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2007 Skate Canada - Figure Skating HighlightsPairs Long, Ladies Short, and Original DanceNov 4, 2007
The second day of Skate Canada continued with the Pairs Long Program, Ladies Long Program, and the Original Dance. Pairs (Long Program)With less than three points separating the top three teams, all skaters were under pressure to put out their best performances. Overnight leaders Aliona Savchenko and and Robin Szolkowy were able to maintain their position, separating themselves from the pack with over a 14 point total difference. The German champions also won in 2005 at this event. "Canada is good ice for us," joked Szolkowy. The Germans opened their routine with a beautiful throw triple flip, followed by a very good triple toeloop-double Axel sequence, a triple twist, a level four lift. Their seamless program was flawed, however, when Szolkowy popped his jump on the side-by-side triple Salchows while Savchenko put her hand down on hers. The current World bronze medalists quickly recovered to produce two good combination pair spins, two more difficult lifts, a nice level three straightline footwork sequence, and a throw triple Salchow. "Our program wasn't clean today," admitted Szolkowy, "but it was better than [at Nebelhorn Trophy]."
The European champions earned 119.19 points for their routine to L'Oiseau by René Dupéré, and with a total score of 188.63, easily won the gold. "We are skating our program better and better each time out," said Szolkowy, adding that they had been working a lot on their transitions. Canada's Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, who stood in second after the short, once again gave an intense performance in their long program to The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice. "Our goal was to beat our mark of 111 from last week (Skate America)," revealed Davison. "We didn't make it, but we're [still] pretty happy." The 2007 Skate America champions opened with a good double twist, a beautiful side-by-side double Axel-double Axel sequence, and a difficult lift. Despite a fall by Dube on the side-by-side triple Salchow, the team otherwise delivered a very good triple flip and good spins to earn 111.08 points. "It went pretty well today," said Davison. "We obviously had a couple of errors, but it went pretty smooth and we had a lot of fun out there today." The Canadian champions were able to hold onto second overall with a total score of 174.20 points. Their finish today, coupled with the win at Skate America, qualifies them for the Grand Prix Final in Dec. "Our main goal was to get a medal on a grand prix, so we're very excited about going to the final," said Dube. The team will also be competing at NHK (a non-scoring event), a week prior to the Grand Prix Final. "Skating at competitions gives us a bit of break," shared Davison. "When we're not competing, we train on the ice three to three-and-a-half hours and two hours off the ice. So when we're here (at a competition), we get to relax because when we're on the ice, we have to make each time more meaningful." Davison later revealed to the press that they plan to add the throw triple Lutz to their program at NHK Trophy. Russia's Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov placed third in the long (105.19 points) and overall (165.19 points) to win the bronze - their first grand prix medal. The team attempted to open with a throw quadruple Salchow, and although it was fully rotated, Kawaguchi stepped out of the landing. "It's the first time we've tried the quad salchow in ISU competition," said Kawaguchi. "I'm very happy that I didn't fall, but there were some other little mistakes and I'm not happy about that." The 2007 Coupe de Nice champions recovered to produce a side-by-side triple toeloop-double toeloop sequence and a throw triple loop, but had problems on their side-by-side double Axels, with Smirnov stepping out of his and Kawaguchi falling on hers. "Overall it was ok," said Kawaguchi, "but we want to skate better at Cup of Russia. We have about two weeks and lots of things to work on to make both programs better." Canada's Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay finished fourth in the long (102.69 points) and overall (156.67 points) with an inspiring routine to music from the Dr. Zhivago soundtrack. In contrast to their short program, this routine showed a marked increase in their speed, unison, and connection between the two skaters. The Canadian bronze medalists produced a spectacular throw triple Salchow, a triple toeloop-double toeloop combination, a very good double twist, and difficult lifts. Their only major mistake was when Langlois two-footed the landing of a throw triple Lutz. Teammates Meagan Duhamel and Craig Buntin slipped from fifth to sixth overall, while USA's Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent moved up to fifth overall. Savchenko and Szolkowy earned 15 points for their win and will compete alongside Kawaguchi and Smirnov (11 points) in three weeks at Cup of Russia. Ladies (Long Program)
Japan's Mao Asada and Yukari Nakano moved up two spots each to win the gold and silver, respectively. Canada's Joannie Rochette, who was in fifth after the short, also moved up to capture the bronze. Skating to Fantaisie Impromptu by Frederic Chopin, Asada opened her routine with a double Axel, but then underrotated the second jump on a triple flip-triple loop combination. She was also penalized on her triple Lutz for taking off from the inside edge - the same mistake she made in the short program. The Japanese champion otherwise delivered a technically complex program with featured two more triple jumps, a double Axel-double loop-double loop combination, three level four spins, and a level three straightline footwork sequence. The current World silver medalist earned 119.58, and with a total score of 177.66, rose from third to first place overall. "Today I was able to perform my program," said a relieved Asada. "Skate Canada was very important to me to get to the Grand Prix Final. I felt the pressure after being third in the short program." Teammate Nakano, who was in fourth after the short, earned a new personal best of 113.49 points in her routine to Capriccio Espagnol, placing second in the long and overall with a total of 169.43 points. The 2007 Asian Winter Games champion opened with a triple Axel, a triple toeloop-double toeloop combination, and a triple Lutz. Despite a doubled flip, the 22-year-old also produced three more triple jumps, a level three circular footwork sequence, and three very fast level four spins. Rochette fought for and delivered a stunning performance that earned her 112.70 points. With a total of score of 168.18, the Canadian champion missed the silver by just over a point to claim the bronze. The defending champion opened her routine with a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination, a triple flip, and a triple loop. Her Don Juan program also featured three more triple jumps, two good level four spins, and a gorgeous level four spiral sequence. "It was good, but I felt I started to run out of gas," said the 21-year-old. "I could feel the pressure. I didn't feel as confident, but was glad I could give my home crowd a good performance." U.S. silver medalist Emily Hughes, who stood in second after the short, slipped to fourth place overall with a total of 162.42 points. The 18-year-old doubled a Lutz in the first part of her program to Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, but otherwise landed five triple jumps and a double Axel. Her powerful routine was also highlighted by a very good level four combination spin and a beautiful level four spiral sequence. In her senior debut, teammate Ashley Wagner rose from eighth to fifth place overall with a total score of 150.06 points. The 16-year-old produced six triple jumps, but was penalized on two Lutzes for taking off on the wrong edge. Japan's Nana Takeda maintained sixth place overall with 148.05 points. Overnight leader Laura Lepistö placed ninth in the long and slipped to seventh place overall. The Finnish silver medalist fell on a triple Lutz and put her hands down on the landing of both a triple toeloop and triple loop. Asada picked up 15 points for her win and will compete in two weeks at Trophee Eric Bompard alongside USA's Kimmie Meissner who also has 15 points. Nakano pocketed 13 points and will compete next at Cup of Russia alongside Rochette (11 points). Hughes has completed her two scoring events and has a a total of 18 points.
Ice Dance (Original Dance)Overnight leaders Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir maintained their lead after earning a new personal best of 61.20 in the OD. The Canadian silver medalists delivered a very difficult program to a Russian folk dance, exhibiting great expression and matching lines throughout. Their routine to Dark Eyes, which received no negative GoEs, was highlighted by their level four lifts and and matching level three twizzles. The two-time and current Four Continents bronze medalists also produced a level four circular step sequence and combination dance spin. The Canadians, who are currently in first with 97.45 points, were excited about their performance. "It was a lot of fun to skate in front of a very excitable crowd," said Moir. "We really just enjoyed the experience and we're hoping to build on it for tomorrow." Italy's Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte remain in second place overall (86.13 points) after placing second in the OD with 53.90 points. Performing an exuberant Serbian folk dance to music by Goran Bregovic, the Italian silver medalists delivered two difficult lifts and a very good circular step sequence. The only mistake noted was an out-of-sync twizzle of a level four midline twizzle sequence, however, the 2007 Winter Universiade champions captured the flavor of the music very well. Pernelle Carron and Mathieu Jost of France, delivered a lively folk dance to Mes Aïeux's Dégénération, which featured difficult lifts reminiscent of their coaches Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon. The French bronze medalists also produced a very lively circular step sequence and level four twizzles, earning a new personal best of 52.43 to place third in the OD. With a total score of 80.79, the 2007 Winter Universiade bronze medalists moved up to third place overall, edging out USA's Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov just under a point. Gregory and Petukhov performed an Irish jig to music from Lord of the Dance which was highlighted by level four midline twizzle sequence and two difficult lifts. The U.S. silver medalists earned 47.80 points for a fifth place finish in the OD, and are currently in fourth overall with 79.83 points. Newcomers Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia placed fourth in the OD and are currently fifth overall (75.25 points), followed by Canada's Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno (73.26 points). The competition continues with the Free Dance and the Men's Long Program. |
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Overnight leaders Aliona Savchenko (23) and Robin Szolkowy (28) of Germany skated their way to gold after their performance to L'Oiseau by René Dupéré.
Japan's Mao Asada, 17, moved up from third to first overall after her long program to Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu.
Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir maintained their overnight lead after their routine to Dark Eyes.