Gabrielle: My costumes are actually hot pink and deep purple for the long.
So we'll be seeing that next week?
In two weeks in Kelowna, yes. The Short's actually a two-piece that Kaitlyn and I kind of put our thoughts into together. For the long, it's not exactly like "Carmen," it's the shape that it was today, but it goes ombré from deep to light purple.
Love a good ombré. I'm looking forward to the pairing with the eyeshadow. [Gabby laughs]
Zachary: In the Free, I looked at some pictures of Queen and I talked with the guy making the costumes. I said I wanted thunder, and some details so when people see me they see that I’m doing Queen.
I saw the lightning and thought it would be Flash Gordon!
Zachary: You know what - that’s because of the circle! If there was no circle and only the thunder it would be easier. I might take it off because of that reason, you’re not the only one who said that.
We'll see by Rostelecom [Cup] then if the circle is gone.
Zachary: Yes!
You've mentioned before that you improvise a lot as you develop your programs. Is that happening still?
Betina: Yes! I can't say it's my problem, but it's a problem for Sergey! [Laughs]
Sergey: A little bit - but now it's less!
Betina: Yes, now it's less because we have a lot of movements in the program so I can relax and go "Okay, I don't need to surprise you!" [Laughs]
Shiyue: She said "Oh, I have some ideas. Maybe you can do Charlie Chaplin and you can wear exactly the same costumes. That would be fun!" But in the beginning, [Xinyu] didn't really like the funny style.
Xinyu: Yeah, I don't like the funny style. Before in these 12 years that we've skated together, we've never skated in a funny style.
Shiyue: Yeah, because he likes cool [styles].
[All laugh]
In advance of his Senior Grand Prix debut, 2018 US Junior Men’s champion and two-time Junior Grand Prix Final competitor Camden Pulkinen took the time to chat with us after An Evening With Champions, an annual Harvard University-run ice show that benefits The Jimmy Fund. Read all about Camden’s perspective on the upcoming season, what he hopes to convey with his skating, and his friendships with skaters from all over the world in the interview below!
After a season away from competition, 2017 US champion and 2018 Olympian Karen Chen is returning to the international stage with her first Grand Prix assignment, Skate America, in just two weeks. We sat down with her to discuss the changes she’s made in the past year -- including enrolling as a full-time student at Cornell University -- and what she hopes to take from her early-season competition experience heading into the Grand Prix series. Read all about it in the interview below!
Becs: Good costumes are such a draw in terms of just being like "Yes yes you are worthy!"
Gabb: Especially if they're sparkly!
Becs: Yes sparkles please!
Kat: Aka Ice Dance ladies.[Gabb: Yes!] 90% of the time deliver with their costumes.
Becs: Yes. One thing that is so beautiful about picking who you're going to photograph is ah Ice Dance ladies and ladies in general show up looking usually fabulous most practices even so...
Kat: And then you have the men with like 80% black costumes or monochrome.
Becs: Yeah it's tragic, it's a tragic contrast.
In advance of their upcoming first Challenger event, Great Britain’s ice dance power duo Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson sat down with us for an interview to talk about last year’s fabulous free dance and how they feel going into the new season, as well as their individual interests and hobbies. The team garnered a lot of attention from fans as well as many personal bests last season with their 80’s themed free dance.
Read about that and more in our interview with them here!
