Valentina Marchei/Ondrej Hotarek end partnership

[Seerek]

I kind of wished they stuck around just 1 more season to win Grand Prix medals and 1 more national title, but I think it's for the best if both partners' time horizons are different (especially at this stage in their careers).

I noticed that Ghilardi/Ambrosini don't have any Grand Prix assignments - are they that far down the list?

 

[Vash01]

I am disappointed. They were fun to watch.

 

[VGThuy]

They really had a dream competition in Pyeongchang. They skated better than I have ever seen them skate and really that's all they could really ask for. I think Ondrej is ready to move on and start the next chapter of his life and I wish him the best. I'm glad we may see more of Valentina competing.

 

[Amantide]

Good luck to Valentina. I am very interested to see who her new partner might be.

I'm glad to hear that she is continuing. I couldn't understand thought does she mean as a single or as a Pair with smb else?

 

[goldberry99]

Disappointed but not surprised. Anna Capellini retired and she and Ondrej deserve to relax and enjoy.

Wished he and Stefanie Berton could have gotten more medals they really had potential.

And with Valentina they could have done shows together for years the audience loves them.

But I’m grateful that they gave us the performances we remember, my fav was their last SP. And I’m grateful it’s 2018 and not 1958 and we can watch YouTube of them if we need to. And grateful that Ondrej’s swan song was going shirtless in their Barbie Girl exhibition.

 

[manhn]

Cappellini & Lanotte retired? Is there a thread about that?

 

[laviemn]

Cappellini & Lanotte retired? Is there a thread about that?

Unless I missed it, Davis/White haven't officially confirmed their retirement. I think we just have to make logical assumptions at this point.

ETA: Val & Ondrej couldn't have asked for better finale to their partnership, in their home country in front of that adoring audience. I can understand Ondrej wanting that to be the last memory and emotions of his career.

 

[hanca]

I'm glad to hear that she is continuing. I couldn't understand thought does she mean as a single or as a Pair with smb else?

I don’t think doing singles is an option for her any more. We all saw what happened with Kostner’s jumps when she did only exhibitions for two years and didn’t work on jumps as such. Marchei did some jumps for pairs but she didn’t do all of them and definitely could not work on them as much as she did as a single skater. So unless she goes to Mishin and start working from beginning on regaining her jumps like Kostner did, I don’t think she would be competitive.

 

[caseyedwards]

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

 

[ballettmaus]

What? No!

 

[Frau Muller]

They were THE most entertaining pair in recent years. They will be missed but they are veterans.
I’ll forever remember their “L’Americano” SP...a classic, right up there with Galindo’s YMCA!!!

 

[Tinami Amori]

my favorite programme last year...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5azwzNpIZQ

I expected more "La Dolce Vita" or "Italy in its artistic glory days" types of programmes from them. Oh well....

 

[analia]

Marchei/Zhang for Beijing gold.

 

[Lanie]

Noooo!!

 

[miffy]

Am I imaging it or was she once going to skate with Brian Joubert? A long time ago.

 

[hanca]

Am I imaging it or was she once going to skate with Brian Joubert? A long time ago.

That was Gerbolt who was supposed to skate with Joubert, wasn’t it?

 

[tony]

Am I imaging it or was she once going to skate with Brian Joubert? A long time ago.

That was Gerbolt who was supposed to skate with Joubert, wasn’t it?

I think Marchei dated Joubert 10+ years ago (for some reason I remember TV showing her in the audience before/after Joubert's TEB performances one year), but yeah it was Gerboldt who was supposedly going to skate with him.

ETA- There were so many highlights this season throughout all of the disciplines, but man, the landing of her throw jumps (especially that final Lutz in the LP at both the team event and individual Olympic LP), has to be right up there as one of the absolute top highlights.

 

[miffy]

That was Gerbolt who was supposed to skate with Joubert, wasn’t it?

It was some time before that I think! I think he said he wanted to skate maybe in 2010 in pairs and I don’t remember if he said it was with Valentina or if some of us here were just speculating

I hope she does find a new partner. I think she is lovely to watch. Such a character.

 

[Holy Headband]

That's sad for me as a fan because they were so well matched, unique and lively, but I understand it. Best of luck to them both.

 

[dinakt]

I will sorely miss them. So much character and charisma, and such a success story.
Good luck to them both; especially to Valentina in her search for a partner!

 

[text_skate]

Right now, I can't imagine Vale with someone else. I will miss them. They were perfectly matched. As much I like Stefania Berton, I liked Hotarek better with Marchei.

Actually, I couldn't see him going on, while Anna is "at home"

 

[Amantide]

I don’t think doing singles is an option for her any more. We all saw what happened with Kostner’s jumps when she did only exhibitions for two years and didn’t work on jumps as such. Marchei did some jumps for pairs but she didn’t do all of them and definitely could not work on them as much as she did as a single skater. So unless she goes to Mishin and start working from beginning on regaining her jumps like Kostner did, I don’t think she would be competitive.

Yeah, you're probably right. I asked Ambesi and he said most probably she will continue as a Pair, although he doesn't have any news as of now.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Viva Italia.. https://pp.userapi.com/c844216/v844216210/f0d6d/mD0FFF08lCk.jpg

 

[kwanfan1818]

Yeah, you're probably right. I asked Ambesi and he said most probably she will continue as a Pair, although he doesn't have any news as of now.

While Pairs makes a lot of sense, she and Hotarek did SBS 3T and 3S/2T/2T combo in their FSs in Pyeongchang, earning 2.3-2.4 +GOE, and SBS 3S in the SP for 1.3 +GOE. In Milan, they earned 1.4 +GOE for the SBS 3S in the SP, although they failed on both jump elements in the FS.

Aside from Kostner, I don't see any other Ladies skaters who have such terrific content plus the ability to earn excellent PCS at the same time. Not that I think Marchei should skate singles -- for one thing, she's a grown up, and having a partner to train with is probably a great positive at this point, since she's always come across as a social person -- but I just don't see who her internal competition would be. Am I missing an up-and-comer skating for ITA? Someone like Righini who could switch countries?

 

[Jayar]

She should get on the phone and call Jeremy Abbott. He used to skate pairs, they are friends, and they would be amazing together.

 

[blue_idealist]

While Pairs makes a lot of sense, she and Hotarek did SBS 3T and 3S/2T/2T combo in their FSs in Pyeongchang, earning 2.3-2.4 +GOE, and SBS 3S in the SP for 1.3 +GOE. In Milan, they earned 1.4 +GOE for the SBS 3S in the SP, although they failed on both jump elements in the FS.

Aside from Kostner, I don't see any other Ladies skaters who have such terrific content plus the ability to earn excellent PCS at the same time. Not that I think Marchei should skate singles -- for one thing, she's a grown up, and having a partner to train with is probably a great positive at this point, since she's always come across as a social person -- but I just don't see who her internal competition would be. Am I missing an up-and-comer skating for ITA? Someone like Righini who could switch countries?

I actually thought of a partnership between Marchei and Righini. He's five foot nine and a half and his quad isn't that consistent...

 

[nuge]

I think Marchei dated Joubert 10+ years ago (for some reason I remember TV showing her in the audience before/after Joubert's TEB performances one year), but yeah it was Gerboldt who was supposedly going to skate with him.
/QUOTE]

There was a video of Brian and Valentina. Skating in a show where they were all lovey dovey and Mama Joubert was watching

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

I love her to pieces but she will have trouble finding a partner at this point. I mean, you can always be Krasnopolski pair partner of the year.

 

[Bigbird]

They were cute but the camp was getting a bit old. I really preferred his previous partner but that's just me being purely subjective.

So if Anna is skating with her husband in shows could Luca skate with Ilinykh?

 

[Sylvia]

Valentina & Ondrej are featured in this backstage video "Sparkling dream - AFMAG #05" from their photo shoot for the September issue ("The magazine where the fashion accessory is the star attraction"): https://af-magazine.com/afmag-05/
Direct link to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3m4_JMfBoA

Has it been mentioned here that Valentina will be touring with Holiday on Ice for 6 months? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo3g5RlCh_V/?hl=en&taken-by=valemarchei14

She shared this rehearsal clip on her social media platforms over the weekend: https://twitter.com/valemarchei14/status/1056131828606738433