Wow, this was a really good competition. That said, I think I would have put Langlois and Archetto in first after the short - though the top three were really close, IMO (Yes, I am Canadian and maybe this is my bias showing through). I thought they had the strongest program overall (though I'd be really interested to hear what others have to say about where Totmianina and Marinin and Shen and Zhao scored above them, as I'm not a skating expert), certainly the most interesting. I know they had a comparatively weak twist - but not much weaker then T&M who have always had a weak twist, and I thought their footwork was the best of the lot, and they certainly had a stronger lift than T&M's very basic one. S/Z are certainly strong skaters, but while their twist was really high, it wasn't very clean otherwise (uneven split). Their throw was beautiful, but they were out of sync noticeably on their side by side jumps, and they've never been strong spinners. I just still find them messy at times, though I enjoy their speed etc. Presentation wise, I thought L&A really came out and performed.....I'm not outraged at placements or anything you understand, just thought I'd state my opinion. If nothing else I thought they should have been closer in marks to the top two pairs. I kind of looked like a reputation thing....
Zagorska and Suidek have really come a long way in presentation. I thought they were quite good but looked a little squeaky on some things - great lift though. I got the sense that they're not yet quite at ease with the new program and all the difficult entries/exits of elements. No doubt they will smooth out as the season progresses.
Putnam and Wirtz make me smile. This is a great young team. Highly enjoyable to watch and very strong elements - though they were yet one more team of the night with a weak twist - not many strong ones out there right now. Loved their triple slachows with the spread eagle entrance - obviously strong individual skaters. I can't wait to see this team in a year or two.
Marcoux and Buntin did not have a good skate. Valerie Marcoux is obviously a much, much stronger skater than Craig Buntin. I had a feeling that was the case last year and seeing him stumble through the footwork this year really confirmed it for me. She's hauling him along right now. I've seen him have trouble on side by side jumps, lifts (he's practically dropped her), and now footwork. He needs some training in the basics.