2025-26 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

[labgoat]

I’ve been waiting forever for Timmy to have a partner.

I have no idea if this would work, but I have put it out there in the universe...

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Word on the street is that Shin/Nagy have split. No longer following each other on IG, scrubbed content. Etc.

Yep this rumor is circulating on social media. It's being said that the Shin/ Nagy split will be announced after Worlds. Are they going to Worlds as first alternates? I guess not if it's a bitter done deal between them. Are Chan/ Howe second alternates? Hopefully, since they skated well at the Olympics and would have a chance to help Efimova/ Mitrofanov maintain 3 spots. The U.S. needs three spots to give their burgeoning pairs teams major opportunities to develop.

I had not heard that Danny and Ellie had pulled out of Worlds. More than likely, Danny feels he has achieved his goals as a competitor. Who knows if they are coming back next season. Probably doubtful. Chan/ Howe have said they are not done yet. But what does that mean for Spencer's military plans?

If Danny is not continuing, maybe Ellie can partner with Balazs. Kai Kovar should switch to pairs and maybe partner with his girlfriend, Audrey. Mark Sadusky is available, too. Is Danylo Siianytsia still interested in competing.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Dare I hope for Audrey Shin & Timothy Chapman both of SC of New York?
Nate Bartholomay could teach them maybe?

Possible match I suppose. At least, Audrey now has some experience under her belt. And if she partners with someone closer to her age and experience level, hopefully TPTB will keep hands off and allow her to develop at her own pace. I have a suspicion that there was a big push to help Audrey & Balazs get to the '26 Olympics. Pushing them so hard just increased the pressure on Audrey as a newbie to pairs.

With Justin Dillon as the new Director of Athlete High Performance for the past two years, and with the fact that he used to be on Tammy Gambill's coaching staff (and Audrey was coached in singles by Tammy), that's likely the connection and reason why U.S. fed seemed so invested in Shin/ Nagy succeeding. Sadly, U.S. fed overshot their investment. How could they have not realized the importance of allowing a new team to percolate and to fully develop, especially with one partner new to pairs? Pushing Audrey & Balazs to train in Canada was also over-manufactured. But even Bruno Marcotte had tried to dampen overdone expectations by saying he expected it to take them three years to be fully ready. U.S. fed apparently wasn't listening. Fortunately, the push on Shin/ Nagy had lessened by U.S. Nationals, and the Olympics and Worlds assignment selections were fair and balanced. Prior to U.S. Nats, Meagan Duhamel's comments on The Runthrough podcast were unwise and did not make good sense in terms of the value of team sportsmanship. Duhamel had ill-advisedly said that Shin/ Nagy failing to secure a third spot in Beijing was no big deal because they were fighting for a first spot at U.S. Nats.

I really hope everyone who are now looking for partners will find their best match and go into the season working hard sans overdone pressure, either self-imposed or applied from the outside.

 

[skylark]

Yep this rumor is circulating on social media. It's being said that the Shin/ Nagy split will be announced after Worlds. Are they going to Worlds as first alternates? I guess not if it's a bitter done deal between them. Are Chan/ Howe second alternates? Hopefully, since they skated well at the Olympics and would have a chance to help Efimova/ Mitrofanov maintain 3 spots. The U.S. needs three spots to give their burgeoning pairs teams major opportunities to develop.

I had not heard that Danny and Ellie had pulled out of Worlds. More than likely, Danny feels he has achieved his goals as a competitor. Who knows if they are coming back next season. Probably doubtful. Chan/ Howe have said they are not done yet. But what does that mean for Spencer's military plans?

If Danny is not continuing, maybe Ellie can partner with Balazs. Kai Kovar should switch to pairs and maybe partner with his girlfriend, Audrey. Mark Sadusky is available, too. Is Danylo Siianytsia still interested in competing.

Emily & Spencer's assignment to Worlds was announced concurrently with Ellie & Danny's WD. Danny wrote a post saying there was an injury -- he didn't say whether it was he or Ellie who was injured -- and that the WD was a hard decision, but the right one.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Sorry to hear about an injury. Glad to know there's a possibility that Kam/ O'Shea will continue to compete.

 

[Tutto]

Yep this rumor is circulating on social media. It's being said that the Shin/ Nagy split will be announced after Worlds. Are they going to Worlds as first alternates? I guess not if it's a bitter done deal between them. Are Chan/ Howe second alternates? Hopefully, since they skated well at the Olympics and would have a chance to help Efimova/ Mitrofanov maintain 3 spots. The U.S. needs three spots to give their burgeoning pairs teams major opportunities to develop.

I had not heard that Danny and Ellie had pulled out of Worlds. More than likely, Danny feels he has achieved his goals as a competitor. Who knows if they are coming back next season. Probably doubtful. Chan/ Howe have said they are not done yet. But what does that mean for Spencer's military plans?

If Danny is not continuing, maybe Ellie can partner with Balazs. Kai Kovar should switch to pairs and maybe partner with his girlfriend, Audrey. Mark Sadusky is available, too. Is Danylo Siianytsia still interested in competing.

You know I was thinking exactly the same and was just going to post! I think Ellie & Balazs would be well matched aesthetically and skill/experience wise. Not that I am sending Danny to retirement of course but as it is likely...
On the separate subject, I am so nervous about Alisa/Misha - a podium place next week is a real possibility but they need to put two clean programs out! There are Canadians & Hungarians and young Japanese ...

 

[Spiralgraph]

With Balazs's history of having at least three former partners and he's still only 27 I'd be cautious if I was Ellie about having him as a partner. He seems unwilling to let his partnerships develop more than a couple of seasons.

 

[el henry]

Singles skater Beck Strommer has announced that he is moving to pairs.

(ETA: when I posted, I had not seen that @saine already posted in the discipline changes thread. But I like Beck, so more posts can't hurt. )

 

[NanaPat]

With Balazs's history of having at least three former partners and he's still only 27 I'd be cautious if I was Ellie about having him as a partner. He seems unwilling to let his partnerships develop more than a couple of seasons.

Someone might have given Deanna Stellato that same advice with respect to Max Deschamps, but he's been a gem of a partner for her. Sometimes when past partnerships haven't worked out (even multiple partnerships), it doesn't mean a future partnership won't.

 

[moonvine]

Yep this rumor is circulating on social media. It's being said that the Shin/ Nagy split will be announced after Worlds. Are they going to Worlds as first alternates? I guess not if it's a bitter done deal between them. Are Chan/ Howe second alternates? Hopefully, since they skated well at the Olympics and would have a chance to help Efimova/ Mitrofanov maintain 3 spots. The U.S. needs three spots to give their burgeoning pairs teams major opportunities to develop.

I had not heard that Danny and Ellie had pulled out of Worlds. More than likely, Danny feels he has achieved his goals as a competitor. Who knows if they are coming back next season. Probably doubtful. Chan/ Howe have said they are not done yet. But what does that mean for Spencer's military plans?

If Danny is not continuing, maybe Ellie can partner with Balazs. Kai Kovar should switch to pairs and maybe partner with his girlfriend, Audrey. Mark Sadusky is available, too. Is Danylo Siianytsia still interested in competing.

Shin/Nagy are not going to Worlds. Chan/Howe are going.
I would hate to see Ellie with Balazs.
Timmy Chapman is also available.

 

[moonvine]

Beck changing to pairs due to excessive injuries seems odd to me. Pairs athletes get injured too.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Beck changing to pairs due to excessive injuries seems odd to me. Pairs athletes get injured too.

Speaking as a pairs girl myself, that's exactly what I thought! If I were approached by a prospective partner with that background (and that apparent lack of knowlege of what his part would require), I'd be backing away with a polite "Thanks, but no thanks"

Sort of like buying a used truck for a long camping trip and finding one described as "too much previous damage for city driving but couldn't you use it on back roads in the wilderness?" No, you couldn't. Not safely anyway.

 

[midori green]

I guess if Beck's injuries were due to training triple axels and quads, the decreased (but not non-existent) jumping load would be beneficial. He does say, "I know pairs won't be easy. It has its unique set of challenges..." so he's not completely ignorant. I guess we shall see!

 

[Diana Delafield]

I guess if Beck's injuries were due to training triple axels and quads, the decreased (but not non-existent) jumping load would be beneficial. He does say, "I know pairs won't be easy. It has its unique set of challenges..." so he's not completely ignorant. I guess we shall see!

In that case, I'd want to know where the injuries were. Back, definitely out. Ankle, doubtful. Hip, maybe. His partner wants the confidence of knowing she has a solid base under her. One that isn't going to occasionally flinch in a lift but try to soldier on through pain.

 

[yuki@thelake]

Back, definitely out.

His problem is how he stretches his back when he skates, which is not ideal for pairs skating. When you are lifting someone, you cannot stretch your back like that. That will be prone to back and shoulder injury. I hope he will be doing massive exercises to strengthen his upper body, or he can find a 50 lb partner, so she is easier to lift.

I love Beck's skating, though when I heard he's doing pairs, my first question was: who will do the lifting - he or the girl?

I wish he'd just do ice dance. Yes there is no jumping but his flow, his edges would be oh so good for ice dance.

 

[midori green]

In that case, I'd want to know where the injuries were. Back, definitely out. Ankle, doubtful. Hip, maybe. His partner wants the confidence of knowing she has a solid base under her. One that isn't going to occasionally flinch in a lift but try to soldier on through pain.

Agreed

 

[midori green]

His problem is how he stretches his back when he skates, which is not ideal for pairs skating. When you are lifting someone, you cannot stretch your back like that. That will be prone to back and shoulder injury. I hope he will be doing massive exercises to strengthen his upper body, or he can find a 50 lb partner, so she is easier to lift.

I love Beck's skating, though when I heard he's doing pairs, my first question was: who will do the lifting - he or the girl?

I wish he'd just do ice dance. Yes there is no jumping but his flow, his edges would be oh so good for ice dance.

Hmmm...If that's the case, I would be scared, too. For both him and his partner.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Shin/Nagy are not going to Worlds. Chan/Howe are going.
I would hate to see Ellie with Balazs.
Timmy Chapman is also available.

Do give us the nitty gritty, @moonvine, even if via dm. Isn't Timmy currently based on the east coast. Boston (SCOB) to be exact.

Regarding partner switches and new pairings, I suppose we will find out soon enough. It's bound to be quite a busy and eventful off-season.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

With Balazs's history of having at least three former partners and he's still only 27 I'd be cautious if I was Ellie about having him as a partner. He seems unwilling to let his partnerships develop more than a couple of seasons.

Fans quite often cite the number of partners skaters have had as some kind of character flaw, when honestly, we are not truly privy to bts details. It takes two to tango and two to break-up. Many, many pairs skaters and ice dancers have a long list of past partners, most often due to injury; logistics; physical changes; personal incompatibility; lack of mutual goals; and sometimes simply crushing bad luck beyond their control (e.g., Isabella Flores, who admirably has not allowed unexpected abrupt ends to her previous partnerships to destroy her passion for ice dance).

It was rumored that Balazs was told to try out with Audrey Shin when he was still paired with Chelsea Liu. I do not think USfigsk gave the Liu/Nagy partnership the time and support it needed. The same goes for the Shin/ Nagy pairing, honestly. IMO, USfigsk expected immediate results from both partnerships, which leads to undue pressure. In the S/N pairing, USfigsk was even more intrusive, e.g., arranging for them to be coached by Marcotte rather than staying with MMPairs in Colorado. Placing high expectations on skaters and trying to over-manufacture successful pairings never works.

In regard to Balazs and Kate Finster, when they moved to senior, it became obvious that physical changes had impacted their pairing. Finster needed a taller partner. Regarding Balazs and Maria Pavlova, it has been mentioned on GS by another poster that Balazs and Maria faced difficulties with the Hungarian fed. Balazs ended up back in the U.S. searching for an experienced pairs partner. He even tried out with a newbie aspirant to pairs, Gabbie Izzo, prior to surprisingly ending up with Chelsea (unsure if U.S. fed played a role in their pairing or if one or the other reached out for a tryout). The Liu/ Nagy twist remains one of the best ever.

 

[Remilia]

Fans quite often cite the number of partners skaters have had as some kind of character flaw, when honestly, we are not truly privy to bts details. It takes two to tango and two to break-up. Many, many pairs skaters and ice dancers have a long list of past partners, most often due to injury; logistics; physical changes; personal incompatibility; lack of mutual goals; and sometimes simply crushing bad luck beyond their control (e.g., Isabella Flores, who admirably has not allowed unexpected abrupt ends to her previous partnerships to destroy her passion for ice dance).

It was rumored that Balazs was told to try out with Audrey Shin when he was still paired with Chelsea Liu. I do not think USfigsk gave the Liu/Nagy partnership the time and support it needed. The same goes for the Shin/ Nagy pairing, honestly. IMO, USfigsk expected immediate results from both partnerships, which leads to undue pressure. In the S/N pairing, USfigsk was even more intrusive, e.g., arranging for them to be coached by Marcotte rather than staying with MMPairs in Colorado. Placing high expectations on skaters and trying to over-manufacture successful pairings never works.

In regard to Balazs and Kate Finster, when they moved to senior, it became obvious that physical changes had impacted their pairing. Finster needed a taller partner. Regarding Balazs and Maria Pavlova, it has been mentioned on GS by another poster that Balazs and Maria faced difficulties with the Hungarian fed. Balazs ended up back in the U.S. searching for an experienced pairs partner. He even tried out with a newbie aspirant to pairs, Gabbie Izzo, prior to surprisingly ending up with Chelsea (unsure if U.S. fed played a role in their pairing or if one or the other reached out for a tryout). The Liu/ Nagy twist remains one of the best ever.

I've seen some chatter on twitter and another site about him treating his Audrey and his previous partner poorly, so I'd say it looks like he's the problem...Doubt he'd be a good match for someone like Ellie