2011 National Pairs Champions end partnership; Coughlin to skate with Caydee Denney
- Thread starter blue dog
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
It's Caitlyn's situation that worries me the most. Has anyone heard if she has had any tryouts at all? Of course, she may be looking for a new coaching situation, too, since if I were her, my number one wish would be to get the heck out of Colorado Springs right now.
People have talked about Bryce Davison, since he has dual citizenship. Is there anything in this suggestion?
People have talked about Bryce Davison, since he has dual citizenship. Is there anything in this suggestion?
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2006
As much as I would love for them to get together, since they would probably have very nice lines, Caitlin is 5'3" and Bryce is 5'8".
Could a pair that close in height be successful? The trend seems to be flea/gorilla.
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- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
Shen/Zhao were 5'3" and 5'9" respectively. Bryce would definitely have to up the upper body strength to make that work, though.
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2006
I am simply enamoured with this possibility. Of course, they'd have to both be interested in t he partnership. Anyone on facebook want to contact them?
There's no good male skaters in pair. Mervyn is a better partner for Caitlin. Bryce is washed up. Kinda like Maria and Jerome. Caitlin needs someone current, not someone whose peak was in 2008. Pairing up with Bryce would be a waste of time for Caitlin.
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2006
I don't think Bryce is washed up, at all. Mervin is good, but his expression is still "developing senior." I think Bryce is still young, and both he and Caitlin could certainly improve their skating some more. I think Mervin is good with Narumi.
I remember, right before 2006, very few people even thought Shen/Zhao could come back to win a medal, but they won bronze, and four years later, were Olympic champions.
Of course, if neither party was interested what would Caitlin do? Break up another team? Convince a really tall singles skater to switch? Move to ice dance? (with our deep field in dance, this may be the worst move)
I remember, right before 2006, very few people even thought Shen/Zhao could come back to win a medal, but they won bronze, and four years later, were Olympic champions.
Of course, if neither party was interested what would Caitlin do? Break up another team? Convince a really tall singles skater to switch? Move to ice dance? (with our deep field in dance, this may be the worst move)
Bryce is taller than 5'8". More like 5'10". He needs to fully recover from his injury, but he's still young for a pair guy. (Being young should also help him to bounce back from his injury.) With his dual citizenship, pairing an American girl must be a real option for him. Mervin Tran is a strange possibility considering he already has crazy citizenship issues. Why would he leave his partner to just be involved in more citizenship issues? He's probably too small for Caitlin anyway, who by the way, is more like 5'3". If anything, Mervin should hope for Narumi to agree to become a Canadian citizen at some point, no? Or maybe they really just are content with competing at Worlds and not the Olys. They may change their minds down the road. Won't Japan's citizenship rules keep Japan from contending for a team medal at the Olys? It's a shame they can't make a special exception for Tran.
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2011
Whoa, it's a lot harder to match up a pairs team than just saying "these two are good pairs skaters and have enough of a height difference and would look cute together". It's really about whether two people can work together smoothly, whether the logistics allow them to train together, whether they both gel with the same coaching team, and so on.
While it would be tragic if a talented pairs skater like Caitlin can't find a decent partner, there's no guarantee Bryce or any other pairs skater we know of is right for her even if he has the right height and citizenship.
While it would be tragic if a talented pairs skater like Caitlin can't find a decent partner, there's no guarantee Bryce or any other pairs skater we know of is right for her even if he has the right height and citizenship.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2003
Agreed. There's no way of knowing whether Caitlin/Bryce would work out; they could only determine that after a tryout. To me it's just as likely Caitlin could find another partner who's not currently well known but is nonetheless right for her. Just think of Kazakova/Dmitriev. When Artur started skating with Oksana in 1995, she really wasn't well known at all outside of Russia (or maybe even within Russia). Hopefully there's someone out there like that for Caitlin in the U.S.
I believe if both partners are good pair skaters, they can do it. Most pairs who didn't make it usually have a partner who didn't work hard, or a terrible partner. What you said about logistics, coaching team, those can be fixed. A terrible partner can't be fixed.
Mervin should find a better partner.
Caitlin is looking for a partner.
Those two should be perfect together. What's the point of Mervin competing for Japan only to come in 10th or whatever because Narumi can't do a 2A or a 3Sal or even land a throw jump.
Bryce is 5’10”. At 25 he’s just coming into his prime as a pair skater.
He’s definitely bulked up since he’s had more time to spend at the gym: http://www.justinechiu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/8967_IceMen-950x492.jpg The pink wig is a good look for him. 
ITA though, there’s a lot more to that goes into successful match than just physical characteristics. The partnership that looks great on paper could fail miserably when the skaters actually try out. For Caitlin/Bryce there’s also the not so insignificant matter of one of them being released by their federation.
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2006
I don't think people should be so quick to break up Takahashi/Tran. Breaking them up and putting Tran with Yankowskas would be pretty much the same as breaking up Yankowskas and Coughlin to put Coughlin with Denney. Tran seems like kind of a random choice, considering I don't think he has American citizenship, but I could be wrong.
I would hope for a pairing of Yankowskas and Davison, but I'm really not sure if Davison will be able to skate competitively again.
I would hope for a pairing of Yankowskas and Davison, but I'm really not sure if Davison will be able to skate competitively again.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
My impression is that a lot of these U.S. pairings come down to which girl's family has the most money.
Does anyone remember the teenage male ice dancer from England who offered himself for sale on ebay a couple of years ago? As I recall, the starting bid was $100,000 plus board and room. Put up the money and the boy would relocate in the United States and skate with your daughter.
Ebay took it down after a couple of days. I guess it's illegal to sell yourself on ebay.
Does anyone remember the teenage male ice dancer from England who offered himself for sale on ebay a couple of years ago? As I recall, the starting bid was $100,000 plus board and room. Put up the money and the boy would relocate in the United States and skate with your daughter.
Ebay took it down after a couple of days. I guess it's illegal to sell yourself on ebay.
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2010
Didn't Gregory & Petukov find one another online?
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2010
Maybe Max Aaron should learn pairs. He comes from a pairs skating family and he is young and strong. Any young male skater who has height and size should strongly consider going into pairs. It gives them a much better shot at going to GP events, Worlds, and the Olympics.
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2011
The real problem is that there are far less male skaters to go around. This is just a sport that attracts the ladies, but not the menfolk. Caitlin isn't the only talented female pair skater left stranded, although there are two ways to look at it:
Glass half full: At least Caitlin got to experience a high level of international success as part of a pairs team.
Glass half empty: Caitlin proved herself to be an internationally competitive pairs skater but was unable to take it further due to human factors.
To help future Caitlins, boys must either be encouraged/forced to participate in figure skating, or female/female pairs and ice dancing must be allowed.
Glass half full: At least Caitlin got to experience a high level of international success as part of a pairs team.
Glass half empty: Caitlin proved herself to be an internationally competitive pairs skater but was unable to take it further due to human factors.
To help future Caitlins, boys must either be encouraged/forced to participate in figure skating, or female/female pairs and ice dancing must be allowed.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
yes Melissa and Denis found each other online. Denis flew to the US to test with Melissa and never used his return ticket (I think they still have it, in fact).
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
I heartily approve of both, especially the part about forcing little boys to take up ice dancing. They may not like it, but we know what's good for them. Keeps them off the streets. Teaches them how to be polite to a lady (rule #1: don't drop her on her head during a lift.) :yes:
