Pairs Discussion Thread 2018-19--"Two Skating as One"

[whiteskates]

^^^^ Speaking of things German, any 411 on Ingo? Is my early-90's-crush done in this sport?

I've been wondering about him as well and I hope someone here on the board knows what he is up to these days. i have always had a crush on him, LOL. .. I hope we will see him in the Kiss and Cry soon again.

 

[Sabine-Yuna]

^^^^ Speaking of things German, any 411 on Ingo? Is my early-90's-crush done in this sport?

I think Ingo is still coaching Lutricia Bock. But no pairs to my knowledge.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Hmmm, well I do hope it was mutual, and that Robin has saved up his money and is finding other opportunities to continue contributing his talents in the skating world. Methinks Robin was 'spareable' or perhaps more-so 'expendable' to Mozer due to Max Trankov coming aboard to take over the major coaching of T/M.

I don't get why anyone reporting it as Robin essentially being out of a job (even TSL unless it was mentioned in DL's usual snarky, gossipy manner) is taken as not believable. I don't see Max taking over T/M as a new coach being very conducive to Robin staying on, since AFAIK Robin was working mainly with T/M. Being former direct rivals, I doubt Max and Robin working together with T/M would have been a good fit (whether or not Robin's parting was awkward and abrupt or mutually understood and amicable). I'm not even sure exactly how much freedom of input Robin had with T/M anyway. Surely Robin knew that Candyman was NOT a good program for T/M, but he had to grin and bear it.

I believe Robin has participated in some pairs training camps in the U.S. this summer (but I didn't know if that was part of his work with Mozer's team -- probably not). Maybe Robin can freelance and continue sharing his knowledge in a training workshop capacity if he isn't interested solely in finding and coaching students of his own. ETA: I see that it's been mentioned Robin may be coming to the U.S. to work with Dalilah Sappenfield, which sounds cool.

You're right, Robin is out of a job and there's no denying it. But I just don't like the way TSL likes to create a scandal out of everything. ("snarky, gossipy manner" is soooo accurate!)

I agree that Robin and Max working together is just not realistic. Robin was in fact at those US pairs training camps (working with Fedor Klimov). I would love him working with Dalilah - US pairs needs that extra boost and Robin would certainly help (I hope).

 

[chachacha]

You're right, Robin is out of a job and there's no denying it. But I just don't like the way TSL likes to create a scandal out of everything. ("snarky, gossipy manner" is soooo accurate!)

I agree that Robin and Max working together is just not realistic. Robin was in fact at those US pairs training camps (working with Fedor Klimov). I would love him working with Dalilah - US pairs needs that extra boost and Robin would certainly help (I hope).

I hear he has been working with the Zimmerman camp from an adult skater I know who skates at the same rink ?

 

[aftershocks]

I hear he has been working with the Zimmerman camp from an adult skater I know who skates at the same rink ?

Yay! That sounds cool too. Robin seems to have a very chill personality without a penchant for wanting to create a lot of drama. He was the calm one amongst the temperamental personalities of Steuer and Savchenko. Robin is also a person who does not seem very easy to read in terms of his feelings. He's always come off to me as gentlemanly, calm, cool and collected. Of course, it might be a different story if you have the chance to get to know him intimately. But he strikes me as no-nonsense, professional and discreet.

Maybe Robin will freelance at pairs facilities in Colorado and Florida from time-to-time, or maybe he will find a home with a particular camp. Zimmerman's group seems like a good fit. But Robin will probably keep his home base in Europe. I'm sad that he hasn't seemed to find another partner to skate with professionally. But maybe he's happy sharing his knowledge in a coaching capacity at various camps and via traning workshops.

Robin's Instagram reveals he has a sideline conducting pairs training workshops under his own company. He also has a lovely family: wife Romy (from Switzerland) and their son, Henry, who was born in September 2015. Possibly Robin's home base is in his wife's home country of Switzerland:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLWwwdBhwxt/ Family portrait
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdF1MOQHp8s/ Xmas 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrxeGllo0xj/ Xmas 2018

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmqmVVRjBlH/ This post (of 8/19/18) clearly indicates Robin & Max Trankov are on friendly terms; I always got the sense they respect and like each other, even during their rivalry days

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPXZV2BBZMR/ flyer for Robin's pairs training camp in Switzerland
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPXZZ8Lhm34/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqnDNGzBpQx/ Robin's philosophy on life?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbpz1eVHiG2/ Robin is deservedly proud of his work with T/M, but I agree with the commenter who points out J/C deserved to win the France GP in 2017
"Gold [for T/M] but you know the French [Vanessa et Morgan] were better"

 

[aftershocks]

Sui/Han sp at Chinese Nats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TV38nXn6iQ lovely choreography

I love Sui's costume and hair, plus their music, and the passion and precision of their style. Obviously, they are still working on regaining their abilities at full strength. Their sbs double toes were planned -- not enough time yet to prepare for triples. They reportedly practiced this new program only 6 times before competing it. And they WD from the fp (they had no plans to compete the fp due to not enough training time).

Their coach has said they at are 80%.

Interview with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwArsoDqFwg

 

[Mad for Skating]

I hear he has been working with the Zimmerman camp from an adult skater I know who skates at the same rink ?

AWESOME! I think Zimmerman would be a great choice!

 

[Mad for Skating]

Sui/Han sp at Chinese Nats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TV38nXn6iQ lovely choreography

I love Sui's costume and hair, plus their music, and the passion and precision of their style. Obviously, they are still working on regaining their abilities at full strength. Their sbs double toes were planned -- not enough time yet to prepare for triples. They reportedly practiced this new program only 6 times before competing it. And they WD from the fp.
Their coach has said they at are 80%.

Interview with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwArsoDqFwg

Wenjing is (as always) exquisite! I really hope they come back swinging at Worlds!

 

[aftershocks]

OnIcePerspectives with Meagan and Eric:
Death-spiral, swing, death-spiral, swing, death-spiral, swing ...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp9wc9nnYG8/

 

[skatingguy]

OnIcePerspectives with Meagan and Eric:
Death-spiral, swing, death-spiral, swing, death-spiral, swing ...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp9wc9nnYG8/

Not just death-spiral - swing - death spiral - but a change of death spiral - backward outside to swing to forward outside.

 

[Mad for Skating]

OnIcePerspectives with Meagan and Eric:
Death-spiral, swing, death-spiral, swing, death-spiral, swing ...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp9wc9nnYG8/

Still the best when it comes to the tricks!

 

[puglover]

I can feel my shoulders shudder just watching that.

 

[aftershocks]

News from U.S. pairs and German skating thread in GSD:

Robin Szolkowy is moving to US and will start coaching in Irvine/Los Angeles
https://www.freiepresse.de/sport/robin-szolkowy-zieht-es-in-die-usa-artikel10415069

Main facts:
- first conversations with US fed during olympics 2018
- new ice center there
- they (wife included) want to be there from the scratch
- working there with Jenni Meno/Todd Sand (who have SK/K there, funnily coached by Szolkwoys ex-partner before)
- not US teams only, Szolkowy's want it to be an international center
- he/they will do camps in europe still
- possibility for US camps for in Irvine for skaters from overseas
- project will last at least until 2022, but they are open to stay there for longer

The current issue of Pirouette Magazine has an interview with Robin Szolkowy where he talks in detail about his move. The Freie Presse article is based on that interview.

http://pirouette-online.de/

A report on this news and an interview in English with Szolkowy in IFS:
https://www.ifsmagazine.com/robin-szolkowy-joins-california-coaching-team/

Jenni Meno posts about the new Ice Center in Irvine, California:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bse8Dr6HLIj/

Great quote posted by Szolkowy recently on Instagram:
"Everything is possible when you see the advantages of joy, fun and a little smile in every situation!!!"

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I just checked the entries as of today for Euro pairs. Is that the lowest teams at Euros in a while?

 

[alj5]

I just checked the entries as of today for Euro pairs. Is that the lowest teams at Euros in a while?

Because I'm a nerd....the last time there were 13 pairs was 2006. The last time there were 12 pairs was 1991.

 

[Quadjump]

Because I'm a nerd....the last time there were 13 pairs was 2006. The last time there were 12 pairs was 1991.

This is step back after last years´ Euros with their high class performances. Pairs at Euros 2017 was out of the world! The location of Minsk will make it even more difficult for James/Cipres to win against both Russian pairs.

The ISU invested much in Pairs and it paid off the last four years. I truely hope Sui/Han to compete at worlds. Although they may lose they really bring the glory to the competition.

 

[Orm Irian]

Nice article/interview from the ISU about James/Cipres: https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/...point-you-have-to-take-risks?templateParam=15

It's interesting to read about the psychological side of their campaign this season - it would be easy to let the early success go to their heads, especially following their late and rapid rise from not-quite-podium status to serious contenders, but they seem to have developed a very level, pragmatic approach to things and are trying not to get ahead of themselves. Let's see how that works for them at Europeans - hope it goes better than last year!

 

[Mad for Skating]

This is step back after last years´ Euros with their high class performances. Pairs at Euros 2017 was out of the world! The location of Minsk will make it even more difficult for James/Cipres to win against both Russian pairs.

The ISU invested much in Pairs and it paid off the last four years. I truely hope Sui/Han to compete at worlds. Although they may lose they really bring the glory to the competition.

I agree with so much of this.

To me, Pairs is the most interesting of the four disciplines - big tricks, chemistry, and acrobatic lifts. And it’s one of the fastest progressing disciplines. It’s stupid not to let more pairs compete! Especially at Euros, which is always a showdown.

I think James/Cipres have a very good chance of winning. Tarasova/Morozov are realistically the only team that can beat them. I don’t know if you heard, but Zabiiako/Enbert withdrew, so they’ll only have to worry about Boikova/Kozlovskii, who they’ve beaten this season.

Honestly it wouldn’t surprise me if Sui/Han show up and win Worlds this year. They did it in 2019. And I agree that they are something special - they really are the complete package of pairs imo.

 

[MAXSwagg]

Sui/Han deserve to win worlds with a mistake or two. Perhaps not over a completely clean T/M but certainly over clean James/Cipres.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Sui/Han deserve to win worlds with a mistake or two. Perhaps not over a completely clean T/M but certainly over clean James/Cipres.

They are honestly divine. As cool as James/Cipres are, Sui/Han still have that extra polish IMO.

 

[MAXSwagg]

Old news now but so glad T/M returned to Rachmaninoff SP. Very much suits them and highlights their exquisite line and superb skating skills.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Old news now but so glad T/M returned to Rachmaninoff SP. Very much suits them and highlights their exquisite line and superb skating skills.

Agree! I think it’s a strong program for them (although my fave SP is Glam!)

 

[nimi]

Bavarian Open entries are online: https://www.bev-eissport.de/download/EntriesBavarianOpen2019.pdf

Efimenko/Epstein (NED) are on the list, as are Abrazhevich/Bidar. Although, the pdf claims it's Petr Bidar and not Martin that's skating with Hanna... but that must a clerical error, right? (AFAIK big bro Petr retired from competition several years ago.)

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Did I miss something? Ekaterina and Harley withdrew from 4CC??

 

[skatingguy]

Did I miss something? Ekaterina and Harley withdrew from 4CC??

Apparently Harley has a ankle injury.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

^^^ Now that I think about it where are Korea and Japan? Did both teams decline? injury?

Only 3 countries competing and that barely qualifies for ISU points.

 

[Karen-W]

^^^ Now that I think about it where are Korea and Japan? Did both teams decline? injury?

Only 3 countries competing and that barely qualifies for ISU points.

Sounds like Visa issues for the PRK team.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Well I guess it’s going to be one big Chinese party! Sorry for the other teams, but I can’t wait to see Empress Wenjing back!

 

[Jeschke]

Well I guess it’s going to be one big Chinese party!

With one ?? team missing! ???

 

[Taso]

With one ?? team missing! ???

Was an explanation ever given of why Yu & Zhang aren't being sent? Or the Wangs if they weren't ready? the heck...