2025 NHK Trophy Pairs Short Program

[museksk8r]

Emily and Spencer were such a formidable pair a few years back. It seems that injury has set them back and retaining their once strong performance is a hard battle. Emily, in particular, just doesn't seem to have the confidence. It appears that Alisa/Misha and Ellie/Danny are the 1-2 pairs for the US

Alisa and Misha do not yet have citizenship to compete at the Olympics.

 

[lariko]

Gosh, Kovalevs' fall put a cloud over otherwise pretty nice event. I'm super happy everyone else make it with fairly decent skating. Yeah, I wish P/S got higher marks, but as long as they medal in the end...

 

[4everchan]

Gosh, Kovalevs' fall put a cloud over otherwise pretty nice event. I'm super happy everyone else make it with fairly decent skating. Yeah, I wish P/S got higher marks, but as long as they medal in the end...

PS are improving a lot. I liked them this time for the first time I think that all will depend on the axel sequence. They are the most likely to get the highest score for it but last time, it didn't work out for her if I recall properly.

 

[lariko]

PS are improving a lot. I liked them this time for the first time I think that all will depend on the axel sequence. They are the most likely to get the highest score for it but last time, it didn't work out for her if I recall properly.

This SP really helps them. I think it's the best they had, even though I like more playful side of them too.

 

[moonvine]

Of the US teams that are eligible to go to the Olympics, who is really challenging C/H for that spot though? The other teams are even more inconsistent than they are. C/H are capable of scoring 70+ internationally in the SP when clean, a score no other US team outside of K/O has achieved in the SP at this point in time.

Katie and Daniil…sorry I don’t know how to spell his last name.

 

[bramweld]

They deserved the first place. Not held up

Agreed, they were sharper and more attuned to their performance than all the other couples.

 

[ramurphy2005]

Katie and Daniil…sorry I don’t know how to spell his last name.

Not eligible for the Olympics.

 

[museksk8r]

Katie and Daniil…sorry I don’t know how to spell his last name.

Daniil does not have US citizenship. They are ineligible to go to the Olympics.

 

[skylark]

Emily and Spencer were such a formidable pair a few years back. It seems that injury has set them back and retaining their once strong performance is a hard battle. Emily, in particular, just doesn't seem to have the confidence. It appears that Alisa/Misha and Ellie/Danny are the 1-2 pairs for the US

I feel that Spencer has slightly pulled back from his commitment to their performances and his connection with Emily. Just slightly, and subtly. I wonder if it could be his commitment to the military ... seems like he's already moving on. Just a little bit. I don't feel the same passion from him, even though the skills and moves are there.

 

[withwings]

I feel that Spencer has slightly pulled back from his commitment to their performances and his connection with Emily. Just slightly, and subtly. I wonder if it could be his commitment to the military ... seems like he's already moving on. Just a little bit. I don't feel the same passion from him, even though the skills and moves are there.

I am exactly in the same impression. Before he was 100% there.

 

[snowball]

Did sui and Han do the correct group 5 lift today?

 

[moonvine]

Daniil does not have US citizenship. They are ineligible to go to the Olympics.

Them too? My goodness. In 4 years Katie!

 

[skylark]

I am exactly in the same impression. Before he was 100% there.

Thank you for this reply. I appreciate that you have the same impression.

My mother used to be very nervous getting 3 kids ready and in the car for a week-end at Grandma's.

Years later my sister said what was undoubtedly true: "We were still trying to get everybody in the car ... but Mother, in her head, was already miles down the road."

 

[skylark]

Them too? My goodness. In 4 years Katie!

Yeah. Katie will be 35 in 4 years. That's 2 years older than Deanna was when she un-retired and started skating pairs. And I think it's older than Aljona Savchenko competed in 2018 olympics. Not sure about that last.

 

[moonvine]

Yeah. Katie will be 35 in 4 years. That's 2 years older than Deanna was when she un-retired and started skating pairs. And I think it's older than Aljona Savchenko competed in 2018 olympics. Not sure about that last.

She really loves pairs, it seems to me, and everything is fresh and new - GPs, etc. I hope her body holds out for as long as she wants to skate.

 

[skylark]

She really loves pairs, it seems to me, and everything is fresh and new - GPs, etc. I hope her body holds out for as long as she wants to skate.

Oh yes, as I watch them, her love for pairs just comes shining through. And Daniil loves skating with her, and she with him.

 

[midori green]

I feel that Spencer has slightly pulled back from his commitment to their performances and his connection with Emily. Just slightly, and subtly. I wonder if it could be his commitment to the military ... seems like he's already moving on. Just a little bit. I don't feel the same passion from him, even though the skills and moves are there.

I don't know that he's moving on because of the military. His commitment is largely to be an Olympic-level athlete. See the army's WCAP (world class athlete program). Many athletes and coaches are in this program, and it helps with funding. https://www.armywcap.com/about

Their SP skate did seem to be missing something, though. Kind-of boring when they (especially Spencer) have been exciting performers in the past.

 

[elbkup]

I don't know that he's moving on because of the military. His commitment is largely to be an Olympic-level athlete. See the army's WCAP (world class athlete program). Many athletes and coaches are in this program, and it helps with funding. https://www.armywcap.com/about

Their SP skate did seem to be missing something, though. Kind-of boring when they (especially Spencer) have been exciting performers in the past.

I kind of agree with this. Both are in relationships with other skaters too. Skating with travel, competitions and time apart can be rough interfering with “life” but I think their commitment is strong. Too, the political atmosphere in the US is unsettling to most and we are all on edge at this point .. ‘nuff said. Also the SCOB are still mourning the loss of so many young skaters last January.. all contributing factors. NHK was disappointing (almost cursed) for them and other skaters but C/H have done well otherwise this season. They went back to their previous SP (a good decision) because Spencer’s training time was limited so they chose to focus on the free. I like its gentle vibe and they perform it well when clean. A long while before the start of the season they were asking for music suggestions from fans on Instagram so their FS music may be the result.

 

[skylark]

I kind of agree with this. Both are in relationships with other skaters too. Skating with travel, competitions and time apart can be rough interfering with “life” but I think their commitment is strong. Too, the political atmosphere in the US is unsettling to most and we are all on edge at this point .. ‘nuff said. NHK was disappointing (almost cursed) for them and other skaters but C/H have done well otherwise this season. They went back to their previous SP (a good decision) because Spencer’s training time was limited so they chose to focus on the free. I like its gentle vibe and they perform it well when clean. A long while before the start of the season they were asking for music suggestions from fans on Instagram so their FS music may be the result.

I've had the opposite feelings from my post above, with their FS here at NHS. Rather than repeat myself, I'll refer you to my post in the Replay Lounge, where I went into my reasons and my responses. I still feel the same about the SP. But I've re-watched their FS again and again and again! It's marvelous, and I felt Emily and Spencer were both fully engaged with each other. Such beautiful emotion> And they invited the audience on their beautiful journey. It's the only pairs FS from this comp that I've watched more than twice.

 

[elbkup]

I've had the opposite feelings from my post above, with their FS here at NHS. Rather than repeat myself, I'll refer you to my post in the Replay Lounge, where I went into my reasons and my responses. I still feel the same about the SP. But I've re-watched their FS again and again and again! It's marvelous, and I felt Emily and Spencer were both fully engaged with each other. Such beautiful emotion> And they invited the audience on their beautiful journey. It's the only pairs FS from this comp that I've watched more than twice.

My favorite pairs by far
Disappointed they were not at the Gala