It has been several years since the United States has had respectable pairs. In the '90s, Ina and Dunjen and Meno and Sand proved to be respectable, but following the retirement of Ina and Zimmerman in 2002, there have been a number of dark years at Nationals. Inoue and Baldwin, Castile and Okolski, etc, the list goes on and on.
For the first time in a long while, there is going to be a true competition at Nationals. Several pairs, who have been together for longer than eighteen months, are going to push one another for the National Title and the coveted two spots on the World Team. The United States currently has four pairs with the ability to make it to Worlds, with three being deserving.
The battle in Greensboro will be between Yankowskas and Couglin, Denney and Barrett, Evora and Ladwig and Castelli and Shnapir. Of the other teams who have competed on the ISU Grand Prix, Simpson and Miller have withdrawn and Zhang and Toth are questionable after a number of injuries to Felicia.
Castelli and Shnapir are the least likely of the 'big four' to advance to the Four Continents or World Championships. Their dramatic size difference lends itself to inconsistency and a bizarre visual discordance. Their 'Avatar' free skate fills an arena, but they need to perform well. Their results on the Grand Prix were consistent: 153.33 and 159.85, but their best is the lowest among the four pairs.
Yankowskas and Couglin are on a competitive roll. Their 166.72 at Cup of China is the top score recorded by an American pair this season. Armed with the best fluff piece story, an 'Ave Maria' free skate dedicated to John's late mother, their skating is inspired. This season, jumps, lifts and throws are all coming together. Caitlin is a gorgeous 'flower' and John is a hulk of a 'stem.' If their momentum continues, it is very likely that they could wear gold at Nationals.
Evora and Ladwig have never been in the 'champion' position, but they continue to impress every time out. A surprise addition to last year's Olympic Team, they continue to absorb every experience and look to be late bloomers. The additional USFSA funding has helped their costumes and overall presentation on the ice. Both Amanda and Mark have gorgeous lines and together they make a gorgeous pair. Their improvement between Cup of China and Cup of Russia was noticeable, but they don't look to have peaked thus far. Their lifts are the strongest in the nation and they may be the unsung heroes in Greensboro.
Denney and Barrett have been solid for the last two seasons, but not spectacular. Despite failing to medal on the Grand Prix, their 166.42 at Skate America is a formidable result. Of all of the teams, they may be the least popular. Switching to John Zimmerman has helped to erase the tackiness that was Caydee's red Firebird extensions last season. They are very much: Rachael Flatt the pairs team, despite having more flair and overall interest to their skating. Caydee is a weak 'flower.' There is something off about her presentation and she does not make a visionary flower in any of their lifts. It is difficult to get excited about their skating: Jeremy looks positively middle aged and Caydee has an unfortunate resemblance to the reigning US ladies champion. David Wilson's choreography has proved to be a vast improvement, but he isn't a miracle worker.
Marley and Brubaker are a new team hoping to make an impressive showing at Nationals. It is too soon for them to be contenders, but it shouldn't be long before they reach heights never seen by Keauna and Rockne. In terms of partners, he definitely upgraded.
I hope Yancowskas & Coughlin just stay focused because this is their year to win. I've been impressed by how well they've presented themselves this season and they've obviously learned a lot in previous years.
ReplyDeleteI'm not on board yet with the Marley/Brubaker team. I think her leg line is like Caydee Denney's and the only reason why it may be overlooked is because she's still doll-sized and cute. I'm just not ready to embrace them yet until they clean up the elements, learn how to connect, and don't hold back. Right now they are concentrated on getting through things rather than doing them full out. It would be a sad reflection of the current US pairs landscape if they could contend for Worlds this year.
Jeremy Barrett looks middle aged? That's mean. That's really not why people don't get as excited about his skating... His posture and presentation just aren't that great, it has nothing to do with his looks. Still, with the way US pairs is, they could easily win again. And on a shallow note, I think he's relatively handsome and doesn't look middle aged at all.
Yankowskas* Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI love the Ava Maria LP of Yankowskas/Coughlin and the Avatar LP of Castelli/Shnapir. Both teams are really committed to the character of their programs. I like Y/C's short program this year as well. I'm also rooting for Evora/Ladwig to do well because I love their "late bloomer" story. And I want Denney/Barrett to do well simply because she is a "veteran" woman now instead of an experienced little girl, and think it's important to show that pair skaters can get through that transition without giving up in the teen yrs (cough Keauna cough).
ReplyDeleteOops, I meant "INexperienced little girl"
ReplyDeleteJeremy is soft in the middle and balding. I so get the middle aged comment.
ReplyDeleteI am curious about the injury of Simpson/Miller, since it seems to be secret. Hope it's not serious.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like they're that good anyway.
ReplyDeleteWell, yea, but so what. There aren't that many US pairs, and I enjoy watching the ones we do have, and it's sad to see any skater go down last minute with injury.
ReplyDeletethe injury of simpson/miller? overdosing on guiness.
ReplyDeleteThey are all dull. I hate them all, I would rather watch Allison Taylor compete all around.
ReplyDeleteI really like both of Yankowskas/Coughlin's programs and love Castelli/Shnapir's Avatar program. I don't really like the other pair teams. Y/C and C/S both have better throws, lifts and big twist. The other 2 teams don't.
ReplyDeleteWell D/B and E/L do have a throw triple lutz. And I would say that E/L's lifts are generally as good as Y/C, probably better. Their twist isn't bad either. These four teams probably have the only decent twists of the competition. I do prefer the artistic quality of Y/C over these others (well, her anyway, but he's getting better).
ReplyDeleteI honestly find the pairs field a little depressing this year. It's very competitive, but I think that has more to do with D/B "coming back down to earth" and losing some of their insane consistency rather than because we have so many good teams now. I will give credit to E/L, Y/C, and C/S for improving. I have warmed up to them a bit. And no, a brand new team that skates rather Juniorish and has yet to land a "real" throw triple (the one I saw them land was maybe the smallest throw Rockne has ever done) doesn't excite me either. Sadly, I predict one of the favorites will have a meltdown and this new team of MBM/B that's really not ready will end up medaling. Yawn.
Donlan/Spiroff have a decent twist, too. But they don't seem to have two throw triples like the top 4... And not SBS triples/2As either.
ReplyDeleteI know the Keauna/Mary Beth comparisons are probably inevitable, but I personally hope we don't see them. It's not fair to compare a girl who will probably have a long career in skating to one who quit in what seems like a state of depression just few months past her 17th birthday. She never gave herself a chance to reach near her full potential (whether that could have come with Rockne or someone else). This Marley/Brubaker pairing will not have the same type of pressure to get great as fast as possible because they are so new and nobody is expecting anything. I think both girls have different strengths and weaknesses anyway. Keauna was an exciting talent, and I for one, will miss her presence this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see Donlan/Speroff in Greensboro. I know they lack difficult content in terms of sbs jumps, but they have such a great chemistry together. I can't wait to see how much they've improved since the summer.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who thinks that John Coughlin looks out of shape? Whenever I see him, I always think he's another who is a bit too fond of the Guiness. On the other hand, Gretchen Donlan has slimmed down like whoa. John Coughlin needs to give her one of his sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteI really love Davis/Leftheris. They are technically sound with two sbs triples, a triple twist and 2 gorgeous throw triples. I hope they do well!!!! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe dark days of American pairs are alive and well. It sucks, because they all seem like nice spunky people, but the lack of attention to detail is excruciating. Y/K are the only ones who seem to bother with things like unison but they're barely getting around the ice. C/S could actually compete at a respectable level in some years - maybe. He reminds me of Sergei Grinkov - though she is very much no Katia.
ReplyDeleteAside from being Russian and tall, I don't see the Shnapir/Grinkov comparisons. I like Castelli/Shnapir's LP though this year so I will root for them.
ReplyDeleteDavis/Left don't have a triple twist the last time I saw them which was November. Maybe they got it recently, but there are pairs who "have" it, but can't do it cleanly and would probably get the same points with a double. Coughlin is a very big guy, 6'2" and built, but I never got the impression that he looked out of shape. I agree about Donlan though, someone please feed her.
I like how Yankowskas/Coughlin relate to each other on the ice this season. I'm not loving any American pairs right now, but this team stands out to me over the others. I think E/L are doing pretty well too. Really, all four have been ok this yr.