2021-22 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating | Page 41 | Golden Skate

2021-22 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

Spiralgraph said:
The pairs discipline has been my favorite for a very long time. Am I disappointed in recent developments? Darn right I am. But I don't expect K//F or C-G/L or any team to skate forever or be the saviors of pairs in the USA. That kind of thinking is unrealistic. We;ve seen how people can get injured, tired, run out of money or just get older and get new priorities. So if the USA underperforms in pairs for a few seasons I'll be disappointed but not disillusioned or devastated. I've seen this happen before and frankly with what's happening in the world I can't act like the status of USA pairs is the most inportant thing to me. It's not.
Click to expand...
It’s not the most important thing but it is a nice distraction.

Latest rumor is that Martins/Bedard have split and he has moved to Meno/Sands group. He is 21 so not going to skate Juniors? So Bedard and .. someone? I’m also told Danny and Jessica skated together in Novice and that a reunion is unlikely.
 
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Spiralgraph said:
The pairs discipline has been my favorite for a very long time. Am I disappointed in recent developments? Darn right I am. But I don't expect K//F or C-G/L or any team to skate forever or be the saviors of pairs in the USA. That kind of thinking is unrealistic. We;ve seen how people can get injured, tired, run out of money or just get older and get new priorities. So if the USA underperforms in pairs for a few seasons I'll be disappointed but not disillusioned or devastated. I've seen this happen before and frankly with what's happening in the world I can't act like the status of USA pairs is the most inportant thing to me. It's not.
Click to expand...

Well, of course it's not the most important thing in the world.

But this is a US Pairs thread on a figure skating fan board... so I'm not sure what you are expecting.
 
I'm having trouble keeping up.

Are there more pairs men or pairs women on the market right now?
 
Well of course my mind immediately drifts to pairing Misha and Jessica. Not based on anything but the fact that they are both available. But Misha would need to move from Boston to LA, and he seems quite happy with Olga and Alex, which would at least explain the show with Hazel, another SCOB skater
 
TontoK said:
Misha has an Instagram post just now. He wishes Audrey all the best. Apparently, she's decided to end the partnership to pursue academics at UCLA.

It's a nice post, full of gratitude. He looks forward to the next season and the challenges that will come with it... without going into much detail.

Click to expand...

Audrey Lu also posted on Instagram today.
It's nice to see that the partnership ended with good feelings all around.




USFS has updated the ISP list, and it now has only seven pairs :(:

Sonia Baram and Daniel Tioumentsev
Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier
Katie McBeath and Nathan Bartholomay
Anastasiia Smirnova and Danil Siianytsia
Cayla Smith and Andy Deng

www.usfigureskating.org

Qualify for National Team

Qualify for National Team
www.usfigureskating.org www.usfigureskating.org

I think/hope that removal from the list does not necessarily mean the end of a partnership?
I could swear that my beloved Plazas/Fernandez were on the list as recently as a few days ago -- or am I imagining things?
I hope that it will be possible for them to re-qualify for the coming season. :pray:


moonvine said:
Latest rumor is that Martins/Bedard have split and he has moved to Meno/Sands group. He is 21 so not going to skate Juniors? So Bedard and .. someone? ....
Click to expand...

I do recall seeing Bedard in an Instastory photo of the "cheering section" of skaters at Great Park Ice watching a Knierim/Frazier competition simulation. I think it was before Worlds (as opposed to before Olympics), but am not sure.
 
ice coverage said:
Audrey Lu also posted on Instagram today.
It's nice to see that the partnership ended with good feelings all around.

(Apr 4)​

​


USFS has updated the ISP list, and it now has only seven pairs :(:

Sonia Baram and Daniel Tioumentsev​
Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc​
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe​
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier​
Katie McBeath and Nathan Bartholomay​
Anastasiia Smirnova and Danil Siianytsia​
Cayla Smith and Andy Deng​
​
www.usfigureskating.org

Qualify for National Team

Qualify for National Team
www.usfigureskating.org www.usfigureskating.org

I think/hope that removal from the list does not necessarily mean the end of a partnership?
I could swear that my beloved Plazas/Fernandez were on the list as recently as a few days ago -- or am I imagining things?
I hope that it will be possible for them to re-qualify for the coming season. :pray:




I do recall seeing Bedard in an Instastory photo of the "cheering section" of skaters at Great Park Ice watching a Knierim/Frazier competition simulation. I think it was before Worlds (as opposed to before Olympics), but am not sure.
Click to expand...

I’m not sure I have ever known you to be wrong.

I tried to do some detective work, but could find little info on Plazas/Fernandez. Of course I found their USFS bio: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...alentina-plazas-and-maximiliano-fernandez/568

As I know you know, if the skaters have social media they will usually be linked from there. But in this case none are listed.

Other than that, I found a few videos and some congratulatory posts from their rink.

If they don’t have social media I’m not sure how we would find out if they did break up.
 
TontoK said:
I'm having trouble keeping up.

Are there more pairs men or pairs women on the market right now?
Click to expand...
Let’s list them.

Men: Misha, Danny, Ryan Bedard Mervin Tran (retired?)
Women: Jessica (?), Kate Finister, Olivia Serafini,

I know I’m leaving folks out.
 
Spiralgraph said:
I know the suggestion of Tai and Randy coming back is said in jest and disappointment at what's happening in US pairs but I truly believe that Tai and Randy still have the best connection, oneness and pair Ina Bauers of any pairs in US history. Oh well let's see what happens going forward.
Click to expand...
Oh so do I. They are my faves. And the pull Arabians!
 
Moxiejan said:
It’s not moot, because she easily could have arrived at Worlds with her injury fully healed, THEN gotten injured again in practice prior to the SP. The rules on 3 spots made it essential for Ash/Tim to be top 10 in the SP. Yes, very likely with so few pairs entered. But they still had to skate & make it happen.
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I doubt that kind of injury (an ankle sprain) was fully healed, speaking from personal experience. I'm guessing they were all hopeful the situation could be overcome. Not having a day of rest in between the programs had to be a huge disadvantage.

You made your point regarding the rules, and thanks. Everything's moot at around this point of what will be a huge, transitional season.
 
ice coverage said:
USFS has updated the ISP list, and it now has only seven pairs :(:
Click to expand...
Then I suppose Danny Neudecker & Sasha F. ended their partnership, especially after not making the cut for U.S. Nationals? In any case, the ISP list doesn't include some senior partnerships. And it doesn't include juniors either.

moonvine said:
Rumor has it that Cate Fleming and Chase Finister have split.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. As usual, it appears that something has to happen quickly and fast or there isn't much patience to see a partnership through. Or, else there are other concerns that take place, and a lack of mutual goals.
 
BlissfulSynergy said:
Then I suppose Danny Neudecker & Sasha F. ended their partnership, especially after not making the cut for U.S. Nationals? In any case, the ISP list doesn't include some senior partnerships. And it doesn't include juniors either.



Hmmm. As usual, it appears that something has to happen quickly and fast or there isn't much patience to see a partnership through. Or, else there are other concerns that take place, and a lack of mutual goals.
Click to expand...
Were Danny and Sasha on the ISP list?

It’s unclear to me if either Cate or Chase plan to continue. I think Chase had been skating singles and just tried pairs last year, while Cate had skated pairs previously.

I guess with juniors especially they either pop back up with someone else or they don’t.
 
moonvine said:
I’m not sure I have ever known you to be wrong.

I tried to do some detective work, but could find little info on Plazas/Fernandez. Of course I found their USFS bio: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...alentina-plazas-and-maximiliano-fernandez/568

As I know you know, if the skaters have social media they will usually be linked from there. But in this case none are listed.

Other than that, I found a few videos and some congratulatory posts from their rink.

If they don’t have social media I’m not sure how we would find out if they did break up.
Click to expand...

Plazas/Fernandez have longstanding Instagram accounts. (It is regrettable that the USFS bio does not have the links. )

Valentina/Maximiliano partnership: https://www.instagram.com/vmskates/​


(His individual account is private.)​

They already announced their music selections for 2022-23, so I am optimistic :pray: that they are going full steam ahead.

(LOL, I am not immune from accidentally garbling factual stuff or from misremembering factual stuff.
And I did not save a screenshot of the previous version of the ISP list, so maybe it was only my wishful thinking that they had been on it before?)


BlissfulSynergy said:
... In any case, the ISP list doesn't include some senior partnerships. And it doesn't include juniors either. ...
Click to expand...

The ISP list is not limited to seniors.
For example, for pairs:
Baram/Tioumentsev and Smith/Deng are on the list without being eligible for 2022-23 senior international competition -- because Baram and Smith are too young.​

The point of my previous post was that it gives me pause that only seven U.S. pairs total (junior + senior) currently are eligible for international assignments.
(Yes, other pairs exist. No one ever said otherwise.)


BlissfulSynergy said:
Then I suppose Danny Neudecker & Sasha F. ended their partnership, especially after not making the cut for U.S. Nationals? ...
Click to expand...

moonvine said:
Were Danny and Sasha on the ISP list? ...
Click to expand...

I don't claim to know the status of the Neudecker partnership.
FWIW: Within the last day or two, the Ice Dreams tour was promoting that they will be guest performers at one of the shows. I don't remember which location.

ETA (on Apr 8):
Ooops, sorry -- I guess they are performing in more than one show. But I will not be bothering to try to find out whether they will be in all shows or only certain shows.​

I am 99% (but not 100% ;)) sure that this Neudecker partnership never has been on ISP list.


moonvine said:
Rumor has it that Cate Fleming and Chase Finister have split.
Click to expand...

moonvine said:
... I think Chase had been skating singles and just tried pairs last year ...
Click to expand...

Before becoming known for singles, Chase Finster was U.S. champion in juvenile pairs (with Sydney Flaum).

I have no idea whether the Fleming/Finster rumor is true.
Even if(??) it were true, I would not venture to guess what the reason(s) would be.

A mention that could be completely irrelevant 🤷‍♀️: In 2022-23, Chase will be too old for junior international competition.
 
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ice coverage said:
Plazas/Fernandez have longstanding Instagram accounts. (It is regrettable that the USFS bio does not have the links. )

Valentina/Maximiliano partnership: https://www.instagram.com/vmskates/​


(His individual account is private.)​

They already announced their music selections for 2022-23, so I am optimistic :pray: that they are going full steam ahead.

(LOL, I am not immune from accidentally garbling factual stuff or from misremembering factual stuff.
And I did not save a screenshot of the previous version of the ISP list, so maybe it was only my wishful thinking that they had been on it before?)

Click to expand...
I asked elsewhere and was told they were never on the ISP list. Only the top 2 juniors are on it and their senior scores/placements do not merit ISP listing is what I was told. If that’s wrong, so be it. I’m also told they are “quietly training away.”

Can you share Plazas/Fernandez’ social media links?
ice coverage said:
Before becoming known for singles, Chase Finster was U.S. champion in juvenile pairs (with Sydney Flaum).
Click to expand...

My hat is off to you. I have a hard time keeping up with junior pairs. Juvenile, no way. Can’t do it.
ice coverage said:
I have no idea whether the Fleming/Finster rumor is true.
Even if(??) it were true, I would not venture to guess what the reason(s) would be.

A mention that could be completely irrelevant 🤷‍♀️: In 2022-23, Chase will be too old for junior international competition.
Click to expand...
Or it could be very relevant if he got a good partner as we obviously need senior pairs.
 
BlissfulSynergy said:
Then I suppose Danny Neudecker & Sasha F. ended their partnership, especially after not making the cut for U.S. Nationals? In any case, the ISP list doesn't include some senior partnerships. And it doesn't include juniors either.
Click to expand...
If they didn’t make the cut for US Nationals why would they be on the ISP list?
 
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