2010-11 US Pairs

[aka_gerbil]

If I wanted to learn pair moves, or for my kid to learn pair moves, such as throws or lifts or death spirals, I would hire someone who had actually skated pairs themselves, not a singles skater who had developed an "eye" by taking some seminars.


At least from my POV, it's not that these singles coaches would be coaching the pairs themselves. It just might be helpful if they could recognize that a particular youngster might be a good fit for pairs, and then refer that kid to a coach with pairs experience. Singles Coach A who has been to the seminar sees that Student X may have some pairs potential and refers them to Pairs Coach B.

[Sylvia]

But I must say this, some of it is the overall quality of each individual skater too as a pair partner.
Yes, the challenge in the US has long been how to attract good, quality singles skaters (particularly males) who have the potential to become good pair skaters.

[Sylvia]

There are few unquestionable things in figure skating, but if anything is, it's that the pairs program in the former USSR was the greatest ever when it came to turning out champions.
...
Part of that wheel that worked so well for the USSR was identifying talent early and giving pairs skating respect, etc.
But neither Gordeeva nor Grinkov were considered strong enough jumpers as singles skaters (according to her book) and both were therefore channeled into pairs. What made them stand out from the beginning as a team were their superb skating skills -- edge quality/control, speed, power, flow -- the foundation for learning pair skills. Would they have been competitive under the IJS system without consistent side-by-side jumps? Her 2A and 3T weren't really consistent jumps for her in competition throughout her career and it wasn't for lack of coaching or practicing.

Undeniably, another part of our problem with US pairs is that many aren't willing to stick it out. I don't think getting kids started earlier with pairs would eliminate all of that switching, but I do think it would be advantageous for them to be learning the skills that are unique to pairs earlier on in their skating careers.
As has already been discussed, "willing to stick it out" is often dependent on the financial means to do so. I believe that "learning the skills that are unique to pairs" can be done at any age as long as the foundation of excellent skating skills (described above) is already in place.

[bek]

But neither Gordeeva nor Grinkov were considered strong enough jumpers as singles skaters (according to her book) and both were therefore channeled into pairs. What made them stand out from the beginning as a team were their superb skating skills -- edge quality/control, speed, power, flow -- the foundation for learning pair skills. Would they have been competitive under the IJS system without consistent side-by-side jumps? Her 2A and 3T weren't really consistent jumps for her in competition throughout her career and it wasn't for lack of coaching or practicing.


As has already been discussed, "willing to stick it out" is often dependent on the financial means to do so. I believe that "learning the skills that are unique to pairs" can be done at any age as long as the foundation of excellent skating skills (described above) is already in place.

Exactly. What I got from the book is that Katia and company were taught how to skate first and skate superbly. Then the coaches looked at her different skills and put her in pairs.

The 2006 Olympic champions I believe switched to pairs at an older age too. They just both realized they didn't have the jumps-nothing was wrong with the skating skills.

[grandma]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdOuO29YbC4 Soviet Pair Skating Documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl4q_u7LRxI Chinese Pair history

[Aceon6]

In the US, we also have to consider the "Mommy, I want to" and the financial factors. Skating in the formal sense isn't something a kid can take up on his/her own. For kids who express an interest, most parents go for the path of least resistance that provides the most flexibility in scheduling - singles. Also, the low level coaches make more money coaching two singles than one pair, which is a disincentive for directing students to pairs or dance. Even if a kid is directed to pairs or dance, parents aren't going to uproot themselves for the chance that partner X can take their kid from Juvenile to the Olympics.

Federations outside of North America seem to have a different way of channeling kids through the lower levels.

[Sylvia]

Published today at: http://unseenskaters.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/us-pairs-nov-sr-update-mooregaumond-end-partnership/
Lisa Moore and Justin Gaumond, who placed 13th in Senior Pairs at the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, have ended their six-year partnership. They competed at six National Championships (2006-2011) – 3 times at the Junior level (6th in 2008 was their best finish) and 3 times at the Senior level. The team was coached by Dalilah Sappenfield in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Heidi Thibert in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Justin (25), who is from Littleton, is retiring from competitive skating and will focus on coaching. Lisa (20), who is from Fort Collins, is going to finish her college studies and may return to pair skating in the future. Lisa is a junior at University of Denver majoring in biology. She won the Novice Pairs bronze medal at 2005 US Nationals with Nicholas Girardi. Both skaters would like to thank their coaches, families and fellow skaters for the friendship and support they have received over the years.

[sammyf]

The following teams were added to the International Selection Pool. So they should still be officially together, as all the ones who split have been removed. All the teams except Poapst/Knierim are JGP eligible.

Andrea Poapst/Chris Knierim J2
Madeline Aaron/Max Settlage N1
Audrey Goldberg/Joseph Dolkiewicz N3
Alexandria Shaughnessy/James Morgan N5
Kay Bergdolt/Miles Addison N7

N2, N4, N6 are not junior age eligible.

[Sylvia]

Erika Smith/Nate Bartholomay have also been removed from the ISP and 2010-11 Reserve team envelope (they were 4th at 2010 Golden Spin of Zagreb and 12th in Senior at Nationals).

Thanks for the heads up on the ISP being updated!

[Sylvia]

Minor correction to my post above: Smith/Bartholomay were in the 2010-11 Team C (not the Reserve) envelope due to winning the Junior Pairs bronze medal at 2010 Nationals.

Erika Smith recently was profiled on her college web site before her split from Bartholomay: http://www.widener.edu/Media/Website%20Resources/featurecontent/academics/businessadmin/sba_erikasmith_skate.html
Posted in the Splits thread in GSD earlier today:
Erika is continuing to train and is searching for a new partner. :)

Molly Aaron/Daniyel Cohen have split -- their names have been removed from the ISP and the 2010-11 Team C envelope. They finished 11th in Senior Pairs at Nationals and won the bronze medal at Golden Spin of Zagreb this past December. They were together for 3 seasons and also competed on the JGP in the fall of 2008.

[chachacha]

Minor correction to my post above: Smith/Bartholomay were in the 2010-11 Team C (not the Reserve) envelope due to winning the Junior Pairs bronze medal at 2010 Nationals.

Erika Smith recently was profiled on her college web site before her split from Bartholomay: http://www.widener.edu/Media/Website%20Resources/featurecontent/academics/businessadmin/sba_erikasmith_skate.html
Posted in the Splits thread in GSD earlier today:


Molly Aaron/Daniyel Cohen have split -- their names have been removed from the ISP and the 2010-11 Team C envelope. They finished 11th in Senior Pairs at Nationals and won the bronze medal at Golden Spin of Zagreb this past December. They were together for 3 seasons and also competed on the JGP in the fall of 2008.

OH No I so liked the team of Aaron/Cohen, I'm so sorry to hear this news. They may not have had the best skate at Nationals, but they did show improvement and wish they would have not split. YIKES, so many splits this season. Does anyone know if any new teams are together yet for the new season? I think it's awful that US pairs have had so many pairs split, I hope there have been new partnerships in both Senior and Junior to offset all these splits.

[apollo13]

Minor correction to my post above: Smith/Bartholomay were in the 2010-11 Team C (not the Reserve) envelope due to winning the Junior Pairs bronze medal at 2010 Nationals.

Erika Smith recently was profiled on her college web site before her split from Bartholomay: http://www.widener.edu/Media/Website%20Resources/featurecontent/academics/businessadmin/sba_erikasmith_skate.html
Posted in the Splits thread in GSD earlier today:


Molly Aaron/Daniyel Cohen have split -- their names have been removed from the ISP and the 2010-11 Team C envelope. They finished 11th in Senior Pairs at Nationals and won the bronze medal at Golden Spin of Zagreb this past December. They were together for 3 seasons and also competed on the JGP in the fall of 2008.

That makes 5 out of 14 senior pairs at Nationals, and it's only March.

[sk8ers]

Denney/Cohen???? Discuss...... ;)

[chachacha]

Denney/Cohen???? Discuss...... ;)

That might be a good match. has anyone heard if either one have had tryouts with potential partners?

[reese]

Denney/Cohen???? Discuss...... ;)

I predicted this the day Denney/Barrett broke up! The Aaron/Cohen partnership was so clearly over in the Kiss and Cry after their disastrous LP at Nationals. Of all the names floating around (male pair skaters affiliated with Delilah) he seems like the most obvious for Caydee at the moment. We'll see!