Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker (or McBru as most of us have fondly called them) are splitting up. After two promise filled seasons as seniors, the duo fell from grace last season, failing to make the U.S. Podium or Olympic Team.
"Rockne and I have had an amazing career together, and I can't thank him enough for that," McLaughlin said. "Right now I feel like I need to devote time to school as well as other interests - photography, art, dance - and spend some time away from skating competitively."
Brubaker has begun a search for a new Pairs partner (I have some thoughts on this...another post). "My goal has always been to win World and Olympic medals, I still plan on working toward that goal and look forward to new challenges."
The split seems amicable and all parties okay with the decision.
The first senior competition that will get underway in Spokane is the Pairs event. The U.S. has the opportunity to send two teams to the Olympics in Vancouver. Who are the teams to keep an eye on? Here are my thoughts on six teams to watch:
Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin - I'm always completely impressed with this team every time I see them. They have dynamic lifts and a wonderful connection with the audience. Caitlin is one of those skaters whom you can't take your eyes off of when she's on the ice. Some inconsistency has plagued them off and on. If they hit their elements they'll have a shot at the podium and possibly a trip to Vancouver. Their most recent competition, 2009 HomeSense Skate Canada, they finished 7th.
Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski - The last time this team competed in Spokane they surprised everyone by winning the 2007 National crown. This team has beautiful classic pair lines and great attention to choreography but often struggles in the technical department. This is the first season since their 2007 Nationals win that they enter the event healthy. The last two years they entered Nationals coming off of injury. They reached the top before...can they do it again? They recently finished 6th at 2009 Cancer.Net Skate America.
Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig - One of the teams that seems stuck in that 4th-5th-6th range at U.S. Nationals. Beautiful artistry but again, some troubles often on the technical elements. When this team is on they can be spectacular. Their lifts are some of the most inventive and spectacular to watch. They just missed the podium last year and will need a big effort to make it this season and an even bigger effort to make the Olympic Team. They recently finished 7th at Samsung Anycall Cup of China and 5th at Cancer.Net Skate America.
Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett - This team made a splash last season coming seemingly from nowhere to take the silver medal at Nationals (and desperately close to winning). They followed it up with stunning performances at both the Four Continents Cup and the World Championships solidifying themselves as the hot new team to watch. At both their Grand Prix events this season they continued to demonstrate solid technical skills and also showed improved artistic sensibility. Their ability to skate clean under pressure makes them one of (if not the) the teams to beat. This team was 4th at NHK Trophy and 5th at HomseSense Skate Canada.
Rena Inoue and John Baldwin - The veterans of the field and the only team competing in Spokane with previous Olympic experience (7th in Torino). This team has a secret weapon in their back pocket...the throw triple axel. They successfully completed the element this season at Trophee Eric Bompard. What has held this team back is consistency on the side-by-side triple jumps, especially on John's part. The lack of consistency on that element has caused them to put side-by-side double axels in their short program which puts them at a point disadvantage. If they can find consistency on their side-by-side triple jumps they'll be in good shape. They finished 4th at Trophee Eric Bompard and won the bronze medal at NHK Trophy.
Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker - This team barely squeaked out a defense of their National Title last season and have had trouble getting back to gold standard form sense. At last season's World Championships they actually finished behind Denney and Barrett. Over the summer they made a coaching change and made the move from Colorado Springs to L.A. to train with John Nicks (also coaching Sasha Cohen). John has a knack with pairs skaters, turning out several champions in the past. They have a unique free skate (Slumdog Millionaire) that has left me a bit cold this season. If they can find a way to be more engaging with the audience and choreography with their music and improve upon the technical issues that have plagued them this season, they should have no problem making it to Vancouver. If the mistakes come...it could get dicey. This team won the bronze in their season opener at Rostelecom Cup but was just 4th at Skate America.
I make a point of not predicting Nationals but I'm curious to get your opinion on how you see things playing out. Comment below!
The biggest off all the news coming from Korea where Ice All Stars has wrapped successfully. Of course Michelle Kwan made her return (although not competitive) to the ice. There was quite a cast and I hope to bring you all some more info on that soon in a separate post. Also, Kim revealed her music choices for next season. James Bond for the SP and Piano Concerto in F for the free.
To Germany where the Nebelhorn Trophy entries have been announced. This event is uniquely important this season as it serves as an Olympic Qualifier for those nations that performed (or didn't perform at all) poorly at last season's World Championships in Los Angeles. To that end, Stéphane Lambiel will be competing there as Switzerland needs to qualify a spot in Vancouver. Fedor Andreev will be competing on behalf of Azerbaijan to attempt the same. Other notable competitors in the event include: Yannick Ponsero, Brandon Mroz, Kiira Korpi, Fumie Suguri, Alissa Czisny, Sarah Meier, Savchenko and Szolkowy, Castile and Okolski, Kerr and Kerr, and Davis and White. This event takes place Sept. 24 - 27 in Obsterdorf, Germany.
Here in the U.S., the IOC, USOC, and NBC are all still squabbling about the proposed Comcast/USOC Olympic Network. Another coaching change to report, this time it's 2008 U.S. Bronze Medalist Stephen Carriere who will now train under Priscilla Hill. Overheard Rumor...McLaughlin and Brubaker's free skate will be to Slumdog Millionaire. If so, I'm way excited...that would be an awesome piece for them. Also, Scott Hamilton is getting back on the ice!
In Japan, Mao Asada continues to prepare for the toughest season of her career. In a recent article she told press reporters, "want to land a triple axel. I’ll push myself even more in practice and hopefully I can get started with a good season in my first event." She'll get the chance to strut her stuff at the Japan Open which is October 15-18. Also, seems Daisuke Takahashi was interested in Kim Yu-Na's ice show as he was spotted at the event.
And from Canada, news of the Teflon of sort. What am I talking about? Skate Canada and T-Fal have teamed together to offer commemorative Skate Canada frying pans. A portion of the proceeds go to the Skate Canada Athletes Fund which provides financial assistance to it's athletes. "It's hard to express the wonderful work T-fal has done to support our athletes and sport. These new pans are absolutely gorgeous and are a perfect addition to any kitchen," said Debbi Wilkes, Skate Canada Director Marketing and Communications. Perhaps at Canadian National's, the likes of Rochette and Chan will get a frying pan along with their medals?
Be sure to follow me on Twitter @skating102 for skating news, tidbits, and other fun information!
In Finland...there seems to be some disagreement between some remarks Laura Lepistö, 2009 Ladies European Champ, and her male teammates; especially Ari-Pekka Nurmenkari. In the April Edition of the Finnish Cosmopolitan, Lepistö gave an interview where she described her Finnish male colleagues as very feminine, and "a bit that way". (I don't know if I know what that means?) She goes on to say things are different...like in France (read: Joubert's excessive manliness!). Anywho, Lepistö says that she is being misinterpreted and her comments are not directed at her teammates. Not the best time for Lepistö to get bogged down in this controversy (effeminate skating, etc.) which has heated up considerably over the past several weeks.
Here in the U.S. there is this massive coaching reshuffle taking place. A plethora of past and present U.S. Champions have all done the coaching summer shuffle. Inoue and Baldwin are now with Meno and Sand, Nagasu is now working with Frank Carroll, McLaughlin and Brubaker are taking from John Nicks, and just yesterday (thanks for the update) Jeremy Abbott announced he will leave Colorado (and Tom Zakrajsek) and take from Yuka Sato in Detroit. Don't know if it really counts as a coaching 'change' but when Sasha Cohen announced her return to competition she announced she would be working with Rafael Artunian, not John Nicks, her coach as she temporarily stepped away from competition. Lots of shuffling and it will be the topic of my next op-ed. Also, we found out the Michelle Kwan on Twitter is a fake...boo!
In Russia, Plushenko has officially stated that he is absolutely committed to competing next season. Axels and quads back under his belt, he is currently in training with Alexei Mishin in St. Petersburg. Will it actually happen this season...who can say? I will say this is the most 'serious' he's seemed about it and with the Olympics this upcoming season I think we can expect a legitimate attempt at a return. Plushenko seems to think that Stéphane Lambiel will return to competition as well. Not sure what would prompt him to say that? Nothing official yet from camp Lambiel.
Finally, in Canada...these days no news is good news. While many are still irked by the push to make skating a bit less 'frilly' on the ice, Skate Canada appears to have backed off from asking their athletes to promote the tough side of skating. This combined with the fact that Stojko's 'self-appointed press tour' appears over is causing the story to lose press steam, a fact I'm sure Skate Canada is happy with. They certainly don't want this hanging over their head come February 2010...you know...when the whole world will be in their backyard!
Now Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker have switched it up! No longer with U.S. Pairs Guru Dalilah Sappenfield, they'll be training now with John Nicks.
John Nicks is of course famous for coaching the likes of Starbuck and Shelley, Babilonia and Gardner, Meno and Sand, as well as Sasha Cohen.
Rockne Brubaker told U.S. Figure Skating, "After careful consideration, and with support from Dalilah, Keauna and I made the decision to make this change as we approach this very important season. We look forward to working with Mr. Nicks this season to attain our goals of qualifying for the Grand Prix Final, retaining our U.S. title and preparing for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games."
The duo will train with Nicks at Aliso Viejo. In a case of coincidence, that is also where Inoue and Baldwin will be training with Meno and Sand, Nicks' former pupils.
So...finally I made it back to my computer to post! What a day it's been. Three finals to discuss.
So the pairs final...ugh! I love Keauna and Rockne to death...I love them! However, they should not have one this one, hands down. Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett were sensational. They had us captivated in the arena and it was amazing. Keauna and Rockne just didn't have the spark and made lots of little technical errors. When the final scores went up, most of us in the arena were disappointed by the results. In third, and possibly off the World Team was Inoue and Baldwin after a program that lacked technical depth. Evora and Ladwig were fourth with a solid, crowd pleasing program. In the end Amanda was just crying so much because she and Mark had skated well. Rounding out the top five was Castille and Okolski who looked unprepared for this event and definitely lacking on content.
In Dance it was the Davis and White show. They skated beautifully to 'Samson and Delilah.' As expected, they won by a comfortable margin. Taking the Silver was Samuelson and Bates. They skated very well. Pulling in for the Bronze was Navarro and Bommentre. They had a solid free dance after a lack-luster OD. However, over this season they've lost ground and will probably not get to go to world's this season. Hubbell and Hubbell in their senior debut looked very good as well in placing fourth.
The ladies! Even in the earlier groups there was tremendous skating. First, I'll have to wait and see what was going on when I get home and watch the NBC telecast but just prior to Mirai Nagasu's program she was crying like crazy and we all thought she was going to withdraw. But she turned in a gutsy program, jump downgrades aside, and finished strong. How about the 8 place jump for Wagner from 12th to fourth! It's now the second year in a row she's won the free skate at National's and not won the title. I didn't like the new music cuts and choreography she developed for her "Spartacus' program...but apparently the judges did! In my opinion, Caroline Zhang had the best performance on the night. However, I'm sure the jump police were probably after her too. She seemed pleased with her bronze and I guess that's what counts. Rachael Flatt took the silver after a solid, but slow program. She seemed to be skating with caution and that might have been the difference between winning and not winning. Alissa Czisny started her program so well but after the fall on the lutz I thought that would be it. Thankfully for Alissa the two people who beat her in the free skate were behind her after the short (Wagner wayyyyyyyyyy behind her) and she was able to squeak the victory over Flatt. The crowd in Q Arena went nuts for her and it was nice for a Cleveland native to win here. If you had asked me if this was even possible last season, I would have said no way! I'm currently eating my words.
So the men are tomorrow, I'll post some pre-free thoughts tomorrow before heading to the arena. And you can keep track of my thoughts during the competition on twitter (check the right side of the blog). Till tomorrow!
I know, I'm very early with this weeks Pic of the Week, but by weeks end I hope to share some photos from the action in Cleveland!
The action is underway in Cleveland with all the Novice and Junior skaters buzzing around the Ice but the Senior competition begins soon with the Pairs and Ice Dancers.
The Ice Dance competition looks to be a no brainer. Davis and White medaled in every Grand Prix competition this season including a Bronze at the Grand Prix Final. There biggest hurdle has withdrawn from the competition, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, due to injury. The other team that might have caused them problems, Gregory and Petukhov, are not competing this season due to financial woes. Given all this, it's Meryl and Charlie's competition to win or lose. Other teams that look to crack the podium include Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates, Kimberly Navarro and Brent Bommentre, Jane Gilles and Todd Summersett, and Jennifer Wester and Danill Barantsev.
If you would have asked me three months ago, I would have told you the pairs event would be a piece of cake for McLaughlin and Brubaker, however I'm not so sure that will be the case. To be sure, Keauna and Rockne are the favorites and if they skate well, they'll be tough to beat. The good money is definitely on them. Inoue and Baldwin didn't look sharp at all at Skate America but seemed much more together at NHK. If they can skate as well in Cleveland they'll contend for the Gold, especially if they can manage the throw triple axel. The 2007 Champs are making their season debut here. Castille and Okolski had to sit out the Grand Prix due to injury. This will be the second season in a row that they've begun their season at Nationals. Another team to keep an eye on will be Vise and Trent. They have steadily crept up the standings and always have a throw quad salchow in their back pocket. One other team I might throw in for consideration Yankowskas and Coughlin. I was super impressed with this team at Skate America and I think they have the goods to be top contenders as well.
Sometimes we have to look behind the scenes to find what makes a skater or skaters exceptional. Sure we all see the great performances skaters put on and applaud their performance but we should also applaud their process in reaching that moment.
This week, I've decided that the Pic of the Week will applaud the process maker...this week, I applaud the coach.
Dalilah coaches at both the Colorado Springs World Arena and at the South Suburban Ice Arena in Denver. Her skating philosophy is to not hold strong skaters back and push them towards the fullest potential. A feat she is certainly accomplishing with McLaughlin and Brubaker.
Dalilah is clearly deserving of Coach of the Year and we can say without hesitation that U.S. Pair's skating is the better because of her.
What a day! So much to report...it was incredible! But I have to first start with some boos. The way the ladies were split into a morning and evening group for their free skates was just unfair and it sucked (I guess we blame NBC for that!). The fans didn't like getting up that early and it showed because the attendance in the morning was very low. It sucked for the competitors because their practice was at 6:10 a.m. and also it just plain sucks to skate early in the morning. The arena didn't have breakfast food and I was just plain miserable...but I got over it! Three finals today and all were spectacular in their own way.
In the pairs, Vise and Trent were unable to land their history making throw quad salchow but they were good enough to make it to fourth place with a respectable free skate. Castile and Okolski nabbed the bronze (and a spot on the world team, more on this in a moment) with a good free skate. For it being their first competition of the season they looked fairly well trained with a beautiful program set to "Sheherazade." It's clear however if they wish to improve their world ranking they'll have to add in side-by-side triples in addition to their double axels. The silver went to the veteran team of Inoue and Baldwin. They were also unable to land their history maker (throw Triple Axel) but were still able to have a decent performance (a bit slow at times...I still think they should be better trained than this) and also make the world team. For the first time in forever John hit his triple toe! The winners and easily so were McLaughlin and Brubaker. They had some minor glitches but showed great speed, excellent throws, and solid lifts. The only problem for them is despite the win they didn't make the world team. Keauna is still to young to compete at the event...get this...Rockne is now too old to compete at the Junior Worlds so I guess their competitive season will end at the Four Continents Cup. Big news though! At the end of their free skate John Baldwin proposed to Rena Inoue...and she said YES! The crowd went crazy and Rena burst into tears of joy...it was quite a moment!
In Ice Dance the standings amongst the top four remained unchanged after the free dance. Samuelson and Bates made a case for themselves by having a fantastic dance (except for a freak fall on an easy lift...but it barely disrupted the program). However, they weren't able to close some of the gap between them and bronze medalists Navarro and Bommentre. Speaking of which, they had a loose, jazzy free dance that put the crowd in an ultra calm and them on the world team! Davis and White came out with a free dance and held nothing back at all. They had great speed and unison and twizzles like you wouldn't believe. They solidified themselves as a team to watch as the season progresses. Tanith and Ben were simply the class of the field. None of the silly mistakes from the OD happened in the Free Dance. They were simply amazing and posted numbers that would be tough for anyone in the world to get close to. Really amazing skating!
The ladies...oh my gosh the ladies! If you didn't watch this on NBC you missed out on what was one of the most thrilling and shocking finals ever in U.S. Figure Skating history. Did NBC pick a great time to begin hosting this event or what! Two stories were playing: who would win the medals and who would make the world team (because so many of the top competitors are too young for Sr. Worlds)? Let's start with Alissa again as she found herself staying in 9th place. She just couldn't seem to stand up on her jumps falling on several of them. Now lets talk about the 7th place finisher...prepare yourself for this one...Kimmie Meissner. Kimberly was unable to land either a flip or a lutz and went down on all three attempts at them. You could see how dejected she was from her performance and you got the sense she just wanted to get off the ice, get on a plane, and go home. As she awaited her marks in the Kiss n' Cry she fought back tears as the crowd cheered for her and screamed remarks and adoration's for her to help cheer her up...all she could muster was a lipped, "Thank You." This performance not only leaves her well off the podium but in jeopardy of not even making the world team as three of the ladies that finished higher than her are old enough to go to the World Championships.
One of those competitors that defeated Kimmie is 6th place finisher Katrina Hacker. Katrina didn't have a flawless skate, but she didn't bomb either and was in fact better than Meissner this night. The USFSA will have to decide whether to send her or Kimmie to Sweden. The USFSA's rules are clear that the winner of the event earns a spot and then the USFSA picks the rest. Almost always it is in line with the standings at Nationals but the USFSA is not bound to those placements. Given Kimmie's competitive record (even this season she has twice medaled in Senior Internationals) I don't think it would be out of line for the USFSA to pick her over a competitor with no international experience...we'll wait and see. One competitor that knows she is going to Sweden is 5th place finisher Beatrisa Liang. Despite a couple of singled jumps, Beatrisa turned in a strong performance and earned a spot on the world team.
The top four skaters were near perfect. It was a thing to behold and can I say if this is the program we have right now...the United States' skating prospects look very bright! Caroline Zhang pulled up from 7th to 4th with a flawless performance that instantly brought the crowd to their feet! Her trademark move "The Pearl" drew the largest ovation for a non-jump element I've ever heard. I honestly thought with that performance she was going to rise all the way up to the top and win the title. Little did I know of the performances to come. Ashley Wagner nabbed the bronze with a tremendous performance which included a perfect triple lutz triple loop combo. Her only error came when she slightly overrated a double loop on the back end of a combination, no biggie. When her scores came up and she was ahead of Zhang she just looked shocked! Ashley is also old enough to compete at Worlds and can certainly pack her bags as the highest finisher that meets the age requirement. The silver went to Rachel Flatt who skated perfect (she in fact won the free skate!), triple/triples and all. There wasn't a single flaw to this program and she just beamed the whole way through, what a show stopper! However the night belonged to Mirai Nagasu, who despite falling on her opening double axel, came on strong to win her first senior ladies title. After her opening miscue she went on to land six more triples and despite placing third in the free (both Flatt and Wagner beat her), her lead from the short was sufficient to hold her to the title...what a new face on U.S. ladies skating.
Tomorrow the men skate and I don't know if my heart can take it if it's this dramatic!
They did it! McLaughlin and Brubaker pulled up from 4th to capture the silver medal at the NHK Trophy and have clinched a spot at the Grand Prix Final.
Must come to an end that is...
