Big THANKS to doris an sequins for the PBP!
Yuko KAVAGUTI / Alexander SMIRNOV (RUS)
Music: Méditation from “Thaïs” by Jules Massenet
She's in pale blue beaded dress. He's in all black, also beaded, slick ponytail.
3T - solid
3Tw - slight crashy catch
3LoTh - nice flow
3Li
StSq
FiDs
FCCoSp3p
Elegant clean skate, nice flow, should take the lead easily.
SP: 36.87+32.29 = 69.16 (SB), 1st (out of 5)
I didn't know they were dating? I thought Zimmerman was married?
OK I have to pee but want to guard this stool with my life. What to do????
Very nice from Den/Fraz. Look out S/K. Shocking to see steuer on the boards. Wish I had a binoc cam to get a nice pic of him and Zimmerman . I don't know what else to say. Loved it. Interesting ending on fw. Very different.
Kavaguti & Smirnov
gorgeous program in Meditation of Thais
leaves me breathless
lovely 3ts, moving well out of them
nice 3tw
good edges & knee action
great lift with the 2nd position a shoulder stand
steps in hold on the f/w
top arm is held by him in the death spiral
lovely spin with catchfoot.
69.16 SB
S/K look like they have major work to do, because I can see D/F easily passing them by Nationals at this point.
I didn't know they were dating? I thought Zimmerman was married?
Alexa looks so uptight when she competes.
If judging is fair I would agree but looking at the protocols, they had 2 judges giving them 8s and even a 9 on PCS ( all the other judges were in the 6.5-7.5 range) putting them on par/higher than Kaviguti and Smirnov. D/F got no such help. For whatever reason, USFS is set on pushing them right now. Will be interesting to see if it continues through Nationals or if the federation wakes up and realizes that 1) they' haven't had a clean comp since early 2013? and 2) even clean they're not that superior to their domestic competition.
Without V/T for the GP series this season, I hope they will shine. Their long is absolutely lovely as well.I think this was a great start to their comeback but I do think their pcs could be up - it is like saying that this is the third Russian pair which they might well be or even fourth depending on health and splits. But they deserved more of a differentiation over the other teams.
golden12345, since you asked, at all GP events & ISU championships, the order of judges is randomized.
Judge 1 for Skater 1 is a different person altogether than Judge 1 for Skate 2, and so on.
Thank you Doris. I didn't realize this. I thought Judge 1 was the same for all skaters. This is good to know! Back to the arena soon....
golden12345, since you asked, at all GP events & ISU championships, the order of judges is randomized.
Judge 1 for Skater 1 is a different person altogether than Judge 1 for Skate 2, and so on.
Blades, I too am overjoyed for Kavaguti & Smirnov.
Yay, very happy for Kavaguti & Smirnov! That was actually one of their best SP performances ever. The side-by-side Triples are looking better and the throw seemed stronger than usual as well. Excellent death spiral too!