Pairs FS Worldwide: The Divine Discipline

[lariko]

Don't worry, the post-Olympics season always looks like that. Or, almost always

No, it didn't in 2018.

 

[Anna K.]

No, it didn't in 2018.

I skipped that one.
But what I remember from previous times, the year after OG is usually when athletes retire, change partners/coaches and fail to qualify as a result, take a year off etc. etc.

 

[lariko]

I skipped that one.
But what I remember from previous times, the year after OG is usually when athletes retire, change partners/coaches and fail to qualify as a result, take a year off etc. etc.

I don't remember it ever feeling like the discipline is done for.

 

[Anna K.]

I don't remember it ever feeling like the discipline is done for.

Well, that's subjective. A good part of the posters on this thread don't feel like that. Me included I'm team "it will be interesting to see how federations will scrap the bottoms of their barrels".

 

[lariko]

Well, that's subjective. A good part of the posters on this thread don't feel like that. Me included I'm team "it will be interesting to see how federations will scrap the bottoms of their barrels".

Lol. I've already seen it in the 2022 worlds, and it wasn't at all interesting. It was also really dangerous to put pairs who are not prepared to a competition that is too high for their level of preparedness.

 

[Ganya]

Well, that's subjective. A good part of the posters on this thread don't feel like that. Me included I'm team "it will be interesting to see how federations will scrap the bottoms of their barrels".

Out of sheer curiousity, perhaps. Wonder if it will be fun enough then to see these bottoms of the barrels actually perform

 

[Anna K.]

Lol. I've already seen it in the 2022 worlds, and it wasn't at all interesting.

That's subjective, too.

Out of sheer curiousity, perhaps. Wonder if it will be fun enough then to see these bottoms of the barrels actually perform

I don't think so. You can find amazing things at the bottom of the barrel.
There are many ways how to create a pair: put together two singles, bring back somebody who has had a longer break, bring in roller skaters. There will be room to experiment. And, as this is the very beginning of the quad, we can expect pretty serious results by the next OG.

 

[lariko]

That's subjective, too.

Where did I say otherwise? Even if the quality is subjective, and someone may have enjoyed what was shown during the Worlds, the facts are facts.

15/24 of the top ranked pairs will not be active next season.

In JWC, only 10 pairs entered, when in 2019 it was 16.

Japan curtailed pairs entries to only 4 in JPF this year.

Hence, pairs are declining as discipline in numbers. I mean, I get it that there is this giddy sentiment, but there are not many pairs left and no talented young ones in the wings unless JWC is going to show otherwise.

 

[el henry]

I didn't see any danger for pairs at Worlds due to inexperience or preparedness? I've seen this comment before, and I am wondering where it comes from?

Ashley Cain-Gribble was the only pair skater injured at Worlds, that I know of (I could be missing something). She and Timothy are seasoned world-class competitors who were performing elements that they had successfully performed many many many times before in international competitions. They were certainly prepared.

I have seen junior pairs skate live, and yes, in comparison, you can see how even the lowest ranked senior pair is stronger and more accomplished, but everyone has to start somewhere.

And no one was at Worlds who had not qualified under the standards, was there?

 

[surimi]

What? According to that sheet, Kadyrova/Balchenko and Pepeleva/Pleshkov are confirmed splits? This is the first time I hear of that.

 

[Dreamer57]

What? According to that sheet, Kadyrova/Balchenko and Pepeleva/Pleshkov are confirmed splits? This is the first time I hear of that.

It's been floating around on Twitter for a few days that Kadyrova is now with Kolesov (Akhanteva's partner), heard from a Russian forum. Not really confirmed but apparently these forum rumours usually end up being true. I hope the P/K rumours are not real!
Pepeleva/Pleshkov is probably speculation due to Alina's break and their coach's tendency to split pairs and create new ones.

To me it's a bit scary to think that you cannot take time away for health or injury without worrying about having a partner when you return.

 

[noskates]

Geez, why all the doom and gloom? A lot can happen in a year and it would seem to me that the beginning of any quad is a building year. I'm definitely not ready to give up on pairs as a discipline. Think it's a little too early to even be thinking about it.

 

[moonvine]

Lol. I've already seen it in the 2022 worlds, and it wasn't at all interesting. It was also really dangerous to put pairs who are not prepared to a competition that is too high for their level of preparedness.

Every single one of those teams had tech minimums, so it shouldn't have been "too high for their level of preparedness." And there's no reason to believe any of them would not have been there had China and Russia been there. They were already entered.

 

[Seven Sisters]

I think the bigger issue is the lack of teams just below the top tier waiting to move up as the teams at the very top retire. Every country—yes, even Russia and China—is looking rather thin at the moment.

 

[clairecloutier]

An update on Smirnova/Siianytsia, who will soon compete at Junior Worlds:

Smirnova and Siianytsia Confront a Season of Adversity - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

In April, Team USA pairs skaters Anastasiia "Nastyia" Smirnova and Danil Siianytsia will compete for the second time at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[moonvine]

I think the bigger issue is the lack of teams just below the top tier waiting to move up as the teams at the very top retire. Every country—yes, even Russia and China—is looking rather thin at the moment.

It is nuts. I hope to hear of more pairs being formed and that they stick together. All countries

 

[moriel]

When 3 pairs (it starts with 2, but later there are 3 doing the same thing) manage to be more in sync than 2 skaters in a pair today:

ÐаÑина ЧеÑкаÑова:СеÑÐ³ÐµÐ¸Ì Ð¨Ð°ÑÑаиÌ, ÐаÑина ÐеÑÑова:СÑаниÑлав ÐеоновиÑ, ÐеÑоника ÐеÑÑина:ÐаÑÐ°Ñ ÐкбаÑов

www.youtube.com

Sorry, i miss oldschool pairs.

 

[AlexBreeze]

World Standings have been updated https://results.isu.org/ws/ws/wspairs.htm
James/Radford are missing

 

[ladyjane]

Strange that James/Radford are missing. When Aljona/Bruno stopped competing they stayed in the ranks for quite a while, just because of the points they piled up in 2017/2018. But perhaps Covid changed such things? But they must have gotten good points at Worlds? Even Nika Osipova and Dmitry Epstein are in there (and they had an awful season because of Covid).

 

[lariko]

I don’t see Moore-Towers/Marinaro either. Someone doesn’t like Canadians?