2023-24 Pairs General Discussion - Join the SBS Double Salchow Club!

[Wyliefan]

Since they'd have to sit out, maybe she could spend the season drilling jumps. I'd love for this to work, but she's got to do SOMETHING about the jumps.

 

[Alilou]

plus supported John Coughlin IIRC

Replying to myself - suddenly occurred to me that it was Cipres he supported. Or both. Yeah, either way not good.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I've been following the predicted Pairs fields for GP, and I think it looks like an interesting and exciting line-up, especially with the new Pairs that will be eligible for host spots or split couple selections.

 

[Karen-W]

Gabbie Izzo and Thierry Ferland confirmed! Looks like they will be training at WASA?

Instagram

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Another transnational partnership! No idea on which country they will be representing. Matte/Ferland's last international was US Classic last September, so he will be able to compete for the US in mid-September, whereas, Gabbie's last international was MKJW, so she wouldn't be able to compete for Canada until late November.

 

[happycamper2554]

Another transnational partnership! No idea on which country they will be representing. Matte/Ferland's last international was US Classic last September, so he will be able to compete for the US in mid-September, whereas, Gabbie's last international was MKJW, so she wouldn't be able to compete for Canada until late November.

I asked on the WASA post so we'll see if they answer.

 

[Karen-W]

I asked on the WASA post so we'll see if they answer.

I'm guessing USA since USFS replied to the post with three hand claps of applause.

ETA - intrigue! WASA Pairs removed the post.

 

[Ka3sha]

Efimova/Mitrofanov confirmed, she got her release from German Federation

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

It’s unlikely for Ferland or Efimova to get us citizenship for the next Olympics?
I am glad that Mitrofanov waited for the right partner. He skipped potential American partners with better jumps.

 

[Karen-W]

It’s unlikely for Ferland or Efimova to get us citizenship for the next Olympics?
I am glad that Mitrofanov waited for the right partner. He skipped potential American partners with better jumps.

Definitely not happening for Efimova before 2026. Ferland - probably not unless he has one US parent, which I don't think we know. Either way, both teams are young enough that 2030 is a viable goal.

 

[Karen-W]

Dmitri Savin seems to be holding a huge pairs camp in Samsun, Turkey right now - I've seen Gamez/Korovin, Danilova/Tsiba, Minerva Hase, Harley Windsor, Karina Safina, and Ioulia Chtchetinina popping up together in various IG stories over the last couple days.

Anyone able to ID some of the pairs in these pics?

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[Sylvia]

Efimova/Mitrofanov confirmed, she got her release from German Federation

Thanks - matchtv.ru has quoted both Efimova and coach Aleksey Letov (I just posted the news in the U.S. Pairs thread).

We still don't know if Izzo/Ferland plan to skate in/for Canada or USA.

 

[Sylvia]

Karina Safina ("Especially for my lovely subscribers ") has posted an on ice pic with Harley Windsor from the camp in Turkey: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct4eY0Eo-KW/

ETA that McIntosh/Mimar and Pavlova (with Sviatchenko in her Insta story clip) also attended the Savin/Klimov camp (tagged in Karina's pics): https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct4f6CdI0k2/

Dmitri Savin seems to be holding a huge pairs camp in Samsun, Turkey right now - I've seen Gamez/Korovin, Danilova/Tsiba, Minerva Hase, Harley Windsor, Karina Safina, and Ioulia Chtchetinina popping up together in various IG stories over the last couple days.

I assume Nikita Volodin was also there?

 

[Karen-W]

Karina & Harley are trolling... he isn't even wearing skates in their pics, lol.

 

[Sylvia]

Yeah, Karina & Harley have been responding to fans' queries about them in their Instagram stories lately.

Stellato & Deschamps spent Deanna's birthday week in her hometown of Chicago - Deanna's pics at the Oakton Edge Skating Academy's rink with the Knierims & LeDuc: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct4HkpFLDnN/

Timothy shared a clip skating with Deanna & Max (after their photo): https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct4I2y7LEJ1/

 

[Karen-W]

Nikita Rahkmanin (ISU bio from his partnership with Nadezhda Labazina - http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00105626.htm) was at the Savin/Klimov camp also and, interestingly, Karina Safina was standing in front of him in the big group photo, and they were in several other photos together in Sofia Evdokimova's IG stories today, specifically this one -

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Also - Karina's jacket is clearly a Russian one, not Georgian...

 

[Andrea82]

Meanwhile, Daniil Parkman was at an USFSA pair camp a couple of weeks (see second pic), standing behind Katie McBeath.

Carter Griffin on Instagram: "Quick business trip Thank you to @usfigureskating for putting on a amazing camp. I definitely learned a lot while I was here and made a lot of memories with everyone at @teamtoddandjenni team along with everyone partici

338 likes, 19 comments - Carter Griffin (@cartergriffn) on Instagram: "Quick business trip Thank you to @usfigureskating for putting on a amazing camp. I definitely le..."

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[LoisAGOEs]

Nikita Rahkmanin (ISU bio from his partnership with Nadezhda Labazina - http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00105626.htm) was at the Savin/Klimov camp also and, interestingly, Karina Safina was standing in front of him in the big group photo, and they were in several other photos together in Sofia Evdokimova's IG stories today, specifically this one -

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Also - Karina's jacket is clearly a Russian one, not Georgian...

That’s his partner Karina Akopova with him in Evdokimova’s story, not Karina Safina.

 

[Karen-W]

That’s his partner Karina Akopova with him in Evdokimova’s story, not Karina Safina.

Jeez... My bad. I didn't look at her profile and I had just woke up when I was looking at my IG.

 

[tennellicious]

Also - Karina's jacket is clearly a Russian one, not Georgian...

I mean at this point it doesn't really matter, the Georgian skating fed has demonstrated they are more than content to be a satellite federation for Russia's D list skaters

 

[Karen-W]

Confirmation that Liu/Nagy will be representing the US.

Chelsea Liu and Balazs Nagy have been added to USFS ISP list.

Qualify for Team USA | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

 

[Sylvia]

Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore article (June 26):

Bright future ahead for Australia's Golubeva and Giotopoulos Moore

Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore Australia’s young pair team Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore have all they need for a bright future. However, when the Russian single skater […]

www.goldenskate.com

 

[Sylvia]

Alisa Efimova recently was interviewed by MatchTV.ru about her new partnership with Misha Mitrofanov in Boston (Norwood) - translation here: https://fs-gossips.com/we-will-defi...ting-a-new-partnership-with-misha-mitrofanov/

 

[Karen-W]

So, Panetta/Thrasher would seem to be no more. Not a huge loss, IMO - they were a team that never quite seemed to gel.

2023 Championnats québecois d'été entries as of June 27/23: https://patinage.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Liste-participants-CQE2023-27062023.pdf

Interesting note, Kieran Thrasher is now competing with Jazmine Desrochers in junior pair.

 

[Karen-W]

Grand Prix assignments are out today! Wheeee!!! There are plenty of alternates available this season

Pairs Entry List

Skate America - Pereira/Michaud, Hocke/Kunkel, Caldara/Maglio, Miura/Kihara, Osipova/Epstein, Plazas/Fernandez, USA TBD, USA TBD
Skate Canada - Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore, Laurin/Ethier, McIntosh/Mimar, Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps, Roscher/Schuster, Pavlova/Sviatchenko, Beccari/Guarise, Danilova/Tsiba
Grand Prix de France - Pereira/Michaud, Kovalev/Kovalev, Vouillamoz/Giniaux, FRA TBD, Conti/Macii, Valesi/Piazza, Kam/O'Shea, Plazas/Fernandez
Cup of China - Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps, CHN TBD, CHN TBD, CHN TBD, Hocke/Kunkel, Ghilardi/Ambrosini, Chan/Howe, Smirnova/Siianytsia
GP Espoo - McIntosh/Mimar, Peng/Wang, Vaananen/Clerici, Kovalev/Kovalev, Hase/Volodin, Pavlova/Sviatchenko, Conti/Macii, Kam/O'Shea
NHK Trophy - Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore, Laurin/Ethier, Ghilardi/Ambrosini, Miura/Kihara, JPN TBD, Danilova/Tsiba, Chan/Howe, Smirnova/Siianytsia

Interesting that Japan is holding back a TBD spot for, possibly, one of their new pairs.

Peng/Wang will certainly pick up a 2nd (likely CoC if nothing else opens up). Zhang/Yang probably will get one of the other CHN TBD spots, who knows about the 3rd (I think the Sui/Han comeback reports are highly exaggerated).

Piegad/Strekalin are probably the leading contender for the FRA TBD spot, though it's possible that Faula/Belle have improved since they last competed at Bavarian Open 5 months ago.

USA TBD spots - The Mokhovs and Liu/Nagy are on the ISP already, but Hanns/Neudecker, Digerness/Sadusky, and a bunch of other teams could be in the mix.

GP Alternates List
Pairs 1-10
Peng/Wang (Espoo)
Hase/Volodin (Espoo)
Roscher/Schuster (SCI)
Osipova/Epstein (SkAm)
Beccari/Guarise (SCI)
Caldara/Maglio (SkAm)
Mokhova/Mokhov
Zhang/Yang
Vouillamoz/Giniaux (France)
Valesi/Piazza (France)

Pairs 11-14
Vaipan-Law/Digby
Gamez/Korovin
Piegad/Strekalin
Simioli/Zarbo

 

[airgelaal]

Now it's official. Pair skaters were allowed to stay in juniors for another year.

https://isu.org/inside-isu/isu-communications/communications/31457-isu-communication-2575/file

 

[happycamper2554]

Now it's official. Pair skaters were allowed to stay in juniors for another year.

https://isu.org/inside-isu/isu-communications/communications/31457-isu-communication-2575/file

I can’t link on my phone but this is in combination with a proposal that will be at the 2024 congress that will raise the upper age limit on the pairs skaters.

 

[Karen-W]

Now it's official. Pair skaters were allowed to stay in juniors for another year.

https://isu.org/inside-isu/isu-communications/communications/31457-isu-communication-2575/file

I can’t link on my phone but this is in combination with a proposal that will be at the 2024 congress that will raise the upper age limit on the pairs skaters.

Excellent news for Baram/Tioumentsev and Ackerman/Harms! It is a shame the Japanese team split up, but I'm happy for the other two teams.

It's going to be exciting to see the competition between Baram/Tioumentsev and Metelkina/Berulava, as well as Sierova/Khobta, Williams/Lewer and Flores/Wang!

 

[Sylvia]

Excellent news for Baram/Tioumentsev and Ackerman/Harms! It is a shame the Japanese team split up, but I'm happy for the other two teams.

AnythingGOE has brought my attention to this June 9th post that showed Ruben Blommaert and Tobija Harms in Canada (looks like it might have been a tryout with South Korea's Hyejin Cho at the Canadian Ice Academy?): https://www.instagram.com/p/CtRzb_tLlw5/

I really hope Baram/Tioumentsev will decide to stay together and compete this season (not yet confirmed as of now).

 

[Karen-W]

AnythingGOE has brought my attention to this June 9th post that showed Ruben Blommaert and Tobija Harms in Canada (looks like it might have been a tryout with South Korea's Hyejin Cho at the Canadian Ice Academy?): https://www.instagram.com/p/CtRzb_tLlw5/

I really hope Baram/Tioumentsev will decide to stay together and compete this season (not yet confirmed as of now).

Well, it would be a shame if Ackerman/Harms split, though I can understand the motivation to do so, especially on his part. It would be a darn shame for Germany if they lost another promising skater, though, but it could put him on a pretty direct path to the Olympics, maybe even a team medal.

I agree about Baram/Tioumentsev. I hope they stay together, especially since the ISU made this rule mostly to benefit them (well, all three teams, but they were the most prominent).

 

[Belsornia]

I'm really glad that it's confirmed that the ISU is taking steps to keep/bring more teams into the sport, and I hope they're also thinking about other ways to support the development of young teams, including from countries without much of a pairs tradition. But I'm not thrilled by the proposal to increase the upper age limit for junior pairs men without also increasing the minimum for junior pairs girls.