2024 NHK Trophy: Pairs' Thoughts?

[gsk8]

Metelkina and Berulava grab historic gold at NHK Trophy

2024 NHK Trophy | Pairs Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia grabbed historic gold at 2024 NHK Trophy on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. This was

www.goldenskate.com

Huge upset here! Can't imagine how disappointed Miura and Kihara feel letting that gold slip through their fingers on home ice. But it happens. Good for the Georgians! They are clearly gaining steam.

What are your thoughts on the Pairs event overall?

 

[ladyjane]

I enjoyed the pairs event very much. I remain a Dutchie, so I was pleased to see the Dutch pair have a good FS and seeing them improve from competition to competition this (still early) season, the Brits always make me smile (I like them a lot too), I know the first Americans heard about it rather late, so kudos to them for performing as best as they could, I acknowledge the executing of the elements was the best by the Georgian pair, but to be honest, they're not my cup of tea for expressiveness and just making a programme something exciting to watch (sorry fans, I find them a bit bland), I find Riku and Ryuichi much more fun to watch, but there were mistakes (and that has to count, even on home ice), lovely to see the other Japanese pair - it pleases me so much that there are more pairs from that country now, I always love watching Annika and Robert, as well as Ellie and Danny. I had hoped Ellie would land her throws again, but this event showed the problems with those again. All in all: I had a good time.

 

[lariko]

I thought Metelkina/Berulava missed out on GPF this season, but perhaps not with the gold here.

 

[gsk8]

I thought Metelkina/Berulava missed out on GPF this season, but perhaps not with the gold here.

I think they are definitely in!

 

[skylark]

Pairs are my favorite, and I love an unpredictable finish, so I very much enjoyed both pairs events. Yet ... I have to emphasize how gorgeous and wonderful the short programs were overall. There was so much enthusiasm and joy from all the pairs, and lovely elements too. As a one-hour viewing pleasure, this one was even better.

As far as the free skates, I agree with Chris (commentator): I enjoyed Ellie and Danny's program much more than Metelkina/Berulava's, though I have to give respect to M/B's gorgeous elements. They fall quite short on expressiveness and emotion -- other than confidence and triumph in elements, which are hard for many fans including me to feel serves the connection. There's some genuine communication with viewers missing.

I do feel that Ellie and Danny's efforts are now really showing, in terms of being an equal partnership and a team that I'm thrilled to watch. Ellie's landing even the throw jumps often now, and it's completely understandable and they're on track in not being perfect all the time on this element. I'm not always a fan of jumps, but their SBS triple salchows are chill-making and a thing of beauty. Any time a pairs team shows beauty in their unison, I'm thrilled. I was introduced to figure skating by Gordeeva and Grinkov, after all!

I'm so glad Riku and Ryuishi have Shae-Lynne as their choreographer now. Both programs showed their expressiveness in a wonderful way. I'm especially fond of their Paint It Black.

Annika and Robert were a joy to watch as usual. She's a really good example of how happiness in the face shows and makes a difference in any skate. Robert does a lovely job of supporting her in that and keeping up with her in a completely different way.

All these pairs skaters show how a partnership is made of individual personalities ... they don't have to be identical in their strengths and it can be just as effective if they're not; AND they are complementary and make a team.

I'll end by mentioning how impressed I was by the second Japanese team in their short program. And also, in both skates, I really enjoyed the Dutchies and the Brits. Both the latter teams demonstrate such quality in their skating and in everything they do in the programs.

 

[4everchan]

I thought Metelkina/Berulava missed out on GPF this season, but perhaps not with the gold here.

With the w/d of the Aussies, and other teams having competed already, it's mathematically impossible for them to be caught by any of the teams with 7 points. There are only two teams left with 15 points and two teams left with 11 and 13 points respectively... So, in the worst case scenario, they will be the 6th qualifier. Ellie and Danny also still have a chance to qualify, but it may have to go to a score tiebreaker versus a ranking tie-breaker (which is why the Georgians are now ahead of the Americans).

 

[Skater Boy]

Pairs is kind of a wild card though the Japanese i thought would be the class of the field - to many mistakes. Good on the Georgians whose elements here were wonderful - so muchh amplitude. ;;qaq`=-0o9ipouiyutyrfdesa