2024-25 US Pairs Discussion - Triple-Twisting Through Tornado Alley

[Karen-W]

What does it mean to be a seeded team for the GP? How does that help E/M?

It means they're guaranteed 2 GPs (same goes for the 7-10 teams, though they're called "invited"). Especially in Pairs, getting 2 GP spots is not a guarantee because there are only 48 spots (dance has 60 & men/women have 72 each). But, specifically for the "seeded" teams - they're given the opportunity to list their preferences for which events they would like. The 1-3 teams are assigned to their events first, then the 4-6 teams - the idea being to have an even distribution of the top teams at each GP. Now, as a team from a host federation & Nat'l champions, EfiMit are certainly going to be assigned to SkAm, even though they're last on the list & may not get their choice for their 2nd event.

We have a thread over in the Trash Can discussing potential Grand Prix assignments & now that Worlds is over, we're having fun making our projections.

 

[farahfan]

What does it mean to be a seeded team for the GP? How does that help E/M?

Here's an explanation that I found helpful.
Basically it limits E/M having to compete against too many top skaters and thus increases E/M's chance of medaling. It also means they have input on which GPs would be best for their personal schedule.

 

[RoseRed]

Here's an explanation that I found helpful.
Basically it limits E/M having to compete against too many top skaters and thus increases E/M's chance of medaling. It also means they have input on which GPs would be best for their personal schedule.

Probably not much for them. It's my understanding that they take into account the team's preferences (after host picks) in order of seeding. So the third team in the seeding group doesn't have much say once the first two get their spots.

For the 2nd seeding group, I'd expect SC and SA to pick Stellato/Deschamps and Efimova/Mitrofanov. Then Metelkina/Berulava's preferences between the remaining four would be considered. Then S/D's preference between the remaining two. Then E/M get the remaining one. Now, I don't know that they always go by the teams' input, and we often don't know what the teams preferred. So we will see.

 

[Karen-W]

Probably not much for them. It's my understanding that they take into account the team's preferences (after host picks) in order of seeding. So the third team in the seeding group doesn't have much say once the first two get their spots.

For the 2nd seeding group, I'd expect SC and SA to pick Stellato/Deschamps and Efimova/Mitrofanov. Then Metelkina/Berulava's preferences between the remaining four would be considered. Then S/D's preference between the remaining two. Then E/M get the remaining one. Now, I don't know that they always go by the teams' input, and we often don't know what the teams preferred. So we will see.

Yes, worse case scenario, they at least will get SkAm as the USFS' host pick & then settle for whichever other GP is left. I think the GP schedule is going to factor in here with MetBeru choosing CoC as their first choice & probably GPdF as their second choice. It would be kind of cool for EfiMit to get Finlandia, but SDDes may not want back-to-back GPs going from Saskatoon to Japan, so my gut says we'll probably see EfiMit at NHK instead.

 

[happycamper2554]

O’shea had surgery today per his instagram stories.

 

[Jammers]

O’shea had surgery today per his instagram stories.

I'm glad he didn't waste any time getting his surgery. Next season is too important to hold off even a couple of weeks.

 

[skatingguy]

O’shea had surgery today per his instagram stories.

https://www.reddit.com/r/FigureSkating/comments/1jsn8rp/danny_osheas_injury_upgraded_to_full_break

 

[Spiralgraph]

Rats! Dang it all. I'm almost afraid to read the link. Poor Danny.

 

[HeatherC]

Seventh in the world on a broken foot.....that's amazing. I can hurt myself just by sleeping wrong overnight but he goes out and does that on a broken foot. Praying for a speedy recovery and good healing!

 

[Karen-W]

It would seem that Carter Griffin has a new partner - Gabrielle "Gabby" Kaplan.

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[Wyliefan]

Goldenskate has a new Efi/Mit interview. They talk about Nats and Worlds experiences and summer plans. But there's nothing about citizenship, though they do talk about how badly they wanted to help earn three spots.

Efimova and Mitrofanov make their mark

Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov In a frank interview, USA's Alisa Efimova, 25, and Misha Mitrofanov, 27, share their thoughts on their successful first

www.goldenskate.com

“Misha turned me around and said, ‘Watch!’ Efimova recalled, at the end of their performance. “I just could not believe it. The only feeling is huge relief and just saying, we did it. This was our moment.”

For context, Mitrofanov shared a back story from nationals.

“We had a standing ovation of our free skate,” he explained. “And she told me afterwards she didn’t get to see much of it because she had her head in my chest. And so, after all the emotions was going on after the free skate, I wanted to turn her around so she could be able to witness everything. But for the crowd at TD Garden, it was nothing but love. And just thank you, thank you, thank you! The cheering on and everything like that, the support that we had, it just gave us so much energy, so much life into the program. It really helped us. It was everything to us.”

“And one more thing,” Efimova added. “It was very funny that I could even recognize some of our club members in the audience and hear them. That was just a magical feeling too. Having so many of them and really hearing them. That was so beautiful. The hearts were so close at the moment.”

In the end, the young team placed sixth, meeting their goal to help secure three spots for U.S. Pairs next year as well as an eligible third spot for the 2026 Olympics.

“We know the Team USA hasn’t had three spots at the long time,” Mitrofanov pointed out. “So, to be able to be a team to help achieve that definitely feels absolutely amazing!”

“And Alisa, she goes, ‘There’s no other option,’” he laughed. “So, we felt like there was no other options. We needed to skate clean. It was like, we had to get that done. And to be able to do that in front of everybody was just, it was everything to us!”

 

[clairecloutier]

Efimova/Mitrofanov were asked about citizenship in the mixed zone at Worlds. Their answer was the same as at Nationals--that it's in their lawyers' hands. Much as everyone wants to know, I would not expect to hear anything further on this just now. Maybe in the fall, perhaps? I'd assume that USFS is in the loop on whatever is happening.

 

[farahfan]

Efimova/Mitrofanov were asked about citizenship in the mixed zone at Worlds. Their answer was the same as at Nationals--that it's in their lawyers' hands. Much as everyone wants to know, I would not expect to hear anything further on this just now. Maybe in the fall, perhaps? I'd assume that USFS is in the loop on whatever is happening.

Actually, USFS may be in the dark, too. So Tony Wheeler recapped pairs with Thomas Vu and this is what Tony says in his podcast (I edited out the filler words):

Tony: We don't know, no one really knows what their Olympic citizenship status is. It seems to be that when they get asked they beat around the bush. I asked someone very high up in USFSA when I was drinking at the hotel one night what the status with that was, and this person was also not quite sure what was going on. So we'll see.

Thomas: I love that nobody knows.

Tony: The rules would have to be bent pretty severely for them to be able to be in contention for next year. We'll see. USA potentially has three spots and it might be wide open for two of those spots, so we'll see.

 

[Karen-W]

I think Luke and Liv could have serious Olympic hopes given all the issues with US pairs right now.

Sure, but not if they stick with their stated plan at JWC to fully go senior next season. They had far too many inconsistent performances & SB that is 15 points LOWER than ShiNagy. Even factoring in an additional lift in a Sr FS, they're not going to be challenging the likes of KamOShea, ChanHowe or ShiNagy for an Olympic spot.

They would be far smarter to pursue a strategy of 2 JGPs in September with clean, solid performances - if they go clean, they're capable of scoring around 170 on the JGP - and qualifying for the JGPF. Then, do some Challengers in Oct/Nov & look to either improve their JGP scores or at least maintain the same scores, taking into consideration how PCS usually does take a hit for just-up-from-juniors teams. A medal at the JGPF would then set them up nicely with & some momentum as "the new, promising young team, looking for Olympic experience..." heading into US Nats.

Going full-on senior next season only guarantees them 1 GP and they're going to bury themselves in the conversation.

 

[farahfan]

Sure, but not if they stick with their stated plan at JWC to fully go senior next season. They had far too many inconsistent performances & SB that is 15 points LOWER than ShiNagy. Even factoring in an additional lift in a Sr FS, they're not going to be challenging the likes of KamOShea, ChanHowe or ShiNagy for an Olympic spot.

They would be far smarter to pursue a strategy of 2 JGPs in September with clean, solid performances - if they go clean, they're capable of scoring around 170 on the JGP - and qualifying for the JGPF. Then, do some Challengers in Oct/Nov & look to either improve their JGP scores or at least maintain the same scores, taking into consideration how PCS usually does take a hit for just-up-from-juniors teams. A medal at the JGPF would then set them up nicely with & some momentum as "the new, promising young team, looking for Olympic experience..." heading into US Nats.

Going full-on senior next season only guarantees them 1 GP and they're going to bury themselves in the conversation.

I suppose the door is still open for them to do a hybrid season, ending it with the senior competition at US Nationals.

 

[skipaway]

https://www.reddit.com/r/FigureSkating/comments/1jsn8rp/danny_osheas_injury_upgraded_to_full_break

Glad he’s ok. Wonder, though if competing on his foot that way completed the break or was it fully broken prior. I can’t imagine that they didn’t xray the foot prior to World’s as he described the pain and swelling that he was experiencing.