Cain-LeDuc FS19
Jay Adeff/U.S. Figure Skating

Features Claire Cloutier

Cain-Gribble and LeDuc Aim to Rebuild in France

Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc, reigning U.S. pairs champions, are looking for a bit of redemption this week at their second Grand Prix event of the season, 2019 Internationaux de France.
 
The team's first Grand Prix this season did not go quite as expected. Cain-Gribble and LeDuc were favored by many to medal at 2019 Skate America presented by American Cruise Lines. However, they finished in fifth place. The duo was disappointed with the result, but are looking to show significant improvement at Internationaux de France.
 
"Each competition, we always try to take a step forward and to improve in every way. And we have a lot of opportunities to improve for Internationaux de France," LeDuc said with a grin, during an interview after Skate America.
 
Prior to Skate America, Cain-Gribble/LeDuc had started their international season on a high note by winning U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, where they defeated several highly ranked competitors, including two-time World silver medalists Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia and China's reigning Grand Prix Final silver medalists Cheng Pang and Yang Jin.
 
"That was really exciting, and it was really big for us," Cain-Gribble said of their win at U.S. International Figure Skating Classic.
 
The victory gave them unexpected momentum going into Skate America, but Cain-Gribble and LeDuc felt they were prepared to handle the pressure.
 
"We really worked hard so we could have a good result here at Skate America," LeDuc said. "We didn't leave any stone unturned. So it really stings not to have that show up in the competition. It's the nature of sports. Sometimes, you drop the ball," he said regretfully.
 
Cain-Gribble added: "I think we're going to have to learn how to take setbacks or failures as champions. And that's something that's new for us. We just have to move forward."
 
The team is aware that being U.S. champions raises expectations. "It's a privilege to be U.S. champions, and to have the expectation with that," LeDuc said. "It's something we've always wanted, and something that we take very seriously. There is less room for error."
 
The two have confidence that they can build back from the disappointment at Skate America. "We came back from difficult circumstances last year to win the [U.S.] title and get spots back for the USA at Worlds," said LeDuc. "So we know we can do these things."
 
As Cain-Gribble and LeDuc look toward Internationaux de France, they do not expect to make any changes in their programs or technical elements. Instead, they will focus on improving their technical levels--and their mental game.
 
"We lost a lot of levels on really easy stuff here," Cain-Gribble said of their performance at Skate America. "There's nothing to retool, because we have all level 4 elements. We've maximized points on that. So it's just about executing them, and not letting any points go."
 
"We're continuing to work on our mental toughness," LeDuc added. "We're just going to try to get back to that cool, confident place where we know we can do our stuff."
 
Nina Mozer, who works periodically with the team as a coaching consultant, was encouraging after their performance in Las Vegas.
 
"When we got off the ice, she just said, 'It's okay. You're going to get it next time. And we're going to make it alright,'" Cain-Gribble related.
 
Peter Cain, head coach for the team along with Darlene Cain, said that Mozer's advice and expertise continue to be invaluable. "The first year, she was deconstructing and then reconstructing," Cain said of Mozer's work with the team. "Then, as each year has gone by, you could see the gradual improvement."
 
The team works with Mozer during pairs camps in the U.S., at Mozer's summer training camp in Italy, and also occasionally at their regular training base in Dallas. "She sends us weekly and monthly plans for the kids," noted Cain. "And I'll send her reports on what they're doing and how they're feeling. They've also started working with [former international men's competitor] Misha Ge, who's part of her team. He comes in and out as well."
 
Language, apparently, is no barrier to Cain-Gribble and LeDuc's ability to work with an international coaching team. Cain said that Mozer's English is improving. "And we always have her son, Nikita, there, who translates most of the time. Or Misha Ge does translation."
 
Cain revealed that LeDuc also speaks and understands some Russian. "Tim had a Russian coach before [Sergei Zaitsev]. So Nina can say things to Tim in Russian, and he knows exactly what she's saying."
 
With the support of their coaching team, Cain-Gribble and LeDuc feel ready to face their next hurdle at Internationaux de France.
 
"We welcome the opportunity to learn and grow, to learn how to stay relaxed and do our technique, in spite of any outside pressure," LeDuc said. "And hopefully, next time we will be able to translate our training to competition."
 
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