US Pairs 2012-13 news & updates

[leapfrogonice]

Liberty is right around the corner already. It always impresses me that new partnerships can form, elements prepared, and new programs can be developed in such a short time.

[Sylvia]

Some pairs should be debuting programs at Broadmoor Open next week.

The male was definitely (currently pairs partner-less) Tim LeDuc... not entirely sure about the female, but she looks/dresses like Carly Powers, who trains with the same coach as Tim... so perhaps they attended together for the experience, esp. if her brother and pairs partner David was not available.

Thanks. I should have recognized Tim! BTW, I found the same Indiana local news clip about the Pairs Camp posted on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWYZr1uChk

Whoa, quick trip for Tim, then, since he was testing in Iowa on the 8th!

I assume he passed easily? I mentioned this in the U.S. Men's thread earlier -- LeDuc is registered to compete in the Senior Men's SP event at Liberty.

[Clarice]

I assume he passed easily? I mentioned this in the U.S. Men's thread earlier -- LeDuc is registered to compete in the Senior Men's SP event at Liberty.

Yes. No heroics, though - just satisfied the requirements of the test. Strong presentation.

[Skittl1321]

Yes. No heroics, though - just satisfied the requirements of the test. Strong presentation.

Biggest audience I've seen at a test session

[Sylvia]

Some impressions from the "Skate For Hope" show this past Saturday that were posted in the event thread (IceNetwork is supposed to have on-demand video of the show at some point): http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=83575:

Caitlin [Yankowskas] and Josh [Reagan] looked pretty good together for not having performed anywhere before tonight. I'm not certain but their program could have been a modified version of what their SP will be this year (the element layout sure felt very SP-ish to me) but I can't remember the music choice. They did a nice throw, side by side 3T (Caitlin fell but the rink was smaller for this show and I think she rushed it), gorgeous death spiral, a pairs spin, and a few fun dancey type lifts throughout. I thought they looked great together although Josh sure looked a bit nervous! I spoke to Caitlin after the show for a bit and she confirmed that they were doing Skate Detroit later this summer but wasn't sure about the Indy Challenge yet. Anyone going to Detroit, make a note that Caitlin & Josh should be there!
...
Mary Beth and Rockne skated a very cute number and look a lot more like a team now that they've had even more time together. I think their music was a Louis Armstrong medley.

Mary Beth and Rocke have improved their twist with more height and the smaller details are falling into place. Cait and Josh sizzle. The eye contact and chemistry for a young team was surprising. Her back arch is divine in her lifts.

Rockne Brubaker, Britney Simpson, and Tim LeDuc (plus ice dancers John & Sinead Kerr and Gilles/Poirier) are quoted in this article about the methods their teams use to maintain unison in side-by-side spins (and twizzles): Synchronicity: Teams work to maintain unison
One tidbit that caught my eye:

Marley and Brubaker have been taking tips from ice dancing to improve their step sequences.

"Incorporating knee bend into all your movements is a big part of ice dancing," Brubaker said. "We're working with Renée Roca this year, and that's something she's been focusing on. If you bend before you push, your partner will realize you're bending and you'll be together. Bend, bend, bend every time, and that really helps."

[olympic]

Some impressions from the "Skate For Hope" show this past Saturday that were posted in the event thread (IceNetwork is supposed to have on-demand video of the show at some point): http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=83575:



Rockne Brubaker, Britney Simpson, and Tim LeDuc (plus ice dancers John & Sinead Kerr and Gilles/Poirier) are quoted in this article about the methods their teams use to maintain unison in side-by-side spins (and twizzles): Synchronicity: Teams work to maintain unison
One tidbit that caught my eye:

Sounds encouraging for both M/B and Y/R. Question (if it can be answered) - What type of throw jump did Y/R do?

[carriemarie]

Sounds encouraging for both M/B and Y/R. Question (if it can be answered) - What type of throw jump did Y/R do?

more importantly...did he actually do a "pair" lift with her?

[Rochelle]

more importantly...did he actually do a "pair" lift with her?

At Skate For Hope if I recall correctly... and if I'm incorrect full footage from the show be shown on IceNetwork somtime this summer ... they did a throw double in their program (not certain - I had a head in the way through part of it - but she had hang time in the air)... and no Group 3/4/5 pair lifts at all (other than a show-program lifted spin... basically a spinning platter lift). Just some lovely dance lifts.

They look to be at a point one would expect in the few months since they partnered up. Caitlin looks fit and ready to go. Notable chemistry. Caitlin is lovely as always, and Joshua had one of his weak-posture-days... so hopefully he polishes that up by the fall.

For the poster who thought thier program was a short program... the music was to "It's a Man's World" and it was choreographed in such a way (that even when modified for about 2/3 of the ice surface) that I highly doubt it's thier SP. Just a nice, hot exhibition.

I talked with Caitlin's mom and if I recall correctly and they're debuting at Skate Detroit, and undecided about Indy Challenge--but most likely won't enter there.

Stay tuned for the icenetwork video for Skate For Hope once it's available. And otherwise, give them time to develop.

[grandma]

reading in the forums, I must say skaters in the US or Canada are so lucky. If they need a new partner they are sure to find one. Even swapping partners is relatively often done.
In Germany for example finding a new skating partner is an impossible quest.
There are hardly any girls who are suitable for pairs as they are too tall, or just not slim enough. Many girls prefer to do singles, or trainers try to hang on to them for too long as they need them for money, not interested if their skater might excel more in pairs or dance. When our senior pair or dance skaters end their career after Sochi 2014 their won`t be much following up.

[Skittl1321]

If they need a new partner they are sure to find one.

This just isn't true. It may be MORE difficult for skaters in countries with smaller skating programs, but there are many pairs skaters who retire because they cannot find a partner, or who sit out seasons because they didn't find one. This includes high level, very qualified skaters (Caitlin Yankowskas won the national championship, and then sat out a season- not by choice it seems). Drew Meekins, though not as highly ranked as Caitlin, would probably love to hear how easy it is to find a partner (though I think after so many years looking, he is now retired)

And there are even more skaters who wish they could do pairs, but can't because there is no partner. The problems you note: too tall, too heavy, would rather do singles (pairs is kind of a black sheep in the US, sadly), coach won't tell them about opportunities that require a move/parent won't let them move (almost all pairs skaters need to move for a partnership) ALL exist here.

[BittyBug]

Drew Meekins, though not as highly ranked as Caitlin, would probably love to hear how easy it is to find a partner .....

When Meekins and Vlassov split, they were the reigning World Junior Champions, so he was most definitely ranked higher than Yankowskas when he became available.

[Skittl1321]

When Meekins and Vlassov split, they were the reigning World Junior Champions, so he was most definitely ranked higher than Yankowskas when he became available.

I was thinking when he split with Paetsch more recently. But you are right- his search for her was long too.
I think it is difficult to say how skaters at the junior level compare to those at the senior- but as reigning junior champ, he definitely had amazing promise to do well on the SGP and at nationals on the senior level.

I would say it is -easier- for a man to find a partner, but it still isn't easy at all. You don't want to skate with just anyone, finding the right partner for anyone is extremely difficult.

[grandma]

I know it is`t easy anywhere, even in countries with larger skating communities... , but regarding that smaller countries have so much to loose if many good junior skaters stop skating, it is rubbish for the ISU to invest so much money in development programs and in due course the countries do not make anything out of it. Letting their skaters waste away, with a federation turning a blind eye and not interested in doing anything.
At least in the US you have a pairs camp once in a while, and if you are a good skater you will mostly find someone again. I am sorry for Drew Meekins , as I like his skating very much. If someone does not find anybody it is often because the girl might be rather tall for pairs or the boys too small.
We can all be thankful for icepartnersearch, otherwise it would be even bleaker for the european, specifically the german skaters.
As good as it may be to start out as juniors, often the girls change very much with puberty, Paetsch ws one example Brynn Carmen another, Ashley cain the list can go on endlessly.

[carriemarie]

At Skate For Hope if I recall correctly... and if I'm incorrect full footage from the show be shown on IceNetwork somtime this summer ... they did a throw double in their program (not certain - I had a head in the way through part of it - but she had hang time in the air)... and no Group 3/4/5 pair lifts at all (other than a show-program lifted spin... basically a spinning platter lift). Just some lovely dance lifts.

They look to be at a point one would expect in the few months since they partnered up. Caitlin looks fit and ready to go. Notable chemistry. Caitlin is lovely as always, and Joshua had one of his weak-posture-days... so hopefully he polishes that up by the fall.

For the poster who thought thier program was a short program... the music was to "It's a Man's World" and it was choreographed in such a way (that even when modified for about 2/3 of the ice surface) that I highly doubt it's thier SP. Just a nice, hot exhibition.

I talked with Caitlin's mom and if I recall correctly and they're debuting at Skate Detroit, and undecided about Indy Challenge--but most likely won't enter there.

Stay tuned for the icenetwork video for Skate For Hope once it's available. And otherwise, give them time to develop.

FYI Davis/Ladwig competing short program this weekend...no "hot" show numbers for them...lol- Not showing up to Indy is a show of weakness from Caitlin/Josh IMO...

[2sk8]

FYI Davis/Ladwig competing short program this weekend...no "hot" show numbers for them...lol- Not showing up to Indy is a show of weakness from Caitlin/Josh IMO...

Ummm...no real fandom from my end for either team, but this seems a bit presumptuous - or maybe D/L don;'t have a "hot" number to show.

[olympic]

FYI Davis/Ladwig competing short program this weekend...no "hot" show numbers for them...lol- Not showing up to Indy is a show of weakness from Caitlin/Josh IMO...

Yeah. I thought that Y/R were definitely going to Indy, reading in another thread their big goal this Summer was debuting both programs there. Maybe, they just want to stay home and do some more work. Or maybe they are confident about Skate Detroit ...

[Sylvia]

Mark Ladwig tweeted this article link yesterday re. Florida pairs competing this weekend: http://www.news-press.com/article/20...-Chiller-event (Zhang/Bartholomay and the new team of Kayne/O'Shea are debuting 2 programs, I believe)

Ladwig also tweeted on June 19:

I love using negative energy for positive means. Today's frown I channelled into three split triple twists. Lindsay & my first.

[olympic]

Mark Ladwig tweeted this article link yesterday re. Florida pairs competing this weekend: http://www.news-press.com/article/20...-Chiller-event (Zhang/Bartholomay and the new team of Kayne/O'Shea are debuting 2 programs, I believe)

Ladwig also tweeted on June 19:

Was Lindsey only capable of a split double-twist? Mark's tweet makes it sound like a breakthrough

[~tapdancer~]

Was Lindsey only capable of a split double-twist? Mark's tweet makes it sound like a breakthrough

I would think getting the timing for a triple twist for a new pair would be a breakthrough.

[olympic]

I would think getting the timing for a triple twist for a new pair would be a breakthrough.

True, but I was just racking my brain to recall if Davis/Leftheris did a 3twist ...