Skate America Launches 2024 Grand Prix Series in Allen, Texas

Skate America, prominently marking the commencement of the international Grand Prix Series for figure skating, is set to take place this week in Allen, Texas. The event, which will be broadcast live on NBC Sports and other platforms, features a lineup of elite U.S. skaters including world champions Ilia Malinin along with ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, world silver medalist Isabeau Levito, and national pairs’ champions Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea.

Ilia Malinin, at just 19 years old, aims to achieve the significant feat of winning a third consecutive Skate America title, a streak last matched by Nathan Chen who secured four in a row from 2017 to 2020. In the ice dance category, Madison Chock and Evan Bates are seeking to equal a record of five titles previously set by Tanith White and Ben Agosto in the 2000s.

Isabeau Levito, only 17, is in a promising position to be the first U.S. women’s singles skater to clinch a full-fledged Skate America since Ashley Wagner in 2016. Mariah Bell had taken home the title in 2020 when the field was predominantly American due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The women’s competition roster will also feature Elyce Lin-Gracey, making her senior Grand Prix debut, and Bradie Tennell, a 2018 Olympian who is returning from an injury-plagued season.

In pairs competition, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea will be competing against 2023 World champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara from Japan. The Grand Prix Series this autumn will see athletes compete across six events, with the top six performers in each discipline advancing to the Grand Prix Final in Grenoble, France, scheduled for December. This series often serves as a prelude to the world championships in March.

The event schedule includes a range of competitions over the weekend, starting from the Practice Cam sessions on Thursday to the Exhibition Gala on Sunday. Fans in the U.S. can access live coverage on NBC’s Peacock streaming service, with access available for 72 hours post completion of each event day. Additionally, other broadcasters around the world include SBS in Australia, ESPN in Brazil, CBC in Canada, and CCTV in China, ensuring global reach for the competition.

Alysa Liu is also making headlines with her return to high-level figure skating this month after a two-year hiatus. Meanwhile, Malinin, who recently demonstrated strong form by winning the Lombardia Trophy in Italy, is expected to be a significant competitor in Allen, facing the likes of France’s Kevin Aymoz and other international skaters.