#Loicia Demougeot

[figureskatingcostumes]

Loïcia Demougeot and Théo Le Mercier competing in the short dance segment of the 2018 World Junior Championships.

(Photos by David W. Carmichael)

[janetsnekhol]

Honestly I’m such a Theo and Loicia Stan, I’ve been following them since juniors and I think they are going to be a top team in a few years

[incorrectfigureskatingopinions]

Mmmmm I love a Clair de Lune program so much

[leahthedreamer]

Loicia Demougeot & Theo le Mercier (FRA) FD Swell Gnossienne No.3 Le Di A la Caza Alcance || ISU European Championships 2023

[figurelifeflirt]

2022 Lombardia Trophy entry #8

Short dance

Leccardi/Della Torre(ITA)

Thoughts: there is not nearly enough video of these two and Elisabetta looks fantastic.

Lagouge/Caffa(FRA)

Thoughts: okay. This was a lot. This was showy. And it’s not the first time I’ve noticed that these two like to make a spectacle of their programs. The deep v-neck in Arnaud’s outfit is even more unsettling in the K&C.

Demougeot/Le Mercier(FRA)

Thoughts: Theo, I don’t love the mustache. Loicia, yes the blue brings out your eyes. But if we’re being honest here, the only reason I liked this more than L/C is because I actually found Loicia attractive. Okay, now that I see Theo in the K&C, he is still pretty.

Taschlerova/Taschler(CZE)

Thoughts: Natalie, you were perfection. Again, there will NEVER be enough video of these two. I could watch Natalie all day.

[sunskate]

Loicia Demougeot & Theo Le Mercier RD at 2024 Challenge Cup

[papciz-gram]

patinagemagazine: Retour en images... Championnat de France à Cergy. Plus de photos sur notre Facebook.

(08.01.2022)

[findthatsynchronicity]

Junior Worlds Ice Dance: Top 10

[contagiousrhythminmybrain]

2019 Junior Grand Prix finalists - ice dance

1. Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK (USA) - gold + gold (345.48 points) 2. Elizaveta SHANAEVA / Devid NARYZHNYY (RUS) - gold + gold (334.97 points) 3. Elizaveta KHUDAIBERDIEVA / Andrey FILATOV (RUS) - gold + gold (330.51 points) 4. Maria KAZAKOVA / Georgy REVIYA (GEO) - gold + silver (334.48 points) 5. Loicia DEMOUGEOT / Theo LE MERCIER (FRA) - silver + silver (323.71 points) 6. Diana DAVIS / Gleb SMOLKIN (RUS) - silver + silver (318.41 points)

[sywtwfs]

2021 Japan Open, JGP Poland & Masters de Patinage: Info & Streaming

Subscribe to our calendar to get event times in your own time zone! This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

JAPAN OPEN & CARNIVAL ON ICE

Japan Open is a team competition normally composed of Team Japan, Team Europe, and Team North America. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan Open will feature only Japanese skaters for the second year in a row. Skaters are split into two teams and perform only their free skates. The team with the highest combined score wins.

A two-day gala called Carnival on Ice is held along with Japan Open. The cast includes skaters from the competition as well as guest skaters. Skaters will perform their short programs on the second day of Carnival on Ice.

Results | JO Website | CaOI Website

Type: Domestic team competition When: Oct. 2 Where: Saitama, Japan Level & disciplines: senior women, men

Schedule (UTC+9)

10/2: Japan Open 12:30; Carnival on Ice 18:30

10/3: Carnival on Ice 12:30

Participants:

Team Red: Kaori Sakamoto, Rino Matsuike, Mana Kawabe, Keiji Tanaka, Kazuki Tomono, Sena Miyake

Team Blue: Satoko Miyahara, Mai Mihara, Wakaba Higuchi, Shoma Uno, Shun Sato, Sota Yamamoto

Japan Open guest skaters: Shizuka Arakawa, Akiko Suzuki

Carnival on Ice cast: All JO skaters, Shizuka Arakawa, Miki Ando, Akiko Suzuki, Takahito Mura, Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda, Hana Yoshida, Mao Shimada

How to watch: Paid livestream, available only in Japan

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JGP BALTIC CUP

Results | Schedule | Entries | ISU

Type: Junior Grand Prix When: Sept. 29 - Oct. 2 Where: Gdansk, Poland Level & disciplines: junior women, men, ice dance, pairs

Schedule (UTC+2)

9/30: Women’s SP 11:00; Pairs’ SP 15:45; Men’s SP 17:20

10/1: Rhythm Dance 11:45; Pairs’ FS 14:20; Women’s FS 16:00

10/2: Men’s FS 11:45; Free Dance 15:30

Notable entries: Gleb Lutfullin, Egor Rukhin, William Annis, Jacob Sanchez, Minchae Kim, Jia Shin, Sofia Akateva, Elizaveta Kulikova, Mia Kalin, Clare Seo, Ekaterina Chikmareva/Matvei Ianchenkov, Polina Kostiukovich/Aleksei Briukhanov, Ekaterina Petushkova/Evgenii Malikov, Anastasiia Smirnova/Danylo Siianytsia, Irina Khavronina/Dario Cirisano, Olga Mamchenkova/Mark Volkov, Isabella Flores/Dimitry Tsarevski

How to watch: Free livestreams on the ISU JGP Youtube channel

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MASTERS DE PATINAGE

Results | Schedule | Entries & starting order | Website

Type: Domestic competition When: Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 Where: Epinal, France Level & disciplines: senior & junior women, men, ice dance, pairs

Senior Schedule (UTC+2)

9/30: Pairs’ SP 18:25; Men’s SP 19:30; Women’s SP 21:05

10/1: Rhythm Dance 17:40

10/2: Women’s FS 13:55; Pair’s FS 15:05; Men’s FS 16:25; Free Dance 18:20; Gala 20:30

Notable entries: Maia Mazzara, Lea Serna, Kevin Aymoz, Adam Siao Him Fa, Romain Ponsart, Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron, Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud, Julia Wagret/Pierre Souquet-Basiege, Loicia Demougeot/Theo Le Mercier

How to watch: Free Youtube streams

[figureskatingcostumes]

Loicia Demougeot and Theo Le Mercier skating their Carmen free dance at the 2019 Junior Grand Prix Final.

(Sources: Getty Images and zhem_chug)

[figureskatingfanblog]

2021 Lombardia Trophy Preview

The Challenger Series officially starts this week with the Lombardia Trophy, taking place in Bergamo, Italy.

Results page, with entries and schedule, is located in the source.

The Pairs competition is a general international competition and not part of the Challenger Series.

Schedule

10/09 - 11:00 Women Short Program; 15:30 Men Short Program 11/09/2021 - 11:15:00 Dance Rhythm Dance; 14:15:00 Women Free Skating; 19:50 Pairs Short Program 12/09/2021 - 12:00 Men Free Skating; 16:00 Dance Free Dance; 19:35 Pairs Free Skating

With the Olympic season looking to start for many skaters, everyone is looking for a good start to their season!

In the Men’s event, the title looks to be between Daniel Grassl of Italy and Morisi Kvietashvilli of Georgia. The Ladies event looks to be dominated by Alysa Liu of the US, while the Pairs event looks to be dominated by Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise of Italy. In the Ice Dance event, it looks to be between Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy and Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorenson of Canada.

Skaters to Watch

Reminder, that these are not necessarily podium contenders, but just skaters I think should be kept an eye on and are in particular order.

Men - Daniel Grassl (ITA), Morisi Kvietashvilli (GEO), Maurizio Zandron (AUT), Vladimir Litvinsev (AZE), Aleksander Selevko (EST), Romain Ponsart (FRA), Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA), Tomoki Hiwatashi (USA), Yaroslav Paniot (USA)

Ladies - Alsya Liu (USA), Eva-Lotte Kiibus (EST), Lara Naki Gutmann (ITA), Ekaterina Kurakova (POL), Dasa Grm (SLO), Alexia Paganini (SUI), Audrey Shin (USA)

Pairs - Cleo Hamon/Denis Strekalin (FRA), Rebecca Ghilardi / Filippo Ambrossini (ITA), Nicole Della Monica / Matteo Guarise (ITA), Camille Kovalev / Pavel Kovalev (FRA)

Ice Dance - Laurence Fournier-Beaudry / Nikolaj Sorenson (CAN), Natalie Taschlerova / Filip Taschler (CZE), Juulia Turkilla / Matthias Versluis (FIN), Loicia Demougeot / Theo Le Mercier (FRA), Evgenia Lopareva / Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA), Julie Wagret / Pierre Souquet-Basiege (FRA), Sara Hurtado / Kiill Khalivain (ESP), Nicole Della Monica, Matteo Gaurise (ITA), Christina Carreira / Anthony Ponomarenko (USA), Molly Cesanek / Yehor Yehorov (USA)

[incorrectfigureskatingopinions]

Love Clair de Lune so much for an ice dance program

[soyouthinkyoucansleep]

Youth Olympic Games Preview(ish): Ice Dance

I wanted to do this as soon as the JGP was done (because the JGP was the last to determine which countries earned spots to the games), but of course, life got busy.

YOG is more restrictive than ISU Juniors in terms of age limits, so the field we will see in January (10-15 for figure skating). Skaters have to be born between January 1, 2003, and December 3, 2005, except for male ice dancers and pairs, who have to be born between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005. For reference, the ISU age limits for this season are  July 1, 2000, and June 30, 2006 (July 1, 1998, for the dance/pairs men). 

Additionally, this is an IOC event so skaters must have citizenship for the country they represent, which may eliminate a few skaters from the selection. 

Ice dance is especially affected by these restrictions, as none of the 6 pairs that qualified for the JGP final are age-eligible. 

I know in the past the U.S. has used specific qualifying competitions and Canada hasn’t sent anyone due to conflicts with nationals. However, for all the previews I will do will assume that the countries will send their top skaters. 

My preview will be in the order that the countries earned their spots (WJC 2019, followed by JGP, then host nation). Bolded names are age-eligible pairs we might see in Lausanne. Links will go to the pair’s ISU bio. 

Canada

By virtue of Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha’s victory at World Juniors, Canada has earned two spots to the Ice Dance event in Lausanne. While Lajoie and Lagha are not age-eligible, Canada has multiple competitive pairs for the two spots. 

Based on JGP results, the two spots will probably go to Natalie D'ALESSANDRO and Bruce WADDELL, and Emmy BRONSARD and Aissa BOUARAGUIA.  D/W won silver at JGP Egna while B/B won bronze at JGP Croatia. I believe Skate Canada has stated that the top-scoring interested skaters at the end of the JGP will get the spots so assuming these two are interested, we will see them in Lausanne

Other options for Canada are Nadiia BASHYNSKA and Peter BEAUMONT who earned bronze at JGP Russia, and Miku MAKITA and Tyler GUNARA, who have a couple of 4th places finishes this season. The biggest question mark here would be Peter’s citizenship–he’s originally from Great Britain and represented the country until 2016, so I’m not sure if he has the Canadian citizenship required to be eligible. 

Russia

With two pairs on the podium at World Juniors, Russia has earned 2 spots in Ice Dance. Russia had many duos on the JGP this season, but only one is age-eligible for YOG–Sofya TYUTYUNINA and Alexander SHUSTITSKIY, first alternates for the JGP final after winning a silver and bronze at their events. 

With Russia’s depth in ice dance, however, I’m pretty sure they’ll have a second age-eligible pair who didn’t qualify for a JGP spot that they’ll send. 

United States

Every country from here on out has one spot to the YOG. Avonley Nguyen and Vadym Kolesnik, the top qualifiers for the JGPF are not eligible as Avonley is too old and Vadym doesn’t have U.S. citizenship.

Based on the JGP, Katarina WOLFKOSTIN and Jeffrey CHEN (Yes, Karen’s brother) are the top U.S. pair and will probably get the spot. They’re a new pair this season, and place 4th and 5th at their JGP events. Another option would be siblings Oona and Gage BROWN, “pewter” medalists at U.S. Junior Nationals last season. 

Georgia

Georgia was the next country to earn a spot, but Maria Kazakova and Georgy Reviya (who earned the spot), are too old for YOG and Georgia doesn’t seem to have any other junior ice dance teams, so I predict this spot will be reallocated to the next country in line, Estonia (will later) 

France

France’s top age-eligible pair is Celina FRADJI and Jean-Hans FOURNEAUX, who made their junior international debut this season at JGP France with the 10th place finish. Like the United States, France’s top pair and JGPF qualifiers Loicia Demougeot and Theo Le Mercier are too old for the YOG.

Ukraine

Ukraine will probably be represented by Anna CHERNIAVSKA and Oleg MURATOV who placed 11th at JGP Poland this season. Both are born in 2004 so they have many more years at the Junior level–YOG will probably be a good experience for them.

Italy

Italy had a few dance teams on the JGP this season but only one is age-eligible: siblings Giulia TUBA and Andrea TUBA. Born in 2004 and 2003, these two also have many years left at the junior level and YOG would be a good experience for them as well.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic earned a spot in ice dance due to the Taschler(ova) siblings’ excellent performances on the JGP (3rd and 5th), however, the siblings are not age-eligible. Denisa CIMLOVA and Vilem HLAVSA will probably get the spot.

Japan

Japan also earned a spot on the JGP, due to the strong performances of Utana YOSHIDA and Shingo NISHIYAMA, who are age-eligible for the games! This team trains in Toronto (at the Cricket Club) with Tracy Wilson, Andrew Hallam, and Joey Russell, where they are training mates of D’Alessandro and Waddell.

Switzerland 

Switzerland gets a spot in every discipline as the host nation, but they did not have an ice dance team on the JGP this season, so I doubt they have an age-eligible team for YOG. This spot will probably get reallocated to Great Britain

Estonia 

*Probable reallocation from Georgia

Should Estonia get a reallocated spot, they will probably be represented by  Darja NETJAGA and Marko Jevgeni GAIDAJENKO, who train part-time in Russia under Alexei Gorshkov, who trains some of Russia’s top junior dance teams.

Great Britain

*Probable reallocation from Switzerland

Great Britain didn’t have any age eligible teams on the JGP, but Emily PHILLIPS and Jayin PANESAR are age-eligible and will be competing at a few smaller international events in the upcoming months. 

[figurelifeflirt]

2022 Euros Entry #26

Short dance

Mueller/Dieck(GER)

Thoughts: how much fun they seem to have with this program. And Katharina is a damn centerfold of a woman.

Demougeot/Mercier(FRA)

Thoughts: Theo’s only cute moment was the ending. Loicia is the firestarter here.

Davis/Smolkin(RUS)

Thoughts: to go from two stunners(Katherina and Loicia) to Dianna who sticks her nose the air. We see that lean on her twizzles. Even if the judges chose not to.

Taschlerova/Taschler(CZE)

Thoughts: Not nearly as stunning as the first two. But still decent. I didn’t like the back of Natalie’s dress

Nazarova/Nikitn(UKR)

Thoughts:  the risks these two take with their acrobatics. And they make it look so easy.

[icedanceupstarts]

JGPF 2019 Preview

We’re officially at the midpoint of the season and junior ice dance has finally returned to us! In case the JGP feels as distant to you as it does us, here’s a quick refresher!

Avonley Nguyen/ Vadym Kolesnik USA

Age: 17/18

Started Skating Together: 2017

Coach: Igor Shpilband and Pasquale Camerlengo

Season's Best: 174.68

Rhythm Dance: Aladdin

Free Dance: Rach 2

Fifth at this event last season, Nguyen/Kolesnik are the top qualifiers at their second JGPF. These two have charisma for days, and it just might carry them to the JGPF title. In just three JGP seasons these two have gone from being the newcomers in the middle of the pack but with loads of potential, to putting up the highest scores of the season so far. Aladdin is a great fit for them in the rhythm dance and Avonley’s dress is absolutely stunning. Would we have personally chosen to construct this program in this manner, including a slowed down cover of A Whole New World jammed in the middle? No, but they make it work anyway with strong skating and so much personality. And the Friend Like Me sections are a real delight. We're interested to see how their performance and interpretation of their free dance has evolved. While beautiful during the JGP season, the program didn't feel all the way there and lacked a sense of building throughout. They have some of the best lifts in the world, at any level, using their size difference to make difficult lifts look effortless. The speed, changes in position, and flow in and out are all just impeccable. If they keep doing what they've been doing, it's going to be hard for anyone to beat them for the gold, either here or for the rest of the season.

Elizaveta Shanaeva/David Naryzhnyy RUS

Age: 16/20

Started Skating Together: 2016

Coach: Alexander Svinin and Irina Zhuk

Season's Best: 171.07

Rhythm Dance: Bonnie and Clyde

Free Dance: River

The first to actually qualify to JGPF, Shanaeva/Naryzhnyy have really stepped up this year. There was certainly room to do so nationally with last season's top Russian junior dance teams moving to seniors, splitting up, or missing time due to injury, but their big improvements in skating together and in consistency would be commendable in any case. 

Our personal favorite Bonnie and Clyde program, although we still can't believe there are enough contenders for that title that we can actually choose from. It's just really well constructed and a lot of fun, suiting both their individual personalities and chemistry as a team. Their entrance into the twizzles is mildly ridiculous and feels like a seamless part of the choreography. Their free dance is coming along and we're interested in seeing how it's evolved. It was a bit of a mess at the test skates but they've improved at every outing. Last we saw, there was a lot of music happening towards the end, but it's a pretty cool contemporary program with a really badass combination lift. There's a lot of variety in the free dances this year, but they would stand out regardless, and with two other Russian teams joining them in group one for the rhythm dance that can only work to their advantage.

Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva/ Andrei Filatov RUS

Age: 17/19

Started Skating Together: 2019

Coach: Denis Samokhin, Maria Borovikova

Season's Best: 165.59

Rhythm Dance: La La Land

Free Dance: Sign of the Times

We've got to tip our hats to Elizaveta here, the reigning junior world silver medalist with her former partner who has not missed a beat in this new partnership. Of course, equal credit goes to Andrei, who has also completed his first JGP season like he's got years of international experience. They're not the first junior team to find major success in their first season together, but it's still worth noting how quickly and seamlessly they've fit together. La La Land will never be a true fave for us and their styling is a bit sleeker than we typically see with this music choice, but they're just already such a strong team that their talent makes it work. The angst of their Sign of the Times free dance is right up Elizaveta’s alley as a performer and is a great vehicle for this new team. It allows them to go all out on emoting and connecting with each other while not being too complicated a story or theme for them to portray at this point in their partnership. They don't have quite the complexity of some of the lengthier partnerships in this event, but not to the point where it should hold them back if they skate their best. New teams with strong basic skating skills can often show more drastic improvement early on competition to competition compared to some more established teams, so it will be exciting to see how much farther they’ve been able to take their partnership. And it could definitely be to a medal.

Maria Kazakova/ Georgy Reviya GEO

Age: 18/20

Started Skating Together: 2017

Coach: Denis Samokhin, Maria Borovikova

Season's Best: 169.22

Rhythm Dance: Take Good Care of My Baby/Dream a Little Dream of Me

Free Dance: In the End

We should probably note that, for the purposes of this preview, we're using their Junior season's best, because these funky little overachievers have also been competing at smaller senior competitions and intend to compete at Euros and Worlds now that they have their TES minimums. Having to split their attention puts them at a bit of a disadvantage compared to their fellow juniors, but does give them a leg up on seniors so it works out. Since they have no domestic competition, it's a risk they can afford to take without fearing getting lost and buried at Nationals. But internationally at the junior level they are more than capable of contending for podium finishes, and the teams they’ll be facing aren’t training two patterns. You win some, you lose some, and they've clearly decided the pros are worth the cons. Their rhythm dance is the program that suffers the most from their multitasking, but it's still a nice program. Their foxtrot section is especially lovely, but historically they've always had some struggles hitting their keypoints. At their first JGP, their level issues in the RD is what kept them from winning the gold over Khudaiberdieva/Filatov, as they won the FD handily. The free dance is their big strength and already a fan favorite. On paper this program is objectively ridiculous. Absolutely nothing about it should work, and if you just describe it you sound like a crazy person, but it all comes together. From the opening where Georgy tosses Maria over his head just for style, to their performance, to the cartwheels in the choreo steps, it's just incredible. We're not sure there's a way to make skating to a rap cover of Linkin Park sound like anything but the most tragic misfire, but if you haven't seen it yet, you really need to. It's not just acrobatic and interesting and cool, it's impressively emotive as well. They're in their last year of junior eligibility and their maturity level is evident in their skating. If the can get all their levels, particularly in the rhythm dance, while skating their amazing free the way we know they can, some of the higher qualified teams might be in for a nasty surprise.

Loicia Demougeot/ Theo Le Mercier FRA

Age: 17/20

Started Skating Together: 2015

Coach: Karrine Arribert-Narce

Season's Best: 162.70

Rhythm Dance: Your Feet's Too Big/How's Ya Baby

Free Dance: Carmen

A French team back in the JGPF! And they are bringing the traditional French ice dance weirdness. Their first two JGP medals and first trip to the JGPF in their fourth JGP season have made this a very successful year for Demougeot/Le Mercier following their first top ten finish at Junior Worlds last season. They won the rhythm dance at their first event and put up one of the highest RD tech scores so far at their second event helping them snag two silvers. It's almost ballroomy but has that dose of classic French wackiness to keep things fresh. Their free dance, inspired by French theatre on ice or not, we do appreciate a good Weird Carmen and this one’s got it all from the music to the costumes to the choreography. They're in character from the first note of the music and carry it all the way through to the end. What keeps it from just being Weird Carmen is their strong sense of musicality and also vision. We can't say we truly get what they're doing but we're certain they do. Their world standing means that they will be skating in the second group for the rhythm dance which could play to their advantage. With their theatricality and commitment, they're sure to hold their own at this event. It's been some time since a French team has made JGPF, and longer since they medaled, but this could be a weekend for surprises.

Diana Davis/ Gleb Smolkin RUS

Age: 16/20

Started Skating Together: 2018

Coach: Igor Shpilband and Pasquale Camerlengo

Season's Best: 160.17

Rhythm Dance: Everybody Wants to Be a Cat

Free Dance: Always Watching You/Love is Gone

Young, new teams tend to grow rapidly, and Davis/Smolkin are no exception. Last season they were entirely respectable, but still learning each other on the ice and focusing on the technicalities of ice dance. A year and a coaching change later and they've settled into each other and developed some real flair and personality, bringing their performance to a whole new level. While we wish they showed the level of commitment of having cat toe bean gloves or just cat themed choreography in general, their rhythm dance ends up being pretty delightful anyway. They've got some really impressive lifts showing off their strength and creativity in a bluesy free dance. It's a nice change of pace from their rhythm dance while still allowing them to show off their improved performance quality and range of emotion. At their second JGP event, they made a silly mistake on the spin that dropped it to base level, and while they did enough in the rhythm dance to hold onto silver and their JGPF spot, it made things dicier than necessary and is why they're the final qualifier. They absolutely have the opportunity to improve on their qualifying position, or even take a swipe at a podium position. Given the cutthroat nature of Russian ice dance at any and all levels, every little bit counts before Nationals. They're a talented team, and we hope to see them skate to their potential and continue to blossom.