Staying healthy and competing consistently are the driving forces behind Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea as they embark on the Grand Prix season and a new quadrennium.
The 2018 U.S. silver medalists and Four Continents pairs champions are returning to Japan, while competing for the first time in France. They came on like gangbusters late last season, as Kayne recovered from knee surgery just several months earlier. Their confidence is high moving forward, they said.
"I think that doing well at major competitions is always great for your confidence, and though we are both very disappointed that we were unable to compete at Worlds, we are motivated for this coming quad and are doing everything we can to put ourselves in the best situations and positions possible to stay healthy and compete consistently," O'Shea said.
Competing in Japan is always a great opportunity, O'Shea said, and going back will be a lot of fun on and off the ice.
"Tarah is very much looking forward to getting some more Lotte chocolate covered almonds and we can't wait to explore Hiroshima and try some okonomiyaki which they are famous for," O'Shea said. "It will be both of our first times in France, and we are motivated to skate well and have good experiences both in a new place and an old favorite."
Goals this season, O'Shea said, are to win their second U.S. title (2016), compete at Worlds and earn spots back for Team USA pairs.
"We are also continuing to develop our artistry with our new short program and look to make ourselves known as being both technically proficient and artists on the ice."
Two-time and reigning U.S. champions and Olympic Team Event bronze medalists Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Chris Knierim will be at Skate America and NHK Trophy. They announced in May that they will be coached by 2018 Olympic champion Aljona Savchenko of Germany.
Also drawing two assignments as of press time are Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc, and Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier. Since, Deanna Stellato and Nathan Bartholomay, and Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov have also received two assignments each.
Read the full Grand Prix Series ahead of Skate America in the August/September issue of SKATING magazine.
