Roth & McPherson at Thornhill

[Verna]

I'm hearing this team does not look ready for the Grand Prix. My friend who was at Thornhill was really impressed with them when she saw them at JW a few years ago, but now they look generally clunky, their program seemed watered down, and they do NOT look ready for the GP.


She said they barely held onto third over McEwan and Willemse, who look like bottom of the barrel in Canadian pairs. Losing to Purdy & Maguire isn't a good sign either.


Are their GP assignments DSC politics or what?

[roogu]

hmmm, the tone of this post sounds familiar to your other post regarding Ben .... I'd suggest you cleaning up your attitude.

[Scott]

Maybe Roth and Mcpherson should have stayed as Jrs. But I won't go there...it seems that all of our pair teams had a rough weekend. The results from Indy show that all of the teams had rough performances. So, maybe we ahould wait for the real competion season which starts in September at Nebelhornr.

[Dragonlady]

I was very surprised to learn that Roth & MacPherson had been together for two years. They lack matching lines or extension on their moves. Their SP, although technically clean, was very bare bones and they seemed like two skaters sharing the ice, not a pair. Purdy & Maquire were much better in terms of speed, flow, matching lines, extension and expression of the music, but they had trouble with their tricks in the SP.

I didn't see either LP so I won't comment. The Sr. Pairs LP was on at the same time as the Jr. Men's LP and I didn't want to miss Eric Radford, who skated at the exact same time as Roth & MacPherson.

[Trillian]

Originally posted by Dragonlady
I was very surprised to learn that Roth & MacPherson had been together for two years. They lack matching lines or extension on their moves.

If the pictures I've seen from Skate Detroit are any indication, Kristen has grown significantly in the last year or so. They don't appear to be as good a physical match as they once were, although it could very well be something that's just going to require adjustment.

Considering this team was given Grand Prix assignments without having to face the top teams from nationals at Indy (or ever complete a full competition as seniors--this was the first one, incidentally), I don't consider it at all unreasonable to question their showing in summer events. Sure, Indy sounds like it was sloppy and they might not have done badly there, but hey--we don't know that, do we? Unfortunately for them, unless they do well on the GP, a lot of people are going to be questioning this. I still don't think the USFSA put them in a very good position.

[Francis71]

Verna - I am not sure it is appropriate to describe McEwan and Willemse as the bottom of the barrel in Canadian pairs. Our skaters don't have the luxury of remaining junior if they are not age eligible and the leap to senior is significant.

I am not sure that this is an good decision but it is one that the CFSA has decided to continue despite only having 9 Junior Pairs last year. What is happening is that as guys get to that magic "need to go senior year" they either can't find a partner who is also willing to go senior or aren't prepared to be the "bottom of the barrel".

I have to give this team credit for making the leap to senior - apparently they have passed their test which can be challenging.

Also I remember seeing Annabelle and Patrice their first year at senior and thinking they were absolutely horrible. I couldn't believe the improvements - which did come with time. Lesson is be careful about bottom of the barrel descriptions because they might be the next Canadian champs (not that I really see this potential in this team) but in my opinon - good for them for not giving up and being prepared to go out there with the likes of Jazz and Lenny.

[11yrskate]

(I was very surprised to learn that Roth & MacPherson had been together for two years. )

Roth and McPherson have been together 3 years. I believe they started skating together in 1999.
They were 1st in Novice at nationals in 2000, 2nd in Juniors in 2001, and did not compete in 2002 due to Roth being injured.

[Dragonlady]

McEwen & Willemse were our #4 ranked Jr. Pairs team last season. Hardly the "bottom of the barrel". Need I remind you that last season, the Hartsells were beaten by our #5 ranked Jr. Team at Skate Canada?