2023-24 US Pairs Discussion - Chan you count Howe many teams we have?

[BrightSkates]

Any pairs doing Fort Wayne, Battle of the Blades?

 

[Oldfun]

Any pairs doing Fort Wayne, Battle of the Blades?

Adele Zheng/Andy Deng

 

[Oldfun]

Any pairs doing Fort Wayne, Battle of the Blades?

Ashley Fletcher/Aaron Felberbaum

 

[Karen-W]

Any pairs doing Fort Wayne, Battle of the Blades?

Adele Zheng/Andy Deng

Ashley Fletcher/Aaron Felberbaum

Glad to hear the new Oakton pairs will be there! Now, we just need to find a livestream or at least video of their skates!

 

[Karen-W]

Hot Ghost and Partner (aka Chan/Howe) did an interview with Golden Skate - https://www.goldenskate.com/chan-an...RjjOH8g6KsUdPHGDeWqpR3dupAFhAOIKBj20y3HiED7tk

Hot Ghost is lucky he is hot, otherwise I'd be very angry with them for selecting Exogenesis Symphony for their FS this season.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Elvis and Exogenesis? Not very inspiring at least for ANL.

At least they have some time until they compete. I believe their Grand Prix slots are back ended in November. I guess we probably may not see them in any challengers.

 

[Karen-W]

Elvis and Exogenesis? Not very inspiring at least for ANL.

At least they have some time until they compete. I believe their Grand Prix slots are back ended in November. I guess we probably may not see them in any challengers.

Read the interview, ANL - they're planning on doing either Finlandia or Tayside Trophy, depending on how Spencer's rehab is going.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Read the interview, ANL - they're planning on doing either Finlandia or Tayside Trophy, depending on how Spencer's rehab is going.

I did, guess I missed it

 

[Karen-W]

Gabbie Izzo did an interview with Dave Lease & Jenny Kirk for TSL - she confirmed that they will be representing Canada and their plan is to compete domestically this season. She doesn't have her release yet, but the feds are working on it.

Gabbie Izzo: Switching to Pairs with Thierry Ferland (A TSL Interview) - YouTube

 

[Karen-W]

Good score of 152.54 for Fitzpatrick/Bearinger at Battle of the Blades today. It wouldn't surprise me if they're added to the ISP soon - the USFS added Hanns/Neudecker recently and they scored 126.86 at the non-NQS Cup of Colorado last weekend.

Okay score of 126.16 for Zheng/Deng's debut - based on the protocols, I'm not expecting them to be in the medal hunt at any JGPs, but it's good experience for them. And, I know Fletcher/Felberbaum were added to the ISP but with a score of 97.83, I can't say I'm expecting any JGP assignments this year.

It's been noted in the USFS Champs Camp thread that both McBeath/Parkman and Mitrofanov/Efimova are both in attendance, so I think it's safe to say they'll be added to the ISP as soon as Danill and Alisa are cleared for international competitition.

Update to current US teams - teams are listed by the level they're competing at domestically

Senior teams
Chan/Howe ISP (bye) [CoC and NHK Trophy]
Digerness/Sadusky
Fitzpatrick/Bearinger 152.54 (Battle of the Blades), 129.70 (combined SP+FS at non-NQS Skate Detroit)
Hanns/Neudecker ISP 126.86 (non-NQS Cup of Colorado)
Kam/O'Shea ISP (bye) [GPdF and GP Espoo]
Liu/Nagy ISP 175.91 (Glacier Falls), [Autumn Classic Int'l]
Martins/Bedard ISP 157.05 (Glacier Falls) [Autumn Classic Int'l]
Mokhova/Mokhov ISP
Ouellette/Newby-Estrella ISP
Plazas/Fernandez ISP (bye) [SkAm and GPdF]
Smirnova/Siianytsia ISP [CoC and NHK Trophy]

Efimova/Mitrofanov* (eligible for the ISP in April 2024)
Korytek/Chapman* 156.18 (Glacier Falls) (age-ineligible)
McBeath/Parkman* 170.46 (Glacier Falls) (eligible for the ISP in Dec 2023)

Junior teams
Carpenter/Maravilla 102.88 (combined SP+FS at non-NQS Skate Detroit)
Fletcher/Felberbaum ISP 97.83 (Battle of the Blades)
Flores/Wang ISP 123.40 (Glacier Falls) [JGP #2 Linz & JGP #5 Budapest]
Park/Griffin
Williams/Lewer ISP 138.19 (Glacier Falls) [JGP #3 Istanbul & probably JGP #6 Gdansk]
Zheng/Deng ISP 126.16 (Battle of the Blades) [JGP #5 Budapest & probably JGP #6 Gdansk]

Cooke/Kennedy (age-ineligible - competed in the Jr Pairs FS at non-NQS Colonial Open in June)
Delis/Schwab* (age-ineligible) 88.94 (Glacier Falls)
Grohne/Lunt (he still needs to pass his junior Pairs test - 89.42 at non-NQS Cup of Colorado last week in Novice)
Rivers/Rensing* (age-ineligible) 101.39 (Glacier Falls)

Novice teams
Taisiya Shapovalova/Sebastian Malczyk 93.59 (Glacier Falls) (his older brother, Damian, has been assigned to represent Czechia in men at JGP #5 Budapest)
Clara Finkelstein/Mark Williams 78.43 (Glacier Falls)
Milada Kovar/Nickolai Apter 78.62 (combined SP+FS at non-NQS Broadmoor Open in June) (her older brother, Kai, will be representing the USA at JGP #3 Istanbul)
Tallulah Tanner/Sam Herbert 88.95 (Battle of the Blades)

 

[Sylvia]

Smirnova/Siianytsia have just announced the end of their partnership (they paired up in July 2018):

Instagram

www.instagram.com

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[skatingguy]

That seems unfortunate - is this injury related - they seem to have injury issues the past couple of seasons.

 

[Wyliefan]

Aw, I'll miss them.

 

[Rukia]

Whelp I guess that answer that. Alas they really had a lot of really great qualities.

 

[Karen-W]

So bummed to see this news. It seemed like this has been coming for awhile as I'd noticed Danil's IG stories didn't include any on-ice training over the last few months. I'm sure he will be able to find a good partner as he's a really strong skater.


Wishing Nastyia all the best outside of skating.

 

[PRlady]

Damn. Another pair with lots of potential bites the dust. I hope he finds a partner equal to his talents.

 

[her grace]

Damn. Another pair with lots of potential bites the dust. I hope he finds a partner equal to his talents.

Sonia Baram? Cayla Smith?

 

[Sylvia]

Sonia Baram? Cayla Smith?

Neither will be age-eligible for ISU senior until 2026-27. ETA: Both are continuing to hone their skills in singles this season (Cayla in Novice and Sonia in Senior, I believe).

CS #3 Nebelhorn Trophy entries were published by the ISU today and 3 U.S. pairs are listed:
Ellie KAM / Danny O'SHEA
Maria MOKHOVA / Ivan MOKHOV
Valentina PLAZAS / Maximiliano FERNANDEZ
(sub: Liu/Nagy)

Naomi Williams/Lachlan Lewer's 2nd JGP assignment will be the final pairs event in Gdansk (#6).

 

[Karen-W]

Sonia Baram? Cayla Smith?

God no. They're both 8 years younger than he and aren't age-eligible for seniors until 2026-27.

ETA - @Sylvia beat me to it, but yeah no...

I was looking through the list of US senior pairs women who competed in the last 2 seasons and are currently partnerless - Megan Wessenberg, Laiken Lockley, Cate Fleming, Kate Finster, and Winter Deardorff. I'd be interested in seeing what Laiken or Winter could do with a really strong partner like Danylo.

Nebelhorn assignments are out - Kam/O'Shea, the Mokhovs and Plazas/Fernandez are assigned (Liu/Nagy and SmirSiia are listed as substitutes - which indicates to me the USFS didn't really have any idea this split was coming).

JGP #6 Gdansk assignments are also out - just Williams/Lewer assigned (Flores/Wang are the only subs).

 

[LoisAGOEs]

Lilianna Murray turns 18 in October and is still on IPS, I wonder if she could be an option.

 

[Karen-W]

Lilianna Murray turns 18 in October and is still on IPS, I wonder if she could be an option.

Maybe? I haven't been really impressed with her in the junior ranks the past few seasons.

 

[LoisAGOEs]

Maybe? I haven't been really impressed with her in the junior ranks the past few seasons.

I would hope she’s on a trajectory of improvement now she’s training in Irvine, seems like she’s getting good reps in with Brandon.

 

[Karen-W]

I would hope she’s on a trajectory of improvement now she’s training in Irvine, seems like she’s getting good reps in with Brandon.

True. I do have to wonder if Danylo will relocate from Minnesota to Irvine or Oakton. I'd actually really love to see what he could do working with a couple of our very strong, recently retired pairs men. Trudy's nice enough, but I think Danylo has the potential to be a true star with the tutelage of guys like either Knierim/LeDuc or Frazier/Bartholomay.

 

[LoisAGOEs]

True. I do have to wonder if Danylo will relocate from Minnesota to Irvine or Oakton. I'd actually really love to see what he could do working with a couple of our very strong, recently retired pairs men. Trudy's nice enough, but I think Danylo has the potential to be a true star with the tutelage of guys like either Knierim/LeDuc or Frazier/Bartholomay.

Irvine would probably be ideal considering he’s dating Starr Andrews, would eliminate the long distance they have going on.

 

[Karen-W]

Irvine would probably be ideal considering he’s dating Starr Andrews, would eliminate the long distance they have going on.

Oooo - yes, that could also be a consideration! Finster, Fleming, Wessenberg and Murray have all trained with TeamTodd&Jenni...

 

[Joubabe]

So bummed to see this news. It seemed like this has been coming for awhile as I'd noticed Danil's IG stories didn't include any on-ice training over the last few months. I'm sure he will be able to find a good partner as he's a really strong skater.


Wishing Nastyia all the best outside of skating.

My heart is broken right now! Anastasiia and Danil were my favorite team this year and I was so looking forward to following their careers.

Wishing them both the best!

 

[dancing_on_ice]

On USFS' international assignment page, Flores/Wang and Williams/Lewer-Parr have been swapped between JGP Turkey (next week) and JGP Hungary. I imagine this is a strategic move by USFS to try to ensure that both teams make JGPF. JGP Hungary has by far the deepest pairs field of the 4 competitions.

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ Yes, just saw that - here's Olivia Flores/Luke Wang's SILVER medal-winning FS to Star Wars : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1IBM4Ox0oM

https://twitter.com/x/status/1697621803626045563

We are now very motivated to go back to work and prepare for our next JGP in Budapest!” [their original 2nd JGP assignment]

Luke revealed that he was actually named after Luke Skywalker whom he portraits in the Free Skate!

 

[Karen-W]

On USFS' international assignment page, Flores/Wang and Williams/Lewer-Parr have been swapped between JGP Turkey (next week) and JGP Hungary. I imagine this is a strategic move by USFS to try to ensure that both teams make JGPF. JGP Hungary has by far the deepest pairs field of the 4 competitions.

Definitely a good strategic move by the USFS! Williams/Lewer are, by far, the stronger of the two teams right now and I'd rather see them fighting it out with Metelkina/Berulava, Sierova/Khobta and Ariano Kent/Laliberte Laurent for a medal. Next week has Metelkina/Berulava and Desrochers/Thrasher, plus no Chinese teams.

 

[Karen-W]

Golden West only had Junior and Novice Pairs - next week we have John Nicks Pairs Challenge/Middle Atlantics as well as JGP #3 Istanbul. Here's where things stand on the US Pairs Final qualifying front:
Update to current US teams - teams are listed by the level they're competing at domestically

Senior teams
Chan/Howe ISP (bye) [CoC and NHK Trophy]
Digerness/Sadusky
Fitzpatrick/Bearinger 152.54 (Battle of the Blades), 129.70 (combined SP+FS at non-NQS Skate Detroit) [Middle Atlantics]
Hanns/Neudecker ISP 126.86 (non-NQS Cup of Colorado) [John Nicks PC]
Kam/O'Shea ISP (bye) [Nebelhorn, GPdF and GP Espoo]
Liu/Nagy ISP 175.91 (Glacier Falls), [John Nicks PC, Autumn Classic Int'l & SkAm]
Martins/Bedard ISP 157.05 (Glacier Falls) [John Nicks PC, Autumn Classic Int'l]
Mokhova/Mokhov ISP [John Nicks PC, Nebelhorn]
Ouellette/Newby-Estrella ISP [John Nicks PC]
Plazas/Fernandez ISP (bye) [John Nicks PC, Nebelhorn, SkAm and GPdF]

Efimova/Mitrofanov* (eligible for the ISP in April 2024) [Middle Atlantics]
Korytek/Chapman* 156.18 (Glacier Falls) (age-ineligible) [Middle Atlantics]
McBeath/Parkman* 170.46 (Glacier Falls) (eligible for the ISP in Dec 2023) [Middle Atlantics]

Junior teams
Carpenter/Maravilla 102.88 (combined SP+FS at non-NQS Skate Detroit) [Middle Atlantics]
Fletcher/Felberbaum ISP 97.83 (Battle of the Blades) [John Nicks PC]
Flores/Wang ISP 147.22 (2nd place at JGP #2 Linz), 123.40 (Glacier Falls) [JGP #3 Istanbul]
Moss/Gal [Middle Atlantics]
Park/Griffin 119.67 (Golden West)
Williams/Lewer ISP 138.19 (Glacier Falls) [JGP #5 Budapest & JGP #6 Gdansk]
Zheng/Deng ISP 126.16 (Battle of the Blades) [JGP #3 Istanbul]

Cooke/Kennedy* (age-ineligible - competed in the Jr Pairs FS at non-NQS Colonial Open in June) [Middle Atlantics]
Delis/Schwab* (age-ineligible) 104.31 (Golden West), 88.94 (Glacier Falls)
Grohne/Lunt* (he still needs to pass his junior Pairs test - 89.42 at non-NQS Cup of Colorado last week in Novice)
Rivers/Rensing* (age-ineligible) 101.39 (Glacier Falls)

Novice teams
Clara Finkelstein/Mark Williams 91.88 (Golden West), 78.43 (Glacier Falls)
Milada Kovar/Nickolai Apter 93.24 (Golden West) (her older brother, Kai, will be representing the USA at JGP #3 Istanbul)
Joyce Lu/Wyatt Lu 88.22 (Golden West)
Taisiya Shapovalova/Sebastian Malczyk 98.00 (Golden West), 93.59 (Glacier Falls) (his older brother, Damian, has been assigned to represent Czechia in men at JGP #5 Budapest & JGP #6 Gdandsk)
Tallulah Tanner/Sam Herbert 88.95 (Battle of the Blades)