Although reigning world and Olympic silver medal ice dance duo Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto pulled out of the Grand Prix final the week prior due to oral surgery Tanith had undergone for an impacted wisdom tooth, Agosto said they will be ready to compete at the U.S. Championships.

 

The duo qualified for the 2009 final with triumphs at China and Skate America, but missed last season's Grand Prix final and U.S. nationals because Agosto had a back injury.

 

Belbin and Agosto, runners-up at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, took world silver medals in 2005 and 2009 and finished third at 2006 and 2007 worlds. They train under former Olympic champions Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov.

 

Below they talk about their involvement with Pennies in Action Fund, a non-profit breast cancer vaccine research program, and their hopes for the 2010 U.S. Nationals.

Taking the bronze at the 2009 U.S. National Championships, was married couple, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin’s seventh straight finish on the podium in nationals. In prior years Rena and John had earned two national titles, threesilver and two bronze.

 

Then in October, they took 4th at the Trophee Eric Bompard, giving themselves each a big gift for their birthdays on October 17^th (Rena) and 18^th (John), in addition to placing third in the free skate and landing their first throw triple Axel in nearly three seasons.

 

In November, the pair won the Bronze Medal at the NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan. It was their third appearance at the Grand Prix Series competition.

 

This January, the pair is back for their 8^th Nationals appearance, going for the gold and a chance on the Olympic team.

Partners since 1997, Meryl Davis and Charlie White are the longest running ice dance partnership in the U.S. Steadily climbing the ranks of U.S. and international ice dance, they won the 2006 U.S National Junior title and bronze medal at the 2006 World Junior Championships.

 

Jumping to the seniors division in the fall of 2006, Meryl and Charlie made their senior Grand Prix debut with fourth place finishes at Skate Canada and NHK Trophy. Next they took bronze at the 2007 U.S. Nationals, earning them the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the World Championships where they finished 7th - the highest debut by a U.S. team since 1980. They are currently ranked in the top 10 on the International Skating Union's world ice dance standings.