Davis and White Capture World Title

History was made for the Ice Dancing event at the 2011 ISU World Figure Skating Championships when Meryl Davis and Charlie White became the first U.S. American dancers to win the title. It was also the first North American podium sweep in dance with Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (CAN) and Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani (USA) taking silver and bronze. All three teams train under Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband in Detroit.

Davis and White delivered a passionate Tango routine and earned all level fours for the lifts, the spin, and the circular footwork. The team crowned their successful season with the world title.

“We couldn’t be any happier,” said White. “We’ve worked our entire life for…

Ando edges out Kim for World title

Miki Ando upset Olympic Champion Yuna Kim to take her second World title in Moscow, while Italy’s Carolina Kostner came from sixth to bag the bronze medal.

Performing to Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Ando landed five triples jumps, including two triple Lutzes, but her double Axel-triple toe didn’t happen as she doubled the toe and stumbled. Everything else was good, however, although she could have had more speed. The Japanese Champion also earned a level four for all three spins and scored 130.21 points. Overall she accumulated 195.79 points, and she earned her second World title after winning in 2007 in Tokyo.

“This was the last time to skate this program and I really wanted to show my best, but had a little mistake on my double Axel-triple…

Kim leads at Worlds; Ando second

Olympic Champion Yuna Kim won the Ladies short program in Moscow on Friday, but she wasn’t flawless. The Korean has a small lead of 0.33 points over Japan’s Miki Ando. Ksenia Makarova continued the success of the Russian skaters at the event by finishing third.

Kim had drawn to skate last, a number that she doesn’t particularly like. The Olympic Champion looked somewhat nervous but then attacked her Giselle program. However, she stumbled out of her triple Lutz and was unable to add the planned triple toe for a combination. The 21-year-old recovered quickly to add a double toe to the triple flip. She also produced a double Axel and three level four spins to score 65.91 points.

“I have been doing a…

Virtue and Moir lead ice dancing in Moscow

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada came back strong from their disappointment at the Four Continents Championships (where they had to withdraw during the free dance due to injury) to grab the lead in the Short Dance. Arch rivals Meryl Davis and Charlie White (USA) are in second place, separated by less than one point. European Champions Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat (FRA) finished third and have their eyes set on their first World’s medal.

Virtue and Moir performed to a nostalgic tango and waltz to Schenkst beim Tango du mir mein Herz and  Nights and Days, using a version that sounded as though it was played from an ancient record player. The Canadians captured the mood of the dance perfectly and their elements…

Chan takes World title with record score

Patrick Chan of Canada skated to his first World title while setting new record scores. In what was quite a shake up, Japan’s Takahiko Kozuka surged from sixth to second and Artur Gachinski of Russia was a surprise winner of the bronze medal.

Chan had drawn to skate first in the final flight. The overnight leader lived up to the expectations and hit two quadruple toeloops and six triple jumps in his performance to Phantom of the Opera. The Canadian also earned level threes and fours for his spins and footwork, and only stumbled on the landing of the triple Axel.

The two-time World silver medalist set two new record scores with 187.96 points for the free skating and 280.98 points total score.

“It was an amazing (performance), and considering I…

Savchenko and Szolkowy skate off with record and third World title

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany took home their third World gold from Moscow, recapturing the title they had lost last year. Russia’s Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov earned the silver medal in their first season as a team, while defending champions Qing Pang and Jian Tong of China settled for bronze.

It was a magic performance for Savchenko and Szolkowy. They were completely in sync, smooth and confident. Their fun program to Pink Panther included a big throw triple flip, a triple toe-triple toe sequence, double Axel, and difficult lifts and spins.

Like Patrick Chan in the Men’s event, the European Champions posted two new record scores in the free skating (144.87 points) and overall (217.85 points). The Germans broke the record…

Omaha, Neb., Selected to Host 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Chan sets new world record in Short Program

Patrick Chan of Canada won the Men’s Short Program at the 2011 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, Russia, and established a new world record personal best score en route. He has a lead of more than ten points over Japan’s Nobunari Oda and Daisuke Takahashi who came in second and third.

Chan gave an extraordinary performance to Take Five in which he appeared relaxed and smooth. The quad-triple toe, the triple Axel, and triple flip were effortless and earned mostly a plus 2 grade of execution (GoE) from the panel of judges. The combination spin, the flying sit spin, and the straight line footwork merited a level four, and the change camel spin…