Chinese World and Olympic Pair Team
Train at Arctic Edge
Train at Arctic Edge
The Arctic Edge of Canton would like to welcome the World and Olympic pairs team of Hao Zhang and Dan Zhang who will be working with coaches Marina Zoueva and Igor Shpilband for the month of June along with two other world level dance teams from China. Hao Zhang and Dan Zhang were the Silver Medalists in the 2006 Olympic games in Torino Italy, 2006 and 2008 World Silver Medalists, and two time World Junior champions.
Arctic Edge Ice Dancers 2nd, 4th and 6th
in World Championship.
in World Championship.
Gothenburg Sweden. When the World Ice Dancing Championships ended, three teams that
train at the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Canton, Michigan had placed among the 10 best in the world. One of those teams, Canadian National Champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, earned the
World Silver Medal in only their second appearance at the event. At ages 18 and 20 respectively, they are the youngest team ever to win a medal at the World Championships. "We were just excited to go to the Senior World Championships as the Canadian Champions. Being the Silver Medallists here is a great accomplishment that caps off a wonderful season for us" said an effusive Tessa Virture. "We were well prepared by our coaches Igor Sphilband and Marina Zoueva so we were ready to compete." said partner Scott Moir. "Relaxing, enjoying our skating and skating our best was our goal. Winning the Free Dance portion and the Silver Medal at the World Championships is a dream come true for us." The free dance program Virture and Moir skated was choreographed by Zoueva and Sphilband and was called "..brilliant" by commentators. Coaches Marina Zoueva and Igor Sphilband were enthusiastic about Tessa and Scott's performance. "They handled themselves extremely well throughout the competition.", said coach Marina Zoueva.
"They are mature beyond their years" she said. "We are proud of their performance here, and
proud of their training habits at home", said Sphilband.
train at the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Canton, Michigan had placed among the 10 best in the world. One of those teams, Canadian National Champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, earned the
World Silver Medal in only their second appearance at the event. At ages 18 and 20 respectively, they are the youngest team ever to win a medal at the World Championships. "We were just excited to go to the Senior World Championships as the Canadian Champions. Being the Silver Medallists here is a great accomplishment that caps off a wonderful season for us" said an effusive Tessa Virture. "We were well prepared by our coaches Igor Sphilband and Marina Zoueva so we were ready to compete." said partner Scott Moir. "Relaxing, enjoying our skating and skating our best was our goal. Winning the Free Dance portion and the Silver Medal at the World Championships is a dream come true for us." The free dance program Virture and Moir skated was choreographed by Zoueva and Sphilband and was called "..brilliant" by commentators. Coaches Marina Zoueva and Igor Sphilband were enthusiastic about Tessa and Scott's performance. "They handled themselves extremely well throughout the competition.", said coach Marina Zoueva.
"They are mature beyond their years" she said. "We are proud of their performance here, and
proud of their training habits at home", said Sphilband.
Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, five time United States Ice Dancing Champions, two time
World Bronze Medallists and Olympic Silver Medallists were slated to be the champions of the world this year, but due to an unfortunate and unexpected fall in the first portion of the competition, the compulsory dance, they had a lower placement than expected to start out with and had a lot
of points to make up. With the difficult competition they faced here in Sweden, they could not
catch up to the leaders in spite of skating well in the next two segments. Tanith and Ben ended in fourth position overall. " We are proud of ourselves for not giving up and were especially pleased
with our free dance tonight" said Belbin. "The free dance was good" said Agosto, "and we only missed being Bronze medallists by .26, less than half a point. We were....sooo close!" he said. "Tanith and Ben were very good in the free dance especially." said coach Sphilband. "We will all work hard next year to help them get back on the podium."
World Bronze Medallists and Olympic Silver Medallists were slated to be the champions of the world this year, but due to an unfortunate and unexpected fall in the first portion of the competition, the compulsory dance, they had a lower placement than expected to start out with and had a lot
of points to make up. With the difficult competition they faced here in Sweden, they could not
catch up to the leaders in spite of skating well in the next two segments. Tanith and Ben ended in fourth position overall. " We are proud of ourselves for not giving up and were especially pleased
with our free dance tonight" said Belbin. "The free dance was good" said Agosto, "and we only missed being Bronze medallists by .26, less than half a point. We were....sooo close!" he said. "Tanith and Ben were very good in the free dance especially." said coach Sphilband. "We will all work hard next year to help them get back on the podium."
US Silver Medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White skate fast and close together with great unison which was noticed and rewarded by the judges at worlds. Davis and White started out in seventh place and ended in sixth place after the free dance portion of the competition."This is a great finish for us in only our second year at the Senior World Championships" said White. Meryl and Charlie are both students at the University of Michigan and will return home to catch up on their schoolwork and train their show and exhibition programs in Canton. All three of these teams are very, very good, and they are all different in spite of, or perhaps because of sharing the same training facility and having the same coaches. "We encourage their individuality", said Zoueva.
"All of our skaters handled themselves well in Gothenburg given their various circumstances." said Sphilband. "We are looking forward to another year of excellent training and to more great and exciting skating from all our teams both here and at home in Canton, Michigan."
The 2006 National Champions and 2007 US Pair Skating Bronze Medallists Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski train with coach Johnny Johns at the Arctic Edge in Canton, Michigan also. They placed 11th in the hotly contested pair skating event in Sweden. Brooke and Ben have been fighting injuries all season and were unable to compete in most of their international competitions prior to the World Championships. However, they were third in the 4 Continents Competition just prior to the World Championships this week. Their dramatic lifts and high throws in Sweden were exciting to watch! Their teammates Rena Inoue and John Baldwin placed 10th in the event and so the United States will be able to take two pairs to the world championships next year.
Skaters of various nationalities and ages currently train at the Arctic Edge Arena in Canton, Michigan in dance, pair and single skating. Most are not as far along in their careers as the eight skaters mentioned above who competed in the World Championships this week. However, they are devoted to their sport and dream about going to the world championships themselves someday.
The Arctic Edge Arena hosts classes and other instruction for skaters at all levels. There is
skating for the general public also. Just call (734) 487-777, or go to the arena website at www.ArcticArenas.com for information on events, programs and classes.
The Arctic Edge Arena hosts classes and other instruction for skaters at all levels. There is
skating for the general public also. Just call (734) 487-777, or go to the arena website at www.ArcticArenas.com for information on events, programs and classes.