Harkaway & Larcom split?

[Trillian]

I noticed that this year's novice silver medalists Harkaway & Larcom are no longer listed on the USFSA site as members of the national team. Am I correct in assuming this means they've split?

[Sylvia]

Yes, that's what I've heard.

[blue111moon]

I believe they ran out of money.

[chattykathy]

There are many reasons for any pair team split but since Brandon is now attending the University of Michigan, money may well be a factor.

Sheila is skating daily with her coach, Joe Mero, and Intermediate Pairs Bronze medalist RJ Westfall, who's partner is injured.

Brandon has taken on coaching duty for a number of skaters.

[NiceIce]

It is true that they are not a team anymore.
It is my understanding that Sheila ended the partnership.
Although many girls put up with just about anything to keep a partner because they want so much to skate Pairs/Dance, (Tiffany in England for example) I appaud Sheila and her parents for the wisdom and courage of this decision.

[haribobo]

Nice Ice-- In your post, it sounds like you may be suggesting something negative about Brandon Larcom. Are you meaning to say that it took courage to leave him because he's dangerous in some way? Please clarify.

[chattykathy]

I shouldn't speak for niceice but I think she was talking about the prospect of not having a partner for this season, and how hard it is to find a good pair partner. It is most often just a matter of numbers. There just aren't that many boys interested in or willing to figure skate.

So many girls are desperate to skate pairs that they are willing to sponsor (as in pay the way) for a partner or put up with an uncomfortable relationship. Not to say that is the way it was for HArkaway and Larcom. They are still friends.

To take this discussion of Brandon being dangerous in anyway is irresponsible.

[haribobo]

Thank you for your response, chattykathy. That may very well be what NiceIce meant. I am trying to give that poster the benefit of the doubt, but the context of the post was not exactly reassuring. When praising someone's decision to leave a partner (calling it wise and courageous) and comparing it to Tiffany Sfikas' situation, I think an explanation should go along with that, otherwise it looks like you are meaning to say that Brandon Larcom was in some way similar to Tiffany's partners.

I have heard nothing negative about Brandon and do not mean to say that he is dangerous-- just saying that is the impression I get from NiceIce's post, and why I asked for clarification so nobody is left with the wrong impression.

[Trillian]

Originally posted by haribobo
When praising someone's decision to leave a partner (calling it wise and courageous) and comparing it to Tiffany Sfikas' situation, I think an explanation should go along with that, otherwise it looks like you are meaning to say that Brandon Larcom was in some way similar to Tiffany's partners.

He does have a point. The comparison to Tiffany's situation did make me raise my eyebrows because of the recent news story about her apparently being beaten up by one of her partners. I don't think it was at all unreasonable to wonder if something along those lines was being implied given that comparison, although I'm sure haribobo and others who read these boards often know better than to immediately believe anything unsubstantiated that's posted by an anonymous source.

At any rate, I'm glad to hear that despite the comparison there's no similarity between the two situations. I wish Sheila and Brandon the best--I'd heard about their financial troubles earlier this year, and I know they've had a few other hurdles to deal with, so I wasn't totally surprised by their split. It's too bad things didn't work out for them.

[chattykathy]

WOW-I am sorry I said anything at all.

What it sounded like to me is that someone was trying to dig up some dirt, but I was completely unaware of Tiffany's dilemna.

I hope that niceice is VERY close to the situation and can clarify her statement and that she/he will, because to drop a bomb like that and not follow up, can be very damaging.:(

[NiceIce]

"dangerous" is NOT a word I would use to describe this skater at all.
Typical young adult male partner with the attitude of "she is lucky to have me so I can act any way I want" is more like it.
However, there is very reliable info circulating about a "pushing" incident, and how that incident is the basis for the teams' breakup.

Considering that he is a grown man of college age and she is a young girl, I feel her parents are wise to give her self esteem and self respect priority over skating .
Believe what you want.
Hariboho is perceptive!

[Trillian]

Originally posted by NiceIce
However, there is very reliable info circulating about a "pushing" incident, and how that incident is the basis for the teams' breakup.


Well, the most reliable poster on this thread seems to be someone who's previously identified herself as the mother of a skater who trains at the same rink as Sheila and Brandon. If you'd care to identify yourself you might prove to be equally knowledgable, but until then, you can't really blame those of us who choose to take the word of the poster who isn't afraid to make her identity known. Especially since she isn't simply posting "info circulating"--wouldn't a better word for that be "gossip"?

[chattykathy]

I thought alot about this last night and I ask you to do the same.

Think about this, have ever seen Brandon and Sheila off the ice? Sheila is a young girl still. She lives with her parents and skates in a very busy rink, when would the supposed abuse happen. And do you think she would have taken more than once? Brandon has lived with the Harkaways for most of the time they skated. Our community is very close, protective (obviously), our kids feel like they are in a fish bowl most of the time.

The team made a great pair, and now a good decision to split.

[NiceIce]

I know the skater very very well.

[NiceIce]

When there are mistakes being made during a practice, it is actually quite easy to take out your frustration on the person who is your partner.
Add the stress of competition, the financial debt that surrounds a skater, and the deeply held goals and dreams that seem like they are unraveling during a frustrating practice, and it is easy to imagine unkind words or aggressive behavior that normally would not surface.

The incident was not an off ice incident.
It related directly to skating, not personal issues obviously.

[adrianchew]

I'll try to summarize here...

What's being said seems to indicate an incident - and not necessarily a pattern of abusive behavior. A decision was made on what was allowed and what wasn't, and it resulted in the split.

Sounds to me like no party is really trying to point blame, but that these things do happen, and its up to the parties to decide their priorities. And life goes on.

[blue111moon]

I think we need to remember that both of these skaters are teenagers.
I also suspect that there's more to this split that the result of one incident. But none of us can know the truth. So until and unless the parties involved make a statement themselves, all we do know is that the pair has chosen to split. Their reasons are their own.

[NiceIce]

adrian is exactly right.
no "pattern"
no"abuse"
just an incident
but an incident that contributed to a change in plans
Sometimes pairs skaters cant stand their partner, and one obnoxious comment or action can end it all.