Russia’s Daria Pavliuchenko and Denis Khodykin perform their Short Program at 2019 Internationaux de France.
2019 Internationaux de France
Pairs’ Short Program
In their second season on the Grand Prix circuit, 2018 World Junior Champions Daria Pavliuchenko and Denis Khodykin of Russia are currently in first place after the Pairs’ Short Program in Grenoble at the 2019 Internationaux de France. Teammates Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov are in second, followed by USA’s USA’s Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier.
Pavliuchenko and Khodykin were textbook solid in their dynamic routine to “The Storm” by Havasi. The 2019 Skate America silver medalists, landed side-by-side triple toes, a level 4 triple twist and throw triple loop. They also earned a level 4 on their group 5 Axel lift as well as their change combination spin for a new personal best of 76.59.
“We are happy to have skated a clean program, but that is already behind us and we are focusing on the next event tomorrow,” Khodykin said.
“Our program is called ‘Storm’ and it has something exciting, even alarming, which we are trying to bring across,” explained Pavliuchenko of their short program. “I am Denis’ muse and at first he does not see me, but in the end, I inspire him.”
Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov also put a powerful routine in their Grand Prix debut, landing a triple twist, throw triple flip and side-by-side triple Salchows. Their routine to “Je suis malade” performed by Lara Fabian also featured a level 4 group 5 reverse lift. The spins and footwork were graded a level 3 and the 2018-19 Junior Grand Prix Champions finished second with 73.77 points.
“We had some mistakes today, but we are still happy because it is our first senior Grand Prix so far,” said Mishina. “We hope it will be better tomorrow.”
2019 U.S. silver medalists Denney and Frazier scored a new personal best of 68.65 after their performance to “Quidam” by Cirque du Soleil. While Denny underroated her triple Salchow, the triple twist and throw triple loop were solid. The team also showed a difficult group 5 Axel lift and the spins and footwork were graded a level 3.
“We’re happy with how our short went today,” said Frazier. “We still lost a few levels and points that we need to improve on, but all in all, it was a good stride in the right direction for our short and we move on to the free. It’s a new day tomorrow.”
Teammates Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc sit in fourth (66.12) after Cain-Gribble took a fall on a throw triple Lutz.
In their Grand Prix debut, Italy’s Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini sit in fifth (59.62), followed by Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nolan Seegert (59.13).
