USFS: Morgan Matthews & Max Zavozin end their dance partnership

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think I agree with you -

I still think Morgie was the better of the two

The only time I like watching LIVE skating near the ice is when there is Dance because the expressions are priceless.

Morgie when she's not trying to be Kim Novak (orig dance) she is doing her best to be a siren (FD). Poor Max is just working hard on the technical.

He may be a more technical dancer, but she's a hoot.

Joe

 

[chuckm]

I think American couples have not yet learned the secret to the Russian's success (which is simply to stick together) and until they do, the American teams will remain second fiddle to the Russians.

Russian Pair and Dance teams split up just as much as US pairs do. Here's a sampling of past and present partnerships, and this is just for ice dance:

Navka/Gezalian
Navka/Morozov
Navka/Kostomarov
Davydova/Kostomarov
Krylova/Federov
Krylova/Ovsiannikov
Domnina/Bolotin
Orlova/Bolotin
Domnina/Shabalin
Khaliavina/Shabalin
Toteva/Shabalin
Kulikova/Markov
Kulikova/Novikov
Orlova/Novikov
Gorshkova/Tkachenko
Monko/Bortsov
Monko/Tkachenko
Platonova/Ponomarev
Platonova/Maximishin
Jakobs/Saulin
Jakobs/Baidukov
Zhiganshina/Bazdyrev
Zhiganshina/Gazsi (GER)
Ushakova/Popov
Ushakova/Karev
Belova/Staviiski (Maxim)
Potdykova/Petukhov (Denis)
Romaniuta/Barantsev (Daniil)

 

[clairecloutier]

I'm disappointed . . . I really liked Morgan & Max and had high hopes for their future.

I have to disagree with those who say they had no chemistry. I really enjoyed them and thought they had a special spark and flair. Their dancing had a decidedly European look to it--dramatic and serious--but I like that. So I enjoyed them as a team and thought they had a lot of potential.

I do agree that Morgan is the more talented of the pair. She has great musicality, wonderful posture, and incredible flexibility and expression through her back. But Max was good too, and it's not easy to find good partners, especially here in the U.S.

I wonder how much their personal relationship influenced this. Until recently, they were definitely a couple off the ice. I wonder if Morgan ended the partnership partly because the personal relationship had ended?? I'm sure it would be stressful continuing a partnership under those circumstances.

 

[Tonichelle]

I dunno, I thought Max seemed more sure footed... which is why I thought he was better... posture and flexability are all well and good, but if you can't find your footing it doesn't really matter.

 

[Dancerman]

I agree that Morgan had the most talent of the pair, she in fact seemed to be the more "Russian" in style and expression. Who will she skate with? Augie Hill is not in her league if he is still in the running. Todd Giles is still listed and that might be an interesting try-out. I am at a loss of where she could go unless it is out of the country to find someone that is available and on her level. Max, on the other hand, has several high level girls that are available. It will be interesting to see. My best wishes to both but my heart goes out to Morgan who obviously made this hard decision to give up her coach and partner--in the skating world this is 2/3 of your life.

 

[Eeyora]

What a shame! They had so much potential. But over the past year. They have been going nowhere. I thought they would be the ones to pass Gregory/Petukov but Melissa and Denis only got better.

 

[vivianthecritic]

they would never have made it. it's good they had the sense to break up.

 

[dorispulaski]

Some possibilities for Morgan:
Tiffany Steigler's old partner, Sergei Magerovsky? what's he doing now?
Jiri Prochazka, once Czech champion
Todd Gilles, as mentioned before

Some possibilitie for Max. Since his mother is his coach, skating with Max saves you some money:

Natalia Romaniuta, Barantsev's old partner than won Jr Worlds
Alessia Aureli (used to skate for Italy)
Lauren Senft (CAN)
Trina Pratt, if she's still skating (she's not on partner search)
Alyssa McGill-she was working with Jiri Prochazka, but he moved to Delaware with Melissa & Denis and she stayed in CT. I saw them perform and they looked very good.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Definitely Sergei Magerovsky although I would like to see him with Tiffany again There is also Ryan O'Meara.if he's not too tied up in Arizona.

Joe

Joe

 

[kendall]

great news, good for him. She is not a great partner. She always make stupid mistake.

Besides, I hope Rena/John will break up too. He is Rena major hold back. I can't believe a he is a man but never able to land a clean triple toe loop or double axel.

 

[STL_Blues_fan]

I am not surprised - they seem to be going downhill the last several seasons. Finishing off the podium was most likely the final straw.

I am also surprised nobody mentioned Morgan's skeletal appearance - which is new this season. I wonder if that had anything to do with the break-up - indirectly of course.

I hope she gets healthy first, and then focus on skating.

As far as Natalia Romaniuta, I am pretty certain she gave up skating alltogether. She had a baby (maybe even twins).

 

[BGskater]

Until recently, they were definitely a couple off the ice. I wonder if Morgan ended the partnership partly because the personal relationship had ended??

Where did you hear this from? I know for a fact that they were definitely NOT a couple off the ice. Max had a girlfriend in the summer, and in the fall Morgan was also dating someone. They both had off ice relationships but NOT with each other.

 

[clairecloutier]

Last year, I read they were an off-ice couple. I don't know what's happened since then. Maybe their personal relationship ended prior to this season.

 

[Dancerman]

I don't think this was a planned break-up. They just had their website redone and tooled (last month) on Ice-Dance.com That seems a big expense if there was a possibility that the partnership was ending. Maybe they can still repair this thing.