What is the youngest age you can be to do Pairs?

[FSWer]

Say,this was bought up in chat and I thought I would ask this. But does anyone know what the youngest is that you can be to do Pairs? Thanks.

[Trillian]

It entirely depends. Some skaters don't start until they're much older, of course, but a lot of kids begin at the juvenile and intermediate levels in the U.S. when they're only 10-11, occasionally even younger. I saw a pre-juvenile pair exhibition at a summer comp this year; the little girl couldn't have been more than seven. (At that point, of course, the kids aren't doing anything near the big tricks--they're basically just learning to skate in unison and do a few simple pairs moves.) Different countries probably vary--I've heard European ice dancers don't start competing below the novice level, unlike the U.S., and I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's true of pairs in some countries as well. I think Gordeeva mentioned in her book that the Soviets didn't put girls in pairs until they were at least 11, for example.

[rjblue]

There is a 20 year old skating pre-novice pairs with a 9 year old in our area. They do big lifts and twists. It is totally creepy to see a grown man throwing around a little girl. And she is so light that it is a "so what" when you see them do it. I don't know what the little girls mother is thinking.

11 year old girl + 14-15 year old boy seems more appropriate to me.

[IrishDancer]

Originally posted by rjblue
There is a 20 year old skating pre-novice pairs with a 9 year old in our area.

Ewwwww. 8O

[Rogue]

There's one girl (Katie ?) that's been to US Nationals twice in Pairs, and she's only 10. She was in Junior Pairs this year with her 18-year-old partner. Unfortunately, I don't see how the partnership can last, because by the time she is old enough to attend international Jr. events, he'll be too old.

[Scott]

That is sick!!! Who is the coach?

[Susan]

I too saw the 9 year old girl 20 year old man team and could not get my head around the concept of the Male Skater, Girl's Parents or the Coach
all agreeing that this was a "good" Match.

If a 20 year old Man wishes to skate pairs and thinks he has a future in it then I would suggest at the very minimum he try to hone his skills for his year of Junior Eligibilityand then move Senior.


The extreme example of Skate Canada age limits disappearing at the Pre Novice and Novice Levels

[Trillian]

Originally posted by Rogue
There's one girl (Katie ?) that's been to US Nationals twice in Pairs, and she's only 10.

That would have to be Shantel Jordan. Not only is she just 10, but IIRC her birthday is after the July 1st cutoff--which means she won't be eligible for international junior competition until the 2006-07 season (let alone senior competition).

She was in Junior Pairs this year with her 18-year-old partner. Unfortunately, I don't see how the partnership can last, because by the time she is old enough to attend international Jr. events, he'll be too old.

That may not be the point of the partnership. Obviously from their placement at nationals, they're not ready for international competition yet anyway. If they're just trying to gain experience on the national level, which is probably the case, and they can't either find a more suitable partner in the area or relocate, skating with one another may be the best option for them at this point. This partnership isn't likely to last, but not every partnership needs to be approached like it's intended to be long term--I think that's a misconception a lot of people have about pairs and dance, actually.

[Francis71]

Trillian - excellent points made. The other thing about pre-puberty girls is that you never know how they will grow - sometimes as the couples grow - what seemed like an excellent match is somehow less than perfect.

My thoughts are if the twenty year old man/boy is willing to skate with a nine year old partner - it will be her that has the advantage rather than him. That girl can then position herself to skate with an age eligible male in the future. There are too few guys out there for all the girls that want to - actually get pairs experience. I sometimes worry that this has had an impact on our ability to nuture (don't hit me) the very best female pair skaters. While it is never to late to learn - there are a lot of technical stuff to learn in pairs that if you wait too long you still have to put in the time to learn the tricks (with some exceptions).

Last summer at Thornhill there was a pair in the junior pairs division where the girl was just a teeny tiny little mite (terra someone). I actually thought the boy was throwing her around and it looked like she was roughly treated - however I saw this pair again later in the season and did not have that same impression. I think there must be a pretty big age difference here - but the girl is just a wonderful little skater. Kudos to the coach for not giving them sexy sultry choreography - which I hate for all pairs below the senior level.

[Susan]

[WeBeEducated]

Their is no age requirement to begin skating Pairs in the USA.
Many teams that are brother and sister actually start quite young.
Often the girl in a bro-sis team is 6 or 7 years old.
If the girl is already a decent skater and has good single jumps and an axle she will learn the beginning pairs elements early enough to make them seem second nature once she is a teen.
It is more difficult for a boy to start early because a young boy often doesnt have the control and strength to perform his part of the elements very securely.

[skatetwo]

I seen that jr. pair skate at Thornhill. She started training in Barrie this summer and started pairs only in July - so they weren't skating together very long before Thornhill. She came along way in a few months - give her some time to develop as a pair skater and she and her partner will be great. He is older than her -but she is fiesty and eager and he is patience. He is so nice he treats her like a little sister. I wonder if they will get a Jr. Grand Prix? She is 12 and he is 19. I seen her on TV in singles. She is like Liz Putnam. She won a bronze in Novice and came 4th in pairs - I wonder if she will stay doing both?

[NAdancefan]

The junior pair Francis71 and skatetwo are referring to is Terra Findlay and John Mattatall, who finished fourth at Canadians. I also saw them skate at Thornhill, where they had a pretty bad time in the LP and fell all over the place. Despite the bad performance, however, Terra's star quality and basic skating quality was clearly evident, which is remarkable considering she literally spent half the program on the ice or making some kind of error. She also placed third in novice ladies at Canadians and seems to be one of the few pairs girls below the senior level in Canada with a fairly consistent double axel, and her triples are quite close as well. I hope to see lots more of her in the future.

[sk8ing is lyfe]

terra at nationals landed a 3sal into a 3toe -landed!!! and had a decent 3lutz attempt... pretty good for a 12 year old!!!

what i think the problem was is that if she had of skated with someone her age or even a couple years older (15) she would've out matched him and made him look weak!!!!

her presentation was well developed also... she is quite the young talent