Elite figure skaters from around the nation will be jumping and spinning in the Twin Cities over the next 10 days, seeking national titles in four disciplines: women's singles, men's singles, pairs and ice dance. The event, held at Xcel Energy Center and Bloomington Ice Garden, will determine champions at the juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior and senior levels.
THE SCHEDULE
Competition begins Saturday and runs through Jan. 24. The biggest stars will compete in the senior division Jan. 21-24 at Xcel Energy Center; Xcel also will host the novice competition Sunday through Tuesday and the junior championships Jan. 19, 20 and 22. The juvenile and intermediate divisions compete Saturday and Sunday at Bloomington Ice Garden.
TICKETS AND TV
Tickets: Single-session tickets for competition at Xcel range from $12.50 to $127.50, and all-event ticket packages are $355 and $955. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online at www.2016uschampionships.com. General-admission tickets for sessions at Bloomington Ice Garden can be purchased at the door; cost is $35 for all sessions ($25 for seniors/youth) and $20 for single-day admission on Saturday or Sunday ($15 seniors/youth).
TV: NBC's coverage begins Sunday with a preview show (4 p.m.) and includes live telecasts of senior competition on Jan. 23 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and Jan. 24 (3 p.m.).
SEE THE STARS
Several Olympians, world championship participants and past U.S. champions headline the senior competition. 2014 Olympians Gracie Gold, Ashley Wagner and Polina Edmunds are the favorites among the women. The men's field will be without defending champion and 2014 Olympian Jason Brown, who withdrew last week because of a back injury, but it includes 2013 champ Max Aaron and two-time silver medalist Adam Rippon. Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim will try to defend their pairs championship, while a loaded field in ice dance is topped by 2014 Olympians and 2015 world silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
LOCAL SKATERS
Minnetonka native Alexander Johnson and Mahtomedi native Daniel Kulenkamp headline a group of 12 skaters with Minnesota ties who will compete at the championships. Johnson and Kulenkamp will skate in the senior men's division. The intermediate division includes singles skaters Jonathan Yang of Woodbury and Wren Warne-Jacobsen of St. Paul, as well as pairs skaters Anika Olsen of Elk River, Mitchel Markkanen of Spicer and Berit Cummings of Minnetonka. Samhita and Vedanth Jonnalagadda of Eden Prairie will compete in the juvenile pairs, and three skaters who train in Minnesota — Paulina and Daniel Brykalova of the St. Paul Figure Skating Club, and Samuel Hodman of the Starlight Ice Dance Club — will compete in juvenile dance.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
A full schedule and detailed ticket prices can be found at www.2016uschampionships.com. For results and news, go to www.icenetwork.com.
