2025-26 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

[macy]

, She's having some really serious health issues. I saw a link to a go fund me elsewhere on the internet, and that mentioned her needing a bone marrow transplant as a part of her treatment.

oh that's really scary...i wish her a full and speedy recovery.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

, She's having some really serious health issues. I saw a link to a go fund me elsewhere on the internet, and that mentioned her needing a bone marrow transplant as a part of her treatment.

Oh no!!! Nica has had so much unfortunate bad luck, what with the injury she was out with for a few years after splitting with Danny Neudecker (her former partner in juniors and early on in seniors). I didn't know she was struggling with illness. I will have to look for that GoFundme link. Thanks for sharing this info. So sad.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Gofundme:

Donate to Nica's Urgent Treatment Needs Your Help, organized by Savanna McLean

Nica Digerness is a team USA National and International, competitive figure ska… Savanna McLean needs your support for Nica's Urgent Treatment Needs Your Help

www.gofundme.com

 

[yuki@thelake]

What's up with pair girls and illnesses? Heard that Saya Carpenter was also ill and was out of skating for 2-3 months. Just started getting back on the ice this July. Dunno what's going to happen with their season, if they can catch up

 

[el henry]

Reading Nica's GoFund Me, it appears she wants to use stem cell therapies to treat injuries (platelet rich plasma and bone marrow transfer to address inflammation and healing) and not as part of a chronic disease. These therapies are not approved by the FSA, but have been used by other athletes. (Steph Curry, Tiger Woods, who can afford such treatments)

What do Athletes Need to Know about Stem Cell Therapies | USADA

What does the term orthobiologics mean? How do stem cell therapies work to accelerate healing? Are stem cell treatments prohibited in sport?

www.usada.org

Good luck to Nica.

 

[macy]

PRP treatments are not cheap. i had one done in my knee last winter and it was about $700 out of pocket, but it did actually help. i hope they get approved by the FSA soon.

 

[moonvine]

They may have split. Not sure exactly. Injuries might be involved. I haven't seen any announcement.

I just sent him a DM on Instagram. He’s pretty good about answering.

 

[moonvine]

I have the sad duty of reporting that Mark did indeed respond to my DM and said that he and Nica have ended their partnership.
I asked if he was continuing on and he said yes but will not compete this year.

 

[ramurphy2005]

New pair added to the ISP: Baylen Taich and Nikolai Apter

 

[macy]

I have the sad duty of reporting that Mark did indeed respond to my DM and said that he and Nica have ended their partnership.
I asked if he was continuing on and he said yes but will not compete this year.

that is so sad to hear. i wish the best for both of them!

 

[moonvine]

So Sonia Baram and Cayla Smith need partners as well as Msrk Sadusky and Timmy Chapman…

 

[midori green]

So Sonia Baram and Cayla Smith need partners as well as Msrk Sadusky and Timmy Chapman…

I think Cayla has a partner, they just weren't ready to compete last season. Someone posted a long time ago the guy was switching from singles. Her club (Fort Wayne Ice Skating Club) posted ice show stuff this year and last with Cayla and a partner. I've been watching and hoping to see them entered in one of the NQS events this season (Skate Detroit and the Greater Chicagoland event both have pairs). Sonia was so fun in pairs, too. I'm with you on hoping she, Mark, and Timmy find people soon!

 

[Spiralgraph]

I'm guessing that Sadusky and Chapman will find partners sooner than Sonia will (if Sonia wants to return to pairs.) Male skaters are always in demand, but the female skaters have to wait a lot longer. Keeping my fingers crossed for them.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

So Sonia Baram and Cayla Smith need partners as well as Msrk Sadusky and Timmy Chapman…

Aha! So, Cayla with Mark, and Sonia with Timmy? Why not?! At the least, try out.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I'm guessing that Sadusky and Chapman will find partners sooner than Sonia will (if Sonia wants to return to pairs.) Male skaters are always in demand, but the female skaters have to wait a lot longer. Keeping my fingers crossed for them.

Well, right. It all depends whether Sonia is still interested in pairs, but was simply waiting due to age restrictions. If Cayla has a partner, hopefully we'll get to see them compete this season.

Mark is not planning to compete this season, but hopefully he'll come back soon with a good partner. Whoever Timmy matches up with will have to be willing to train in Boston, Timmy's new training base.

 

[moonvine]

I'm guessing that Sadusky and Chapman will find partners sooner than Sonia will (if Sonia wants to return to pairs.) Male skaters are always in demand, but the female skaters have to wait a lot longer. Keeping my fingers crossed for them.

They haven’t yet. I’m worried.

 

[moonvine]

I'm guessing that Sadusky and Chapman will find partners sooner than Sonia will (if Sonia wants to return to pairs.) Male skaters are always in demand, but the female skaters have to wait a lot longer. Keeping my fingers crossed for them.

They haven’t yet. I’m worried.

 

[yuki@thelake]

They haven’t yet. I’m worried.

Male skaters are always in demand - true. But not always easy to find pair girls, and pair girls who are good. Not many girls want to be thrown 6-10 feet off the ice. I was seated with some moms of top junior ladies' skaters while watching the pairs practice at the Nationals, and one of the moms said, "I'd never allow my daughter to be thrown like that." And the other moms chorused, "Yeah, not me either!" Pair girls are a special breed of skaters.

 

[Spiralgraph]

^^ I get it, yes. But notice it's the mothers (and parents) who are not in favor of their daughters being pair girls. The female skaters themselves might be willing, but they're too young or too fragile to make the decision themselves. Maybe that's why in recent years newish pair teams consist of older women (like Katie MacBeath, Deanna Stellato Dudek, Audrey Shin,,etc..)

 

[Diana Delafield]

^^ I get it, yes. But notice it's the mothers (and parents) who are not in favor of their daughters being pair girls. The female skaters themselves might be willing, but they're too young or too fragile to make the decision themselves. Maybe that's why in recent years newish pair teams consist of older women (like Katie MacBeath, Deanna Stellato Dudek, Audrey Shin,,etc..)

Right. I've known many would-be pairs girls over the years whose parents wouldn't allow it. I was lucky. My parents never batted an eye. They had relatives who raced cars, jumped horses, climbed mountains...I'd been doing tumbling and artistic gymnastics since I was quite little and loved the uneven bars, so pair skating was a natural progression for me. They knew risk-taking was in the blood.