- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Hey, for sure, let me rephrase that IMHO, probably the main reason for the Lockley/Prochnow split is because they outgrew each other physically. That often happens with young teams who may have had a measure of success in junior pairs, and then when they come up to seniors, they simply aren't able to make further progress in their development together. Another recent example of this phenomenon is Finster/Nagy, no doubt. I called it last season after they competed in seniors virtually. F/N didn't look good at all (maybe issues with their coach and the rink switch to Monument were also factors). But when I saw F/N's performances, I called it, that Kate needs a taller partner. They unsurprisingly split soon after that competition. Subsequently, the Finster family (Chase, Kate & their Mom) relocated to the Irvine, CA rink under TeamTodd&Jenni, where Chase is now partnered with Cate Fleming (J. Isbell's former partner).
In regard to the Lockley/Prochnow split, certainly other factors are likely involved, perhaps surrounding the pandemic, personal motivation and changing desires. We are talking about young people who have real lives off the ice, just like we all do. And, of course, life and sport are unpredictable as we have all surely witnessed and/or experienced.
Most definitely, L/P were not making progress post their junior career, partly due to serious problems with injuries which disrupted their training and fitness. They came back and tried hard at U.S. Nationals in recent years. Pairs is my favorite event at U.S. Nationals, and I often re-watch both junior and senior pairs events several times.
Like I said, it could be that Keenan Prochnow has other interests, and/ or a loss of motivation. And perhaps Laiken & Keenan both needed to regroup after having partnership setbacks and obstacles to overcome, related to injury and to whatever else we know nothing about.I believe one of the biggest and most important steps, if athletes want to chart steady improvement and they aren't making development progress in their first seasons as seniors, is re-assessing partnership goals and logistics. The pandemic also being a factor last year surely gave L/P some time to reassess. As I recall from reports of the split, Prochnow decided to take some time off, and maybe consider returning down the road. For me, it was fairly apparent from the fall-off in their performances that Lockley needed a somewhat taller partner with a more muscular physical frame, which I believe she has found in Jedidiah Isbell. JMO.
I can't find the 2019 senior pairs event on fan zone or YouTube, or anywhere. Did you download your own personal copy, or is there a link or information you can provide? 
It used to be so easy to find individual performances from past U.S. Nationals on YouTube. I'm bummed about the problems with archive availability after paying for these events!!! Had NBCGold not went under, that invaluable archive of events would still be there. They should have transferred it to either NBC Peacock or to U.S. figure skating fan zone.
One of the highest, effortless-looking, and best triple twists in the world, par none! Likely, the Instagram post is in response to all of the ! and unfounded speculation that has ensued since the GP assignments were revealed.
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