2025 Skate America Pairs Short Program | Page 11 | Golden Skate

2025 Skate America Pairs Short Program

That's Ashley Wagner as the in-arena host; I appreciate her trying to get a rather small crowd excited and frankly would rather listen to her than Tara and Johnny


Reason #349 that I hate Peacock... the ads when you are PAYING for a streaming service plan without ads is completely ridiculous, not to mention them pulling replays, having the worst user interface ever, and forcing us to listen to Tara & Johnny for commentary
I didn’t pay for no ads. It’s like twice as much. But normally there aren’t ads for GP events.
 
Their dynamism is their personal signature and I like their dynamism and speed . Is amazing
With all due respect, speed and skating skills, yes! 'Dynamism' huh?! Their choreographers do a lot of heavy lifting for them as they are NOT a musically expressive team. They just skate over the music, powering through, sometimes inconsistently. Fortunately for them, they are working with the best choreographers in the business. Marie-France, having worked with them last season, learned what they needed to camouflage their lack of musicality, and she gave it to them this year for their fp, and it works. But too many teams want that Olympic gold. Japan and Italy may have a pact. It certainly looked that way at 2025 Worlds with the sp and fp pairs results. 🤨
 
thats why i love the germans , they skate WITH each other, not next to each other
Today I also liked the Germans the most, they seem to love skating with each other. Annika always has a smile on her face and she is genuinely happy in the K&C no matter what!
I don't like it when skaters are leaving quickly the K&C if they are not happy with their scores or performance.
 
Good competition. Fair placements although the Georgians are very overscored on that lift. Her positions are lovely but he always looks like he is going to drop her yet they get such high GOE. They should be a few points lower in TES as a result. How are the judges not noticing his poor balance?

So happy for H/K. I love her and I'm happy they are returning to form.

Not a good day for SBS jumps. But, that's normal in pairs. I think Georgians were the only really clean SBS. The Canadians held on but were also messy.
 
See you tomorrow in free and womens
If I can survive this huge coverage disappointment. 🤕😫🥴 It's also the fault of clueless U.S. figure skating. I bet they are doing this as a build-up to the Olympics. But why?? Due to the scheduling change with France, the lineups at SkAm do NOT have any of the top U.S. skaters! Someone quick, tell Tara & Johnny that Ilia isn't here! Neither are Isabeau or Amber!
 
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imho Annika/ Robert had the best skate tonight
undoubtedly, two top teams were much better technically than germans
Mmmm, that's not saying much, truthfully. Hocke/ Kunkel are nice skaters who have improved a lot, but they are just kind of a so-so average team when it comes down to all the attributes and intangibles. For me, H/K are like a journeyman team. Yeah, they won SkAm, I think the year when M/ K pulled out with injury. H/K can be consistent and competitive because they are with good coaches, but they are not top World beaters. I'd have preferred seeing Hase/Volodin at SkAm, and Metel/Beru at SC.

If Flores/ Wang had skated w/o that fall on the throw, I think they are lovely performers with very good elements. I prefer watching them and a clean Chan/ Howe over Hocke/ Kunkel. Val & Max have great lifts. They are coming back from injury and haven't competed in over a year. IMO, Chan/Howe should have said they preferred to get another Challenger rather than bomb at Skate America because they just got back from NHK and clearly are not in their best shape mentally and physically with such a quick turnaround.

ETA: I guess 61+ is not a complete bomb, as it is about 4 to 5 points off what they have generally scored at their best. The 71+ though recently makes them 10 points off their personal and season's best.
 
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Mmmm, that's not saying much, truthfully. Hocke/ Kunkel are nice skaters who have improved a lot, but they are just kind of a so-so average team when it comes down to all the attributes and intangibles. For me, H/K are like a journeyman team. Yeah, they won SkAm, I think the year when M/ K pulled out with injury. H/K can be consistent and competitive because they are with good coaches, but they are not top World beaters. I'd have preferred seeing Hase/Volodin at SkAm, and Metel/Beru at SC.

If Flores/ Wang had skated w/o that fall on the throw, I think they are lovely performers with very good elements. I prefer watching them and a clean Chan/ Howe over Hocke/ Kunkel. Val & Max have great lifts. They are coming back from injury and haven't competed in over a year. IMO, Chan/Howe should have said they preferred to get another Challenger rather than bomb at Skate America because they just got back from NHK and clearly are not in their best shape mentally and physically with such a quick turnaround.
Also I feel Emily is taking a while to find her feet after Spencer’s long absence. He asked her to wait for him thru his surgery/healing and she agreed but she also lost time and skill she needs to regain. Spencer now seems on track and she is gaining I think but it cannot be easy being without a teammate for so long. She will manage it especially with Spencer and her coaches backing her.
 
I didn’t pay for no ads. It’s like twice as much. But normally there aren’t ads for GP events.
Yeah. We all need to deluge NBC and US figsk with complaints. This is awful. If I had a YouTube subscription, could I get the ISU feed without a VPN, I wonder?
 
Yeah. We all need to deluge NBC and US figsk with complaints. This is awful. If I had a YouTube subscription, could I get the ISU feed without a VPN, I wonder?
Probably not, but do you have - or could you download - the Opera browser? It has a free one built in.
 
Probably not, but do you have - or could you download - the Opera browser? It has a free one built in.
Thanks. I used to have a computer with the Opera browser, but I'm not set up for that right now. I have to get a new laptop. Or a Smart-tv to make it easier than HDTV. All this tech stuff is mind-boggling.
 
Also I feel Emily is taking a while to find her feet after Spencer’s long absence. He asked her to wait for him thru his surgery/healing and she agreed but she also lost time and skill she needs to regain. Spencer now seems on track and she is gaining I think but it cannot be easy being without a teammate for so long. She will manage it especially with Spencer and her coaches backing her.
I like Chan/ Howe. I think they have been hampered a lot by injuries. Emily has had ankle problems and Spencer the shoulder problems that required surgery in 2023. Her ankle issues would be one of the reasons why Emily struggles on landings often. Maybe she is healthier now, but lacks confidence in high pressure situations. But also, this back-to-back GP turnaround is not good with all the air travel, etc. Honestly, U.S. pairs and pairs in general need more investment placed in them and more strategic opportunities to compete in order to fully develop. It is quite scattershot how U.S. fed and also the ISU run figure skating.
 
I like Chan/ Howe. I think they have been hampered a lot by injuries. Emily has had ankle problems and Spencer the shoulder problems that required surgery in 2023. Her ankle issues would be one of the reasons why Emily struggles on landings often. Honestly, U.S. pairs and pairs in general need more investment placed in them and more opportunities to compete in order to fully develop. It is quite scattershot how U.S. fed and also the ISU run figure skating.
I agree with this.. I did not know about Emily’s ankle issues; explains a lot. Hard to tell what it would take for US to bolster the discipline. Emily and Spencer have been around a while. Do you think they will continue? I really love the newer teams coming up in the ranks. Sure hope they garner more support. I also like Daria and Michael from the Netherlands and feel they are treated shabbily by their Fed. It seems the teams I enjoy watching the most cannot get a break but I am a pairs cactus fan I guess 😊
 
I agree with this.. I did not know about Emily’s ankle issues; explains a lot. Hard to tell what it would take for US to bolster the discipline. Emily and Spencer have been around a while. Do you think they will continue? I really love the newer teams coming up in the ranks. Sure hope they garner more support. I also like Daria and Michael from the Netherlands and feel they are treated shabbily by their Fed. It seems the teams I enjoy watching the most cannot get a break but I am a pairs cactus fan I guess 😊
No, I don't think Emily and Spencer are going to continue after this season. Spencer wants to become a military chaplain. Good for him. I'm not sure about Emily, i.e. what her off-ice interests are. I'm not sure she's into coaching, but she might have some future career plans in mind, along with marriage, perhaps. 🤔

In an interview after their successful 2022 - 2023 season, Emily & Spencer spoke about what a gift their career together is because before U.S fed suggested they do a tryout to partner, they were both planning to retire due to physical issues (her ankles; his shoulders). The tryout was good so they decided to give it a go, and they have been a promising team and have grown a lot, despite their physical challenges.

Prior to 2022 - 23 season, Emily & Spencer were not sure they would make it through the season, yet things worked out very well -- they were 5th at Worlds, despite their physical struggles. Then, Spencer made the tough choice to undergo shoulder surgery that off-season, and it was a struggle regaining their form until recently. Emily has very small bone structure and thin ankles, so I think she has trouble getting the right fit for her boots. There's a lot we don't know about the off-ice things skaters have to manage, that can impact on-ice performances.
 
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I got it for $29.99 for the year. Gotta look for Black Friday streaming deals.
BTW Thanks for the suggestion.
I have a laptop but never use it.
I prefer to watch skating on my Smart TV which does not have a preloaded VPN app. (Some TV’s come with it.. mine does not). There are a couple of ways to add it. I live in a rural area where there has been a single internet provider for years - literally no competition - until recently. A new provider has moved in vying for business and I have been approached a few times to switch. My current provider price gouges, upping the fees every couple of months until you are forced to call and negotiate the fees yet again. I am thinking of switching, knowing that the new company will likely raise their rates too after the initial low offer. So I am twixt & between at the moment; if I switch providers, I will ask them to install a VPN on the new router. Meanwhile I will contact Peacock to (as Arigato said) “pluck its feathers”. Wish me luck☺️
PS How are the kittens? Did you decide the names?
 
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No, I don't think Emily and Spencer are going to continue after this season. Spencer wants to become a military chaplain. Good for him. I'm not sure about Emily, i.e. what her off-ice interests are. I'm not sure she's into coaching, but she might have some future career plans in mind, along with marriage, perhaps. 🤔

In an interview after their successful 2022 - 2023 season, Emily & Spencer spoke about what a gift their career together is because before U.S fed suggested they do a tryout to partner, they were both planning to retire due to physical issues (her ankles; his shoulders). The tryout was good so they decided to give it a go, and they have been a promising team and have grown a lot, despite their physical challenges.

Prior to 2022 - 23 season, Emily & Spencer were not sure they would make it through the season, yet things worked out very well, despite their physical struggles. Then, Spencer made the tough choice to undergo shoulder surgery that off-season, and it was a struggle regaining their form until recently. Emily has very small bone structure and thin ankles, so I think she has trouble getting the right fit for her boots. There's a lot we don't know about the off-ice things skaters have to manage, that can impact on-ice performances.
Thanks for this. It’s really great to have a clear picture of their skating history. The next couple of months will be interesting and intense for U.S. pairs as Olympics nears.
 
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