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

[Willin]

I think that we have to remember that during the 2017-2018 timeframe, Alexa was skating with virtually no effective/competent abdominals. She had at least two if not more laparoscopic procedures during which portions of her intestine were removed. It's amazing that she skated at all, let alone helping to secure a team bronze medal at the Olympics.

This world championship is even more of a victory than we know.

It wasn't even laparoscopic - she posted a picture of a big midline incision. Which, as you said, makes it insane she was able to get out onto the ice at all. She also never revealed the diagnosis, so who knows how bad the illness was. We do know she was pretty malnourished and lost a lot of muscle, making training very hard.

I think one of the reasons for her to have more consistency with Brandon is her health, but also just that if you're skating with someone who is more consistent you yourself get more consistent. If you don't have to worry about their jumps, all you need to think about is landing your own jump.

 

[Habs]

Anytime a person writes, "Um" in a post, it is a red flag. She was trying to get them fired -- on a public forum. I think it was a mean tweet.

That’s quite a reach you’re making.

 

[Yazmeen]

It wasn't even laparoscopic - she posted a picture of a big midline incision. Which, as you said, makes it insane she was able to get out onto the ice at all. She also never revealed the diagnosis, so who knows how bad the illness was. We do know she was pretty malnourished and lost a lot of muscle, making training very hard.

I think one of the reasons for her to have more consistency with Brandon is her health, but also just that if you're skating with someone who is more consistent you yourself get more consistent. If you don't have to worry about their jumps, all you need to think about is landing your own jump.

Thank you for this, great analysis of what happened with her.

One thing I've noticed since she's been skating with Brandon is how much more he comes alive skating with her than Haven. Forgive my bluntness, but Haven Denney was the most boring ice dancer I've ever seen on the ice - basically OK, but no spark, no verve, just blah. And I always felt Brandon was blah with her - they were my "fridge break." Alexa and Chris were good together, but inconsistencies plagued them, especially jumps. Now, both Alexa and Brandon have found a groove together; he's more animated, and their consistencies blend, especially one partner not having to worry about any particular aspects or part of the program with the other. I'm over the moon about this win for them. They found the best in each other and it paid off.

And I'm still reminded that after watching Haven and Caydee Denney on the ice, it's hard to believe they came from the same family...

 

[barbk]

I hope Ashley Cain-Gribble is feeling better and planning to stay in Europe for a while to heal more before getting on a plane home.

 

[AYS]

Interesting, because I have heard Ted Barton say on many, many occasions that he does not understand the technical aspects of ice dance, and just this morning, here he was commenting on the ice dance event for the ISU feed. Has Meagan made similar comments about Ted?

If not, maybe she just feels more strongly about it when Pairs are involved, pairs being the discipline which is closest to her heart.

Ted speaks knowledgeably for the most part and from a consistently supportive place. There’s no comparison between his commentating and what is being discussed here, which was vile as well as unprofessional.

 

[AxelAnnie]

It wasn't even laparoscopic - she posted a picture of a big midline incision. Which, as you said, makes it insane she was able to get out onto the ice at all. She also never revealed the diagnosis, so who knows how bad the illness was. We do know she was pretty malnourished and lost a lot of muscle, making training very hard.

I think one of the reasons for her to have more consistency with Brandon is her health, but also just that if you're skating with someone who is more consistent you yourself get more consistent. If you don't have to worry about their jumps, all you need to think about is landing your own jump.

Isn't anyone at ISU or USFS in charge of skaters well being? Surely she should have had to have some monitoring from the governing bodies. Think Nancy Kerrigan or Michelle Kwan when they had been injured.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Anytime a person writes, "Um" in a post, it is a red flag. She was trying to get them fired -- on a public forum. I think it was a mean tweet.

UM....HUH? What an imagination you must have.

 

[Stephanie]

Ted speaks knowledgeably for the most part and from a consistently supportive place. There’s no comparison between his commentating and what is being discussed here, which was vile as well as unprofessional.

Agreed. Ted might not be a technical and code expert in when it comes to dance, but is very knowledgeable when it comes to singles and pairs (i.e. he’s great at explaining why an element didn’t succeed, etc.)

 

[Carolla5501]

Can't argue with that she has the hardware for sure one day she will be inducted into the US hall of fame.

I hate to be kind sarcastic, but she was going to be admitted into the Hall of Fame no matter what. If you look at getting admitted to the Hall of Fame having any kind of Olympic medals is going to get you in there - Alexa has two team metals. And of course US figure skating absolutely loves her


I don’t know that I think she’s the best female pair skater we’ve ever had sorry but I’d take Tai over her any day and I recall some other good ones

 

[Yuri]

Yes - this is the tweet.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506608642262454274

Thanks for sharing the tweet confirming her tweet that essentially called for Nicky and Simon to be fired and replaced by the ISU--before they made their snarky open mic comments about her as the broadcast stream concluded. As well, Meagan "liked" many of the tweets that were criticizing Nicky and Simon, but I don't know if that was before or after their TBFC comment. I didn't realize that Meagan was commentating simultaneously for the CBC, as now some on Twitter have suggested the ISU hire her instead. I know Meghan isn't the only broadcaster who also coaches top competitors (e.g., Christopher Dean did it regularly for the BBC, and Tanith White is doing it for NBC/USA Network), but I feel such coach/broadcasters should bend over backwards to show no conflicts of interest as one needs to stay on a fine line of not influencing public opinion as a coach with a mic.

Until I saw the USA Network coverage of the pairs long program yesterday, actually I didn't realize that Meagan is listed as one of the coaches of Miura and Kihara, the Japanese pairs medalists who beat out her ex-partner Eric and Vanessa. So now I understand the context of Nicky and Simon's comment--she was a Canadian coach of a medal-contending pair and they chose not to mention her name to the ISU streaming audience to give her proper credit. I guess as revenge for her tweets suggesting they be replaced. Again, I think the behavior was juvenile and unprofessional on all sides and please, just ignore Twitter while announcing.

 

[Karen-W]

Thanks for sharing the tweet confirming her tweet that essentially called for Nicky and Simon to be fired and replaced by the ISU--before they made their snarky open mic comments about her as the broadcast stream concluded. As well, Meagan "liked" many of the tweets that were criticizing Nicky and Simon, but I don't know if that was before or after their TBFC comment. I didn't realize that Meagan was commentating simultaneously for the CBC, as now some on Twitter have suggested the ISU hire her instead. I know Meghan isn't the only broadcaster who also coaches top competitors (e.g., Christopher Dean did it regularly for the BBC, and Tanith White is doing it for NBC/USA Network), but I feel such coach/broadcasters should bend over backwards to show no conflicts of interest as one needs to stay on a fine line of not influencing public opinion as a coach with a mic.

Until I saw the USA Network coverage of the pairs long program yesterday, actually I didn't realize that Meagan is listed as one of the coaches of Miura and Kihara, the Japanese pairs medalists who beat out her ex-partner Eric and Vanessa. So now I understand the context of Nicky and Simon's comment--she was a Canadian coach of a medal-contending pair and they chose not to mention her name to the ISU streaming audience to give her proper credit. I guess as revenge for her tweets suggesting they be replaced. Again, I think the behavior was juvenile and unprofessional on all sides and please, just ignore Twitter while announcing.

It wasn't just that hot mic moment that Meagan (and others watching the broadcast - like KMT and Kaitlyn Weaver) took exception to with Simon & Nicky's commentary. It was egregious and offensive and flat-out disrespectful to the SPORT of figure skating in general. They have no business doing commentary. If it took a hot mic moment to get them fired, fine.

 

[skatfan]

Ashley posted on Instagram - emotional but she is trying to get things in perspective:

Ashley Cain on Instagram: "❤️"

6,562 likes, 742 comments - icegirlash on March 26, 2022: "❤️".

www.instagram.com

 

[Carolla5501]

that Instagram post really sounds like Ashley and Tim had decided this was their last season. Possibly they have and I just haven’t seen

 

[Karen-W]

that Instagram post really sounds like Ashley and Tim had decided this was their last season. Possibly they have and I just haven’t seen

I didn't get that impression. It could be though. A second concussion (that we know of - this is pairs skating after all) and their ages, plus winning their 2nd National title, going to the Olympics and finishing 8th is a pretty remarkable career if that's how they want to go out. But, it's been a rollercoaster of a season for them and I don't think they've had a chance to really process anything that's happened this week or the whole season, plus next season could be full of just as many, if not more, opportunities for them if Russia is still banned (and the tea leaves certainly seem pointed in that direction).

 

[skatfan]

that Instagram post really sounds like Ashley and Tim had decided this was their last season. Possibly they have and I just haven’t seen

I didn’t think it pointed one way or the other.

 

[just tuned in]

UM....HUH? What an imagination you must have.

Thank you for illustrating my point so beautifully. Writing "um" in a post is the hallmark of a mean tweet.

 

[tony]

Thank you for illustrating my point so beautifully. Writing "um" in a post is the hallmark of a mean tweet.

It’s really not though.

 

[mimcskater12]

Did Audrey and Misha split? I saw a flyer for Ice Chips and he was listed as skating with someone else and she was skating individually.

Im not sure if it was mentioned else where.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Did Audrey and Misha split? I saw a flyer for Ice Chips and he was listed as skating with someone else and she was skating individually.

Im not sure if it was mentioned else where.

Yes. I am trying to find the relevant thread which indicates that Audrey is off to UCLA, Misha is skating with a previously singles skater from SCOB.

 

[AYS]

I'd very much like to see Ashley and Timothy stay in because they bring something very special to pairs skating, they make great programs, and I'd like to continue to watch them for at least another season. However, I can't imagine Ashley is in any frame of mind to make that decision right now.

Four years would be a stretch, but Timothy would still be younger than Eric Radford is now in 2026.

Whatever they decide, they've been my favorite US pair for a while and it's been a pleasure to watch them, despite some bumps in the road. I'm happy they got their Olympic experience, which by all appearances, was a fantastic one for them.

 

[manhn]

I hate to be kind sarcastic, but she was going to be admitted into the Hall of Fame no matter what. If you look at getting admitted to the Hall of Fame having any kind of Olympic medals is going to get you in there - Alexa has two team metals. And of course US figure skating absolutely loves her


I don’t know that I think she’s the best female pair skater we’ve ever had sorry but I’d take Tai over her any day and I recall some other good ones

I love Tai, but I also want to give a shout-out to Rene Inoue.

 

[Karen-W]

Yes. I am trying to find the relevant thread which indicates that Audrey is off to UCLA, Misha is skating with a previously singles skater from SCOB.

The only thing that I've seen is someone stating she was accepted to UCLA. I don't even recall seeing her post anything about it on her IG, and she hasn't made any announcement regarding her future plans.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

This is such a beautiful photo posted by Ashley

Ashley Cain on Instagram: "so much love for this team❤️"

icegirlash on March 27, 2022: "so much love for this team❤️".

www.instagram.com

 

[yeslek]

It's funny how Alexa was never consistent when skating with her husband, but suddenly with Brandon something clicked and she became super solid. Kudos also to him for being a great reliable partner.

She was worrying about him likely

 

[yeslek]

I'd very much like to see Ashley and Timothy stay in because they bring something very special to pairs skating, they make great programs, and I'd like to continue to watch them for at least another season. However, I can't imagine Ashley is in any frame of mind to make that decision right now.

Four years would be a stretch, but Timothy would still be younger than Eric Radford is now in 2026.

Whatever they decide, they've been my favorite US pair for a while and it's been a pleasure to watch them, despite some bumps in the road. I'm happy they got their Olympic experience, which by all appearances, was a fantastic one for them.

Except Eric got a break.

 

[AxelAnnie]

She was worrying about him likely

Well, not worry while skating with your husband. Gotta add extra stress. It is not like you can go home an complain about what they did wrong.

I would imagine that that conversation should be handled by the coach.................if you want to stay a couple.

 

[~tapdancer~]

Just me speculating...Remember Alexa and Chris were open about him struggling with depression. I think he only wanted the best for Alexa and that ended up being partnered with Brandon, who is a super solid pair partner. Their pairing has been stellar and they don't have any emotional baggage with it. Chris was over the moon that his wife is a World Champion!

I also speculate that if I were Ashley Cain-Gribble's husband, I would say "no more". Her brain is going to be scrambled eggs if more concussions. I realize that skaters always have risk but if you have had multiple falls where you are concussed, well, just weigh the risk and benefits. And it's so hard to see someone you love get hurt.

 

[Trillian]

I also speculate that if I were Ashley Cain-Gribble's husband, I would say "no more". Her brain is going to be scrambled eggs if more concussions. I realize that skaters always have risk but if you have had multiple falls where you are concussed, well, just weigh the risk and benefits. And it's so hard to see someone you love get hurt.

There’s a part of me that would love to see Ashley and Timothy continue for at least another year, because I love their skating and there will potentially be some opportunities for non-Russian pair teams to make an impact in the near future. But I’m also inclined to agree with you. A skater who has already had two concussions (that we know about) - especially in a discipline where head injuries are always pretty high risk - is in a pretty scary place. Whatever she does, I hope she prioritizes her long-term health as much as she can.

 

[barbk]

Just me speculating...Remember Alexa and Chris were open about him struggling with depression. I think he only wanted the best for Alexa and that ended up being partnered with Brandon, who is a super solid pair partner. Their pairing has been stellar and they don't have any emotional baggage with it. Chris was over the moon that his wife is a World Champion!

I also speculate that if I were Ashley Cain-Gribble's husband, I would say "no more". Her brain is going to be scrambled eggs if more concussions. I realize that skaters always have risk but if you have had multiple falls where you are concussed, well, just weigh the risk and benefits. And it's so hard to see someone you love get hurt.

I hope Ashley Cain-Gribble makes that decision herself.

I fractured my skull and had an associated concussion while ice skating in junior high. It was a long while before I could read without developing a bad headache, my spatial reasoning skills substantially diminished, light triggered terrible pain, and thinking just plain hurt.

There are still some minor lingering effects decades later. The more we learn about concussions, the more we see that repeat concussions are a huge risk factor later in life. I've heard several pediatricians say that two concussions should be the trigger for stopping activities with high head-injury risks.

 

[Trillian]

I fractured my skull and had an associated concussion while ice skating in junior high. It was a long while before I could read without developing a bad headache, my spatial reasoning skills substantially diminished, light triggered terrible pain, and thinking just plain hurt.

There are still some minor lingering effects decades later. The more we learn about concussions, the more we see that repeat concussions are a huge risk factor later in life. I've heard several pediatricians say that two concussions should be the trigger for stopping activities with high head-injury risks.

From your mention of spatial reasoning in particular, it occurred to me that pairs skating (or skating in general) might be a sport where athletes could be at particularly high risk for having repeat concussions simply due to these lingering effects. It makes sense that there could be long-term symptoms that would influence things like timing and body awareness, which are pretty critical in keeping these athletes safe. So it’s not even just that they have to worry that it might happen again. They might actually have a greater chance of concussion than they did before, since some of the lingering effects even after someone is mostly recovered can last years. I have no idea if there have been studies regarding whether some sports are riskier than others post-concussion for reasons involving coordination and timing, but it would make sense.