Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier Announce Partnership

[her grace]

On the other end, things didn’t work out for the partners for the most part: He-Hubbel, Emily Samuelson, etc. Although some of them retired prompting the break and search for new partners, the others were left in a lurch and tried to find new partners or did and well...

IIRC He-Hubbell was the one who initiated their break because he wanted to stop. But then he decided to come back, paired with Vanessa Crone, and neither country would release them.

 

[aftershocks]

Chris's skating life has been depressing and competition results ruined because of his inability to do triple jumps under pressure like his wife can.
Brandon's skating life has been depressing and competition results ruined because of his partner's inability to do triple jumps under pressure like he can.

Correction:
Chris Knierim felt depressed in recent years, in part due to his father's death and his wife's life-threatening illness in the year prior to the 2018 Olympics. In addition, Chris lacked consistency on his sbs jumps in large part due to being impacted by a series of injuries, which furthered his depression. Chris has been supported by his wife's and his family's love, and with counseling he's beginning to come out on the other side, more relaxed, cheerful, at peace and ready to focus exclusively on a career in coaching.

Chris and Alexa strengthened their love and their union throughout the process of overcoming the up-and-down challenges they have endured. Coming back to win the 2020 U.S. National championships was a victory for them in more ways than one. It proved what hard work and self-belief can accomplish. Just as their performance in the team event at the 2018 Olympics demonstrated their mettle, and was crucial in helping the U.S. team secure a bronze medal. They are both exemplary role models.

Brandon Frazier's skating life and personal growth have been immeasurably rewarding due to his partnership and friendship with Haven Denney which dates back to their childhoods when they competed together as roller skaters! Winning the 2013 World Junior figure skating championships was a highlight during the early stages of their career. Sadly, Haven suffering a devasting knee injury during off-ice practice in 2015 slowed their career trajectory. But they both fought back, with Brandon remaining loyal to Haven, and using Haven's rehab down time wisely by improving his aesthetics under the guidance of Marina Zoueva.

Haven & Brandon came back to win the 2017 U.S. National championships and capped their challenging career with two bronze medal wins on the 2020 GP circuit. The boffo revamp of their former Lion King fp with the help of Renee Roca was a great way to cap their hard-won accomplishments together. Haven may have experienced psychological pressure and inconsistency on her sbs jumps due to her knee injury, but she fought through it courageously and gave it her all. Brandon's support of Haven is valiant and commendable. They are both fine role models for other athletes to emulate.

Much success to Chris and Haven as they pursue other dreams and goals. Bon chance to Alexa & Brandon as they begin a new pairs adventure together!
________________________________________________________________________________

Yes, the above needs some editing and condensing, but that's not my strong suit. Still, it's way more accurate than the first part of post #84.

 

[VGThuy]

One thing nobody can take away from Chris and Alexa is that they hit the Olympic Team event, the event the US needed a hit routine for. They exceeded so many’s expectations there by beating Yu/Zhang; James/Cipres; and Della Monica/Guarisein the SP, teams that they were expected to place behind. By doing so, they helped cinch a medal for Team USA since Italy wasn’t that far behind in overall points. Had they placed behind all three and Italy and the US would have been closer in points and who knows how the rest of Team USA could have done going into the other disciplines and the LP portion without that boost from them.

 

[clairecloutier]

One thing nobody can take away from Chris and Alexa is that they hit the Olympic Team event, the event the US needed a hit routine for. They exceeded so many’s expectations there ....

Yes, that was pretty much the high point of their career. That, the 2016 4CCs silver medal, and 2015 Nationals (with the quad twist).

 

[Erin]

IIRC He-Hubbell was the one who initiated their break because he wanted to stop. But then he decided to come back, paired with Vanessa Crone, and neither country would release them.

Yes, my recollection is that Keifer Hubbell had a back injury, which is why he originally quit. The time away allowed his back to heal.

While the partnership with Crone didn’t work out, he did end up skating with Anastasia Olsen briefly, and they finished 7th at US Nationals in 2013.

 

[PairSkater12345]

Haven has a lot of strengths as a skater & it's nice to see someone point this out.




I get your drift, but this is an overstatement. Although it may be difficult to overcome a partnership split at the junior/senior level in dance, it's by no means impossible. We've seen multiple examples within the last couple quads of new dance teams that have been relatively successful relatively quickly. Examples would include but are not limited to Muramoto/Reed, Tobias/Tkachenko, Popova/Mozgov, Min first with Gamelin and now Eaton, Harris/Chan, Wolfkostin/Chen. And also this season we had Green/Parsons, who showed great ability in their first year together. (Granted, some of these teams were able to gel more quickly because they were already working with the same coaches and therefore had similar technique.)

Claire you give some excellent examples which are totally true and the fact that these dance teams can be formed more easily in the same training camp makes transitions easier or even possible. In fact (in the camps you quote) these changes sometimes are made to get the right talent in the right team by design. Piper Gilles for example sacrificed the country she is from, Moved to Canada and skated for many years including Juniors to make it.

 

[PairSkater12345]

Correction:
Chris Knierim felt depressed in recent years, in part due to his father's death and his wife's life-threatening illness in the year prior to the 2018 Olympics. In addition, Chris lacked consistency on his sbs jumps in large part due to being impacted by a series of injuries, which furthered his depression. Chris has been supported by his wife's and his family's love, and with counseling he's beginning to come out on the other side, more relaxed, cheerful, at peace and ready to focus exclusively on a career in coaching.

Chris and Alexa strengthened their love and their union throughout the process of overcoming the up-and-down challenges they have endured. Coming back to win the 2020 U.S. National championships was a victory for them in more ways than one. It proved what hard work and self-belief can accomplish. Just as their performance in the team event at the 2018 Olympics demonstrated their mettle, and was crucial in helping the U.S. team secure a bronze medal. They are both exemplary role models.

Brandon Frazier's skating life and personal growth have been immeasurably rewarding due to his partnership and friendship with Haven Denney which dates back to their childhoods when they competed together as roller skaters! Winning the 2013 World Junior figure skating championships was a highlight during the early stages of their career. Sadly, Haven suffering a devasting knee injury during off-ice practice in 2015 slowed their career trajectory. But they both fought back, with Brandon remaining loyal to Haven, and using Haven's rehab down time wisely by improving his aesthetics under the guidance of Marina Zoueva.

Haven & Brandon came back to win the 2017 U.S. National championships and capped their challenging career with two bronze medal wins on the 2020 GP circuit. The boffo revamp of their former Lion King fp with the help of Renee Roca was a great way to cap their hard-won accomplishments together. Haven may have experienced psychological pressure and inconsistency on her sbs jumps due to her knee injury, but she fought through it courageously and gave it her all. Brandon's support of Haven is valiant and commendable. They are both fine role models for other athletes to emulate.

Much success to Chris and Haven as they pursue other dreams and goals. Bon chance to Alexa & Brandon as they begin a new pairs adventure together!
________________________________________________________________________________

Yes, the above needs some editing and condensing, but that's not my strong suit. Still, it's way more accurate than the first part of post #84.

Wow Shocks.....Your comments makes me thinks that you know these teams personally......lol

 

[wickedwitch]

Wow Shocks.....Your comments makes me thinks that you know these teams personally......lol

How do you know that they don’t know the teams personally?

 

[Yuri]

How do you know that they don’t know the teams personally?

Precisely, LOL! Some of us here do know elite competitive skaters and/or their coaches. Shocking, isn't it?

 

[PairSkater12345]

How do you know that they don’t know the teams personally?

cause some of this stuff they would be laughing at....!

 

[wickedwitch]

cause some of this stuff they would be laughing at....!

How do you know?

 

[aftershocks]

Thanks to @skylark for sharing in the U.S. pairs thread this YouTube interview with Alexa & Brandon (queried by two junior skaters and a U.S. figure skating team leader from the All Year FSC):

New Pair team, Alexa Knierem and Brandon Frazier

New Pair team, Alexa Knierem and Brandon Frazier

www.youtube.com

It's cool hearing from Alexa & Brandon about their skating careers, their tough decisionmaking process involving their recent splits and how they came together to continue pursuing their dreams and their passion for pairs skating. They offer some great insights about what it's like to begin a new partnership at this stage of their careers, amidst so many life changes the whole world is facing at this challenging time. Their positive spirits shine, and their partnership seems promising. Good luck to them both!


ETA:

Working on a throw:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFNPKkHvE1/

Practicing a new sp:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAyfPbgAgfW/

Clip from their initial tryout:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7l1ZzjOyE/

 

[LarrySK8]

"Yes, the above needs some editing and condensing, but that's not my strong suit. Still, it's way more accurate than the first part of post #84."

I completely disagree. It is about those triple jumps. The rest is gabbledeegook.

 

[aftershocks]

Onward and upward. Good luck to Alexa & Brandon! And best wishes also to Chris and Haven. ♥