US Pairs 2012-13 news & updates

[shan]

It's good to hear that D/S can do the jumps. I've always wondered if they suffered from poor technique or nerves. I was very impressed with their SP, the choreography is great. I particularly enjoyed the step sequence.

[olympic]

It's good to hear that D/S can do the jumps. I've always wondered if they suffered from poor technique or nerves. I was very impressed with their SP, the choreography is great. I particularly enjoyed the step sequence.

IMO, I don't think it's technique, but rather nerves or a mental block for the SBS jumps because they are capable of doing all the other 'power elements' in such a big, sweeping way - big 3twist, throw jumps, etc.

[jdonavan]

It's good to hear that D/S can do the jumps. I've always wondered if they suffered from poor technique or nerves. I was very impressed with their SP, the choreography is great. I particularly enjoyed the step sequence.

So much talk about this team. Frankly they missed both jumps and both throws in the long at Indy which was pretty much the story in every event last season except for Nationals. (I don't count 2 footing and step outs as a landed element...call me crazy)

As we have all agreed upon, they are a lovely team and physically very attractive with great lines. IMO they will never be consistent in their high end jumping and throwing elements which unfortunately has been the story for the US teams the past decade.

I like the top two teams now (At Nationals) and I hope they can remain there for a while and slowly work their way up the International ladder.

[johndockley92]

Does anybody know who Paul Schatz's new partner is? Alyssa McDougal? Never heard of her before Indy so I'm just wondering.

Also, does anyone know why the Colorado teams and T & J's teams didn't do Indy this year?

[jdonavan]

Does anybody know who Paul Schatz's new partner is? Alyssa McDougal? Never heard of her before Indy so I'm just wondering.

Also, does anyone know why the Colorado teams and T & J's teams didn't do Indy this year?

Colorado and California were unhappy with Ice conditions in Indy.

[hippychick]

So much talk about this team. Frankly they missed both jumps and both throws in the long at Indy which was pretty much the story in every event last season except for Nationals. (I don't count 2 footing and step outs as a landed element...call me crazy)

As we have all agreed upon, they are a lovely team and physically very attractive with great lines. IMO they will never be consistent in their high end jumping and throwing elements which unfortunately has been the story for the US teams the past decade.

I like the top two teams now (At Nationals) and I hope they can remain there for a while and slowly work their way up the International ladder.

Well we can all continue to hope and pray that D/S can become more consistent with their jumps, (perhaps we could start a prayer thread?). While they have had jumping problems in the past , their throws are usually pretty solid. Perhaps the ice conditions at Indy affected them as well. I know several of the teams missed thow and jumping elements there. IIRC Zhang/Bartholony missed both throw and jumps in their F/S as well and they are usually pretty consistent.

What gets people talking about D/S is the potential for greatness if they can become more consistent. Yes, it is a long shot, but stranger things have happened in this sport.

[johndockley92]

Perhaps the ice conditions at Indy affected them as well. I know several of the teams missed thow and jumping elements there. IIRC Zhang/Bartholony missed both throw and jumps in their F/S as well and they are usually pretty consistent.

What gets people talking about D/S is the potential for greatness if they can become more consistent. Yes, it is a long shot, but stranger things have happened in this sport.

I think perhaps her weight may be affecting her jumps? When she was a singles skater, the jumps were better possibly because she wasn't so questionably underweight?

@ the ice conditions at indy, I noticed a lot of teams strangely having trouble with their death spiral, I bet this was related.

[hippychick]

Actually after my last post I started thinking that I don't think any of the US teams can call themselves THAT consistent. D/C and M/B included. IIRC I don't think that either of those teams got through a competition last year, both short and long programs without at least one jump or throw error.

In addtion, Smieca and Knierim who had a stunning debut in their s/p at Skate Detroit made several jump errors in their F/S there. Zhang and Bartholomay who seemed on their way, had mistakes in both s/p and f/s at Indy.

In general, all of the US teams need work in these areas. D/S more than anyone when it comes to the jumps!

I am sure that with D/S nerves may play a definite part in their issues. They are able to land the jumps in the warmup but perhaps they place alot of pressure on themselves because they know that is their major issue right now. Hopefully knowing they can score well while making an error or two will help them to relax and not put too much pressure on themselves.

[Sylvia]

Marissa Castelli/Simon Shnapir have received the TBA spot at Skate America (NHK Trophy is their other GP).

Does anybody know who Paul Schatz's new partner is? Alyssa McDougal? Never heard of her before Indy so I'm just wondering.

McDougal (Birmingham FSC in Alabama) is new to pairs - she competed at the Juvenile level in singles last season.

ETA another new Junior pair team: Alexandria Kinney & Justin Schumann - she competed in Novice pairs with Brooks Ishler in 2010-11; he competed at 2010 (Novice) & 2011 (Junior) Nationals with Christina Marina Guterres. Kinney/Schumann are coached by Peter Oppegard.

[johndockley92]

With MBM/Rockne out, I wonder who the second place favorites are...

I'd say Scimeca/Knierim, Donlan/Speroff, Castelli/Shnapir, Davis/Ladwig, & Denney/Frazier are all in the running.

[Spiralgraph]

As is Yankowskas/Reagan. It is wide open And I'm hoping that first place isn't prejudged either. The best team for the SP and LP should win. 'Nuff said.

[olympic]

With MBM/Rockne out, I wonder who the second place favorites are...

I'd say Scimeca/Knierim, Donlan/Speroff, Castelli/Shnapir, Davis/Ladwig, & Denney/Frazier are all in the running.

Honestly, S/K IMO have the most potential. D/S are beautiful but they really need to start landing the SBS jumps consistently (ditto C/S). D/L are brand new and I think D/F will need more cred as seniors to go to Worlds (unless they show us an out-of-this-world season leading up to Nats).

But, S/K really really need to get at least one Sr. B assignment to get on the map. I hope they don't get ignored by the brain surgeons running the USFSA (which is a possibility )

[B.Cooper]

I agree most of the above. Most of the US pair teams have sbs jump issues. Why is it that their pair coaches fail to see this as a fatal flaw in these teams. Once there is a fall on a jump(s), it interrupts the program to some extent, and then the team has to play catch up to get into the next element, which can then compromise that subsequent element. Jumps are required elements for goodness sakes.... make it a priority to lean how to properly execute them...even the basic 2A is problematic for some of these teams. Focusing on two or three jump elements for 20-30 minutes a day...2A, 3S or 3T should not be that difficult. Get Christy Krall to come in and do DartFish with these teams on their jumps. No US team will have international credibility until they learn to jump, regardless of how "beautiful" they are on the ice.

[leapfrogonice]

Really agree with you B. Cooper. Teams like D/S especially seem to literally "have it all" except the solo jumps. Send them to someone who can absolute reconstruct their jumps. Truly, it seems like all you need in senior pairs is a reliable double axel and triple toe loop. RELIABLE. Not great. Just reliable. It's not like you can WIN a pairs event with great SBS jumps, but you can certainly lose a few places with mistakes, lose points messing them up.

[Sylvia]

Am I imagining it or have we had this pairs and sbs jumps discussion many times before here on FSU?

But, S/K really really need to get at least one Sr. B assignment to get on the map.

I think it's a positive sign that Scimeca/Knierim were recently added to the ISP.

VERY glad to see that Zhang/Bartholomay and Davis/Ladwig have been assigned to their first international together in Salt Lake City!

[olympic]

Am I imagining it or have we had this pairs and sbs jumps discussion many times before here on FSU?

Plenty of times But, it probably won't abate until we see more viable teams landing their SBS jumps.

I think it's a positive sign that Scimeca/Knierim were recently added to the ISP.

VERY glad to see that Zhang/Bartholomay and Davis/Ladwig have been assigned to their first international together in Salt Lake City!

Yes. Definitely a good sign. I think this means that D/L have 1 Intl. Sr. B comp and 1 GP event, and Z/B have 1 Sr. B comp? Really hoping that S/K get one (the USFSA needs to be on top of new teams with potential), and it might be great for D/S to get one as well.

ETA - any more vids of the LP at Indy Challenge. I didn't see the one for C/S where they scored 103 pts. or so

[kwanfan1818]

D/S have Skate America

[Sylvia]

ETA - any more vids of the LP at Indy Challenge. I didn't see the one for C/S where they scored 103 pts. or so

Not yet but see my post in the Indy Challenge thread in Kiss and Cry: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...91#post3659091

I think it's very possible that Donlan/Speroff will also get a Senior B.

[B.Cooper]

Am I imagining it or have we had this pairs and sbs jumps discussion many times before here on FSU?


I think it's a positive sign that Scimeca/Knierim were recently added to the ISP.

VERY glad to see that Zhang/Bartholomay and Davis/Ladwig have been assigned to their first international together in Salt Lake City!

Yup, Sylvia....This discussion has been had many many many times.


But, all joking aside....why doesn't it change? It is one of the biggest hurdles for US pair teams, IMO. Is this a failing of US style of teaching? I don't really think so, because so many of the US singles skaters focus on jumps early in their careers. Why doesn't it carry over into pairs? The elite Chinese and many of the European teams have figured this out...jumps are required elements. ;-) What happened to the program IIRC, USFSA used to run, for their pair teams. Wasn't there a pair camp of some sort a few years ago...something that was held early in each season? I would think if you are hearing the same feedback that the coach would expand the coaching staff to include someone who can teach these kids to demonstrate a 2A, 3S or 3T with some level of consistency.

[Ziggy]

It's one of the biggest hurdles for any pair teams, not just the US ones.