2019-20 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

I'm really going to miss Haven and Brandon. I'm both shocked and not shocked. Someone on another forum noted in mid-February that Haven had touched the ice after their Nats FS, and it seemed to be nostalgia, or a sign. Someone else said they thought that the way Alexa and Chris made their announcement, and the timing of it, indicated that there may have already been conversations in the works for a new partner tryout. A third someone said in light of that and of Haven's struggles with jumps since her very serious knee injuries, it might be Brandon. I could see the logic, but I suppose I was in denial, especially in light of Brandon's earlier remark to the effect that when Haven retired, he would. I'm still having trouble imagining him skating with anyone else, including Alexa. But of course things do change. Haven's position and expression during their lifts are unparalleled, and what I love most about their skating is a gently joyful quality.

The most heartening thing about it all is that Haven gives her full support to Brandon's continued competing.

A few of my favorite Haven and Brandon programs:

Somewhere in Time, SA 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA5VgMzw7Mo. They won 2017 nationals with this FS.

The Lion King, SA 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpzKp8gm8_A

2019 FS to The Lion King, SA 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owa-o0JVNAs

I couldn't find on youtube the programs Charlie White choreographed for them, but you can see them with NBC gold.

moonvine said:

He has his motorcycle up for sale.

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Ouchy. :sad21:

Really really sorry about Nica & Danny.. my favorite US team along with Alexa & Chris. They were utterly charming and enjoyable to watch .. will miss them. :luv17: :yes:

Now we have Alexa, Brandon, Nica and Danny looking for partners. Any chance that Alexa is partnering with Danny and Brandon with Nica?

Edited to add: just kidding. Apparently Danny already has a new partner.

SorrySkater said:

Now we have Alexa, Brandon, Nica and Danny looking for partners. Any chance that Alexa is partnering with Danny and Brandon with Nica?

Edited to add: just kidding. Apparently Danny already has a new partner.

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I laughed ... particularly because I had the same wild momentary thought!

Well i guess US Pairs can't stand a good thing so now there are 3 teams that have broken up in just the last few weeks.

Tai said on her Twitter that when she and Randy were 8 and 10, or some such age, they signed a pact to stay together and they did. Maybe that’s why they are the last World Champion Gold Medalists we have. In 1979.

Jammers said:

Well i guess US Pairs can't stand a good thing so now there are 3 teams that have broken up in just the last few weeks.

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I didn't realize that USA pairs had a good thing in recent times. Let's see the last Olympic medal won by Watson/Oppegard in 1988. The last Worlds medal was a bronze by Ina/Zimmerman in 2002.

Despite what I just typed, I'm usually optimistic by nature so I say all the USA pairs can do is be positive, work hard as soon as the rinks reopen and avoid the woe is us attitude. Sports isn't real life, I'm saving my real distress for real world issues.

Spiralgraph said:

I didn't realize that USA pairs had a good thing in recent times. Let's see the last Olympic medal won by Watson/Oppegard in 1988. The last Worlds medal was a bronze by Ina/Zimmerman in 2002.

Despite what I just typed, I'm usually optimistic by nature so I say all the USA pairs can do is be positive, work hard as soon as the rinks reopen and avoid the woe is us attitude. Sports isn't real life, I'm saving my real distress for real world issues.

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It is an amazing luxury to be able to be distressed by sports. I hope we get it back.

moonvine said:

Tai said on her Twitter that when she and Randy were 8 and 10, or some such age, they signed a pact to stay together and they did. Maybe that’s why they are the last World Champion Gold Medalists we have. In 1979.

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And Meryl Davis and Charlie White are the last World Champion Gold Medalists we have in Ice Dancing since .... EVER!

I've never heard Meryl or Charlie mention signing a pact, but they both have said how fortunate they were to have and stay with each other as partners since childhood. And at their induction into the Hall of Fame, part of their introduction was that they're each the only ID partner the other has ever had.

I did hear Charlie say once on the subject that they were lucky in several ways: "nobody got too tall for the other," they had world-class coaching near their homes so that kept a lot of stability in their training. Even their families became friends and socialized together; that gave their partnership a lot of great support.

So I do think it can be partly luck, partly commitment, partly other factors. Artur Dmitriev said in a recent interview that when a skater or pair changes coaches, it takes three months to understand what the new coach wants and expects from you, and it takes another three months to be able to do it. So if a pair or skater switches coaches 3 or 4 times, there's two years gone!

Spiralgraph said:

I didn't realize that USA pairs had a good thing in recent times. Let's see the last Olympic medal won by Watson/Oppegard in 1988. The last Worlds medal was a bronze by Ina/Zimmerman in 2002.

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I don't necessarily define "a good thing" in terms of world medals won.

We have Cain-Gribble/Leduc, Calalang/Johnson, Kayne/O'Shea and Lu/Mitrofanov who give us such a wonderful range of styles and pure enjoyment for audiences. There's something for everybody. I'm aware that Cain-Gribble/Leduc have many detractors as to what results they might even be able to achieve. But for me, their various styles of performance are so enjoyable! their unison, and their unusual look for a pair, emphasizing synchronicity and a sort of unity of vision and commitment to their music -- all of that creates an experience of pairs that's so unusual. They had a tough season, but that happens, and I think they'll bounce back.

Calalang/Johnson have an ethereal quality that I haven't seen in a US pair, and they're also unique in their way. I think Calalang almost rivals Haven Denney in her expressiveness and performance ability, particularly in lifts. She invites the audience to experience the joy and feeling of flight. She and Brian have the lifts, as wow elements, and the lifts as ways to communicate. I'd like to see Brian come closer to Jessica's artistry, and I think they're developing it. I'm aware that some want the pairs man to be the muscle, period.

Kayne/O'Shea undoubtedly have something different. They do have performance ability and connection. I happen to love K/O when they're skating to Danny's choices of music, which lean to "all POTO all the time." LOL. I think I like it when Danny is happy with the music, and I like it when Tarah isn't over the top. The other thing about K/O is that they always peak at nationals. So they provide something unique to US fans, at least. Their twist makes me groan inwardly. She said years ago that the problem is that she goes into the jump part too early, which is confirmed by all the commentators when they says the best twists have a lilt, or the girl has a great push-off. So, knowing the problem and being able to change it are two different things. Still, there are other teams who've had groan-worthy twists and gone on to heights ... Stolbov's twist position was

I'll paraphrase Tanith and Charlie here: Lu/Mitrofanov have some great things our other teams need; and they need some things our other teams have! They're a young team. My biggest wish for them is that Audrey will somehow learn to perform and look like she's enjoying skating. When Misha shows his performance ability, he's wonderful.

I think it's much more interesting, what we have with our top pairs, rather than everyone going for the same thing. When teams excel in originality and creativity, that gives them a special quality. Oh yes, and we have Finster/Nagy coming up to seniors next year. And all of these teams are competitive at the world level, so that means we get to see them compete more often.

Spiralgraph said:

Despite what I just typed, I'm usually optimistic by nature so I say all the USA pairs can do is be positive, work hard as soon as the rinks reopen and avoid the woe is us attitude. .

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Here's Ashley and her husband Dalton doing what they can to stay active and be positive. It's a "plank challenge" set to music. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-VW9yZDIgZ/

Ashley teaching Dalton how to do lifts. Timothy commented: "Well, I'm out a job." https://www.instagram.com/p/B99-71pjokD/ this is from March 20.

Tim and Ashley, "before we were quarantined" showing a couple of new moves and fails. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Pwkr-jy9f/

And now it's official Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier

https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...and-brandon-frazier-announce-partnership.aspx

I really think they could be great together. Good luck to them!

Alexa posted this from their "super short tryout" last month.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7l1ZzjOyE/?igshid=1awix2a1jzlgz

Wowza!

Ashley and Tim are doing in-home, facetime choreography with Pasquale for next season's long program.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B--vox-jXUq/?igshid=14xnsb0ts9o0h

I can't quite figure out whether Tim is harmonizing, or going all tone deaf. I'm really happy for A&T to have this chance to create and be inspired even in April 2020. Hoping for all skaters to have similar chances!

Ashley posted this Dance Challenge a few days ago. Participating are Tim, Mariah, Jason, Amber and Bradie! https://www.instagram.com/p/B-0C_vgjY3f/

More US Pairs finding ways during this difficult time to be inspired and to inspire others!

Tarah & Danny https://www.instagram.com/p/B-VQV6BpmuE/ And some of Tarah's sassy humor https://www.instagram.com/p/B9X7BC3pXqx/

Jessica and Brian https://www.instagram.com/p/B-dKHXrJjaV/ and a few months ago, showing some awesome workout footage https://www.instagram.com/p/B1KeAgwHE7R/

Joshua Santillan/Jessica Pfund's latest blog is a long one, detailing their struggles with injuries. I skimmed down to the last few paragraphs, beginning with "Every practice in Greensboro." He takes us through every moment of their FS and what was going through his mind, how he turned his brain from unhelpful memories to inspiring thoughts. All the way to K&C and after ...http://joshica.net/blog/

Courtesy of Ms Ashley Cain-Gribble...

USA Pairs looking and feeling feisty!

"Bring It To The Runway: Quarantined Pairs Edition"

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_S8ZsUD8vU/

^^ I should make it clear that the USA Pairs doing lifts & tricks to music in the above link^^ are:

Tarah and Danny, Jessica and Brian, Olivia and Mervin, Ashley and Tim,

AND

two surprises

skylark said:

^^ I should make it clear that the USA Pairs doing lifts & tricks to music in the above link^^ are:

Tarah and Danny, Jessica and Brian, Olivia and Mervin, Ashley and Tim,

AND

two surprises

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Who is partnering with Nate??

slider11 said:

Who is partnering with Nate??

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Katie McBeath