2025-26 U.S. Pairs Figure Skating

[Tutto]

I haven't seen much commentary about Worlds results for U.S. pairs. Probably because the outcome was so disappointing. What a difference from U.S. pairs Worlds results post '22 Olympics.

No excuses, but of course, it must have been hard for Alisa and Misha having to sit out the '26 Olympics as U.S. pairs champs. Even winning 4CCs was likely not enough consolation. Still, it's too bad they seemed a bit back on their heels and not fully motivated at Worlds. The quality in their skating was so present, despite the errors. It was certainly possible for them to place at least third had they skated more cleanly and with more conviction. The judges were clearly giving them high GOE at the start. But the high numbers begin to decrease with errors, as the judges' perceptions take a downturn.

You are right, the Worlds were disappointing for Alisa/Misha fans. I don't know what I am more upset about - the fact that they underperformed or that they seemed very content with 6th place finish and not improving on their PB. They did not move up a place or score compared to Boston. To me it was rather discouraging to see.
Just when you get your hopes up that Alisa's confidence on jumps has improved, comes the next comp and ... sigh ... back to square one. I realise that my frustration is nothing compared to what Alisa must be feeling. Still...
If I were the US Fed I would send Alisa to Rafael Arutyunyan for a couple of weeks during the off-season. If he could fix (somewhat) her technique on either a toeloop or sal, it would benefit their scores/placements enormously. Because that is the only thing holding them up. The judges as you said are willing to give them big marks.
Raf is not a miracle worker but he could at least try, I remember that Mariah Bell was hopeless but under Raf she became quite a consistent jumper.
I am no expert but I do see two issues with Alisa's jumps 1) she doesn't get enough elevation - sadly a common problem with delicately built girls - no strength in the legs to get a good spring 2) her air position is not tight, very inefficient. And with issue No1 she does need a very quick rotation (see Kimmy Repond!) I honestly do not know how she manages to get it done (occasionally) probably through a sheer determination. I do not know who taught her originally was it her mother? I look at Iida's jumping technique which is questionable but gets the job done. Alisa's seems to be different. I know Russian coaches, Vasiliev & Moskvina tried to re-work her technique to some extent. So did her present coaches. It is a frustrating situation. Still, I think if anyone could help it is Raf. And if the Fed is unwilling to fund I would, if I were Alisa, to use the prize money for that purpose.
Also I got rather upset that they are even thinking of keeping the Love Story for the next season (there was a short Worlds interview which I can't find anymore) for God's sake it is a beautiful program but enough is enough!! The vocals! Another year? Nooooooooooo...
I can't say I am that mad about Renee choreo this season, I feel it was rather a repetition of the same moves in places. My dearest wish is for them to go to Lori for one of the programs. They need first class programs to be competitive especially as jumps are problematic. Other top contenders have more complex choreo (Lia/Trent) or more consistent technically (M/B, P/S)
Regarding other US pairs, I like a lot of things about Katie/Daniil skating. I suspect Katie's problem is that she is unable to keep concentration for a entire skate and once a mistake was made, there is tendency to lose focus even more. Would competing more fix it? In Sasha Cohen day I asked myself that same question every day. I incline to think the answer is no. It is just the way they are.
I can't make myself to feel anything about Emily/Spencer skating it leaves me cold, but it is just me.
I still think Ellie & Balazs would make an exciting pair to watch but we have to wait and see who will pair with whom!

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Thanks @Tutto. I find it helpful to share thoughts with other fans, none of which is intended to hurt skaters. As fans we often experience an emotional investment, either extensive or fleeting watching the journeys of skaters over many years. Our emotions for skaters and their performances can be complex, just as the up-and-down roller coaster of witnessing judging and myriad happenings in skaters' lives over the course of a season can be complex and exhausting. There is an inherent unfairness that seems built-in to how figure skating operates. I find that to be the most draining and frustrating aspect to watching skating.

It isn't necessarily just about being upset for fave skaters who experience setbacks or disappointing results. I enjoy watching many skaters, even if they are not ones I actively root for. This is a tough sport, and I respect all the skaters who work so hard to pursue their passion. What is most upsetting for me is all the ways the sport fails its athletes, routinely. That's why I'm glad skaters began speaking up critically this season regarding the faults of the sport's competitive structure, and its constantly shifting, non-beneficial rules changes. Those who have spoken out include Piper Gillis, Guillaume Cizeron, Alysa Liu, Ilia Malinin, and Yuma Kagiyama. Kudos and mucho respect to them all. Sadly, it appears that TPTB do not like this candid pushback from skaters. I heard that the ISU has plans to prohibit critical comments by skaters at press conferences regarding the judging. The ISU would be better off actually listening to athletes and finding ways to make this sport work better for them! Athletes are the sport's lifeblood, not officials.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Regarding U.S. pairs results at Worlds, @Tutto, I agree with much of what you have expressed. However, I feel for Alisa & Misha regarding what must feel so disheartening and anticlimactic. They had a chance to realize their dream of going to an Olympics, but sadly they had to sit at home watching their teammates' joy. At the same time, it must have been difficult to continue training for Worlds, essentially a consolation prize. I think they made their best effort at Worlds, but I think being inactive competitively for two months, even despite continuing to train, can blunt athletes' intensity and sharpness. Lia/Trennt were sharper, more confident, and highly motivated after their positive experiences at the Olympics. For sure, there should be no excuses, but the difference in mental and physical preparedness and motivational frame of reference coming into Worlds probably mattered a lot between these two teams, even in regard to judges' perceptions as well. Thus, the best Alisa/Misha might have done was to place 4th. And that placement would only have mattered had Chan/ Howe been able to place at least 9th, which of course, was possible but didn't happen.

Regarding Chan/ Howe, once again, they had been second alternates for Worlds, so I think their focus and excitement had been on the Olympics, understandably. They did not expect to compete at Worlds. The split of Shin/Nagy and injury pull-out of Kam/ O'Shea led to C/H being called upon. I find it equally disappointing that McBeath/Parkman did not have a better showing. The good thing is how much McB/Park's skating showed high-level quality, as did Efi/Mit's, despite their respective letdown errors. For Chan/ Howe, if they do continue, I think it's important for them both to be healthy and to have adequate training under their belts. They also need to find a spark with new material that can enliven their partnership outlook.

I think it is crucial for Alisa, Chelsea, and Valentina Plazas (if she and Max are continuing) to find a way to improve consistency on their jumping passes and throws. It should be doable, if there's a determined and well-planned strategy. If not, I'd really like to understand from those in-the-know (such as @Diana Delafield), what is the seeming inherent difficulty of overcoming weaknesses in jump technique for so many skaters, particularly pairs skaters? I would imagine that the necessity to jump in unison with one's partner complicates the difficulty. What is the key to so many Russian pairs skaters' tech precision on jumps and throws? How ironic it is that Alisa was trained in the Russian system! Did she learn bad jump technique early on, or is there a physical weakness component to her difficulty in rotating triples? I agree with you @Tutto that Alisa needs better spring for greater height, but there's likely a lot of tech modifications needed, and it appears that once a bad technique is learned in skating, it's difficult to change one's bad habit muscle memory. I wonder what clicked for Val that had her looking more confident landing jumps and throws in the lead-up to '26 U.S. Nats.

Oh well, I'm sure we will be hearing a lot of news this off-season. The disorienting reset has only just begun. Best of luck to all the skaters. This is figure skating, and much like life, athletes must learn to accept and celebrate their efforts and to not get down on themselves about missed opportunities. There's always hope. Most important is to believe in oneself, and to embrace victories (large and small) and to learn from disappointments.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I got rather upset that [Alisa & Misha] are even thinking of keeping the Love Story for the next season (there was a short Worlds interview which I can't find anymore) for God's sake it is a beautiful program but enough is enough!! The vocals! Another year? Nooooooooooo...

LOL! I kinda agree with you. This program was pleasant, but not quite as good as the previous program Renee created for Efi/Mit. Of course, Katia Gordeeva also contributed to the choreo of Love Story. It's pleasant and okay, but it does not quite have the punch and emotional impact of, for example, the short program that Baker/ Hubbell created for Lia/Trennt.

It is not easy crafting impactful programs. I think the idea of Love Story for Efi/Mit, as a tribute to Gordeeva/ Grinkov, was good, but it did not come to full fruition. In part, I think that's because the dynamic between Alisa/Misha is reticent. Their personalities seem understated. There may be passion underneath, but I think they hold back a bit which leaves some observers not feeling a passionate connection between them. Choice of music and choreo is very important to bringing out their hidden passion.

The work they had the year prior seemed to be more successful in them exhibiting more animated expression. That could have been, in part, due to the huge personal losses suffered and endured at the SCOB, which deeply impacted Alisa/Misha's performances since then. Even at '25 U.S. Nats, prior to the devastating air crash, Alisa/Misha were passionatedly determined to make the '25 Worlds team, set to take place at their Boston rink. They were on a high, and their programs were a bit more engaging. The search for the right material is definitely key to standing out and impressing audiences and judges.

I like a lot of things about Katie/Daniil skating. I suspect Katie's problem is that she is unable to keep concentration for a entire skate and once a mistake was made, there is tendency to lose focus even more. Would competing more fix it? In Sasha Cohen day I asked myself that same question every day. I incline to think the answer is no.

I think Katie's issues are more about believing in herself. The exceptional abilities are there. So, I definitely feel that more major competitive experience and being fully embraced by U.S. fed is important and would help Katie & Daniil tremendously. I am not ready to say that Katie's mental focus is similar to the challenges Sasha Cohen faced.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I think it is crucial for Alisa, Chelsea, and Valentina Plazas (if she and Max are continuing) to find a way to improve consistency on their jumping passes and throws. It should be doable, if there's a determined and well-planned strategy. If not, I'd really like to understand from those in-the-know (such as @Diana Delafield), what is the seeming inherent difficulty of overcoming weaknesses in jump technique for so many skaters, particularly pairs skaters? I would imagine that the necessity to jump in unison with one's partner complicates the difficulty. What is the key to so many Russian pairs skaters' tech precision on jumps and throws? How ironic it is that Alisa was trained in the Russian system! Did she learn bad jump technique early on, or is their a physical weakness component to her difficulty in rotating triples? I agree with you @Tutto that Alisa needs better spring for greater height, but there's likely a lot of tech modifications needed, and it appears that once a bad technique is learned in skating, it's difficult to change one's bad habit muscle memory. I wonder what clicked for Val that had her looking more confident landing jumps and throws in the lead-up to '26 U.S. Nats.

Um. So many reasons, and I can't really keep saying "most pairs girls" because I only know my own opinions and those of other pairs girls I was friends with over the years. But, in random order:

1. There are many more elements to practise in pairs than in singles skating, your own singles moves and the ones you do with your partner. Your pairs coach, understandably, wants to spend lesson time on the things you do together. You either practise your jumps and spins on your own time or with a different coach or separate lesson with your pairs coach. More time, more expense.

2. Also more wear and tear on the body. Practising jumps, you fall. A lot. Your partner isn't keen when you crawl to your joint lesson saying "Don't catch me there!" "Put your hand somewhere else in the pair spin just for today, I've got a big bruise on that hip" and so on. Most of the pairs girls I know would far rather do lifts and twists because their partner catches them as they land. Throws and sbs jumps make them nervous because they're on their own for the landing and their own jump practice may have been short-changed for lack of time or supervision by a coach.

3. Girls usually come to pairs somewhere in their teens. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that girls have more difficulty relearning jump technique as they go through puberty because that straight body of childhood spreads out in more places than for growing boys, altering their ability to rotate. Boys grow upwards and their shoulders broaden, girls widen out here, there, and everywhere, and their technique in the air has to change. I was lucky; I was a "late bloomer" and I've never been what you'd call curvaceous in my life, so I had less relearning to do. The age at which girls take up pairs is when many are still adjusting to new bodies and never do have enough time to thoroughly relearn how to jump before they're literally thrown into pairs elements. So they fall at the beginning. A lot. And it hurts. This makes them more nervous as they approach sbs jumps and throws, and nerves will bring you down, literally, every time.

4. The girl's early coaching in singles may not have been bad. But their coach may have accepted that their natural style is to jump low and far and not tried to change their style to jump up. When they start pairs, coordinating sbs jumps is one of the most difficult parts. He's going to jump higher and farther just because he's taller and stronger. If she's a low jumper, she'll start to rotate sooner and land sooner. It works best if they can compromise and both alter their styles, but the tendency as I've known it is for her to have to try harder to change. As if she didn't already have enough to do while she learns! Sometimes it works even if their styles are different --Duhamel and Radford managed that. Sometimes they're able to compromise and match -- I keep rewatching Miura and Kihara's FS from the Olympics just to sigh over the perfect synchronicity of their sbs jumps. This is all made more difficult if they keep changing partners, of course. I had one partner throughout my competitive career. After we retired and moved apart for years studying and working before now reuniting, my series of recreational partners often had different styles, but synchronizing perfectly didn't matter as much if we were only skating in club shows.

5. I agree that a lengthy session for her with a coach who's a jump specialist would be beneficial, IF that jump coach at least studies films of the male partner's style and figures out what needs to change to bring them more into line for their solo jumps. A lot of strength training, often. I suspect my simultaneous lessons in gymnastics, where we often used the trampoline as well, made me into a straight-up-in-the-air jumper on the ice from the start, and gave me more confidence landing on my own in throws, but our pairs coach still sent me to Dr Herbert May, a jump specialist, who gave us each separate lessons and worked out in his head how to make the few minor changes needed without us having the distraction of looking side-eyed to see what the other was doing and trying to match. For us, it was arm position. I tend to clap my hands into a "prayer" when I take off. My partner punches his right fist into his left palm. My elbows were higher than his, his were pulled in to his ribs more. I now do it his way because I found it gave more power for a faster rotation. But that's just us.

6. I don't know what the Russian secret is. Maybe they're all taught the same style from the start. A lot of their coaches seem to have trained at the university level to be skating coaches and that's how they're taught to teach? That's one I can't answer.

7. For landing throws, what she needs more than anything else is a partner who is consistent in how he throws. I've heard partners of Paul Martini and David Pelletier say that the secret to their throws is that he does his part exactly the same every time. I suppose if his natural release technique doesn't mesh with her natural jumping style, then those throws are in trouble before they take off, but that's a subtle problem I haven't encountered myself.

8. This list has gone on quite long enough, but I often use visualization and self-hypnosis because I have a tendency to go blank in the middle of a program/dance routine/song/play. What helps me as a skater/dancer/singer/actor might be used beneficially for some of these girls in controlling the wobblies while in the air. Visualizing the perfect landing over and over until it's engrained. Might help.

I'm sure there are other tricks that could be tried. What works best is going back to absolute basics -- a waltz jump or throw -- and landing it successfully over and over and over. Add a revolution and repeat. The muscles will learn, and do their job even if the brain goes squirrelly.

 

[Tutto]

@Diana Delafield - thank you very much for taking time to explain it all! A fascinating stuff! Still digesting tbh. Regarding Alisa I actually think she and Misha have a good unison on jumps (when it works for Alisa obviously) they are well able to watch each other and synchronise. Something many pairs are not so good at. Well, they are married after all, look at their sbs spins - perfect unison!
Something I just remembered from a recent interview with Minerva. She said that participating in shows between the Oly and Worlds helped her a lot with consistency on jumps, as there was no warm-ups, it was literally every day (or a few days a week) with minimal preparation, and it gave her confidence that if she could do it in such a set-up she sure could do it in competition. Something perhaps to consider for Alisa/Misha and Katie/Daniil.
Are they invited to take part in any shows this off season I wonder, I don't think Alisa/Misha had done any last summer. I really think it would help Alisa.
Thanks again!

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of pairs' girls experiences @Diana Delafield. This is great insight and detailed food for thought. It's even more complex than I imagined. Wow! This sport better start paying more attention to the needs of young women rather than favoring men in every aspect. Especially in pairs, females should be seen as the key ingredient to a successful partnership. This is my opinion, based in part on what you have outlined.

I think another part of the problem is simply the lack of full investment in and dearth of dedicated attention paid to the pairs discipline. That needs to change!!!

Regarding Soviet technique in pairs, I think it stems in large part to the balletic legacy of Belousova/ Protopopov, which changed the discipline from 1964 onward. While the Soviets felt B/P were too old and slow, their ballet training, innovations to the death spiral, and the utter beauty of their skating brought a new vision of what pairs skating could be in terms of storytelling and the concept of a unified and seamless duo captivating audiences. This fresh dynamism goes hand-in-hand, I believe, with the Russian tradition of ballet and theater. The university trained teachers you mentioned surely brought not only anatomical knowledge and physical education tools, but likely also the rich technical and cultural knowledge from theater and ballet, which in many ways had historically been perfected in Russia.

Meanwhile, Belousova/ Protopopov elegantly demonstrated how well theater and ballet could enrich and advance the pairs discipline. Thereafter, Soviet coaches and skaters took full advantage of the balletic approach to pairs skating pioneered by B/P. I would imagine that technical moves and training skills from ballet were incorporated into how Russian university trained coaches taught their pairs students.

While off-ice ballet practice is generally encouraged by coaches in the U.S. and other non-Soviet countries, often with Russian instructors, it's likely not as structured and consistent. Thus, many skaters outside of Russia likely did not grow up with a strict ballet-incorporated approach to learning pairs. This is my take, but I am guessing based on my years of following the sport and on my knowledge of ballet.

 

[ramurphy2005]

Flores/Wang aren't on the ISP anymore.

 

[crystalspin]

Flores/Wang official announcement sounds like Olivia will be quitting skating to focus on academics or that's what I figured when Luke mentioned academics and cheering Olivia on in a different setting. Her last instagram post was saying big things coming so I wonder if she got into a really good college.

I thought Starr was having a documentary to show her search for a partner but it would be hilarious if her new partner is just her boyfriend. Like she really didn't have to search far away.

 

[bckabck]

Flores/Wang official announcement sounds like Olivia will be quitting skating to focus on academics or that's what I figured when Luke mentioned academics and cheering Olivia on in a different setting. Her last instagram post was saying big things coming so I wonder if she got into a really good college.

I thought Starr was having a documentary to show her search for a partner but it would be hilarious if her new partner is just her boyfriend. Like she really didn't have to search far away.

The way I read the post was that he stated both their "academic and skating" careers, and that he will be cheering for her in a different setting. To me this sounds like they are still really good friends and the split was amicable, but sounds like they are both continuing to skate.

It is interesting because I read an article with Anything GOES where Natalia talked about Olivia and Luke, https://anythinggoe.com/mishkutenok/.

If Luke and Starr pair up I imagine they will stay in CA and perhaps train under Meno/Sands/Frazier. Could do a split coaching as will with M&MPairs.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I think Luke intends to continue his education, too, likely in Caliifornia. 'Different setting', to me, means a different state/ training rink.

Liv appears to still be training at MMPairs in Colorado Springs, so it doesn't seem like she's retiring. Probably, she is going to combine academic study with athletics.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

perhaps train under Meno/Sands/Frazier.

Brandon Frazier announced on his IG that he's making a career change to financial services with New York Life. He has a special interest in assisting skaters and other athletes in securing their financial well-being. Kudos and Best Wishes to Brandon.

 

[Spiralgraph]

Brandon's switching careers isn't a big surprise at all. But that doesn't mean he has closed all doors to the skating world as his interest in helping athletes financially indicates. Those ties to skating remain just in case he wants to help out in the rink occasionally...

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Yeah, I don't think we know for sure exactly what Brandon's schedule is going to look like unless we know him personally, LOL. I would imagine it's possible he might continue a smaller coaching role at the rink. He used to travel extensively with Irvine pairs skaters, and with Torgy to help out Raf's team. I doubt that traveling to events with skaters is something Brandon will continue to have time to do, but we'll see.

Brandon is also a very successful high stakes bridge poker player, and he's well known in that community. I love the fact that he and Mariah Bell hooked up a while ago romantically, after knowing each other for so long as Team USA athletes.

 

[ice coverage]

Bridge? I know that Brandon Frazier is a high-stakes poker player.
FWIW, I have never heard anything about Brandon playing bridge at a high level?

In any case, I wish him well.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Bridge? I know that Brandon Frazier is a high-stakes poker player.
FWIW, I have never heard anything about Brandon playing bridge?

No matter what, I wish him well.

Ah, yes, my bad. I have never played either so I don't know the difference between these card games. In any case, with his astute 'Poker Face,' Brandon is definitely a consummate, world class 'poker player'! He's famous for winning some high stakes games. In fact, he's been playing since the age of 6, which is probably why he is so good, especially with his inscrutable poker face. And he's obviously great with numbers, too, which aids his betting strategies.

 

[bckabck]

Yeah, I don't think we know for sure exactly what Brandon's schedule is going to look like unless we know him personally, LOL. I would imagine it's possible he might continue a smaller coaching role at the rink. He used to travel extensively with Irvine pairs skaters, and with Torgy to help out Raf's team. I doubt that traveling to events with skaters is something Brandon will continue to have time to do, but we'll see.

Brandon is also a very successful high stakes bridge poker player, and he's well known in that community. I love the fact that he and Mariah Bell hooked up a while ago romantically, after knowing each other for so long as Team USA athletes.

I missed seeing Brandon and Torgashev in the kiss 'n cry later in the season. It was great seeing him along the boards for all those he went to the comps to support. He was always very positive. I hope he'll still coach part time and we'll still see him.

Also, I love the jokes that Mariah plays on Brandon, hilarious.

 

[Tutto]

I've just come across this info:

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206 likes, 0 comments - olgalexcoaching on April 21, 2026: "Unlock Your Global Potential—Join the International Figure Skating Camp with Olympic coaches Olga & Alexei with Olympic technical specialist Yukiko Okabe and our team of Olympic and World athletes. • Train, grow, and soar on the...

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I have no clue what the seminar like that would involve (apart from a paid trip/accommodation for all the participants )
but one thing can be assumed from that - at least 2 US pairs seem to be intact going into the next season!

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I was surprised that Emily & Spencer confirmed continuing. But hopefully, with a full season of training and no injuries they might be able to put together more solid, consistent results. Alisa & Misha were surely returning. They need to find more impactful programs and work on displaying a more palpable connection, in addition to Alisa figuring out better technique to fully rotate her triples consistently.

 

[bckabck]

Do we think Emily and Spencer may have decided to give it at least one more year since they were told they would have some Stars on Ice bookings? I don't really know I'm just throwing it out there.

I remember listening to Tara and Johnny about Emily and Spencer many seasons ago, Johnny had brought up Spencer's plan for surgery because of shoulder pain. Spencer mentioned to Johnny that he wanted to get it done early so they could have a long career. Of course things happen and plans can change.

I saw Timmy Chapman listed on that seminar as well so I guess he's still with the Boston camp. He's been in the MMPairs IG vids skating with some of the women. So I'm still hopeful we'll see him with someone this season.