2022-23 US Pairs Figure Skating

[moonvine]

This section is kind of hidden off. I have to remember to come here and check out updated news. Yet it doesn't appear that all happenings are noticed and discussed. I see on Gabby Izzo's Instagram that she's switching to pairs. But she hasn't announced that she has a partner yet. She mentioned being thankful to work with Chris Knierim in acquiring pairs skills. She's close with Spencer Howe too, so he can probably give her some tips.

Awhile back on Twitter, someone posted a clip of Gabby and Balazs Nagy executing sbs jumps together. It just looked like they were having fun though. Gaby probably needs a taller partner. I think Misha Mitrofanov is still looking for a partner. Misha and Gabby train at SCB, so maybe?? Who knows?

I would love to see Balazs competing again but doesn’t he have to wait out a time because he competed for another country?

 

[Jumping_Bean]

I would love to see Balazs competing again but doesn’t he have to wait out a time because he competed for another country?

Balazs' last international competition for Hungary was in January of 2022, so the one-year mandatory sit-out is already over. It's unlikely Hungary could (or would) hold him for two years.

However, it would be smarter for Balazs to find a female partner who would be willing to switch to Hungary, there are two spots available at Euros and Worlds and only Pavlova/Sviatchenko competed this season. Ioulia Chtchetinina doesn't seem to have found a new partner yet either, but I'm also not sure if she's even still searching, so there's unlikely to be a second pair competing next season as well (unless Hungary imports another Russian pair...).

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I would love to see Balazs competing again but doesn’t he have to wait out a time because he competed for another country?

Yeah, I suppose so. I don't know if there's a minimum time to wait. I think the max is two years out from the last international comp in which you repped the country you are leaving.

ETA:
I didn't see @Jumping_Bean's comments before I posted.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Isabelle Martins/Ryan Bedard have partnered up again. They previously split after Jr Nats in 2022 after winning two consecutive silver medals at Nationals. As Ryan is too old for Juniors, they'll be competing in Seniors moving forwards.



What piques my interest is their coaching staff. Apart from Todd and Jenni Sand, and Christine Binder, they also list both Nathan Bartholomay and Brandon Frazier as part of their coaching team, which might indicate that they both plan to finish their career as competitive skaters this season (and by extension likely at least Alexa as well, and probably also Katie).

(Side note, Isabelle and Ryan's new SP is choreographed by Rohene Ward. )

 

[Weathergal]

Isabelle Martins/Ryan Bedard have partnered up again. They previously split after Jr Nats in 2022 after winning two consecutive silver medals at Nationals. As Ryan is too old for Juniors, they'll be competing in Seniors moving forwards.



What piques my interest is their coaching staff. Apart from Todd and Jenni Sand, and Christine Binder, they also list both Nathan Bartholomay and Brandon Frazier as part of their coaching team, which might indicate that they both plan to finish their career as competitive skaters this season (and by extension likely at least Alexa as well, and probably also Katie).

(Side note, Isabelle and Ryan's new SP is choreographed by Rohene Ward. )

I can understand thinking that about Nathan and Brandon, and I wondered that as well - but of course some active skaters coach on the side to make ends meet, although perhaps not at that level? Interesting for sure. Martins/Ryan look pretty good. I hope it works out for them this time.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

I can understand thinking that about Nathan and Brandon, and I wondered that as well - but of course some active skaters coach on the side to make ends meet, although perhaps not at that level? Interesting for sure. Martins/Ryan look pretty good. I hope it works out for them this time.

It would be highly unusual to train your direct competitors (as all three pairs would be competing in seniors). I'm not going to say it hasn't ever happened, I have absolutely no idea, but it's very rare and I'd be very surprised.

Alexa stated that this WTT would be her last in her most recent IG post, so she's definitely planning to retire before 2025, and I guess now would be a good time to go out.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

(Side note, Isabelle and Ryan's new SP is choreographed by Rohene Ward. )

First, it's great to hear that Isabelle & Ryan are back together. Neither were apparently able to find other partners who were better or who could match how they felt skating together. They grew up as fs partners, and I always felt they were a good match, even when Isabelle was very tiny. I was surprised when they split, but it seemed that Ryan wanted to move on to be coached at the Irvine rink, and perhaps Isabelle preferred staying in Chicago. Since it's indicated that she's finished school now, maybe that played into her not moving to CA earlier with Ryan. Who knows. Isabelle mentions 'learning from mistakes,' but it's unclear what she's referencing.

Secondly, Rohene Ward has previously choreographed programs for Isabelle/ Ryan when they were coached by Rockne Brubaker & Stefania Berton, in Chicago. They were excellent programs too. So, it will be fun to see what Rohene has done for them in their senior sp debut.

"Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard - Figure Skating - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone" https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...r/-nbsp--isabelle-martins-and-ryan-bedard/506

Isabelle MARTINS / Ryan BEDARD USA | PAIRS SHORT PROGRAM | Linz 2021 #JGPFigure

To license ISU footage: https://bit.ly/3M7bcaF Pairs Short Program Start Order: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/jgpaut2021/FSKXPAIRS---JUNIOR--...

youtu.be

Isabelle MARTINS / Ryan BEDARD USA | PAIRS FREE SKATING | Gdansk 2021 #JGPFigure

To license ISU footage: https://bit.ly/3M7bcaF Pair Free Skate Start List Here:http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/jgppol2021/FSKXPAIRS---JUNIOR----...

youtu.be

 

[el henry]

The post where Alexa says that the upcoming WTT is her last WTT. No hints about next year, but presuming that she wants to live with Chris in Chicago, if she and Brandon compete, it will not be training in California)

(she also implies here that Chris will be at WTT. Presumably as her coach?)

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

What piques my interest is their coaching staff. Apart from Todd and Jenni Sand, and Christine Binder, they also list both Nathan Bartholomay and Brandon Frazier as part of their coaching team, which might indicate that they both plan to finish their career as competitive skaters this season

It could be that Nate is calling it a career. Seemingly, Alexa & Brandon will not come back for a 4th season together. One of the things I've noticed is that sometimes skaters never announce they are officially retiring. They just don't show up at competitions again. For e.g., as I recall, Michelle Kwan never officially announced she was retiring from skating. LOL!

Perhaps at some point this off-season, Alexa & Brandon will make their announcement. Nate B might do so too. In the case of Hubbell/ Donahue, and Keegan Messing, they announced at the head of their final seasons that it was sayonara time.

Ya know, possibly Nate & Brandon always planned to help with coaching at the Irvine rink. However, it seems to me that they may also be stepping up to fill the great Sandman's huge absence. Chris Knierim has moved on as well, and he was quite helpful as part of the coaching staff.

It was nice to see Jenni in the recent photo as part of the team behind Ryan & Isabelle. But, as we know, Todd is still recovering. It's possible that he may not come back in the same full-time coaching capacity, even after he heals. Thankfully, there's so much love and support for Todd, Jenni, and their two sons!

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

It would be highly unusual to train your direct competitors (as all three pairs would be competing in seniors

Yeah, but even in recent years, there have been top veteran teams who help the younger up-and-coming teams at the Irvine rink. If not as official coaches, I'm sure they all root for each other, and the veterans give tips to the younger pairs. This new young team at Irvine would not be direct rivals to any of the top veteran teams in any case. Yet, even as direct rivals at Irvine, Knierim/ Frazier and Calalang/ Johnson, were close friends who supported each other.

Historically, U.S. pairs skaters have been very friendly and supportive with each other as a group, even when they didn't train at the same rink.

 

[Weathergal]

It would be highly unusual to train your direct competitors (as all three pairs would be competing in seniors). I'm not going to say it hasn't ever happened, I have absolutely no idea, but it's very rare and I'd be very surprised.

Alexa stated that this WTT would be her last in her most recent IG post, so she's definitely planning to retire before 2025, and I guess now would be a good time to go out.

I agree about the competitor part making it less likely, and after I read Alexa's post about this being her last WTT in another thread, it sounds even more like retirement. Whatever Alexa and Brandon - and Nathan and Katie - decide, I wish them the best, of course!

 

[Weathergal]

The post where Alexa says that the upcoming WTT is her last WTT. No hints about next year, but presuming that she wants to live with Chris in Chicago, if she and Brandon compete, it will not be training in California)

(she also implies here that Chris will be at WTT. Presumably as her coach?)

I noticed she mentioned Chris being there, and if it really is her last competition, I could see him wanting to be there just for support/sentimental reasons, but it makes sense he'd be there as their coach, knowing that Jenni is obviously focused on Todd and their family right now for obvious reasons.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Yeah, WTT is just a fun event, even though it's a competition. There's no real necessity for everyone's coach to be there.

 

[moonvine]

Isabelle Martins/Ryan Bedard have partnered up again. They previously split after Jr Nats in 2022 after winning two consecutive silver medals at Nationals. As Ryan is too old for Juniors, they'll be competing in Seniors moving forwards.



What piques my interest is their coaching staff. Apart from Todd and Jenni Sand, and Christine Binder, they also list both Nathan Bartholomay and Brandon Frazier as part of their coaching team, which might indicate that they both plan to finish their career as competitive skaters this season (and by extension likely at least Alexa as well, and probably also Katie).

(Side note, Isabelle and Ryan's new SP is choreographed by Rohene Ward. )

I don’t know. Danny O’Shea does some coaching.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

I don’t know. Danny O’Shea does some coaching.

True, but he also mostly coached skaters who were new to pairs, particularly female skaters who weren't partnered up yet (like Ellie), and Jr pairs, which isn't that unusual.
Since partnering up with her, his coaching activities have also gone back significantly, though I'm sure he still has a mentor/coach-like presence during training.

By the way, there's another Jr US pair who seems to have split up, the Jr Nationals Bronze medalists of this season, Lilianna Murray/Jordan Gillette. She's on Ice Partner Search (http://icepartnersearch.com/showbio.php?i=5620) and recently updated her profile. She lists being interested in finding a partner for either pairs or ice dance, which is unusual, but very cool.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

^^ Once again, it doesn't matter whether or not Nate and Brandon are retiring or not. It's fairly likely that they aren't coming back to compete next season. But competing or not, doesn't have direct bearing on them assisting in coaching younger teams. I bet they've been helping out all along as veteran pairs guys. And now, in Todd's absence, as he recuperates, these guys are obviously stepping up even more to help out.

When Nate and Brandon were competing, they even supported each other. And if they came back, helping Isabelle/ Ryan as a young team who are still learning, is not a conflict. As I said earlier, K/F and C/J were direct rivals at Irvine, but they supported each other, and they were/ are good friends off-the-ice.

, but [Danny O'Shea] also mostly coached skaters who were new to pairs, particularly female skaters who weren't partnered up yet

When Danny was at the Irvine rink, he was helping out there too with younger pairs teams, officially and unofficially. He moved back to Colorado for family reasons. And all along, at the Colorado rink, while he was officially helping out with coaching, he was training too, as he was clearly open to competing again.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

^^ Once again, it doesn't matter whether or not Nate and Brandon are retiring or not. It's fairly likely that they aren't coming back to compete next season. But competing or not, doesn't have direct bearing on them assisting in coaching younger teams. I bet they've been helping out all along as veteran pairs guys. And now, in Todd's absence, as he recuperates, these guys are obviously stepping up even more to help out.

When Nate and Brandon were competing, they even supported each other. And if they came back, helping Isabelle/ Ryan as a young team who are still learning, is not a conflict. As I said earlier, K/F and C/J were direct rivals at Irvine, but they supported each other, and they were/ are good friends off-the-ice.

From personal experience (though not in figure skating), supporting each other or being a mentor to less experienced athletes is not even remotely in the same ballpark as being a coach. Apart from a difference in monetary aspects (as not all coaching positions are paid), there's a big difference in time and energy invested.

It's easy to give tips when athletes come to you with questions, and if your training times overlap, it's also often easy enough to catch certain issues and give advice (as well as just in general being used by your coaches as a demonstration tool for others to model their technique, etc. after), but actually coaching can't just be done as an afterthought or simultaneously with your own training. Or, I mean it can, but not really well.

Now, Nate and Brandon would be part of a much bigger coaching group, so it would be probably possible, if still difficult and stressful, to coach an elite team and at the same time keep up with an elite-level training plan, the question is more so would they want to add to their already hectic schedules? I could see Nate doing it for money, as he doesn't have as many opportunities to earn money in shows for example, and his season is not as packed as Brandon's would be, but Brandon makes good money with shows and competition results, and if his next season looked similar to this season, he would not have a lot of spare time to coach a team like Isabelle and Ryan.

And as for whether or not Isabelle and Ryan are direct competitors to Knierim/Frazier and McBeath/Bartholomay, that depends on what you consider as direct competitors. They'd likely all compete against each other at Sr Nats, and while K/F's scores are far removed from what Martins/Bedard are likely to achieve, McBeath/Bartholomay's are not. Ma/Be scored 152.33 in juniors, with easier content than they seem to be potentially capable of now (obviously, potential is one thing, the other is managing to deliver when it counts) and one less lift (around 6-8 points) less in the Free. Mc/Ba scored 172.74 at the highest last season, but their lowest score was just 147.29. Nate's back has unfortunately been a significant and recurring issue for them last season, and while it's never nice for someone to have to retire because of injuries, I do hope he does what's best for him and his health long-term, whether or not that ends in his retirement.

 

[theblade]

I really support having solid coaching groups. We really need to find more boys to do pairs and ice dance as well. The challenge right now is that coaching fees are insane and the past three years have seen a large economic shift - for most families, it's been insanely tough. Finances are the greatest barrier to overcome in terms of growing the sport. There are a lot of skaters that leave the sport completely after competing. Those that still stay in and pass knowledge forward are the real champions, IMHO.

 

[macy]

i was just checking out the job postings on the USFSA website and they are looking for a new High Performance Director. One of the responsibilities listed is to "plan, coordinate and deliver an annual Pairs Camp to identify potential Pairs athletes and teams."

so that's exciting that's coming down the pipeline and they are going to prioritize developing their Pairs program.

 

[SorrySkater]

I have a hypothetical question. First, it seems reasonable for Alexa to retire, all things considered. Second, with Nate’s injuries, a retirement seems natural. That leaves us with Katie McBeath and Brandon Frazier. How ready are they to retire? Are there any indications that they might team up? Katie doesnt have the same skill level as Alexa, but not many pairs ladies do. I think she has shown a lot of promise, though. My impression at Nationals is that McB/B were hindered by Nate’s injuries. Brandon is a great partner and might be able to help further Katie’s development.
(I’d rather see Alexa and Brandon keep going, but throwing the idea out there.)