Spencer Howe

Last updated

Spencer Howe
FCC Day3 0443.jpg
Chan/Howe at the 2023 Four Continents Championships
Full nameSpencer Akira Howe
Born (1996-09-11) September 11, 1996 (age 27)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Figure skating career
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States
Partner Emily Chan
CoachOlga Ganicheva, Aleksey Letov
Skating clubThe Skating Club of Boston
Began skating2006
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Figure skating: Pairs
Four Continents Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Tallinn Pairs
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2023 Colorado Springs Pairs

Spencer Akira Howe (born September 11, 1996) is an American pair skater. With his skating partner, Emily Chan, he is a two-time Four Continents silver medalist (2022 and 2023) silver medalist, a two-time Grand Prix silver medalist (2022 Skate America; 2022 NHK Trophy), and a two-time U.S. national medalist (silver in 2023; pewter in 2022).

Contents

Personal life

Howe was born on September 11, 1996, in Burbank, California. [1] He was born to a white-American father and Japanese mother. [2]

As of 2022, Howe coaches both figure skating and hockey at The Skating Club of Boston, where he trains.

He is in a relationship with fellow figure skater Gabriella Izzo. [3]

Career

Early years

Howe began figure skating in 2006 at the age of nine after following his sister, who later became an ice dancer, into the sport. [3]

Early in his pairs career, Howe competed in partnership with Ami Koga for Japan. They were coached by Richard Gauthier, Bruno Marcotte, Sylvie Fullum, and Cynthia Lemaire in Saint-Leonard, Quebec, Canada, and appeared at two ISU Junior Grand Prix events in 2016. [4]

Competing with Nadine Wang, Howe finished fourth in junior pairs at the 2018 U.S. Championships. Their partnership dissolved shortly after.

Following the end of his partnership with Wang, Howe moved from Saint-Leonard, Quebec to his hometown of Los Angeles, California, considering retirement due to a recurring shoulder injury that he was struggling with at the time. However, he was contacted by the president of U.S. Figure Skating, asking if he would try out with Emily Chan, who was looking for a partner at the time and he agreed. [3]

Partnership with Chan

Early years

Howe teamed up with Chan in 2019, and the two decided to train at the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, coached by Aleksey Letov and Olga Ganicheva. [5] In their second season together, Chan/Howe placed seventh at the 2020 Skate America and fifth at the 2021 U.S. Championships.

2021–22 season

Chan/Howe finished ninth at the 2021 CS Warsaw Cup. In January, they won pewter for fourth place at the 2022 U.S. Championships and were sent to the 2022 Four Continents Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. Ranked third in the short and second in the free, they moved ahead of Canada's Walsh/Michaud to take the silver medal behind fellow Americans Lu/Mitrofanov. [6]

2022–23 season

The international pairs scene going into the 2022–23 season was greatly altered by the International Skating Union banning all Russian skaters in response to their country's invasion of Ukraine. [7] With more podium opportunities for pairs outside of Russia, Chan/Howe began with a silver medal win at the 2022 CS U.S. Classic. Howe said that they were pleased with the outcome in light of injury troubles that had hindered their preparations. [8]

Given two Grand Prix assignments for the first time, they won the silver medal at the 2022 Skate Canada International. [9] They won a second silver medal weeks later at the 2022 NHK Trophy, qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. [10] [11] Despite a jump error in the free skate, Chan said they were "very happy with our skate." [12] Chan/Howe struggled at the Final, finishing sixth of six teams. [13]

Chan/Howe won the silver medal at the 2023 U.S. Championships, a new best podium placement at the national championships. Chan said they were both "really grateful" for the result. [14] With national champions Knierim/Frazier declining to attend the 2023 Four Continents Championships in favour of a paid appearance at Art on Ice, Chan/Howe became the highest-ranked American team in attendance at a home ISU championship. [15] In the short program, Howe fell on his triple toe attempt, but they still placed third in the segment. [16] [17] In the free skate, they overtook Canadians Stellato/Deschamps for the silver medal, their second. Chan called it "a special moment for both of us." [18] [19]

Chan/Howe concluded their season by making their World Championship debut, finishing fifth at the 2023 edition in Saitama. [20]

2023–24 season

For most of the 2022–23 season, Howe had been dealing what was eventually revealed to be a torn labrum, which necessitated surgery in May of 2023. Chan and Howe resumed training together in July, and initially hoped to be ready to compete on the Grand Prix circuit in the fall. [21] However, they subsequently had to withdraw from their assignments, as Howe's return to readiness proved slower than they had hoped. He would later say that the process was about getting "to a place where it’s like, oh, wow, this is what it feels like to actually be able to skate and not always be dealing and managing with pain." [22]

Chan and Howe performing a pair spin during their free skate at the 2024 World Championships Emily Chan & Spencer Akira Howe 2024 Worlds Free Skate 6.jpg
Chan and Howe performing a pair spin during their free skate at the 2024 World Championships

Chan/Howe announced that they would return to competition at the 2024 U.S. Championships in Columbus. [22] Despite Chan putting a hand down on the pair's throw loop in the short program, they won the segment by 1.29 points over Kam/O'Shea. Afterward, they announced their withdrawal in advance of the free skate. Howe explained that the short program was "a big success for us, and a huge milestone to our comeback, but we feel we want to take this time to continue to get healthy and set ourselves up for success." [23]

Despite their withdrawal from the national championships, Chan/Howe were named to the American team from the 2024 World Championships in Montreal. [24] They came twelfth in the short program, having had issues on their throw and spins. [25] Thirteenth in the free skate, they finished twelfth overall. Chan viewed the result as "amazing for us," explaining that "last year we had a great debut. This year, we have a little bit different circumstances, but we're here and we're grateful." [26]

Programs

With Chan

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2023–24 [27]
2022–23
[1]

Ghost: The Musical

2021–22
[28]
2020–21
[29]
2019–20
[5]
  • Je Crois Entendre Encore
    by Alison Moyet
    choreo. by Olga Ganicheva
  • On the Nature of Daylight
    by Max Richter
    choreo. by Olga Ganicheva

With Koga

Season Short program Free skating
2016–17
[4]
  • Yesterday
    by Paul McCartney
  • Yesterday
    (from André Rieu Celebrates ABBA – Music of the Night)
    choreo. by Julie Marcotte

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix. Pewter medals (fourth place) awarded only at U.S. national and subnational events.

Pairs with Chan for the United States

International [30]
Event 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
Worlds 5th12th
Four Continents 2nd2nd
GP Final 6th
GP NHK Trophy 2ndWD
GP Skate America 7th
GP Skate Canada 2nd
CS U.S. Classic 2nd
CS Warsaw Cup 9th
Cranberry Cup 4th
John Nicks Challenge 6th2nd
National [5]
U.S. Championships 5th4th2ndWD
U.S. Pairs Final6th
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew

Pairs with Wang for the United States

International: Junior
Event 17–18
Mentor Torun Cup 2nd
National
U.S. Championships 4th J

Pairs with Koga for Japan

International: Junior [31]
Event 16–17
JGP Czech Republic 9th
JGP Germany 8th

Men's singles for the United States

International: Junior
Event 13–14 14–15
JGP Belarus 15th J
JGP Estonia 12th
National
U.S. Championships 8th J6th J

Detailed results

With Chan

2023–2024 season
DateEvent SP FS Total
March 18–24, 2024 2024 World Championships 12
62.86		13
112.58		12
175.44
January 22-28, 2024 2024 U.S. Championships 1
65.86		WDWD
2022–2023 season
DateEvent SP FS Total
March 20–26, 2023 2023 World Championships 5
70.23		8
124.50		5
194.73
February 7–12, 2023 2023 Four Continents Championships 3
66.96		2
134.15		2
201.11
January 23–29, 2023 2023 U.S. Championships 2
66.86		2
130.00		2
196.86
December 8–11, 2022 2022–23 Grand Prix Final 6
53.85		6
109.06		6
162.91
November 18–20, 2022 2022 NHK Trophy 2
64.62		2
122.87		2
187.49
October 28–30, 2022 2022 Skate Canada International 2
67.39		3
119.09		2
186.48
September 12–16, 2022 2022 CS U.S. Classic 2
61.71		2
120.10		2
181.81
September 8–10, 2022 2022 John Nicks Pairs Challenge 2
60.45		2
113.64		2
174.09
2021–2022 season
DateEvent SP FS Total
January 18–23, 2022 2022 Four Continents Championships 3
64.47		2
116.47		2
180.94
January 3–9, 2022 2022 U.S. Championships 4
61.94		5
115.31		4
177.25
November 17–20, 2021 2021 CS Warsaw Cup 12
56.94		8
106.45		9
163.39
September 9–10, 2021 2021 John Nicks Pairs Challenge 6
59.77		6
110.31		6
170.08
August 11–15, 2021 2021 Cranberry Cup International 4
63.61		4
118.83		4
182.44
2020–2021 season
DateEvent SP FS Total
January 11–21, 2021 2021 U.S. Championships 5
60.41		5
116.65		5
177.06
October 23–24, 2020 2020 Skate America 7
55.58		8
95.57		7
151.15
2019–2020 season
DateEvent SP FS Total
November 12–16, 20192020 U.S. Pairs Final6
49.76		5
89.28		6
139.04

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References

  1. 1 2 "Emily CHAN / Spencer HOWE: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Spencer Howe and Emily Chan Honor Asian American Heritages". U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. May 23, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "GOEing into Detail with Emily Chan and Spencer Howe". YouTube. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Ami KOGA / Spencer Akira HOWE: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 21, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3
  6. ↑ Slater, Paula (January 22, 2022). "USA's Lu and Mitrofanov: 'It means everything'". Golden Skate.
  7. ↑ McCarvel, Nick (October 19, 2022). "Figure skating 2022/23 season preview: New Olympic quad begins with intrigue and plenty of familiar faces". International Olympic Committee . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ Sausa, Christie (September 15, 2022). "Ilia Malinin Rewrites the History Books with Quad Axel to Take Gold". U.S. Figure Skating.
  9. ↑ Slater, Paula (October 29, 2022). "Miura and Kihara win historic pairs Gold for Japan". Golden Skate.
  10. ↑ "'Confident' Miura/Kihara (JPN) delight home crowd to lead Pairs after Short Program at NHK Trophy". International Skating Union. November 18, 2022.
  11. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 19, 2022). "Miura and Kihara take second Grand Prix title at NHK Trophy". Golden Skate.
  12. ↑ "Miura/Kihara (JPN) take home Pairs gold in NHK Trophy to qualify for Grand Prix Final in style". International Skating Union. November 19, 2022.
  13. ↑ Slater, Paula (December 9, 2022). "Miura and Kihara make history in Torino". Golden Skate.
  14. ↑ Flett, Ted (January 29, 2023). "Knierim and Frazier reclaim US pairs title". Golden Skate.
  15. ↑ McCarvel, Nick (February 6, 2023). "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2023 preview: Levito, Miura/Kihara and Chock/Bates all aim for titles ahead of figure skating worlds". Olympic Channel .
  16. ↑ "Miura/Kihara (JPN) capture Four Continents Pairs Short Program". International Skating Union. February 10, 2023.
  17. ↑ Dombrowski, Judith (February 10, 2023). "Miura and Kihara 'achieve goal' in short program". Golden Skate.
  18. ↑ Slater, Paula (February 11, 2023). "Miura and Kihara reign at Four Continents". Golden Skate.
  19. ↑ "Miura/Kihara claim historic Four Continents Pairs title for Japan". International Skating Union. February 11, 2023.
  20. ↑ Slater, Paula (March 23, 2023). "Miura and Kihara grand-slam their way into history". Golden Skate.
  21. ↑ Kellar, Anna (August 24, 2023). "Chan and Howe: 'It's just the beginning'". Golden Skate. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  22. 1 2 Zaccardi, Nick (January 24, 2024). "Top U.S. pair Emily Chan, Spencer Howe signal return at figure skating nationals". NBC Sports . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Pairs' leaders Emily Chan, Spencer Howe withdraw from figure skating nationals". NBC Sports . January 25, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  24. ↑ Henneman, Kristen (March 18, 2024). "Seventeen of Team USA's Best to Compete on World Stage". U.S. Figure Skating . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  25. ↑ Schwindt, Troy (March 20, 2024). "Levito shines in short program at Worlds, places second". U.S. Figure Skating . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  26. ↑ Schwindt, Troy (March 21, 2024). "Malinin third after short program at Worlds, with Brown close behind". U.S. Figure Skating . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Emily CHAN / Spencer HOWE: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Emily CHAN / Spencer HOWE: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Emily CHAN / Spencer HOWE: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Competition Results: Emily CHAN / Spencer HOWE". International Skating Union.
  31. ↑ "Competition Results: Ami KOGA / Spencer Akira HOWE". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 30, 2019.
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