2022-23 US Pairs Figure Skating

[el henry]

Alexa’s post on the Oakton Edge IG says she will be a full time coach:

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Their first team is US junior pair Ashley Fletcher & Aaron Felderbaum.

Fun tidbit, Aaron Felberbaum skated with Isabelle Martins the past season, who just recently teamed up with her former partner Ryan Bedard again, and they are, funnily enough, being coached by Brandon Frazier among others.

I don't think they're competing in the same age group yet (Fletcher/Felberbaum in Juniors and Martins/Bedard in Seniors), but if the situation stays like this for a few seasons, we might end up seeing a Knierim-Frazier-rivalry eventually (though hopefully a friendly rivalry ).

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

U.S. fan zone article on Chan/ Howe, highlighting their Asian heritages:

Spencer Howe and Emily Chan Honor Asian American Heritages - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Like many skaters and fans of the sport, Emily Chan and Spencer Howe grew up watching Michelle Kwan and idolizing her for her athleticism, grace and charisma. The

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

One thing the writer misses the beat on is not accurately referencing Spencer's father's ethnic background. The writer only says that Spencer is "half Japanese and half white..." His father's ethnic heritage may be English, Irish, or German American, or possibly, a mixture. I think that's as important to cite, particularly in an article about cultural heritages.

 

[elbkup]

U.S. fan zone article on Chan/ Howe, highlighting their Asian heritages:

Spencer Howe and Emily Chan Honor Asian American Heritages - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Like many skaters and fans of the sport, Emily Chan and Spencer Howe grew up watching Michelle Kwan and idolizing her for her athleticism, grace and charisma. The

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

One thing the writer misses the beat on is not accurately referencing Spencer's father's ethnic background. The writer only says that Spencer is "half Japanese and half white..." His father's ethnic heritage may be English, Irish, or German American, or possibly, a mixture. I think that's as important to cite, particularly in an article about cultural heritages.

For sharing this! I adore their skating and began following them through their Boston connection. They are utterly charming! I wait with anticipation for their new season program announcement but loved the last programs they had

 

[skylark]

One thing the writer misses the beat on is not accurately referencing Spencer's father's ethnic background. The writer only says that Spencer is "half Japanese and half white..." His father's ethnic heritage may be English, Irish, or German American, or possibly, a mixture. I think that's as important to cite, particularly in an article about cultural heritages.

Or Italian, Scottish, Norwegian ??? LOL. Sorry, I just can't help wondering why you picked those other 3. I agree with you about the omission of his father's background, but it's complicated. In some parts of the USA, many people don't even know where their families originated and immigrated from. For one example, in advance of the 1998 olympics, Tara Lipinski had a new contingent of fans from Hamtramck, Michigan, a predominantly Polish-American suburb of Detroit -- they called her "the little Polish girl." I remember reading that Tara herself hadn't even known that her last name was Polish!

 

[skylark]

Alexa and Chris Knierim, with Timothy LeDuc and David Santee, have opened the Oakton Edge Skating Academy.

https://instagram.com/oakton_edge_skatingacademy?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==


For those that can't see Instagram, it's described as a "newly revised figure skating program by world renowned coaching staff".

Their first team is US junior pair Ashley Fletcher & Aaron Felderbaum.

I'm excited to see Timothy LeDuc as a coach there. I realize he was already in the Chicago area and convenience may have played a part, but I think he'll add a lot to this team; it'll be a place where diverse styles can be encouraged.

 

[Moxiejan]

I'm excited to see Timothy LeDuc as a coach there. I realize he was already in the Chicago area and convenience may have played a part, but I think he'll add a lot to this team; it'll be a place where diverse styles can be encouraged.

Timothy had been coaching at the Robert Crown ice center in Evanston, just a few miles east of the Oakton rink.

My own connection to the Crown rink: Circa 1980, I was taking an adult group lesson when one of the 3-year-olds in an adjacent group came crashing into us; she had decided to try an axel (!) and was totally out of control. It was Nicole Bobek! Even at that very young age, her talent was apparent.

 

[skylark]

Timothy had been coaching at the Robert Crown ice center in Evanston, just a few miles east of the Oakton rink.

My own connection to the Crown rink: Circa 1980, I was taking an adult group lesson when one of the 3-year-olds in an adjacent group came crashing into us; she had decided to try an axel (!) and was totally out of control. It was Nicole Bobek! Even at that very young age, her talent was apparent.

her talent or her penchant for "out of control"? I always felt she was the free spirit of the figure skating world. That is a great story, Moxiejan. And yes, Nicole's amazing talent was always apparent. Not surprisingly so at age of three also.

 

[skylark]

Tarah Kayne has a new blog. https://femalehysteria.substack.com/

I thought some folks who would be interested might not look at her FF. So here it is, something to spice up our summer. Not surprisingly, there's plenty of emotion here. She's a talented writer ... which I knew also from her blog for herself and Danny several years ago.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Or Italian, Scottish, Norwegian ??? LOL. Sorry, I just can't help wondering why you picked those other 3.

Because I looked up the derivation of the surname, 'Howe,' and it indicates English, Old Norse, Anglo-Saxon. Within that grouping, German is always a possibility, but so is Irish and French. Plus, of course, Spencer's Dad's mother's background is in the mix too and not identified. I recall having read a different article or either I saw something on Instagram that I think indicated his father's English-American ancestry. Our ethnic mixtures are all lovely, and human, and sometimes surprising. That's one reason why I enjoy watching the PBS show, Finding Our Roots.

Another example in skating is Camden Pulkinen, whose mother's ethnicity is Thai, and his father's background is Finnish-American.

 

[skylark]

Our ethnic mixtures are all lovely, and human, and sometimes surprising. That's one reason why I enjoy watching the PBS show, Finding Our Roots.

I love that show! Season 9 was awesome, I keep looking for more. But I sometimes re-watch.

When I did a DNA analysis, I was surprised -- no, amazed -- that it showed 25 percent Scandinavian. Everything else was expected. The analysis did a long section on why one might find a lot of Norwegian in English blood, especially if it's from eastern England (which is relevant for me). Other people weren't surprised at my Scandinavian background, they said of course! LOL ... I'm very fair-skinned.

I can't think of a way to do an @el henry and bring this post back on topic.

 

[skylark]

Because I looked up the derivation of the surname, 'Howe,' and it indicates English, Old Norse, Anglo-Saxon. Within that grouping, German is always a possibility, but so is Irish and French. Plus, of course, Spencer's Dad's mother's background is in the mix too and not identified. I recall having read a different article or either I saw something on Instagram that I think indicated his father's English-American ancestry.

Your phrase "derivation of the surname" is actually why I questioned your post in the first place. My birth surname is Welsh, which is something I love ... but it's wildly incomplete if someone were guessing my ethnicity, which includes English, Scots-Irish, German, and Cherokee, that we know of.

A-a-a-a-and back on topic.

 

[moonvine]

Alexa and Chris Knierim, with Timothy LeDuc and David Santee, have opened the Oakton Edge Skating Academy.

https://instagram.com/oakton_edge_skatingacademy?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==


For those that can't see Instagram, it's described as a "newly revised figure skating program by world renowned coaching staff".

Their first team is US junior pair Ashley Fletcher & Aaron Felderbaum.

OK I'm sooooo confused...I thought David Santee was retiring, but I guess not? And why is everything an academy now? Does that mean that a person couldn't, say, go take LTS classes there?

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I noticed that the Oakton Edge Skating Academy has posted about a U.S. juvenile dance team (Midwestern ice dance champions) who have switched to pairs: Quinn Nguyen and Aiden Strakey (both are 13 years old).

They also posted about a new U.S. junior level pairs team: Baylen Taich and Michael Chapa. There's a huge discrepancy in their ages though. She's listed as 12, and he's 20. They would have to wait such a long time before she could turn senior, and he will quickly age out of juniors, unless a rules change is enacted.

 

[el henry]

OK I'm sooooo confused...I thought David Santee was retiring, but I guess not? And why is everything an academy now? Does that mean that a person couldn't, say, go take LTS classes there?

David retired from being the Skating Director, but not from private coaching:

Santee Skates On To New Challenges - Journal & Topics Media Group

David Santee, one of Park Ridge’s most famous athletes, is retiring from the Park Ridge Park District staff, but he won’t be completely missing from the Park Ridge Park District’s Oakton Ice Arena. He promises he will still be doing some private coaching at the rink, but he’ll have time to...

www.journal-topics.com

I suspect the "Academy" is branding for competetive skaters, but I imagine there are plenty of LTS classes at Oakton. Total guess, though, I do not know.

 

[SubRosa]

USA has two quota places for pairs at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games next winter. The age eligibility rules--all male and female athletes must be born between 1 Jan 2006 and 31 Dec 2009--are going to be a particularly difficult needle to thread when it comes to junior pairs. (For the 2020 games, there was a bit more leeway--while skaters had to be born between 1 Jan 2003 and 31 Dec 2005, men in pairs/dance could be born between 1 Jan 2001 and 31 Dec 2004.) Right now, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of junior pairs in the world who might be age-eligible for YOG 2024. So I have been watching with interest as new USA junior pairs are being formed and announced; will there be two American pairs age-eligible for YOG?

 

[labgoat]

Alexa’s post on the Oakton Edge IG says she will be a full time coach:

Congrats to Alexa. I look forward to seeing students learning her beautiful lines and landings.

 

[Moxiejan]

David retired from being the Skating Director, but not from private coaching:

He also is an international-level tech specialist, so retiring as rink director will give him more time for that.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I just heard that Katie McBeath of the U.S. has partnered in pairs with Danill Parkman (who formerly repped Georgia).

This, if true, means Nate B is indeed retiring, and he will likely coach at Irvine rink. For some reason when I read 'McBeath,' my mind immediately referenced Megan Wessenberg instead, since she's actively looking for a new partner. It wasn't publicly known (to my knowledge) that Katie has been looking to find another partner. This is a huge surprise, if true. I'm trying to find confirmation. Gabby Izzo and Cayla Smith are also looking for pairs partners.

ETA:
I have to add, there's no official confirmation yet. And it's also not exactly clear that it's Katie, or someone else.

 

[moonvine]

He also is an international-level tech specialist, so retiring as rink director will give him more time for that.

Yes, but there is a mandatory retirement age for that if I understand corrrectly.