Reigning ISU World Champions Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) twizzled into the lead as Saatva Skate America continued on Saturday in Lake Placid, NY (USA) with the Rhythm Dance.

ISU World Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) on golden track

Chock & Bates (USA) claimed the Rhythm Dance with seven points to spare. The battle for silver and bronze will be hot, with Canadians Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha and Evgenia Lopareva & Geoffrey Brissaud of France separated by less than a point in second and third place. 

Chock & Bates entertained the enthusiastic crowd in the Olympic arena from 1980 with their energetic dance to “American Woman”, “Fly Away”, “Always on the Run” and “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz. The U.S. Champions picked up a level four for their rotational lift and her twizzles while the step sequences garnered a level one and two. Chock/Bates set a seasons best with 84.77 points.

“It was so fun performing for that crowd. They were incredible,” Chock said. “We heard them cheering on all of the competitors before us and then when we stepped out, it was such a warm reception. It just made me really happy to be out there and to perform with Evan. I feel like we made a lot of improvements since Cup of China and we performed those really well today and so I'm just really proud of how we skated and how we enjoyed the moment together.”

Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) channelled the energy of Lenny Kravitz as they took the lead in Lake Placid © ISU

Chock enjoys the 90s theme for this season’s Rhythm Dance. “We had a lot of fun listening to the music and I just love skating to Lenny Kravitz. He's got so much energy. His style, as he wears himself and carries himself, it just comes through in his voice and in his music. We really try to embody that when we perform for the audience and just bring a little bit of Lenny with us on tonight,” she explained.

Lajoia & Lagha’s dynamic dance to “Are You Ready” and “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC featured fast-paced twizzles and a rotational lift. However, the step sequences were rated a level one. Nevertheless, the 2025 ISU Four Continents bronze medalists achieved a season's best of 77.42 points.

“We were about to connect together and with the crowd, the crowd was actually very fun,” Lajoie commented. “We could hear them scream. It was really, really nice.”

Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha (CAN) revealed their sporty side in the Rhythm Dance at Skate America  © ISU

The Canadians stood out with their costumes that reminded of sport outfits. “It was an idea of our coach, Marie France (Dubreuil), because the theme is sport-entered and it's kind of an homage to the Olympic Games,” Lagha shared.  

 “I love the costume,” Lajoie added. “It's nice to skate in a different outfit than just a pretty dress. I really feel myself in this little crop top and like a sporty fit. It's really nice and it makes a change.”

ISU European silver medalists Lopareva & Brissaud put out another strong performance to “Blue”, executing a cool stationary lift and smooth footwork to score 76.72 points. 

Evgenia Lopareva & Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) tried to do something a bit different and are sitting in third place in Lake Placid © ISU

“We explore different concepts, so 90s is good, we like it,” Brissaud noted. “It was a little bit crazy, so we like this because we like to be different.”

Loicia Demougeot & Theo Le Mercier (FRA) came fourth on 73.47 points followed by Christina Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) with 72.74 points. Katerina Mrazkova & Daniel Mrazek (CZE) wer currently ranked sixth (72.73 points).

The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix Saatva Skate America is as follows:

Friday, November 14: Pairs & Men’s Short Programs
Saturday, November 15: Rhythm Dance, Pairs Free Skating, Women’s Short Program, Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, November 16: Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating

ISU Grand Prix Standings

Check out who is on their way to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final:

Men                 Women        Pairs       Ice Dance

For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.

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The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

• 17 - 19 Oct 2025                       Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
• 24 - 26 Oct 2025                       Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)
• 31 Oct-2 Nov 2025                   Skate Canada International in Saskatoon (CAN)
• 07 - 9 Nov 2025                        NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN)
• 14- 16 Nov 2025                       Skate America in Lake Placid (USA)  
• 21 - 23 Nov 2025                      Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN) 
  
  The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 
  04 - 07 Dec 2025                        Nagoya (JPN)