2025-26 US Pairs Discussion - Milano-Bound By Way of Beijing & St. Louis

[her grace]

SB scores for US Pairs 2025-2026 season

Efimova/Mitrofanov 193.79
Chan/Howe 193.70
McBeath/Parkman 187.89
Kam/O'Shea 176.32
Liu/Bedard 168.27
Plazas/Fernandez 167.25
Shin/Nagy 165.76
Williams/Lewer 159.63

 

[Karen-W]

Well C/H and A/R scores at Trialeti will have them 1-2 on the sub list now over V-L/D, so that's something

And makes me even more annoyed that GoluGM didn't wait until next week to WD from SCI so that ChanHowe could have gotten the spot instead of ChtWoz who've really tanked badly at both of their Challengers so far this fall.

 

[haribobo]

Yea chances are it will work out- the last 2 years there have been over 5 pairs withdrawals from around this time onward through the series that should allow some replacements

 

[Karen-W]

Yea chances are it will work out- the last 2 years there have been over 5 pairs withdrawals from around this time onward through the series that should allow some replacements

I'm crossing my fingers, but the biggest problem I see is that the most likely withdrawals are in NHK where ChanHowe are already assigned, so they can't pick up a 2nd assignment there and at SkAm where the USFS has 3 teams, so unless the USFS gives them the TBD spot, they, again, can't pick up a 2nd spot. About the only opening I see for a 2nd spot for them now is SCI if LaurEth do wind up out.

 

[ChillSkate]

SB scores for US Pairs 2025-2026 season

Efimova/Mitrofanov 193.79
Chan/Howe 193.70
McBeath/Parkman 187.89
Kam/O'Shea 176.32
Liu/Bedard 168.27
Plazas/Fernandez 167.25
Shin/Nagy 165.76
Williams/Lewer 159.63

I really never understood the decision to send Shin / Nagy to the Olympic qualifier over Chan / Howe or even McBeath / Parkman (I guess it was based on Shin / Nagy allegedly performing better at a closed-door fake competition) but this really puts into relief how stupid this decision was by USFS.

 

[ChillSkate]

I'm crossing my fingers, but the biggest problem I see is that the most likely withdrawals are in NHK where ChanHowe are already assigned, so they can't pick up a 2nd assignment there and at SkAm where the USFS has 3 teams, so unless the USFS gives them the TBD spot, they, again, can't pick up a 2nd spot. About the only opening I see for a 2nd spot for them now is SCI if LaurEth do wind up out.

I mean USFS kind of has to give Chan / Howe the Skate America TBD spot if they have not picked up a second assignment in the next 2-3 weeks, right? Unless they just hate Chan / Howe for some unkown reason

 

[Karen-W]

I mean USFS kind of has to give Chan / Howe the Skate America TBD spot if they have not picked up a second assignment in the next 2-3 weeks, right? Unless they just hate Chan / Howe for some unkown reason

If they don't pick up a 2nd assignment by SCI then, yes, I think they really should. But, I could see the USFS keeping it quiet and not updating the grid until the week of SCI when it's clear, one way or the other, whether ChanHowe have received a 2nd GP elsewhere.

I don't think they hate ChanHowe, they just really love some other teams for no good reason. And, at this point, ChanHowe are head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the Olympic-eligible teams we've got, so they should be backing them to the hilt.

 

[HeatherC]

I would LOVE to see Emily and Spencer at SA (I will be in LP) so I will keep all my fingers and toes crossed that they somehow end up there. I have always loved them and am rooting for them to do well this year!

 

[Karen-W]

Thought occurred to me earlier this afternoon - the USFS ain't gonna make a final decision on that SkAm TBD spot until they've given ShiNagy every last possible chance to "earn" it. They're at GPdF next week, so you know that nothing's going to be finalized until after that.

 

[Karen-W]

Holy cow!

So, Spencer wasn't injured this spring - he enlisted in the US Army and was going through all of his training during the spring.

The team shared that there was hardly any off-season: Spencer enlisted in the U.S. Army in February and returned to the Skating Club of Boston only at the end of June.

Spencer: “I’m active-duty military now as part of WCAP — the World Class Athlete Program of the Army. I had to complete all the training at the military base. I’m planning to compete for the Army, and I’m also studying to become an Army chaplain. One of my goals was to come back stronger — and I definitely feel that now.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1977156339567935614

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Thought occurred to me earlier this afternoon - the USFS ain't gonna make a final decision on that SkAm TBD spot until they've given ShiNagy every last possible chance to "earn" it. They're at GPdF next week, so you know that nothing's going to be finalized until after that.

The Grand Prix starts next week? I gotta go check the candy cabinet.

 

[Willin]

Huh. I didn't know the US Military accepted skaters for their athlete program. I thought that was just for the military academy athletes and runners.

 

[Karen-W]

Huh. I didn't know the US Military accepted skaters for their athlete program. I thought that was just for the military academy athletes and runners.

Apparently it's pretty extensive - https://www.armywcap.com/

Under Olympic sports, we have actively serving athletes competing in the following sports -
Boxing, handball, modern pentathlon, rugby sevens, taekwondo, track & field, wrestling, biathlon, snowboarding, bobsled, Nordic combined, luge, skeleton and figure skating (Spencer being the only one, but maybe more of our pairs & dance men should look into this program).

 

[her grace]

This is a very interesting program. It looks like after the Olympics, Howe will have to serve with the military full-time for a year. Then he could re-apply for the athlete program.

After the Olympics (summer or winter), all Soldier-athletes for that season depart for other Army missions, including deployments, schools or assignments with Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard units. In the year before they can again apply for admission, they gain a valuable opportunity to contribute and advance in their profession.

So I could see this program being beneficial for someone at the end of their career, but not an athlete who is planning to compete the next quad.

 

[ChillSkate]

Holy cow!

So, Spencer wasn't injured this spring - he enlisted in the US Army and was going through all of his training during the

Very admirable. And what a dream mainstream media-friendly story for the Olympic year! USFS should be supporting this team 1000%!!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Well, after this weekend’s competitions, the case for teams with full citizenships should include Chelsea and Ryan

Emily and Spencer 193.70
Chelsea and Ryan 179.87
Valentina and Max 179.18
Ellie and Danny 176.32

 

[Karen-W]

Well, after this weekend’s competitions, the case for teams with full citizenships definitely will include Chelsea and Ryan

Emily and Spencer 193.70
Chelsea and Ryan 179.87
Valentina and Max 179.18
Ellie and Danny 176.32

Looking over the detailed judging scores for Tayside...

Chelsea did her usual - issues on both jumping passes and both throws. Nothing was called with a q or < but given that every element had negative GOE, I'm hard pressed to believe that the jumps were fully rotated.

Like LiuBed, PlaFern had a fall on one of the SBS jumping passes. The first throw also had negative GOE and the SBS jump combo got 0.00 GOE, but their second throw was okay and that seems to have been difference that gave them the win in the FS - though not quite enough to pull ahead overall.

We'll see what ShiNagy can do next week to put themselves back in this conversation for the two Olympic spots, but right now, they're trailing far behind.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Duplicate

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Both Chelsea and Ryan and Valentina and max score here would’ve been enough to qualify the third team at Chinese Nebelhorn as well.

USFSA has a lot to think about here.

 

[Karen-W]

Both Chelsea and Ryan and Valentina and max score here would’ve been enough to qualify the third team at Chinese Nebelhorn as well.

USFSA has a lot to think about here.

Yup, I was thinking that too.

I'm really praying that ChanHowe can pick up a 2nd GP in the next week or two which would free up the USFS to give LiuBed the SkAm TBD spot. I feel they've proven they deserve it.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Maybe USFS sent Shin/Nagy to Chinese Nebelhorn because they finished second in the Readers' Choice Award voting lol.

 

[haribobo]

US Junior Pairs Intl Scores from JGP, Robin Cousins, Tayside, and John Nicks Pairs

Williams/Lewer 159
Moss/Galbavy 155
Jarmoc/Witkowski 149
McDanold/Felberbaum 142
Kovar/Mcpike 121
Kerr/Herbert 112
Meek/Meek 110
Taich/Apter 110
Kaplan/Griffin 109

 

[Karen-W]

Chan/Howe's FS from Trialeti - the music on the stream cuts out for about 1 minute (presuming some sort of copyright concern by Ice-Stars).

 

[Karen-W]

Also, huge congratulations to both LiuBed and PlaFern for earning the Worlds CTES mins! They already had the 4CCs CTES mins from last month, but it's nice for the USFS to have more teams in the mix for those three spots!

Worlds CTES mins -
Chan/Howe
Efimova/Mitrofanov
Kam/O'Shea
Liu/Bedard
McBeath/Parkman
Plazas/Fernandez

4CCs/Olympics CTES mins -
Fitzpatrick/Bearinger
Shin/Nagy
Williams/Lewer

Jr Worlds CTES mins -
Flores/Wang
Jarmoc/Witkowski
Kovar/McPike
McDanold/Felberbaum
Moss/Galbavy
Williams/Lewer

 

[farahfan]

Also, huge congratulations to both LiuBed and PlaFern for earning the Worlds CTES mins! They already had the 4CCs CTES mins from last month, but it's nice for the USFS to have more teams in the mix for those three spots!

Worlds CTES mins -
Chan/Howe
Efimova/Mitrofanov
Kam/O'Shea
Liu/Bedard
McBeath/Parkman
Plazas/Fernandez

4CCs/Olympics CTES mins -
Fitzpatrick/Bearinger
Shin/Nagy
Williams/Lewer

Jr Worlds CTES mins -
Flores/Wang
Jarmoc/Witkowski
Kovar/McPike
McDanold/Felberbaum
Moss/Galbavy
Williams/Lewer

I wonder if Danny and Chan/Howe would aim for Worlds, or would retire after the Olympics.

 

[Karen-W]

I wonder if Danny and Chan/Howe would aim for Worlds, or would retire after the Olympics.

No reason to not go on to Worlds and try for a possible medal in a depleted, post-Olys field, plus also do the USFS a solid in trying to keep 3 spots for next season.

 

[Spiralgraph]

Exactly. Thet slightly depleted field helped Alexa and Brandon win 2022 worlds. Of course they skated great and would've contended for the podium in a full field.

 

[Jammers]

Really telling that the team sent to secure the 3rd spot in Beijing doesn't even have the Worlds CTES mins yet but a brand new team like Liu/Bedard already have them.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

(Spencer being the only one, but maybe more of our pairs & dance men should look into this program).

Maybe, but a military commitment is very serious, so I definitely would not recommend it to everyone.

 

[sk8nlizard]

Both Chelsea and Ryan and Valentina and max score here would’ve been enough to qualify the third team at Chinese Nebelhorn as well.

USFSA has a lot to think about here.

I agree that USFS shouldn’t have sent S/N to get a 3rd spot. However, many (All?) of the other US Teams are pretty inconsistent and under the pressure of trying to qualify another entry might not have had these same results. I still think a different team should have been sent, but I’m not convinced these teams would score the same at an Olympic Qualifier either .