2022-23 US Pairs Discussion - Second to None!

[Wyliefan]

Looks like Megan Wessenberg is searching for a partner.

Jenni Meno-Sand on Instagram: "Megan Wessenberg is one of the hardest working athletes we’ve coached. She’s ready to get out there with a partner and show the World what she can do! #greatparkpairs🇺🇸 #partnersearch"

379 likes, 10 comments - teamtoddandjenni on February 16, 2023: "Megan Wessenberg is one of the hardest working athletes we’ve coached. She’s ready to get out there with a partner and show the World...".

www.instagram.com

 

[Evgeniafan]

Looks like Megan Wessenberg is searching for a partner.

Jenni Meno-Sand on Instagram: "Megan Wessenberg is one of the hardest working athletes we’ve coached. She’s ready to get out there with a partner and show the World what she can do! #greatparkpairs🇺🇸 #partnersearch"

379 likes, 10 comments - teamtoddandjenni on February 16, 2023: "Megan Wessenberg is one of the hardest working athletes we’ve coached. She’s ready to get out there with a partner and show the World...".

www.instagram.com

She needs a good partner. Any ideas?

 

[Karen-W]

She needs a good partner. Any ideas?

She wasn't some remarkable pairs girl from what I saw last season, so her pickings may be slim. I did notice that Balasz Nagy seems to be skating at SCoB, or at least hanging out with the SCoB guys (Mitrofanov and someone else - can't recall off the top of my head who it was) recently. She's 24, so the chances of her finding a good partner are probably low unless she's willing to relocate or change citizenship. In that case... There's Harley Windsor.

 

[Evgeniafan]

She wasn't some remarkable pairs girl from what I saw last season, so her pickings may be slim. I did notice that Balasz Nagy seems to be skating at SCoB, or at least hanging out with the SCoB guys (Mitrofanov and someone else - can't recall off the top of my head who it was) recently. She's 24, so the chances of her finding a good partner are probably low unless she's willing to relocate or change citizenship. In that case... There's Harley Windsor.

She's from the Boston area, so SCOB would be perfect.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Video of Gabbie Izzo and Balasz jumping together:

https://twitter.com/vmstagemom/status/1626634624209125383

 

[Frau Muller]

She wasn't some remarkable pairs girl from what I saw last season, so her pickings may be slim. ….

I was thinking the same…physique wise. Or maybe she can do Ice Dancing?

 

[clairecloutier]

A profile of new U.S. junior pair team Naomi Williams/Lachlan Lewer, who will compete at Junior Worlds this week:

Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer Thrust onto World Junior Stage Six Months into Partnership - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Slightly more than six months ago, Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer were nothing more than friends and training mates in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Hard to believe that Naomi had no pairs experience just 6 months ago & is already doing triple twist and difficult lifts!!

 

[Sylvia]

GREAT job today by both U.S. pairs in Calgary - B/T landed their sbs 2A (as did W/L) and had 3Tw4 & StSq4 plus attempted and landed their first throw triple toe loop in competition with positive GOE!

1​

Q​

Sophia BARAM / Daniel TIOUMENTSEV

USA

66.95​

38.87​

28.08​

7.04​

7.14​

6.93​

0.00​

#10​

7​

Q​

Naomi WILLIAMS / Lachlan LEWER

USA

52.13​

30.22​

21.91​

5.54​

5.32​

5.61​

0.00​

#1​

Photo of/quote from B/T after their SP: https://twitter.com/goldenskate/status/1631021231104471040

Copied out from ISU's press conference document:

Tioumentsev: Very exciting skate today - congratulations to everyone else that competed. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for anything better; I'm very happy with the results.
(on their preparation for this competition) From the Junior Grand Prix Final to here we definitely decided to do a triple toe throw. We kept our training pretty much the same - we just focused on smaller details and (correcting) the smaller mistakes in our last competition.
(on the altitude in Calgary) The altitude definitely hit us on the first day but over the past few days we've adapted to it and it got easier and easier and today it felt pretty normal.

Baram: (on their decision to add the throw triple toe loop for the first time in competition) We decided to add in the throw triple exactly one week ago (laughs). It came out of nowhere and it was consistent so we just thought to do it here since it's our last competition of the season.
(on the altitude in Calgary) On the first day of practice we did a choreo run through with very minimal elements and I couldn't breathe - it was very hard! Then on the second practice on the first day we got used to it - our training definitely helped.

Williams/Lewer's post-SP photo & quote: https://twitter.com/goldenskate/status/1630998062792409097

ETA link to watch the ISU video of Baram/Tioumentsev's winning SP on Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDWzPwMPzlo

 

[Sylvia]

USFS' media alert sent out today: https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/1631372759845437440
Todd Sand, coach of B/T, has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack early Thursday morning in Calgary.


Reportedly he is in stable condition now and I've heard Sonia Baram's mother/coach will help coach the team in the FS tonight.

ETA that I didn't see the thread that was started by Jayar earlier in the Junior Worlds subforum in Kiss & Cry.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

USFS' media alert sent out today: https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/1631372759845437440
Todd Sand, coach of B/T, has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack early Thursday morning in Calgary.


Reportedly he is is stable condition now and I've heard Sonia Baram's mother/coach will help coach the team in the FS tonight.

OMG

Will keep him and his family in my prayers

 

[Wyliefan]

Such a sweet post from Alexa for Todd. I teared up. Lots of fellow skaters sending love and prayers, too.

Alexa Knierim on Instagram: "Come on Mr. Sand. 🙏🤍🕊️ You’ve taught me how to fight, now show me how the best do it."

1,470 Likes, 73 Comments - Alexa Knierim (@alexa_knierim) on Instagram: "Come on Mr. Sand. 🙏🤍🕊️ You’ve taught me how to fight, now show me how the best do it."

www.instagram.com

 

[skatfan]

For the next couple of weeks (at least) Jenni and Todd will be the coaches of both the Junior and Senior Pairs World Champions.

 

[clairecloutier]

For the next couple of weeks (at least) Jenni and Todd will be the coaches of both the Junior and Senior Pairs World Champions.

And the U.S. has both World pairs titles. (Who here ever expected that!?)

 

[Karen-W]

And the U.S. has both World pairs titles. (Who here ever expected that!?)

And people tried to give me grief about this season's US Pairs thread title!!!!

 

[Sylvia]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1631522901525422080

Baram/Tioumentsev's gold medal winning FS tonight has been uploaded by the ISU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcs27yJVZoc

ETA that Sonia's mother/coach, Anna Baram, is with them in the kiss & cry starting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcs27yJVZoc&t=434s

 

[mtnskater]

So moved to tears by the performance of Baram and Tioumentsev in the free skate under very difficult circumstances. Such a meaningful World title for them and their coaching team.

Sending love and light to Todd and Jenni and hoping to hear good news about his recovery.

 

[Karen-W]

And, their reaction to their scores - one for the ages!

Baram/Tioumentsev Jr Worlds 2023 FS Reaction

www.youtube.com

 

[susieB129]

I’ve often thought of posting this in the “Unpopular Opinions” thread:

Todd Sand has caught a lot of crap on this board (not necessarily mean-spirited, but still), but the truth is, his name is plastered all over the US pairs landscape for the past 30 years: national championships with two partners, world medals with two partners, three Olympics and, now, the coach of the current senior and junior world pairs champions. He and Jenni have built the preeminent pairs program in this country. Respect must be paid! (And, of course, best wishes for the speediest of recoveries!)

 

[Stefanie]

Just heard "My Heart and My Voice" from Samson and Delilah on the classical radio station here and remember M&S using it in the middle of their free skate at the 1994 Olympics. Wishing Todd a speedy recovery!!!

 

[clairecloutier]

Alexa Knierim has an IG post praising Todd Sand for his support as a coach.

Instagram

www.instagram.com

It also makes reference to her time training with Savchenko.

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ From Alexa's Instagram post: "Todd is still fighting. We aren’t out of the woods yet and all hope and positivity is needed."

The Orange County Register reported that "Jenni Meno-Sand, his wife, co-coach and former skating partner, was on her way from Orange County to Alberta on Thursday morning."

Baram and Tioumentsev win World Junior title hours after their coach, Todd Sand, suffers heart attack

Sand, a 59-year-old two-time Olympian, remained hospitalized in Calgary on Thursday night after suffering a heart attack early Thursday morning.

www.ocregister.com

The Orange County-based team of Sophia Baram and Daniel Tioumentsev won the World Junior Figure Skating Championships pairs gold medal on Thursday night in Calgary Alberta just hours after their coach, Todd Sand, suffered a heart attack.
Sand, 59, remained hospitalized in Calgary on Thursday night after suffering a heart attack early Thursday morning. Sand, a two-time Olympian, had coached Baram and Tioumentsev in Wednesday night’s short program which the American team won.
Baram and Tioumentsev won Thursday night’s free skate as well to become the first U.S. team to medal in the pairs competition since 2013.
“We skated tonight for Todd and everyone that helped us this year,” Tioumentsev told reporters afterward. “We tried to think of what he told us and we hope he is doing alright.”

ETA that the news thread about Todd Sand is now in GSD:

Todd Sand Recovering from Heart Attack at Home

Just got the press release... Please attribute the following statement to U.S. Figure Skating: "Olympic and World pairs coach Todd Sand has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack early Thursday morning in Calgary, Alberta. Sand, a two-time Olympian, and his wife, Jenni Meno, are...

www.fsuniverse.net

 

[angi]

Alexa Knierim has an IG post praising Todd Sand for his support as a coach.

Instagram

www.instagram.com

It also makes reference to her time training with Savchenko.

The little she writes about their time with Aljona is alarming, from losing all her grit and self love, to developing anxiety and fear that made her stop mid skates. Adding it to the recent tidbits from Bruno paints a very worrying picture regarding Aljona's current career as a coach.

 

[Karen-W]

The little she writes about their time with Aljona is alarming, from losing all her grit and self love, to developing anxiety and fear that made her stop mid skates. Adding it to the recent tidbits from Bruno paints a very worrying picture regarding Aljona's current career as a coach.

Except that was 3+ years ago and Aljona was just beginning her transition to coaching. Perhaps she's learning from those early experiences and becoming a better coach.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Alexa Knierim has an IG post praising Todd Sand for his support as a coach.

Instagram

www.instagram.com

It also makes reference to her time training with Savchenko.

I’m having coffee right now and I just saw her latest post. It was very refreshing to see her share some of her story. So sad to hear that that very brief time she spent in Germany she lost her self love.

 

[angi]

Except that was 3+ years ago and Aljona was just beginning her transition to coaching. Perhaps she's learning from those early experiences and becoming a better coach.

I agree and very much hope she's changed for the better, but she did have some questionable moments in the past 3+ years, the main one that comes to my mind is taking a minor she was coaching as a surrogate babysitter for her daughter when she went to the US for the whole TJ debacle.

 

[Karen-W]

I agree and very much hope she's changed for the better, but she did have some questionable moments in the past 3+ years, the main one that comes to my mind is taking a minor she was coaching as a surrogate babysitter for her daughter when she went to the US for the whole TJ debacle.

Agreed, but we don't know all of the details with that arrangement, and she certainly seems to be in a better place with regard to childcare now that her parents have joined her in the Netherlands.

 

[Sylvia]

ICYMI, link to the thread for Todd Sand in GSD:

Todd Sand Recovering from Heart Attack at Home

Just got the press release... Please attribute the following statement to U.S. Figure Skating: "Olympic and World pairs coach Todd Sand has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack early Thursday morning in Calgary, Alberta. Sand, a two-time Olympian, and his wife, Jenni Meno, are...

www.fsuniverse.net

"We are excited and inspired to be skating our 2023/24 freeskate program to the soundtrack of “Top Gun: Maverick” featuring “Hold my Hand” by Lady Gaga." - Plazas/Fernandez's post tonight on their vmskates IG account: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpeLA2LL-gF/

 

[aml78]

Looks like Alexa’s friends threw her a goodbye party so I think that’s unofficial confirmation she’s moving to Chicago at the end of the season.

She also posted a pic of Todd on a plane so I assume he’s going home. That’s a pretty good sign that he didn’t need bypass surgery. Hopefully just a visit to the cath lab which is a much easier recovery for him. Wishing him well.

 

[Sylvia]

Looks like Alexa’s friends threw her a goodbye party so I think that’s unofficial confirmation she’s moving to Chicago at the end of the season.

Yes.

She also posted a pic of Todd on a plane so I assume he’s going home.

Old photo (eta that Alexa has since confirmed - via her latest IG story - was from last season & then added: “Mr. Sand is fighting hard in Calgary”).

Fundraising page link (new today) is posted in the Todd Sand thread, post #74, here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/todd-sand-hospitalized.110543/page-3#post-6403916

 

[Karen-W]

Gabriella Izzo just announced on her IG what some of us have speculated was coming since Nats - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_iCWMrYzc/

NEW THINGS ARE COMING

Huge thank you to @chris_knierim for an amazing spring break strengthening my pair skills!!!

As much as I have enjoyed my singles career, I am overjoyed to announce and begin my next chapter as a pairs skater!

Looking forward to exploring new partnerships, reaching new heights (literally), and growing through new opportunities