U.S. Pairs 2018-19 season - News & Updates, Part IX

[Sylvia]

Cross-posting from the Programs/Choreographers thread... last week in NYC Olivia Serafini/Mervin Tran skated their SP in exhibition (choreo. by Julie Marcotte) and the song is "Better Than Yourself" by Lukas Graham -- clip includes throw 3Lz: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxqhsdPnbI8/

 

[chachacha]

He is not part of the Zimmerman/Fontana team any longer. He will be doing shows in Sun Valley this summer.

Is there something you know that most fans of U.S. pairs don't know? Are you in that rink? Do you have verifiable insider knowledge? Lacking any of that, if you are just guessing, anybody can guess and speculate. Uninformed guesses and speculation are a dime a dozen.

Yes as a matter of fact I do. I confirmed with my friend who is an adult skater, the same friend who was telling me that Denney/Frazier had been seen training at the rink before they had announced they left Brubaker and Chicago. She did confirm to me yesterday, Jeremy and JZ stopped working together last fall and do not talk. She also said that JZ emailed as she took lessons from both Jeremy and JZ that JZ required that no one work with Jeremy. Apparently there is a lot of unhappy people at the rink and since JZ made the rink push out Jeremy, they have lost a lot of skaters. She also shared with me that both Vanessa and Morgan and Denney and Frazier demanded to continue to work with Barrett, that’s why he was with Denney/Frazier at Nationals. But once the French team left for worlds. JZ made the rink not allow Jeremy to coach there anymore. This is the same situation she said that took place with Ingo and Jeremy as she would go to Coral Springs 2 x a month to work with JZ and also when Ingo was there she would take a lesson with him. The same situation occurred where JZ sent an email to all his skaters stating they could not work with ingo and then ultimately forcing the rink to push Ingo from coaching there. Apparently JZ now has a very low level coach that has only a dance background that he is using to replace Jeremy as part of the coaching team. She said the guys name is Vinnie but she said has no freestyle background and neither the French Team or Denney and Frazier are working with him. My friend is quite upset as she said Jeremy was a really good coach. Apparently he is going to coach in Sun Valley for the summer but then going to a rink in Colorado, but she didn’t know which one. Also she said Frazier has not been training for the past two weeks and only has seen Denney in the rink. Frazier apparently has been ill but she is not sure what’s wrong she doesn’t know then that well but she overheard someone talking

 

[Sylvia]

Ummm, I think you meant to quote aftershocks (post #589), not Cleo, above... maybe you could fix your formatting, @chachacha?

FWIW, I thought I caught a glimpse of Frazier with friends in Detroit earlier this weekend.

ETA:

... She also shared with me that both Vanessa and Morgan and Denney and Frazier demanded to continue to work with Barrett, that’s why he was with Denney/Frazier at Nationals.

Just to clarify... Zimmerman/Fontana were with Team France (James/Cipres, Aymoz and Meite) at Europeans the same week as U.S. Nationals and so Jeremy Barrett coached all of their skaters at U.S. Nationals (with Audrey Weisiger helping out in Detroit).

BTW, I have no idea if any of this hearsay info is true and personally don't think it belongs here or should have been shared publicly. Rink coaching conflicts do happen and unfortunately the skaters are the ones hurt by the ensuing drama.

 

[barbarafan]

Ummm, I think you meant to quote aftershocks (post #589), not Cleo, above... maybe you could fix your formatting, @chachacha?

FWIW, I thought I caught a glimpse of Frazier with friends in Detroit earlier this weekend.

ETA:

Just to clarify... Zimmerman/Fontana were with Team France (James/Cipres, Aymoz and Meite) at Europeans the same week as U.S. Nationals and so Jeremy Barrett coached all of their skaters at U.S. Nationals (with Audrey Weisiger helping out in Detroit).

BTW, I have no idea if any of this hearsay info is true and personally don't think it belongs here or should have been shared publicly. Rink coaching conflicts do happen and unfortunately the skaters are the ones hurt by the ensuing drama.

sometimes coaches don't get along and having a coach thrown out of a rink is pretty low...especially if this is repetitive.

 

[Cleo1782]

Is there something you know that most fans of U.S. pairs don't know? Are you in that rink? Do you have verifiable insider knowledge? Lacking any of that, if you are just guessing, anybody can guess and speculate. Uninformed guesses and speculation are a dime a dozen.

I am assuming you mistakenly quoted me, but I do have verifiable knowledge of the situation. I would never post something on a public message board as a fact if it was a guess or speculation. I also prefer not to go into the details of their split, as I think it's a private matter. I only confirmed the fact that John and Jeremy were no longer working together. I think they are both very good coaches and I think it's being made out to be more of a scandal than it really is.

 

[VGThuy]

I am assuming you mistakenly quoted me, but I do have verifiable knowledge of the situation. I would never post something on a public message board as a fact if it was a guess or speculation. I also prefer not to go into the details of their split, as I think it's a private matter. I only confirmed the fact that John and Jeremy were no longer working together. I think they are both very good coaches and I think it's being made out to be more of a scandal than it really is.

The part you're quoting, chachacha actually didn't say that, aftershocks did. Something went screwy with chachacha's response and she accidentally quoted you and some how afterschock's paragraph she meant to quote looks like the opening paragraph of a response she penned. That's why the rest of her post doesn't fit in at all with the opening paragraph and reads like a response to that first paragraph.

 

[aftershocks]

Wow, okay I appreciate everyone pointing out @chachacha's mistaken formatting/misappropriation of a passage from my #589 post where I was addressing chachacha's initial reference to a John Z/ Jeremy Barrett 'rift.'

I'm with @Sylvia on this situation. Discussing such hearsay/ overheard rink comments here only makes an unfortunate, little understood, speculative set of circumstances that much worse.

My best wishes and prayers to all involved, especially the skaters. I hope everything will work out in the end for the skaters' best advantage. I hope Jeremy and his family land on their feet, and enjoy much success and happiness in their new life and new environs.

ETA: And a special thanks to @Cleo1782 for her grounded take and discreet input.

 

[Frau Muller]

Also a bit like Cain & Abel

Yup. I can’t stand this hyphenation. So North-American PC. We never heard this sort of thing 30 years ago. Do other countries on earth (beside USA, Canada) do this hyphenation thing?

 

[aftershocks]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIJQ5aof4Ic Better Than Yourself Lukas Graham

OMG, those lyrics. A lot can be read into them on many levels. Listening is bringing tears to my eyes for sure. And forgive me if I'm misreading, but I don't think I am.

Anyway, thank you, Mervin! Thanks for your thoughtfulness and your honesty, and your amazing talent. Godspeed to you and Olivia! I wish you both all the best. I look forward to following you two on your partnership journey. This short program is looking really great, and I hope you are settling in and feeling comfortable and happy at your new rink. May your training and partnership development thrive there!

Hearts break, hearts remember. Holding head up, praying for all. One foot in front of the other is the only thing we all can do. And wish for grace, healing and a better day. Being better than ourselves is a challenge for all of us.

 

[aftershocks]

From Programs & Choreographers Thread:

Ashley Cain reposted an Instagram story from one of her training mates where she and Tim were on the ice and what sounded like "Experience" by Ludovico Einaudi was playing. I have no idea if that's their music or someone else's but perhaps a hint of their long program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VONMkKkdf4 Experience L. Einaudi

This music is so familiar. It has been recently used by more than one skater/team, no? I love Einaudi's music. This is not confirmed for Ash & Tim, but I can sure see them doing this piece Justice.

ETA:
I also lurve these two piano works by Max Richter -- the feelings evoked are very personal for me. The compositions are probably a bit too quiet and melancholy for skating programs, but good for listening and reflecting. Music is a gift from God. I especially love everything piano!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77-hFjU5JU0 When She Went Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TNt3Yu0AJ4 When She Came Back

 

[casken]

Yup. I can’t stand this hyphenation. So North-American PC. We never heard this sort of thing 30 years ago.

Tonya Harding-Gillooly?

 

[Sylvia]

This is not confirmed for Ash & Tim, but I can sure see them doing this piece Justice.

Ashley Cain confirmed that "Experience" is one of the pieces in their FS program, choreographed by Pasquale Camerlengo: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx26SIylF-m/

A story of overcoming self doubt and igniting passion!• Long Program: “Experience” by Ludovico Einaudi & music from the movie “Moonlight”

Alexa Knierim also confimed her and Chris' programs on her IG:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5Ua2Tgca3/

2019/20 Free Program Music: “Drop of Fragrance” composed by Maxime Rodriguez paired with “Experience” by Ludovico Einaudi. Choreographed by Benoit Richaud.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5RYE8AYTC/

2019/20 Short Program Music: At Last by Beyoncé, arrangement by Maxime Rodriguez. Choreography by Benoit Richaud

 

[aftershocks]

^^^

Okay, wow! That's an interesting coincidence with C-G/L-D and the Knerims both using part of Einaudi's Experience with additional separate selections for their fps.

Unfortunately, I can't find Rodriguez's Drop of Fragrance on Youtube. Not even on this M. Rodriquez skating music mix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_WMU4_DiKY&list=PLqvZt2XmQPSQAkl4jFGPBW8Sp6VzVWKvX
Does anyone else have a link to the DoF track? Perhaps it's a new composition, maybe especially for Alexa & Chris?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8FHwsATN0E At Last Beyonce cover of Etta James classic


The soundtrack for Moonlight is exceptional. Again piano music, which was mixed with vocals, different sound effects and other techniques. It should really be something seeing and hearing what will be selected and paired with Einaudi's Experience for Ash & Tim's new fp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgeM2OuFW5A Moonlight full soundtrack

ETA:
Who else has used L. Einaudi's Experience? Was it an ice dance team?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VONMkKkdf4

This is similar piano music but not the same. This is by Yann Tiersen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_oLXVoEhdI McNamara/Carpenter

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Who else has used L. Einaudi's Experience? Was it an ice dance team?

Nguyen/Kolesnik used it as the second half of their FD this past season. Mariah Bell also used it in her free skate last season.

 

[Sylvia]

Unfortunately, I can't find Rodriguez's Drop of Fragrance on Youtube.
...
Perhaps it's a new composition, maybe especially for Alexa & Chris?

That's my guess.

(OT - originally posted in the U.S. Ladies thread):

On Ice Perspectives' Jordan Cowan filmed Mariah Bell recently in Lakewood, CA, and here is the end of her FS to Ludovico Einaudi's "Experience": https://www.instagram.com/p/BxSFCP3lZ8B/ (Mariah's IG post: “To one of my most favorite long programs ever… thanks for all the great memories”)

 

[tony]

^^^

ETA:
Who else has used L. Einaudi's Experience? Was it an ice dance team?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VONMkKkdf4

AFAIK, Laurine Lecavelier brought it back to skating-world attention with her wonderful 2017 short program. Smart/Diaz also skated to it then, and Angela Wang and a few other skaters have chosen 'Circles' which is a vocal version of it.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Yup. I can’t stand this hyphenation. So North-American PC. We never heard this sort of thing 30 years ago. Do other countries on earth (beside USA, Canada) do this hyphenation thing?

A hundred percent agree.

Think about it: Johnny Cain-LeDuc marries Jannie Harding-Gilhooley. Are their kids Janice Cain-LuDuc-Harding-Gilhooley? Really?

Many women attorneys when they marry go from something like Denise Ann Smith to Denise Smith Jones.
She keeps her name (which is kinda useful as to your credentials, etc) but doesn't hyphenate. Wen they do hyphenate, we don't really have a protocol as to which of the names goes first. Fun, Fun, Fun.

 

[aftershocks]

Nguyen/Kolesnik used it as the second half of their FD this past season. Mariah Bell also used it in her free skate last season.

^^ Ah yes, I thought I'd heard it a lot, used by both an ice dance team and a singles skater. Thanks for scratching my itch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESQzkqyiRxE Avonley & Vadym

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAlG9pzvo2s Mariah

Ahhh, this is so gorgeous from Mariah and OIP! Thanks for finding and sharing @Sylvia:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxSFCP3lZ8B/

 

[Dobre]

Who else has used L. Einaudi's Experience? Was it an ice dance team?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VONMkKkdf4

There were at least 9 different versions of it during the Olympic season:
-Angela Wang
-Anastasia Tarakanova
-Anne Line Gjersem
-Andrea Cantu
-Lara Roth
-Choinard & Ostiguy
-Marton & Semko
-Nauryzova & Datiev
-Polina Ustinkova

No, I did not do all this homework. It was one of the most common pieces of music selected that season so it was on the warhorse list someone on GS kept during the season. I just kept the link.

 

[el henry]

Damn, it really is the off-season if folks got nothing better to do than p!$$ and moan about hyphenation? Really?


Now personally I kept my name cause that’s how I roll. Hence, y’all know my last name, but not Spousal Unit’s.

But whatever name a woman wants to use, good for her, whatever name a couple wants to give their kids, good for them, and whose business is it, other than the happy couple’s?

Yay, after June 1, for Ashley Cain-Gribble and Tim LeDuc Yay for Alexa Scimeca-Knieirm and Chris Knierim.

If I’m smart enough to follow figure skating, I’m smart enough to figure out their names

 

[Sylvia]

Music ID for these two FS clips by Audrey Lu/Misha Mitrofanov? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx2oW9qnU6A/
Looks like they are bringing back their 3S+euler(half loop)+3S combo (first clip).

 

[aftershocks]

Regarding names: Oh well. I thought it was way cool when actor Aaron Johnson married his Nowhere Boy director Sam Taylor-Wood (Samantha), who is 23 years older than him. And they both decided to use the combined surname: Taylor-Johnson (Taylor-Wood was her maiden name). She didn't use her first husband's last name.

Interestingly, Aaron and Sam began their relationship when he was 18 and she was 42. She's now 52 and he's 28. Talk about soul mates! They have two daughters together, and she has an additional two daughters from her previous marriage. She's also a cancer survivor (breast, colon).


https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5RYE8AYTC/ Knierim's sp post -- Cool choice of artwork. Is it from an album cover, or a 40s/ 50s magazine ad illustration, or graphic art from a comic book?

The fp announcement artwork is to die for! Was it made especially for Alexa & Chris? It seems so.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5Ua2Tgca3/

 

[Sylvia]

Alexa and Chris Knierim skating their new exhibition program to "American Woman" -- clips filmed by Jordan Cowan at rehearsals for the Cleveland Skating Club's show earlier this month: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx-jEOQnv-u/

 

[Frau Muller]

Tonya Harding-Gillooly?

That was less than 30 yrs ago...early 1990s is when the PC madness began.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Music ID for these two FS clips by Audrey Lu/Misha Mitrofanov? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx2oW9qnU6A/
Looks like they are bringing back their 3S+euler(half loop)+3S combo (first clip).

The second clip sounds like Notre Dame de Paris.

 

[AxelAnnie]

That's my guess.

(OT - originally posted in the U.S. Ladies thread):

That was pretty angsty. Kind of depressing music and lyrics.

We're burning out, we're burning down
We're the ashes on the ground
We're burning out, we're burning down
We've fallen underground

Fun fact: The music was written for a British Airways Commercial.

Einaudi unleashes one of the most lyrical moments of his career so far. Lullaby-esque and backed with what sounds like the drone of repeatedly-plucked harp, it's an example of what he does so effortlessly.

 

[natsulian]

Can’t wait for all of the “Experience” programs, one of my favorites after what Bell did with it. As for the names, I don’t really mind.

Fun fact: in my culture, both the husband and wife keep their names because we use tribal names instead. In fact, the children, property, etc... belong to the wife and the husband has to buy the rights to them from her.

 

[aftershocks]

Fun fact: The music was written for a British Airways Commercial.

The Einaudi piece (Experience) was utilized by British Airways, but I don't see any specific indication that Einaudi composed it especially for BA. Already composed music is regularly licensed for use in television commercials/ promotional adverts.

That was pretty angsty. Kind of depressing music and lyrics.

What music and lyrics are you referencing? The quote you cite from @Sylvia refers to part of the music for the Knierims' new fp: Drop of Fragrance by Maxime Rodriguez, which is not available on Youtube, and thus may be a special composition for them. Or, are you referencing the unidentified Lu/Mitrofanov clips? I can barely hear the words or the music in the first clip.

 

[fan]

Can’t wait for all of the “Experience” programs, one of my favorites after what Bell did with it. As for the names, I don’t really mind.

Fun fact: in my culture, both the husband and wife keep their names because we use tribal names instead. In fact, the children, property, etc... belong to the wife and the husband has to buy the rights to them from her.

Cool! What culture?

 

[2sk8]

Is there something you know that most fans of U.S. pairs don't know? Are you in that rink? Do you have verifiable insider knowledge? Lacking any of that, if you are just guessing, anybody can guess and speculate. Uninformed guesses and speculation are a dime a dozen.

Yes as a matter of fact I do.

Thank you for posting this and being willing to state what happened - I can also say that I have personal experience with the JZ messages re: picking them over JB - and, frankly, I think JB is the better coach. And, to do this given Lucy's fight with cancer is pretty crappy - JMHO