U.S. Pairs 2020-21 season - News & Updates, Part XI

[clairecloutier]

Also no assignments for Chan/Howe, who were fifth at Nationals. Injury??

 

[Karen-W]

Also no assignments for Chan/Howe, who were fifth at Nationals. Injury??

Do they have any international competitive experience apart from SA last season?

 

[clairecloutier]

Do they have any international competitive experience apart from SA last season?

Not much, if any ... They would have been looking for a Skate America spot again, I guess. Maybe they will still get the TBA.

 

[chachacha]

I don’t think it was their choice to turn down Worlds. Seems like they’re under some sort of international ban.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Their event page on Figure Skaters Online is empty.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I'm very happy that Danny is getting a chance to skate pairs again. I've always enjoyed watching him.
The jumps are the question. I think Chelsea and Danny may well be a beautiful pair together. There's no question that Tarah and Danny had a spark and charisma together, but I think Chelsea and Danny may match up in style. Chelsea has been working at the Jenni/Todd rink in Irvine for many months now. So she may have been able to work with Rafael on jumps. Who knows?

I will be fascinated to see Danny perform a triple twist with someone new. His with Tarah was always a weak spot (to put it mildly). Tarah said or wrote in their blog years ago that the problem was that she began rotating too soon out of the throw. They worked on it, but in competition she apparently reverted to old habit. Of course, with a new partner, either or both may learn a new technique altogether. With Chris Knierim on the coaching staff, the twist prospect seems hopeful.

Here's a clip from another US pair at Irvine, Katie McBeath and Nate Bartholomay, filmed by On Ice Perspectives. I am simply blown away by their speed, joy and love of skating. It's the first time I've liked The Blower's Daughter, too. I realize that's a minority opinion.

On Ice Perspectives ❄️🎥 on Instagram: "❄️ __⛸ @katie_mcbeath @natebartholomay __🎥 Jordan @oniceperspectives __🎵 The Blower’s Daughter @xtina @officialchrismann __🎓 Coaches @teamtoddandjenni __👣 Choreo by Cindy Stuart __📍 @greatparkice April 2021 ❄️ #

11K likes, 104 comments - oniceperspectives on May 24, 2021: "❄️ __⛸ @katie_mcbeath @natebartholomay __🎥 Jordan @oniceperspectives __🎵 The Blower�..."

www.instagram.com

Holy CRAP! That was fabulous to watch! Let's give them a Jump Exemption.....they are just too wonderful.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Jordan has uploaded a longer clip to his OIP Instagram account and it's from Liu/O'Shea's short program ("Lover" by Taylor Swift, choreo. by Adam Rippon): https://www.instagram.com/p/CQtX7NYnYpd/

Short article confirming Liu/O'Shea's new partnership based on Chelsea's Instagram post last night:

Former U.S. pairs champ Danny O’Shea and Chelsea Liu announce partnership

O'Shea is the 2018 Four Continents champion with Tarah Kayne, while Liu previously competed with Brian Johnson.

olympics.nbcsports.com

Um......WOW!

 

[tony]

Instagram accounts are interestingly disappearing today

 

[Sylvia]

ETA:

Holy CRAP! That was fabulous to watch! Let's give them a Jump Exemption.....they are just too wonderful.

Which team are you referring to?

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Instagram accounts are interestingly disappearing today

Whose accounts?

 

[saturdaysun]

I think TJ's is gone, not sure who else.

 

[Karen-W]

I think TJ's is gone, not sure who else.

Per @tony's post in the Aljona Savchenko thread, Dalilah's is also gone. And Aljona is in Italy with Richaud's Peak Ice Camp. Make of all this what you will...

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

Have I missed an announcement or have Kayne and Nagy never materialized? When the split happened, I just naturally assumed that they would pair up.

This. I’ve been wondering the same thing. I assumed they’d partner together as they are a couple off ice.

 

[Spiralgraph]

I can't keep up with all these announcements and speculations. If C/J are under some kind of official international ban, wouldn't there have to have been a public announcement? C/J's situation seems odd. I guess with all the other recent happenings USA pairs is in flux as usual.

 

[her grace]

 

[AxelAnnie]

ETA:

Which team are you referring to?

Katie McBeath and Nate Bartholomay,

 

[Sylvia]

As of May 25, here were the known programs of U.S. Pairs for the new season:

Katie McBeath/Nathan Bartholomay's 2021-22 FS program is to "The Blower’s Daughter" performed by Christina Aguilera & Chris Mann, choreographed by Cindy Stuart. On Ice Perspectives' 1+ minute clip filmed at Great Park Ice was posted yesterday: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPQggS4HAXO/

ETA the other U.S. Pairs info that has been posted in the Programs & Choreographers thread:

Audrey Lu & Misha Mitrofanov: FS to "Ancient Lands" by Ronan Hardiman (choreo. by Olga Ganicheva, I assume)
OIP's 50-second clip of the beginning section (posted on April 15): https://www.instagram.com/p/CNtKdozHCg2/

Misha Ge shared this photo from the Artesia, CA rink on May 6: https://www.instagram.com/p/COjJ_yOJtoL/
Ashley Cain-Gribble / Timothy LeDuc SP - The White Crow [2019 film soundtrack - original music composed by Ilan Eshkeri]

Ashley shared this photo on April 23: https://www.instagram.com/p/COBc8rXjchC/
"Thank you Pasquale [Camerlengo] for all of your amazing work over the years! Excited to show you all what we have been working on"

@Wyliefan posted the 2021 U.S. Junior Pairs champs' info last Thursday:

Anastasiia Smirnova & Danil Siianytsia
SP: "Dixie Biscuits" by Tape Five (kept from previous season)
Choreographed by Randi Strong

FS: "Je Suis Malade" by Lara Fabian
Choreographed by Trudy Oltmanns

Skating | Anastasiia Smirnova & Danil Siianytsia

smirnova-siianytsia.figureskatersonline.com

Kate Finster and Matej Silecky are a new Senior pair team based in Irvine, CA, according to their respective Instagram profile pages. He last competed in Senior Pairs at 2016 U.S. Nationals and has returned to competition after skating professionally.
Matej: https://instagram.com/mbs_seaturtlepig/
Kate: https://instagram.com/misskatefinster/
Both have shared the same 2 clips of themselves skating together via their Instagram stories today.

 

[mtnskater]

I was so excited by Calalang and Johnson after their silver medal win at Nationals. Thought they were so promising. And so bummed that nothing has materialized and no one knows if they are even still together or planning to compete this fall. I need to stop falling for new or young teams (see also: McLaughlin & Brubaker, Silverstein & Pekarek, Nguyen & Kolesnik)

 

[Sylvia]

FWIW, I posted this in the Benoit Richaud thread in late April:

Benoit Richaud made a trip to the NYC/NJ area last week to teach Edge & Choregraphy Classes for skaters of all ages.

Based on his photos (https://www.instagram.com/p/CORKURwpQDf/), he has choreographed programs for Bradie Tennell, Calalang/Johnson and Lindsay Thorngren (for the first time).

As of last week Calalang/Johnson are listed the USFS' ISP (when Liu/O'Shea were added): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...s-updates-part-xi.107350/page-19#post-6014221

My humble two cents: If there is any kind of public/official announcement to make, I'm pretty sure we will hear from them when the time is right.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I was so excited by Calalang and Johnson after their silver medal win at Nationals. Thought they were so promising. And so bummed that nothing has materialized and no one knows if they are even still together or planning to compete this fall. I need to stop falling for new or young teams (see also: McLaughlin & Brubaker, Silverstein & Pekarek, Nguyen & Kolesnik)

The pairing of Paul Poirier and AngieNikodinovLove looks promising!!!!

Just sayin

 

[Sylvia]

"Name Three Things" game with Audrey Lu, Misha Mitrofanov and Spencer Howe (IGTV video posted today on SC of Boston's Instagram account): https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQweIFygFWc/

 

[shan]

FWIW, I posted this in the Benoit Richaud thread in late April:

As of last week Calalang/Johnson are listed the USFS' ISP (when Liu/O'Shea were added): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...s-updates-part-xi.107350/page-19#post-6014221

My humble two cents: If there is any kind of public/official announcement to make, I'm pretty sure we will hear from them when the time is right.

This was posted today and is encouraging.

Jenni Meno-Sand on Instagram: "Workin hard Wednesday! #greatparkpairs 🇺🇸"

298 likes, 14 comments - teamtoddandjenni on June 30, 2021: "Workin hard Wednesday! #greatparkpairs 🇺🇸"

www.instagram.com

 

[chachacha]

This was posted today and is encouraging.

Jenni Meno-Sand on Instagram: "Workin hard Wednesday! #greatparkpairs 🇺🇸"

298 likes, 14 comments - teamtoddandjenni on June 30, 2021: "Workin hard Wednesday! #greatparkpairs 🇺🇸"

www.instagram.com

This is such a head scratcher. No Grand Prix??? Makes no sense but to train and not compete

 

[love skating]

I need to stop falling for new or young teams (see also: McLaughlin & Brubaker, Silverstein & Pekarek, Nguyen & Kolesnik)

Ahhh, same, they were all favorites of mine too that broke my heart!

 

[kris2ffer]

FWIW, I posted this in the Benoit Richaud thread in late April:

As of last week Calalang/Johnson are listed the USFS' ISP (when Liu/O'Shea were added): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...s-updates-part-xi.107350/page-19#post-6014221

My humble two cents: If there is any kind of public/official announcement to make, I'm pretty sure we will hear from them when the time is right.

check it again and Calalang/Johnson are no longer in the USFS ISP list. So technically they cant get funding since they are not part of Team USA anymore.

My guess is their travel restrictions/ban is more personal rather than sport related. Homeland Security had to stamp that if it’s true.

 

[miffy]

Could they be switching countries?

 

[BittyBug]

My guess is their travel restrictions/ban is more personal rather than sport related. Homeland Security had to stamp that if it’s true.

 

[maureenfarone]

Anyone know if Nica Digerness/Ian Meyh are still training together? They teamed up after 2020 Nationals. Her former partner is Danny Neudecker and Ian's former partner is Chelsea Liu.

 

[Karen-W]

check it again and Calalang/Johnson are no longer in the USFS ISP list. So technically they cant get funding since they are not part of Team USA anymore.

My guess is their travel restrictions/ban is more personal rather than sport related. Homeland Security had to stamp that if it’s true.

Could they be switching countries?

That's the only explanation that makes sense if it isn't doping related as some people are trying to imply.

 

[kwanfan1818]

What would Calalang/Johnson's choices be, aside from Azerbaijan?