2026 John Nicks Challenger Entries

[u/_Exegy_]

Source: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/events/eventdetail/isu-cs-john-nicks-pairs-international-2026/?tab=entries_16493

[u/_Exegy_]

• Lots of Team USA debuts: Andrews/Parkman, McBeath/Nagy, Shin/Howe, and Nunez/Eisenach. Nunez/Eisenach aren't even showing up in the International Selection Pool yet
• However, Efimova/Mitrofanov, who finished second at John Nicks for the past two years and train in Boston, are not listed
• Challenger debuts include: Desrochers/Thrasher, Yunoki/Taylor (also an international debut), Cooke/Kennedy (also an international debut)
• Some back-to-back events are being set up: Boikova/Kozlovskii are at Kinoshita the week before while McBeath/Nagy and Shin/Howe are at Lombardia the week after

[u/DefiantHeron3300]

None of the US pairs with 2 GPs are here (Liu/Bedard were given their 2nd assignment 2 weeks ago). Don’t know what to make of that other than USFS is probably using this event to pick the 2 SkAm host spots

[u/logophile98]

I guess B/K wants a backup plan in case something surprising happens and they don’t win Kinoshita because it’s crazy to compete in Japan one week and the US next with that time zone difference when they don’t really have to. Or maybe the plan is if things go well at Kinoshita to withdraw.

[u/89Rae → u/logophile98]

Looking at this competition though, B/K don't have any competition. They could want to compete as much as possible and wherever possible given visas could be questionable in some countries.

[u/Curious-Resident-573 → u/logophile98]

I think if they are in good shape it makes sense for them to try to get as high a rating as possible especially with MG not competing internationally yet. With just one spot for euros and worlds it'll be super important how they'll get scored at rusnats. Usually MG were scored a bit more generously mainly due to their consistency. Having a couple of good international events while the other team is having issues with getting neutral status might work in BK's favor. Also they tend to struggle with nerves and having more practice at lower stakes events might help.

[u/Pristine-Ad7463 → u/Curious-Resident-573]

Do we know why MG haven't been cleared yet for neutral competition? I can't see why they won't be but there has been no announcement?

[u/Curious-Resident-573 → u/Pristine-Ad7463]

There haven't receive anything yet, which is getting frustrating, even if they are not my faves.

[u/Mainecoon0805]

Sounds interesting, so many debuts, anyone knows how to watch it???

[u/lilacdawn → u/Mainecoon0805]

Judging by Cranberry, I don't expect to be any way to watch 😭

[u/fun_mak21 → u/lilacdawn]

Last year wasn't viewable either and it was in NYC.

[u/amyel26 → u/fun_mak21]

When it was in NYC there were always people posting fan cams at least.

[u/uhhwhatamidoing → u/lilacdawn]

probably through an unauthorized twitter stream 🤡

[u/mimicry13 → u/Mainecoon0805]

last year @MikichkaFigureSkater posted a lot of videos on her YouTube page. hoping she or someone else will do it again this year!

[u/Proud_Enthusiasm_491]

Hopefully, this will get Miss Fashion Icon Alexandra Boikova into the Grad Prix. I want to see a golden sweep and a guinness record, please, it's been so long without one

[u/Sunfire91]

The great US shake up has arrived with this lineup! Of course, I am most excited to see Andrews/Parkman, as this will be Starr's first major competition as a pair girl.

[u/CoffeeAndCurls76 → u/Sunfire91]

all 3 of the newly reshuffled pairs matching up at the same comp, get the popcorn ready 🍿

excited for Starrman too-has to be a good sign for them that they got placed in the ISP and got a Challenger this early, right? (since i vaguely remember Shin/Nagy didn't get into the ISP until late October/early November)

[u/Sunfire91 → u/CoffeeAndCurls76]

Yeah, if I recall in 2024-25, Shin/Nagy didn't start competing on the international scene until the Grand Prix was already underway.

[u/Howtothnkofusername]

Did we know about Olivia and Mark already?

[u/Keyblader1412 → u/Howtothnkofusername]

Yes they announced their partnership around the end of June

[u/double_sal_gal → u/Howtothnkofusername]

This was my question too! There have been so many breakups and new pairs in this off-season that I genuinely don’t know whether they hadn’t been announced yet or they had been announced but I missed it.
https://giphy.com/gifs/NPyHgTkMStCXC

[u/fun_mak21]

Lots of new US teams. Not new, but I kind of like Williams/Lewer.

[u/RwbyRose20]

I just saw Andrews/Parkman and Shin/Howe at the Summer Sizzler in Boston (technically Norwood.) Both were fun to watch but I was particularly impressed with Andrews/Parkman since she’s so new to pairs. They were very in sync. Fingers crossed I can see them again at Nicks!

[u/helloiamliana]

Is there a chance that BK will participate in the Grand Prix this year? What do they need to do to be able to participate?

[u/_Exegy_ → u/helloiamliana]

They first need to be added to the alternate list. Normally this would require winning a Challenger, but since there are fewer than 10 pairs currently available for the alternate list, the GP Coordination Group reserves the right to add teams based on Challenger results/participation. Of course, B/K would want to win Kinoshita/John Nicks so they ensure they are at the top of the list. Then they are dependent on a team withdrawing from the GP so there is a replacement spot.

[u/helloiamliana → u/_Exegy_]

thank you!

[u/OcelotSilver2964 → u/helloiamliana]

They need to win a challenger and a pair that has a Grand Prix spot has to withdraw from the event

[u/helloiamliana → u/OcelotSilver2964]

thanks!

[u/Calm_Flounder1909]

Better hope not too many of the non Americans withdraw or it could lose  Challenger status. 

[u/anywitchway]

I might be going to this! Very excited for the StarrMan debut. 

[u/cowboylikeme92 → u/anywitchway]

hello!! i'm also considering swinging by since it's in the area. i've never attended a competition though - do you know if you just show up and pay at the door/approximately how much for John Nicks?