US Pairs 2012-13 news & updates

[Sylvia]

Did anyone ever post the link to Donlan/Speroff's new official site on FSO? If not, here it is: http://www.figureskatersonline.com/donlan-speroff/
They are scheduled to debut a new SP to The Lady Caliph (Ennio Morricone), choeographed by Tanith Belbin and Sheryl Franks, at Indy Challenge.

Looking forward to seeing news, results, videos, etc. posted in the Indy Challenge thread later this week in Kiss and Cry: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=84192

[Rochelle]

For Sylvia & Unseen skaters, friends / family / fans back at home, we'll be posting photos of the Indy Challenge posted results sheets at:

https://www.facebook.com/IWSAFigureSkatingClub

Schedule can be viewed at:
http://comp.entryeeze.com/Home.aspx?cid=314

Competition starts Friday, and some pairs already started to arrive on Wednesday.

Expect quite a few reports and videos to be listed in the Kiss & Cry forum since it seems like at least half-a-dozen frequent posters will be attending. Hoping for some more HeatherC videos yet again this year, perhaps?

[Sylvia]

Kiri Baga/Taylor Toth debuted their "Man of La Mancha" FS at Skate Detroit last week (scored 82.74): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUx8yZeE39U

For Sylvia & Unseen skaters, friends / family / fans back at home, we'll be posting photos of the Indy Challenge posted results sheets at:

https://www.facebook.com/IWSAFigureSkatingClub

Thanks for posting today's Senior and Junior Pairs SP results photos so promptly!

[olympic]

From Sylvia's tweet, Heather has posted the videos of the Pairs SP at Indy Challenge:

http://www.youtube.com/user/HeatherC1212/videos

Thanks to both of you!

They still need work, but US pairs are putting out some beautiful programs

[Sylvia]

HeatherC for videos! US pairs placed 2nd-4th in the SP at Indy Challenge yesterday:
Zhang/Bartholomay (51.27): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xfgYPYF-Ro
Davis/Ladwig (49.86): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV1jjbkoI-o
Donlan/Speroff (49.72): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv8LYJsawSI
(ETA: There are also SP videos of Castelli/Shnapir 7th, Baga/Toth 8th, Kayne/O'Shea 10th, and Vise/Baldwin 11th.)

[hlp728]

Thanks for the videos!!! Love Donlan/Speroff's short program and I can't wait to see if evolve. Impressed with Tanith's choreography too.

[kwanfan1818]

I love the way Davis creates phrases and then resolves them before going on to the next thing. Donlan has lovely lines and posture, and Zhang is so light on the ice, but I think my favorite US Pairs woman is now Davis, especially since to me Castelli has lost some of her spark. So much talent among the three, though.

[Ziggy]

Somebody fix Donlan's jumps, please.

The choreography is fantastic and transitions are mindblowing. The technical elements have no obvious set-up and just come out of nowhere. Their flow, lines and extensions are just exquisite.

They are just incredible, one in a million talent.

[DORISPULASKI]

I'm just happy to see Speroff land a jump...that's an improvement! It looked like Donlan was so busy worrying about Speroff she missed hers.

I have my fingers crossed for both of them...they are my favorites US team.

[olympic]

^I just re-watched D/S. I have to say that the SBS 3sals are ambitious and the fact that he landed, she only stepped-out / put a hand down is good news.

Did they abort part of the lift? It looked off for some reason ...

[dots]

Somebody fix Donlan's jumps, please.

Is it lack of strength in her part? She always look so fragile out there that I often wonder if she's undertrained.



This a very dumb question, but for those of you who have donated money through N.E.A.S.F, as long as I include a note where I state the the skaters name it should be ok... right? I wish there was a paypal option. It would be so much easier.

[Rochelle]

Olympic -- yeah, from the judges side of the rink it was definitely an aborted lift.

More articles:

Icenetwork.com: "New-look Canadians win senior short at Indy"
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/artic...&vkey=ice_news

Icenetwork.com: "Moore-Towers, Moscovitch go 'all out' in Indy free"
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/artic...&vkey=ice_news

Local Indianapolis Star photo gallery of the Junior Pairs FS (yes, it says Senior, but it's definitely the Juniors).
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...g|IndyStar.com

[carriemarie]

Somebody fix Donlan's jumps, please.

The choreography is fantastic and transitions are mindblowing. The technical elements have no obvious set-up and just come out of nowhere. Their flow, lines and extensions are just exquisite.

They are just incredible, one in a million talent.

Her jumps have been that way her entire career and she learned her basics from Mark and Peter in Boston (Who I believe she still works with). I am afraid what you see is what you are going to get for the next few years...Evora/Ladwig v.2

[rfisher]

Somebody fix Donlan's jumps, please.

The choreography is fantastic and transitions are mindblowing. The technical elements have no obvious set-up and just come out of nowhere. Their flow, lines and extensions are just exquisite.

They are just incredible, one in a million talent.

If they can solve the jump problems, I truly think they are the US' best chance at a world or olympic medal. Not this cycle, but within the next quad, yes. I really, really hope they don't end up an ifonly team.

[icelover]

This a very dumb question, but for those of you who have donated money through N.E.A.S.F, as long as I include a note where I state the the skaters name it should be ok... right? I wish there was a paypal option. It would be so much easier. [/QUOTE]

Hi, Yes, you need to include a note asking that the donation be used for the skater you designate. You are right... it would be so much easier with an online option. It's very simple to set up Paypal. Good suggestion for the nice people at N.E.A.S.F.

[Stephanie]

I didn't see this posted elsewhere: Scimeca/Knierim are now on the International Selection Pool list. They certainly deserve a senior B this fall, IMO.

[reese]

God, I love Donlan/Speroff. Their new SP is full of little choreographic treasures.

[Sylvia]

OrioleBeagle posted this link to Donlan/Speroff's "Sleeping Beauty" FS (4th in FS, scored 100.28) in the Indy Challenge thread in Kiss and Cry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2dHcBD4wec

If I did my math correctly, here are the combined summer competition scores for the pairs, Senior down to Juvenile, so far: http://unseenskaters.wordpress.com/s...-pairs-scores/

[olympic]

OrioleBeagle posted this link to Donlan/Speroff's "Sleeping Beauty" FS (4th in FS, scored 100.28) in the Indy Challenge thread in Kiss and Cry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2dHcBD4wec

If I did my math correctly, here are the combined summer competition scores for the pairs, Senior down to Juvenile, so far: http://unseenskaters.wordpress.com/s...-pairs-scores/

Thanks, Sylvia (and OrioleBeagle). I've been looking for videos of the LP from Indy Challenge. I'm glad they got over 100 pts. with that program. Alas, the jumps ...

I didn't see this posted elsewhere: Scimeca/Knierim are now on the International Selection Pool list. They certainly deserve a senior B this fall, IMO.

Actually, according to Sylvia's score tracker (link above), S/K have a summer score of around 157 pts. total, which is the highest thus far for US pairs. Perhaps they could not only get a Senior B, but also the TBA SA spot (I thought that would go to Z/B)

[hippychick]

Donlan and Speroff were at least credited with fully rotated jumps in both programs which is a step up for them. Speroff does not typically have a problem with the DA so I think that was a fluke fall for him in the LP. They did land their jumps on the warmup so they can do them. As this is their first competition of the year for them and from what I hear Donlan was out for over a week with an Injury over Liberty I am hopeful that we may see some improvement in their jumps and throws as the season progresses. They do seem like a team that peaks later in the season. I also read on icenetwork that they only finished the short program about a week before Indy so it was a fairly new program for them, so if that is the case then I was impressed with what they put out there. Lots more transitions etc. in their LP as well, hopefully that will increase their component scores.

I do think there is a strong argument for either Smieca/Knierim or Zhang/Bartholomay to be offered a SA slot. Both have proven themselves over the summer competitions.
I am sure they will both probably be offered a Senior B as well.