U.S. Pairs 2020-21 season - News & Updates, Part XI

[Frau Muller]

Why couldn't have Aljona paired up with Danny instead!! I'm glad he has a partner now but still ... he was available.

Because Danny doesn’t fit the Dalilah-TJ rehab narrative.

 

[annie720]

Why couldn't have Aljona paired up with Danny instead!! I'm glad he has a partner now but still ... he was available.

Tarah and Danny left Delilah and her camp last fall. He may have had no intention of ever going back.

 

[BaileyCatts]

Oh wait .... I'm taking Delilah out of the whole equation though. There's other coaches that are not her. That's fully what I meant.

 

[HeatherC]

Color me surprised....

 

[Spiralgraph]

Color me pleasantly surprised that Danny has a new partner. He's a very good skater who hasn't reached his potential, IMO.
And although many here don't consider Tarah a strong skater I'm still hoping she finds a new partner if she wishes to continue.

 

[BaileyCatts]

I'm still sad Tarah and Danny broke up. They were a good team.

 

[rfisher]

Oh wait .... I'm taking Delilah out of the whole equation though. There's other coaches that are not her. That's fully what I meant.

She needed a partner who wasn't going to the Olympics this season since she's not eligible. Now, there likely will be a shake up after the Olympics--there always is--and she may be looking to a partner that she can go to Worlds and 4CC with and win. Now, O'Shea probably won't be going, but he has the chance that he could and isn't likely to give up that chance.

 

[Jayar]

She needed a partner who wasn't going to the Olympics this season since she's not eligible. Now, there likely will be a shake up after the Olympics--there always is--and she may be looking to a partner that she can go to Worlds and 4CC with and win. Now, O'Shea probably won't be going, but he has the chance that he could and isn't likely to give up that chance.

There is absolutely zero chance of Danny making the Olympic team with Chelsea. She can NOT jump.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

There is absolutely zero chance of Danny making the Olympic team with Chelsea. She can NOT jump.

Well this is my opinion. She’s usually crooked in the air and then usually falls. But someone who I’ve befriended on here is telling me she has improved. So we shall see

 

[Jayar]

Well this is my opinion. She’s usually crooked in the air and then usually falls. But someone who I’ve befriended on here is telling me she has improved. So we shall see

Are you considering body of work? That leaves four teams with a legitimate shot at the team-- Scimeca/Frazier, Calalang/Johnson, Gribble/LeDuc, and maybe Lu/Mitrofanov. Two of the four of these will be the team.

 

[Karen-W]

Are you considering body of work? That leaves four teams with a legitimate shot at the team-- Scimeca/Frazier, Calalang/Johnson, Gribble/LeDuc, and maybe Lu/Mitrofanov. Two of the four of these will be the team.

Do we honestly believe that BOW is going to come into play for the pairs spots? I can't see it being a factor if one of S/F, C/J or C-G/L are in the top two (or top three if Savchenko/Nyman are 1st or 2nd). The only way BOW is going to factor here is if the gold, silver and bronze medalists at Nats are some combination of Lu/Mitrofanov, Savchenko/Nyman, Serafini/Tran, Liu/O'Shea, McBeath/Bartholomay, or Chan/Howe. I don't see the USFS being sussed enough over the 2nd pairs spot on the Olympic team to bring BOW into the assignment discussion as long as one of the 3 leading teams makes the team based on their placement at Nationals alone.

 

[skylark]

I'm very happy that Danny is getting a chance to skate pairs again. I've always enjoyed watching him.
The jumps are the question. I think Chelsea and Danny may well be a beautiful pair together. There's no question that Tarah and Danny had a spark and charisma together, but I think Chelsea and Danny may match up in style. Chelsea has been working at the Jenni/Todd rink in Irvine for many months now. So she may have been able to work with Rafael on jumps. Who knows?

I will be fascinated to see Danny perform a triple twist with someone new. His with Tarah was always a weak spot (to put it mildly). Tarah said or wrote in their blog years ago that the problem was that she began rotating too soon out of the throw. They worked on it, but in competition she apparently reverted to old habit. Of course, with a new partner, either or both may learn a new technique altogether. With Chris Knierim on the coaching staff, the twist prospect seems hopeful.

Here's a clip from another US pair at Irvine, Katie McBeath and Nate Bartholomay, filmed by On Ice Perspectives. I am simply blown away by their speed, joy and love of skating. It's the first time I've liked The Blower's Daughter, too. I realize that's a minority opinion.

On Ice Perspectives ❄️🎥 on Instagram: "❄️ __⛸ @katie_mcbeath @natebartholomay __🎥 Jordan @oniceperspectives __🎵 The Blower’s Daughter @xtina @officialchrismann __🎓 Coaches @teamtoddandjenni __👣 Choreo by Cindy Stuart __📍 @greatparkice April 2021 ❄️ #

11K likes, 104 comments - oniceperspectives on May 24, 2021: "❄️ __⛸ @katie_mcbeath @natebartholomay __🎥 Jordan @oniceperspectives __🎵 The Blower’s Daughter @xtina @officialchrismann __🎓 Coaches @teamtoddandjenni __👣 Choreo by Cindy Stuart __📍 @greatparkice April 2021 ❄️ #katiemcbeath...

www.instagram.com

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Do we honestly believe that BOW is going to come into play for the pairs spots?

LOL, right?????

 

[Sylvia]

From post #1 of this thread (July 1, 2020):

Starting a new season thread since the team envelopes were published today.
...
Natasha Mishkutionok & Daniel Tioumentsev N1 (Team D)
Sonia Baram & Blake Edwards N3 (Team D)

Sonia Baram, 13(?), and Daniel Tioumentsev, 19, are a new Junior team based in Irvine, CA - here's his reel of clips showing the "progress of our Triple Twist" with Chris Knierim spotting/helping them: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQrsMCOFmfG/

Cain-Gribble/LeDuc are in Finland for a 2-week camp with Nina Mozer's group - Ashley's DFW airport photo/post 2 days ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQmT_WTjRgJ/

 

[Sylvia]

Chelsea Liu has shared a clip of a lift with Danny O'Shea via her Instagram (filmed by Jordan Cowan & uploaded to his TikTok account): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQsOq5aFQAS/

 

[Karen-W]

Chelsea Liu has shared a clip of a lift with Danny O'Shea via her Instagram (filmed by Jordan Cowan & uploaded to his TikTok account): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQsOq5aFQAS/

I love the exit from that lift! Much remains to be seen of this pair but they look good together and that lift was solid!

 

[Rukia]

Chelsea Liu has shared a clip of a lift with Danny O'Shea via her Instagram (filmed by Jordan Cowan & uploaded to his TikTok account): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQsOq5aFQAS/

It's one lift, but they're both smiling and look happy. I imagine after everything that has gone on in the last year (especially with Danny's coaching situation then split), it feels nice to be skating and in what seems to be a pretty good group. Best of luck to them.

 

[happycamper2554]

US Pairs GP Assignments

SKAM K/F, Liu/O'Shea, TBA
SKCA CG/L
COC None
NHK CG/L, L/M
IDF K/F
ROS L/M

Where are Calalang and Johnson?

 

[chachacha]

US Pairs GP Assignments

SKAM K/F, Liu/O'Shea, TBA
SKCA CG/L
COC None
NHK CG/L, L/M
IDF K/F
ROS L/M

Where are Calalang and Johnson?

I was just going to ask the same question. Calalang and Johnson should be given an assignment no?

 

[Jayar]

Have I missed an announcement or have Kayne and Nagy never materialized? When the split happened, I just naturally assumed that they would pair up.

 

[Sylvia]

Chelsea Liu has shared a clip of a lift with Danny O'Shea via her Instagram (filmed by Jordan Cowan & uploaded to his TikTok account): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQsOq5aFQAS/

Jordan has uploaded a longer clip to his OIP Instagram account and it's from Liu/O'Shea's short program ("Lover" by Taylor Swift, choreo. by Adam Rippon): https://www.instagram.com/p/CQtX7NYnYpd/

Short article confirming Liu/O'Shea's new partnership based on Chelsea's Instagram post last night:

Former U.S. pairs champ Danny O’Shea and Chelsea Liu announce partnership

O'Shea is the 2018 Four Continents champion with Tarah Kayne, while Liu previously competed with Brian Johnson.

olympics.nbcsports.com

 

[semillon27]

I was just going to ask the same question. Calalang and Johnson should be given an assignment no?

I haven't been following for a while but after their withdrawal from worlds and now this ... do we have any knowledge that they are still even together?

 

[Rukia]

Jordan has uploaded a longer clip to his OIP Instagram account and it's from Liu/O'Shea's short program ("Lover" by Taylor Swift, choreo. by Adam Rippon): https://www.instagram.com/p/CQtX7NYnYpd/

I'm sure this will be a less popular opinion, but I adore Taylor Swift and "Lover" and from that snippet it looks like a great choice for them. Very exciting stuff.

 

[CassAgain]

They look joyful and fantastic! Yay for a new pair!

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I haven't been following for a while but after their withdrawal from worlds and now this ... do we have any knowledge that they are still even together?

They’ve been in social media clips together at their rink.

 

[Jammers]

What the heck is going on with C/J? Certainly they have good enough scores for at least 1 if not 2 GP events yet they aren't listed at all?

 

[semillon27]

What the heck is going on with C/J? Certainly they have good enough scores for at least 1 if not 2 GP events yet they aren't listed at all?

Maybe they've just decided to stay as safe as possible and avoid international travel for the time being? Though I suppose that doesn't explain why they wouldn't be at Skate America at least.

 

[Jammers]

Maybe they've just decided to stay as safe as possible and avoid international travel for the time being? Though I suppose that doesn't explain why they wouldn't be at Skate America at least.

Avoiding all competition is idiotic now. It was one thing to turn down Worlds but now it's just becoming ridiculous. They either have to be injured or have broken up. To bad they had huge potential.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Avoiding all competition is idiotic now. It was one thing to turn down Worlds but now it's just becoming ridiculous. They either have to be injured or have broken up. To bad they had huge potential.

I don’t think it was their choice to turn down Worlds. Seems like they’re under some sort of international ban.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I don’t think it was their choice to turn down Worlds. Seems like they’re under some sort of international ban.

????