Savchenko and Massot: 'It was a good fight' | Golden Skate

Savchenko and Massot: 'It was a good fight'

gsk8

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Germany's Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot rose from third to first overall to capture the gold at the 2017 Bridgestone Skate America on Saturday in Lake Placid, New York. Xiaoyu Yu and Hao Zhang of China maintained second to win the silver, while Canadians Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford settled for bronze.
"I feel better than yesterday actually," said Massot, who had fallen on the triple Salchow in the Short Program. "It was a good fight. I would say that this free program is a good first job for the season. We still have to work, it's not perfect, and there are some mistakes, but we are in a good way for the Olympics."
"We are very happy, we did our best," said Yu. "We are very glad to go to the Grand Prix Final again."
"Today wasn't our best skate, but it wasn't our worst," Duhamel said. "Overall we're happy with our competition. This is a part of going to the Grand Prix Final, the last Grand Prix we're competing [at] and I refuse to feel frustrated. We're on the podium with these great teams and it was a great competition and we want to be proud."

See article for more quotes from both the short and long.

What was your favorite part of the Pairs event? What are your thoughts on the placements?
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
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I love these two! Their FS was especially wonderful to watch. So glad Bruno got his citizenship and we get to see these programs at the Olympics!!
 

dorispulaski

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I was happy to see Yu & Zhang make it to the GPF after landing all their jumps. They look so much better than they did at Cup of Nice!

And Denney&Frazier's twist is much improved! Brubaker and Berton seem to have helped them a lot.
 
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Great result for Yu and Zhang. Just what they needed.

I hope Duhamel and Radford bring everything they've got to the Final!
 

Crossover

All Hail the Queen
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Oct 31, 2014
It sure was to the title! I enjoyed the whole event a lot. It's shame that pairs doesn't get much attention in the US and elsewhere as opposed to the exciting and athletic contents.
 

charlotte14

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Aug 16, 2017
I would say S/M should give up that 3A. Too risky and they get not much left. Better to train that 3F and 3S throw if they want to podium at the Olympic.
 

lyverbird1

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Apr 18, 2015
if I remember correctly, it's the 3A throw that she bombed at Sochi as well? Better to leave it out. I am glad they're training 3F throw.

Don't think they had much choice but to try it given the monster score they were chasing...
 

charlotte14

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Don't think they had much choice but to try it given the monster score they were chasing...
Well they're also chasing some other monster scores as well now. But she has never landed 3A cleanly so better to try out the safer options. There are too many good teams right now. No easy room for error anymore.
 

bobbob

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Feb 7, 2014
If they went clean here, it's reasonable to assume they would have gotten the world record for FS....they lost 4 points on the combo, plus 1 point PCS at least....

If you asked me a month ago I would have told Aliona to keep the 3ATh but it seems like she is actually improving her consistency with the flip and salchow, in which case she should drop the axel.
 

SimplyLex

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All indications that they have! Subbed out 3A for 3F in short and long at SA.

I think it's actually 3Lz? which is very respectable considering it's not a jump she was ever performing with Robin.
Even if it's not 3A or quads, she's still constantly pushing herself.

Someone just give this woman the OGM already, she deserves it so much. I wish we could just give her an honorary gold medal, if nothing else.
 

MaiKatze

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I think it's actually 3Lz? which is very respectable considering it's not a jump she was ever performing with Robin.
Even if it's not 3A or quads, she's still constantly pushing herself.

Someone just give this woman the OGM already, she deserves it so much. I wish we could just give her an honorary gold medal, if nothing else.

I think Aliona said somewhere that they might continue another season, which makes sense, seeing what they went through to get to the Olympics and how they evolved. Honestly, I was surprised and thought it was a bad idea of Aliona to continue after Sochi. But she proved me wrong.

I cannot deny that another season would make me very happy and keep me interested in the pairs discipline. They just simply have the best pairs programs. They challenge themselves in the Olympic Season, instead of playing it safe. That alone should give them a bonus.
 

QuadThrow

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They lost 4 points on the combo, on in the PCS and one point at the 3LzTh. So I think they can score 156,50 with a crystal clean skate and beat Sui/Han in the Free. But concerning the SP they cannot use their massively GOE to gain much points because there is only oen lift in the SP.

The situation is not that easy. It will be insanly hard to be absolutly clean. I think Aljona wants this 3ATh in the SP although almost noone would advise them to try this element.

My suggestion would be to go for the 4Tw in the FS to get 2 extra points. Should be enough time make this element clean on level 3.
 

SimplyLex

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Oct 22, 2013
It always puzzled me how they've already tried throw 3A and quads, but not the twist.
It's so huge, it looks like she could easily add another turn there.
 

QuadThrow

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It always puzzled me how they've already tried throw 3A and quads, but not the twist.
It's so huge, it looks like she could easily add another turn there.

They have tried it in practice for sure. But I am with you.

The 4Tw is an element which only gives a real point boost if you do it with at least level 3 and +2GOE. Only Peng/Zhang have been consistently gaining this level of execution. Sui/Han and Tarasova/Morozov are getting something between 9 and 10 points for the quad. This is just one point more than they get for their triple twist.

I talked to Aljona and Bruno´s coach. He said that he is not a fan of the quad twist. Aljona needs so much time to get into the right air position even at a triple because Bruno is so tall and the height is so imense. The quad would cost much energy since it means to hold this air postion even longer.

But finally I did not understand why the Axel should be a better alternative.
 

nimi

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Apr 7, 2014
The 4Tw is an element which only gives a real point boost if you do it with at least level 3 and +2GOE. Only Peng/Zhang have been consistently gaining this level of execution. Sui/Han and Tarasova/Morozov are getting something between 9 and 10 points for the quad. This is just one point more than they get for their triple twist.

I talked to Aljona and Bruno´s coach. He said that he is not a fan of the quad twist. Aljona needs so much time to get into the right air position even at a triple because Bruno is so tall and the height is so imense. The quad would cost much energy since it means to hold this air postion even longer.
Interesting tidbit!

Recently Alexa & Chris did an Icetalk podcast episode where she talked about how demanding & draining element 4Tw is for her, both physically and mentally. She explained how she needs to "snap" into it with enormous physical effort etc. And then there was the recent GS interview with Ted Flett where Vanessa James made it clear that 4Tw is out of the question for her because it's just too difficult & risky. And when Yu/Zhang performed their 4Tw in the 4cc FS last season, it didn't get them any real points advantage compared to their level4 3Tw in the SP (8.74 vs. 8.40) and also their FS went downhill from there & they dropped off the podium... So yeah, doing the 4Tw didn't pay off, and they didn't attempt one in Helsinki.

What I'm trying to get at is that I'm a bit baffled as to why so many people here assume that 4Tw is a relatively "easy" & low risk element and that Aljona can just "easily add another turn" and start doing perfect 4Tws like it's a piece of cake and no biggie!

Also, considering how enormously high S/M's twist is... Imagine what would happen if something indeed went wrong, e.g. if Bruno tripped after launching her full force high up and he wouldn't be able to catch her on her loooong way down... :shocked:

So yeah, I'd much rather watch them do their fabulous +3GOE 3Tw than go for riskier 4Tw that could maybe earn them 1-2 points more. I wish they'd give up on the throw 3A, at least until the Olys are over, but IIRC Aljona has talked about how she has always dreamed about landing 3As and I guess she's not willing to give up on her dream that easily...

BTW: Didn't Aljona do a tano 3Tw in SkAm? Am I remembering right? If they keep doing that, they should get level 4 on their 3Tw pretty reliably even when they don't hit the preceding footwork bullet point, which has often been an issue for them in the past.
 

skylark

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Interesting tidbit!

Recently Alexa & Chris did an Icetalk podcast episode where she talked about how demanding & draining element 4Tw is for her, both physically and mentally. She explained how she needs to "snap" into it with enormous physical effort etc. And then there was the recent GS interview with Ted Flett where Vanessa James made it clear that 4Tw is out of the question for her because it's just too difficult & risky. And when Yu/Zhang performed their 4Tw in the 4cc FS last season, it didn't get them any real points advantage compared to their level4 3Tw in the SP (8.74 vs. 8.40) and also their FS went downhill from there & they dropped off the podium... So yeah, doing the 4Tw didn't pay off, and they didn't attempt one in Helsinki.

Alexa and Chris did an interview quite some time ago where they talked about how their 4Tw technique had to be different from the 3twist, and they have to do the triple in the SP (I think that's right) ... so it took some time for them to get both elements stable. Because as your examples, and others' too, pointed out, it wouldn't be worth messing up your SP 3tw, when a quad only gets them another point or two.
 

skylark

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What was your favorite part of the Pairs event?

No question, no contest: my favorite part of the Pairs event was Aliona and Bruno's FS. It was one of the highlights of the whole week-end, for me. I just wrote a long post about it in the "Olympic Season: Pairs" thread, so I won't repeat it here. But what was most impressive to me was the whole tenor, intention and harmony of their FS. The elements were incredible, but it was as much Aliona and Bruno's attentiveness in every in-between moment that captivated me and had the audience mesmerized. Their unison is amazing. Every time I pause the video, their limbs, heads, attitudes are beautiful, and geometrically similar. They're not just doing tricks, etc. They truly skate as a pair.

I also really enjoyed the Russians, Zabienko and Enbert. I love both of Alexa and Chris's programs and am glad they brought them back. I think everything is there; if they can get their SBS jumps into shape and under control, it will make such a difference in the overall effect of their programs. They have a lot going for them. Fingers crossed!

What are your thoughts on the placements?

Honestly, seeing Meagan and Eric in person made me wonder even more why they've been placed as highly as they are. Difficult jumps and tricks do not a pair make, in my book; and they seem mismatched and disconnected. I don't mean this as a put-down, they're likeable people, but I prefer a unified look. I just feel their movements and overall skating styles clash with each other. I think Zimmerman over time could help them in this area, create a look of contrast and interest rather than mismatch.... esp since Moskvina did that exact thing with him and Kyoko Ina. But "over time" at this point isn't in their playbook, and I understand that. I think they may be feeling the pressure of the Olympic year and on top of that, they've said it'll be their last year, so double pressure. But you can't count them out ... they've proved that before! :)
 

NoNameFace

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Nov 12, 2012
I love these two! Their FS was especially wonderful to watch. So glad Bruno got his citizenship and we get to see these programs at the Olympics!!

while I watched them this GP season and at Nebelhorn, I realized that this is probably the only team now that operates tempos, rhythms in the most intricate, lyrical, poetic even way in their performances - and it is particularly impressive for me to achieve this kind of fluidity in tempo changes expressed by movement, this rhythmic sensibility after such short period of being together as a pair.

I just love to watch the easiness with whom they operate, build their programs - every movement accentuates tempo, rhythm of the music, and even their elements have this 'slow-motion' capability to match the music, express pauses, stops (e.g. twist, spins). Despite me being a big fan of last season's FS ('Lighthouse' by Patrick Watson), I do think that this season's FS is a bolder step forward: I somehow feel that this modernity, abstract creation feel in the program got much more embraced by the structure of choreography AND their movement, how thoughtful the wholesome looks.

I mean, there's something spellbound in the way this program unravels, builds, not in elements themselves - they managed to amaze me by sole use of transitioning movement, the unusual factor of it, so perfectly in conjunction with music: from the opening 'infinity' pose, through 3S solo transitions, transition before and between spins. The only thing I'd re-work in terms of choreography is ending pose - I'd rather see some bold dismount from the lift and then lifting Aliona on Bruno's shoulder as a separate statement.

then, again - their EX this season proves that there's this amazing synergy between music tempo and their movement; it's truly outstanding to see this kind of sensibility in Pairs, usually it's more about Ice Dance; their programs really feel like exhibitions, there is flow and fluidity in the substance, not only in required elements, they make me to pay attention of detail, on transition, how the story is build in-between elements.

I was happy to see Yu & Zhang make it to the GPF after landing all their jumps. They look so much better than they did at Cup of Nice!

And Denney&Frazier's twist is much improved! Brubaker and Berton seem to have helped them a lot.

Yu is my heroine - such spirit in this fairy-looking woman! She totally went for it at SA, everything just clicked amazingly for them. And she's such a grace every time she performs - there's something in her arms' work, air position, elegance in landings, lovely lines of her head and back; for some reason, she reminds me about Yuna Kim with those qualities, this delicacy in carriage, but making it impactful. And she's such a beauty, like a porcelain figurine:love:


Great result for Yu and Zhang. Just what they needed.

I hope Duhamel and Radford bring everything they've got to the Final!

oh yes, Meagan and Eric are specialist in raising on the most important occasions - I count on fierce fight at GPF!:)
 
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