puts him in great position going into the remainder of his international schedule for the year.
In the women’s event, the top six was an even split between senior and junior skaters — with Chaeyeon Kim taking her first title with a phenomenal free skate that edged her just past two-time reigning national champ, Jia Shin.
No pairs were eligible to compete at Korean Nationals, and only one dance team — the fabulous Hannah Lim and Ye Quan — competed in dance.
Canadian Nationals Preview
In both the men’s and women’s divisions at the 2025 Canadian Nationals, things are going to be tense. Only one representative will be named to the Boston World team from each of those disciplines — so pressure is the name of the game. If that weren’t enough, whoever gets that one spot for World’s needs to have a top 10 finish to give Canada more than one man or woman on the 2026 Olympic team.
The dance competition promises to provide a different kind of tension as the field is fairly deep, with 2 competitions within the competition.
In the pairs discipline, we’re excited to see Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps fight to defend their title.
FISU World University Games
This bi-annual event often sees a few well-known skaters mixed in with collegiate athletes from around the globe, but can sometimes make for a fairly uninteresting competition.
This year, however, the men’s field includes Yuma Kagiyama, Shun Sato, Juhnwan Cha, Mikhail Shairorov, Daniel Grassl, and Sota Yamamoto. So, definitely NOT uninteresting!
In the women’s event, Mone Chiba, Hana Yoshida, Rion Sumiyoshi, Lara Naki Gutman, Seoyeong Wi and others will make this also very much worth watching.