2016-2017 State of U.S. Pairs | Golden Skate

2016-2017 State of U.S. Pairs

Crossover

Crossover

All Hail the Queen
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Joined
Oct 31, 2014
I would like to say this thread is legit to be created because the current U.S Pairs field looks to me getting interesting this season although they may not produce World medalists yet. The U.S. pairs currently looks more like going to have fierce domestic rivalries between the skaters internationally considered as mid-tiered skaters. Regardless, I got a good impression on Ashley Cain/Timothy Leduc and Erika Smith / AJ Reiss at the Nebelhorn Trophy. I wish the discipline gets more attention in the state. Let's talk about our beloved American pair skaters. :)

Alexa Scimeca / Chris Knierim
Tarah Kayne / Daniel O'Shea
Marissa Castelli / Mervin Tran
Haven Denney / Brandon Frazier
Erika Smith / AJ Reiss
Jessica Pfund / Joshua Santillan
Ashley Cain / Timothy Leduc
Deanna Stellato / Nathan Bartholomay
 
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I think both Smith/Reiss and Cain/LeDuc look really really good for having gotten together less than a year ago. It's going to be interesting to see how this season progresses for a lot of these teams.
 
clairecloutier said:
I recently did an interview with U.S. pair Denney/Frazier, who will skate next weekend at Ondrej Nepela. Here's the link:

Interview with Denney/Frazier: "There was never a doubt in my mind that I would be able to skate again"
https://adivinesport.com/2016/09/21/...denneyfrazier/

They talk in detail about their recovery from Haven's injury & their plans for this season.
Click to expand...

Interesting interview--thank you for sharing it!
 
clairecloutier said:
I recently did an interview with U.S. pair Denney/Frazier, who will skate next weekend at Ondrej Nepela. Here's the link:

Interview with Denney/Frazier: "There was never a doubt in my mind that I would be able to skate again"
https://adivinesport.com/2016/09/21/...denneyfrazier/

They talk in detail about their recovery from Haven's injury & their plans for this season.
Click to expand...
Great interview! I really love D/F (they're the team that first got me interested in pairs!) and I am thrilled that they've started their comeback successfully. It's looking like it could be a great season for US Pairs. Hopefully...we don't really need a repeat of last year's worlds :slink:
 
There's a lot to be happy about in U.S. Pairs right now. Whether or not they will be able to perform their best on the international stage ... well, I hope they will, but there's so much to enjoy anyway.

Right now I want to talk about Jessica Pfund and Joshua Santillan. I think Joshua has wonderful presence on the ice, and charisma. He also often directs us to look at his partner. I was trying to determine what I find compelling about him. It's his posture and his skating ... but I also think he embodies what he wants to present to the audience: the music of course and the partnership itself. In the midst of doing the elements, he seems to keep in mind the performance and the expression of the pair.

I feel a little nervous about Jessica's posture during the lifts. It sometimes, but not always, makes me feel a little uncertain. Any thoughts?

This is a link to the Lombardia LPs. Jessica/Josh skate at 2:30:47. It's a 7 1/2 hour video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RocWMCGVQvY&feature=youtu.be

I think they've really worked and improved since Skate Detroit in July. One thing that's baffling is that they skated so well, landing all jumps etc., after being paired up for only 5 months, at SA last year. Beginner's luck, maybe. Or fewer nerves then, and higher expectations now.

at Skate America 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTNeRUFpV8I
 
I think if Marissa/Mervin could become consistent and solid in their elements they would go far. I love watching them regardless of the mistakes because I love their energy and chemistry. They need to work on their elements if they want to go further though. I believe they can do and have the will to do it. I know Mervin's recent concussion set them back further than they wanted to be. I guess we'll see how they do at the Autumn Classic...
 
One thing I love about Marissa and Mervin is that Julie Marcotte is their choreographer. She's someone who really brings out each team's unique movements and style. I'm excited about their entrance to the death spiral at the end of their new SP. To me it's dazzling, as is the lift where Marissa is curved upside down over Mervin's head turning from the end of the rink. Just beautiful.:love:

I saw Marissa with Simon at SA 2013, and I noticed her energy from the first practice. Both with Simon and with Mervin, I wished ... that this energy was just a wee bit better fitted with her partner. Marissa/Mervin do have lovely chemistry, and I enjoy their programs most when they are skating as one. They're still blending and developing as a pair, so I look forward to seeing more of that this year.:)
 
Chemistry66 said:
Posted in the GP thread, but it's also relevant here: Scimeca-Knierim/Knierim are out of the GP due to limited training time after Alexa's illness issues this summer.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/09/28/203853306
Click to expand...

thanks for posting this here. I'll miss them in the GP, but I'm very happy that the doctors found the source of Alexa's pain and it's now been resolved. All best to her and Chris!
 
Pfund/Santillan are going to Cup of China ... if the USFS assignments page is correct. It has a notation that P/S were added on Sep 30.

But ... the ISU chart does not yet show P/S.

Fingers crossed that the USFS page will prove to be correct.

On Sep 29, Josh had tweeted that Jessica had a procedure performed on her foot that day -- but that they were not out for the international season and were hoping for another assignment.

(Cup of China starts on Nov 18.)

ETA (on Oct 17):
It's official: the ISU GP chart now does list Pfund/Santillan for Cup of China :yay:.
http://static.isu.org/media/1132/gp_pairs_16-10-17.pdf​
 
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^I sure hope we do. Not the most secure of combos to be put on instagram but Nathan has always been a reliable partner to me and Deanna is quality for days. It's crazy to think that one of the Baby Ballerinas might be skating in pairs this season (I see her as a Baby Ballerina). That would almost be like Sasha suddenly doing pairs with Rockne or something!!
 
samson said:
^I sure hope we do. Not the most secure of combos to be put on instagram but Nathan has always been a reliable partner to me and Deanna is quality for days. It's crazy to think that one of the Baby Ballerinas might be skating in pairs this season (I see her as a Baby Ballerina). That would almost be like Sasha suddenly doing pairs with Rockne or something!!
Click to expand...

That would have been AWESOME....
 
I hear Scimeca & Knierim will be skating in a Christmas Show. I hope they will be at US Nationals.
 
Liu/Johnson has won silver at Warsaw Cup today with 141.80 scpre. Not their best in Free skate for sure. Stellato and Bartholomay had much better weekend with their outing at Sectionals and 161.20 score, congrats!
 
Highly recommend Josh Santillan's recent blog entry.

I am very impressed :bow: and very touched :sad4: at the understated eloquence of his message of great appreciation to those who have made donations in support of Jessica and him.

The whole blog is well worth reading, but here is a taste:

... Skating is, and always will be, my utmost important focus.  However, I also take pride in my high GPA and make every attempt to ace my classes.  Still, leaving for Beijing (in twenty minutes actually, I’m writing this in the DFW airport) for Cup of China and being prepared is the most important thing for me.  Normally, my problem in this situation would be, how do I juggle my full-time job along with my full-time skating and my full-time school.  Something’s gotta give right?  Luckily for us, something could give. ...
So, faced with the choice of giving something up for the week, I remained loyal to my motivations of submitting schoolwork I could be proud of and training effectively for Cup of China by taking several shifts off of work this week. ...
In the past, this sort of move would be unthinkable for me; after all, if I’m going to go out of town for a week and a half, I’m going to need extra money to take care of that.  But, for the first time in my life I am not scraping by.  I have, in the past, gone to a competition and run out of money while I was there.  ...   This feeling of not being controlled by my work, feeling that I can dedicate myself to my skating completely in every fashion is new to me.  What makes it so great is that it is all possible thanks to the donations people have been so kind to give to us. ...

http://www.joshica.net/blog/uncategorized/secondblog/ (Nov 15)​

Sending hugs :ghug: and respect to Josh and all the skaters who are so committed to excellence in the sport (as well as in their schoolwork).

dorispulaski said:
I hear Scimeca & Knierim will be skating in a Christmas Show. I hope they will be at US Nationals.
Click to expand...

In addition to the upcoming show in NYC, Alexa and Chris just gave a performance for this season's opening of the public rink in downtown Colorado Springs.
In this brief local news video previewing the opening, they can be seen rehearsing (lift, death spiral, spin) on the outdoor ice.


Thanks to Doris for resurrecting this thread from the archives :).
 
^^^^

thanks for posting the clips. Sometimes I have worried seeing Alexa's tweets, which for her bubbly nature seem a tad reserved, and I am so glad to see her on the ice and looking strong.

Want to see Scimeca & Knierim *and* Stellato & Bartholomay at US Nats:hap10:
 
Crossover said:
I would like to say this thread is legit to be created because the current U.S Pairs field looks to me getting interesting this season although they may not produce World medalists yet. The U.S. pairs currently looks more like going to have fierce domestic rivalries between the skaters internationally considered as mid-tiered skaters. Regardless, I got a good impression on Ashley Cain/Timothy Leduc and Erika Smith / AJ Reiss at the Nebelhorn Trophy. I wish the discipline gets more attention in the state. Let's talk about our beloved American pair skaters. :)

Alexa Scimeca / Chris Knierim
Tarah Kayne / Daniel O'Shea
Marissa Castelli / Mervin Tran
Haven Denney / Brandon Frazier
Erika Smith / AJ Reiss
Jessica Pfund / Joshua Santillan
Ashley Cain / Timothy Leduc
Deanna Stellato / Nathan Bartholomay
Click to expand...

I've seen the top four on the list....and I just loved haven denney and brandon frazier's programs at skate america/canada. Haven reminds me of Anne hathaway, lol. Although I think brandon can improve his upper body posture. I think the first three struggle with jumps a lot. I havent seen the last four pairs.
 
topaz emerald said:
I've seen the top four on the list....and I just loved haven denney and brandon frazier's programs at skate america/canada. Haven reminds me of Anne hathaway, lol. Although I think brandon can improve his upper body posture. I think the first three struggle with jumps a lot. I havent seen the last four pairs.
Click to expand...

Haven and Brandon are pretty promising in my opinion. Since you're saying Haven's look, I've always thought Bradon resembles Clive Owen and Chris Knierim resembles David Gandy. :) Haven and Brandon's classic style is not like any other American pair teams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFOjR5Ja_kU Erika SMITH / AJ REISS (USA) SP at Nebelhorn Trophy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHKR8leSS-8 Erika SMITH / AJ REISS (USA) FS at Nebelhorn Trophy

Erika and AJ are an exciting team who competed at Nationals last year. They were fast and dynamic with great personalities. You can also find the other teams' clip on YouTube.

Ashley Cain / Timothy Leduc formed their partnership during the off season, but they have competed a couple of CS events. They are tall and strong jumpers with great basics.

Jessica Pfund / Joshua Santillan competed at Cup of China but I wasn't impressed by the team. They need to work on many things.

Deanna Stellato / Nathan Bartholomay are an interesting team as Deanna hadn't competed for almost 15 years.
 
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