2017-19 Splits & Partner Changes

[hanca]

There are some warm rinks and some cold rinks everywhere. For example, when I skated at some rinks in the Czech republic, they were warm. But other rinks there were cold. The same in any other country. Even in the UK there are some pretty cold ones and some warmer ones. I guess it would be the rink manager who decides on the temperature.

Actually, it is the same when we go to watch europeans and worlds. Some years it is warmer arena and some years it is colder.

 

[Ice Dance]

Young teams will split more and more not because of the depth of US field but because of the politics playing major role in this sport instead of real skills especially at low levels.

I always worry about young dance teams. And I never ever take their staying together for granted.

But, honestly, I think the young U.S. dance teams have been staying together longer than in the past. After the Shibs, the next two teams with the greatest longevity in the U.S. dance field are McNamara & Carpenter and Gropman & Somerville. And Hawayek & Baker, Lewis & Bye, the Parsons (who are siblings, but didn't start off together), the Greens, Gunter & Wein, and the Elders were together at least as far back at the 2014 U.S. Nationals. (The three latter teams were at levels lower than juniors)

For a comparison, Canada has a maximum of three teams left from the junior field at Canadian Junior Nationals only two seasons ago. Russia has three teams left from the 2014 Junior Nationals. It's still very rare to see a junior team make the leap. I never ever lay money on it. I think only @8 Junior World medal teams have ever stayed together long enough to reach the senior world podium. But the good news is that most of those teams are still together today. (And doing very well. They held five of the top 7 places at this year's Olympic Games. A sixth team, Cappellini & Lanotte, were also juniors together. They just missed the JW podium by one spot). So sticking together is actually trending upward rather than backward.

 

[Skater Boy]

Omg. With all these splits happening, I'm hoping that my 2 fave DC teams McNamara/Carpenter and Parsons/Parsons don't split. Making me nervous.

But can you imagine if the Parsons split it might open so many opportunities for them.

 

[Ice Dance]

But can you imagine if the Parsons split it might open so many opportunities for them.

Like losing to McNamara & Carpenter and Carreira & Ponomarenko.

The Parsons aren't my kind of team, and to be honest, I would not mind if they split. (I like Eliana Gropman a lot, and I would not mind seeing her with Michael). But--despite a bumpy debut season, which I think was largely nerves & dealing with expectations set up by last season--I think the Parsons are generally technical freight trains & would be hard-pressed to find someone who is a better technical match. They would probably have to forfeit their line, unison, and power. Which could be very costly, considering the U.S. dance field. So . . . I can fathom a stronger team presentation-wise; but it would have to be a repartnering with the right person. (And Michael isn't that tall, and Rachel isn't that expressive). Probably easier to find the right vehicle. Something like their hip hop SD or Bobrova & Soloviev's sailor program. Something that highlights how alike their skating is and showcases their similarities as a strength. If they have to slow down to skate with someone else (and Wheaton's top two teams skate faster than a lot of senior teams), then a new team would be hard-pressed to score as well in the long run.

 

[Alchamei]

There are some warm rinks and some cold rinks everywhere. For example, when I skated at some rinks in the Czech republic, they were warm. But other rinks there were cold. The same in any other country. Even in the UK there are some pretty cold ones and some warmer ones. I guess it would be the rink manager who decides on the temperature.

Actually, it is the same when we go to watch europeans and worlds. Some years it is warmer arena and some years it is colder.

Didn't Gauthier himself say that some rinks are colder than others, like PC? However, he added that the Czech rink was unacceptably cold, especially for someone who permanently trains there and who is a junior World Champion but can't have better conditions.

 

[chameleon]

The conventional wisdom is that it takes roughly four years of skating together to really fully gel as a team. So any discussions about what skaters could potentially gain from finding new partners has to be weighed against that. Of course if you wait too long to make a needed change, you could miss your window. Its a tricky balance to meet, and hindsight is 20/20.

However I don't think longevity is a huge issue right now? The majority of the junior teams from nationals this year are still skating together, if not all of them. Aldridge/Eaton have actually reunited, realizing that they're each others best match. I recall many calls for them to split the last season they skated together, and it didn't work out for either of them.

The additional trouble is finding a high level partner that is the right size for them. Parsons have a very small height difference, but at least they're used to each other and have matching technique. Especially for Rachel, since there are few high level guys who are on the taller side and don't already have partners.

 

[Nirti]

Sarah Hughes is looking for a new partner

Goda Butkute has created her icepartnersearch bio again. I hope she can find somebody soon.

 

[daphenaxa]

Does someone think there is a chance for my dream partnership Abachkina/ Yakushev to happen? I've seen they are still both on icepartner search. I really really hope they could do a tryout. I think they would be like perfect for each other.

 

[SnowWhite]

Does someone think there is a chance for my dream partnership Abachkina/ Yakushev to happen? I've seen they are still both on icepartner search. I really really hope they could do a tryout. I think they would be like perfect for each other.

He already has a new partner. Sofia Polishchuk. Confirmed by Tiffany Zagorski's mom on FSU. They're with Krylova: https://www.instagram.com/p/BiFgZt_B9IW/?taken-by=katerina_kuznitsina

 

[Jana]

That's nothing new. But important thing - they haven't tried to train together yet. And look at Czech singles skaters lists (both junior and senior). There is not a lot names, so we probably already named Anna's partner (Jiri Belohradsky, Petr Kotlarik, Radek Jakubka).

Petr Kotlarik has returned to France so he probably continues Singles.

 

[mom2cavs]

She has a potential partnership with an American junior. No announcements have been made so thats all I can say for certain.

Does someone think there is a chance for my dream partnership Abachkina/ Yakushev to happen? I've seen they are still both on icepartner search. I really really hope they could do a tryout. I think they would be like perfect for each other.

 

[Andrea82]

Lorenz/Polizoakis.

She retires. He will search for a new partner

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiluAjCDg-Z/?taken-by=jotipolizoakis

 

[mikeko666]

Lorenz/Polizoakis.

She retires. He will search for a new partner

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiluAjCDg-Z/?taken-by=jotipolizoakis

I'm in shock. I thought they had just started their career as a team. She's only 22.

 

[MaiKatze]

Lorenz/Polizoakis.

She retires. He will search for a new partner

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiluAjCDg-Z/?taken-by=jotipolizoakis

Nooo...What?

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Noooooo

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Lorenz/Polizoakis.

She retires. He will search for a new partner

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiluAjCDg-Z/?taken-by=jotipolizoakis

Given that they originally split at the end of their first season together (see the first post in the 2016-17 season thread) and then re-united 2 months later, I'm not entirely surprised that they are splitting again.

BUT, I am surprised that it is because Kavita is retiring. I thought that she would have wanted to carry on competing for another cycle. Like, she is still young for an ice dancer. (Hey, she's only 3 months older than Joti!)

Alas, it is not to be.

I wish both of them all the best for whatever their futures hold.

CaroLiza_Fan

 

[WeakAnkles]

Lorenz/Polizoakis.

She retires. He will search for a new partner

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiluAjCDg-Z/?taken-by=jotipolizoakis

Interesting that he gives her pretty much a perfunctory (and obligatory) "Yeah she's leaving, thanks and good luck to ya" and then spends the rest of that considerable instagram post on him him him. Interesting.

 

[mom2cavs]

They originally broke up because he was getting married. When that didn't work out he went back to skate with Kavita.

 

[luckyguy]

Interesting that he gives her pretty much a perfunctory (and obligatory) "Yeah she's leaving, thanks and good luck to ya" and then spends the rest of that considerable instagram post on him him him. Interesting.

Did he thank her?

Kavita has decided to end her competitive career. I wish her the best in pursuing her new chapter in life.
I first would like to say thank you to everyone who supported me throughout the past 3 years. ...

 

[Nirti]

Are Müller/Dieck still competing?
A bit hard for Germany to build a long-term #1 partnership since Winkler/Lohse... (I count apart Zhiganshina/Gazsi, who needed time to get the support from the German fed...)