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- Sep 1, 2020
^^ Check the 2022 Worlds pairs thread. Entries are already listed, and Peng/Jin are not competing. No Chinese nor Russian teams.
Pairs FS Worldwide: The Divine Discipline
- Thread starter BlissfulSynergy
- Start date
I took the freedom to quote your post to this thread.
I must say I disagree with your statement. I believe ISU killed nothing because if a discipline depends on one country's contribution only then it is dead already as an international sport. But is it, really? This is certainly worth discussion.
Regarding GP events, there was and interesting thought posted in yet another thread:
Sounds logical. doesn't it?
Well, then we can say it was the last nail in the pairs coffin.
Watched the channel one cup, and worlds, and basically if you are one of those people who just watch the final warm-up...
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- Mar 3, 2014
People who wanted to watch, watched and liked the World Pairs Comp, people who didn't want to watch didn't need to. For example, I had no interest in the Exhibition skates in Russia, and did not watch them. For any discipline. But if folks wanted to watch, good for them.
The ISU and international skating will be fine.
And opinions about the political issues involved can be made here:
www.goldenskate.com
The ISU and international skating will be fine.
And opinions about the political issues involved can be made here:
Russian Skaters, Politics, and the Russia-Ukraine War
Russia does force the issue though. Yesterday, TASS announced that Duma tabled a legislation that Russia will define all Russian-speaking individuals as compatriots and additionally 'clarify' the list of all ethnicities that had resided on Russian territory historically...
I wouldn't say it was a nail in a coffin but there certainly are issues to be dealt with. And, if you take away Russian pairs, these issues become far more obvious.
To name one, since professionals no more exist as a category, pairs have a tendency to have long careers. Which means that several generations of juniors can't move to seniors and this creates a generation gap. For Russia, it is easier to deal with it because of the state-backed system that ensures the depth of the field, but elsewhere.... even China has problems, as it appears.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
But that longevity can cut both ways, can't it?.
Ryuichi has said that he intends to skate until 37, so Riku can go to another Olympics. I love the longevity of the pairs that do stick together. But it won't stand in the way of other pairs.
Also of course fierce "Older" competitors like Deanna Stellato and Zoe Jones.
But I am odd in that I have never watched skating, any discipline, only for top scorers. Personally, I find that limiting and boring. But I realize others don't, to each their own.
I'd say each longevity case is specific and different from pair to pair, from country to country. It can be beneficial and ensure extra senior spots internationally or it can be negative and get in the way and lead to other pairs' premature career end. We need wise federations to deal with that.
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Ashley Cain-Gribble posted a video update on Facebook and on her Instagram account. She's very broken up. My heart goes out to her. There are links to the video in Ashley/Timothy fanfest, and in U.S. pairs thread. It may be that Ashley & Timothy had intended this to be their final season. Ashley's concussion sadly might seal their decision. My heart goes out to Ashley. I'm glad she has a lot of support around her, to help her get through this emotional transition. I wish that both Alexa/Brandon and Ashley/Timothy would come back for at least one more year, but we won't know until they let us know.
As well, there has been discussion of the Lu/Mitrofanov split in various threads. Misha has already paired with a new partner from the same Boston rink. TSL has prematurely leaked that Danny O'Shea recently tried out with Olivia Serafini (who had split with Mervin Tran last year, due to his retirement -- he was experiencing back problems).
If neither K/F nor C-G/LD decide to return competitively, then Calalang/Johnson, Chan/Howe, and others will take-up the baton.
As well, there has been discussion of the Lu/Mitrofanov split in various threads. Misha has already paired with a new partner from the same Boston rink. TSL has prematurely leaked that Danny O'Shea recently tried out with Olivia Serafini (who had split with Mervin Tran last year, due to his retirement -- he was experiencing back problems).
If neither K/F nor C-G/LD decide to return competitively, then Calalang/Johnson, Chan/Howe, and others will take-up the baton.
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- Nov 12, 2013
Lots of interesting info here.
I wish that retirements were also posted in the retirement thread when they happened, as I for one had no idea that Tran was done with competing, and this is the first time I hear of it.
Fingers crossed for another season with Alexa/Brandon, and Jessica/Brian. Hoping for Ashley's recovery, no matter what she chooses to do.
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
^^ Yes @surimi. I don't remember exactly when Mervin & Olivia split, but I believe it was sometime after their last U.S. Nationals appearance in 2021. The split was kept low-key. There was no official announcement. I remember how Mervin had been suffering from a back injury around 2020 Nationals. So, despite whether someone still has the desire to compete as an athlete, sometimes the body says, 'No.'
I think the split was difficult for Olivia, and surely for Mervin too (they had been a couple off the ice). I believe Mervin returned to Canada and started coaching. I saw supportive comments on Liv's Instagram in August 2021, but again there was no official announcement:
In October 2021, Olivia posted an acknowledgement that her "previous partnership ended over the summer."
Olivia didn't mention Mervin by name, but she said that the end of the partnership was 'unexpected,' and that she felt physically 'stronger than ever.' She hoped to have other opportunities to return to skating, but in the interim, she began taking courses at NYU toward completing a bachelor's degree.
I think the split was difficult for Olivia, and surely for Mervin too (they had been a couple off the ice). I believe Mervin returned to Canada and started coaching. I saw supportive comments on Liv's Instagram in August 2021, but again there was no official announcement:
In October 2021, Olivia posted an acknowledgement that her "previous partnership ended over the summer."
Olivia didn't mention Mervin by name, but she said that the end of the partnership was 'unexpected,' and that she felt physically 'stronger than ever.' She hoped to have other opportunities to return to skating, but in the interim, she began taking courses at NYU toward completing a bachelor's degree.
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Maybe the Senior grand prix can do something along the lines of the Junior grand prix - they have a reduced number of pairs events (4) so that the number of competitors is decent and the highest ranked pairs still reach the final in December
Or maybe pairs grand prix will have to invite more than just top 24 SB scores, expand it to top 36 or something.
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- May 2, 2015
Sorry, but did I miss some crucial nifo? They want to cancel PAIRS?
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- Jan 31, 2019
It's just the conversation drifting around. There is not enough pairs for next season to have full-scale GP events.
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- Jul 17, 2018
It’s interesting how the only discipline that seems to be really impacted by the absence of the Russians is pairs, isn’t it? I was thinking this while watching this Worlds—a wonderful competition all around, fabulous performances, didn’t miss the Russians at all—except in Pairs!
I did wish that Peng & Jin had been there, of course. They would have given Knierim & Frazier a run for their money, I think. And I wish we could have seen Calalang & Johnson, I do hope they continue next year. Their complete absence from all the season-ending events—4CCs, Olympics, and Worlds—was unfortunate.
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- May 2, 2015
Ah, not even if junior Pairs would come up? Btw. does anyone know if Peng/Jin will continue?
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- Jan 31, 2019
My impressions were very different, and I missed my favorite skaters a huge deal, but I agree that pairs was the most impacted. On Junior level, it would be even more pronounced.
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- Jan 29, 2007
I was going to write the same. too. I borrow our local commentator (The Swedish talking one) Marianne Nyman: "Worlds was worth of World championships in all other disciplines, expect the pairs, where about the medalists only the winning pair was at championship level. The others made too many errors." It would have been better at least if the Chinese were there.
I'm surprised by comments like "I hope Calalang/Johnson stick around another year." They are only 27/26 years old and are just hitting their stride, and I haven't heard them say anything about retirement...? They'll only be 31/30 at the next Olympics. That's still younger than past Olympic champions. Moreover, next season the US pairs have 3 spots for Worlds and we don't even know if the current top 2 American pairs will compete, plus Lu/Mitrofanov just split, so the field is wide open! This would be a very exciting time to be an American pairs skater because of all the opportunities. I would be crushed if C/J retired! They have world-class lifts and a world-class overall look and just need to get those SBS consistent. Maybe they could enlist the help of Rafael Artunian like Alexa did for her jumps.
For next season I'm really excited to see how Chan/Howe have progressed in the off-season. I have high hopes for them too.
For next season I'm really excited to see how Chan/Howe have progressed in the off-season. I have high hopes for them too.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
I think it’s because of the way they’ve been shafted this year. Not even a 4CC bid. At their level one’s season doesn’t typically end with US Nationals.
But at this point I don’t expect pairs to go another season and that way am pleasantly surprised if they do. We lost Liu/Mitrofanov, it looks like Liu/O’Shea and Serafini/Tran and Finister/? That’s 4 pairs off the top of my head that we know are split. Not even including those who might.
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