The greatest pair skating performances | Golden Skate

The greatest pair skating performances

christinaskater

Medalist
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
For me the greatest performance ever was the 2003 Worlds performance of Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao. I think that is the gold standard of Pairs skating and is the best performance ever.
 

cassieandcheetah

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 14, 2007
ummm I guess you weren't born yet when gordeeva-grinkov were skating? there's no pair better than they, shen and zhao in my opinion don't even come close.
 

drivingmissdaisy

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
G&G of course were far better skaters, but I agree with Christina that the 2003 Worlds performance of S&Z moved me like no other pairs performance ever. I even preferred M&D at 1992 Worlds to any performance of G&G. I kind of feel similar about Baiul; she was probably my favorite skater although I hated almost all of her competitive programs.
 

nemequittepas

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
G&G of course are the best pairs skaters, in my opinion. And Sale & Pelletier's Love Story at the Salt Lake City Olympics is one of the great skates for me.
 

Buttercup

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
I started following skating in the late 1990s, so I missed out on some great pairs in real time. From what I've seen, I'll go with Elena and Anton's Lady Caliph SP as my favorite pairs' program. Their SLC performance was just stunningly beautiful.

Much as I admire Shen and Zhao, I just didn't love their 2003 LP; I liked them more when they were still a bit rough around the edges, before they were Nicholized.
 

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
G&G's Rodin Number (which is where Lady Caliph came from for B&S which is honestly why I never got into it)
Jamie & David's Love Story
Brasseur & Eisler's "Patricia The Stripper"... ok I just had to so sue me! :laugh:
 

jcoates

Medalist
Joined
Mar 3, 2006
In terms of pure skill, precision and execution, I would rate G&G's 1988 Olympic free as the very best. In terms of pure passion for the sport and guts, Shen and Zhao's 2003 Worlds free takes the cake. Both are phenomenal performances which I could and have watched endlessly. Both still give me chills even after hundreds of viewing.

G&G 1988
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B0tSnQKzwo

Shen and Zhao 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qqHEd0Bq9o

In the next tier below them I'd rate these among the best:

G&G
1990 World Pro AP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc2tKx5fnxs&feature=related

1994 Canadian Pros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYIwwVSTUBw&feature=related

1994 World Team Championships
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GucNZBPIBzE&feature=related

1994 Olympic Exhibition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUuTLHrGFg

1991 World Pro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxSR9IgM75I

1989 Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSSfZlJNkGE&feature=related

Shen Zhao
2004 GPF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHQRfNDX3kI

Pang Tong 2010 Olympic Free
http://www.wat.tv/video/pang-tong-2010-olympic-games-lp-2a0mj_2jwix_.html

Savchenko Szolkowy 2009 Skate Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH8JBJSAsHw


Sale and Pelletier
Love Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRWHwt91oj0&feature=related

Tristan and Isolde
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELys8PkIjEM

Jenni and Todd's 1995 nationals Nessun Dorma
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijS30mfZFqI

Mishkutenok and Dmitriev
1992 Worlds Free
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXkncOJyUTs

1994 Olympics Free skate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv21jhHimMs

Underhill and Martini 1984 Worlds Free
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReTmpfiimoc

Babilonia and Gardner 1979 Worlds Free
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63cmIfO-u6k

Peter and Kitty 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5agtpQats8M

Valova and Vasiliev 1988 Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jti4obxh7lo

Rodnina Zaitsev 1980 Olympics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZCzOHDFoHE

Kovarikova and Novotny
1992 Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKLLllyYzKs&feature=related

1995 Euros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy1Y0ZIp9zE

Berezhnaya Sikharulidze 1997-98 GPF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUsVK_sbA5M
 

evangeline

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 7, 2007
I started following skating in the late 1990s, so I missed out on some great pairs in real time. From what I've seen, I'll go with Elena and Anton's Lady Caliph SP as my favorite pairs' program. Their SLC performance was just stunningly beautiful.

Like Buttercup, I must put a vote in for Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze's Lady Caliph SP. It is possibly the most beautiful pairs short program I have ever seen and it was exactly that performance that convinced me to watch pairs skating.

I also enjoyed B/S's City Lights LP, here at the 2001 Cup of Russia: http://youtu.be/eLpXj6PD9HE

(yeah, I'm still pressed that B/S lost the 2001 World title to Sale/Pelletier's flawed performances)
 

Big Deal

Final Flight
Joined
Jan 23, 2004
The best ever short program, I'm agree is the Lady Calyph program at the Oly 2002 by Berezhnaya, Sikharulidze..


But this topis is the best ever LP. I have to agree with those who got a goosebump from Shen/Zhao 2003 Turandot program, but their 2004 World LP The Nutracker was even better, but they won the silver because of their faulty SP there.

My other emotionally favourite program was the Love Story 2002 Sale/Pelletier,

and Mishutionok/Dmitriev Oly 1994.

I also think that the most beautiful pair ever was Gordeeva/Grinkov, but as the best program these are my favourite one's.
 

DianaSelene

Medalist
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
1. I remember that the first pair skater program I have ever seen was B/S Caliph program and that is when I fell in love with figure skating. I have never seen such a gentle skate. I kept rewinding it watching it over again about 3 or 4 times. I also loved their Chaplin program. They are my ultimate pair skating team.

2. Mishkutenok/Dmitriev's olympic skate was also amazing.

3. I don't think I saw anyone write this but Totmianina/Marinin's 2006 Sviridov Romance was also amazing and had some beautiful lines.
 

gmyers

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 6, 2010
Volosozhar and Trankov 2011worlds to be in their early pantheon of great performances (hopefully)!!
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I love greedy threads like this, where we all grab up a zillion skating programs and then can't bring ourselves to narrow down the list! Who could? All of these are splendid.

If we can add pro programs, there are the handful or so of Underhill-Martini programs such as "Unchained Melody." Talk about chemistry!


By the way, is "City Lights" the B/S Chaplin program? The one where Yelena portrays the little boy? That's one of my top faves. At one point I think she balances on her head, on top of his head. And that's just one of the wow moments in the program.
 
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gsk8

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Country
United-States
For me the greatest performance ever was the 2003 Worlds performance of Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao.

I have to agree. I was there and was so very moved - especially after her injury. It was very intense!
 

prettykeys

Medalist
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Just affirming what others have said.

SP: Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze's 2002 Olympics Lady Caliph - exquisite. :love:
LP: Shen/Zhao's 2003 Worlds Turandot - amazing. :love:
 

christinaskater

Medalist
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
The best ever short program, I'm agree is the Lady Calyph program at the Oly 2002 by Berezhnaya, Sikharulidze..


But this topis is the best ever LP. I have to agree with those who got a goosebump from Shen/Zhao 2003 Turandot program, but their 2004 World LP The Nutracker was even better, but they won the silver because of their faulty SP there.

My other emotionally favourite program was the Love Story 2002 Sale/Pelletier,

and Mishutionok/Dmitriev Oly 1994.

I also think that the most beautiful pair ever was Gordeeva/Grinkov, but as the best program these are my favourite one's.


I have to agree on your choices!!! Exquisite programs!

I have seen G&G and for me they are the greatest pair ever in the sport.
 

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
By the way, is "City Lights" the B/S Chaplin program? The one where Yelena portrays the little boy? That's one of my top faves. At one point I think she balances on her head, on top of his head. And that's just one of the wow moments in the program.

yes and no, they had two Chaplin routines and I think both go by that title (or did at one time)... I think, though, that city lights was actually their LP from 00/01
 

Kitt

Final Flight
Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Country
United-States
Just affirming what others have said.

SP: Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze's 2002 Olympics Lady Caliph - exquisite. :love:
LP: Shen/Zhao's 2003 Worlds Turandot - amazing. :love:

I am going to have to agree with this too. I have rewatched both of these programs many times, I never fail to cry at Shen's look of triumph as they near the end of the program. Too much!

The Lady Caliph music - exquisite too.
 
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