2023 Cup of China Pairs Free Skate

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Anna VALESI / Manuel PIAZZA
Chasing Cars

3Tw3
3S (Anna steps out)
2A+1A+2A (Anna falls on the 3rd jump)
5ALi4
3FTh (stepout)
3STh (stepout)
BoDs3
ChSq1 +0.71
3Li4
5RLi4
PCoSp4

FS: 105.10 SB (1st)
TOT: 160.65 (1st)

I get the sense that this team is on their way up, but their SBS jumps are the one thing holding them back. Good matching, skating skills, and pairs elements, now they just need to deliver the jumps.

 

[Ares]

Italians were considerably better than first two teams here. And their lifts seemed easier for them too.

SBS jumps from lower tier Pairs are my least favourite elements in Pairs other than "scary lifts". It is nearly always messy and full of single jumps and here it was also the case.

 

[Jeanie19]

V/P. I love their outfits. Really nice program for them. A decent skate.

 

[auser]

Sympathize with skaters who have to compete in back to back GPs with so much travel involved. Congrats on SB

 

[elektra blue]

oh no it was nice before that botched lift

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Siyang ZHANG / Yongchao YANG
If Came the Hour by Secret Garden

3Tw3
3T<< (Siyang steps out)
2A+2T (far apart and timing wasn't great)
3LoTh
5ALi4
FoDs3
3STh (stepout)
5RLi3
ChSq1 +0.83
3Li* doesn't go up
PCoSp3 (misses final feature)

FS: 102.94 (2nd)
TOT: 161.65 (1st)

Wonderful lifts and throws, this is another team that I could absolutely see rising up the ranks soon. The opening was so strong, but I think the stamina went and the program slipped away at the end

 

[TT_Fin]

Did they get tired towards the end?

 

[elektra blue]

Did they get tired towards the end?

stamina seems to be a problem for the new chinese pairs

 

[Ares]

This Chinese team had a good skate (other than that invalid lift). However I will need an espresso after all that languid/sentimental music recently, the music was pleasant but also made me sleepy despite all the belting in the 2nd part. First Italians and now this Chinese pair with such music... yeah I will use time now and make a coffee for myself now.

 

[Jeanie19]

Zhang/Yang. Lovely black outfits. Shame about the final lift. But otherwise a good skate.

 

[elektra blue]

This Chinese team had a good skate (other than that invalid lift). However I will need an espresso after all that languid/sentimental music recently. First Italians and now this Chinese pair.

you must be new to pairs...

 

[Jumping_Bean]

stamina seems to be a problem for the new chinese pairs

Some of it is lack of competition experience (excitement can really affect stamina), some of it is that the domestic competitions start very, very early in the season and skaters have to peak there already in order to be picked for CoC.

 

[elektra blue]

we have not one but two couples of vampires today...who bit it better?

 

[bartlebooth]

we have not one but two couples of vampires today...who bit it better?

Let's hope they won't suck!

 

[elektra blue]

Let's hope they won't suck!

 

[Ares]

Some of it is lack of competition experience (excitement can really affect stamina), some of it is that the domestic competitions start very, very early in the season and skaters have to peak there already in order to be picked for CoC.

This is sad but I am not surprised. China has some strange rules for their athletes and their eligibility for competitions. And freedoms that we take for granted in most of Europe or in North America are restricted or even absent in China too. We all likely remember the drama of Chinese Pairs who were forced to swap partners against their will (the fact that it has actually panned off notwithstanding) but it was not cool. Also I remember Chinese WTA players being forced to skip US Open one year because of Chinese Games or some Asian Games. only one of them got to play the GS. They can literally be refused to have a passport / be denied a visa.

 

[TT_Fin]

Ouch

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Annika HOCKE / Robert KUNKEL
Without You by Ursine Vulpine, Annaca

3Tw4
3S
1A+REP (Annika falls)
5RLi4
3FTh (a bit forwards)
5ALi4
ChSq1 +0.67
3LoTh (fall)
3Li4
BiDs3
PCoSp2


FS: 109.89 (1st)
TOT: 170.65 (1st)

Annika skating to Annaca a rolling start but after the awful-looking waxel fall they seemed a little more tentative. It's tough because I know they've had such funding issues and I can't imagine the stress that puts on them.

 

[elektra blue]

not the skate they wanted

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Is 1st+4th enough to make the GPF?