2024-25 US Pairs Discussion - Triple-Twisting Through Tornado Alley

[Karen-W]

Thread title inspired by Skate America being held in Texas and Nationals being held in Kansas!

International Selection Pool - https://www.usfigureskating.org/skate/qualify-for-team-usa

2023-24 Junior Grand Prix Final/U.S. Pairs Final/Nationals/ISU Championships placements included below:

Saya Carpenter and Jon Maravilla PF4-J4/J5
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe (Nationals SP 1st before WD)/W12
Nica Digerness and Mark Sadusky PF-S5/S7
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov PF-S2/S2
Olivia Flores and Luke Wang JGPF5/J1/JW2
Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea S1/4CC3/W11
Ellie Korytek and Timmy Chapman PF-S4/S8
Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard PF-S3/S6
Reagan Moss and Jakub Galbavy PF-J5/J6
Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez S3/4CC9/W13
Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer J2/JW3

Team Funding - https://www.usfigureskating.org/skate/scholarships-and-funding/team-usa-funding

Team A
Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea S1/4CC3/W11

Team B
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe (Nationals SP 1st before WD)/W12
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov PF-S2/S2
Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard PF-S3/S6
Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman PF-1/S5
Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez S3/4CC9/W13

Team C
Sydney Cooke and Matthew Kennedy PF-1/J3
Nica Digerness and Mark Sadusky PF-S5/S7
Olivia Flores and Luke Wang JGPF5/J1/JW2
Ellie Korytek and Timmy Chapman PF-S4/S8
Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer J2/JW3

Team D
Saya Carpenter and Jon Maravilla PF4-J4/J5
Jolena Grohne and Reede Lunt PF-N2/N4
Sofia Jarmoc and Luke Witkowski PF-N3/N1
Reagan Moss and Jakub Galbavy PF-J5/J6

Other US currently intact US Pairs teams (to our knowledge) -
Senior
Linzy Fitzpatrick and Keyton Bearinger PF-S6/S10
Grace Hanns and Danny Neudecker PF-WD (9TH after SP)
Maria Mokhova and Ivan Mokhov S9
Mazie McFarland and Jordan Gillette PF-S9
Nina Ouellette and Rique Newby-Estrella PF-S8
Megan Wessenberg and Edoardo Caputo PF-S7

Junior
Melania Delis and Jaden Schwab PF-J7/J9

Novice
Clara Finkelstein and Mark Williams PF-N5
Joyce Lu and Wyatt Lu PF-N6
Anna Krasnopeeva and Mitchell Castelletti PF-N9
Tyler van Wagner and Patrick van Wagner PF-N10

2024 Grand Prix Assignments -
Skate America – Alisa Efimova/Mitrofanov*, Ellie Kam/Danny O’Shea, TBD
Skate Canada International – Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe
Grand Prix de France – none
NHK Trophy – Ellie Kam/Danny O’Shea, Valentina Plazas/Maximiliano Fernandez
Finlandia Trophy – Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe, Naomi Williams/Lachlan Lewer*
Cup of China – Valentina Plazas/Maximiliano Fernandez

The US has earned 3 spots in each of the 4 JGP Pairs events this season – JGP #1 – Riga LAT, JGP #2 – Ostrava CZE, JGP #4 – Istanbul TUR, and JGP #5 -Gdansk POL – assignments still TBD.

And the real reason for the upcoming season's new thread - new partnership alert! The long-rumored Audrey Shin/Balasz Nagy partnership has finally been confirmed!

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ETA - other new teams already confirmed in the 2023-24 US Pairs discussion thread -
Addyson McDanold/Aaron Felberbaum
Gracie Gottschalk/Sam Herbert - junior
Elizabeth Yun/Blake McGee

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

In honor of Judy Garland's 102nd birthday today, here's a song from her first feature film apropos to the thread title:

The Texas Tornado - Judy Garland

Judy Garland's powerhouse performance of "The Texas Tornado" from her first feature length film "Pigskin Parade."

youtu.be

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

Thread title inspired by Skate America being held in Texas and Nationals being held in Kansas!

Unfortunately tornado alley is moving east but we can acknowledge the origin.

 

[Rukia]

Unfortunately tornado alley is moving east but we can acknowledge the origin.

I mean we just had a tornado like 30 miles north of me the other day so I think we're still in it lol

 

[Karen-W]

I mean we just had a tornado like 30 miles north of me the other day so I think we're still in it lol

LOL - yeah, I'm pretty sure I've seen major tornado outbreak reports for states in the original tornado alley as well as across the entire Midwest and Southeast. The outlier was the one that happened in Maryland last week, IIRC.

 

[Karen-W]

Things to make one go hmmmmm... Baylen Taich posted this outdoor twist practice clip with Addyson McDanold, Aaron Felberbaum and Jared McPike tagged...

Baylen Taich on Instagram: "Monday Funday at the rink :) @jaredskater7 @addysonskates @aaronfelbs_ @usfigureskating @oakton_edge_skatingacademy"

132 likes, 10 comments - baylen_taich_sk8s on June 10, 2024: "Monday Funday at the rink :) @jaredskater7 @addysonskates @aaronfelbs_ @usfigureskating @oakton_edge_skatingacademy".

www.instagram.com

Could Taich/McPike be a new partnership?

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

I mean we just had a tornado like 30 miles north of me the other day so I think we're still in it lol

the weather channel lied to me.

https://weather.com/storms/tornado/news/2024-06-04-tornado-alley-shifted-study-coleman-et-al-2024

 

[Rukia]

the weather channel lied to me.

https://weather.com/storms/tornado/news/2024-06-04-tornado-alley-shifted-study-coleman-et-al-2024

lol the heavy tornado threat has shifted some but in a wider way if that makes sense? It's fine we can all be destroyed by tornadoes equally.

 

[Karen-W]

lol the heavy tornado threat has shifted some but in a wider way if that makes sense? It's fine we can all be destroyed by tornadoes equally.

Look, y'all live in a flat land between two sets of mountains and this is a way better thread title than some snarky one about flying over flyover country.

 

[Rukia]

Look, y'all live in a flat land between two sets of mountains and this is a way better thread title than some snarky one about flying over flyover country.

I'm not arguing with the title. Hoping the winds bring Balasz Nagy back to tornado alley.

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks for creating the new season thread! BTW, his first name is spelled Rique Newby-Estrella.

And the real reason for the upcoming season's new thread - new partnership alert! The long-rumored Audrey Shin/Balasz Nagy partnership has finally been confirmed!

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As I posted yesterday in the Pairs general discussion thread, I'm happy for Audrey and hope she will thrive as a pair skater!
From the previous thread - Audrey had posted clips of her learning pair elements back on March 9:

Audrey Shin 신수민 on Instagram: "figure skating is filled with opportunity. i am so grateful for all of them, and i am excited about the journey ahead! i had so much fun learning some cool new stuff these past couple weeks😉 thank you chris, alexa,

2,363 likes, 73 comments - audreyshin.skater on March 8, 2024: "figure skating is filled with opportunity. i am so grateful for all of them, and i am excited about the journey ahead! i had so much fun learning some cool new stuff these past couple weeks😉 thank you chris, alexa, brandon, and...

www.instagram.com

 

[Karen-W]

Thanks for creating the new season thread! BTW, his first name is spelled Rique Newby-Estrella.

Thanks! Still had time to edit the original post so I fixed it.

 

[once_upon]

Texas is a non discrimination weather state - heat, humidity, hurricanes, tornadoes.

I hope pairs brings the hotness, sweaty armpits, amazing throws and high flying twists.

But then again..it's US pairs it's likely to be like traversing the flats of the plains.

 

[Karen-W]

FYI - the ISU age limits proposal passed and the USFS withdrew their senior pairs woman age proposal which means that Korytek/Chapman are not eligible for international competitions at either the senior or junior level this coming season. They will be eligible for seniors in 2025-26. Not sure if this means the USFS will take them off the ISP or what.

It also means that Williams/Lewer are age-eligible for juniors and could be sent to Jr Worlds if they're among the top jr age-eligible teams the USFS has next season.

 

[happycamper2554]

It also means that Williams/Lewer are age-eligible for juniors and could be sent to Jr Worlds if they're among the top jr age-eligible teams the USFS has next season.

I think it would be better for their development to decline the GP and go back on the JGP.

 

[Karen-W]

I think it would be better for their development to decline the GP and go back on the JGP.

That's my personal opinion as well but I don't think that they're going to go that route.

 

[LilJen]

Hoping Chelsea Liu is doing okay with her mental health (stated reason for splitting from Nagy).

 

[Karen-W]

Saya Carpenter and Jon Maravilla have a new team IG account - https://www.instagram.com/jonandsaya?igsh=eDVheDR5enpobHhw

 

[Karen-W]

Let's get these in the new season thread!

Looks like Mark/Nica switched to WASA judging by them being in the off ice of Natalia/Drew
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8YzDkmuS4y/?igsh=em50Z2ZtaWl5NjBn

I think this is actually a good move for them. They're already in the ISP and they've shown some nice potential. Being with several other top teams, especially Kam/O'Shea, Flores/Wang and Williams/Lewer will only help them improve.

Looks like Hanns/Neudecker are still with Larry Ibarra. The metastrength IG profile is private but a Google search of the company name StrengthGround shows its a gym in Colorado Springs and the reviews mention Coach Steven and Coach Larry.

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[Karen-W]

Also, possibly a new partner for Danylo Siianytsia at last?

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Meghan Fredette (last competed internationally for Canada in 2021 - ISU bio: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00111107.htm) is tagged in his latest IG story.

And Trudy Oltmanns just posted this video clip compilation of Fredette & Siianytsia with the caption "2024 2025 Season -Let's get started "

Trudy Oltmanns on Instagram: "MEG & DANIL 6 Weeks In 🇺🇸. SP- Lovers Jackie Evancho. FS- My Immortal. Evanescence"

152 likes, 6 comments - trudyoltmanns on June 21, 2024: "MEG & DANIL 6 Weeks In 🇺🇸. SP- Lovers Jackie Evancho. FS- My Immortal. Evanescence".

www.instagram.com

 

[shan]

Also, possibly a new partner for Danylo Siianytsia at last?

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Meghan Fredette (last competed internationally for Canada in 2021 - ISU bio: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00111107.htm) is tagged in his latest IG story.

And Trudy Oltmanns just posted this video clip compilation of Fredette & Siianytsia with the caption "2024 2025 Season -Let's get started "

Trudy Oltmanns on Instagram: "MEG & DANIL 6 Weeks In 🇺🇸. SP- Lovers Jackie Evancho. FS- My Immortal. Evanescence"

152 likes, 6 comments - trudyoltmanns on June 21, 2024: "MEG & DANIL 6 Weeks In 🇺🇸. SP- Lovers Jackie Evancho. FS- My Immortal. Evanescence".

www.instagram.com

It would be nice to see Siianytsia competing again!

 

[Karen-W]

And confirmation of the new partnership along with music announcement!

Trudy Oltmanns on Instagram: "MEG & DANIL 6 Weeks In 🇺🇸. SP- Lovers Jackie Evancho. FS- My Immortal. Evanescence"

152 likes, 6 comments - trudyoltmanns on June 21, 2024: "MEG & DANIL 6 Weeks In 🇺🇸. SP- Lovers Jackie Evancho. FS- My Immortal. Evanescence".

www.instagram.com

SP - Lovers by Jackie Evancho
FS - My Immortal by Evanescence

 

[Karen-W]

Well, well, well... Gabbie Izzo and Luc Maierhofer are tagged in this IG post from Drew Meekins and WASA Pairs.

Instagram

www.instagram.com

 

[Rukia]

too much is happening today i need these people to spread their soft/hard launches out over the next few days

 

[Karen-W]

too much is happening today i need these people to spread their soft/hard launches out over the next few days

I mean, it could be next Friday when we're focused on the USAG Trials, lol.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Well, well, well... Gabbie Izzo and Luc Maierhofer are tagged in this IG post from Drew Meekins and WASA Pairs.

Instagram

www.instagram.com

Who is the goddess in the first row third from left?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

@clairecloutier have you interviewed Natalia yet? If not when you do, can you loop me in please? I have a list of journalistic questions for her.

 

[Karen-W]

Okay, I'm absolutely here for the low-key new team rivalry response IG video compliation post that Audrey Shin just dropped an hour ago...

Audrey Shin 신수민 on Instagram: "…work in progress🩵"

2,136 likes, 53 comments - audreyshin.skater on June 21, 2024: "…work in progress🩵".

www.instagram.com

 

[Rukia]

Okay, I'm absolutely here for the low-key new team rivalry response IG video compliation post that Audrey Shin just dropped an hour ago...

Audrey Shin 신수민 on Instagram: "…work in progress🩵"

2,136 likes, 53 comments - audreyshin.skater on June 21, 2024: "…work in progress🩵".

www.instagram.com

someone is already angling for that skam tbd and i for one approve

 

[Karen-W]

someone is already angling for that skam tbd and i for one approve

All I need is for Danill Parkman to get his release so that we can have a proper 3-way summer battle culminating at John Nicks IPC between McBeath/Parkman, Shin/Nagy and Fredette/Siianytsia. Heck, thrown in ANL's babies of Martins/Bedard for good measure!