Pairs SP, Friday 11/25/11, 7:35AM EST

[Nadine]

Ah, back again, I recall this pair at another GP event recently.

They lack finesse, and don't seem to give a fig about stretch/line/toepoint, the foundation of good basic skating, but they make up a lot of it by being vibrant exciting performers. In that aspect they remind me of an all-time favorite pair of mine ~ Abitbol & Bernadis.

[sequinsgalore]

Stolbova/Klimov

51.73, new SB and into 1st

[Nadine]

Nice Italian couple with a lot of verve, wouldn't be surprised if they finish 1st ahead of the Russians, we shall see...

[sequinsgalore]

Berton/Hotarek (ITA)

3T - very nice and good unison!
3FTw
Li
3LoTh
PCoSp
SlSt
FiDs

[Nadine]

Yes, they do, CONGRATS (thus far)!

[sequinsgalore]

Berton/Hotarek

Score: 60.13, new PB and into 1st

[sequinsgalore]

Kavaguti/Smirnov (RUS)

3T
3FTw - shaky catch
3LoTh
SlSt
Li
FiDs
PCoSp

[Nadine]

Should easily go into 1st, just a bit of a clash upon the landing of the split triple twist is all.

[sequinsgalore]

Kavaguti/Smirnov

65.15, new SB and into 1st

[sky_fly20]

K/S so happy for them

[Nadine]

Not my style, but you cannot deny that they landed all their elements, gonna be close, with the Germans prevailing most likely.

[sequinsgalore]

Savchenko/Szolkowy (GER)

She's in a new dress - an improvement

3FTh - high, she holds on to landing
3FTw - nice
3T - also nice!
Li
PCoSp
FiDs
SlSt

Very nice! Should definitely lead.

[sequinsgalore]

Savchenko/Szolkowy

Score: 68.72, new SB and into 1st

[Medusa]

Is it just me or is Aliona's and Robin's footwork a little too complicated? They normally have such good speed over the ice, but the footwork seemed to be so full of stuff that it kind of sucked the speed out of them.

That was a nice short program from the pairs.

[demarinis5]

S/S and K/S class of the field. Nice, Very nice!