New Moves and Fun Facts about some of our Pairs, in the wake of US International Classic and Nebelhorn outings:
Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy Leduc. 1. They now have a Reverse Lasso Lift! which is gorgeous - in the FS. 2. They jumped their 3S-2T-2Lo on the accents of the music. Very cool. 3. I like pretty much everyone's Pairs Combination Spins, but Ashley and Tim's is now officially my favorite, it makes such good use of their height and stretch, and I like the crossed arms moment. 4. So far this year, I like their use of (the somewhat overused) "Experience" best. I think it's helped by being combined with the soundtrack of "Moonlight," which gives their program a more dynamic feel and adds drama. 4. A/T skate big and sweeping; they own the ice and the arena.
Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea. 1. I love the move at the end of their SP. I've noticed the same move at the end of their Pairs Spin for a while, where Danny swoops Tarah upside down. It looks very cool, and there's always sort of a surprising feel to it. Now they've put it, or something very like it, at the end of the SP, and it highlights something quirky and fun about their partnership. 2. They seem to have bequeathed their upside-down transition before a throw3Sal to Kirsten and Michael M.! Just kidding ... but MT/M have it in their SP, and this is the first time in several years K/O didn't have it in their FS. There's a different transition into throw3S that's very attractive too. 3. The 1st section of Les Mis music has a lot of great musical accents, which Tarah and Danny are catching beautifully.
Audrey Lu/Misha Mitrofanov. 1. Fun Fact: they're the first US pair to have a 3Sal-Euler-3Sal in their program. (I read they first landed it at 2018 Jr. Worlds.) Further Fun Fact: That combination has a base value of a whopping 9.10 points! 2. In the FS, they have a lovely transition (new, I think) out of their Pairs Combo Spin, where he lifts her twice in a falling-leaf position (not high) while skating in a circle. 3. In their FS, they were behind the music and ended their DS an entire revolution too early. Then they got a time violation deduction anyway! :sad21: So there's potential for a few more points when they have that ironed out. 4. I'm looking forward to Audrey matching Misha's facial expressiveness, and I think I see some progress this year.
Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson. 1. Their mistakes at IC were very uncharacteristic. She doesn't miss jumps that often. I'm sure this will improve over the season, but ... 2. Watching it again today, I feel their whole FS shows a new symmetry in their artistry together. Last year I noticed her artistry; this year his is showing signs of becoming more intertwined and interactive with hers. Lovely! 3. They make good use of musical accents in their FS. 4. I love Jessica's pink dress for the FS! 4. Great ending in their SP.
Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier. 1. I said above, but it's well worth repeating: Haven landed a double axel! (in combined with euler and 2S). I feel like it's been such a nemesis for her since her calamitous knee (or ankle?) injury that it's worth repeating and celebrating! 2. I'm so glad Charlie White works with them as choreographer, but ... 3. I miss the emotional build-up at the end of their previous Lion King program. The music does swell here, some, but I feel like it's not enough, not as much of a goosebumps moment. Also, I feel the series of lifting, etc. at the end doesn't highlight their actual pairs elements and beautiful smooth skating as much as I'd like. 4. Their Reverse Lasso Lift has no equal; it's just stunning, and it's made more heavenly by Haven's face, which looks like she's flying and loving it. So I'd like seeing it nearer the end too.
Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim. 1. The big news is that Chris didn't fall on the FS jumps; and I feel like that's an emotional hurdle that bodes well for the future. Alexa and Chris are so closely bound that it's probably an emotional hurdle for her as well ... she smiled at him so happily and lovingly afterward. 2. Alexa did one of those beautiful ride-outs from a throw jump in their FS. I think it's such a great feature partly because it's beautiful but also because it shows such confidence and sure-footedness. Very effective indeed. It's not a new feature, but it's great. 3. Lifts were exquisite, full stop. And a p.s. Someone noted years ago that Dalilah's work in acrobatics helps her teach such great technique for the 3twist. And double p.s. It looks like Jr. Pair Kate Finster/ Balasz Nagl have a great twist too!
Any thoughts, additions, reflections?
but it's interesting.
Alexa and Chris Knierim are in a close second place after the SP at Nebelhorn! I've already re-watched their skate a couple of times, and I like it better now. I think I can see what their intention is better after a couple of "takes." It's almost soft-shoe, it's gentle, it's dancey. I think I see Jenni's influence with it. I felt it lacked something Ashley and Tim's SP has: fire and intensity. Those qualities win me over every time. But Alexa and Chris are going for something different, and I can see it. Chris's 3T is horrendous, and it kind of puts a damper on the program for me. But Raf's technique changes take time; we'll have to see what evolves. And Alexa and Chris have one of the most gorgeous twists iin the world; also, their lift here is spectacular. The sheer beauty of their skating adds to the impact. 
