The Top Ice Skaters In America Will Compete In Downtown Everett This Weekend

Ten years ago attendance records were broken when Skate America came to Everett. This year the best skaters in the country are back. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2018 Skate America in town this weekend.

ISU Grand Prix Series Opens with 2018 Skate America 
This Weekend in Everett, Washington

Eighteen U.S. athletes will compete at 2018 Skate America, the first event of the 2018 International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, Oct. 19-21, at Angels Of The Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.

NBCSN will air live the men’s free skate from 6-8 p.m. (ET) Saturday, Oct. 21 and the ladies free skate from 4-6 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Oct. 22. On Sunday, NBC will broadcast the men’s free skate with other event highlights from 12:30-1:30 p.m. (ET). The ladies free skate and event highlights will be aired on NBC on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 3-6 p.m. (ET). Terry Gannon will handle play-by-play responsibilities for the men’s and ladies competition and will be joined by 1998 Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski, three-time U.S. champion Johnny Weir and reporter Andrea Joyce. Gannon and 2006 Olympic silver medalist Tanith White will call the action for the pairs free skate and free dance segments, while Joyce and White will commentate on the pairs short program and rhythm dance events.

NBC Sports Gold will provide live coverage of the entire event through the Figure Skating Pass. Additionally, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will present encore coverage from Skate America and all Grand Prixes this season, Monday-Thursday following each event’s conclusion. Both the broadcast and streaming schedule are detailed below.

The Bridgestone Ice Desk will stream live from Everett on U.S. Figure Skating’s Facebook and YouTube. Nick McCarvel will host the coverage with analysts Michael Weiss (three-time U.S. men’s champion), Brooke Castile (2007 U.S. pairs champion) and Sinead Kerr (seven-time British ice dance champion) joining for commentary.

Tickets, starting at $25, are available by visiting https://www.2018skateamerica.com or the arena box office.

The 18-member U.S. delegation at Skate America features the 2018 U.S. champions Bradie Tennell, Nathan Chen, Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Chris Knierim, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue. Reigning World champion Chen will look to defend his title after winning the 2017 competition in Lake Placid, New York. Capturing bronze last year, Tennell will also compete for her second consecutive spot on the Skate America podium. Vincent Zhou, a 2018 Olympian, will also compete.

The international field boasts multiple World medalists, including two-time World medalist and 2017 Skate America champion Satoko Miyahara of Japan, as well as the Russian pair team of Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov. Please see below for more details regarding the event and its competitors.

U.S. ENTRIES AT 2018 SKATE AMERICA

2018 SKATE AMERICA ON NBC and NBCSN
(Eastern time; subject to change; check local listings. Full broadcast schedule here.)

2018 SKATE AMERICA NBC SPORTS GOLD STREAMING SCHEDULE
(Eastern time, subject to change)

2018 SKATE AMERICA COMPETITION NOTES

• 2018 Skate America will feature five returning medalists from the 2017 event, and 11 total athletes who have previously medaled at Skate America.
  • Satoko Miyahara (JPN) – 2017 (1st), 2015 (3rd)
  • Nathan Chen (USA) – 2017 (1st)
  • Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) – 2017 (2nd)
  • Bradie Tennell (USA) – 2017 (3rd)
  • Sergei Voronov (RUS) – 2017 (3rd)
  • Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov (RUS) – 2016 (3rd)
  • Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Chris Knierim (USA) – 2015 (2nd)
  • Nam Nguyen (CAN) – 2014 (3rd)
  • Michal Brezina (CZE) – 2011 (1st)
• This year’s event boasts World medalists in all four disciplines, all of whom medaled last season.
  • Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov (RUS) – 2018 (2nd), 2017 (3rd)
  • Satoko Miyahara (JPN) – 2018 (3rd), 2015 (2nd)
  • Nathan Chen (USA) – 2018 (1st)
  • Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue (USA) – 2018 (2nd)
• In 2017 in Lake Placid, Nathan Chen won the gold medal, while Bradie Tennell, in her Grand Prix Series debut, took home the bronze.
• All eight reigning U.S. champions will compete in the 2018 event. Of that group, both Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Chris Knierim, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue will be making their fourth Skate America appearance. Nathan Chen and Bradie Tennell will both be appearing in their second Skate America competition.
• Seven U.S. competitors (Bradie Tennell, Nathan Chen, Vincent Zhou, Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Chris Knierim, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue) were members of the 2018 Olympic Team.
• Seven skaters in the 18-member U.S. delegation will be making their Grand Prix debuts at 2018 Skate America.
  • Starr Andrews
  • Megan Wessenberg
  • Jimmy Ma
  • Nica Digerness and Danny Neudecker
  • Karina Manta and Joe Johnson
• In 2008, Everett, Washington, set the Skate America attendance record with 29,477 spectators. The pacific northwest holds the top-three Skate America attendance records.
  • Everett, Washington (2008) – 29,477
  • Spokane, Washington (2002) – 28,664
  • Portland, Oregon (2010) – 23,362