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

[Karen-W]

I suppose there is no altruism in figure skating competition...just wish G/K could get a spot because it seems to me that they have a viable path to Milan. But maybe it's too early to say.

The best way for GamKor to secure a spot is to compete in another Challenger and increase their SB score, which would move them up the GP Alternates list. Unfortunately, the October Challengers do not have Pairs as part of the Challenger event (both Budapest and Metropole Nice are including pairs as a Senior B). They showed tremendous improvement at John Nicks IPC compared to last season.

I'll take the rest of my thoughts on teams likely to qualify for Milano-Cortina to the Pairs general discussion thread over in the Trash Can.

Theoretically, say the Worlds results look like this:

1) Hase/Volodin GER
2) Conti/Macii ITA
3) Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps CAN
4) Miura/Kihara JPN
5) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
6) Pavlova/Sviatchenko HUN
7) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
8) Ghilardi/Ambrosini or Beccari/Guarise ITA
9) Metelkina/Berulava GEO
10) Pereira/Michaud CAN
11) Hocke/Kunkel GER
12) Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore AUS
13) Geynish/Chigirev UZB
14) Danilova/Tsiba NED
15) Chtchetinina/Wozniak POL
16) Vaipan-Law/Digby GBR
17) Laurin/Ethier CAN
18) Vaananen/Clerici FIN
19) Holichenko/Darenskiy UKR
20) Gamez/Korovin PHI

----- FS not reached
21) Kovalev/Kovalev FRA
22) Nagaoka/Moriguchi JPN
23) Roscher/Schuster GER
24) Schaller/Mayr AUT
25) Wang/Zhu CHN
26) Ryom/Han PRK
27) Kucianova/Bidar CZE
28) Crafoord/Crafoord SWE
29) Vouillamoz/Bouvart SUI

Presuming all of those teams who do not make the FS earn the Worlds CTES mins - if not, they or another team from their country will still be allowed to enter the Olympic Qualifying Competition next fall.

So, with the scenario above - which may be generous for the US (but it is a home Worlds and the USFS is going to be pushing hard to qualify to send 3 teams to Milano-Cortina). Unlike qualifying spots for Worlds the following year where it's a simple math of your country's two highest placements in the FS (ie - for Germany 1+11 = 12 = 3 spots for the following Worlds), for the Olympics, you are only guaranteed the spots for the # of teams who you have that qualify for the FS at Worlds. In Germany's case here, because Roscher/Schuster did not reach the FS, Germany would earn 2 guaranteed spots in Milano-Cortina and earn the right to send a team to compete at the Olympic Qualifying Competition for one of the 3 spots to be allocated there.

With that in mind, here's how the 16 spots available for allocation at Worlds for Milano-Cortina would play out:
Germany - 1+11 = 12 = 2 spots (MiNiki & HocKun in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Italy - 2+8 = 10 = 2 spots (ConMac & BecGuar/GhiAmbro in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Canada - 3+10 = 13 = 3 spots (SDDes, PerMich & LaurEth in FS)
Japan - 4+16 = 20 = 1 spot (MiuKih in FS) + 1 team at OQC
USA - 5+7 = 12 = 2 spots (ChanHowe & KamOShea in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Hungary = 6 = 1 spot (PavSvia in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Georgia = 9 = 1 spot (MetBeru in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Australia = 12 = 1 spot (GoluGM in FS)
Uzbekistan = 13 = 1 spot (GeyChig in FS)
Netherlands = 14 = 1 spot (DanTsi in FS)
Poland = 15 = 1 spot (ChtWoz in FS)

Every other country, even those who make the FS in Boston, are going to be going to the OQC next fall to compete for THREE spots. Now, let's forecast who the likely entrants for that competition will be - for countries that have already earned spots, they may not send a team that competed in the FS (so no MiNiki, ConMac, ChanHowe, etc). I'm going to list these countries by order of PB.

Italy - Ghilardi/Ambrosini 195.68
USA - Efimova/Mitrofanov 188.88
France - Kovalev/Kovalev 179.85 (2 seasons ago - coming back from injury - debuting at Tayside Trophy)
Great Britain - Vaipan-Law/Digby 174.68
Finland - Vaananen/Clerici 172.31
Germany - Roscher/Schuster 170.65 (151.29 24-25 SB - coming back from injury)
Ukraine - Holichenko/Darenskiy 162.17
China - Zhang/Huang 159.76 (junior team that will be age-eligible next season with higher scoring potential than their current senior teams)
Japan - Nagaoka/Moriguchi 158.90
Philippines - Gamez/Korovin 157.04
Austria - Schaller/Mayr 150.35
Czechia - Kucianova/Bidar 144.63
North Korea - Ryom/Han 143.63
Sweden - Crafoord/Crafoord 142.32
South Africa - Mauder/Wilkinson 127.33
Israel - Enkina/Kovalenko 124.81 (senior age-eligible next season)

Switzerland - Vouillamoz/Bouvart 0.00 (haven't competed yet)

Hungary & Georgia - no one unless they have new Rent-a-Russian teams who execute a country switch

Realistically - if the USA and ITA both qualify to send a team to the OQC next fall, the chances of either country not securing a 3rd spot are really low. A bad score for teams like GhiAmbr and EfiMit is in the mid-170s and that's where teams like VLDigs, VaanCler and Les Kovs are capable of scoring on their BEST day.

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that GamKor can earn an Olympic spot, but I'd be hoping that the Worlds results actually wind up something like this:
1) Hase/Volodin GER
2) Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps CAN
3) Miura/Kihara JPN
4) Conti/Macii ITA
5) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
6) Pavlova/Sviatchenko HUN
7) Metelkina/Berulava GEO
8) Hocke/Kunkel GER
9) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
10) Ghilardi/Ambrosini or Beccari/Guarise ITA
11) Pereira/Michaud CAN
12) Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore AUS
13) Geynish/Chigirev UZB
14) Danilova/Tsiba NED
15) Chtchetinina/Wozniak POL
16) Vaipan-Law/Digby GBR
17) Laurin/Ethier CAN
18) Vaananen/Clerici FIN
19) Holichenko/Darenskiy UKR
20) Gamez/Korovin PHI

----- FS not reached
21) Kovalev/Kovalev FRA
22) Nagaoka/Moriguchi JPN
23) Roscher/Schuster GER
24) Schaller/Mayr AUT
25) Wang/Zhu CHN
26) Ryom/Han PRK
27) Kucianova/Bidar CZE
28) Crafoord/Crafoord SWE
29) Vouillamoz/Bouvart SUI

That's a scenario where:
Germany - 1+8 = 9= 2 spots (MiNiki & HocKun in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Italy - 4+10 = 14 = 2 spots (ConMac & BecGuar/GhiAmbro in FS)
Canada - 2+11 = 13 = 3 spots (SDDes, PerMich & LaurEth in FS)
Japan - 3+16 = 19 = 1 spot (MiuKih in FS) + 1 team at OQC
USA - 5+9 = 14 = 2 spots (ChanHowe & KamOShea in FS)
Hungary = 6 = 1 spot (PavSvia in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Georgia = 7 = 1 spot (MetBeru in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Australia = 12 = 1 spot (GoluGM in FS)
Uzbekistan = 13 = 1 spot (GeyChig in FS)
Netherlands = 14 = 1 spot (DanTsi in FS)
Poland = 15 = 1 spot (ChtWoz in FS)

In that situation, GamKor's chances are much improved because they're at least competitive with the likes of RoSchu and NagaMori and can possibly beat them. Still have to get through the likes of LesKovs, VLDigs, VaanCler, HolDar and ZhaHua, but that's an easier path than they have with a ITA & USA also in the mix.

 

[farahfan]

Theoretically, say the Worlds results look like this:

1) Hase/Volodin GER
2) Conti/Macii ITA
3) Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps CAN
4) Miura/Kihara JPN
5) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
6) Pavlova/Sviatchenko HUN
7) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
8) Ghilardi/Ambrosini or Beccari/Guarise ITA
9) Metelkina/Berulava GEO
10) Pereira/Michaud CAN
11) Hocke/Kunkel GER
12) Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore AUS
13) Geynish/Chigirev UZB
14) Danilova/Tsiba NED
15) Chtchetinina/Wozniak POL
16) Vaipan-Law/Digby GBR
17) Laurin/Ethier CAN
18) Vaananen/Clerici FIN
19) Holichenko/Darenskiy UKR
20) Gamez/Korovin PHI

----- FS not reached
21) Kovalev/Kovalev FRA
22) Nagaoka/Moriguchi JPN
23) Roscher/Schuster GER
24) Schaller/Mayr AUT
25) Wang/Zhu CHN
26) Ryom/Han PRK
27) Kucianova/Bidar CZE
28) Crafoord/Crafoord SWE
29) Vouillamoz/Bouvart SUI

Presuming all of those teams who do not make the FS earn the Worlds CTES mins - if not, they or another team from their country will still be allowed to enter the Olympic Qualifying Competition next fall.

So, with the scenario above - which may be generous for the US (but it is a home Worlds and the USFS is going to be pushing hard to qualify to send 3 teams to Milano-Cortina). Unlike qualifying spots for Worlds the following year where it's a simple math of your country's two highest placements in the FS (ie - for Germany 1+11 = 12 = 3 spots for the following Worlds), for the Olympics, you are only guaranteed the spots for the # of teams who you have that qualify for the FS at Worlds. In Germany's case here, because Roscher/Schuster did not reach the FS, Germany would earn 2 guaranteed spots in Milano-Cortina and earn the right to send a team to compete at the Olympic Qualifying Competition for one of the 3 spots to be allocated there.

With that in mind, here's how the 16 spots available for allocation at Worlds for Milano-Cortina would play out:
Germany - 1+11 = 12 = 2 spots (MiNiki & HocKun in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Italy - 2+8 = 10 = 2 spots (ConMac & BecGuar/GhiAmbro in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Canada - 3+10 = 13 = 3 spots (SDDes, PerMich & LaurEth in FS)
Japan - 4+16 = 20 = 1 spot (MiuKih in FS) + 1 team at OQC
USA - 5+7 = 12 = 2 spots (ChanHowe & KamOShea in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Hungary = 6 = 1 spot (PavSvia in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Georgia = 9 = 1 spot (MetBeru in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Australia = 12 = 1 spot (GoluGM in FS)
Uzbekistan = 13 = 1 spot (GeyChig in FS)
Netherlands = 14 = 1 spot (DanTsi in FS)
Poland = 15 = 1 spot (ChtWoz in FS)

Every other country, even those who make the FS in Boston, are going to be going to the OQC next fall to compete for THREE spots. Now, let's forecast who the likely entrants for that competition will be - for countries that have already earned spots, they may not send a team that competed in the FS (so no MiNiki, ConMac, ChanHowe, etc). I'm going to list these countries by order of PB.

Italy - Ghilardi/Ambrosini 195.68
USA - Efimova/Mitrofanov 188.88
France - Kovalev/Kovalev 179.85 (2 seasons ago - coming back from injury - debuting at Tayside Trophy)
Great Britain - Vaipan-Law/Digby 174.68
Finland - Vaananen/Clerici 172.31
Germany - Roscher/Schuster 170.65 (151.29 24-25 SB - coming back from injury)
Ukraine - Holichenko/Darenskiy 162.17
China - Zhang/Huang 159.76 (junior team that will be age-eligible next season with higher scoring potential than their current senior teams)
Japan - Nagaoka/Moriguchi 158.90
Philippines - Gamez/Korovin 157.04
Austria - Schaller/Mayr 150.35
Czechia - Kucianova/Bidar 144.63
North Korea - Ryom/Han 143.63
Sweden - Crafoord/Crafoord 142.32
South Africa - Mauder/Wilkinson 127.33
Israel - Enkina/Kovalenko 124.81 (senior age-eligible next season)

Switzerland - Vouillamoz/Bouvart 0.00 (haven't competed yet)

Hungary & Georgia - no one unless they have new Rent-a-Russian teams who execute a country switch

Realistically - if the USA and ITA both qualify to send a team to the OQC next fall, the chances of either country not securing a 3rd spot are really low. A bad score for teams like GhiAmbr and EfiMit is in the mid-170s and that's where teams like VLDigs, VaanCler and Les Kovs are capable of scoring on their BEST day.

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that GamKor can earn an Olympic spot, but I'd be hoping that the Worlds results actually wind up something like this:
1) Hase/Volodin GER
2) Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps CAN
3) Miura/Kihara JPN
4) Conti/Macii ITA
5) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
6) Pavlova/Sviatchenko HUN
7) Metelkina/Berulava GEO
8) Hocke/Kunkel GER
9) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
10) Ghilardi/Ambrosini or Beccari/Guarise ITA
11) Pereira/Michaud CAN
12) Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore AUS
13) Geynish/Chigirev UZB
14) Danilova/Tsiba NED
15) Chtchetinina/Wozniak POL
16) Vaipan-Law/Digby GBR
17) Laurin/Ethier CAN
18) Vaananen/Clerici FIN
19) Holichenko/Darenskiy UKR
20) Gamez/Korovin PHI

----- FS not reached
21) Kovalev/Kovalev FRA
22) Nagaoka/Moriguchi JPN
23) Roscher/Schuster GER
24) Schaller/Mayr AUT
25) Wang/Zhu CHN
26) Ryom/Han PRK
27) Kucianova/Bidar CZE
28) Crafoord/Crafoord SWE
29) Vouillamoz/Bouvart SUI

That's a scenario where:
Germany - 1+8 = 9= 2 spots (MiNiki & HocKun in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Italy - 4+10 = 14 = 2 spots (ConMac & BecGuar/GhiAmbro in FS)
Canada - 2+11 = 13 = 3 spots (SDDes, PerMich & LaurEth in FS)
Japan - 3+16 = 19 = 1 spot (MiuKih in FS) + 1 team at OQC
USA - 5+9 = 14 = 2 spots (ChanHowe & KamOShea in FS)
Hungary = 6 = 1 spot (PavSvia in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Georgia = 7 = 1 spot (MetBeru in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Australia = 12 = 1 spot (GoluGM in FS)
Uzbekistan = 13 = 1 spot (GeyChig in FS)
Netherlands = 14 = 1 spot (DanTsi in FS)
Poland = 15 = 1 spot (ChtWoz in FS)

In that situation, GamKor's chances are much improved because they're at least competitive with the likes of RoSchu and NagaMori and can possibly beat them. Still have to get through the likes of LesKovs, VLDigs, VaanCler, HolDar and ZhaHua, but that's an easier path than they have with a ITA & USA also in the mix.

OK, I'm digesting all this...Am I right in understanding that the Olympics spots are not personal, so Efimova/Mitrofamov could win an Olympic spot for the US, even though they can't go because Efimova is not a citizen?

 

[tangerine dream]

OK, I'm digesting all this...Am I right in understanding that the Olympics spots are not personal, so Efimova/Mitrofamov could win an Olympic spot for the US, even though they can't go because Efimova is not a citizen?

Correct! The spots (whether qualified at worlds or the fall qualifying competition) are for the country and they can send anyone that has citizenship and the minimum scores. Last cycle Reed/Ambrulevicius qualified two spots for LTU at worlds but because she's not a citizen, only Ramanauskaite/Kizala went to the Olympics.

 

[farahfan]

Correct! The spots (whether qualified at worlds or the fall qualifying competition) are for the country and they can send anyone that has citizenship and the minimum scores. Last cycle Reed/Ambrulevicius qualified two spots for LTU at worlds but because she's not a citizen, only Ramanauskaite/Kizala went to the Olympics.

Ok, now it makes sense to me why the US has been supporting pairs and ice dancers with non-American partners who will not (or might not) have citizenship for Milan.
GamKor have a lot of ground to cover but I have hope for them!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Theoretically, say the Worlds results look like this:

1) Hase/Volodin GER
2) Conti/Macii ITA
3) Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps CAN
4) Miura/Kihara JPN
5) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
6) Pavlova/Sviatchenko HUN
7) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
8) Ghilardi/Ambrosini or Beccari/Guarise ITA
9) Metelkina/Berulava GEO
10) Pereira/Michaud CAN
11) Hocke/Kunkel GER
12) Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore AUS
13) Geynish/Chigirev UZB
14) Danilova/Tsiba NED
15) Chtchetinina/Wozniak POL
16) Vaipan-Law/Digby GBR
17) Laurin/Ethier CAN
18) Vaananen/Clerici FIN
19) Holichenko/Darenskiy UKR
20) Gamez/Korovin PHI

----- FS not reached
21) Kovalev/Kovalev FRA
22) Nagaoka/Moriguchi JPN
23) Roscher/Schuster GER
24) Schaller/Mayr AUT
25) Wang/Zhu CHN
26) Ryom/Han PRK
27) Kucianova/Bidar CZE
28) Crafoord/Crafoord SWE
29) Vouillamoz/Bouvart SUI

Presuming all of those teams who do not make the FS earn the Worlds CTES mins - if not, they or another team from their country will still be allowed to enter the Olympic Qualifying Competition next fall.

So, with the scenario above - which may be generous for the US (but it is a home Worlds and the USFS is going to be pushing hard to qualify to send 3 teams to Milano-Cortina). Unlike qualifying spots for Worlds the following year where it's a simple math of your country's two highest placements in the FS (ie - for Germany 1+11 = 12 = 3 spots for the following Worlds), for the Olympics, you are only guaranteed the spots for the # of teams who you have that qualify for the FS at Worlds. In Germany's case here, because Roscher/Schuster did not reach the FS, Germany would earn 2 guaranteed spots in Milano-Cortina and earn the right to send a team to compete at the Olympic Qualifying Competition for one of the 3 spots to be allocated there.

With that in mind, here's how the 16 spots available for allocation at Worlds for Milano-Cortina would play out:
Germany - 1+11 = 12 = 2 spots (MiNiki & HocKun in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Italy - 2+8 = 10 = 2 spots (ConMac & BecGuar/GhiAmbro in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Canada - 3+10 = 13 = 3 spots (SDDes, PerMich & LaurEth in FS)
Japan - 4+16 = 20 = 1 spot (MiuKih in FS) + 1 team at OQC
USA - 5+7 = 12 = 2 spots (ChanHowe & KamOShea in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Hungary = 6 = 1 spot (PavSvia in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Georgia = 9 = 1 spot (MetBeru in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Australia = 12 = 1 spot (GoluGM in FS)
Uzbekistan = 13 = 1 spot (GeyChig in FS)
Netherlands = 14 = 1 spot (DanTsi in FS)
Poland = 15 = 1 spot (ChtWoz in FS)

Every other country, even those who make the FS in Boston, are going to be going to the OQC next fall to compete for THREE spots. Now, let's forecast who the likely entrants for that competition will be - for countries that have already earned spots, they may not send a team that competed in the FS (so no MiNiki, ConMac, ChanHowe, etc). I'm going to list these countries by order of PB.

Italy - Ghilardi/Ambrosini 195.68
USA - Efimova/Mitrofanov 188.88
France - Kovalev/Kovalev 179.85 (2 seasons ago - coming back from injury - debuting at Tayside Trophy)
Great Britain - Vaipan-Law/Digby 174.68
Finland - Vaananen/Clerici 172.31
Germany - Roscher/Schuster 170.65 (151.29 24-25 SB - coming back from injury)
Ukraine - Holichenko/Darenskiy 162.17
China - Zhang/Huang 159.76 (junior team that will be age-eligible next season with higher scoring potential than their current senior teams)
Japan - Nagaoka/Moriguchi 158.90
Philippines - Gamez/Korovin 157.04
Austria - Schaller/Mayr 150.35
Czechia - Kucianova/Bidar 144.63
North Korea - Ryom/Han 143.63
Sweden - Crafoord/Crafoord 142.32
South Africa - Mauder/Wilkinson 127.33
Israel - Enkina/Kovalenko 124.81 (senior age-eligible next season)

Switzerland - Vouillamoz/Bouvart 0.00 (haven't competed yet)

Hungary & Georgia - no one unless they have new Rent-a-Russian teams who execute a country switch

Realistically - if the USA and ITA both qualify to send a team to the OQC next fall, the chances of either country not securing a 3rd spot are really low. A bad score for teams like GhiAmbr and EfiMit is in the mid-170s and that's where teams like VLDigs, VaanCler and Les Kovs are capable of scoring on their BEST day.

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that GamKor can earn an Olympic spot, but I'd be hoping that the Worlds results actually wind up something like this:
1) Hase/Volodin GER
2) Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps CAN
3) Miura/Kihara JPN
4) Conti/Macii ITA
5) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
6) Pavlova/Sviatchenko HUN
7) Metelkina/Berulava GEO
8) Hocke/Kunkel GER
9) Chan/Howe or Kam/O'Shea USA
10) Ghilardi/Ambrosini or Beccari/Guarise ITA
11) Pereira/Michaud CAN
12) Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore AUS
13) Geynish/Chigirev UZB
14) Danilova/Tsiba NED
15) Chtchetinina/Wozniak POL
16) Vaipan-Law/Digby GBR
17) Laurin/Ethier CAN
18) Vaananen/Clerici FIN
19) Holichenko/Darenskiy UKR
20) Gamez/Korovin PHI

----- FS not reached
21) Kovalev/Kovalev FRA
22) Nagaoka/Moriguchi JPN
23) Roscher/Schuster GER
24) Schaller/Mayr AUT
25) Wang/Zhu CHN
26) Ryom/Han PRK
27) Kucianova/Bidar CZE
28) Crafoord/Crafoord SWE
29) Vouillamoz/Bouvart SUI

That's a scenario where:
Germany - 1+8 = 9= 2 spots (MiNiki & HocKun in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Italy - 4+10 = 14 = 2 spots (ConMac & BecGuar/GhiAmbro in FS)
Canada - 2+11 = 13 = 3 spots (SDDes, PerMich & LaurEth in FS)
Japan - 3+16 = 19 = 1 spot (MiuKih in FS) + 1 team at OQC
USA - 5+9 = 14 = 2 spots (ChanHowe & KamOShea in FS)
Hungary = 6 = 1 spot (PavSvia in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Georgia = 7 = 1 spot (MetBeru in FS) + 1 team at OQC
Australia = 12 = 1 spot (GoluGM in FS)
Uzbekistan = 13 = 1 spot (GeyChig in FS)
Netherlands = 14 = 1 spot (DanTsi in FS)
Poland = 15 = 1 spot (ChtWoz in FS)

In that situation, GamKor's chances are much improved because they're at least competitive with the likes of RoSchu and NagaMori and can possibly beat them. Still have to get through the likes of LesKovs, VLDigs, VaanCler, HolDar and ZhaHua, but that's an easier path than they have with a ITA & USA also in the mix.

My head is spinning

I tried to read this twice tonight so I didn’t ask a question thats probably answered, but why would Canada not have to qualify a team for its third spot? Why do they got the third spot automatically when other countries who did better in this scenario have to qualify a third?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Oh wait a second is that because Canada in this scenario had three teams that participated in the current free skate?

 

[Karen-W]

Ok, now it makes sense to me why the US has been supporting pairs and ice dancers with non-American partners who will not (or might not) have citizenship for Milan.
GamKor have a lot of ground to cover but I have hope for them!

Well, in the scenario I laid out, if our Worlds team is Chan/Howe and Kam/O'Shea - both are entirely US citizens and eligible for the Olympic team. Same goes for Plazas/Fernandez, our 3rd team in Montreal and they also qualified for the FS. If countries were only allowed to send teams that are able to represent the country already in the Olympics then the US would still be in a very good position to qualify three spots.

I have no idea what Parkman or Nagy's citizenship status is - we know that Efimova certainly won't have US citizenship before Milano-Cortina, but, honestly... The US is hardly alone in supporting pairs & ice dancers with mixed citizenship. Deanna Stellato-Dudek is still working to obtain Canadian citizenship, Nikita Volodin is taking private German lessons in order to be able to pass the language test that is part of the German citizenship application process. That's 2 of the 3 teams on the World podium this past year. And who knows if Alexei Sviatchenko has received a Hungarian passport yet (if he has, he hasn't shared it on his IG).

With regard to ice dance - the US has no problem with qualifying 3 spots with just teams where both partners are already US citizens - Chock/Bates, Green/Parsons (6th at 2023 Worlds), the Browns, Pate/Bye, Bratti/Somerville, Morozov/Chen - all of those teams, on paper, are going to make it through to the FD at Worlds barring any unusual RD errors like BraSom had in Montreal. Additionally, both Christina Carreira and Vadym Kolesnik have stated they are on track to receive their US passports by next fall.

All of these partnerships that include non-citizens were made with the teams being fully aware of the timelines for citizenship paths. Some of them, like EfiMit, clearly have longer-term goals than just the next Olympics. Misha Mitrofanov was willing to sit out for over a year, waiting for a good, experienced female pairs skater to come available. I cannot imagine, when he and Alisa had their tryout, that their plan wasn't with an eye toward 2030 rather than 2026. Hopefully it will last and the investment will pay off - for both the USFS and the team - and part of that investment & support may involve utilizing them to gain a 3rd spot in Milano-Cortina - because that's part of what it means to be a member of the larger "Team USA" - doing whatever it takes to benefit ALL of our skaters. More teams at the Olympics means increased funding for US Figure Skating in the future and that future funding will trickle down and benefit them on the road to 2030.

My head is spinning

I tried to read this twice tonight so I didn’t ask a question thats probably answered, but why would Canada not have to qualify a team for its third spot? Why do they got the third spot automatically when other countries who did better in this scenario have to qualify a third?

Oh wait a second is that because Canada in this scenario had three teams that participated in the current free skate?

Yup - you answered your own question correctly! Canada is likely to be in a good position to qualify 3 teams outright, provided SDDes & PerMich/LaurEth can finish with no less than 13 points total between the two highest placing teams.

 

[tangerine dream]

According to his wikipedia, Balazs emigrated with his family to the US when he was two and became a US citizen when he was ten!

Balázs Nagy (figure skater) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[farahfan]

Does Anastasia Golubeva have Australian citizenship? Although I seem to remember that Katya Alexandrovskya got hers almost instantly for the 2018 Olympics.

 

[Karen-W]

Does Anastasia Golubeva have Australian citizenship? Although I seem to remember that Katya Alexandrovskya got hers almost instantly for the 2018 Olympics.

Pretty sure she does or it should be well in the process since Anastasia & Hektor won two WJC silver medals and she emigrated to Australia after the Ukraine invasion, so she's been living there 2.5 years now.

 

[Karen-W]

Cross-posting from the OES news thread -

Sierova/Khobta have ended their partnership.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Amy L]

They were a lovely pair, but I'm not surprised. She kept coming back too early from injuries and in turn getting more injured. I hope they will both continue with other partners (though she mentioned continuing with studies, so maybe not), but at least this will give her the time to heal.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I love this team. Will he continue?

 

[Karen-W]

And Izzo/Maierhofer AUT are officially confirmed!

Official confirmation of the new pairs team of Gabriella Izzo & Luc Maierhofer - representing Austria!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Karen-W]

Ivan Khobta update -

Ivan Khobta has relocated to WASA to train and search for a new pairs partner, with the intention of still representing Ukraine.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Sylvia]

And Izzo/Maierhofer AUT are officially confirmed!

Gabriella Izzo and Luc Maierhofer’s joint post today:

Gabriella Izzo on Instagram: "🐈‍⬛ ⬅️🛍️ @lucmaierhofer Extremely excited and blessed to be on this journey together, step by step! Beyond grateful to our support system: 📍Salzburg: @skateaustria @skatesalzburg @eisteamsalzburg @severin_kiefer @miri

414 likes, 2 comments - miss.gabbiee on October 6, 2024: "🐈‍⬛ ⬅️🛍️ @lucmaierhofer Extremely excited and blessed to be on this journey together, step by step! Beyond grateful to our support system: 📍Salzburg: @skateaustria @skatesalzburg @eisteamsalzburg @severin_kiefer @miriam_ziegler...

www.instagram.com

Salzburg coaches: Severin Kiefer, Miriam Ziegler, Julia Kiefer
Boston coaches: Aleksey Letov and Olga Ganicheva

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks @farahfan - I’m sharing your info here:

The senior pair entries for Trophee Metropole Nice (non-Challenger)! I wrote to the skating club and this is what they sent:

Crafoord/Crafoord (SWE)
Ehrhard/Pellegris (FRA)
Gamez/Korovin (PHI)
Hase/Volodin (GER)

Interesting that neither Faula/Belle nor Les Kovs are entered. Both teams are scheduled to start their GP at GPdF a couple weeks later.

They did - the FFSG had a livestream each day and Les Kovs had a terrible fall on the throw in the SP. It also impacted them in the FS.

Both of them are entered at Tayside Trophy this coming week, so maybe they just wanted 3 weeks rather than 2 before their GP debuts.

Pairs entered in this week’s Tayside Trophy Senior/Junior B competition in Dundee, Scotland (via Sportity app/competition thread in Kiss & Cry section):

Senior Pairs -
1 KUCIANOVA Barbora/BIDAR Martin CZE
2 FAULA Aurelie/BELLE Theo FRA
3 KOVALEV Camille/KOVALEV Pavel FRA
4 VAIPAN-LAW Anastasia/DIGBY Luke GBR
5 CONTI Sara/MACII Niccolo ITA
6 DANILOVA Daria/TSIBA Michel NED
7 MAUDER Julia/WILKINSON Johannes RSA
8 WILLIAMS Naomi/LEWER Lachlan USA

Junior Pairs -
1 SCOTTI Claudia Sinclair/QUESADA GRAU Noah ESP
2 TELEMAQUE Romane/COULON Lucas FRA
3 RITCHIE Rebecca/MCLEOD Kyle GBR
4 CARPENTER Saya/MARAVILLA Ignacio USA
5 MCDANOLD Addyson/FELBERBAUM Aaron USA
6 MOSS Reagan/GALBAVY Jakub USA

ETA from the U.S. Pairs news thread - Audrey and Balazs’ competition debut that qualified them for next month’s U.S. Pairs Final:

Clips of Shin/Nagy’s throws from this weekend. Very nice!

Balázs Nagy on Instagram: "Season debut✅"

1,766 likes, 39 comments - nagybalu on October 6, 2024: "Season debut✅".

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Danilova/Tsiba are set to make their season debut this week at Tayside Trophy (their “Give Me Love” SP is choreographed by Sofia Evdokimova):

Daria Danilova on Instagram: "COMPETITION WEEK ⛸️💥 We are so excited to debut our new short program: Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran! This weekend we will compete at the Tayside Trophy in Dundee 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Let the season begin ❤️‍🔥 Choreographer 💃: @sop

24 likes, 1 comments - da.ryad on October 8, 2024: "COMPETITION WEEK ⛸️💥 We are so excited to debut our new short program: Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran! This weekend we will compete at the Tayside Trophy in Dundee 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Let the season begin ❤️‍🔥 Choreographer 💃: @sophiarozsa • • • • • •...

www.instagram.com

 

[Karen-W]

New Team Alert!

Per this tweet - new Japanese senior pairs team - Miyu Yunoki/Tristan Taylor.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1845840666686828620

She was formerly partnered with Shoya Ichihashi - http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00114546.htm, and he is Canadian & used to skate with Ashlyn Schmitz - https://t.co/zCcfwGVUeU

 

[Sylvia]

It appears that Yunoki/Taylor have been training in Colorado Springs since the summer:

Natalia Mishkutenok on Instagram: "Happy 4th from WASA Pairs 💥"

161 likes, 1 comments - natalia.mishkutenok on July 4, 2024: "Happy 4th from WASA Pairs 💥".

www.instagram.com

ETA re. Taylor's previous partner, posted June 12 in the 2024-25 Canadian Pairs news thread in GSD:

New Canadian pair team of Ashlyn Schmitz and Raine Eberl, coached by Dave Schultz & Garrett Gosselin, are training at Kitchener-Waterloo SC this week with Anabelle Langlois & Cody Hay, according to K-W's post today:

Kitchener Waterloo Skating Club on Instagram: "Pair Team, @raineeberl and @a_schmitz26 from @team_saskatchewan and @skateregina are training at KWSC this week with @anabelle_langlois and @cody_hay. We love collaborating with their awesome coaches, @

106 likes, 0 comments - kwskatingclub on June 12, 2024: "Pair Team, @raineeberl and @a_schmitz26 from @team_saskatchewan and @skateregina are training at KWSC this week with @anabelle_langlois and @cody_hay. We love collaborating with their awesome coaches, @garrettgosselin and @dave.schultz...

www.instagram.com

At 2024 Nationals, Caidence Derenisky/Eberl were 7th & Schmitz/Tristan Taylor 9th. Taylor, 22, listed his IPS profile on Jan. 23 (he's a dual CAN/USA citizen):[IPS profile has since been removed]

 

[Sylvia]

Just confirmed by Miyu Yunoki:

柚木心結　Miyu Yunoki on Instagram: "この度、Tristan Taylor選手とペアを結成致しました。 たくさんの方々に支えていただいたおかげで、またペア選手として戻ってくることができました。 ありがとうございます😊 感謝の気持ちと笑顔を大切にして頑張っていきます！！ 私たちはドリューコーチ @drew_meekins とナタリアコーチ @natalia.mishkutenok の下で練習に励んでいます。 @mmpairs の一員として素敵な仲間たちと共に練習ができる

miyu_noki on October 14, 2024: "この度、Tristan Taylor選手とペアを結成致しました。 たくさんの方々に支えていただいたおかげで、またペア選手として戻ってくることができました。 ありがとうございます😊 感謝の気持ちと笑顔を大切にして頑張っていきます！！ 私たちはドリューコーチ @drew_meekins とナタリアコーチ @natalia.mishkutenok の下で練習に励んでいます。 @mmpairs の一員として素敵な仲間たちと共に練習ができることをとても嬉しく思います。 西日本に向けて、トリスティンくんと力を合わせて頑張ります！".

www.instagram.com

ETA - and Tristan Taylor’s post:

Tristan Taylor on Instagram: "Hi everyone! I am so excited to announce my new partnership with Miyu Yunoki. We are training in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor World Arena @mmpairs under the guidance of Drew Meekins @drew_meekins and Natalia Mishkut

608 likes, 35 comments - tristanrtaylor on October 14, 2024: "Hi everyone! I am so excited to announce my new partnership with Miyu Yunoki. We are training in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor World Arena @mmpairs under the guidance of Drew Meekins @drew_meekins and Natalia Mishkutenok...

www.instagram.com

 

[Karen-W]

As per usual every GP season, the pairs field starts decimating itself as the competitions begin and teams realize they're not really ready to go after all...

And Plazas/Fernandez are out of both NHK & CoC. Zhang/Jia are also out of CoC.

https://isu.org/docman-documents-links/isu-files/event-documents/figure-skating-4/2024-25/grand-prix-5/entries-9/33866-pairs-5/file

Next up would be VLDigs and Chtchetinina/Wozniak (no GPs). If the JSF fills their spot first and leaves the CFSA to fill two spots then McBeath/Parkman would get one of the CoC spots.

 

[farahfan]

As per usual every GP season, the pairs field starts decimating itself as the competitions begin and teams realize they're not really ready to go after all...

The Kovalevs are not looking great, either.

 

[Karen-W]

The Kovalevs are not looking great, either.

Noooo, they're not. Neither are DanTsi. Pairs teams coming back from injury are loathe to relinquish GP spots, but I'm half-expecting at least one or both of those teams to withdraw from their first GPs - DanTsi are scheduled to debut at SCI next week and Les Kovs the week after at GPdF.

At this point, the GP Alternates list is fairly static and set since the next Challenger with Pairs is Warsaw Cup which is the same week as CoC. The only way it will change is if a team with 1 GP improves their SB score and moves up the list. McBeath/Parkman are the only likely team to do that, but with today's three withdrawals, they could wind up with a 2nd GP before the end of the week regardless of how they skate at SkAm.

Presumably the JSF will jump and take VLDigs for PlaFern's NHK spot. At that point, the CFSA will have to fill two spots at CoC - next in line are ChtWoz with no assignments & McBeath/Parkman. By the end of the week, theoretically, the GP Alternates List for Pairs could look like this:

Chtchetinina/Wozniak - CoC
Nagaoka/Moriguchi - NHK
Gamez/Korovin
Martins/Bedard (coming back from injury, haven't competed since Glacier Falls)
Roscher/Schuster
Schaller/Mayr
Digerness/Sadusky
Williams/Lewer - Finlandia
Kucianova/Bidar
Ryom/Han
Crafoord/Crafoord
Smart/Mattick (haven't competed at all this season)
Wang/Zhu - CoC (also coming back from injury and may wind up WD from CoC)
Caldara/Maglio
Faula/Belle - GPdF
Fitzpatrick/Bearinger
Mokhova/Mokhov (haven't competed at all this season)

 

[farahfan]

Noooo, they're not. Neither are DanTsi. Pairs teams coming back from injury are loathe to relinquish GP spots, but I'm half-expecting at least one or both of those teams to withdraw from their first GPs - DanTsi are scheduled to debut at SCI next week and Les Kovs the week after at GPdF.

At this point, the GP Alternates list is fairly static and set since the next Challenger with Pairs is Warsaw Cup which is the same week as CoC. The only way it will change is if a team with 1 GP improves their SB score and moves up the list. McBeath/Parkman are the only likely team to do that, but with today's three withdrawals, they could wind up with a 2nd GP before the end of the week regardless of how they skate at SkAm.

Presumably the JSF will jump and take VLDigs for PlaFern's NHK spot. At that point, the CFSA will have to fill two spots at CoC - next in line are ChtWoz with no assignments & McBeath/Parkman. By the end of the week, theoretically, the GP Alternates List for Pairs could look like this:

Chtchetinina/Wozniak - CoC
Nagaoka/Moriguchi - NHK
Gamez/Korovin
Martins/Bedard (coming back from injury, haven't competed since Glacier Falls)
Roscher/Schuster
Schaller/Mayr
Digerness/Sadusky
Williams/Lewer - Finlandia
Kucianova/Bidar
Ryom/Han
Crafoord/Crafoord
Smart/Mattick (haven't competed at all this season)
Wang/Zhu - CoC (also coming back from injury and may wind up WD from CoC)
Caldara/Maglio
Faula/Belle - GPdF
Fitzpatrick/Bearinger
Mokhova/Mokhov (haven't competed at all this season)

I don't want anyone else to get injuries, but fingers crossed for a GamKor GP spot this year...

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I forgot the reasons, but why are Alexa and Brandon still listed on ISU world standings list? Is it because they have not officially retired? I remember when Madison and Zach retired they were removed from the ISU list before the next season started whereas Alexa and Brandon are now remaining on it for two seasons.

 

[Karen-W]

I forgot the reasons, but why are Alexa and Brandon still listed on ISU world standings list? Is it because they have not officially retired? I remember when Madison and Zach retired they were removed from the ISU list before the next season started whereas Alexa and Brandon are now remaining on it for two seasons.

Yes. They'll drop off after this season once the ISU removes the 2022-23 points.

 

[farahfan]

Has there been any news about Chan/Howe since Shanghai Trophy? Are they entered in any competitions before their first GP?

 

[Sylvia]

Has there been any news about Chan/Howe since Shanghai Trophy? Are they entered in any competitions before their first GP?

No. Skate Canada Int'l is next week.

They both attended (with their respective dates) Spencer's older sister's wedding on Sicily last week.

 

[Karen-W]

VLDigs got NHK, ChtWoz and McBPark each got a CoC spot.