Pairs SP

**oleada** · 12-26-2010, 10:15 AM

I missed B/L but by their score looks like they skated well.

Kavaguti stepped out and had a hand down on the 3T. But even without that, I think V/T deserve to be ahead. Her lift positiosn were so ugly, I'm not sure if it was a mistake or if it was supposed to be that way. Their footwork also seemed slow. Great throw, though.

Yay, V/T are ahead by about 4pts!

**smia** · 12-26-2010, 10:21 AM

I hope videos will be available on Youtube soon, there are so many talented teams. There's more depth than at Europeans! Even second to last Martiusheva and Rogonov are a pleasure to watch - so exquisite but held back by inconsistency.

Really disappointed to hear about I/M but I'm relieved they're still in the race for the third spot to Europeans. I think they deserve it, they've had meltdowns in the past but this season they had actually been pretty consistent before this event....

Mukhortova/Blanchard - I never really liked Maria before but based on early YT videos she looks great with Jerome, she has become so much more elegant. I wonder if they'll split if they can't make the Russian team...

I like Gerboldt/Enbert but I hope they don't stay ahead of I/M and M/B after the free...

Stolbova/Klimov have great programs, I hope they manage to skate both of them cleanly here.

**beep_beep** · 12-26-2010, 10:32 AM

Who do we have to bribe in the ISU to get some 5 pairs spots for Russia?

**Lucky Star** · 12-26-2010, 10:32 AM

Stolbova/Klimov have amazing choreography and maybe the best SP here (and one of the best in the World this season, IMO). So many transitions, difficult entrances and they are just beautiful to watch. They had mistakes, yes, and only double twist, but I like this team very much!
Sorry for Yuko and Sasha, but their LP is beautiful and they still have a chance

**oleada** · 12-26-2010, 10:36 AM

I agree that Stolbova and Klimov have wonderful choreography. My critiquie of them is speed. They need a lot more speed and spark to their skating that will hopefully come with time. They've already shown tons of improvement this year.

FInal SP results:
1 Tatiana Volosozhar / Maxim Trankov
MoE 72.71 38.21 34.50 8.68 8.50 8.68 8.64 8.64 0.00 # 3
2 Yuko Kawaguchi / Alexander Smirnov
SPB 68.15 34.49 33.66 8.46 8.29 8.29 8.57 8.46 0.00 # 9
3 Vera Bazarova / Yuri Larionov
RSP 67.83 37.21 30.62 7.75 7.46 7.75 7.64 7.68 0.00 # 8
4 Katarina Gerboldt / Alexander Enbert
SPB 61.99 33.93 28.06 6.96 6.71 7.11 7.11 7.18 0.00 # 2
5 Xenia Stolbova / Fedor Klimov
SPB 61.03 32.50 28.53 7.21 6.96 7.14 7.21 7.14 0.00 # 10
6 Lyubov Ilyushechkina / Nodari Maisuradze
MoE 58.68 30.60 29.08 7.39 7.11 7.00 7.46 7.39 1.00 # 6
7 Maria Mukhortova / Jerome Blanchard
SPB 53.78 26.26 28.52 7.32 6.82 7.07 7.25 7.18 1.00 # 4
8 Ekaterina Petaykina / Maxim Kurdukov
MoE 51.34 29.43 21.91 5.64 5.21 5.54 5.57 5.43 0.00 # 5
9 Anastasia Martyusheva / Alexei Rogonov
MoE 47.38 25.66 22.72 5.75 5.46 5.57 5.82 5.79 1.00 # 1
10 Sabina Imaikina / Konstantin Bezmaternikh
SPB 47.33 25.04 23.29 6.04 5.71 5.71 5.86 5.79 1.00 #11
11 Xenia Ozerova / Denis Golubev
SPB 39.22 19.57 19.65 5.14 4.75 4.89 4.93 4.86 0.00 # 7

I'm THRILLED for Tatiana and Maxim!

**Mirunna** · 12-26-2010, 10:39 AM

I don't why but I liked Stolbova/Klimov's sp more in their Gp(I believe Skate America). They changed costumes or something? Here I found them a bit behind the music. But I also like the choreography very much. Still, they need the 3twist to be competitive at the senior level.
I absolutely hate Yuko and Sasha's costumes. The program is not my cup of tea either. But their LP is simply the best! I hope they perform well tomorrow.
Oh, I also really hate Vera and Yuri's costumes! They are both quite lovely, it's a shame we have to see them dressed like that

**smia** · 12-26-2010, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by beep_beep

Who do we have to bribe in the ISU to get some 5 pairs spots for Russia?

I agree they should allow more teams if a country manages to produce this much depth in a discipline of skating that's underdeveloped in most countries. It's so silly and harms the sport that a hopeless team like Kemp/King always qualifies for Worlds simply because there are no other British pairs but some of these truly talented Russian pairs will be forced to stay home.

Mukhortova/Blanchard so far behind in seventh... Is there a chance they'll be patient and accept to sit out the one-and-a-half year so they can represent France?

**mousepotato** · 12-26-2010, 11:14 AM

I/M and K/S performed so bad today, I haven't seen them look worse. I/M fell and had trouble on the SBS spins. K/S messed up the SBS jumps (both did) and that last lift is so bad, they need to change it, she almost fell.

They will perform better tomorrow the FS is their best.

The current ranking will shift a lot.

**smia** · 12-26-2010, 11:35 AM

Does Russia consider both national and international results? If I/M have another bad day tomorrow and remain below G/E and S/K, is it still possible for them to be sent to Europeans? G/E and S/K have much lower scores in international competition than I/M so I think I/M deserve it more (and V/T can't compete until the middle of February).

Did Russian TV show the entire event (can we expect most of the pairs on Youtube?)

**beep_beep** · 12-26-2010, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by smia

Did Russian TV show the entire event (can we expect most of the pairs on Youtube?)

Yes, the whole thing.
We can't complain about the coverage. Even TAT is not yapping during the skates.
(And there were some shots of TAT moving her glasses while looking judgemental-HBIC with the russian team jacket that have to be made into GIFs on ONTD... )

**gold12345** · 12-26-2010, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by oleada

Oh, me too don't get me wrong. I'm glad they're still in it. But let's be honest - the score was too big for what they did.

I agree 58 pts is too big for I/M, but the scores in general are high... G/E and S/K wouldn't be scoring 61 pts internationally. I haven't watched yet--- did K/S look worse than B/L? K/S's score is extremely high considering it sounds like they didn't skate that well.

**oleada** · 12-26-2010, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by gold12345

I agree 58 pts is too big for I/M, but the scores in general are high... G/E and S/K wouldn't be scoring 61 pts internationally. I haven't watched yet--- did K/S look worse than B/L? K/S's score is extremely high considering it sounds like they didn't skate that well.

It's nationals. All scores are inflated, in any country.

G/E wouldn't get that score internationally, but they skated really well. Their 3Tw was crashy, but the other elements were top notch - and they really sold it. After V/T, I think they had the best performance. They absolutely shined.

K/S didn't skate all that well. She stepped out on the 3T and they also had a messy lift. Twist and throw were good. I missed B/L (was taking my pup for a walk) so I can't comment.