U.S. Pairs 2018-19 season - News & Updates, Part IX

I would not be surprised if we see Nate come back with a partner in a short period of time. Pair men are in very high demand. It is not like he tore an ACL or he needs knee surgery. The PR for this break-up was respectful and well-coordinated. It does not mean that we heard the real reasons. They don't have to give us the truth.
 
Deanna is amazing :respec: I have so much respect for her, and I love anyone that gives us some knc drama. I hope we get to see her skate again soon
 
AxelAnnie said:
There is something wonky in all of this. I read a few weeks after US Nats that Deanna was quitting so she could be with her husband.

Then we hear Nate is retiring.

Shortly after that, we hear he is "taking time off to heal an ankle injury".

I hope she finds a great partner STAT! I really liked them.
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Most of what you “read” is mindless gossip. I try io only pay attention to attributable information
 
aftershocks said:
Please note that Joshua Santillan and Jessica Pfund are planning to continue competing. Both of them have been injured and that's why they missed the recent U.S. Nationals. Due to being injured and rehabilitating, Josh hasn't been able to work, which has caused financial setbacks for them, including loss of funding from USFS. But they are committed to continuing their training and giving themselves a chance to work toward the 2022 Olympics. Josh posts on his Twitter that he and Jessica have updated their GoFundMe, and they are grateful to everyone who can donate, send words of support, and/or share his post. :saint:

https://twitter.com/joshesantillan/status/1113830514656522242
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Crazy that USFS would give up on funding them that easily. Not that they are any sort of front runners, but they are clearly competitive with the American teams in the middle of the pack who are getting funding. Meanwhile, the Boston team that got 2nd to last at Natls is in the international selection pool and Pfund/ Santillan are not. I predict a long road ahead of them, but if they are up for the challenge I think they can get back into the conversation. Hopefully the loss of funding combined with time off does not set them back too far.

As for Deanna and Nate, it is hard to say what the truth is. There is no way of knowing, but I think we should respect their privacy. After all, what they told us is what they would like us to know. Who knows, maybe they’ll each get good partners and strengthen US pairs even more.
 
A.H.Black said:
Rockne Brubaker is most probably a fantasy - but what a fantasy.
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Yes, I think Rockne and Deanna would have been a good pairing. She didn't come back soon enough! Dang! ;) Reminds me of how Amanda Evora and Rockne Brubaker were a real fantasy. They actually tried out and contemplated pairing, but there were too many real-life drawbacks in their situations, so despite a great tryout, they didn't pair up.

Some of Amanda's hesitation may have had to do with not wanting to relocate to California due to her job and school in Florida. But I think she also hesitated out of respect for her former partner, Mark Ladwig, with whom she'd precipitated a split out of wanting to move on with her life, not to re-partner with anyone. Meanwhile, Mark's pairing with Lindsay Davis (which was fairly promising) went kaput when Rockne became available after his partner, Mary Beth Marley, suddenly quit due to an eating disorder.

Lindsay eagerly paired-up with Rockne, and while their pairing seemed promising due to a nice physical match-up, there was actually very little chemistry or connection between them. Whereas, Lindsay's prior pairing with Mark Ladwig seemed to have more spark and promise. It might have been even more of a blow for Mark had Amanda come out of retirement to skate with Rockne. Sorta like a triple whammy of losing Amanda twice, along with new partner, Lindsay (to the same guy).

ETA: Although come to think of it, Lindsay paired with Rockne, after logistics of Amanda and Rockne pairing up didn't work out.

Boy, is pairs figure skating a real-life soap opera on so many levels.
 
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happycamper2554 said:
Tarah and Danny in Detroit working with Charlie White. Maybe getting a short program?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwATRMjnzqt/
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Ah, I love seeing Danny embracing his hirsutelessness, a la Andre Agassi. :cheer2: Go with the flow!

Hopefully, Charlie can help Tarah work more on her skating skills and developing speed to match Danny! K/O traveled to Canton, Michigan no less to work with Master Charlie. :D

Charlie has done such a great job working with James/Cipres (fp) and Haven/Brandon (sp & fp)! Charlie is surely in demand and rightly so. I wonder if he will be venturing back to help out the Zimmerman teams in Florida?

Catching up with Ash/Timothy!!! :lol:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwBN81wFYhH/
Z/E are showing so much personality in this pic. Amazing! :P I'd say that maybe Z/E are benefiting from having some of the impact of Ash/Timothy's presentation skills rub off on them. So the pushing can go both ways! :saint:

This pic is quite cool too: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv2-nNjFGQz/
It's nice to see in action the international friendships that are always developing -- even more-so these days than in the distant past.

Hey this statement by Ash is true, but I never really stopped to think of it. Pretty cool! :cheer2:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvklwPaFyrq/ All Team USA members finished in the top 10 at Worlds

Ash's random memories of Saitama Worlds: https://www.instagram.com/p/BviAWRYljAt/ :watch:
 
I disagree on one thing Aftershocks. I prefer Danny with hair intact. But it's his decision so I suppose I'll have to get used to his new look.
As for K/O working with Charlie, what a nice idea. Charlie rocks and if he can influence and inspire Tarah and Danny to develop more I'm all for it. That doesn't mean they've stopped having S-L Bourne as their choreographer altogether.
 
Spiralgraph said:
I prefer Danny with hair intact.
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Yeah, but he was losing his hair anyway. Terrible TSL ragged on Danny using some type of hairspray filler to make the sparse hair on top of his head look fuller. Apparently, Danny was motivated to simply shave it all off. He looks fine to me. A macho Telly Savalas. :D Work what you got, Danny!

And right, Shae-Lynn has done wonderful work for K/O. It's certainly nice to have a number of great choreographers to explore working with in the current landscape. It was reported in the Canadian pair thread that Shae-Lynn's choreo collaborator, Dr. Shae Zukwisky, has been named Skate Canada's Senior Director, Performance Excellence:
https://skatecanada.ca/2019/02/skat...ky-as-senior-director-performance-excellence/

Zukwisky and Shae-Lynn choreographed K/O's Swan Lake fp that was used for two seasons. It was a very good program for them.

wickedwitch said:
Their Swan Lake LP was sooo good, so I don't see why they'd stop using Bourne. Maybe Sappenfield has an issue with her choreography.
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I'm sure it's simply about exploring different options, which doesn't mean never working again with Shae-Lynn! For example, James/Cipres had a great working relationship with John Kerr. They simply wanted to try other choreographers for the experience of challenging themselves with other creative artists, not because they weren't happy and successful working with Kerr.
 
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I was just happy that we didn't have any "Whatever Happened to Deanna Stellato" threads for quite a while. It was fun watching her comeback, and I wouldn't be surprised to see her enter a singles event if she doesn't find a partner soon.
 
aftershocks said:
Catching up with Ash/Timothy!!! :lol:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwBN81wFYhH/
Z/E are showing so much personality in this pic. Amazing! :p I'd say that maybe Z/E are benefiting from having some of the impact of Ash/Timothy's presentation skills rub off on them. So the pushing can go both ways! :saint:
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I told Ashley yesterday that Timothy's ass needs it own IG! I mean damn.

(@Brenda_Bottems yes homosexual innuendo all the way baby)
 
Sylvia said:
Massimo Scali has choreographed Allison Timlen/Justin Highgate-Brutmans's programs again this season (music not yet announced) - from their joint IG last month:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvCS0X4HQN7/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPzeqonaia/
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Lovely. I didn't know Massimo Scali had choreographed Allison/Justin's programs this season. They did beautiful work together, so I'm glad to see they are continuing their collaboration.

Massimo had posed together with Allison and Justin around this time last year after working on this season's programs. I enjoyed the music choices and all the lovely choreographic moves, and especially Allison/Justin's expressive and engaging performance qualities. While watching them in January at U.S. Natls, I kept thinking they would be great show skaters.

The U.S. competition disciplines I rewatch first are pairs, and then sometimes men and ice dance. I've rewatched pairs a few times now. It doesn't get old for me. I picked up on some interesting moves and nuances in many of the pairs performances. No matter the miscues, from top to bottom, I think this is a wonderful group of pairs teams and I hope they all stay together. But oops, I forgot for a second that Deardorff/Settlage and Stellato/Bartholomay have split. Still, teams with excellent potential remain. And the top teams hopefully will continue to improve and reach new heights.

I especially marvel at how the switch in the same camp re Jessica Calalang pairing with Brian Johnson, and Johnson's former partner Chelsea Liu moving on and finding a new partner in Ian Meyh has worked out so well for all involved.

Here are a few fun pics of pairs skaters' dogs:

Allison & Justin's new pup Weimaraner, Arya:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvrVSK7HtyP/

A.J.Reiss' dog, Charger:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhXN__slhsY/

Alexa with their St.Bernard, Cami:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsgX9zNAUIn/

Ash Cain's dog Mylo, and fiance, Dalton (on FaceTime)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvtmOShFfEc/

(Also check out actor and former ice dancer, Alex Benoit's Instagram to see pics of his doggy niece, Sadie:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrHlwG2Helq/ )

Some healing thoughts from Alexa:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu_rXtxASdc/

This brief clip from Ash, with Timothy and Misha Ge, is cool. I wonder if they are working on an exhibition together, or new programs, or just hanging out experiencing 'freedom' :)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvwTjcSHkEp/

Ashley, Timothy and crew are ready for WTT:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwEweaFlOM3/
 
Dalilah Sappenfield has posted several clips of Sarah Feng/TJ Nyman practicing sections of their new Senior programs: https://www.instagram.com/p/BwsY5vWlyux/
Clips #1 (choreo into throw 3Lo), 2 & 5 (transition moves into sbs 3T) are from their FS to Albinoni's "Adagio in G minor"; clip #4 (steps/Sarah does a forward spiral into sbs 3S) is from their "I Put A Spell on You" SP and #3 could be the ending? Pasquale Camerlengo choreographed both programs.

ETA:

Kate Finster/Balazs Nagy's new Junior FS is to "To Build A Home" (The Cinematic Orchestra) - short clip: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwrmp4kFvC_/
Finster posted on her IG that their FS also includes "Rain, In Your Black Eyes" (by Ezio Bosso; note to Claire: spreadsheet is updated).
 
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Looks like Tarah & Danny are gonna try for two different triples in their LP this season (I saw 3S and 3T in those clips) and I think their throws actually look bigger too. I love that they're working on their 3Z throw again! I really liked that lift where Danny is basically holding Tarah up with one hand before they move into another position. That was definitely a :eek: lift! They look really solid overall IMO and I'm excited about them having an offseason to focus on improving their elements and getting them stronger. :cheer:

And yes, Danny's bald head is quite the look but hey, it's just hair and it can always grow back...it could even grow back before the season starts, LOL :lol:
 
HeatherC said:
FYI, Tarah and Danny's SP music is Sweet Dreams (the version that was used in the trailer for A Wrinkle in Time last year) and that choreography is being done by Charlie White. I was given permission to share that tonight so there you go. ;)
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You should add that to the Programs & Choreographers thread!
 
Is that Alex Wellman doing a death spiral at the very beginning of the third clip Dalilah posted of K/O?
 
HeatherC said:
Looks like Tarah & Danny are gonna try for two different triples in their LP this season (I saw 3S and 3T in those clips) and I think their throws actually look bigger too. I love that they're working on their 3Z throw again!...
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I was wishing for this to happen; that Tarah and Danny would put in two different triples in their LP and bring back their throw lutz again. With Ashley and Tim being such strong skaters K/O have to up their technical content to be competitive with them. I want Nationals to be a fight among the top teams, that way they all improve.
 
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