In Episode 12 of The Skating Session, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu continue their analysis of the 2025–2026 Grand Prix assignments, this time focusing on pairs and ice dance. They examine the impact of high-profile comebacks from Olympic champions Sui & Han, as well as the Shibutanis and Fournier-Beaudry & Cizeron, and what those returns mean for the current competitive hierarchy.

They walk through each Grand Prix event, noting how assignments reflect federation strategy, Olympic positioning, and emerging rivalries. The discussion covers everything from internal national battles in the U.S. and Canada to the evolving dance field now disrupted by returning legends. They also highlight logistical quirks, like the scarcity of spots in pairs and the underassignment of several championship medallist teams.

Tony and Thomas unpack what the fall matchups may foreshadow for the Olympic season. The episode closes with commentary on media narratives, judging politics, and a preview of summer content, including retrospective deep dives into the origins of the Grand Prix series.

In Episode 11 of The Skating Session, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu dive deep into the 2025–2026 Grand Prix assignments for men and women. They walk through the ISU grids event by event, analyzing key matchups, surprise omissions, and the stakes for Olympic qualification. From comeback skaters like Sui and Han to high-stakes U.S. men's rivalries and the crowded Japanese women's field, they break down what to expect across each Grand Prix stop.

They explore the implications of the ISU's assignment rules, the strategic use of TBD slots, and how federations may be angling for second spots or holding back for summer monitoring. Key themes include the unpredictability of fields, internal national battles for Olympic berths, and how consistency and fall season performances could shape the Grand Prix Final lineup.

This episode is packed with technical context, roster breakdowns, and forward-looking speculation as the 2025–2026 figure skating season begins to take shape. Follow the link below to see the assignments!

https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/events/isu-grand-prix/

In Episode 10 of The Skating Session, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu share their chaotic experience securing tickets to the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague. From middle-of-the-night login attempts and error messages to frantic screen refreshes and surprise Apple Pay saves, they walk through the highs and lows of navigating Ticketportal.

This special episode is a candid look at what it's like to be a hardcore figure skating fan, from strategizing ticket sections to deciphering buggy interfaces and reflecting on how ticketing compares to previous events like Boston Worlds. It's an honest, behind-the-scenes perspective on the dedication (and frustration) that comes with planning a trip to one of skating's biggest events!

In Episode 9 of The Skating Session, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu explore the new rhythm dance requirements for the 2026 Olympic season, centered on a '90s dance party' theme. They break down the removal of compulsory patterns for seniors, the shift toward vibes-based judging, and the implications for technical merit in ice dance. They discuss the allowance of AI-generated music and debate whether it undermines the intent of the theme.

The episode opens with major news about a likely comeback from Olympic champions Sui and Han. Tony and Thomas discuss what their return would mean for Olympic qualification in pairs and the competitive landscape overall.

Tony's 90s RD Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWGRcPSwJJgFCmVXyOnsfULgzZtwD-XE8

Thomas' 90s RD Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWGRcPSwJJgEM5j3GRNrCB97ftgVy2XfO

In Episode 8 of The Skating Session, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu unpack the announcement of eligible neutral athletes for the 2026 Winter Olympics, with a focus on Russian and Belarusian figure skaters who cleared the IOC screening process. They explore what the absence of Russian pairs and ice dance teams means for Olympic qualification, assess the chances of approved skaters like Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik, and explain how this impacts the final Olympic spots across disciplines.

The episode covers the broader implications for competitive fairness, fan reactions, and political dynamics in the sport. Tony and Thomas also break down the qualifying structure, share historical context, and debate how fans and judges might respond to these athletes' return to Olympic ice.

Expect rulebook nerdiness, behind-the-scenes commentary, and sharp, unapologetic takes on the state of the sport.

In Episode 7 of The Skating Session, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu dive into the shock return of Olympic bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani, who have announced a comeback after seven years away from competition. They break down the potential impact on the domestic and international ice dance field, evaluate the strengths and challenges of returning elite athletes, and discuss what this means for Olympic selection.

The episode also explores the return of Guillaume Cizeron with new partner Laurence Fournier-Beaudry, historical comebacks in ice dance, and what recent changes in choreography, scoring, and judging trends signal for the sport. The hosts offer sharp insights, personal stories, and speculation on how these developments could reshape the 2026 Olympic narrative. As always, they close with their thoughts on offseason projects and upcoming skating news.

Expect rulebook nerdiness, behind-the-scenes commentary, and sharp, unapologetic takes on the state of the sport.

In Episode 6 of The Skating Session, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu wrap up their coverage of the 2025 World Team Trophy and reflect on the conclusion of the figure skating season. They offer insight on the final day’s events, including the women's free skate and the pairs free skate, and evaluate standout moments, scoring controversies, and the impact of skater fatigue.

They discuss team strategies, Olympic implications, and program trends across the field, while maintaining their usual balance of technical analysis and sharp commentary. Tony & Thomas also preview off-season plans for the channel, including historical video uploads, technical explainer content, and continued discussion of rule changes and judging philosophy in figure skating.

Expect rulebook nerdiness, behind-the-scenes commentary, and sharp, unapologetic takes on the state of the sport.

In Episode 5 of The Skating Session, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu recap Day Two of the 2025 World Team Trophy, featuring the pairs short program, free dance, and men’s free skate. They reflect on standout performances, surprising scores, and the overall energy of the event as the season winds down.

The episode covers athlete fatigue, evolving team dynamics, and the ebb and flow of program quality across disciplines. With their usual insight and humor, the hosts explore what Day Two reveals about where the sport stands and where it's headed.

Expect rulebook nerdiness, behind-the-scenes commentary, and sharp, unapologetic takes on the state of the sport.

In Episode 4 of The Skating Session, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu dive into Day One of the 2025 World Team Trophy in Japan. They explore highlights, unexpected performances, and intriguing storylines emerging as top skaters like Jason Brown, Ilia Malinin, Kaori Sakamoto, and new world champion Alysa Liu take to the ice. They discuss the atmosphere of the competition, evaluate standout moments and technical decisions, and provide sharp analysis of scoring trends and judges' calls.

Expect rulebook nerdiness, behind-the-scenes commentary, and sharp, unapologetic takes on the state of the sport.

In the final episode of The Skating Session's 2025 Worlds trilogy, Tony Wheeler and Thomas Vu break down the men's competition and then launch into a comprehensive discussion on what figure skating needs to fix—structurally, competitively, and aesthetically. From Ilia Malinin’s dominance and artistry gap to the rise of Mikhail Shaidorov, Yuma Kagiyama’s generational brilliance, and the redemption of Kevin Aymoz, this is an unfiltered analysis of every standout (and shortfall).

Then the second half of the episode shifts: GOE inflation, flawed choreographic elements, why the “Q” call is "not real," what to do with death spirals, and how the IJS has deformed program structure across all disciplines.

Expect rulebook nerdiness, behind-the-scenes commentary, and sharp, unapologetic takes on the state of the sport.