US Pro Skaters Best Pairs Performance Awards through the years | Golden Skate

US Pro Skaters Best Pairs Performance Awards through the years

skylark

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I liked Doris's thread of the Dance Awards so much that I've done half of Pairs. It's really fun to view them. As in Dance, the award doesn't always go to the Pair who won the competition.

Here again are the criteria for the US Professional Skaters Performance Awards:
https://skatepsa.com/best-performance-awards


Best Performance Pairs

2020 - Jessica Calalang/Brian Johnson – Championship Pairs Free Skate Program
PSA Coaches – Todd Sand, Jenni Meno Sand, Christine Fowler-Binder
Choreographer – Cindy Stuart
Music Selection – “You are the Reason” by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis
Costume Designer – Lisa McKinnon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POsXi4DN1g - 4CC 2020 performance

Although I'm not a fan of this program per se, Jessica and Brian perform it with such gorgeous elements and tenderness that it becomes more. They make it more. Keep in mind that they both landed all the jumps at Nationals.

2019 - Ashley Cain /Timothy LeDuc - Championship Pairs Free Program
PSA Coaches – Peter Cain, Darlene Cain, Nina Mozer
Choreographer – Pasquale Camerlengo
Music Selection – Music from the W.E. soundtrack by Abel Korzeniowski
Costume Design – Denyse Frey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPy2gCIWC6E&t=2s

This performance is exquisite in Ashley & Tim's expression, emotion, and attention to the music. It shines. If you ever wonder why SBS jumps are important, be in the arena when a pair lands them like this. They're as difficult to do and as impressive as big lifts. A&T's unison and awareness of each other, their connection throughout this skate is awesome. Great 3twist, too.

2018 - Tarah Kayne / Danny O’Shea – Championship Pairs Free Program
PSA Coaches – Jim Peterson, Amanda Evora
Choreographer – Shae–Lynn Bourne
Music Selection – “Swan Lake” by Pytor ILyich Tchaikovsky (selected and edited by Jim Peterson)
Costume Designers – Tarah Kayne, Jim Peterson, Dawn Imperatore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-avphCZGA3g&list=PLY1LXqVQXDQQr9bx9-cjqYZc6vcAmw15b&index=3&t=0s – 4CC 2020 performance

Tarah and Danny really shine here and show why they're so enduring as a pair. The last lift is awesome, with Danny in spread eagle and Tarah's air positions. My favorite lift ever of theirs was in their SP (All I ask of You). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRyj8TVTRHM

2017 - Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc – Championship Pairs Short Program
PSA Coaches – Darlene and Peter Cain
Choreographer – Serge Onik
Music Selection –“I've Put a Spell on You” by Annie Lennox
Costume Designer – Denyse Frey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNlkN7bhk6k&t=213s

I was in the arena for this performance, and it was the first of the evening to bring electricity and energy to the audience. And it was the best. A&T here are winning the SP at Nationals in their first 9 months together.

2016 - Tarah Kayne and Danny O’Shea – Championship Free Skate Program
PSA Coaches – Jim Peterson and Amanda Evora
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music Selection – "Music of the Night" Michael Crawford, Barbara Streisand
Costume Designer – Dawn Imperatore, Tarah Kayne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3CaxIjFze8 – at 23:50.

In both their SP and FS, Tarah and Danny were the last pair to skate, and the only pair to skate without falls or other big errors. That alone was thrilling (again, especially in the arena), but also both programs suit them to a T and show a great contrast. You can get a better sense of how complete their triumph is here if you watch the whole 35-minute video, with the last 4 pairs.

2015 - Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim – Championship Short Program
PSA Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Laureano Ibarra
Choreographer – Julie Marcotte
Music Selection – "Tango de Roxanne" from Moulin Rouge
Costume Designer – Elena from Luda Designs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buycqcJOD9g

I love the drama and acting that Alexa and Chris show in this program. A completely clean SP from them, with only an uncharacteristic bobble or two.

2014 - Felicia Zhang & Nathan Bartholomay – Championship Free Skating
Coaches – Jim Peterson, Lyndon Johnston, Amanda Evora
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music – Symphonic Pieces from “Les Misérables” by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Costume Design – Jim Peterson and Dawn Imperatore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnkV-2-E8no

Felicia and Nate always give me chills here. The building feeling as they gain strength and beauty throughout the skate is wonderful; it's one of the things that makes a great skating program transcend the sum of its parts. Their joy and passion really shine.

2013 - Alexa Scimeca and Christopher Knierim – Championship Pairs Free Skate
Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Choreographer – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Music – “La Vita E Bella (Life is Beautiful)” by Nicola Piovani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY1ueehSTHI

Gorgeous, beautiful skating from Alexa and Chris. Pairs elements are divine. They skated this at Nationals when they'd been skating together only 9 months.

2012 - Gretchen Donlan and Andrew Speroff – Championship Pairs Free Skate
Coaches – Bobby Martin and Carrie Wall
Choreographer – Sheryl Franks with assistance from Deidre Williams (ballet movements)
Music – “Sleeping Beauty”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTEdwrH1ZMs

This is one of the skating performances when you could hear a pin drop, and you know it's because the audience is mesmerized. There's murmuring at some really exquisite moments: the lifts, the throws. You can feel everyone being caught up in the beauty and delicacy. This program came in 4th, and still, Gretchen and Andrew deserve every accolade!

2011 - Caitlin Yankowskas & John Coughlin – Long Program
Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Choreographer – Marina Zoueva, Damon Allen, Dalilah Sappenfield
Music – “Ava Maria” by Franz Schubert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=incIOswvkv0

This is another pin-drop performance, because of the emotion and also because Caitlin's skating just quietly draws you in. Her artistry is tangible.

2010 - Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett – Free Skate
Coaches – Jim Peterson, Lyndon Johnson, Alison Smith
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music – “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky–Korsakov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4KOlVSoRGE

Caydee Denney shows that she's an undeniable force with this skate. And Jeremy is right there with her. Somehow his energy supports her and they demonstrate team quality: the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
 

dorispulaski

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Here are the 1999 to 2009 awards:

2009 - Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett – Short Program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGE1x7kIqOw
Coaches – Jim Peterson, Lyndon Johnson, Alison Smith
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music – “Summer Haze” by Vanessa Mae; “Palladio” by Silent Nick

2008 - Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker – Long Program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov0qkCScjcY
Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Lei’Ina McLaughlin
Choreographer – Dalilah Sappenfield
Music – “Romeo and Juliet” by Tchaikovsky

2007 - Brooke Castile & Ben Okolski
Coaches – Johnny Johns
Choreographer – Marina Zoueva
Music – “Requiem for a Dream” soundtrack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIr5DbmzpbQ

2006 - Rena Inoue & John Baldwin – Long Program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX6kQMpOGzY
Coaches – Peter Oppegard
Choreographer – Peter Oppegard
Music – Music by Shostakovich

2005 - Kathryn Orscher & Garrett Lucash– Long Program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcU1td4OuxY
Coaches – Vadim Naumov, Evgenia Shiskova
Choreographer – Elena Petrenko, Igor Shpilband
Music – “Samson and Delilah”

2004 - Jennifer Don & Jonathon Hunt – Long Program
I cannot find this program on youtube
Coaches – Ron Luddington, Jeff DiGregorio, Tracey Poletis
Choreographer – Oleg Ovsyannikov
Music – “Freedom” by Michael W. Smith

2003 - Tiffany Scott & Philip Dulebohn – Short Program
4CCs version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj5_nHEEQmk
Coaches – Karl Kurtz
Choreographer– Karl Kurtz, Renee Roca, Gorsha Sur
Music – “Heartbreak Hotel”

2002 - Kyoko Ina & John Zimmerman – Free Skate
Olympic version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS7lCWDdQs8
Coaches – Tamara Moskvina, Igor Moskvin
Choreographer – Tamara Moskvina, Alexandre Zhulin, Artur Dimitriv
Music – “Theme from “Paganini”

2001 - Tiffany Scott & Phillip Dulebohn – Free Skate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHGI1tQP6OU
Coaches – Karl Kurtz, Ron Luddington
Choreographer – Karl Kurtz
Music – Sergai Prokosiez “Piano Concerto #3 in C Major”

2000 - Kyoko Ina & John Zimmerman – Short Program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U6aqW4OXto
Coaches – Tamara Moskvina, Igor Moskvin
Choreographer – Tatiana Tarasova, Tamara Moskvina, David Audish
Music – Soundtrack from “Truman Show”

1999 - Danielle Hartsell & Steve Hartsell – Free Skate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxs09kGx398
Coaches – Johnny Johns, Britta Ottoboni, Mitch Moyer
Choreographer – Alan Schram, Angela Schram
Music – “Romeo & Juliet,” “The Man in the Iron Mask”

I assume everyone else crashed and burned, if this won.

 
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skylark

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Please bear with me, I'm new at this. I went back and added some comments to the entries in my first post. Because every one of them deserves some extra notice! :love:

I hope there are some pairs fans who will enjoy this thread.
 

Seven Sisters

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Jul 17, 2018
I liked Doris's thread of the Dance Awards so much that I've done half of Pairs. It's really fun to view them. As in Dance, the award doesn't always go to the Pair who won the competition.

Here again are the criteria for the US Professional Skaters Performance Awards:
https://skatepsa.com/best-performance-awards


Best Performance Pairs

2011 - Caitlin Yankowskas & John Coughlin – Long Program
Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Choreographer – Marina Zoueva, Damon Allen, Dalilah Sappenfield
Music – “Ava Maria” by Franz Schubert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=incIOswvkv0

This is another pin-drop performance, because of the emotion and also because Caitlin's skating just quietly draws you in. Her artistry is tangible.
.

Working from home today, so I just rewatched this and my, Yankowskas is just as remarkable as I remember. Certainly my favorite US pairs lady of all time, and to think, just two or three months after this, Coughlin ended their partnership, and she was never really able to restart her career.
 

skylark

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Working from home today, so I just rewatched this and my, Yankowskas is just as remarkable as I remember. Certainly my favorite US pairs lady of all time, and to think, just two or three months after this, Coughlin ended their partnership, and she was never really able to restart her career.

She really is remarkable, and when I re-watched yesterday I re-experienced the power of her skating. It still makes me angry to think of how the partnership ended. But Caitlin is as remarkable in her character. Her TSL interview with Jenny and Dave is one of my favorites.
 

dorispulaski

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She really is remarkable, and when I re-watched yesterday I re-experienced the power of her skating. It still makes me angry to think of how the partnership ended. But Caitlin is as remarkable in her character. Her TSL interview with Jenny and Dave is one of my favorites.

:cry: They were so promising!

6th in 2011 Worlds in Moscow despite a slipup in the SP.

The TSL interview is still available :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyrarCB6alA

Yankowskas and Coughlin Worlds SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkh0GTlYYxk

Interview after SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmzVaCuVuVw

2011 Worlds FS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fILqoV8uks8

interview After FS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP1dfthCHGU
 
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dorispulaski

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2002 Pairs PSA Award

It is not a bad time to give a shoutout to Ina & Zimmerman's 2002 Olympic year programs!! I did not do details for the awards I listed, so I will start here:

SP to Shine on You Crazy Diamond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j8LsU0RHLw

FS to Variations on a Theme by Paganini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmzVaCuVuVw

Needless to say, the judging in this event was worse than Suspect- it was Arrested, Tried, and Convicted.
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/...gure-skating-reforms-sale-pelletier-1.4484433

and as a secondary result, Ina & Zimmerman placed only 5th
http://www.icecalc.com/events/owg2002/results/CAT003RS.HTM

They probably should have been fourth.

They won the last world medal by a US Pair team later in the year for inferior performances, the typical thing that happened under 6.0 when skaters had been shafted at an Olympics.

Do watch both programs. They are Tamara Moskvina programs, full of intricacy and creative moves, (especially the FS), but delivered with an enthusiasm and musicality that were Kyoko and John's own contributions.

Looking at these performances with IJS eyes, I want to give them all the levels and high Choreo and Transitions marks :love:
 
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dorispulaski

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2000 Pairs Award
Ina & Zimmer!an's Truman Show SP. This time the lead choreographer was Tatiana Tarasova! Yes, TAT herownself!

If you don't remember the Truman Show movie it was a bizarre story about a guy who is unknowingly living in a reality show, and who finally escapes it. So John is Truman and Kyoko is your best guess of Sylvia or Meryl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U6aqW4OXto

They won both the SP and FS, to Phantom of the Opera, shown here in its 4ccs version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-DIzNQvobQ

John was always an inconsistent jumper, which probably why their SP won over their FS.

Kyoko had been to the Olympics twice with Jason Dungjen, finishing fourth in 1998. She and Zimmerman competed from 1998-99 to 2001-02.
 
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skylark

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I've really enjoyed re-visiting Ina/Zimmerman's programs. They were ahead of their time in pairs skating, and the programs are very enjoyable. There's something so cool about that combination of Kyoko being very precise and perfectionistic, combined with John's wild, artistic bent.

I've been watching the Pairs World championships SP and FS straight through for 2016, 17, 18, & 19. One of the startling things is the difference between James/Cipres in 2016 and James/Cipres in 2017. They switched to Zimmerman/Fontana, and choreographers, in summer of 2016. And the difference is like night and day. Suddenly their romantic, sexy quality showed ... but it wasn't just that. The qualities of their skating made a gigantic leap somehow. Maybe a big part of it was that they seemed more a team, there was a smoother mind-meld between the two of them.

I read that Zimmerman had said that he wouldn't take them on unless they stopped bickering. I think that's the "intangible" that transferred to measurable results in their skating. It's similar to the way Shoma Uno's jumps miraculously returned after a few weeks with Lambiel. Shoma needed emotional encouragement and happiness, IMO. Vanessa and Morgan found that peace was better than fighting!
 

moonvine

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Too bad they don't go back to the 70's and Tai and Randy.
 

dorispulaski

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Absolutely!

Perhaps we should create "Goldies" for skaters from 1998 backwards?
 
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skylark

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Absolutely!

Perhaps we should create "Goldies" for skaters from 1998 backwards?

Good idea! Tai and Randy would be in there, Kristi and Rudy, Jenni and Todd, Jenni and Todd's former partners ... and that's where my sketchy 80s and 90s pairs knowledge quits, except for G&G ofc.
 

dorispulaski

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From Wikipedia


1968PhiladelphiaCynthia Kauffman / Ronald KauffmanSandi Sweitzer / Roy WageleinJoJo Starbuck / Kenneth ShelleyBetty Lewis / Richard Gilbert
1969SeattleCynthia Kauffman / Ronald KauffmanJoJo Starbuck / Kenneth ShelleyMelissa Militano / Mark MilitanoSheri Thrapp / Larry Duisch
1970TulsaJoJo Starbuck / Kenneth ShelleyMelissa Militano / Mark MilitanoSheri Thrapp / Larry DuischKathy Normile / Gregory Taylor
1971BuffaloJoJo Starbuck / Kenneth ShelleyMelissa Militano / Mark MilitanoBarbara Brown / Doug BerndtSheri Thrapp / Larry Duisch
1972Long BeachJoJo Starbuck / Kenneth ShelleyMelissa Militano / Mark MilitanoBarbara Brown / Doug BerndtCozette Cady / Jack Courtney
1973MinneapolisMelissa Militano / Mark MilitanoGale Fuhrman / Joel FuhrmanEmily Benenson / Johnny JohnsDebbie Hughes / Philip Grout
1974ProvidenceMelissa Militano / Johnny JohnsTai Babilonia / Randy GardnerErika Susman / Thomas HuffCynthia Van Valkenburg / Phil Grout
1975OaklandMelissa Militano / Johnny JohnsTai Babilonia / Randy GardnerEmily Benenson / Jack CourtneyErika Susman / Thomas Huff
1976Colorado SpringsTai Babilonia / Randy GardnerAlice Cook / William FauverEmily Benenson / Jack CourtneyGale Fuhrman / Joel Fuhrman
1977HartfordTai Babilonia / Randy GardnerGail Hamula / Frank SweidingSheryl Franks / Michael BotticelliLorene Mitchell / Donald Mitchell
1978PortlandTai Babilonia / Randy GardnerGail Hamula / Frank SweidingSheryl Franks / Michael BotticelliVicki Heasley / Robert Waggenhoffer
1979CincinnatiTai Babilonia / Randy GardnerVicki Heasley / Robert WagenhofferSheryl Franks / Michael BotticelliTracey Prussack / Scott Prussack
1980AtlantaTai Babilonia / Randy GardnerCaitlin "Kitty" Carruthers / Peter CarruthersSheryl Franks / Michael BotticelliVicki Heasley / Robert Waggenhoffer
1981San DiegoCaitlin "Kitty" Carruthers / Peter CarruthersLea Ann Miller / William FauverBeth Flora / Ken FloraMaria DiDomenico / Burt Lancon
1982IndianapolisCaitlin "Kitty" Carruthers / Peter CarruthersMaria DiDomenico / Burt LanconLea Ann Miller / William FauverVicki Heasley / Peter Oppegard
1983PittsburghCaitlin "Kitty" Carruthers / Peter CarruthersLea Ann Miller / William FauverJill Watson / Burt LanconGillian Wachsman / Robert Daw
1984Salt Lake CityCaitlin "Kitty" Carruthers / Peter CarruthersLea Ann Miller / William FauverJill Watson / Burt LanconGillian Wachsman / Robert Daw
1985Kansas CityJill Watson / Peter OppegardNatalie Seybold / Wayne SeyboldGillian Wachsman / Todd WaggonerSusan Dungjen / Jason Dungjen
1986UniondaleGillian Wachsman / Todd WaggonerJill Watson / Peter OppegardNatalie Seybold / Wayne SeyboldKaty Keeley / Joseph Mero
1987TacomaJill Watson / Peter OppegardGillian Wachsman / Todd WaggonerKaty Keeley / Joseph MeroNatalie Seybold / Wayne Seybold
1988DenverJill Watson / Peter OppegardGillian Wachsman / Todd WaggonerNatalie Seybold / Wayne SeyboldKaty Keeley / Joseph Mero
1989BaltimoreKristi Yamaguchi / Rudy GalindoNatalie Seybold / Wayne SeyboldKaty Keeley / Joseph MeroSharon Carz / Doug Williams
1990Salt Lake CityKristi Yamaguchi / Rudy GalindoNatasha Kuchiki / Todd SandSharon Carz / Doug WilliamsCalla Urbanski / Mark Naylor
1991MinneapolisNatasha Kuchiki / Todd SandCalla Urbanski / Rocky MarvalJenni Meno / Scott WendlandSharon Carz / Doug Williams
1992OrlandoCalla Urbanski / Rocky MarvalJenni Meno / Scott WendlandNatasha Kuchiki / Todd SandKaren Courtland / Todd Reynolds
1993PhoenixCalla Urbanski / Rocky MarvalJenni Meno / Todd SandKaren Courtland / Todd ReynoldsKatie Wood / Joel McKeever
1994DetroitJenni Meno / Todd SandKyoko Ina / Jason DungjenKaren Courtland / Todd ReynoldsNatasha Kuchiki / Rocky Marval
1995ProvidenceJenni Meno / Todd SandKyoko Ina / Jason DungjenStephanie Stiegler / Lance TravisShelby Lyons / Brian Wells
1996San JoseJenni Meno / Todd SandKyoko Ina / Jason DungjenShelby Lyons / Brian WellsStephanie Stiegler / John Zimmerman
1997NashvilleKyoko Ina / Jason DungjenJenni Meno / Todd SandStephanie Stiegler / John ZimmermanShelby Lyons / Brian Wells
1998PhiladelphiaKyoko Ina / Jason DungjenShelby Lyons / Brian WellsDanielle Hartsell / Steve HartsellTiffany Stiegler / Johnnie Stiegler[SUP][7][/SUP]
1999Salt Lake CityDanielle Hartsell / Steve HartsellKyoko Ina / John ZimmermanLaura Lynn Handy / J. Paul BinneboseTiffany Stiegler / Johnnie Stiegler[SUP][8][/SUP]
 

moonvine

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Good idea! Tai and Randy would be in there, Kristi and Rudy, Jenni and Todd, Jenni and Todd's former partners ... and that's where my sketchy 80s and 90s pairs knowledge quits, except for G&G ofc.

I just love Tai. We “chat” on Twitter quite often. And don’t forget Kitty and Peter Carruthers!

And a little later, Calla Urbanski and Rocky Marval. “The waitress and the truck driver.” I’ve always loved an underdog.
 

skylark

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Oh my goodness me, how could I have forgotten to mention Tiffany:love: and :love:Johnnie Stiegler? I actually went to one pair event in Detroit (SA I think) just to see them, and ended up striking up a conversation with a nice woman who turned out to be their mother! And yes, I told her I was there to see her kids. They didn't skate well in that event, but I didn't care.

What might have been. But they were so beautiful together, how can you regret anything. They gave us wonderful moments.

:thank: for The List, Doris!

p.s. Starbuck and Shelley .... what great names :)
 
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