U.S. Pairs 2019-20 season - News & Updates, Part X

BrightSkates

Flop era commenced
Messages
271
I'm excited to see US pairs move in a different direction and take new chances. Doing the same thing and playing it safe hasn't worked well so far for the US- so this makes things interesting.
 

olympic

Well-Known Member
Messages
10,892
Well i guess US Pairs can't stand a good thing now 3 teams have broken up in just the last few weeks. :(

Cmon. We discussed this . The 2 pairs SK/K and D/F may form a top pair; strip 2 cars of their parts to make one great car. So, technically that is a net loss of 1 pair. D/N were a nice pair but they were top 10 at Nationals. It is sad that they are no longer together but it’s not huge damage to the USFSA
 

aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
Is that kind of comment necessary? :confused: :rolleyes:

Okay, so a lot of people are offended. I meant my comment affectionately toward Haven in that memorable 2013 Junior Worlds video. I did not intend the comment to be interpreted in any body-shaming way. Some of this OTT political correctness is offensive too. By saying 'baby fat,' those words are not in any way meant by me to be a comment on Haven's weight. It was just a comment on her stage of growth at that time of her life! Haven did NOT need to lose weight! She was cute at that stage of her growth. Being a bit younger and growing with hormonal changes, means your body goes through different stages. To me, it's no different than looking back at old pictures of myself and seeing how different I looked in my teens and in my twenties and thirties.

I understand that people are particularly sensitive in figure skating to any comment about female bodies, but we need to not be so policing all the time. Haven was NOT in any way overweight whatsoever. Her body was at a specific stage of growth where she was changing from adolescence into womanhood. I thought the same about Jessica Calalang when I saw her and also Haven too at 2011 U.S. Nationals junior pairs competition, which is one of my favorite old competitions to watch (but it's not available anymore since IceNetwork is defunct).

Frankly, making an observation about how athletes look when they're younger is no different than saying for example that certain guys had pudgier faces and less well defined muscles or more hair on their heads when they were younger, or clean-shaven baby faces. I understand if people are offended in terms of the issue of beating up young ladies about weight because that often happens in figure skating and we know the damage it has done to so many young ladies. Again, that was NOT my intention.
 

Carolla5501

Well-Known Member
Messages
7,132
Okay, so a lot of people are offended. I meant my comment affectionately toward Haven in that memorable 2013 Junior Worlds video. I did not intend the comment to be interpreted in any body-shaming way. Some of this OTT political correctness is offensive too. By saying 'baby fat,' those words are not in any way meant by me to be a comment on Haven's weight. It was just a comment on her stage of growth at that time of her life! Haven did NOT need to lose weight! She was cute at that stage of her growth. Being a bit younger and growing with hormonal changes, means your body goes through different stages. To me, it's no different than looking back at old pictures of myself and seeing how different I looked in my teens and in my twenties and thirties.

I understand that people are particularly sensitive in figure skating to any comment about female bodies, but we need to not be so policing all the time. Haven was NOT in any way overweight whatsoever. Her body was at a specific stage of growth where she was changing from adolescence into womanhood. I thought the same about Jessica Calalang when I saw her and also Haven too at 2011 U.S. Nationals junior pairs competition, which is one of my favorite old competitions to watch (but it's not available anymore since IceNetwork is defunct).

Frankly, making an observation about how athletes look when they're younger is no different than saying for example that certain guys had pudgier faces and less well defined muscles or more hair on their heads when they were younger, or clean-shaven baby faces. I understand if people are offended in terms of the issue of beating up young ladies about weight because that often happens in figure skating and we know the damage it has done to so many young ladies. Again, that was NOT my intention.


Your original comment was inappropriate and you now spent three paragraphs trying to prove that you are perfect and did nothing wrong. Your true colors are really showing here
 

aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
I agree with you we haven’t really had a good thing...

I'm not just directing this at you Carolla, but in general to everyone who I feel are shortsighted about how we judge athletes' careers. Just because the U.S. has been off the Worlds and Olympic podiums since 2002 (which means 18 years) is not a total indication of the state of the U.S. pairs discipline over the years. There have been many important achievements and many memorable moments in the U.S. pairs discipline over the past 18 years. I'm sick and tired of people looking down on and dissing U.S. pairs as a matter of knee-jerk rote. Did fans look down on and dis Canadian pairs during their 19-year Olympic and Worlds podium drought in an era where there was no social media? Heck no. I seriously doubt it!

Now that Canadian athletes in all figure skating disciplines are in the process of rebuilding after top stars have retired, is anyone looking down on those disciplines. Nope! Not even are people actually dissing the Canadian ladies, which is a discipline that hasn't had consistent legendary success over many years, although there have been many notable Canadian ladies champions.

My point is: Appreciate the skaters and each discipline and go with the flow and enjoy the ups and the downs. In that way, when great things begin to happen in terms of top level championships or promising teams coming up, the appreciation is that much greater should they achieve their highest goals. You've got to love the skaters and their journeys, whether or not they are always in the medals. For me, I enjoy looking at the process and appreciating the moments, instead of obsessing over podium placements.

I think they will have to really be good to even make the team Olympic team much less win a world medal. I think we have two teams ahead of them. You then add in the fact that they may be losing most of this off-season training cycle and it’s not pretty.

Your view, but I'm going to be more hopeful, patient, supportive and see what happens. A lot of things are going to be different in everyone's world going forward.
 
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aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
Your original comment was inappropriate and you now spent three paragraphs trying to prove that you are perfect and did nothing wrong. Your true colors are really showing here...

That's your impression, and it's inaccurate. So be it.

And get over yourself please. No human is perfect, least of all me. :rolleyes:
 

vesperholly

Well-Known Member
Messages
12,826
Okay, so a lot of people are offended. I meant my comment affectionately toward Haven in that memorable 2013 Junior Worlds video. I did not intend the comment to be interpreted in any body-shaming way. Some of this OTT political correctness is offensive too. By saying 'baby fat,' those words are not in any way meant by me to be a comment on Haven's weight. It was just a comment on her stage of growth at that time of her life! Haven did NOT need to lose weight! She was cute at that stage of her growth. Being a bit younger and growing with hormonal changes, means your body goes through different stages. To me, it's no different than looking back at old pictures of myself and seeing how different I looked in my teens and in my twenties and thirties.

I understand that people are particularly sensitive in figure skating to any comment about female bodies, but we need to not be so policing all the time. Haven was NOT in any way overweight whatsoever. Her body was at a specific stage of growth where she was changing from adolescence into womanhood. I thought the same about Jessica Calalang when I saw her and also Haven too at 2011 U.S. Nationals junior pairs competition, which is one of my favorite old competitions to watch (but it's not available anymore since IceNetwork is defunct).

Frankly, making an observation about how athletes look when they're younger is no different than saying for example that certain guys had pudgier faces and less well defined muscles or more hair on their heads when they were younger, or clean-shaven baby faces. I understand if people are offended in terms of the issue of beating up young ladies about weight because that often happens in figure skating and we know the damage it has done to so many young ladies. Again, that was NOT my intention.
Your comment wasn't "Aww, look at baby Haven here". It was a specific comment to do with how her body looked and it was completely unnecessary. It did not add anything to the discussion. Just don't.
 

AxelAnnie

Like a small boat on the ocean...
Messages
14,463
Your comment wasn't "Aww, look at baby Haven here". It was a specific comment to do with how her body looked and it was completely unnecessary. It did not add anything to the discussion. Just don't.
I don't know that a comment like that is good/bad/neutral/unnecessary.

The thing that strikes me about the picture is that she looked so thin and lovely. Where is this baby-fat?
 

aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
Your comment wasn't "Aww, look at baby Haven here". It was a specific comment to do with how her body looked and it was completely unnecessary. It did not add anything to the discussion. Just don't.

This is your opinion though. And I think you are being over-sensitive and policing, probably due to the unnecessary and detrimental body-shaming that has often occurred in figure skating. That was completely not my intention. I can't change the negative way anyone is looking at what I said. I only know that I intended what I said affectionately.

The only person I would apologize to is Haven, if she feels offended. The rest of you, tough cookies.
 

Japanfan

Well-Known Member
Messages
25,532
I did not intend the comment to be interpreted in any body-shaming way. Some of this OTT political correctness is offensive too. By saying 'baby fat,' those words are not in any way meant by me to be a comment on Haven's weight. It was just a comment on her stage of growth at that time of her life! Haven did NOT need to lose weight! She was cute at that stage of her growth.

Then I guess people misinterpreted your comment. I did see it as a comment on weight and am sure I am not the only one.

Frankly, making an observation about how athletes look when they're younger is no different than saying for example that certain guys had pudgier faces and less well defined muscles or more hair on their heads when they were younger, or clean-shaven baby faces. I understand if people are offended in terms of the issue of beating up young ladies about weight because that often happens in figure skating and we know the damage it has done to so many young ladies. Again, that was NOT my intention.

Pudgier faces and less well defined muscles might well be seen as offensive when applied to a figure skater.

I accept that commenting on weight was not your intention. But it doesn't quite across like that.
 

Carolla5501

Well-Known Member
Messages
7,132
That's your impression, and it's inaccurate. So be it.

And get over yourself please. No human is perfect, least of all me. :rolleyes:


And yet you keep defending a statement that apparently a lot of people don’t feel is accurate. I know I’m not perfect but I’m also not calling people fat.

And you would only apologize to her personally? you’re hiding behind a made-up name on a message board so like that’s ever going to have to happen LOL
 

aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
And yet you keep defending a statement that apparently a lot of people don’t feel is accurate. I know I’m not perfect but I’m also not calling people fat.

And you would only apologize to her personally? you’re hiding behind a made-up name on a message board so like that’s ever going to have to happen LOL

I don't have one thing to defend here. I'm responding to your dragging on posts, yes. Carry on, as you will instigating and policing. :yawn: Better yet, worry about what you're hiding behind, and maybe brush up on your reading comprehension, or not.
 

Spiralgraph

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,685
To change up the subject. What do you think Team USA figure skaters are doing now?


They're most likely doing what the rest of us are. Keeping home as much as possible, worrying about their older relatives and friends and only then concerning themselves about staying in shape. If they're thinking about the upcoming season, they're probably wondering how long this you know what will last.
 

skylark

Well-Known Member
Messages
339
To change up the subject. What do you think Team USA figure skaters are doing now?

Here's Ashley and her husband Dalton doing what they can to stay active and be positive. It's a "plank challenge" set to music. Adorable. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-VW9yZDIgZ/

Ashley teaching Dalton how to do lifts. Timothy commented: "Well, I'm out a job." https://www.instagram.com/p/B99-71pjokD/ this is from March 20.

Tim and Ashley, "before we were quarantined", showing a couple of new moves and fails. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Pwkr-jy9f/
 

Dobre

Well-Known Member
Messages
16,961
They're most likely doing what the rest of us are. Keeping home as much as possible, worrying about their older relatives and friends and only then concerning themselves about staying in shape. If they're thinking about the upcoming season, they're probably wondering how long this you know what will last.

And hopefully taking the time to listen to a wider variety of potential skating music than they might normally.
 

skatingguy

decently
Messages
18,392
OMG that is one porny pic further down in the article :swoon:
image_handler.aspx
 

skatingguy

decently
Messages
18,392
But seriously I fantasized about Alexa and Brandon going with Robin Szolkowy (is he in the US?)
I'm not sure where Robin is right now, but I don't think his coaching career is working out the way anyone expected at least so far.
 

PairSkater12345

Well-Known Member
Messages
345
Here's Ashley and her husband Dalton doing what they can to stay active and be positive. It's a "plank challenge" set to music. Adorable. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-VW9yZDIgZ/

Ashley teaching Dalton how to do lifts. Timothy commented: "Well, I'm out a job." https://www.instagram.com/p/B99-71pjokD/ this is from March 20.

Tim and Ashley, "before we were quarantined", showing a couple of new moves and fails. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Pwkr-jy9f/
I guess your an "ash" fan....lol
 

aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
So glad to see they are going with Meno and Sand with the addition of Chris as coaches.

It isn't surprising in the least that Brandon will be relocating to train with Alexa in California. It's to be expected. Whoever Alexa partnered with would have had to agree to a move to the new state-of-the-art rink in California, with Chris assisting on the coaching team.

And why not? Especially with Meno/Sand the main coaches. Christine Binder and Robin Szolkowy part of that rink's coaching team, and with bonus access to Raf for brushing up on jumping skills. And with the excellent up-and-coming team of Calalang/Johnson as training partners. What's not to like? What's not to jump on asap? Apparently Brandon did jump on it by reaching out to Alexa, after having privately decided with Haven that they would not be continuing as on-ice partners. The problems that surfaced at the Florida rink (also a recently built rink, btw) have sadly impacted a number of skaters, H&B included. This is a no-brainer.

It's also a bonus that Chris and Brandon are long time friends who grew up together in Colorado.
 

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