It's always been the case where teams compete in the summer and don't make it to the fall/Sectionals for a variety of reasons: a mismatch, either partner loses interest, they run out of money, etc. This year, it happened that every Junior team competing at Sectionals made it to Nats, which isn't such a bad thing - the skaters and families put so much time and money into it, so if they can get to the big show, good for them. This off-season seems particularly bad since teams at the top have split/no longer competing, but it happens. And there is plenty of good talent still around - N/K, the Browns, the top Novice teams. And at the Senior level, there are multiple teams contending for GPF and World medals with teams behind them who medaled on the GP.
Elite skating is expensive and requires a lot of sacrifice, both time and money. Juniors are usually in the 14-18 range, so it's understandable that some might lose interest and decide to go to college full-time, or longtime partnerships that worked at a younger age might not work anymore, for multiple reasons. In the case of G/S, it sounds like Eliana was totally blindsided and given the length of her partnership with Ian and the sacrifices she and and her family made over the years, she deserved better. But Junior team splits happen. I hope Eliana can find a good partner worthy of her, if she decides to continue.
Elite skating is expensive and requires a lot of sacrifice, both time and money. Juniors are usually in the 14-18 range, so it's understandable that some might lose interest and decide to go to college full-time, or longtime partnerships that worked at a younger age might not work anymore, for multiple reasons. In the case of G/S, it sounds like Eliana was totally blindsided and given the length of her partnership with Ian and the sacrifices she and and her family made over the years, she deserved better. But Junior team splits happen. I hope Eliana can find a good partner worthy of her, if she decides to continue.