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

[RoseRed]

Well only 3 teams will not advance to free in Japan.

After seeing the entries I can now feel confident C&L will qualify 2 for 2020. They are on fire.... more than they have been!!!!

20 teams make the FS.

 

[VGThuy]

20 teams make the FS.

It was 16 for the longest time, right?

 

[RoseRed]

It was 16 for the longest time, right?

Yeah, they just changed it after how deep the field was at the Olympics and Worlds.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

20 teams make the FS.

Its been changed? Thats cool.

So even if A&W were there everyone still gets to do their free. Awesome sauce!

 

[aftershocks]

Can someone provide links please?

Okay, I have the below link, but please provide others regarding the change to 20 teams making FS.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_World_Figure_Skating_Championships


GoFundMe to help both of their coaches accompany Cain/LeDuc to Worlds:
https://twitter.com/icegirlash/status/1100433307815366656

https://twitter.com/MikeHeika/status/1095426075641987074
https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/unbr...-leduc-children-health-starcenter/c-304716698
"The two say they sometimes will use the hand signal of swatting away all the thoughts from their head that get in the way. That's a huge part of becoming a successful skater, and it's a skill they have improved in the past few months. 'I think the foundation is really good now. We've done these elements now and they've gotten better and bigger and faster, and we feel good about them,' Cain said. 'Skating under the pressure that we had at the National Championships, and we were able to skate two clean programs, that gives us confidence.'"

https://twitter.com/icegirlash?lang=en Mariah, Ashley, Bradie

https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...ances-wedding-planning-and-a-busy-season.aspx

 

[toddlj]

scan down to the middle of this article:
https://www.ifsmagazine.com/new-season-new-rules/
and you'll see "In what can be viewed as a nod to the need for the development of pairs skating across the member nations, the number of teams that will compete the free skate at the World Championships has been increased from 16 to 20, beginning with this season."

 

[aftershocks]

A new blog by Olivia Serafini, shared by Ashley Cain on her Twitter:

Livia trains with Mervin Tran in Montreal:
https://livsk8er.wixsite.com/livnlearn
Why she started the blog:
https://livsk8er.wixsite.com/livnlearn/post/food-for-fuel

 

[wickedwitch]

Feng/Nyman and Lockley/Prochnow took 5th and 6th at junior worlds, earning 3 spots next year at junior worlds as well as 12 JGP spots for USFSA to waste. Finster/Nagy ended up 11th. Congrats to all of the teams!

 

[natsulian]

Congrats to all the pairs at Junior Worlds. My eyes are especially set on Feng/Nyman, Lockley/Prochnow, and Lu/Misha in terms of upcoming pairs. Cannot wait to see how far they’ll go.

 

[clairecloutier]

Here is an article I did about Denney/Frazier for Figure Skaters Online:

http://figureskatersonline.com/news...-were-motivated-to-get-to-work-in-off-season/

They talk about how this season went & early plans for next season.

 

[nimi]

Here is an article I did about Denney/Frazier for Figure Skaters Online:

http://figureskatersonline.com/news...-were-motivated-to-get-to-work-in-off-season/

They talk about how this season went & early plans for next season.

Thank you Claire!

Personally, I wouldn't mind if they kept the FS. I'd like to see it skated clean(ish) and they've only competed it, what, 4 times?

Feng/Nyman and Lockley/Prochnow took 5th and 6th at junior worlds, earning 3 spots next year at junior worlds as well as 12 JGP spots for USFSA to waste. Finster/Nagy ended up 11th. Congrats to all of the teams!

I assume Lockley/Prochnow & Feng/Nyman are moving up to seniors next season (Prochnow b. 12/97 and Feng 9/99) but the 3rd team still has 1 year of jr eligibility left (Nagy 7/98) and don't have a great chance of getting sr GP assignments (WS currently #62), so they're probably staying in juniors?

ETA: Oh and then there's Liu/Meyh, who were the first alternates. She's b. 12/99, so they're another team going full senior next season?

 

[aftershocks]

Awww, I love this picture!
https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagra...n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com

Alexa's sweetie looks so much like my cat who died a few years ago!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu_rXtxASdc/ Thank you, Alexa!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuwoSwfANPO/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuQBLqmAK7v/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuHWsnYgZzX/ Oh Amen, Amen, and then some!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt81Yo9gori/ So beautiful, majestic and sweet!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt4u14uA0Di/ Scarlett Rose, in action

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsqgoz_g2dS/ Wow, a gorgeous photo! So much in common u 3!

 

[Willin]

Congrats to Cain/LeDuc for earning those two spots back!

I was so happy to see how happy they were - not only for their score but almost moreso because they got two spots.

 

[casken]

Whelp, even though our pairs programs sucks, the lesson is it still pays to be US #1s.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Too bad C&L couldnt get their PCS higher...their Technical is rather good (even with falls).

 

[jiejie]

US pairs the last few years has been a collection of the Walking Wounded. With most everybody now on the mend, and some promising teams coming up from juniors, and now Cain/LeDuc giving a very respectable performance in a field that was tougher than I imagined--and getting back two spots--it feels like the Pairs program is trending upward. I'm optimistic as long as they adopt the mantra "drill the SBS, drill the SBS".

 

[VGThuy]

US pairs the last few years has been a collection of the Walking Wounded. With most everybody now on the mend, and some promising teams coming up from juniors, and now Cain/LeDuc giving a very respectable performance in a field that was tougher than I imagined--and getting back two spots--it feels like the Pairs program is trending upward. I'm optimistic as long as they adopt the mantra "drill the SBS, drill the SBS".

The only "drill baby drill" mantra I'd support...unless it was about oil and it was on my property.

 

[Jammers]

Whelp, even though our pairs programs sucks, the lesson is it still pays to be US #1s.

It's not like other skating powers like Canada or Russia haven't sucked in a certain disciplines at one time or another too. Russian men since Plushenko first retired haven't exactly been world beaters and when is the last time Russia has had 3 spots in Ice Dance which they used to dominate. Canada ladies have gone from not being a contender for years to winning 2 world medals just a couple of years ago to having a very real possibility of dropping to one spot.

 

[casken]

Too bad C&L couldnt get their PCS higher...their Technical is rather good (even with falls).

When you're getting credit for clearly uder-rotated jumps (her on the sal) and good GOE for slow, labored lifts, it's easy for the technical to be "rather good".

 

[happycamper2554]

When you're getting credit for clearly uder-rotated jumps (her on the sal) and good GOE for slow, labored lifts, it's easy for the technical to be "rather good".

And a level 4 twist that clearly isn't level 4

 

[Cleo1782]

I am probably the first person to say that C/L have some serious flaws but they got the job done. They were so happy to get those 2 spots back for the USA and I was super happy for them. They had so much pressure on them and they weren't perfect, but they accomplished what they needed to do, so I am going to refrain from criticizing them. Great Job Ashley and Tim!!!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

When you're getting credit for clearly uder-rotated jumps (her on the sal) and good GOE for slow, labored lifts, it's easy for the technical to be "rather good".

I respectfully disagree with you 110% and thats fine.

And what salchow are you even talking about????? they do loops.... in the free there is a throw salchow with they got dinged on but other than that Im not sure which Ashley Cain and Tim LeDuc you are referring. Maybe there are more than one couple named that?

 

[wickedwitch]

C/L should be so proud of all the progress they've made this season. Both their jumps and throws have become far more consistent. And getting level 4s on the twist in both programs at Worlds is remarkable. They were one of only four teams to do so -- Sui/Han, Tarasova/Morozov, and James/Cirpres were the others. I'm really looking forward to seeing them progress further.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I am probably the first person to say that C/L have some serious flaws but they got the job done. They were so happy to get those 2 spots back for the USA and I was super happy for them. They had so much pressure on them and they weren't perfect, but they accomplished what they needed to do, so I am going to refrain from criticizing them. Great Job Ashley and Tim!!!

CLEOOOOOOO hun missed you.. where have you been. Yes you have always let me know your feelings on C&L so hearing that from you is big time for me.

I love them..they go for difficulty in SBS triple jumps when most US teams cant land double axels. And thats applied to just about all senior US teams these days. lol.

They improved their throws immensely and the twist. Choreography that is at least entertaining.. no stone faces.

Difficult SBS spins for a team thats only 3 years old.. there is a USA married team who cant do a SBS spin under any circumstance. Any.

I understand some people may not care for a team or a skater (and thats fine) but you cant take away from their accomplishments (Level 4! If you disagree get your credentials to become a caller or judge. Have at it!) just cause they aint your cup of tea.

Ashley Cain stated in August (and many times after) they had 3 goals this year.

* National Champions
* Top 10 at Worlds
* Get 2 spots back

They accomplished their goals 100%

 

[RoseRed]

I respectfully disagree with you 110% and thats fine.

And what salchow are you even talking about????? they do loops.... in the free there is a throw salchow with they got dinged on but other than that Im not sure which Ashley Cain and Tim LeDuc you are referring. Maybe there are more than one couple named that?

They do two different side by side jumps in the FS. 3Lo and 3S+2T+2Lo.

 

[chachacha]

And a level 4 twist that clearly isn't level 4

Well did anyone notice who the Technical Specialist was on the panel? Troy Goldstein who is American. Ashley’s jump was not called for underotation and it was clearly underrotated and the lifts and twist levels are questionable. But good for them to earn the two spots back! However, the field was depleted and they would have had to had a train wreck not to get top 10. But they were gifted in technical marks ?

 

[Spiralgraph]

^^^ Talk about the glass is half empty attitude. I prefer to think positive as does AngelaNikodinovLove. This is progress for American pairs and I'll gladly take it! Yeah Ashley and Tim!

 

[Cleo1782]

Well did anyone notice who the Technical Specialist was on the panel? Troy Goldstein who is American. Ashley’s jump was not called for underotation and it was clearly underrotated and the lifts and twist levels are questionable. But good for them to earn the two spots back! However, the field was depleted and they would have had to had a train wreck not to get top 10. But they were gifted in technical marks ?

They got some favorable calls but in no way should they have been out of the top 10, so I really don't have an issue with it. Yes, the sal was clearly under. The twist is not level 4, but the gifts they were given didn't really effect placement to me. They deserved their finish and I feel like everyone would be tearing them apart if they didn't get top 10. Can we celebrate one victory for US pairs for a day at least?

 

[CassAgain]

Looking at the protocols, if the caller had been super harsh, they would have been in 9th place by five points instead of fifteen. There were also a lot of generous calls across the whole field.

Yay, Ashley and Tim. Well done!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

They do two different side by side jumps in the FS. 3Lo and 3S+2T+2Lo.

Oh crap..I missed that... Yup UR! My apologies!!!!!