2020-21 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

[BlissfulSynergy]

People expected too much of K/F at this point in their partnership. A new team takes time to put it all together and not only that but this season hasn't been normal at all a new team needs to get out their and compete and they couldn't do that this season. A normal season would include 2 GP events maybe a Senior B then Nationals and 4CC. So instead of competing as many as five times they only skated twice at SA and Nationals. It would have been nice to have a chance at a 3rd spot but i think C/J will have the inside track for the 2nd spot because they have more upside then C/L who have maxed out. I really wish they hadn't backed out of Worlds because they would have finished higher then C/L and i bet they are kicking themselves for not going. Chances like these don't come along often and they now have made two World teams and not competed. Have they said why they didn't go to Worlds? To me it was a big mistake.

In general, what you are saying is reasonable. But I wouldn't claim that C-G/LD are 'maxed-out.' That's not true. They still have an opportunity to push forward, and they have something to offer. It's just disappointing that they faltered at Stockholm Worlds, when the opportunities for them are going to be scarce, since there is so much depth of talent among U.S. senior pairs at the moment.

It was maybe more important for Ash/Timothy to show some strong mettle and skate the best they could to show their reliability and strength. Ash/Timothy needed for there to be 3 spots, so they won't have to fight so hard with only 2 spots available, and especially with some younger U.S. teams improving and nipping at their skate blades.

Also, I don't think it's too much to simply expect skaters to skate to the level they are capable of. K/F just shaking off the nerves isn't too much to ask. That was the main thing that held them back from being in 4th or 5th place, seriously. It wasn't going to require something superhuman from them to grab this amazing opportunity. If you can't manage the nerves, and learn to make nerves work for you, then they tend to work against you. Hopefully, they will learn how to slough off the pressure of reasonable and over-effusive expectations. Both Alexa/Brandon are veteran competitors who know each other and who got off to a good start as a new team. They just simply needed to relax and to stay in touch with the joy they felt and expressed early on in the season. The key is not thinking about the pressure or the placements, but remembering why you skate in the first place, and that's about passion. Hopefully they learn this lesson, and hopefully they've learned more about each other, and about trusting in the moment and believing how good they are. Certainly, K/F should be proud how far they've come and chalk this up to experience, and feel fortunate that now they are high in the world standings, and they can build and compete better from here forward.

ETA:
It's dicey to make blanket statements about anyone who was not competing in Stockholm 'woulda shoulda coulda' being able to place higher than 9th. Even Ash/Timothy had a very good opportunity to score more points and to place higher. It's not a given that C/J would have definitely placed higher than 9th because they superb quality elements. The reason C/J probably backed out was in order to concentrate on reworking their jump technique and coming back stronger for next season.

 

[TontoK]

Here's footage of Audery and Misha working on a Throw 4L in harness. It's titled "new project" so I don't think it's a clowning around type of video, but one in which they are looking to up their game. I know it's a training video, but the throw looks so pretty, and they're obviously very happy to have landed it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNK8OO9A8kH/

This type of risk might be necessary for this team, given only two places for next year. They would need to leapfrog at least two American teams with better results, reputations, and ranking. I'm a fan of this mindset, and I like this team already.

 

[happycamper2554]

Here's footage of Audery and Misha working on a Throw 4L in harness. It's titled "new project" so I don't think it's a clowning around type of video, but one in which they are looking to up their game. I know it's a training video, but the throw looks so pretty, and they're obviously very happy to have landed it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNK8OO9A8kH/

This type of risk might be necessary for this team, given only two places for next year. They would need to leapfrog at least two American teams with better results, reputations, and ranking. I'm a fan of this mindset, and I like this team already.

Disagree. This is risky and they don't have much time. We saw that clean they already beat C/L at Skate America. If they land their jumps i think they will be in the mix. I think the judges will start to drop C/J if they aren't a little more consistant

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Here's footage of Audery and Misha working on a Throw 4L in harness. It's titled "new project" so I don't think it's a clowning around type of video, but one in which they are looking to up their game. I know it's a training video, but the throw looks so pretty, and they're obviously very happy to have landed it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNK8OO9A8kH/

This type of risk might be necessary for this team, given only two places for next year. They would need to leapfrog at least two American teams with better results, reputations, and ranking. I'm a fan of this mindset, and I like this team already.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I believe U.S. fed is eager to support Lu/Mitrofanov and their coaching team, all of whom are now located out of the new Skating Club of Boston venue. It's a shame that the way the sport is structured, it's hard for young teams in countries where there's depth to break through for an opportunity at Worlds and Olympics. I think L/M are developing nicely, i.e, becoming more consistent and learning more about themselves. They are still a young team with a lot to fine tune. They have always had a nice, engaging look together on the ice, and they are generally very good on their tech elements. As they continue to manage consistency and further up the tech ante, they will be very competitive on the world scene. One area of their skating where they truly need to grow is with projecting, being more expressive with the music and engaged with each other.

I remember at U.S. Nationals commentators discussed how Misha and Audrey have both said they have reserved personalities, so projecting more in their performances is something they both realize they need to work on.

ETA:
Working on a quad throw can be a good way to grab attention. But I hope they understand the mechanics and strategies of doing it safely. Meagan Duhamel has talked about her and Eric's quad throw process and strategic methodology for safety in training and in competition.

Another good point to think about is that with the veteran teams likely not going to be around longer than another year or two, L/M and other up-and-coming U.S. pairs teams really need to be honed and developed to continue being highly competitive internationally. L/M should be at the forefront of this effort, due to their talent and current positioning among up-and-coming U.S. pairs.

I would think K/F and C-G/LD will be around for another year to two years. Calalang/Johnson are younger and surely will be around for at least another four years. With fixing their sbs jumps, C/J are also an important team to carry the baton with L/M, that I hope K/F will be passing on. I really hope that K/F might stick around at least a year beyond 2022, since they only came together in 2020. They will surely be battling the younger Russians beyond 2022, but perhaps T/M and S/H will retire post 2022 Olympics. KMT/MM have already said they will be retiring after the Olympics. Coming up behind them for Canada will be Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar and possibly Zach Daleman/Justine Brasseur, if they develop more difficult elements.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM3VHHGjWzS/

I noticed this post by Alexa on Instagram. She admits to probably "wanting it too much." And she credits Brandon for coming through, but admits to failing herself. I actually feel like Alexa was supportive of Brandon who had visible nerves and jitters during the fp warm-up. I had thought that Brandon's warm-up nerves seemed to make Alexa more tentative during the sbs jumps.

As I said earlier, I wish pairs partners could be supportive of each other, but then simply concentrate on completing their own jumps, since they can't jump for their partner. Brandon was determined during the fp to get the revolutions in and not pop, and he succeeded. But Alexa succumbed to nerves and didn't land her sbs jumps. There's no question that jumps are this team's strong suit. So hopefully, with this experience under their belts, they've learned enough about each other under pressure to trust themselves and each other to get the job done, like they can. Also, Alexa should talk with Nathan about the process of calming oneself by getting grounded more in the joy and gratitude of being there, rather than thinking about dreams and goals, and the' monkey on the back' pressure.

 

[Yeslekyelnats]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I believe U.S. fed is eager to support Lu/Mitrofanov and their coaching team, all of whom are now located out of the new Skating Club of Boston venue. It's a shame that the way the sport is structured, it's hard for young teams in countries where there's depth to break through for an opportunity at Worlds and Olympics. I think L/M are developing nicely, i.e, becoming more consistent and learning more about themselves. They are still a young team with a lot to fine tune. They have always had a nice, engaging look together on the ice, and they are generally very good on their tech elements. As they continue to manage consistency and further up the tech ante, they will be very competitive on the world scene. One area of their skating where they truly need to grow is with projecting, being more expressive with the music and engaged with each other.

I remember at U.S. Nationals commentators discussed how Misha and Audrey have both said they have reserved personalities, so projecting more in their performances is something they both realize they need to work on.

ETA:
Working on a quad throw can be a good way to grab attention. But I hope they understand the mechanics and strategies of doing it safely. Meagan Duhamel has talked about her and Eric's quad throw process and strategic methodology for safety in training and in competition.

Another good point to think about is that with the veteran teams likely not going to be around longer than another year or two, L/M and other up-and-coming U.S. pairs teams really need to be honed and developed to continue being highly competitive internationally. L/M should be at the forefront of this effort, due to their talent and current positioning among up-and-coming U.S. pairs.

I would think K/F and C-G/LD will be around for another year to two years. Calalang/Johnson are younger and surely will be around for at least another four years. With fixing their sbs jumps, C/J are also an important team to carry the baton with L/M, that I hope K/F will be passing on. I really hope that K/F might stick around at least a year beyond 2022, since they only came together in 2020. They will surely be battling the younger Russians beyond 2022, but perhaps T/M and S/H will retire post 2022 Olympics. KMT/MM have already said they will be retiring after the Olympics. Coming up behind them for Canada will be Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar and possibly Zach Daleman/Justine Brasseur, if they develop more difficult elements.

Someone asked Alexa during a q and a if they were staying until 2026 and she responded with a photo of them doing a lift. I don’t think they’ve ruled out staying. There was also an interview where she joked about making Brandon skate with her after she has kids too.

 

[Olympic]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM3VHHGjWzS/

I noticed this post by Alexa on Instagram. She admits to probably "wanting it too much." And she credits Brandon for coming through, but admits to failing herself. I actually feel like Alexa was supportive of Brandon who had visible nerves and jitters during the fp warm-up. I had thought that Brandon's warm-up nerves seemed to make Alexa more tentative during the sbs jumps.

As I said earlier, I wish pairs partners could be supportive of each other, but then simply concentrate on completing their own jumps, since they can't jump for their partner. Brandon was determined during the fp to get the revolutions in and not pop, and he succeeded. But Alexa succumbed to nerves and didn't land her sbs jumps. There's no question that jumps are this team's strong suit. So hopefully, with this experience under their belts, they've learned enough about each other under pressure to trust themselves and each other to get the job done, like they can. Also, Alexa should talk with Nathan about the process of calming oneself by getting grounded more in the joy and gratitude of being there, rather than thinking about dreams and goals, and the' monkey on the back' pressure.

That's too bad. To me, she looked more tentative than aggressive - wanting it too much.

US pairs had an open door, but getting over that threshold always seems to be a monumental task

 

[ManyCairns]

Well, I finally got to see Ash and Tim's Worlds FS (someone finally got it on YT, with Russian commentary, I think), but wow, I just loved that performance. I just find them mesmerizing to watch. I like their speed and ice coverage, and their unison and choreo moves because I love the images they create, especially given the lack of a huge difference in their heights. And I specifically like all of those things in this free program.

I saw the discussion on the international pairs thread about the music cut, but even given the lack of some of the familiar weighty musical passages, I LOVED that program and that performance. If they could just get their SBS jumps more reliable across both programs --!!, as we've all said so many times. Sigh. But I still see a real class with this pair even if they don't have quite the same technical fireworks as the top international pairs. For whatever reason, their skating really grabs me and holds my attention from first note to last.

And now I think about it, maybe I actually really like that some of the more familiar strains of Rachy 2 were cut -- because when watching that program, I'm not sure I want to flash to some of the iconic uses of that music, such as the film Brief Encounter. I didn't think about Brief Encounter once when viewing that program for the first time -- and thank goodness. I realize not too many nowadays would have that particular association, but it IS well-used music -- which can have pros and cons to it. The cuts used in Ash and Tim's program allowed it to stand on its own more as a unique piece of art, perhaps, and not a hackneyed warhorse of skating? (But clearly, other viewers felt something was missing without the familiar crescendo.)

 

[noskates]

Has anybody ever found out why Brian and Jessica decided not to skate at Worlds?

 

[skylark]

Well, I finally got to see Ash and Tim's Worlds FS (someone finally got it on YT, with Russian commentary, I think), but wow, I just loved that performance. I just find them mesmerizing to watch. I like their speed and ice coverage, and their unison and choreo moves because I love the images they create, especially given the lack of a huge difference in their heights. And I specifically like all of those things in this free program.

I think you may have gained something by watching their FS a couple of weeks after the event. Sometimes that happens. At the event and afterwards, I (probably like most) felt deflated by their result; and by the mistakes on the jumps which actually were uncharacteristic. Usually if they falter on a jump, it's Ashley falling or UR. This time it was Tim popping the loop and Ashley popping the salchow, both to a double. Double whammy. So the popping resulted in more loss of points than falling or UR would have. In the days after the event, I felt discouraged for them. Just like with Alexa and Brandon, it had that dreary feeling of "more of the same" from US pairs.

But what I love is that you saw all the beauty, skill, heart and hypnotic quality in Ashley and Timothy's skate that day. You described everything I love and will forever love about this pair. Well, plus their beautiful matching long lines and their exquisite sensitivity to each other, which is how they get such lovely unison.

Even more, I remembered how much I enjoyed the middle group of the FS: the Austrians, Italians and Canadians, especially Evelyn and Trennt. And why? I took a moment during that warm-up to remind myself why I love pairs, and I decided to just enjoy whatever the skaters gave me. And that really worked. From now on, I'm resolved to remind myself to do that at every competition, because that's what I really care about. I even liked the Italians, Nicole and Matteo, better than I ever have before.

If I can be happy watching their skates and the Austrians, whatever mistakes they have, then I can be that much happier that we have US skaters that give so much beauty, heart and soul as Ashley and Timothy do. This was D-M/G's tenth year competing together, their ninth trip to Worlds, and they've only been in the top ten in their last 3 tries, counting this year and not counting 2020, when they may or may not have ended top 10. So yeah, your reaction: appreciate the unique beauty that Ashley and Timothy give -- that's the way to go!

I saw the discussion on the international pairs thread about the music cut, but even given the lack of some of the familiar weighty musical passages, I LOVED that program and that performance. If they could just get their SBS jumps more reliable across both programs --!!, as we've all said so many times. Sigh. But I still see a real class with this pair even if they don't have quite the same technical fireworks as the top international pairs. For whatever reason, their skating really grabs me and holds my attention from first note to last.

And now I think about it, maybe I actually really like that some of the more familiar strains of Rachy 2 were cut -- because when watching that program, I'm not sure I want to flash to some of the iconic uses of that music, such as the film Brief Encounter. I didn't think about Brief Encounter once when viewing that program for the first time -- and thank goodness. I realize not too many nowadays would have that particular association, but it IS well-used music -- which can have pros and cons to it. The cuts used in Ash and Tim's program allowed it to stand on its own more as a unique piece of art, perhaps, and not a hackneyed warhorse of skating? (But clearly, other viewers felt something was missing without the familiar crescendo.

I love that you're making your points regarding that discussion of C-G/L's Rach 2. To me, this is a great kind of discussion ... especially because you pointed out all the things that are good. And yes, there's real class with this pair. That's a great "bottom line"

 

[skylark]

In general, what you are saying is reasonable. But I wouldn't claim that C-G/LD are 'maxed-out.' That's not true. They still have an opportunity to push forward, and they have something to offer. It's just disappointing that they faltered at Stockholm Worlds, when the opportunities for them are going to be scarce, since there is so much depth of talent among U.S. senior pairs at the moment.

It was maybe more important for Ash/Timothy to show some strong mettle and skate the best they could to show their reliability and strength. Ash/Timothy needed for there to be 3 spots, so they won't have to fight so hard with only 2 spots available, and especially with some younger U.S. teams improving and nipping at their skate blades.

Also, I don't think it's too much to simply expect skaters to skate to the level they are capable of.

This is a very belated response, but I so agree with all of this. I'd rather focus on what Ashley and Tim still have to give. And you hit on exactly what felt so deflating about Ashley/Timothy's and Alexa/Brandon's skates. But I hope to see them continue. From Tim's quotes in the article linked here, it sounds more like he's anticipating competing for years past 30, which is his present age.

Speaking of age, someone mentioned that Jessica and Brian are a younger pair -- actually, Brian is Ashley's age, and Jessica is a year older. Also in terms of sheer number of years of pairs experience, Jessica's had 8 seasons of experience competing in senior pairs counting 2020-21, whereas Ashley's competed 5 seasons as a senior. So ... that's just a bit of a different angle to look at it from.

 

[skylark]

Also, I don't think it's too much to simply expect skaters to skate to the level they are capable of. K/F just shaking off the nerves isn't too much to ask.

In fact, it's a compliment and encouragement to simply expect skaters to skate to the level they're capable of. It shows our vote of confidence in them: both K/F and C-G/L.

Many American fans seem very willing to give Alexa and Brandon the benefit of the doubt in this respect, but to write off Ashley and Tim too soon, in my opinion. If you look at what Ashley and Tim offer in comparison to what they offer plus their level of worlds and other international experience like Moore-Towers/Marinaro, Della-Monica/Guarise, and Ziegler/Kiefer, to name just a few -- and even counting Knierim/Frazier, who've both had more experience at World Championships with their previous partners than do Ashley and Tim -- there's plenty of room for encouragement and opportunity to get the nerves under control, etc.

 

[skylark]

And further, look at Ashley and Tim's worlds performance and experience in comparison to Sui and Han's. Everyone's so accustomed to seeing S/H deservedly as plu-perfect and exquisite and having a huge advantage in reputation and expectation as soon as they step onto Worlds ice. This year was S/H's 8th time at the World Championships, and add to that the season that they W/D from Worlds after winning Olympic silver, so 9 seasons of senior level comps. If experience and honing their talent can make such a difference to them, Ashley and Tim have a lovely chance and journey ahead of them. Age is just a number.

 

[gordana]

Has anybody ever found out why Brian and Jessica decided not to skate at Worlds?

We won't know it for sure until someone reveals it in a biography 20-30 years later.
But in my opinion they and their coaches were simply persuaded by the US Figure Skating to skip the Worlds and prepare for the next season. It was too risky for the fed to bring to a WC where olympic spots are decided, two brand new teams without international experience each. And having one brand new plus one reputable among the international judges is more secure option for keeping spots. More over, US pairs could have grabbed three spots if they had been more lucky and less nervous.

 

[skylark]

But in my opinion they and their coaches were simply persuaded by the US Figure Skating to skip the Worlds and prepare for the next season. It was too risky for the fed to bring to a WC where olympic spots are decided, two brand new teams without international experience each. And having one brand new plus one reputable among the international judges is more secure option for keeping spots. More over, US pairs could have grabbed three spots if they had been more lucky and less nervous.

I hadn't thought of this possibility, but you could be right.

 

[happycamper2554]

Then why would they have named both teams to the world to begin with. Since it said personal reasons I think they were worried about getting sick. Maybe they are close to someone who is imunocomprimised or something. I think they chose to not go

 

[SnowWhite]

I really doubt that was the reason to be honest.

 

[TontoK]

Here's something interesting. A video clip of Audrey and Misha's LP opening for the Olympic season.

I like what I see. Looks like they're going for power and drama.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNtKdozHCg2/

 

[gold12345]

But in my opinion they and their coaches were simply persuaded by the US Figure Skating to skip the Worlds and prepare for the next season. It was too risky for the fed to bring to a WC where olympic spots are decided, two brand new teams without international experience each. And having one brand new plus one reputable among the international judges is more secure option for keeping spots. More over, US pairs could have grabbed three spots if they had been more lucky and less nervous.

Unless there are extreme circumstances (ie major injury), I doubt the federation can persuade skaters to skip Worlds after the team is already selected--- nor would there have been much reason to in this case, because it's not like Cain/LeDuc had results from last season or this season that were better than Calalang/Johnson (2019-2020 was rather rough for them, and that continued into this season). If they did have prior results to fall back on, they would have been named to the World team originally. The skaters themselves would have had to decide to withdraw. Regardless of which of those two teams ended up going, I don't think it would have done much to the results.

Then why would they have named both teams to the world to begin with. Since it said personal reasons I think they were worried about getting sick. Maybe they are close to someone who is imunocomprimised or something. I think they chose to not go

They said they didn't withdraw because of Covid. The skaters didn't seem all that concerned about getting sick at Worlds. It was a pretty safe bubble environment with limited contact (and international flights weren't crowded). As elite athletes, you're accustomed to putting the blinders on and doing your job and not worrying about illness or whatever else.

Skaters don't normally withdraw from Worlds for "personal reasons"; I can't recall ever seeing that before. For a pair that's basically unproven internationally and has now missed Worlds two years in a row, it didn't help them at all to withdraw, and I doubt they would have done so if things were going well. My guess is that it's a sensitive situation that could be seen as a sign of weakness, so they'd rather not disclose it. On the flip side, "personal reasons" creates speculation and comes across as a team avoiding or not feeling up to competing in a high pressure/challenging situation. So they may have been in kind of a lose-lose situation in terms of how it was perceived, whether they stated the reason or not.

----

I think Worlds pressure might possibly be greater for US pairs than any other discipline because they have to overcome such a negative perception of the discipline in the US. Because of Dorothy, Peggy, Nancy, Michelle, and all these people that came before them, the US ladies aren't engulfed in negativity and aren't always reminded of 20-40 year droughts like US pairs are. It's really not even fair to them when they get compared to the results of Babilonia/Gardner in the 1970s when the pairs discipline was practically a different sport.

Knierim/Frazier actually could have been in the top 4 at their first Worlds had they skated up to their ability (just like Boikova/Kozlovskii could have won had they skated up their ability, etc, etc), but I had to remind myself that they're a brand new pair that was thrown into the pressure of a pre-Olympic year Worlds after having hardly competed yet. I think it was especially good for Brandon (who looked noticeably nervous there), to get a strong Worlds result under his belt to help him move past his prior experiences there with his previous partner and really realize he belongs.

 

[coldblueeyes]

I mean, getting experience in a Worlds pre-Olympic season would be good for C/J. And I'm not sure they'd have done any better or worse than the other two pairs, so I'm not sure what to think about skipping Worlds this time.