By Abby Farrell
The Winter 2025 issue of SKATING magazine hit mailboxes this past weekend. Here are five stories to check out.
Click here to subscribe to SKATING magazine.
2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships Preview
The 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships are just around the corner. This year’s competition promises to be an exciting one, with the reigning champions in all four senior disciplines returning to defend their titles. World champion Ilia Malinin is on the hunt for his third consecutive men’s title while two-time World champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates look to secure a historic sixth career gold medal in ice dance. Amber Glenn is a favorite to win the women’s event, fresh off of winning gold at the Grand Prix Final in Grenoble, France. Also competing for back-to-back gold is the pairs team Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea. The country’s top juniors in all four disciplines, as well as top novice pairs and ice dance teams, will also compete in Wichita.
Where Dreams Have Grown: Sunshine State has produced some impressive talent
Although the U.S. Championships will be hosted in the state of Kansas for the first time, the Sunflower State has a history of producing top-level skaters. Multiple skaters who have called Kansas home talk about how they discovered the sport and how despite having limited access to training facilities, it did not deter them from reaching the national level. Skaters like Dr. Stephanie Woodman-Million and Jenna Pittman-Bracone started with humble beginnings and overcame challenges to excel in the sport. Notable coach Marina Eltsova has also helped to build up the next generation of skaters in the state.
Joel Savary Bringing Color to Figure Skating World
As a member of the skating community for more than 20 years, Joel Savary has made it his mission to promote diversity and inclusion within the sport. He was inspired to establish Diversify Ice, a nonprofit organization focused on providing resources and support to skaters of color, after encountering several of his own negative experiences while training to be a competitive skater. He also authored a book titled Why Black and Brown Kids Don’t Ice Skate. Continuing his commitment to helping Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) skaters reach their full potential, Savary currently serves as coach for the Howard University Figure Skating Team, the first figure skating team to be established at an Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Although there have been positive strides toward a more inclusive sport, Savary recognizes that there is still significant work that needs to be done to ensure that skating can be for everyone.
U.S. Synchronized Skating Teams Primed for International Competition
It’s an exciting season ahead for the three senior, two senior elite-12 and nine junior synchronized skating teams that will represent the United States in international competition in 2025. All three senior teams — the Haydenettes, Skyliners and Miami University — will compete at two Challenger Series events to earn World Standings points. Leading the charge in the junior division is 2024 World Junior bronze medalist Skyliners, which secured two Challenger Series assignments. The final Challenger Series of the season will take place on home soil for the first time since 2019 with the 2025 U.S. Synchronized Skating International Classic coming to Norwood, Massachusetts, Feb. 7-8.
Skaters Pay Tribute to Their Coaches
Good coaches can help their athletes improve their technical skills, but a great coach goes beyond that by mentoring, motivating and shaping an athlete’s character, giving them the tools to achieve personal growth. On National Coaches Day (Oct. 6), several skaters submitted tributes to SKATING magazine about their beloved coaches who have made a significant impact on their lives.
