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<\/a>Figure Skaters Online<\/i> has started a new series to introduce fans to the new pair teams who will be making their debut during the 2025-26 season. For this series, we recently chatted with Gabrielle “Gabby” Kaplan and Carter Griffin, who are a new junior pair team for the U.S. Gabrielle is 15-years-old and is originally from Northbrook, Illinois. Carter is 20-years-old and calls Scottsdale, Arizona his hometown, but has been training in Irvine, California for a few years now. The two teamed up in February and were added to the International Selection Pool (ISP) in August.<\/p>\nTell us about your individual skating journeys, including any early special memories<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Gabby:<\/strong> I started skating at the age of 2 and fell in love that day. I began competing singles when I was 5. I started skating pairs with my coaches in Chicago in 2023. My first partner was Matthew Soifer for the 2023-2024 season.<\/p>\n Carter<\/strong>: I started skating at age 2 when my mom would take me to public skate and teach me the basics. I continued skating because my older sister skated pairs. Previously, I partnered with Taisiya Shapovalova (2025), Audrey Park (2022-24), Alissa Korytek (2019-22) and Jordyn McNeill (2016-19). What drew you to pairs? Did you compete in singles before and if so, how long did you skate and compete as a single skater, and are you still doing singles?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Gabby:<\/strong> What drew me to pairs was watching it on the TV and just being amazed. I competitively skated singles until the beginning of the 2024-2025 season, however I continue to train and practice singles everyday.<\/p>\n Carter: <\/strong>My first coach was Tiffany Vise, who competed in pairs. My older sister also skated pairs, so I was naturally drawn to it. I skated singles until I was 17. Just like Gabby, I still practice singles everyday.<\/p>\n Tell us how your partnership started.<\/b><\/p>\n Carter:<\/strong> A mutual friend had said Gabby and I would make a great pair. So we reached out to set up a tryout. She was right because I knew instantly that we would work well together.<\/p>\n Gabby:<\/strong> My mom and I came to California for a week-long tryout with Carter. We immediately knew it would work. So we wound up doing a 2-week trial period. It went great and there was no denying it was a great fit.<\/p>\n What is it that you already like most about skating with your new partner?<\/b><\/p>\n Carter: <\/strong>What I like the most about Gabby is that she puts up with my shenanigans and how hard working she is. She just goes for it.<\/p>\n Gabby:<\/strong> I like most that Carter is always willing to try new things. Also, he makes me laugh on the ice.<\/p>\n What has been the biggest adjustment for each of you so far in the partnership?<\/b><\/p>\n Gabby<\/strong>: Timing was definitely an adjustment. As well as having to adjust to jumping with a lefty partner.<\/p>\n Carter:<\/strong> The biggest adjustment so far in our partnership has been learning what works for lifts and twists. Each partner may have been taught those things with different technique than what I am used to.\u00a0 Tell us about your training site.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Gabby and Carter:<\/strong> We train in Irvine, California at Great Park Ice Rink. It’s a great facility. We love being able to train with so many great pair teams.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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