^^ I agree that C/T should have been given the first Worlds alternate spot (which I've said enuf times already). And perhaps C/T should even have been considered to replace Haven/Brandon at 4CCs. But your logic is nonexistent
@Karpenko since Cain/LeDuc, despite being first alternates for Worlds, did not compete at Worlds. OTOH, while C/T have some Worlds experience with former partners (and Mervin is a former bronze medalist at Worlds), C/T have not yet skated
together at Worlds, which is too bad. I wish C/T had been able to get more opportunities and more guided attention from their coaches in order to improve faster.
Unfortunately, C/T simply have been too inconsistent on their technical elements to expect that they would suddenly have performed great at 2017 Worlds under pressure cooker conditions. It was dicey enough as is with Haven not at full strength and also Haven/Brandon working with new coaches and having to extend themselves in their comeback season after a year not competing. Added to that, we had top U.S. pair Alexa/Chris coming back from her illness and surgery, and thus it was difficult for them due to decreased training time. But the Knierims did a good job under the circumstances.
Perhaps with C/T having more faith placed in them and better support, maybe that would have helped C/T at some point earlier in their partnership. The fact remains that they were forced to get off to a slow competitive start in their first season together, and it doesn't appear to have been the best decision for C/T to have tried to commute back-and-forth from Montreal to Boston for coaching assistance their first couple of seasons.
It's not quite clear why you are continuing to try and connect Cain/LeDuc being given the first alternate spot at Worlds with the U.S. losing a second Olympics spot in pairs. There is no correlation. And Cain/LeDuc, while they are new partners, they are not new to pairs. They have junior and senior international pairs experience with former partners. C/L don't have the senior Worlds experience with former partners that Marissa/Mervin have, but C/L have certainly gotten off to a relatively better start in their first season together than M&M did in their first, second and third seasons. That's factual and not hype.
As far as strengths, weaknesses, skating skills, etc., quite clearly Marissa/Mervin have better skating skills and more speed. I would say the two teams are nearly equal in terms of stylistic and aesthetic qualities, with C/L still in the more budding stages of building their unique style. C/L already have gorgeous lines and an engaging performance ability, which not many pairs have, no matter how long they've been together. Again, that's not hype. But you can perceive the enthusiasm that many fans have expressed for C/L's strengths as hype if you wish.
There's no telling what's going to happen going forward. All is in flux, and we shall see. I'm pulling for U.S. pairs in general to steadily improve. And I'm pulling for my fave teams C/T and C/L. But Alexa/Chris will still be considered the top team. It will be interesting to see how Haven/Brandon rebound. And Kayne/O'Shea can never be counted out. I'm sure Deanna/Nate will be doing their best to improve and to challenge the top teams. You must realize that a lot depends on the number of spots the ISU will make available for pairs at Worlds going forward. The antiquated competition structure is always a factor. And who knows whether U.S. fed is ever going to pay more attention to building a stronger pairs program.
My previously expressed thoughts regarding Marissa/Mervin responding to U.S. fed's assignment decision are quite clear, sincere, thorough and to the point. There's no reason for any of us to reiterate further. I wouldn't be as passionate and engaged about offering my viewpoints and advice if I wasn't a fan of C/T's skating. Frankly,
I am disappointed in not seeing C/T have better results when they are so talented. It was really a downer what happened to C/T at Skate America. They have thus far failed to put it all together, but there's always hope.
Ah, maybe one day we might meet face to face
@Karpenko, and figure out what you mean by taking things personally.
It's you who seem kinda hung up on that. We actually aren't disagreeing about much generally. Some of your stances just seem a bit muddled. But whatever.
I wish I could find some fans willing to discuss the pros and cons of U.S. pairs and have fun exchanging ideas, likes and dislikes about their favorite pairs teams without all the unnecessary sturm und drang, misinterpretations, and taking offense over minute points of disagreement.
@skate_moivo and Marissa are too busy training hard and having fun this off-season to worry about the back-and-forth going on in this thread, none of which is going to impact their skating career. And Cain/LeDuc appear to enjoy working hard too, while also being chill, positive and upbeat. And that's no hype.
From personal experience.
I hope it leads to many more for you!
whoops!
Some nice performances in the SP though, but the LP was hard to watch.
