Some of you may not know that one of the most important times of the year is already here: the 2016 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships. This is the best time of the year for former competitive skaters, like myself. We isolate ourselves for a weekend to watch ice dancing, pair skating, and ladies' and men’s events for hours. It’s an emotional experience. There are tears of joy and/or sadness while watching certain events and seeing favorite athletes and, sometimes, friends compete. So, to all of my non-figure-skater friends that may tune into NBC sports this weekend, here is what you need to know about this annual skating competition.
1. When is it?
The national competition will take place from January 15-25 in Saint Paul, Minnesota and you will be able to tune in on NBC Sports Live. The championship events will start on January 22.
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2. What is it?
The U.S. Championships is the final step in determining the American team for the World Figure Skating Championships, World Junior Championships, Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and, depending on the year, the Olympic Winter Games. In order to compete in this national competition, skaters must have placed within the top four at sectionals.
3. Who should I be watching?
You may remember Gracie Gold from her Olympic debut in 2014 at Sochi, where she finished fourth. Gold also placed second in the 2015 U.S. Championships and first in the 2014 U.S. Championships. Her twin sister, Carly Gold, 20, will be making her first U.S. National Championship debut this month. According to a USA Today article she claims, “Nationals has always been my goal since I was 10 years old.”
A local Dallas Texan, Ashley Cain, will be returning to the U.S. Championships after a very tough season. Free from injury and doubt, she says that she is ready to take on nationals with her parents, who are also her coaches, by her side. Be sure to watch her during the Ladies' short and long programs on January 21 and 23.
After a fantastic long program that shocked the nation in 2015, we hope that Adam Rippon does it again this month in Minnesota. He placed second in the 2015 U.S. National championships, right behind Jason Brown, who will not be competing this year due to a back injury.
Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim are currently the reigning national champions in pair skating and they hope to defend this title this weekend. Having a strong season thus far, it will be exciting to see how well they do in this competition.
