Worlds 2006

Pairs’ Free

Emma BRIEN / Stuart BECKINGHAM     AUS 20 31.74

We missed these…

 

2 Julia BELOGLAZOVA / Andrei BEKH     UKR 17 37.80

In blue and black, little dress for her with leggings, and he’s all in black pants with ties of blue around… starts off skating back with her, hand in hand… around in crossovers… matrix is the music… around and more crossovers… split double twist, nicely done… steps to the s/s 3sals, and hers is dicey and his is stepped out of… not sure did they do second jump, think not… throw triple loop is fine.. and lasso lift, stays two handed, abrupt on dismount… and s/s double axel and she comes out of hers halfway through, think his ok? Spiral sequence… she’s got good positions, his aren’t too bad either, does a lot of spreads… back outside death spiral needs to be a good bit lower… crossovers to the lift, press lift going backwards, good changes of position from him, she stays in same… throw triple sal has hand down… did same in short… s/s flying camels have good unison, lose it on change to sit but get it back when coming out… hand in hand spirals to lift where she stays in one position, death spiral, forward inside, not bad…. Steps with good unison… slide to stop… and into the camel spins, pairs spin… good change of positions… and they’re done.

Marks TE 35.34 PCS 31.69 for 67.03 and 104.83

 

3 Mari VARTMANN / Florian JUST     GER 19 32.96

Lovely peach dress for her with halter neck tie, he’s got matching shirt and brown waistcoat and trousers… start with s/s triple sals, which he does and she singles… split double has heavy landing, she was on his shoulder… down the ice for the s/s triple toes and double toe combo, much better! Throw 3sal and down she goes, leaning all the time… music changes, once upon a time in the west it is… slow section now… flying camels are miles apart and out of synch, to sit spin to upright with catch foot and then foot out behind them… synch way out all the way along… lift, that goes to on hand, and down from one hand… spiral with her in catch foot, then he pulls her through and past him, and he does Y spiral… then back spirals… good extension from the pair of them… throw loop with long build up, and doubled… crossovers to the star lift, with change of position that gets all wrong and they come out of that early… into pairs spin… and it’s all starting to look a little bit slow… lift  that is two handed all the way through, little slow along the ice but better than the last one… straight line step has good unison… and nice picking out of the musical points there as well… death spiral back outside where her back is straight, and then she kicks up the front leg and holds it for a not nice view… and some steppy steps and she’s done. Slo mos pick out most of the shaky points… sal around the corner… lift that went wrong, she looked to be going upside down, and was well on to be dropped on her head….

Marks TE 40.89 PCS 32.64 for 72.53, ded of one, and that gives them 105.49, last on the night but first overall.

 

4 Stacey KEMP / David KING     GBR 18 36.14

17 and 21, in white fading to dark blue for her, and for him as well, triangular shapes on the chest… Art on Ice by Edvin Marton… assisted cartwheel to begin… and then leans and into a back outside death spiral that is very nicely positions… and s/s double loops… very small jumps, but clean. Split double twist is ok… lift lasso, and that looks ropey on the way up but he gets it to one hand and down from one hand too… his feet need work though. Throw triple toe and down she goes, can’t hold the landing... spiral seq with spreads facing one another… she goes through his legs and up, though she doesn’t get it up past his shoulder, that didn’t work at all… lift and spin at waist level, flying camel spins are awful on unison, s/s sit spins get it back, and upright and she comes out of it before he does… s/s double flip double toe isn’t good on unison and not sure if she gets both jumps… spirals side by side, he pulls her through, then back spirals… kick to the side spirals… lunges into the throw triple loop, she gets legs tangled up but I think she makes it… and star lift that goes to carry lift with her lying down, and then carry at waist level to exit… straight line step with oppositional steps which I like… makes it more interesting choreographically… and then pairs spins, ok on the speed, a little ungainly in some of the positions, and into the forward inside death spiral which is good and fast,  and they’re finished with her leaning back against him, right on the music. We see the split again, which was good, she has a nice smile on the way out… on the throw toe she just needed to be quicker with the free leg, the lift from the pull through was never going to get up in the air… we see the spins s/s from the sky cam and the loss of timing is more than evident, they get it back though… throw triple loop, she just got her foot tangled ,couldn’t get the free leg out, had to turn and put it down…

Marks TE 40.65 PCS 30.31 for 69.96, best of the night, which gives them 106.10 and they lead. Am waiting for the lads to say stop the competition… Simon says they’ll move up a place…

 

And after the break, they come back, and the first thing Simon says?

 

“So shall we stop the competition now???”

 

I kid you not!!

 

   Warm-Up Group 2       

5 Dominika PIATKOWSKA / Dmitri KHROMIN     POL 13 44.67

He’s all in black shirt and trousers, she’s in little red dress, with black trousers, and black half-arm length gloves… Stanislav Leonovich is their coach… there are silver sparkles all over the front of her dress, and a large cut out diamond of silver netty things… Santiago by Piazzolla… starts with the s/s triple toes that she steps out of… great height though. Around the corner hand in hand in crossovers and down fro the split double twist with great landing… glide back where she sits on his knee… and the throw loop triple with hand down… catch foot into the forward inside death spiral, and he changes his position… slower part now… twirling into him steps, and then off to the s/s 2ax and she gets her all wrong, but the double toes in the seq are fine… lift , hand to hand, goes to one hand then back to two, with upside down flip dismount, fake out and flip over again and out… throw sal triple with lean and she fought for that… pull spiral to star lift goes to her lying down on her side and he goes to one leg, then upside down from her as he holds her hips and is on two feet, very good… spirals facing one another holding foot up in biellman… and hand in hand Y spirals… going to hand in hand spirals… kick spiral in to a lift and down… two handed lift there staying mostly near one spot… s/s flying sits and good, losing it on the change .. get it back when going to another position… and straight line step… might not be much content but the unison is excellent… into the back outside death spiral… and pairs spin… and they’re done, a little behind the music. And she looks disappointed… but I have to say, that showed a lot of promise. OK, it had its mistakes but you can see the ideas there and good unison and rhythm… even though the lads are agreeing that not much went right! Liked the landing on the split… we see the throw sal again… and the star lift which was nifty, stop rotation and on to one foot, Chris thinks dismount looked untidy… and in pairs spin they were tired… unable to get down in knees on forward crossovers near the end marks Chris…

Marks TE 44.93 PCS 33.77 for 78.70, best of night so far and they lead… 123.37

 

6 Rumiana SPASSOVA / Stanimir TODOROV     BUL 16 40.22

White shirt for her, little red tunic dress, and he’s in red trousers, white shirt with red waistcoat effect on it. She looks, I swear to you, 11, but she’s really 17… he’s 23, Balkan Concept is the music… they take their time taking their positions at centre ice… she starts behind him… and does little stepping things leaning over his back… nice to set the mood…crossovers now, speeding into the split double twist, nice speed on the way out… Simon calls it triple but I’m not sure… throw 3sal is double footed, and I think that hand too… hand to hand lift… goes to one hand, change position, and down from two hands… s/s loop which she gets all wrong, and both are doubles… lasso lift, goes to one hand and down from one hand… spirals facing one another into the pairs spin… nice positions, good centring, and Natalia spin in it and she falls on the way out… lack of concentration says Simon, not sure what happened there… crossovers, spirals beside one another… hold foot spirals, with her in biellman, he lifts her and she bracelets her leg around him as he spins… star lift.. goes to stop rotation and spread eagle from him, with her upside down in X…Chris goes that’s impressive… throw double loop… pull into the forward inside death spiral… s/s camel spins to sit spin change foot sit spin to shotgun spin, very good unison. Steps to the s/s double sals… to s/s double toes, which I think he triples? Back inside death spiral… to the boards… straight line step and I’m still mulling over that jump seq, I want to see those protocols! Nice little steps here… picking the music well and they’re done an age before the music… she doesn’t sell it too hard, she look crestfallen… and I notice now that his left hand is heavily strapped… Chris points out that she has a high wrapped free leg on her jumps… hand stayed off on throw 3sal… lifts look good on slo mo, and the Natalia spin… he comes out and she doesn’t let go early enough and she’s still bending over while he steps out and over she goes… and we see the slo mos on the jump seq in the little squinty box so I can’t make them out but I do see her free leg, oy!

Marks TE 43.72 PCS 34.67 for  77.39 and 117.61 and they’re in second place.

 

7 Marylin PLA / Yannick BONHEUR     FRA 14 44.55

Still in the brown outfits with the gold rope, still not with the suiting him. They were upset with judges in the short we are told… 22 and 23, music is angel and the devil, space odyssey… they take their time , start well away from one another… he’s got a big gold chain around his neck, isn’t that dangerous? Steps to begin… just setting the scene... first up the s/s jumps, triple toe and he double foots his and falls out of it, hers is fine. Steps around in crossovers, and down the ice to the split double twist with nice catch and extension of her arms. Throw loop triple is good, Chris calls it a cracker… and into the lift, hand to hand, goes to hip lift and drop down to her at waist level… out of that into the forward inside death spiral… music changes, stop, she runs her hand along his cheek… hand in hand spirals with change of edge… back spirals… catch foot into back inside death spiral, he changes his position… nice. Throw triple sal… she’s got funny entry, was leaning right over at the waist. Han to hand lift, goes to star to one hand and flip roll dismount… s/s flying sits are right in front of the judges, and they’re miles apart to begin with, and getting back to one another…. Good unison though. s/s sal  to toe combo… not great unison, thinks all were doubles. Circular step… to drummy music… which they use well but for large parts of it they don’t seem to know the other is there… upside down somersault entry to lift, and star position, and then down… into the pairs spin now… ok position, they seem to stop dead in the middle of it, then off they go again… and she leans back in his arms and they’re done. Simon calls it best of the night by some way and I tend to agree… he says she had a stormer there. Chris laments the lack of ability of Yannick to land the big jumps… her throw jumps are great, I keep thinking they’re doubles because she looks like she could put another turn in there! Chris agrees with me on her funny entry into the sal throw…

Marks TE 50.81 PCS 39.66 for 90.47 for 135.02 and they lead. Only a point off their PB.

 

8 Marina AGANINA / Artem KNYAZEV     UZB 15 41.17

White suits with spirals and modern art patterns in shade of purple and blue and pink and mauve and lilac… her dress isn’t so bad but his is hideous. I wonder will he burn it when the season is over? Dell Arte (soundtrack) is the music… and miming steppy things with arms a swinging to begin… s/s 2ax to begin, into the double toes, he couldn’t hold his axel and they were miles apart… lasso lift that’s telegraphed half the length of the rink away, stays two handed up and down… and the throw axel double she steps out of… crossovers and double twist and I think she walloped him on the way down… s/s double sals… back outside death spiral that needs to be far lower… throw loop double. Steps around where they don’t’ do much of anything, then into spirals with change of edge… lots of speed, nice flow it must be said… good deep knee bend that Chris is always raving about… good spirals,  and then lift that’s dodgy on the way up, star lift, and gets it back but very bumpy on the way down… lift that goes all wrong and did well not to drop her… s/s flying camels… and goes to upright, change to sit spin and upright… out in good time. Slide to the boards… straight line steps with music that gets the crowd going… not quite end to end… lift her by the waist, hold to and spin… and into the forward inside death spiral, with foot held at the start… out of that, to the pairs spin… good positions, travels on the change… but better when on the spot, and finish right on the music. Simon says it was unpolished, not skating at all to music in beginning, better in final sequence (sing it brother!) … we see the axels, ok,  and the jumps ok… split very low, she might not have hit him but it was close! Chris says if you’re going to wear a costume like that you need to sell it and they didn’t… and we see the lift that came all wrong and she was lucky that she didn’t come down on top of him, only for he moved quickly, she would have.

Marks TE 40.40 PCS 32.95 for 73.35 and 114.52, they’re fourth.

 

FRA, POL, BUL are the one two three at the moment.

 

   Warm-Up Group 3       

9 Dorota ZAGORSKA / Mariusz SIUDEK     POL 9 55.05

Lovely red dress for her fading to black at the hem, he’s in black pants, red top fading to black, and it’s the X start for them, soundtrack from the mission… he carries her at waist level to begin… crossovers to the s/s 2ax to double toe sequence... excellent. Around now for the throw triple loop which is also clean, big roar from the crowd… down to the toes, and he falls on his and she doubles hers… and that was bad fall for him, into the boards… through the legs and up to the hand to hand lift, to one hand and down from one hand, nice expression on his face on dismount… into the forward inside death spiral, where he changes his position… into centre for the s/s camels to sits and upright and unison is all over the place, going to sit change sit, get it back at the end… spinny assisted hop… steps to the split triple twist… spiral with change of edge… back spirals… kick to side spirals hand in hand… throw triple sal excellent. Steps around, down the ice into hand to hand lift, goes to hip lift with him in spread eagle… and one handed… stop and change direction… and down and right into pairs spins… nicely done. Down the ice now along diagonal, good unison… into the somersault entry to upright down star lift, and into the back outside death spiral that needs to be lower, him with change of position… and lift her up and they’re done. We see the start in the slo mos, and the throws… there’s’ the toes… and the lads thought she tripled, are surprised to find she doubled… the lifts all look fab… and the end was great.

Marks TE 56.90 PCS 49.84 for 105.74 after ded of one, and that gives 160.79 and they lead.

 

10 Marcy HINZMANN / Aaron PARCHEM     USA 10 52.84

I liked these two at Olympics. She’s in red dress, satin, with no sleeves, black circle on the neck that leads to rose, and he’s all in black, red sparkles on his shoulders… Esperanza is the music… Spanish style steps to set tone, and off to the split double to begin, with nice arms to exit from her… throw 3loop and down she goes and lands on her stomach, ouch. s/s jumps and she goes down on the toe loop and she had no time to re cover from the first fall/// s/s spins goes miles apart from one another, unison off, but the more they spin the more they get it back, only to lose it at the end again… music changes now and they do steps and carries at centre ice, so I hope she’s getting herself together… lift, star, nicely done, even if she’s holding onto him for dear life, little stutter on landing? Throw triple sal and she puts hand down… s/s double flips to double toe… I think. Into the forward inside death spiral and he changes his position…to the boards, straight line step… nice unison, good use of the music… lift with back lasso entry, ends up with her lying back, and down she goes and that didn’t look secure on the way down but they et it! Back outside death spiral, needs to be lower… and lift and carry at waist level, and out… around the corner and down the ice in the lift, goes to one hand, and down from one hand… and spirals with change of edge… hand in hand facing one another spirals, with free leg bent, same on opposite feet… and pairs spin … and nice Y position from her to finish… and they’re done, with her leaning back in his arms. He’s talking to her, looks like he’s telling her it’s all right, and she’s smiling… we see the fall again… from two angles… ouch. And then the toe right after it… she went for it, just didn’t hold it… we see the press star lift, and then the second throw triple sal…  Chris respects that she didn’t give up…

Marks TE 45.65 PCS 43.73 for 87.38, ded of two. For 140. something, we lose the feed and I don’ see it, but think they’re in second place?

 

11 Tatiana VOLOSOZHAR / Stanislav MOROZOV     UKR 11 50.87

Sky blue dress for her, other shades of blue and blue green in it, he’s all in brown, with little blousey detail on the shirt… Conquest of Paradise is the music… Simon calls him a man mountain! Steps with spread eagle to begin… starts with jumps s/s 3sals… into s/s double sals… he gets his exit from first all wrong… and around to the s/s triple toes and he puts hand down, or nearly so… Chris says yes he does. Into the split triple twist and that was huge!!!! Such hang time in it and really fast rotations… lift goes to one hand and down from one hand… throw triple sal has huge air time in it… flying camel spins to sit spin and change edge to shotgun change foot sit spin and upright and you can hear him call the change but unison still not great, only got there with the shotgun. Steppy get your breath back steps at centre ice… spirals… lasso lift with step through and change of direction from him, reverse entry into it Chris says but you’d never have known…. Throw triple loop with double footed landing but no entry into it, out of nowhere… back outside death spiral with her holding boot… spiral, with her in biellman position, drops down to put leg on his shoulder as he’s behind her… and her holding in biellman as he pulls her back… very nice… along diagonal to press star lift goes to one hand and flip dismount… straight line step done in opposition and he falls in it, not sure how… and he’s either hurt or winded…. Pulls her into forward inside death spiral… and pairs spin… and that’s them. And that’s such a shame!!! They were going so well, I don’t know what happened!! And he can’t believe it, he just looks mystified!!!! He has little stutter on end of triple sal… and step through lift was fine…fall, he just looked like he caught skate blade in his trousers or something…coach’s’ reaction was funny!

Marks TE 54.51 PCS 44.52 ded of 2 and 97.03 for 147.90 which has them second.

 

We see Shen and Zhao in the audience…

 

12 Maria MUKHORTOVA / Maxim TRANKOV     RUS 12 46.67

Little black bathing suit style dress for her, with silver accents on the skirt, he’s all in black with silver on his right arm and on his belt, music is Rachmaninov… crossovers to the s/s triple toes which she hops out of, and double toes are fine… she left her left shoulder go back a little too far Chris says…. Down the ice for the split double twist… s/s 2ax and down she goes… hard. Hand in hand to the lift, goes to one hand  change position, and then him in spread eagle, her lying down in his arms, facing the ice nifty! Setting up the throw now, loop triple with step out… spirals hand in hand… with change of edge… back spirals hand in hand… and to the side spirals… into the back outside death spiral… could be longer and lower… lunges inside… throw sal triple… much better. Around in crossovers, down the ice to the lift, nice change of position, and one handed in the middle of it, drop dismount to put her down… press lift that goes to hip lift… to the boards, straight line step… slide to stop at centre and swing before off again… and into the forward inside death spiral where he changes position… and s/s flying camel spins to sit spin to shotgun and out and great unison! Into the pairs spins which look a little messy … but they’re done… though I have my suspicions they’re done a long time before the music. He smacks his head when they’re done, skates away from her… and she can’t look up either… and he leans over with his head in his hands… not quite The Glare but jeepers there’s not a lot of talk there… and even less in kiss and cry!

Marks TE 47.22 PCS 42.81 for 89.03 after ded of one. Which gives them 135.70 and fourth place with eight to go.

 

   Warm-Up Group 4       

13 Aliona SAVCHENKO / Robin SZOLKOWY     GER 5 61.24

Pale peach/brown dress for her, he’s in jumpsuit of brown with the three rows of yellow piping on the shoulders, same costumes as all season…Simon tells the story of Ingo Steuer:The Spy Who Coached Me (tm Someone Brilliant on FSU) Music is Bon Voyage, Conquest of Paradise… she leans back against him… and she’s not as tangoed as normal or is that just me???? Lots of speed to the split double twist and nicely done… lots of height… down the ice to the s/s triple toe that he steps out of, and then into a triple toe again… shame about that. She does spiral that shows her flexibility as she leans against him… down the ice to the throw triple flip with very deep knee bend on landing but she got it…forward inside death spiral with change from her, to one foot with leg in front of her, and lovely position from that. Spiral into lift, goes to one hand and change of position and rotation and he goes into spread eagle and puts her down, great. Pairs spin as music changes, good changes of position and centring and good interp of the music… really well done. Slide to the boards… straight line step… good stuff. End to end, good unison. s/s double axels and she takes off first, and then sits on the landing and puts in extra turn, just saves a fall… throw triple sal is clean. Lift that goes to one hand and down from one hand… s/s flying camels, to sit spin and change edge to shotgun and change foot sit spin to upright, getting further apart as they go, and unison not as it should be… hip lift with one foot held, goes to change position… and down. Spirals facing one another… catch foot spiral from her… nice changes of position from them, going into and out of front and back of one another… and death spiral back outside with one blade held, goes to traditional position… and they’re done. And I’m continually amazed when that is four minutes long! She punches the air when they’re done, she looks thrilled…he’s beaming. Too many flaws says Simon, it would be unbelievable if they could get a medal, Chris doesn’t think they’ve done enough either… he did well to get back for the second triple toe… throw triple flip from better angle makes it look better; on the first one he was between her and the camera, but she did have to get down in the knee a good bit to save that… mistake on the axel… she didn’t fall though which will be important…

Marks TE 55.03 PCS 54.81 for 108.84 ded of one and they’re in the lead, with 170.08.

 

14 Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN     USA 6 60.90

Wine velour suit for him with gold brocade in the neck and chest and leg, and she’s in matching little bathing suit dress. Same as all season. Throw triple axel is, I believe, planned. Stars and Stripes are flying… Shostakovich music is their selection… starts off hand in hand… look very powerful to begin… down to the s/s triple toes perfect. Around now and down the ice for the split double twist… s/s 2ax 2 ax sequence… and set up now the throw loop and she gets that triple. Catch foot into the forward inside death spiral, lose the feed but he changes position while it’s out… they’re cooking with gas. And I kinda wish I hadn’t typed that with my history… crossovers to get breath back, and star lift, slow along the ice, and down from that… into pairs spin… good centred, nice positions and speed… here we go… throw…and she might have touched down with her hand but around three and a half times… hand to hand lift to one hand… and down from one hand… change of hand entry to back spiral death with change of position. To the boards, or as near as, for straight line step… unison is excellent, steps in opposition as well… s/s flying camels to sit spin to change edge to upright change foot sit spins to Y spins and great unison and upright and out… spirals, change edge… back spirals… kick spirals to side… he pulls her in spiral… lasso lift… to one hand… and down and they’re done. People are standing, Peter Oppegard is nearly in tears!!! Wow!!! Simon thinks it’s the best they’ve ever skated… and I have chills! He presents her as she takes her bows… excellent I loved it!!!! She calls the spins Chris says… split twist well caught… jump seq excellent… throw axel hand did go down… just at the very end…

Marks TE 67.62 PCS 54.65 for 122.27 and wow! 183.17 and they lead.

 

15 Jessica DUBE / Bryce DAVISON     CAN 7 58.81

Black dress for her with cut out back… he’s all in black, with sparkles o the top, as her dress has… and you can hear the Canadians ready to roar!!! And so they do… flags are waving everywhere … Gershwin’s Concerto No 7 then Ravel says Simon… steps back and along the corner to piano… split to begin double twist, nicely caught. Down the ice to the s/s double axel clean, to double axel clean. Well done. Lasso lift, to star lift one handed with drop out… glide... and he slides past her… nice music use here… setting up the throw sal triple with jesus a lean and she lands it!! s/s flying camels to sit spin to upright spin, lost unison in middle but got it back…he pulls her in spiral, then hand in hand spiral facing one another, kiss spiral… and back spirals, and then glide back against one another… awww… s/s sals and she singles hers, his is tripled. Pull into forward inside death spiral… crossovers to the throw loop and she’s leaning again but she pulls it in and gets it… lift, hand to hand to one hand and down from one hand… steps to hop to carry lift at waist level, brings to boards for midline step… kept that together well, and it went end to end… star lift, one handed.. to carry one handed and he worked at that… split carry with her leaning back against him, one leg on his shoulder…into back outside death spiral… to pairs spin with travel… change position better with her leaning back… and done… slight ahead of the music… but well done. People are standing… and they can be proud of that. Barbara Anne Scott in the crowd… and Toller Cranston… and they get Stetsons thrown onto the ice which they brandish with pride… and they wear them coming off!!! And he takes his off and waves it around to whip up the crowd! Chris says again she was leaning on the throw, leaning to the right so towards her landing side and that’s how she got away with it… was still over the right foot.

Marks TE 57.42 PCS 53.49 new PB 110.91 and second on the night, 169.72, third overall. First worlds, they’ll take that!!!

 

16 Julia OBERTAS / Sergei SLAVNOV     RUS 8 55.60

Royal blue dress for her with sparkles and a little bow along an empire line, he’s in black tux effect jumpsuit, waistcoat is royal blue, and ruffle scarf of white around his neck. Verdi the music… start off with s/s triple toes that she hops out of… and into the double toe sequence that’s ok but look messy… double axles and she singles hers, his is messy… and I have never seen this girl look so hatched faced. Split twist is triple I think and fine… throw triple flip and she worked for that. She glides back on his skates…music changes… lift, goes to upside down carry lift with him changing direction and rotation… into the death spiral forward inside… s/s flying camel spins to sit spins and shotgun and loss of feed to see they’re doing upright s and this is impossible, can’t make out a thing… and we see empty stands and back again…he kisses her arm and off again… throw loop triple and she really works for the landing but gets it… lift to carry lit with her lying back, him stopping and changing the rotation, and he goes to one foot carry going forwards which even I know is hard! Catch foot spirals… back spirals… bringing legs around… and into the death spiral back outside… to the boards, or close to it, for straight line step… upside down somersault entry to star lift… and upside down with flip over dismount, nice! Into the pairs spin… good changes of position… and well centred… and finish right on the music. She finds a smile, he kisses her hand… they came back well from that. Twist had bumpy landing methinks… they were doing quads early in the season… she really did have to work on the throw loop but the smile on her face when she got the landing… she’s still only 21 which seems hard to believe!!!

Marks TE 57.37 PCS 51.19 for 108.56 and fourth best on the night which I’m ok with. 164.16, and fourth overall.

 

USA, GER, CAN, RUS, POL, UKR, USA RUS FRA POL BUL UZB GBR GER ULR AUS are the rankings.

 

   Warm-Up Group 5       

17 Maria PETROVA / Alexei TIKHONOV     RUS 3 63.04

Red dress for her, with cut out of flesh net on the hips and centre, and sleeveless effect. He’s all in black, with deep slim V on the chest, red sparkles to the side. World champions six years ago… they take their time coming   out, he looks to be fiddling with his belt a little… Alexei, you should have gone before you went out onto the ice… Four Seasons the music, Winter… their last competitive program very probably Simon says… I thought they’d said it was? Anyhoo, they be off, lots of speed to the s/s triple toes into double toes, excellent. Double flip actually Simon corrects us. Down the ice for the s/s 2ax, spot on. Split twist double to begin… now throw loop triple, good girl. Her in spiral, him in spread… crossovers to the sal throw… leaning but triple and she gets it! Lasso lift to one hand and change to hip lift with lie down and flip over exit. s/s flying camel spins to sit spin great unison! Change sit to shotgun where they lose unison as I type it’s great!!! Pairs spins…look fine, ok on the centring… pause at centre ice… lift her up and spin her around over the shoulder and down into the forward inside death spiral with the change of position from him… spirals hand in hand… back spirals… to side spirals… lift hand to hand to one hand… and down from one hand… and pendulum entry to star lift and rotational exit… shoot the duck into back outside death spiral which could be lower… and famous bit of music, so straight line step… keeping together well… under his leg she goes, then step to the boards… and they’re done. And I remember that Chris said no medal for Russia, so need I say more, they’re bound to get one!!! I’ve never seen them skate better, Simon agrees with me… and he goes down on one knee and kisses her hand and I swoon. Chris mentions the front-end-loading of the program… 90mph at the beginning, 2mph at the end which he says will be reflected in the marks, the balance is important (But will it be reflected, I wonder?) I’m thrilled for them, it must be said, and her reaction at the end was lovely… you could see how much it meant to them. Changed program after Olympics… felt it wasn’t right for NJS… she’s had ankle injury since then.

Marks TE 64.50 PCS 58.68 123.18 and they’re just in front. New PB? 186.22 and they lead.

 

18 Valerie MARCOUX / Craig BUNTIN     CAN 4 62.66

Blue for her, with sparkles on it on the shoulders and chest, he’s got matching colour shirt, with black accents around collar and black trousers. Music is Our Song by Paul Kungis… they need just under 124… shoot the duck into one of the best back death spirals of the night… down the ice to the split double twist, huge, well caught, good speed. Along the ice to the s/s triple toe double toe and he put his hand down, they need to be clean from now on… press lift, star lift and upside down flip dismount… spread eagle on hydro into throw triple loop that’s perfect!! Music slows and pauses, and they do too… start off again… get your breath back steps, and around now to the spirals, lovely position… she looks back up at him… side spirals, he’s got great extension… and pull into back spirals… s/s 2ax and she nearly goes down on hers… lift hand to hand to one hand… and out from one hand… into the forward inside death spiral… nice position. Music changes to the one that will get crowed going flying camels to sit change foot camel to upright out of synch to sit spin  to out… lift helicopter style with flip dismount… and pairs spin… nice speed… good and low in the sits.. straight line step… crowd are into this… and that’s really good. Great unison… steps to throw triple sal and she gets it! That’s the last move and she nailed it! The place erupts around them, people standing all over the place, including Toller Cranston who is talking to Haig Ondujan about it (used to be the president of NISA in Great Britain, I apologise for butchering the spelling)  Simon wonders was it better than Russians, says not for him… Chris says if you separate elements no, but on balance of program, interp of the elements, musicality, put into the context of the program, he thinks it might be. I think this is one of the ones that you can argue either way… Chris says Russians didn’t skate in second half of program, these guys got faster… I think in my heart, I’d have these ahead but there were mistakes so I don’t know!!!

Marks TE 61.52 PCS 56.91 not enough. 118.43 and new PB 181.09, third at the moment… behind the Americans.

 

19 Dan ZHANG / Hao ZHANG     CHN 1 65.58

White dress for her, with red sash on the waist, and accents along the middle of the chest. He’s in brown trousers, red sparkles along left leg, white top with red cut outs on the middle. Chris tipped these to win; they’re doomed, doomed I tell you!!! We see Shen and Zhao in the audience again… Offspring of Dragons is the music… her knee is bandaged… star with lift up and kick and flies off… lift over and kick… throw sal triple and no problem there. s/s axel double axel triple toe, out of synch and nearly into one another…steps to the slit triple twist, really well done… lift from nowhere, change of position, goes to one hand, stop rotation and carry with her looking down onto the ice… pairs spin… good, and Natalia spin in the end of it… catch foot into death spiral back outside… steps around, into the throw loop triple with lean but she nails it. s/s sal triple and he falls and goes down hard on his side… catch foot spirals, biellman style, back spirals… as Simon says cat is among pigeons… kick spirals… and forward inside death spiral... with change of position from him… lunge into lift and he stuttered there? Stays two hands and down… steps around in the circle… and it’s just looking a little raggy or is it me? s/s camels flying change edge to sit spin to Y spin change foot sit spin to Y spin and upright… over toe the boards, and star lift with one hand and down, to done. Simon says something about how now he’s injured… a sense of anti climax Simon says, a kind of numbed hush… wonders if they’ve done enough… Chris was convinced they would be clean… well, he did back them, what does he expect? Timing on combo right off... split on twist was great. Chris says they left the door open, was that better than the Russians, Simon asks… he says not, Chris says it was, I gotta say, I’m thinking not as well… I know the front end loading and all… and she doubles the triple that he fell on… Simon says they can’t beat the Russians with that, and Chris concurs on the night… well, now they can… when will they learn not to handicap???

Marks TE 64.39 PCS 57.45 and 120.84 and 186.42 they have it by two tenths of a mark. Second best on night but had enough margin…

 

20 Qing PANG / Jian TONG     CHN 2 64.98

Mostly teal dress for her, with sparkles, and accents of lime green and navy blue sparkled material… Phantom of the Opera is the music… lift her up and toss her down to begin… s/s double axel double toe to begin…ok… and I’m saying nothing! s/s triple toes and she falls on her… bugger. Split triple twist is huge… throw triple sal is huge… and she nails it. Kick over the leg into back outside death spiral, could be lower, change of hand from him… music changes to all I ask of you… flying camels to sit spin change edge change foot camel spin to sit spin to Y spin, lost unison in middle but got it back and we had great angle on that… lasso lift to one hand… and down from one hand… throw loop triple and she nails that… into the forward inside death spiral which is lovely… features another change of hold… under his leg and up to the one handed lift… and down from one hand… s/s steps along the centre of the ice… to halfway and back around again so this a circular pattern… its quarter to one, I’m tired!!! Hand in hand Y spirals to spirals… back spirals… into the pairs spins… lovely… pendulum lift, with complicated dismount and they are done. Oh yes says Simon… and for me, they should have done it. People are standing… I’m not sure you can have it above the Russians on the night, with the fall and all, Chris says it’s the best program of the evening, but if you can’t have it first, IMO, you have to have it second… her timing, he says, not great on beginning, he loves the transitions, there’s no telegraphing at jumps… she didn’t make rotation on the triple toe, but was more than a quarter around… so will be minus three on the elements… they surely have to have better PCS than the Zhangs??? Or who the hell knows…

Marks TE 65.71 PCS 60.51 124.22 ded of 2.00 and that has them 189.20 and they have it as I throw my hands into the air and bite my lips so as not to wake the house at 12.47 in the morning! Oh I’m so happy happy happy!!!

 

Pang & Tong, Zhangs, Petrova, Inoue, Marcoux, Svchenko Dube Obertas Zagorksa and I miss the rest… Americans only three points off the bronze… and Simon is feeling for PetTiks… and I gotta say, I would have given them the silver. And lord help me, but after this and the Olympics, I can see the future of my ice skating career in years to come… because twice in a row I’ve thought the Zhangs got marked generously.

 

Oh well… original dance tomorrow.