2024 Skate America: Pairs - Thoughts?

[gsk8]

Refreshed, Miura and Kihara are back in the game

2024 Skate America Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan dominated the Pairs' event at 2024 Skate America, taking the gold on Saturday. The team clearly

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They did look good at Skate America! What are your thoughts on the new programs? Which one is your favorite? Mine was "Paint it Black" and I think Shae-Lynn did a fantastic job.

 

[4everchan]

Both their new programs are great. I also liked Paint in Black. The high energy of both programs suits them very well. I think they have the best set of programs among the contenders and if clean, they won't be beat this year.

Their 3lutz throw is outstanding, and their group (4 i believe) lift is amazing.
They still need work on SBS jumps and the twist but they are getting there.

I think they made the right move going away from Julie Marcotte this year...to try to get something different that will get them an edge over other Julie Marcotte teams I really thought Deanna and Max got the best programs from Julie last year... not so much this year

 

[gsk8]

I like them in "Paint it Black" as well!

I really hope to see more of them, but he was diagnosed with Lumbar spondylosis (degenerative disease of the bones and discs in the lower back). This would explain some entrances into the lifts. I hope that they will be around for a long time, but I worry for him.

I also enjoyed Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov.

 

[YuBluByMe]

I like that Miura/Kihara are not only trying something new, but pulling it off. It doesn’t look as if they’re “going outside their comfort zone” so to speak. Their SP is already one of my favorites and I can watch the throw 3Lz and the step sequence on a loop. The choreographer did a great job.

I was also pleasantly surprised by Kam/O’shea; they were a hot mess in a Challenger event earlier this year. There’s wonderful choreography in their SP (in both programs really) and they have a gorgeous lift. I like them better than Chan/Howe so hopefully they’ll challenge for the gold at Nationals.

 

[jersey1302]

I like that Miura/Kihara are not only trying something new, but pulling it off. It doesn’t look as if they’re “going outside their comfort zone” so to speak. Their SP is already one of my favorites and I can watch the throw 3Lz and the step sequence on a loop. The choreographer did a great job.

I was also pleasantly surprised by Kam/O’shea; they were a hot mess in a Challenger event earlier this year. There’s wonderful choreography in their SP (in both programs really) and they have a gorgeous lift. I like them better than Chan/Howe so hopefully they’ll challenge for the gold at Nationals.

I agree with this entire post. And yeah I was VERY surprised by Kam/O’shea.. I had them 5th in my prediction (I think) and they scored over 200. That’s got to be a huge confidence booster for them. I hope this isn’t their peak and they can replicate or better their SA event performances.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Really great skating from M/K! Yes, errors here (esp the fall in the FS) but the elements they did hit were quality. Especially their throw in the SP was just perfection. They are gunning hard to regain their World title and they can totally do it with these two programs.

I really think Kam/O Shea were pretty overscored in their SP with the errors (like some judges gave 0/-1 GOE on that throw). Their free was better and I think they deserved a medal overall but I had to roll my eyes a bit at their scoring - I don't quite get the love but it's early in the season.

In many respects, I prefer Efimova/Mitrofanov. The Georgians were great too but gave it away on the death spiral. Unfortunate too that the Hungarians have not the best programs and their technical consistency isn't quite their usual - I thought they were a bit robbed at Worlds last year and hoping for a surge but this was a bit of a step back.

Shout out to the British pair too - well-skated programs from them, and lots of potential!

 

[Mathman]

Clearly the class of the field. But I liked Kam and O'shea, too -- especially the short program.