The Four Continents’ silver and bronze medal-winning teams also train at I.AM, as do four-time U.S. bronze medalists Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker. The school trained the 2018 and 2022 Olympic champions and all three world ice dance medalists last season.

“In order to be the best, we have to compete in a healthy way at home every day,” Fournier Beaudry said of sharing the ice with Chock and Bates. “It brings all of us to a higher level. It makes us better competitors and better human beings.”

Since moving to Montreal, the skaters have worked with Dubreuil and her choreographic partner Samuel Chouinard to create memorable free dances, including the sensuous “Egyptian Snake Dance” routine and last season’s “Lovers from Outer Space.”

“Over the years, we’ve taken more ownership of (our material), and I think that’s why our programs have resonated so much with people, because we’ve really put ourselves into them,” Chock said. “They’re more organic, and our coaches do a magnificent job of fostering that in all of their teams.”

“Fire and Wind” did not have the immediate impact of previous free dances. A heavy post-Olympic touring schedule left little time to prepare for the 2022-23 season, and the couple hit the Grand Prix circuit without competing in a warm-up event. They edged past Hawayek and Baker to win gold at Skate America in October but placed second to Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen at NHK Trophy in November. At the Grand Prix Final in December, they took silver behind Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier.

Now, with additional mileage, plus some edits to music and choreography, the program is rounding into top form well in time for the world championships in Saitama, Japan, the third week of March.

“This competition sets us up really well for the world championships, and for our goal of winning worlds,” Bates said. “We really loaded up on the training in December and we made some changes. Honestly, from where we started at Skate America with this program in particular, I could not have imagined the form it’s taken on.”

On their competitive future after worlds, the couple is undecided, saying they are taking things “season by season.” Bates slipped a vintage Cartier engagement ring on Chock’s finger during a vacation in Thailand last June, and they plan a wedding next year.

“I couldn’t have predicted how this season unfolded,” Chock said. “But that’s what keeps it interesting, and that’s what keeps us hooked — our love of the sport, our love of growth. That we get to do it together on a daily basis is even better.

“And so long as we have that love, that drive, that fire, we will continue.”

HOCK AND BATES’ COMPETITIVE FIRE STILL BURNS BRIGHT

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