2024-25 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating | Page 10 | Golden Skate

2024-25 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

Shin/ Nagy largely train in Ontario under Bruno Marcotte. They visit the World Arena (WASA) and the Olympic Training Center in Colorado periodically, as they have both trained at WASA and in California previously. Drew Meekins choreographed one of S/N's programs this season, while Julie Marcotte choreographed the other one. Drew Meekins is not currently one of S/N's coaches. He was in the kiss'n cry as their choreographer. U.S. fed is responsible for deciding to send S/N to Canada to be trained by Marcotte.



What do you mean, "the boost"? Shin/Nagy are U.S. fed's full-on backed pairs project. They reportedly told Balazs to drop Chelsea and try out with Audrey when Audrey had expressed a desire to switch to pairs. Chelsea was having a lot of trouble cleanly landing jumps and throws. She had also previously suffered concussions, and her longtime pairs coach, Todd Sand, was clearly not going to be able to come back to coaching. The loss of Todd as a coach is significant at the Irvine rink, although Brandon Frazier and Nate Bartholomay are admirably filling in.
Don’t they list him as a coach? Is that out of politeness?

Honestly, right now, I don't feel any full-on rizz or magic from Shin/Nagy yet. I am more entranced by Efimova/ Mitrofanov, Kam/ O'Shea, and McBeath/ Parkman. Of the other teams, I truly enjoy Digerness/ Sadusky. I think they should have placed higher. They need more competitive opportunities in order to grow their wonderful partnership. They have such lovely programs this year!
I love Mark and Nica and was so proud they went to their first International competition this year, medaled, and got their USA team jackets. They need funding.
Does us nationals repost to U-tube or….. I am out of the USA and just wondered. Have been looking have not seen anything.
Not typically. They want you to pay for their streaming service. But sometimes.
 
I love Mark and Nica and was so proud they went to their first International competition this year, medaled, and got their USA team jackets. They need funding.
They were great! Wonderful programs and costumes. Yep, they deserve funding! 💯

Don’t they list him as a coach? Is that out of politeness?
Is Meekins currently listed as one of their coaches? I hadn't seen that. He probably coached them prior to them being sent to Marcotte in Canada. Perhaps S/N are helped by Meekins and MMPairs when they are in Colorado periodically. 🤔
 
If you haven't read Phil Hersh's article from just prior to Nationals yet, you should.
Thank you. Meekins was not indicated when the pairing was first announced. Possibly Balazs advocated for keeping Meekins in the loop. I will read the article. 👌

Yep. Okay, Balazs could not get a work permit in Canada, so they are spending more time in Colorado (with Meekins) as B needs to work to pay for his training expenses. Interesting article with some revealing info, as well as some usual sugarcoating and overdone comparisons (i.e., Phil comparing Kyoko Ina against Audrey Shin). 😏 The stuff about Chelsea and how A&B came together is a bit of glossing over, unsurprisingly.
 
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They were great! Wonderful programs and costumes. Yep, they deserve funding! 💯


Is Meekins currently listed as one of their coaches? I hadn't seen that. He probably coached them prior to them being sent to Marcotte in Canada. Perhaps S/N are helped by Meekins and MMPairs when they are in Colorado periodically. 🤔
Sorry I meant Todd Sand
 
Sorry I meant Todd Sand
? Todd miraculously survived a serious heart attack. He is still recovering in the cherished, grateful embrace of his family. While Todd has visited the rink to greet skaters, it is certainly unlikely he will ever be coming back to coach. He is taking care of his health and enjoying his family life. Apparently, Brandon Frazier and Nate Bartholomay have stepped up to assist Jenni and other TeamJenni&Todd coaches at Irvine.
 
? Todd miraculously survived a serious heart attack. He is still recovering in the cherished, grateful embrace of his family. While Todd has visited the rink to greet skaters, it is certainly unlikely he will ever be coming back to coach. He is taking care of his health and enjoying his family life. Apparently, Brandon Frazier and Nate Bartholomay have stepped up to assist Jenni and other TeamJenni&Todd coaches at Irvine.
I understand all that. What I was saying is that I’m pretty sure he is still listed as a coach and if that were simply a courtesy.
 
Unpopular opinion: He is better at being a pair boy that she is at being a pair girl. He would probably have been in high demand on the market if he had moved on from her a couple of seasons ago. Don't know about now - but older pair guys are having a resurgence, so maybe.
I think they're dating - it was in a fluff piece or something so if that's correct, it's probably not likely he'd switch. But otherwise I would agree that he has a lot of potential to do well with another partner. I hate saying that though because I really have been hoping she'll put it together.
Plazas has been posting her jump practices on Instagram stories and looking good.
That's good to hear!
There is truth to that, but I also think they'll be given a chance to show what they can do.
I would definitely be happy to be wrong and have them get an opportunity, do well, and then get more from there.

I mean...look at this lift! https://youtu.be/Od6l-Mh3ZvY?t=131
 
I think they're dating - it was in a fluff piece or something so if that's correct, it's probably not likely he'd switch. But otherwise I would agree that he has a lot of potential to do well with another partner. I hate saying that though because I really have been hoping she'll put it together.

That's good to hear!

I would definitely be happy to be wrong and have them get an opportunity, do well, and then get more from there.

I mean...look at this lift! https://youtu.be/Od6l-Mh3ZvY?t=131
Don't know much about this pair, but looking at that clip, I'd be quite happy to skate with him :clap:
 
Oh no did you hear something about that? I know they've split up before and got back together, but 9 seasons together is a long time in pairs world.
 
Oh no did you hear something about that? I know they've split up before and got back together, but 9 seasons together is a long time in pairs world.
Yes, I have seen this news mentioned on a skating forum, but I haven't seen anything official. That's why I came here to ask if anyone else knows anything definitive.
 
I always enjoy seeing skaters appear on more mainstream media outlets, which rarely happens in the U.S. That's why I was pleased and enlightened listening to a recent mainstream sports podcast interview with Danny O'Shea. He was interviewed on the Pro Mindset podcast hosted by Craig Domann (a veteran NFL agent, coach, mentor, and entrepreneur). I never heard of Domann previously, but he asked insightful questions which shows he actually possesses astute knowledge about figure skating, which is a rarity among the mainstream sports media. The interview was posted on GS in the Edge forum recently but may have been largely missed. It is well worth taking the time to listen.

Danny was asked great questions and he gave thoughtful, articulate responses which shed light on the complexities and give-and-take of pairs partnerships. Danny reveals his thought process and trajectory from initially retiring to unexpectedly and gratefully accepting the chance to renew his competitive career. He gives insights into his and his partner, Ellie Kam's, personalities and their partnership dynamic. Take the time to listen to this positive, informative interview. 😊

 
I understand all that. What I was saying is that I’m pretty sure he is still listed as a coach and if that were simply a courtesy.
Todd Sand may still be listed as a coach at Irvine rink. But I seriously doubt he's listed as a coach for Shin/Nagy, who were apparently initially set to train at WASA with MMPairs, until USfigsk made the decision to send S/N to train in Canada with Marcotte. As we already discussed (based on info in the recent Hersh article), S/N are currently spending part of their time training at WASA, in large part due to Balázs not being able to get a work permit in Canada.
 
I always enjoy seeing skaters appear on more mainstream media outlets, which rarely happens in the U.S. That's why I was pleased and enlightened listening to a recent mainstream sports podcast interview with Danny O'Shea. He was interviewed on the Pro Mindset podcast hosted by Craig Domann (a veteran NFL agent, coach, mentor, and entrepreneur). I never heard of Domann previously, but he asked insightful questions which shows he actually possesses astute knowledge about figure skating, which is a rarity among the mainstream sports media. The interview was posted on GS in the Edge forum recently but may have been largely missed. It is well worth taking the time to listen.

Danny was asked great questions and he gave thoughtful, articulate responses which shed light on the complexities and give-and-take of pairs partnerships. Danny reveals his thought process and trajectory from initially retiring to unexpectedly and gratefully accepting the chance to renew his competitive career. He gives insights into his and his partner, Ellie Kam's, personalities and their partnership dynamic. Take the time to listen to this positive, informative interview. 😊

I've listened to it, thank you, and it was quite interesting since I've never been a fan of his and he came across with a somewhat different personality than appears on the ice in a competition.

But I have to admit that the most enjoyable part was the subtitles. Sorry, but I get such a kick out of misinterpreted subtitles for videos and movies, and things in this one like "meddling in the grand brief final" just cracked me up every time. :laugh:
 
Danny has a fractured metatarsal in his right foot and is going to need surgery.
Oh no! This is terrible. I’m so worrried about him. Not to mention they were going to do the Ice Dreams Tour and I’m sure that won’t happen now.

Added: he was skating with a broken foot?!?!
 
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