John Nicks Pairs Challenge

John Nicks Pairs Challenge
Logo of the John Nicks Pairs Challenge
GenreISU Challenger Series
FrequencyAnnual
VenueSky Rink at Chelsea Piers
LocationNew York City, New York
CountryUnited States United States
Inaugurated2021
Previous event
2025 John Nicks International Pairs Competition
Next event
2026 John Nicks International Pairs Competition
Organized bySkating Club of New York &
U.S. Figure Skating

The John Nicks Pairs Challenge is an annual pairs figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU). It is organized and hosted by the Skating Club of New York and U.S. Figure Skating at the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers in New York City, New York, in the United States.[1] The competition debuted in 2021, and is named in honor of John Nicks, a retired British figure skater who worked as a figure skating coach in the United States for nearly four decades. In 2024, it became part of the Challenger Series. Medals are awarded in pair skating at the senior and junior levels; when the event is part of the Challenger Series, skaters earn ISU World Standing points based on their results.

History

The competition is named in honor of John Nicks,[2] a retired figure skater who competed for Great Britain in single skating and later pair skating with his sister Jennifer.[3] They are four-time World Championship medalists (gold in 1953, silver in 1950, and bronze in 1951 and 1952);[4] four-time European Championship medalists (gold in 1953, silver in 1952, and bronze in 1950 and 1951);[5] and six-time British national champions (1948–1953).[6] After the crash of Sabena Flight 548 in 1961, in which most of the U.S. national figure skating team was killed,[7] Nicks chose to emigrate to the United States to work as a coach and help rebuild the American skating program. He had been impressed by the American skaters he watched at the 1948 Winter Olympics, which helped influence his decision to move to the United States.[3] Nicks was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000.[2] He coached an estimated 1,200 skaters during a career than spanned more than four decades,[3] including Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner,[8] JoJo Starbuck and Kenneth Shelley,[3] Jenni Meno and Todd Sand,[9] Sasha Cohen,[10] and Ashley Wagner.[3]

The inaugural edition of the John Nicks Pairs Challenge was held in 2021. Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier of the United States were the champions.[11] In 2024, the John Nicks Pairs Challenge – now called the John Nicks International Pairs Competition – was the second event of the ISU Challenger Series,[12] a series of international figure skating competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU). The objective is to ensure consistent organization and structure within a series of international competitions linked together, providing opportunities for senior-level skaters to compete at the international level and also earn ISU World Standing points.[13] When an event is held as part of the Challenger Series, it must host at least three of the four disciplines (men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance) and representatives from at least ten different ISU member nations. The minimum number of entrants required for each discipline is eight skaters each in men's singles and women's singles, five teams in pair skating, and six teams in ice dance. Each ISU member nation is eligible to enter up to three skaters or teams per discipline in each competition, although the U.S. Figure Skating may enter an unlimited number of entrants in their own event. The John Nicks Pairs Challenge is held in conjunction with the Cranberry Cup International – the former hosts the pairs event, while the latter hosts the men's and women's events – and the two competitions constitute the U.S. Figure Skating's contribution to the Challenger Series.[14] The 2026 John Nicks International Pairs Competition is scheduled to be held from 11 to 12 September.[15]

Senior medalists

Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps at the 2025 World Championships
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov at the 2025 World Championships
Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman at the 2026 U.S. Championships
The 2025 John Nicks International Pairs Competition medalists: (from left to right): Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada (gold); Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov of the United States (silver); and Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman of the United States (bronze)

CS: Challenger Series event

Year Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
2021
  • United States
 [11]
2022 [16]
2023 [17]
2024 CS [18]
2025 CS [19]

Junior medalists

Year Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
2021
  • Canada
  • Chloe Panetta
  • Kieran Thrasher
  • United States
  • Cate Fleming
  • Chase Finster
  • United States
  • Laiken Lockley
  • Jedidiah Isbell
 [11]
2022
  • United States
  • Ellie Korytek
  • Timmy Chapman
  • United States
  • Catherine Rivers
  • Nathan Rensing
  • United States
  • Lilanna Murray
  • Jordan Gillette
 [16]
2023
  • United States
  • Saya Carpenter
  • Jon Maravilla
  • Israel
  • Sofia Enkina
  • Nikita Kovalenko
  • United States
  • Ashley Fletcher
  • Aaron Felberbaum
 [17]
2024
  • United States
  • Reagan Moss
  • Jakub Galbavy
  • United States
  • Addyson McDanold
  • Aaron Felberbaum
  • United Kingdom
  • Neamh Davison
  • Daniel Borisov
 [18]
2025
  • Ukraine
 [19]

Cumulative medal count (senior medalists)

Total number of John Nicks Pairs Challenge medals by nation
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 United States24410
2 Italy1102
3 Canada1001
 France1001
5 Uzbekistan0011
Totals (5 entries)55515

References

  1. ↑ "2025 John Nicks Pairs International Challenger Series - Announcement" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 29, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "The John Nicks International Pairs Challenge at the 97th Middle Atlantic Figure Skating Championships". The Skating Club of New York. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Rosewater, Amy (January 14, 2013). "A life in skating: An interview with John Nicks". Ice Network. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ "World Figure Skating Championships: Pairs" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2006. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  5. ↑ "European Figure Skating Championships: Pairs" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 5, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "'Ice Queen,' 17 Other U.S. Skaters Killed". United Press International. February 15, 1961. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Long Path Has Rewards for Babilonia, Gardner". Los Angeles Times. February 19, 2002. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Jenni Meno & Todd Sand". The Figure Skating Corner. Archived from the original on March 7, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2006.
  10. ↑ Elliott, Helene (March 26, 2003). "Still Waiting for Sasha Cohen". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 "2021 John Nicks Pairs Challenge". Skating Scores. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Communication No. 2619". International Skating Union. March 19, 2024. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Challenger Series". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 29, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Challenger Series in Figure Skating 2025/26 – Announcement" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  15. ↑ Slater, Paula (June 16, 2026). "ISU announces 2026–27 international figure skating events". Golden Skate. Retrieved June 16, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. 1 2 "2022 John Nicks Pairs Challenge". Skating Scores. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "2023 John Nicks Pairs Challenge". Skating Scores. Archived from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "2024 John Nicks Pairs Challenge". Skating Scores. Archived from the original on January 27, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "2025 John Nicks Pairs Challenge". Skating Scores. Archived from the original on October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
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