2007 US Figure Skating Championships: Pairs Highlights

The 2007 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships were held Jan 21-28 at the both the Spokane Convention Center and Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington. Approximately 250 skaters competed in their respective Novice, Junior, and Senior division.

Spokane was one of the first sites chosen after the creation of the U.S. Figure Skating Events Advisory Board (EAB) in 2003, which seeks out and examines bids submitted to host U.S. Figure Skating events. Spokane showed success with 2002 Skate America, had an excellent infrastructure in place, demonstrated organizational skills, enthusiastic volunteers and a true interest in hosting the best event possible.

The 2008 U.S. Championships will be held in St. Paul, Minn., Jan 20-27, and the 2009 U.S. Championships will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, Jan 18-25.

On Jan 22, the U.S. Figure Skating announced the selection of Reading, Pa., as the host city for 2007 Skate America. The international figure skating event is one of six stops on the ISU Grand Prix of…

2007 US Figure Skating Championships: Men’s Highlights

Armin Mahbanoozadeh (Fairfax, Va.) was the gold medal winner in the Novice division, while Alexander Johnson (Minnetonka, Minn.) edged out Keegan Messing (Girdwood, Alaska) for the silver.

Short Program

Performing to music from the Beetlejuice soundtrack, Mahbanoozadeh landed a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination, a solid triple flip and a double Axel. The 15-year-old also produced a good level three straight line footwork sequence and sit spin, placing first with 45.50 points.

Scott Dyer (Baltimore, Md.) produced a solid triple Salchow and triple toeloop-double toeloop combination in his routine to Espanña Cañi by the Manhattan Pops Orchestra. The 2006 Triglav Trophy Novice Champion also delivered a double Axel and showcased two good level four spins, placing second with 45.43 points.

Skating to Cello Concerto No. 1 by Saint-Saëns, Johnson executed a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination and a triple flip, but later singled an Axel. Despite the mistake, the 16-year-old displayed a very good level three straight line footwork sequence and a good sit…

2007 US Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Highlights

Angela Maxwell (Hurst, Texas) was the gold medal winner in the ladies Novice division, while Kristine Musademba (Silver Spring, Md.) and Carolyn-Ann Alba (Anaheim, Calif.) won the silver and bronze, respectively.

Short Program

Performing to music from the Ladies in Lavender soundtrack, Alba landed a triple Salchow-double toeloop combination, a triple toeloop, and a double Axel. The 2007 Pacific Coast Sectional Novice silver medalist also produced a very good level four layback spin and a good combination change spin, placing first with 45.04 points.

Maxwell performed her routine to music from the Mr. and Mrs. Smith soundtrack, opening with a good layback spin and a solid double Axel, followed by a triple Salchow-double toeloop combination and a triple toeloop. The 14-year-old earned 43.33 points for a second place finish.

Skating to Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Fiedler, Ellie Kawamura (Los Angeles, Calif.) turned out the landing of a triple toeloop (in a combination jump), but otherwise landed a triple salchow, a…

2007 US Figure Skating Championships: Ice Dance Highlights

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani (Colorado Springs, Colo.) were the gold medal winners in the Novice division, while Sara Bailey (Newark, Del.) and Kyle Herring (Norwich, Conn.) and Anastasia Cannuscio (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) and Dean Copely (Newark, Del.) won the silver and bronze, respectively.

Compulsory Dance (CD)

Dance teams in the Novice division performed two Compulsory Dances (the Pasa Doble and the European Waltz). The Paso Doble was invented by Daphne B. Wallis and Reginald J. Wilkie, and was first performed in 1938 at the Westminster Ice Rink in London, Great Britain. The inventor(s) of the European Waltz is currently unknown, but the dance has been used for over 100 years.

Bailey and Herring, who train in Newark, Del., placed first in both their CDs for a total score of 49.87 points.

M. Shibutani (12) and A. Shibutani (15 ) finished second in both their CDs, placing a close second overall (48.90 points).

Cannuscio and Copely, placed third in both their CDs…

2007 European Figure Skating Championships: Pairs Highlights

The 2007 European Figure Skating Championships were held Jan 23-27 in Warsaw at the Torwar Sport Hall. Approximately 128 skaters competed from 34 different countries. This was the first time Warsaw has hosted an ISU event since the 1908 European Championships.

The ISU awarded prize money totaling $350,000 to skaters and couples that placed first through 12th. In addition, the top three skaters and couples per discipline having earned the most World Standing points during the 2006-07 season, were awarded with a World Standings Bonus which totaled $450,000 US Dollars.

By competing at Europeans, the athletes earned points toward the World Standings for the 2006-07 season. Personal best scores were not taken into consideration (in terms of World Standings) as they only apply to Grand Prix competitions.

In the Pairs event, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany won their first European title, while Russia’s Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov and Dorota Siudek and Mariusz Siudek of Poland won the silver and…

2007 Canadian Figure Skating Championships: Men’s Highlights

In the Senior division, Jeffrey Buttle (NO) won his third consecutive title, while Christopher Mabee (WO) won his first senior medal – the silver. Emanuel Sandhu (BC/YT) settled for bronze.

All three men will compete at both the upcoming Worlds and 4CCs.

Jeremy Ten (BC/YT) was the winner in the Junior division, while Elladj Balde (QC) and Jean-Simon Légaré (QC) won the silver and bronze, respectively.

There are three berths for the men at Junior Worlds. Patrick Chan (CO), Kevin Reynolds (BC/YT), and Joey Russell (NL) were chosen to represent Canada.

Short Program (Juniors)

Légaré took command of the ice, opening his very expressive routine to Vanessa-Mae’s Emerald Tiger with a double Axel, followed by a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination and a triple flip. The 2007 Eastern Challenge Junior silver medalist also produced two level four combination spins, as well as good footwork, earning 54.25 points for a first place finish.

Ten fell out of a triple Lutz (in combination with a double toeloop)…

2007 Canadian Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Highlights

The 2007 Canadian National Figure Skating Championships were held Jan 16-21 at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Approximately 250 skaters competed in which the results were used to determine who would represent Canada at the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships, Four Continents Championships (4CCs) and World Junior Championships.

In the Senior division, Joannie Rochette (QC) easily defended her crown, winning her third consecutive title. Mira Leung (BC/YT) and Lesley Hawker (CO) captured their second consecutive silver and bronze medal, respectively.

Only two berths were alloted for the senior ladies at Worlds. Rochette and Leung were chosen to represent Canada.

The top three ladies also earned a spot at the 4CCs. Cynthia Phaneuf (QC) was chosen as the third lady as Leung declined her invite.

Dana Zhalko-Tytarenko (EO) was the gold medal winner in the Junior division, while McKenzie Pedersen (AB/NT/NU) rallied from fifth after the short to win the silver. Cecylia Witkowski (BC/YT) slipped from second after the short to…

2007 Canadian Figure Skating Championships: Ice Dance Highlights

In the Senior division, Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon (QC) won their fifth title, while Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (WO) and Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje (NO) won the silver and bronze, respectively.

All three teams will go to Worlds and the top two will also compete again at the 4CCs.

Lauren Senft and Leif Gislason (BC/YT), who placed fourth, will also compete at the Four Continents as Weaver and Poje declined the invite.

Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier (CO) were the gold medal winners in the Junior event, while Joanna Lenko and Mitchell Islam (CO) and Sophie Knippel and Matthew Doleman (BC) won the silver and bronze medal, respectively.

The top two teams were chosen to represent Canada at Junior Worlds along with Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje (NO).

Compulsory Dance (CD) – Juniors

The Compulsory Dance (CD) for the juniors in this event was the Silver Samba. The dance was invented by Courtney J. L. Jones and Peri V. Horne and was…