U.S. Pairs 2021-22 season - News & Updates, Part X

[olympic]

Mary Lou had to compete against a strong Romanian team, so it wasn't quite a free ticket to the podium

Yep. ROM was the #2 team in the World. Missing were team USSR, specifically Mostepanova, Yurchenko and newcomer Shushunova. Hana Ricna from CZE had the year of her life and Maxi Gnauck was in the twilight of her career w/ dated content (that she executed well) except on the UB. Other than that, the rest of team GDR, CZE, and the BUL team weren't all that much to write home about. If you could somehow politik aside, the US may have been able to get a team bronze in L.A., and MLR may have gotten bronze in the IAAF behind Mostepanova and Ricna (she beat Szabo). Yurchenko had issues and Gnauck / Shushunova tied for bronze at the Alternative Games in Olomouc. MLR could have beaten Gnauck.

Sorry, can't help myself ....

 

[Sylvia]

For those who live in the Denver area who might be interested, Jessica Calalang posted this yesterday: https://www.instagram.com/p/CcYwk4QPHm4/

In 1 week, Brian and I will be starting our last set of shows for Showtime On Ice’s 50th Anniversary! This will be a special show for us as we close our on ice partnership. We hope to see you there

Ticket info is linked from here:

Showtime on Ice - Annual Ice Shows - Showtime on Ice

Experience the thrill of ice skating with Showtime on Ice, a popular local tradition since 1973. Join in on to support our 50th show celebration.

showtimeonice.com

There are 4 shows spanning Friday to Sunday, April 22–24, 2022 at the South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch, CO.

 

[mtnskater]

^^Thanks Sylvia!! I will plan to attend for sure.

 

[LeftwingPianist]

^There have been other pairs with large age gaps that have worked, aren't there?

My point is, age gap partnerships are more often than not at a disadvantage due to lopsided maturity and experience levels. The most successful pairs today tend to be closer in age. The only similar gap in an American pair I can recall was Denney/Coughlin...and we know how things turned out with Coughlin.

Currently the only top team with a 9-yr age gap is Riku/Kihara, who teamed up around the same ages as Misha and Hazel. IMO, R/K are more of the exception to the rule and individually are MUCH stronger than Misha & Hazel. Otherwise, most current/recent past top teams are very similar in age:


Americans:
Cain/Leduc: 5 yrs (paired up at ages 21 & 26)
Scimeca/Knierem: 2.5 yrs (paired up at ages 21 & 23)
Chan/Howe: 1 yr (paired up at ages 22 & 23)

International:
T/M: 2 yrs (paired up at ages 17 & 19)
Sui/Han: 3 yrs (paired up at ages 12 & 15)
M/G: 2 yrs (paired up at 15 & 17)
Peng/Jin: 3 yrs (paired up at 19 & 22)
Savchenko/Szolkowy: 4.5 yrs (19 & 23)
Duhamel/Radford: 11 months (24 & 25)

 

[Sylvia]

I was at the [Evening with Champions] show last night, so I got a chance to see Hazel and Misha. It looks like they have a good height/size differential and decent speed together. Beyond that, I can only say that they look like a new pair. Obviously, they don't have the matching lines yet that more experienced pairs will have, nor any big elements. I think we'll have to wait and see how they look in the fall (if they continue together and compete in the fall).

Hazel and Misha officially announced as a new team by their coaches on IG. They’ve only been together two weeks.

𝐎𝐥𝐠𝐚 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐯𝐚 & 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐤𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐯 on Instagram: "New pair team we are now 2 weeks together!!! • @misha_mitrofanov97 @hazelcolllier • “The start of something new Brings the hope of something great Anything is possible “ • • Follow Olgalexcoaching for

638 likes, 9 comments - olgalexcoaching on April 14, 2022: "New pair team we are now 2 weeks together!!! • @misha_mitrofanov97 @hazelcolllier • “The start of something new Brings the hope of something great Anything is possible “ • • Follow Olgalexcoaching for more! • • #johnwilson...

www.instagram.com

Jordan Cowan has uploaded Collier/Mitrofanov's debut performance on his On Ice Perspectives YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-zU5Q_tT-c

(Links to more EWC videos are/will be posted in the "Spring/Summer 2022 Club Shows & Benefits" thread.)

ETA link to Audrey Lu's EWC solo to "No Time To Die" by Billie Eilish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UTX9--SZhs

 

[haribobo]

Collier/Mitrofanov appear to have a great amount of potential from that video. Excited to see how things progress!

 

[olympic]

Collier/Mitrofanov appear to have a great amount of potential from that video. Excited to see how things progress!

Unfortunately, if I had a nickel for every time I said / thought that over the past 15 years after reading about the formation of a new US pair team ....

 

[haribobo]

Sure, but negativity isn't useful for anyone. And sometimes they do succeed...

 

[Firedancer]

New interview with K/F:
https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...-brandon-frazier-celebrate-golden-season.aspx

 

[~tapdancer~]

Thanks for the vid of Collier/Mitrofanov. Lots of work to do but they look very good together physically as a team. Here's hoping!

 

[olympic]

Sure, but negativity isn't useful for anyone. And sometimes they do succeed...

I think of it as realism, wrapped in a little humor. That is my style.

 

[skipaway]

I’m on very little social media platforms and was wondering if there was an update on Ashley Cain-Gribble?

 

[Wyliefan]

I’m on very little social media platforms and was wondering if there was an update on Ashley Cain-Gribble?

She's been posting on Instagram, mostly beach pics and pics of her with her young students at a competition. I don't think she's said anything about how her recovery's going, but at least we know she's up and about.

 

[livetoskate]

What a relief that Ashley is doing well & so proud of how her students did at Skate Austin.

 

[shan]

IG post about this past season from Smirnova/Siianytsia.

Instagram

www.instagram.com

What an incredibly challenging season for them. I'm so glad they got to see some of their family after Jr Worlds! I hope Danil's health continues to improve as they look to next season.

 

[Karen-W]

IG post about this past season from Smirnova/Siianytsia.

Instagram

www.instagram.com

What an incredibly challenging season for them. I'm so glad they got to see some of their family after Jr Worlds! I hope Danil's health continues to improve as they look to next season.

What a beautiful post from them! I hope they're able to come back strong next season.

 

[shan]

What a beautiful post from them! I hope they're able to come back strong next season.

It's crazy that they only were able to train a week before Jr Worlds.

 

[ChillSkate]

New interview with K/F:
https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...-brandon-frazier-celebrate-golden-season.aspx

Great article - thanks for sharing! Wow - it didn't even occur to me that K/F might not come back next year.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Sure, but negativity isn't useful for anyone. And sometimes they do succeed.
.

What definition are you using for the, and, could you please use it in a sentence.

Not being snarky. Honest question.

A negative comment could be as useful as a positive comment.
1. I thought this new program is subpar. (negative)
2. I thought that was the best program I have seen so far this season (positive)

A negative comment can be useful...........maybe I need to adjust, change, whatever. It does NOT mean that the person making is ascribing that comment is the sum total of a person's outlook.

Negativity is a noun that is not meant to be all-encompassing. No matter what your wife cooks for dinner you complain. And you, your wife, and your kids just wait for you to serve up some negativity.

Only positive comments can be made (as a rule or expectation.....you wouldn't want to say something that hurts the person's feelings. Giving only compliments can imbue an unrealistic expectation (everyone told me) I was fabulous, and here at the OLYS

i.e. All those people said I should expect to be on the podium at the OLYS>

 

[happycamper2554]

Seems like USFS was pushing for James/O'Shea. That would have been interesting.

James & Radford: Unfinished Business

By Hiro Yoshida Less than a year after officially announcing they had teamed up, Vanessa James and Eric Radford landed on the World podium in Montpellier, France last month. The Canadians reflect o…

europeonice.com

 

[Garden Kitty]

Former pair skater, and Colorado Springs newscaster, Brynn Carman posted a pic of her engagement.

She also posted a pic of their new puppy.

 

[skatfan]

Seems like USFS was pushing for James/O'Shea. That would have been interesting.

James & Radford: Unfinished Business

By Hiro Yoshida Less than a year after officially announcing they had teamed up, Vanessa James and Eric Radford landed on the World podium in Montpellier, France last month. The Canadians reflect o…

europeonice.com

That would have had possibilities. Radford's revisionist timeline about when he told Meagan about the partnership is . Like tell her when you are thinking just about doing shows with Vanessa because you are under contract with Meagan already..

 

[skylark]

Seems like USFS was pushing for James/O'Shea. That would have been interesting.

James & Radford: Unfinished Business

By Hiro Yoshida Less than a year after officially announcing they had teamed up, Vanessa James and Eric Radford landed on the World podium in Montpellier, France last month. The Canadians reflect o…

europeonice.com

I don't read it as USFS "pushing" for James/O'Shea. Just that Vanessa got a call from them to do a tryout with Danny. It doesn't surprise me that they actively tried to help Danny find a new partner. He's one of US' top pairs men.

It's more interesting to me that it wasn't until after the O'Shea tryout, which didn't work out for whomever or whatever reason, that the idea emerged that Vanessa and Eric might think about returning to competition together.

 

[clairecloutier]

Kate Finster announces her retirement from competitive skating:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdEZNR3vlAG/

 

[pairskatingfan]

Pairs field is seriously depleted.

 

[clairecloutier]

Jessica Calalang says that she'll be attending UC Irvine as a junior this fall, studying psychology. She doesn't mention if she will continue skating.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdG5dhOPKjK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

[love skating]

I see Brandon Frazier commented "UCI buddies" so maybe he's going there too?!

 

[mtnskater]

How about Calalang and Howe??? A person can dream.

 

[Lanie]

UCI is a great school - I almost went there! Instead I went to a university nearby With Great Parks right there lots of skating opportunities I didn't have living in Irvine - I had to go to Anaheim or Aliso Viejo.

 

[Karen-W]

How about Calalang and Howe??? A person can dream.

Chan and Howe seem to be pretty solid, so doubtful. Honestly, while Jessica Calalang has a lot of fantastic qualities, she's never been solid on her triples and I don't see that changing, so it wouldn't necessarily surprise me if she does move on from competitive skating. But, we'll see. There are certainly some guys out there who might be interested in a tryout.