2024-25 Pairs General Discussion - Who Wants to Skate Forever (in Junior Pairs)?

farahfan said:
Do the feds have to name what pairs they are sending by September? I thought that wasn't decided until later.
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Oh, I thought you were talking about the feds that have earned spots.
 
Cpomfan said:
E/M are going to WTT! They will actually now have money to afford invisible mesh :40beers:
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haha. so according to the rulebook Chan Howe should have gone for having the higher world standing, but feds can decide to substitute in someone else?
 
farahfan said:
haha. so according to the rulebook Chan Howe should have gone for having the higher world standing, but feds can decide to substitute in someone else?
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I can't find the document, does it specify overall world rankings vs season rankings? EfiMit are much higher on the season rankings (1814pts to 794). Chan/Howe are only ahead overall because they have three seasons of results while EfiMit have only one.

 
farahfan said:
haha. so according to the rulebook Chan Howe should have gone for having the higher world standing, but feds can decide to substitute in someone else?
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tangerine dream said:
I can't find the document, does it specify overall world rankings vs season rankings? EfiMit are much higher on the season rankings (1814pts to 794). Chan/Howe are only ahead overall because they have three seasons of results while EfiMit have only one.

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Basically, the feds are pretty much allowed to send whomever they want. According to the WS Pulkinen should have gone over Brown, and according to the WR Sanchez should have gone over Brown. For Italy - according to the WS Rizzo should have gone instead of Grassl, but according to the WR Rizzo should have been selected instead of Memola.
 
I'm pretty sure the rules were set up when WTT was created so that the made-for-TV competition wasn't blown off by the strongest competitors. The first was held in 2009 and -- please correct me if I'm wrong -- the number of post-season tours in Japan wasn't as high as it is now or as lucrative. The ISU hadn't cut the prize money earned in GP's and possibly championships yet, and I don't remember the number of SOI dates being as low; 2009 was right after the merger with Champions on Ice.

Also, like the first Olympics Team Event, I'm sure when WTT started that the skaters needed to be convinced they would have a blast, and it would be worth the interruption. Skaters had their post-Worlds routines set -- vacations, getting new choreography, getting their heads out of their current choreography, healing injuries, getting ready for tours -- and there was no guarantee WTT would be nothing but a good deed gone punished.

It's who the crowds will enjoy, and performing at Worlds is in most fans' minds. Kvitelashvilli was invited to Japanese tours, so his inclusion will be a treat.
 
Looks like Dutch Olympic Commitee has set a minimum score they are asking to Danilova/Tsiba.

It is the average of the scores of places 10th to 18th at Worlds. So 173.89 points. It is doable for them (unlike the scores asked by Swedish Olympic Committee), they have scored it in the past. However, it is not a score they can do at every occasion.
It seems such score should be achieved in one of two pre-determined competitions if I translated it correctly. The issue for them can be that they can get it but not necessarily in one of those 2 competitions. In such a case, I hope the Dutch Olympic Committee won't be merciless.

I don't remember if they asked for a minimum score to Van Zundert last time and if she achived it.
 
On Reddit it's reported that Karina Akopova / Nikita Rakhmanin were not considered for transfer to Armenia, meaning they will not be at the Olympic Qualifier in Beijing.
That with the news that Russian pairs were not approved for AIN status, changes my list of front runners for qualification.
China
USA
Ukraine
Japan
And saving a little hope for long-shot Philippines...
 
farahfan said:
On Reddit it's reported that Karina Akopova / Nikita Rakhmanin were not considered for transfer to Armenia, meaning they will not be at the Olympic Qualifier in Beijing.
That with the news that Russian pairs were not approved for AIN status, changes my list of front runners for qualification.
China
USA
Ukraine
Japan
And saving a little hope for long-shot Philippines...
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Well, I'd have USA over China, simply because we have no idea whether or not Sui/partner will even make it. Zhang/Huang are a solid team with the ability to qualify just fine, though.
 
Karen-W said:
Well, I'd have USA over China, simply because we have no idea whether or not Sui/partner will even make it. Zhang/Huang are a solid team with the ability to qualify just fine, though.
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exactly, this list is not ranked for me, just feds with a good chance of making the top three. I'd say USA has a good chance with a healthy Chan/Howe, who really should have a chance to earn their own spot for the Olympics.
 
farahfan said:
exactly, this list is not ranked for me, just feds with a good chance of making the top three. I'd say USA has a good chance with a healthy Chan/Howe, who really should have a chance to earn their own spot for the Olympics.
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Crossing my fingers. I'm not sure he's been on the ice recently. But McBeath/Parkman should also pretty easily get the job done too.
 
Ka3sha said:
Don't read Reddit too much ;)

Akopova/Rakhmanin got their release and can compete for Armenia
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Interesting...

That is going to make it a lot harder for the teams on the bubble of earning an Olympic spot in Beijing. They're at least on the same level as teams like GeyChig and GoluGM who easily qualified in Boston.
 
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I haven't been following Russian skating closely but IIRC Akopova had quite a severe back injury, so on top of the time away from competition it's hard to say what their level might be in the autumn. Still, if they're even close to where they were in 2021-22 they should be in the mix.

The other country which I wouldn't count out is North Korea, if they turn up. Ryom/Han improved a lot between Nebelhorn and the Asian Winter Games so if they continue on that trajectory they could be competitive.
 
farahfan said:
It wasn't false news. Ru sport is the one that reported that the head of Rusfed said A/R don't have permission, along with Zhilina. Zhilina says she still doesn't have permission to transfer. So someone pulled levers for A/R?
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Well, no, Sikharulidze said that Zhilina wasn't granted permission because they still view her as a member of the Russian National Team & don't understand why she hasn't competed in the last two years. With regard to Akopova/Rakhmanin and Ivan Popov (who was reported to be requesting a switch to Uzbekistan) - the reporting was their transfer applications weren't even considered as the skaters in question allegedly didn't have any ties to those countries, didn't have passports for those countries & are still living/training in the Moscow region.

Clearly, Akopova/Rakhmanin had someone intervene swiftly on their behalf. Zhilina is posting a pic of herself on her IG with her Azeri passport & talks about frequent trips to Baku, so we'll see how this plays out in the coming days. No word on Popov yet.
 
Belsornia said:
I haven't been following Russian skating closely but IIRC Akopova had quite a severe back injury, so on top of the time away from competition it's hard to say what their level might be in the autumn. Still, if they're even close to where they were in 2021-22 they should be in the mix.

The other country which I wouldn't count out is North Korea, if they turn up. Ryom/Han improved a lot between Nebelhorn and the Asian Winter Games so if they continue on that trajectory they could be competitive.
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Agree with you on Ryom/Han.
A/R already have their Armenian passports. Karina has been posting videos of her on the ice so I assume they're training.
Pulling out my lawn chair and beer for the early season pairs chaos. :)
 
Karen-W said:
Clearly, Akopova/Rakhmanin had someone intervene swiftly on their behalf. Zhilina is posting a pic of herself on her IG with her Azeri passport & talks about frequent trips to Baku, so we'll see how this plays out in the coming days. No word on Popov yet.
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Sikharulidze didn’t say anything about Akopova/Rakhmanin or Popov. That was Russian journalists interpreting his words and writing articles based on the fact that Zhilina did not get her release.
Clearly, all cases were considered yesterday because it’s the only day of their joint gathering. Clearly, the reporting was missing bits here and there.

Zhilina may post whatever she wants now, but she was on the reserve list of the national team and was getting funding this season. Passport or not, Rus Fed will release her either in December, or next May
 
Confirmation that Akopova/Rakhmanin have their release. They plan to make their debut at John Nicks in early September.

Известно, когда фигуристы Акопова и Рахманин впервые выйдут на лед под флагом Армении - 16.05.2025, Sputnik Армения

Переход спортсменов под флаг Армении ранее одобрил Исполком Федерации фигурного катания на коньках России. 16.05.2025, Sputnik Армения
am.sputniknews.ru am.sputniknews.ru
 
Les Kovs have moved to Bruno Massot.

www.instagram.com

Camille Mendoza Kovalev - Pavel Kovalev /Pair skater on Instagram: "✨ Nouveau coach ✨ Nous sommes ravis de vous annoncer une collaboration exceptionnelle avec @bruno_massot ,une belle opportunité pour partager expérience et passion autour du patinag

23 likes, 0 comments - icecam31 on June 12, 2025: "✨ Nouveau coach ✨ Nous sommes ravis de vous annoncer une collaboration exceptionnelle avec @bruno_massot ,une belle opportunité pour partager expérience et passion autour du patinage à Angers. Hâte de voir où cette aventure nous mènera ! ❄️⛸️...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
 
New pair representing France ??: Megan Wessenberg and Denys Strekalin.

www.instagram.com

@wessenberg_strekalin on Instagram: "Hi everyone! We are very excited to announce the start of our partnership representing France⛸️🇫🇷 We will be training in France @asgapatinageartistique with @bruno_massot and in the US @foxvalleyicearena with @iam

1,314 likes, 67 comments - wessenberg_strekalin on June 18, 2025: "Hi everyone! We are very excited to announce the start of our partnership representing France⛸️🇫🇷 We will be training in France @asgapatinageartistique with @bruno_massot and in the US @foxvalleyicearena with @iamstefaniaberton...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
 
Karen-W said:
New pairs team representing Ukraine - Hannah Herrera/Ivan Khobta!
www.ukrfsf.org.ua

Створено нову спортивну пару - Українська федерація фігурного катання на ковзанах

Український фігурист Іван Хобта виступатиме у парі з американкою Ханною Херрера.
www.ukrfsf.org.ua www.ukrfsf.org.ua
They will compete on the JGP - Bangkok & Gdansk - as well as on the Challenger circuit.
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Interesting that they say their coach is Philip Zalevskiy but they are training under WASA M&M Pairs in Colorado Springs.
 
BrightSkates said:
Pizza, Pairs, & Pops that's my best contribution haha
Maybe somebody will get inspired and create something better
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How about Prada, Panettone & Pairs since Milan is known for its fashion and panettone is a Milanese favorite?
 
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