2019-20 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

skylark said:

I only saw Tai and Randy. If the pairs came first, that may be why I couldn't stand to watch anything else. But it was mainly because I was crazy busy at that time.

I didn't know who David Santee was at the time. But I was at Nationals a few years ago when he served as an escort for someone. Maybe his brother? I don't know, but I remember him entertaining the whole arena, just by his actions. Walking out, he kept stopping to ostentatiously and comically take selfies. He was really cute.

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Why would his brother need an escort? Wouldn't his brother be like in his 40's or 50's? Just curious.

Skater Boy said:

Why would his brother need an escort? Wouldn't his brother be like in his 40's or 50's? Just curious.

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It's just a tradition. A coach getting inducted in the Hall of Fame might have one or two of her/his students escort him. A skater might have his coach. And so forth.

I can't remember, and I couldn't find a reference as to what the award was. If not Hall of Fame, something else. It sticks in my mind that the recipient was his brother,, James Santee, but I'm not sure. However, I'm certain it was someone plenty old enough to walk out onto the ice himself. :yes:

per USFSA the Knierims have WD from worlds and have been replaced by Calalang/Johnson.

Has there been any news on whats going on with the Knierims?

macy said:

per USFSA the Knierims have WD from worlds and have been replaced by Calalang/Johnson.

Has there been any news on whats going on with the Knierims?

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Just started a new thread, Alexa is searching for a new partner:
https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/s...s-Knierim-Steps-away-from-Competitive-Skating

macy said:

per USFSA the Knierims have WD from worlds and have been replaced by Calalang/Johnson.

Has there been any news on whats going on with the Knierims?

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https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...tronger-as-chris-steps-away-from-skating.aspx

This article explains it.

Wow some big retirement news and at odd times. Well Brian and Jessica are ready to go; waht a wonderful treat for them. I know many felt well deserved. I guess the future just sped up. Still a chance for three teams and still a chance for disaster but with two teams now it will be hard for them to lose two spots. Russia just got weaker losing Ksenia and current world bronze medallists due to injuries/health issue. I think both American team will have an easier time beating Walsh and Michaud than I and B. And then losing the Aussies things are kind of looking better and better for the US in pairs.

I said this in the other thread, but I am so proud of both Chris and Alexa. As I've said here more than once, my heart goes out to Chris, so strongly, over the past 18 months. But the way they are handling this decision is so impressive, all around. I have every hope and expectation that he'll be fine ... especially if he can find a clunker Camaro to use as tinkering therapy. Or any old clunker! But of course, I'm so glad he's planning to get professional help. Depression is very very hard. But it's so impressive how open and supportive Alexa and Chris are of each other. What a gift.


Where can we speculate about who might be a partner for Alexa? Here, that's where!

I'm thinking of Marissa Castelli admitting, after her partnership with Mervin ended, that she never completely adjusted to the height difference. Simon was a good 6 inches taller than Mervin, and she'd skated with Simon for 8 years.

So that makes me skeptical about a possible team-up with Nate Bartholomay. But he's the obvious well-qualified person to be in the running. And everyone's different. Alexa could rise to the challenge if anyone could.

Does anyone know whether TJ Nyman has finalized plans with a partnership?

And like others, I would dream of Danny O'Shea ... what a team they'd be. But I also believe that Danny's not leaving Tarah.

Skater Boy said:

Wow some big retirement news and at odd times. Well Brian and Jessica are ready to go; waht a wonderful treat for them. I know many felt well deserved. I guess the future just sped up. Still a chance for three teams and still a chance for disaster but with two teams now it will be hard for them to lose two spots. Russia just got weaker losing Ksenia and current world bronze medallists due to injuries/health issue. I think both American team will have an easier time beating Walsh and Michaud than I and B. And then losing the Aussies things are kind of looking better and better for the US in pairs.

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If US Pairs somehow lost the 2nd spot at Worlds they would both have to have the worst skates of their careers. The field is so weak compared to 2017 or even 2018 which was missing both S/H and D/R.

Jammers said:

If US Pairs somehow lost the 2nd spot at Worlds they would both have to have the worst skates of their careers. The field is so weak compared to 2017 or even 2018 which was missing both S/H and D/R.

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This is a good post. I believe there was some hope in some quarters that the two pairs who are going might skate the competition of their lives and somehow end up with placements totaling 13 or less. It's more unlikely that will happen now... although I have more confidence in Brian and Jessica than most.

But, both pairs would have to have a really bad competition to fall back to one spot next year. The smart bet is on the status quo. USA doesn't gain the third spot, but also doesn't lose one of the two they have now.

For the record, I was very much in favor of naming Brian and Jessica to the team rather than Tim and Ashley. Water under the bridge now. Both pairs get to go, and I'm interested in seeing how they stack up against the international field... and against each other.

TontoK said:

For the record, I was very much in favor of naming Brian and Jessica to the team rather than Tim and Ashley. Water under the bridge now. Both pairs get to go, and I'm interested in seeing how they stack up against the international field... and against each other.

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I was always very much in favor of naming Ashley and Tim to the team. They've been much more consistent than the Knierims in the past two years, and now we understand why, with facts rather than reading Chris's behavior and sympathizing with him. But I'm very much looking forward to seeing Jessica and Brian, along with Ashley and Tim, skating at Worlds. It's fortunate that they were the Knierims' training mates; it means they probably knew of their decision before the rest of the world did, and had that extra push and motivation to keep their training up at a high level.

skylark said:

I was always very much in favor of naming Ashley and Tim to the team. They've been much more consistent than the Knierims in the past two years, and now we understand why, with facts rather than reading Chris's behavior and sympathizing with him. But I'm very much looking forward to seeing Jessica and Brian, along with Ashley and Tim, skating at Worlds. It's fortunate that they were the Knierims' training mates; it means they probably knew of their decision before the rest of the world did, and had that extra push and motivation to keep their training up at a high level.

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I have lost all interest in watching Worlds.

moonvine said:

I have lost all interest in watching Worlds.

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I'm sorry about that, moonvine. But ... not even for Kaitlin and Jean-Luc? I had trouble when my favorite skater retired (especially reading and posting at GS). But I was lucky; I was already emotionally invested in Ashley and Tim and interested to see what changes they and the other new pair, Deanna and Nate, would nudge into being. And I wasn't disappointed. It's been a very interesting journey. Also, I had a whole stable of more or lesser favorites. So I would say to you, watch some videos or whole competitions on nbcgold; and get interested in someone you hadn't noticed before. Or, you seem to enjoy the competition threads and you can surely hang out there. Otherwise, I would say: Netflix and knitting! Or visit a video store and take down a list of titles. That's how my spousal unit and I make what may at first seem like an empty space, or a recovery period, into something engaging. Have you watched "This Is Us?" I didn't think I was interested, until my son told me I'd love it and showed me the pilot episode; and it's fantastic. You can buy the seasons one at a time on Amazon Prime. If you do, though, don't be tempted to peek ahead. The way the pilot episode is put together is really delicious.

Just ideas. But maybe you've got lots of other sports to be emotionally invested in. Anyway, you know you best. It's just that I think I understand a little of how you may be feeling.

skylark said:

Where can we speculate about who might be a partner for Alexa? Here, that's where!

I'm thinking of Marissa Castelli admitting, after her partnership with Mervin ended, that she never completely adjusted to the height difference. Simon was a good 6 inches taller than Mervin, and she'd skated with Simon for 8 years.

So that makes me skeptical about a possible team-up with Nate Bartholomay. But he's the obvious well-qualified person to be in the running. And everyone's different. Alexa could rise to the challenge if anyone could.

Does anyone know whether TJ Nyman has finalized plans with a partnership?

And like others, I would dream of Danny O'Shea ... what a team they'd be. But I also believe that Danny's not leaving Tarah.

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Didn't want to speculate in the other thread but this is my question too. What options does Alexa have really? If she wants to make it to Beijing he'll have to already be a US Citizen and be an experienced pair skater. Short of breaking up any of our existing top pairs (which I don't think is practical.. USFS has invested a lot in these new partnerships and I think we're finally beginning to see the fruit of that) the only real option I see is Nate Bartholomay, assuming he's willing and healthy enough to come back. (Coincidentally he was live tweeting US Nationals so he's certainly keeping up to date!)

TJ is 6'1" so he fits the height bill, but he's also 19 and hasn't skated at the senior level before. Even if he hasn't finalized a partner yet I don't see that working.

Ah I miss Marissa Castelli :sad21: She was such a firecracker.

Jammers said:

If US Pairs somehow lost the 2nd spot at Worlds they would both have to have the worst skates of their careers. The field is so weak compared to 2017 or even 2018 which was missing both S/H and D/R.

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Yep, I agree. It is next to impossible. i think Brian andJessica are going to do real well. No pressure and great talent.

OK, getting serious about my homie Nate

Nate is not the tallest pairs guy in the world. But I have seen him fairly close up at a summer comp, and boy does he have upper body strength. Not that I’ve seen a ton of pairs, but more than the others. And I just looked up that Felicia Zhang was 5’1”. So.....

The real issue may be that someone would need to subsidize Nate big time for him to move from Florida and Jim Peterson, and he may not be willing to do so. Funding, funding, funding.....

But how I would love to see two of my fav pairs skaters together

Makemi said:

Didn't want to speculate in the other thread but this is my question too. What options does Alexa have really? If she wants to make it to Beijing he'll have to already be a US Citizen and be an experienced pair skater. Short of breaking up any of our existing top pairs (which I don't think is practical.. USFS has invested a lot in these new partnerships and I think we're finally beginning to see the fruit of that) the only real option I see is Nate Bartholomay, assuming he's willing and healthy enough to come back. (Coincidentally he was live tweeting US Nationals so he's certainly keeping up to date!)

TJ is 6'1" so he fits the height bill, but he's also 19 and hasn't skated at the senior level before. Even if he hasn't finalized a partner yet I don't see that working.

Ah I miss Marissa Castelli :sad21: She was such a firecracker.

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Agree with everything you said. I watched Ian Meyh with his former partner Chelsea Liu today, in the event replay of 2019 Nationals. I remembered them being very nice together, but on replaying it, I saw that his jumps and pretty much everything else were at a lower level. And he was only 18 then.

And as I was watching, Charlie White started talking about how he'd experienced significant growth in muscle development between the ages of 18 and 22. So it reminded me that there are serious reasons why pairs grow up together, and it takes years. Trankov and Volosozhar began together in their mid-late 20s, and they'd both had many years of pairs experience with other partners. They are the ones I think are the closest parallel to what Alexa may be looking for. The biggest challenge, like you said, is that there's really no way for it to be anyone other than a US citizen.

I had an ironic thought of Joshua Reagan, who's from Texas, was Ashley Cain's first partner, and won US novice and junior pairs gold medals with her. Then he tried a partnership with Caitlin Yankowskas, which split before they ever went to a competition. He then skated with two different Canadian girls. I don't know if he got Canadian citizenship or not. I knew he hadn't competed since 2017, so that's a significant lay-off. Then I looked him up ... he's 30 now. There'd be significant catch-up time.

So it's like I heard (or read) Nate Bartholomay say awhile back. He thought he could easily find a partner when he decided he wanted one, pairs men being in demand. But then it came down to which partner was willing to move across country, who was a good fit personality and skating-wise, etc. Harder than he'd thought it would be. I think Nate has all the skills, but I just don't see him matching Alexa very well. Not just in looks and height, but other intangibles, skating-wise. But who knows. It would be great if it could work.

el henry said:

OK, getting serious about my homie Nate

Nate is not the tallest pairs guy in the world. But I have seen him fairly close up at a summer comp, and boy does he have upper body strength. Not that I’ve seen a ton of pairs, but more than the others. And I just looked up that Felicia Zhang was 5’1”. So.....

The real issue may be that someone would need to subsidize Nate big time for him to move from Florida and Jim Peterson, and he may not be willing to do so. Funding, funding, funding.....

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Exactly. In fact, I just quoted him, above, as finding the challenge of location one of the big surprise obstacles in getting a new pairs partner.

After you initially told us that Nate was looking, I was thinking while driving about what elements I thought could work between Alexa and Nate. The twist? Yes, he's strong and secure; and her push-off is the best. Throws? he'd have to learn to keep skating, to match Alexa's speed and flow. His and Deanna's always stopped cold. Jumps? Iffy. Lifts? the biggest challenge, to my mind, might be in the audience's minds. But he's definitely strong, and capable. He'd need to work on speed in everything, I think. I've never done any of those things, so what do I know, but those are some issues, the way I see them.

skylark said:

Exactly. In fact, I just quoted him, above, as finding the challenge of location one of the big surprise obstacles in getting a new pairs partner.

After you initially told us that Nate was looking, I was thinking while driving about what elements I thought could work between Alexa and Nate. The twist? Yes, he's strong and secure; and her push-off is the best. Throws? he'd have to learn to keep skating, to match Alexa's speed and flow. His and Deanna's always stopped cold. Jumps? Iffy. Lifts? the biggest challenge, to my mind, might be in the audience's minds. But he's definitely strong, and capable. He'd need to work on speed in everything, I think. I've never done any of those things, so what do I know, but those are some issues, the way I see them.

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And I should make clear, what I know is second hand, but I was told by someone I trust said that Nate answered her on Twitter that he intended to come back to skating after his knee was rehabbed. I didn’t look it up myself, and although of course I wish Nate the best, I don’t know what his progress has been.

I agree he doesn’t have Alexa’s speed, but I think I would disagree on the jumps. I think Nate’s jumps are pretty solid, and the fact that he’s “smaller” may help on that. And his lifts are great.

But I also agree it would be a stretch for the skating audience to accept another pairing, it would be a shock to see her with a new partner, and there would be comparisons. :shocked:

el henry said:

And I should make clear, what I know is second hand, but I was told by someone I trust said that Nate answered her on Twitter that he intended to come back to skating after his knee was rehabbed. I didn’t look it up myself, and although of course I wish Nate the best, I don’t know what his progress has been.

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Not sure how things are now but he did post a progress/update on his Instagram on Sept. 21 2019. Seems he is seriously considering coming back.

Honestly seeing Alexa with anyone will be quite a shock! But who knows what the future will bring?

My best wishes to Chris and to Alexa.

I thought it was very classy for @ChrisKnierim to tweet a supportive message yesterday re Calalang/Johnson going to Worlds.



I am excited for C/J. :yay:

I hope that Alexa can find a new partner -- but I hope also that her availability does not cause the end of a separate partnership.

In the realm of speculation about Bartholomay: For many months now (and most recently this week), I have noticed recurring indications on Instagram stories (often not his own) that he has been training periodically with one particular "partner." (Not Alexa, obviously.) Not clear whether this training has been in preparation for a permanent partnership with the person, plus it is possible that I have misinterpreted what I have seen. Just sayin' that I do not feel sure that Bartholomay still is "looking" or available.

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BTW, completely unrelated, but seems worth mentioning somewhere: