Pairs has for quite some time been the weakest discipline in the US, but I would best describe US pairs this season as having 'turned a corner'.
CG/L, SK/K and D/F have all taken their overall skating to the next level this year. It is creating a situation where US pairs are exciting and have to be on their game to advance out of Nationals. These 3 teams will likely podium at Nationals and any of them could finish in the top 10 at Worlds. SK/K are training SBS jumps w/ Rafael Arutunian and appear to be spending a good bit of time on jumps. I think if they somehow jump adequately, they would win Nationals. OTOH, CG/L have harder jumps and more drama in their programs, and could be the #1 US team with clean performances. D/F are there and ready to take over if they are clean and either of those 2 pairs make a mistake, even a small one. I think the cleanest team wins and selection for Worlds will be based on Nationals performances this time, unless there is a catastrophic skate by one of them.
I think C/J can move up to a solid 4th place but they need to clean up their jumps. Their SS are strong and their throws, twist and lifts are big and of high quality. Probably pewter medalists, but I can see a scenario where they get close to the top 3 if they are 'on'. They are my favorites actually, so I'm invested in seeing them improve.
K/O worry me because they were part of the US top tier for a while until this season. Their programs do nothing for me and I was hopeful that when they moved to Dalilah, they would work on their weaknesses / her strengths, mainly the twist and size of their throws but something isn't working. Tarah normally lags Danny in SS (although their programs cleverly hide it w/ in-betweens and transitions that place her behind him). We will see later in the season if they can come back. They did score 190 at GS last year, so there is a possibility for them, but I think their season would end at Nationals if the other 3 teams keep performing they way they are and C/J have become another obstacle.
L/M are interesting and they can jump which is always refreshing for a US pair. They also skate w/ attack which is also great to watch. No 'deer in the headlights' moments from this pair like some other US skaters. I think they are probably #6 in the US at the moment and any movement upwards is going to be a result of long-term commitment, team-building and perfecting their elements, choreography and presence on the ice. I don't see them going higher at Nationals this year unless there is a crack-up from someone listed above ranked ahead of them.
Of the others, S/T stands out. They are building and just seem to get better with each competition and I'm glad they got international experience at Finlandia. They passed 60 points internationally in the SP. She has no problems landing jumps, but she needs to skate w/ more pizzazz. I think they are another team whose results will come long-term like L/M with team building and development of their skills generally. It remains to be seen what happens to newer teams like D/N. It is good to see that the USFSA recognizes them and they have an international assignment. P/S looked good at the beginning of their careers (I remember they made it to SA once) and they caught my attention by their ability to land SBS jumps, but they are perpetually injured. IDK what to think of them right now. They received the minimum for Nationals as I understand it.
CG/L, SK/K and D/F have all taken their overall skating to the next level this year. It is creating a situation where US pairs are exciting and have to be on their game to advance out of Nationals. These 3 teams will likely podium at Nationals and any of them could finish in the top 10 at Worlds. SK/K are training SBS jumps w/ Rafael Arutunian and appear to be spending a good bit of time on jumps. I think if they somehow jump adequately, they would win Nationals. OTOH, CG/L have harder jumps and more drama in their programs, and could be the #1 US team with clean performances. D/F are there and ready to take over if they are clean and either of those 2 pairs make a mistake, even a small one. I think the cleanest team wins and selection for Worlds will be based on Nationals performances this time, unless there is a catastrophic skate by one of them.
I think C/J can move up to a solid 4th place but they need to clean up their jumps. Their SS are strong and their throws, twist and lifts are big and of high quality. Probably pewter medalists, but I can see a scenario where they get close to the top 3 if they are 'on'. They are my favorites actually, so I'm invested in seeing them improve.
K/O worry me because they were part of the US top tier for a while until this season. Their programs do nothing for me and I was hopeful that when they moved to Dalilah, they would work on their weaknesses / her strengths, mainly the twist and size of their throws but something isn't working. Tarah normally lags Danny in SS (although their programs cleverly hide it w/ in-betweens and transitions that place her behind him). We will see later in the season if they can come back. They did score 190 at GS last year, so there is a possibility for them, but I think their season would end at Nationals if the other 3 teams keep performing they way they are and C/J have become another obstacle.
L/M are interesting and they can jump which is always refreshing for a US pair. They also skate w/ attack which is also great to watch. No 'deer in the headlights' moments from this pair like some other US skaters. I think they are probably #6 in the US at the moment and any movement upwards is going to be a result of long-term commitment, team-building and perfecting their elements, choreography and presence on the ice. I don't see them going higher at Nationals this year unless there is a crack-up from someone listed above ranked ahead of them.
Of the others, S/T stands out. They are building and just seem to get better with each competition and I'm glad they got international experience at Finlandia. They passed 60 points internationally in the SP. She has no problems landing jumps, but she needs to skate w/ more pizzazz. I think they are another team whose results will come long-term like L/M with team building and development of their skills generally. It remains to be seen what happens to newer teams like D/N. It is good to see that the USFSA recognizes them and they have an international assignment. P/S looked good at the beginning of their careers (I remember they made it to SA once) and they caught my attention by their ability to land SBS jumps, but they are perpetually injured. IDK what to think of them right now. They received the minimum for Nationals as I understand it.