U.S. Pairs 2018 - News & Updates, Part VIII

[aftershocks]

I'm over C/T's apparent split. I loved watching them together. They, more than any other US pairs team, had that "two shall skate as one" quality. They were the second most solid US pairs team this fall, but then they got absolutely screwed by the judges at Nats in PCS.

C/T have always had a smooth quality about their skating and an appealing style and sexy charisma. They have great speed and wonderful skating skills. That's why the unfortunate technical problems and competitive inconsistencies they have faced have been so disappointing.

I enjoy both of their personalities, and I was engaged by both of their former partnerships. Together they seemed in the beginning to be a team that could go far fast. Maybe the slow competitive start (Mervin having to wait out a full season before competing internationally), hampered their progress. And apparently the crux and extent of their technical incompatibilities was not fully recognized. They seemed to have needed dedicated attention from one fully committed coaching team from the start.

Perhaps they underestimated the difficulties they would face with their pairing. Both of them spoke about feeling something special and unanticipated during their tryout, which makes their lack of strong competitive success all the more disappointing. But I've hung onto hope that they could persevere and overcome.

At some of C/T's early competitions, I think their scores to a certain degree were hurt by politics, which further set back the slowed momentum of their unavoidably delayed competitive start internationally. They also apparently have variant learned jump techniques, which led to hiccoughs that weren't sufficiently addressed soon enough. They also needed to add more advanced throw jumps to their arsenal, which ended up being a slow and difficult process.

Skaters have so much to overcome on a daily basis that unexpected additional difficulties and bad luck that's elusive to resolve can probably end up seeming insurmountable. I wish them well, and I'm still holding out hope for them together. And if that's no longer possible, then I pray the best for them in fulfilling their individual skating dreams. They've had some moments together on the ice that have made me happy and brought a smile to my face, and joy to my heart.

 

[Spiralgraph]

I'm not terribly distressed over the Castelli/Tran split. They never jelled completely imo, and having that SP "Falling" was cringe worthy considering how many times they failed to do their jumps. I did like their LP this past season a lot, but they couldn't put it all together. Maybe there were other factors involved in their split. For whatever reasons if they've broke up as a team, I hope they find success in their future plans.

 

[SCeline]

It could be argued that C/T never got anything resembling encouragement from the US federation to stay the course.

 

[VGThuy]

Yeah, it was clear the USFS stopped supporting them when they didn't send them to 4CC and passed them over for the first alternate spot for Worlds during the 2016-2017 season even though they were silver medalists at Nationals and their BOW was seriously comparable to everyone else's aside from SK/K and K/O. I usually am skeptical when people claim the Fed plays favorites but I do think in this case they did well to make it known who they wanted to be the present and future of U.S. pairs skating, and it wasn't them. The sad part was that so many people on this forum were fully supportive of it because they gave up on them too for their preferred team(s).

 

[Erin]

The sad part was that so many people on this forum were fully supportive of it because they gave up on them too for their preferred team(s).

I personally gave up on Castelli and Tran because: (a) they never really mastered a throw more difficult than a triple sal (b) both skaters lost their jump consistency (c) their programs were disappointing choreographically and (d) it felt like they frequently even had mistakes on simpler elements. All of which boiled down to - they showed early promise, but it never really came together. It was disappointing because when I first saw them I thought they were going to be something special, but it happens. It had absolutely nothing to do with the federation not supporting them. I know I can't speak for other people, but I would assume I'm not the only person who felt this way.

 

[VGThuy]

I personally gave up on Castelli and Tran because: (a) they never really mastered a throw more difficult than a triple sal (b) both skaters lost their jump consistency (c) their programs were disappointing choreographically and (d) it felt like they frequently even had mistakes on simpler elements. All of which boiled down to - they showed early promise, but it never really came together. It was disappointing because when I first saw them I thought they were going to be something special, but it happens. It had absolutely nothing to do with the federation not supporting them. I know I can't speak for other people, but I would assume I'm not the only person who felt this way.

I didn't say that people dropped C/T or rooted against them because the fed decided to openly pass them over for assignments for teams that placed below them, but that they were supportive of the fed's decision to do so because they did not support C/T (came up with justifications for doing so which were fair as they were a team with NO Olympic prospects and were as consistent as every other U.S. team they were competing against for those opportunities) and supported other teams.

 

[Willin]

TBH I think USFSA wants to focus on pairs with Olympic prospects. US Citizenship can take a long time (I think a minimum of 7 years?), so there was no chance they were going to PC. Mervin may not even be able to get citizenship in time for Beijing.

We've also seen that in recent years USFSA has been playing a more active role in trying to get good pairs teams together. Maybe USFSA decided that those two weren't developing at all within the expected timeline and decided to split them up. Personally, I felt like they just never clicked as a package.

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting from the Programs/Choreographers thread:

Pfund/Santillan's new LP is set to the Interstellar soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and choreographed by Alison Purkiss, as per this tweet from Josh.

Link to Santillan's April 20th tweet: https://twitter.com/joshesantillan/status/987472821306654720

Jessica posted a boomerang clip of practicing the “funky” SP on her IG account, and Rohene said in a comment “Can’t wait to see you to start working on the long”. So I guess it’s two Rohene programs for Calalang/[Brian]Johnson.

On my iPad and no idea how to paste the link

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh-CL2Gl6U0/?taken-by=jessicacalalang

Program news from Cain/LeDuc: "Our short is a super fun, jive piece and our long is from the movie W.E. "
Both choreo by [Pasquale] Camerlengo
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiAkLu1jGaz/

ETA: Abel Korzeniowski composed the soundtrack, released in 2012, for the W.E. film (2011).

Timmy Chapman, age 17 (9th in Novice Pairs at 2018 Nationals with Georgia Bush) is newly listed on IPS.

 

[aftershocks]

^^ Thanks. Sounds interesting for Cain/LeDuc ... I wonder if they were inspired by or chose any of the ideas suggested by fans (at their request)? I'm looking forward to hearing what the actual music selections are.

 

[happycamper2554]

sorry to sound like an idiot but what is W.E. Anything is better then that gatsby music, I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster every time I watched them skate. Just because it's all from the same movie does not mean it should be a program.

 

[DimaToe]

sorry to sound like an idiot but what is W.E. Anything is better then that gatsby music, I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster every time I watched them skate. Just because it's all from the same movie does not mean it should be a program.

What Medvedeva skated to in her LP in the 2015-16 season.

 

[VGThuy]

sorry to sound like an idiot but what is W.E. Anything is better then that gatsby music, I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster every time I watched them skate. Just because it's all from the same movie does not mean it should be a program.

Medvedeva used the soundtrack for her 2015-2016 LP and Papadakis/Cizeron used it with an added drum beat for their 2015-2016 SD. W.E. is a movie about King Edward and his mistress-turned-wife Wallis Simpson and his abdication of the throne. It was directed by Madonna.

 

[pairskatingfan]

Medvedeva used the soundtrack for her 2015-2016 LP and Papadakis/Cizeron used it with an added drum beat for their 2015-2016 SD. W.E. is a movie about King Edward and his mistress-turned-wife Wallis Simpson and his abdication of the throne. It was directed by Madonna.

Sounds dramatic, wonder if they will portray the story? Also, wonder if Pfund/ Santillan will come out in space suits? There is cool music from that soundtrack though, if they chose correctly.

 

[jmtfti]

Medvedeva used the soundtrack for her 2015-2016 LP and Papadakis/Cizeron used it with an added drum beat for their 2015-2016 SD. W.E. is a movie about King Edward and his mistress-turned-wife Wallis Simpson and his abdication of the throne. It was directed by Madonna.

And Paul/Islam pretty much originated it for skating with three of the four cuts (I Will Follow You, Satin Birds, Dance for Me Wallis) in their 2013-14 free dance. Most skaters since have seemed to focus on Charms and/or Dance for Me Wallis but there are some strong tracks still left unused.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Is Olivia Serafini the girl Mervin is trying out with?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiTD3k4jaIl/

 

[Sylvia]

Is Olivia Serafini the girl Mervin is trying out with?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiTD3k4jaIl/

Yes. Nice side-by-side triple flips! (As pointed out in the comments, her jump is higher. )

 

[Alex3_skater93]

Yes, it is Olivia. She has been training with Rafael for the past few years.

 

[VGThuy]

Whoa! I did love the sass by Kirsten Moore-Towers about Olivia's triple flip being higher than Mervin's. It's so nice to see Mervin land a SBS triple even if it's "only" in practice and during a try-out.

 

[Sylvia]

Sarah Brannen includes quotes from Jenni Meno and Brian Johnson in her May 2nd edition of "Inside Edge" for IN (scroll down to the third section titled Calalang, Johnson create new pairs team):

In addition to training with Meno and Sand, the skaters work with Frank Carroll on jump technique. Rohene Ward will choreograph both of their new programs. They are preparing for U.S. Figure Skating pairs camp in June and plan to compete for the first time in early July.

ETA: The dates of the pairs camp are not yet listed on USFS' website, AFAIK.

 

[Garden Kitty]

Pair break ups usually make me sad, but good luck to all the new teams.

 

[aftershocks]

^^ Yep, good luck to everyone in their paths ahead!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdVH_JOlHdW/?hl=en&taken-by=marissacastelli

Yes, it is Olivia. She has been training with Rafael for the past few years.

Olivia Serafini at 2017 Skate Detroit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihr_YNrUxKg

 

[aftershocks]

I just read in the new programs thread that Pfund/Santillan will be skating to Never Tear Us Apart for their sp:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yRWkXG7Ny4I

Would that the title could become a motto in action for U.S. pairs teams.

 

[meggonzo]

Knierems announce they will be trained by Savchenko and her coaching team.
http://www.usfigureskating.org/story?id=91508&type=media

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Knierems announce they will be trained by Savchenko and her coaching team.
http://www.usfigureskating.org/story?id=91508&type=media

O.... M... GAGA....

fax me, tweet me, PM me, Grindr me with SUCH NEWS....

I am clasping my pearls (if I had them)

FOR REALL???? WHAT??? NO WAY.... WHAT???

What did Delilah say????

OMG so they are serious about getting better??

I just can't... I can't... I mean I can..... But.. I can't......

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

WOW>>>> I can't think of nothing better than going to Aliona Savchenko and her team.. Wow.. all the skills they will learn... the connections, the choreo.... I just CANT!!!!!!!!!!!!



First Erika Jayne, now this!!!!!!

 

[Sylvia]

A separate news thread for Scimeca Knierim/Knierim's surprising news has been started: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...-from-sappenfield-to-aljona-savchenko.103951/

Even though there's been no official announcement yet, it sounds like the new team of Olivia Serafini and Mervin Tran is a go (throw 3S clip posted by Olivia): https://www.instagram.com/p/BinchDGlSR0/

 

[nimi]

Even though there's been no official announcement yet, it sounds like the new team of Olivia Serafini and Mervin Tran is a go (throw 3S clip posted by Olivia): https://www.instagram.com/p/BinchDGlSR0/

They're using a different 3STh technique than C/T, right? IIRC Marissa has always had her right arm free in the take-off, helping her to initiate the rotation.

 

[aftershocks]

^^ I'm happy for Mervin and I really hope things work out well for him and his new partner, Olivia Serafini. Is there any news on Marissa's future plans? Is she going to continue or take a break from skating? I truly enjoyed Mervin and Marissa together and I'm a bit sad that their partnership never successfully blossomed. They definitely had great chemistry and smooth moves. The technical difficulties just simply never got ironed out. This is an exhibition program by Mervin and Marissa that I love and I will always remember fondly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVAqIyTNpCU So smooth and sexy

Congrats to the Knierims and their new coaches. Lots of good luck to them. It will definitely be interesting to see what transpires, re Aliona as a full-time coach, and the Knierims as they explore and discover a new direction and boffo inspiration for their partnership. As others have noted, great coaching, wow factor chemistry and stand-out programs are necessary, in addition to aceing the sbs jumps and other tech weapons consistently.

 

[pairskatingfan]

I wonder what the Knierim's move means for their longevity?

 

[Sylvia]

USFS' Pairs Committee rule changes for the Juvenile, Intermediate (no more SP) and Novice levels were passed at Governing Council -- refer to pages 55-57 of the 2017-18 COMBINED REPORT OF ACTION (link to the document is posted here): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ying-pipeline-more.103798/page-4#post-5364053