2024/25 Figure Skating Grand Prix Assignments Just Dropped!

Join the AnythingGOEs team as we talk through the brand new Grand Prix assignments!!
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[@LindyMia-ft9md]

Anna, would you consider doing an article or interview with experienced pairs coaches regarding the difficulty of developing consistency on sbs jumps in pairs? It seems difficult for many teams to master consistency. It probably has to do with a number of factors, including trying to keep mind and body in sync while learning proper technique, and also maintaining confidence when errors become prevalent.

[@LindyMia-ft9md]

Anna, it is not just U.S. pairs who have trouble landing throws, as you know. I get tired of the consistent tendency in the skating community to look down on U.S. pairs teams, which ignores the strength of all the veteran teams the U.S. had in the lead-up to the 2022 Olympics. In the 2021-22 season, U.S.pairs had 3 teams in the top 10 and 4 in the top 15 in world standings. U.S. pairs teams also hold two records: Inoue/ Baldwin in 2006 landed the first throw 3-axels ever performed in competition. At 2007 Skate Canada, Vise/Trent landed the first ever throw quad salchow in competition. And can we not forget about Alexa Knierim & Brandon Frazier, please. They were in a zone at the 2022 Olympics. IMO, they deserved better scores, right up there with at least Boikova/ Koslovski, and especially Peng/Jin. P/J are responsible for the trend in pairs to performing double jumps, which they did due to injury. Since the judges let them get away with it, other pairs teams began following their example.

[@LindyMia-ft9md]

I think it's important to take everything into consideration that's happened, along with not forgetting how strong U.S. pairs was recently for many years. At the same time, U.S. teams have rarely been given enough credit for their strengths. Had Alexa Knierim not had a life-threatening illness she had to come back from, and if Haven Denney had not suffered a devastating knee injury that took a year for her to recover from, their partnership careers could have been even stronger. It's tremendous that Haven came back at all and that Brandon remained so loyal and supportive. In their last season, Haven/ Brandon won two bronze medals on the GP. As well, I can't say enough about the courage and risk-taking of the Knierims. Their fight to get back to the top of U.S. pairs is very praiseworthy. How Alexa and Brandon then came together when Chris Knierim suddenly retired, is amazing and redemptive. I give Alexa/ Brandon so much credit for how they won 2022 Worlds under tremendous pressure. Just before they skated, their teammate, Ashley Cain, suffered a concussion and had to be helped off-the-ice. I also commend Alexa & Brandon for coming back for a third season after winning 2022 Worlds. They did so in part to help the U.S. discipline transition during a time when a number of veteran pairs had retired or split. Now, there are a lot of promising U.S. teams with experience, except a number of teams are new to each other. As we know, it can take time to build a successful partnership. Alexa & Brandon were unique in how quickly they were able to come together and succeed. Time and patience are necessary. Yet, there seems to be a trendy expectation for new teams to succeed very quickly.