U.S. Pairs 2021-22 season - News & Updates, Part X

[olympic]

^Isn't that a best for American pairs under IJS?? I seem to remember that Knierims had a 210 or 212 at 2016 4CCs, and I think that was the record for US pairs.

Sad that CG/L didn't hit it out of the park in the LP.

US pairs actually outperformed US ladies, though. Since there are bound to be no-shows at Worlds among at least 1 pair in the top 5, I wonder if the US has a shot in March at gaining 3 spots for 2023 Worlds ....

 

[VGThuy]

I’m proud of the US Pairs.

 

[Rukia]

I’m proud of the US Pairs.

They really did exceed expectations here. I'm interested to see who continues. I think having skaters who have been very competitive with each other (and I'm including Calalang/Johnson and even Lu/Mitrofanov in here) has really helped to push our pairs to a more positive place.

 

[sk9tingfan]

^Isn't that a best for American pairs under IJS?? I seem to remember that Knierims had a 210 or 212 at 2016 4CCs, and I think that was the record for US pairs.

Sad that CG/L didn't hit it out of the park in the LP.

US pairs actually outperformed US ladies, though. Since there are bound to be no-shows at Worlds among at least 1 pair in the top 5, I wonder if the US has a shot in March at gaining 3 spots for 2023 Worlds ....

CG & L might have if Ashley wasn't skating on a sprained ankle. Really too bad.

 

[Jarrett]

I thought NBC and the arena would still had to purchase a blanket license that allowed them to play music even in live settings as was explained to me when we spoke about music copyright before.

Do Olympic Figure Skaters Have to License the Music They Skate To?

Nathan Chen won gold against a backdrop of Elton John songs. But who shelled out for the music license?

www.mentalfloss.com

So I wondering if that cover was one of those songs that weren’t covered by the blanket license.

I guess we’ll find out when the judge either dismisses their claim for failure to state a claim or allows the case to proceed because there exists a claim that can be pursued under the law.

The articles I have read said the performers have reached settlements in the past for others misusing their work. I think the issue with using their version of the song is that their works are not published by the usual suspects therefore might not be covered by the normal blanket licenses. Looking at their wiki it looks like they mainly do commercials, TV shows and movies.

 

[Lizziebeth]

I am hoping that both teams to to Worlds. And that Ashley's ankle gets better fast. Both teams looked like they are in super condition and were very well prepared for the Olys and I want them at Worlds to see what they can do.

 

[Sabine-Yuna]

Hase/Seeger skated to this same song a couple of seasons ago. Are these musicians going to sue them too? Maybe it’s a good thing, so we won’t have to hear other skaters using this not great song version. Hopefully, this lights a fire under K/F to fight for every point in their long program. If I were them, after the LP in the Kiss and Cry, I say “Coldplay, please don’t sue us too for using your music” as a petty retort to the band sueing them. “Don’t sue me” may be their new catchphrase. I get the band wanting to get paid for their creation/remake and use, but still, maybe it’s just the timing that irks me. I wonder if K/F will change the music or use a different version for Worlds.

Beyond that, both teams put out great performances today. Hopefully, they can do this at Worlds too.

They've tried to sue Hase/Seegert as well.

 

[~tapdancer~]

So proud of our Olympic US pairs! Wow, they really repped us just fine! Congrats to K/F on the 6TH PLACE finish! Just wonderful, considering the very competitive field at the top. And C-G/L did us proud as well with 8th. With Lu/Mitrofanov waiting in the wings and can't forget C/J either, US pairs is looking up!

Also, good choice, USFS, for sending K/F!

 

[Karen-W]

^Isn't that a best for American pairs under IJS?? I seem to remember that Knierims had a 210 or 212 at 2016 4CCs, and I think that was the record for US pairs.

Sad that CG/L didn't hit it out of the park in the LP.

US pairs actually outperformed US ladies, though. Since there are bound to be no-shows at Worlds among at least 1 pair in the top 5, I wonder if the US has a shot in March at gaining 3 spots for 2023 Worlds ....

Not sure about scores but during the broadcast Terry said it was the best US pairs finish since 1998 where the teams finished 4th & 8th, and the highest finish since 2002 when Ina/Zimmerman finished 5th. Overall, compared to where US Pairs were just 5 years ago, only qualifying one team to Pyeongchang, this is such a tremendous improvement! Both teams are coming home with Olympic diplomas and that's not something that many of athletes can show off to friends and family.

I think they're looking very strong for this kind of result. Even if MiuKih move ahead of KniFraz and finish 5th, that would still give us a 6th & 7th place finish and qualify 3 teams for next season.

 

[olympic]

Not sure about scores but during the broadcast Terry said it was the best US pairs finish since 1998 where the teams finished 4th & 8th, and the highest finish since 2002 when Ina/Zimmerman finished 5th. Overall, compared to where US Pairs were just 5 years ago, only qualifying one team to Pyeongchang, this is such a tremendous improvement! Both teams are coming home with Olympic diplomas and that's not something that many of athletes can show off to friends and family.

I think they're looking very strong for this kind of result. Even if MiuKih move ahead of KniFraz and finish 5th, that would still give us a 6th & 7th place finish and qualify 3 teams for next season.

Thanks. I recall Castelli / Shnapir were 9th at Sochi 2014, Evora / Ladwig were 10th at Vancouver, and Inoue / Baldwin finished 7th in Torino 2006, so I knew K/F beat all of that ...

 

[Xela M]

How fricken amazing is Alexa?!?
A real gutsy pair girl! Absolutely love her. Really really happy that she managed to skate lights out in both SP and FS! And this is a brand new pair.

Canadian pairs should pay attention - this is how it's done!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

How fricken amazing is Alexa?!?
A real gutsy pair girl! Absolutely love her. Really really happy that she managed to skate lights out in both SP and FS! And this is a brand new pair.

Canadian pairs should pay attention - this is how it's done!

Where have you been my friend? I feel like I have not seen you post since Clinton was president

 

[miffy]

I wouldn’t mind if K/F went back to last season’s SP for Worlds, I liked that one too. I guess they’d be more likely to go with a different version of this one though.

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

Did Betchke say that the 3rd US team broke up? I may have misunderstood. It’s been an emotional week!

 

[skatingguy]

Did Betchke say that the 3rd US team broke up? I may have misunderstood. It’s been an emotional week!

She mentioned that she heard something about that, but I'm not sure exactly what that meant.

 

[olympic]

She mentioned that she heard something about that, but I'm not sure exactly what that meant.

Jessica and Brian? Good God, I hope not! They are completing their 3rd year. At this point is when they really start to gel ..

 

[Frau Muller]

She mentioned that she heard something about that, but I'm not sure exactly what that meant.

I heard Bechke’s comment, too. Nobody specified. It could be any of the top-6 or 7 Sr teams at ‘22 Nationals. Or the new Danny O’Shae-and-partner team that was injured in Europe. Who knows?

 

[Karen-W]

I heard Bechke’s comment, too. Nobody specified. It could be any of the top-6 or 7 Sr teams at ‘22 Nationals. Or the new Danny O’Shae-and-partner team that was injured in Europe. Who knows?

I disagree that "it could be any of the top 6 or 7" - it was very specific "the third team". Calalang/Johnson have been, consistently, considered the #2 or #3 team in the US over the last few seasons. One MIGHT take it to mean the team that won bronze at Nats, LuMit, but there aren't any other teams who could even remotely fit the definition of "the third team."

 

[Frau Muller]

I disagree that "it could be any of the top 6 or 7" - it was very specific "the third team". Calalang/Johnson have been, consistently, considered the #2 or #3 team in the US over the last few seasons. One MIGHT take it to mean the team that won bronze at Nats, LuMit, but there aren't any other teams who could even remotely fit the definition of "the third team."

A third team is just a third team…not THE #3 ranked team.

 

[Karen-W]

A third team is just a third team…not THE #3 ranked team.

Lololol. But she didn't say "a third team". If she had then your definition would be correct. She explicitly said "THE third team". There is, as we all have acknowledged, a very clear pecking order and depth level of pairs teams in the US, with Knierim/Frazier, Cain-Gribble/LeDuc and Calalang/Johnson occupying the top tier for the past two seasons and every other team still catching up, with Lu/Mitrofanov starting to narrow the gap this season.

I'll be disappointed if it does turn out that C/J have split up, but that's only because I really don't see any other US female pairs skater at a similar level, though I could understand if Brian wanted to take a chance on someone else, especially since Jessica seems to have a real mental block on her jumps.

 

[olympic]

^FTR, I really hope it is not true. But if that is the case, WHOM would he pair with? It's not like the US has an abundance of riches in Pairs skating partners, and would that be a reason to leave? I mean, they have almost everything else: She lands some serious throw jumps, their twist and lifts are the best in the biz, and most importantly, their bodies are evenly matched which makes the team stand out. I hope she works through the jumps. RA said it would take a while for anyone to successfully relearn technique.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Jessica posted an IG story of practicing with Brian not long ago so unless something very recently I think they’re still together.

 

[Karen-W]

Jessica posted an IG story of practicing with Brian not long ago so unless something very recently I think they’re still together.

Yes, I was pretty certain she or the TeamTodd&Jenni had posted something on their IG story in the last few weeks since the Olympics started of C/J practicing. Of course, that doesn't mean something could have happened in the interim. We'll likely not know for a few weeks or longer for sure.

 

[jkl]

I can confirm that Calalang and Johnson are still very much a team.

 

[wickedwitch]

Lololol. But she didn't say "a third team". If she had then your definition would be correct. She explicitly said "THE third team". There is, as we all have acknowledged, a very clear pecking order and depth level of pairs teams in the US, with Knierim/Frazier, Cain-Gribble/LeDuc and Calalang/Johnson occupying the top tier for the past two seasons and every other team still catching up, with Lu/Mitrofanov starting to narrow the gap this season.

English is not her first language, so there's a non-zero chance that the use of "the" instead of "a" was a mistake.

 

[jkl]

Did she specify a Senior US Pair team? Could it be a US Junior Pair team that has split?

 

[Sylvia]

6th and 8th at the 2022 Olympics!!!

6 Alexa KNIERIM / Brandon FRAZIER USA 212.68 6 7 (3 ISU PBs, including total, 138.45 in FS today & 75.00 in team event SP)

8 Ashley CAIN-GRIBBLE / Timothy LEDUC USA 198.05 7 9 (74.13 in SP is ISU SB)

Congrats to both teams!!

From @haribobo's post today in the "ISU World Standings Have Been Updated" thread:

SB SCORE
Knierim/Frazier 9 to 6

WORLD STANDINGS
Cain-Gribble/LeDuc 7 to 5 (574 WS points for 8th at Olympics)
Knierim/Frazier 17 to 8 (709 WS points for 6th at Olympics)

 

[Rhumba d’Amour]

English is not her first language, so there's a non-zero chance that the use of "the" instead of "a" was a mistake.

Well, who could it be then? Has anyone heard any rumblings?

The only thing I can think is that Danny OShea and his new partner might be thinking of retiring, after that terrible accident.

 

[Karen-W]

Well, who could it be then? Has anyone heard any rumblings?

The only thing I can think is that Danny OShea and his new partner might be thinking of retiring, after that terrible accident.

That's possible, for sure. I'm pretty sure LuMit are still together also. Chan/Howe maybe? They aren't super-young.

 

[jlb5329]

The rumor is Lu/Mitrofanov have split.