2025 Kinoshita Group Cup Pairs Free Skate | Page 4 | Golden Skate

2025 Kinoshita Group Cup Pairs Free Skate

It’s sad that Gamez Korovin have regressed. 143 at Asian and now 141 here. I wonder if they’ll continue to skate after the Oly qualifier.
 
Daniel does not have citizenship nor does he meet the residency requirements for citizenship. Same as Alisa. They both arrived in 2023. He did not get citizenship as a child.
i thought he had done so indeed when he was a child... I knew Alisa didn't have it... but yeah i thought he did.

I am thinking anyway that Alisa and Danil, switching to the USA in 2023 perfectly knew that they wouldn't get citizenship in time for the games.
I mean Deanna decided to represent Canada because Max wouldn't get his USA citizenship in time and how long ago was that ?
 
i thought he had done so indeed when he was a child... I knew Alisa didn't have it... but yeah i thought he did.

I am thinking anyway that Alisa and Danil, switching to the USA in 2023 perfectly knew that they wouldn't get citizenship in time for the games.
I mean Deanna decided to represent Canada because Max wouldn't get his USA citizenship in time and how long ago was that ?
Their first Canadian Nationals was 2020.
 
i thought he had done so indeed when he was a child... I knew Alisa didn't have it... but yeah i thought he did.

I am thinking anyway that Alisa and Danil, switching to the USA in 2023 perfectly knew that they wouldn't get citizenship in time for the games.
I mean Deanna decided to represent Canada because Max wouldn't get his USA citizenship in time and how long ago was that ?
Alisa and Misha hatched some scheme from the beginning to get her citizenship in two years. They recently said they are being helped and that the Olympic dream is not over. But for all practical purposes no skating journalist or podcaster is figuring them in for Milan.
 
YumaSumi's costumes are stunning. I like TOF music for them, it builds so beautifully and matches well their flow and vibe. 3twist looks reliable, throw sal as well, throw loop not consistent yet but overall they are improving very quickly. For now I think they have the highest PBs both in SP and FS from all the teams currently assigned to OG qualifier. I put my money on them for the next quad, they can be a thing. The biggest change I see is Yuna's confidence, she's present and performing from the start when last season she looked still very scared of some of those big elements (understandably). Now she doesn't.
 
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Pairs FS Video
Pairs SP Video post

Links are to video of entire Warmup Groups not individual performances (6 minute warmup not included)
Videos are not high quality but can be viewed in up to 720p
Please let me know if there are any problems with the videos or links

Pairs FS Warmup Group 1
1. Isabella Gamez / Aleksandr Korovin
2. Daria Danilova / Michel Tsiba
3. Valentina Plazas / Maximiliano Fernandez

Pairs FS Warmup Group 2
4. Yuna Nagaoka / Sumitada Moriguchi
5. Anastasiia Metelkina / Luka Berulava
6. Riku Miura / Ryuichi Kihara
 
Katie and Danill are eligible to compete at the Olympic Qualifier only. But first things first. Let's secure that third pairs spot then worry about who will get to go to the Olympics. It's unfair to the efforts of Alisa/Misha and Ellie and Danny at worlds to just shrug our shoulders and doubt that any of the lower ranked USA teams deserve to go to the Olympics. Realistically, the third team isn't going to be in contention anyway... but with COViD still around and all the athletes who become ill at the Olympics with flu, food poisoning etc.. I want that third spot if we confirm it in a couple of weeks.
 
Having watched the dismal efforts of our teams at John Nicks - I think you are going to get it. After Danny & Ellie are done - we do not have much left in the well other than Alisa & Misha and Katie & Danill. I fear pairs will be a thing of the past in the US within 5 years.
Well, pairs has never been a particularly strong discipline in the US historically. Sure, there are exceptions, and they are notable because they're so rare.

Still, I'm not quite as pessimistic as you. I think the domestic pairs field is more crowded, but they're all crowded at about the same level. Good. Respectable. But not great - and I mean World podium contender quality - at least not yet. I don't follow junior skating very much, but I understand a strong US junior team just split. I'm not sure what USFSA can do about that. I'm not a great fan of sibling pairs - I think the natural limitations are too much to overcome, but on the other hand, it makes splits less likely.

If I'm remembering correctly, Misha and Alisa have indicated they're in for the long haul, at least to the next Olympics, and I suspect the same is true for Katie and Danill. Perhaps that will buy some time for new blood to emerge.

If, as I fear, both of these teams do not resolve citizenship issues in time for Milan, then two spots will go to the crew that's in the wad of good-not-great. If USFSA gets that third spot, then I almost hope they reserve it for a developing team with some hope for staying power.
 
I know and realize that. I was hoping that time off would give them a fresh start and old patterns would not be so fixed, but :shrug:
I've lost interest in them. Really, I had long before this, but it's confirmed.
 
I love Riku's and Ryuichi's team spirit - before they start he's like a big bro, giving her a lot confidence and encouragement but when they finish roles change and she's giving him support picking him up when he's completely spent.
Her dress is stunning, perfection.
Program is promising, I hope he can survive this crazy final pose. I like the music choice although I prefer Lisa's Gerrard version (I know olympics are in Milan but, c'mon, Lisa is the best). However, it has all the potential to create epic moment for them.
 
I'm not a great fan of sibling pairs - I think the natural limitations are too much to overcome, but on the other hand, it makes splits less likely.
I’m curious. What limitations, other than avoiding romantic programs or love stories?

Since I’ve starting following ice dance, I immediately noticed that almost all of my favorite teams are brother-sister pairings. (The exceptions tend to be those that have been skating together since the novice level with no other partner or are actual couples.) Granted, ice dance isn’t pairs but I think that same idea applies: there’s a certain level of trust and natural connection that can only come about if you know a person like the back of your own hand.

Something obvious could be flying over my head, though, because as I’m writing this I’m realizing that sibling teams in pairs are rarer than in ice dance.
 
I’m curious. What limitations, other than avoiding romantic programs or love stories?
That's what I was talking about. I think with pairs, even more than dance teams, I like a sense of romantic attachment. Even with a pair like Alexa and Brandon, where there is clearly not a romantic attachment in real life, you could "suspend your disbelief" in a way that is just yucky with sibling pairs. A sibling pair could not skate to Romeo and Juliet or Love Story, and while there are other options for programs, it is a limitation that other pairs - even those not in a real-life relationship - do not face.
 
That's what I was talking about. I think with pairs, even more than dance teams, I like a sense of romantic attachment. Even with a pair like Alexa and Brandon, where there is clearly not a romantic attachment in real life, you could "suspend your disbelief" in a way that is just yucky with sibling pairs. A sibling pair could not skate to Romeo and Juliet or Love Story, and while there are other options for programs, it is a limitation that other pairs - even those not in a real-life relationship - do not face.
Huh, now that you’ve made me think about it, I don’t look for romantic attachment at all in pairs. Like I see RikiRyu and I see partners, in the sense of an athletic team working together. Maybe it’s the opening triple twist that does it first me: hey babe, I love you, I’m gonna toss you ten feet up into the air now, just doesn’t work romantically for me.
 
Huh, now that you’ve made me think about it, I don’t look for romantic attachment at all in pairs. Like I see RikiRyu and I see partners, in the sense of an athletic team working together. Maybe it’s the opening triple twist that does it first me: hey babe, I love you, I’m gonna toss you ten feet up into the air now, just doesn’t work romantically for me.
I think we were seeing more of the "romantic pairs" years if not decades ago, and there were many great examples of that type of skating, mostly with Russian pairs, but also all over the place. Now, we see more of the athletic partnerships for many pairs. Duhamel Radford were a great example of that too.
 
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