Pairs - Free Program

[Rosaleen]

18 Xue SHEN / Hongbo ZHAO CHN
Music: Meditation from Thais By Massenet / both in shades of purple (blue on TV /
Sbs 3t2t / nested spread eagles into sbs 2a perfect sync and close together / enormous 3tw / lasso lift to star with complicated dismount / fods (one of the only teams to do it) sbs spins were in and our of sync but pos matched beautifully / lasso lift with changes of pos / strt steps weave back & forth flowing effortlessly with the music / it's almost as though the audience doesn't want to clap and spoil the mood (but they do anyway) a lovely piece of chor in front of the judges / thr 3l is high and covers so much ice / thr 3s does the same / spirals now start with leg at isde change of edge to back spirals right into the pair spin with some lovely unique pos / down the ice for the last lift - a toe overhead into their closing pose / a lovely moment when he kneels in front her as she does and they embrace / another sustained standing ovation / and more applause as they're shown on the screen /

PB 136.02 TES 65.29 PCS 67.14 Tot 1`32.43 gr tot 203.50 1st in free and 1st overall

 

[Tesla]

Oh, I can't wait to see them. I'm gutted about I/B. I love them and think John is wonderful with the way he highlights Rena.

 

[Rosaleen]

19 Yuko KAWAGUCHI / Alexander SMIRNOV RUS
Piano Concerto by St Saens / both in shades of blue & white almost tie-dye effect /
Sorry I missed the 1st part of their skate as two of the monitors feel off the desk as someone pulled on the cord / I'm at 220 mark and the music picks up and crowd is clapping for a lovely lasso lift with great air position / thr 3l that she landed almost lost leaning backwards but I don't know how she managed to push it through - what determination / strt steps flow with the music into spirals with coe in catchfoot pos - some unique pos taking advantage of her flexibility / pair spin right into closing pose / she almost looks like she can't believe they did it - that was a great skate

PB 109.04 TES 47.89 PCS 53.66 Tot 101.55 gr tot 163.62 9th in free 8th overall

 

[cloudkicker09]

If they skated so beautifully then why are they in 8th?

 

[Rosaleen]

20 Qing PANG / Jian TONG CHN
Familiar opening bars into sbs 2a 2a seq and down the ice for sbs 3t - all done in sync / 3tw is huge / thr 3s is huge / under his free leg into bods in great pos / now into music of the night and some tender chor into sbs flycam - excellent sync and matching pos - close together / lasoo lift to one hand covers the length of the ice / thr 3l landed as the music goes silent for a second / shoot the duck between his legs right into a lasso lift / str steps weave back & forth with the music / now it builds again for spirals excellent matching pos / pair spin is a little slow and almost a problem on the exit but pos are great / one armed hip lift into final pose and they're happy with that - couldn't do much better /

PB 124.22 TES 61.65 PCS 60.06 Tot 121.71 gr tot 188.46 2nd in free and 2nd overall

 

[slutskayafan21]

WOOHOO!!! Pang/Tong.

 

[Rosaleen]

If they skated so beautifully then why are they in 8th?

re Kawaguchi /Smirnov
Looking at the detail results now that I have a chance. It looks like their 3t 3t seq was not counted as a sequence (too many steps between and not a continuation of the cadence probably) and so they received 2.00 for the 1st 3t and 0 for the 2nd this meant that they also got 0 for the 2a as an illegal element

That would explain it in part .

 

[SolarisFyre]

I am so happy for the Ukrainians

 

[Rosaleen]

Just want to add that today & tonight has been the biggest roller coaster of emotions for me that I've ever experienced a at skating competition. Teary almost from start to finsih in the pairs for both good and bad reasons.

 

[figuristka]

Thanks for the detail i will be watching it later. Iam very sorry to hear about P/T and the Siudek´s withdrawing. They both have been in the sport along time and will be missed if its their last competitions. Iam looking so forward to watching S/Z just love them. Glad the Canadian´s seemed to do quite well. Glad Jessica Dube is back.

 

[emma]

I can't get over this. I first want to thank Rosaleen for all of these posts. I feel so, so, so terribly sad for P/T and The Sidueks - I actually fantasized that they would be on the podium as a goodbye to amateur skating. Never really the best, but always so, so good and well presented - I just feel awful that they both ended with withdraws.

The SP seemed like so intensely wonderful; the FP just overshadowed by this sadness. I also feel bad for I/B - but there did seem to be some very good skates too. I am happy for P/T and of course, S/Z - but do feel badly they didn't get a PB in the long, as that is what they were aiming for. No matter - I still can't wait to watch. Congrats to S/S - I thought they might take silver, but great showing all around.

Sounds like the Canadians skated very well - that's wonderful!

 

[Wren]

Overall I am very happy with how it turned out!
Shen nand Zhao reclaiming their world title of a few years ago, Dube and Davison finishing well after all they've gone through. Langlois and Hay makign the top ten.
But I'm so sorry the the Suideks... I love them and feel so bad that they couldn't finish this event. World's is hard enough to withdraw from as it is without it potentially being your last competition... Poor people
Why did Petrova and Tikhonov withdraw?

 

[Jasper]

I actually don't like how S/Z talked about how they wanted a new PB to retire on, completely disregarding their competitors and denying any chance that they might be challenged. But they clearly are head and shoulders above the rest of the field. It would be interesting to see them in Vancouver.

So sad for P/T and especially the Siudeks! You could tell after the short program that P/t barely had any energy left. It looks like Russian pairs may be screwed for next year with these results...? I'm really disappointed that K/S were scored so low, I guess b/c of their mistake in the sequence.

Also, it's too bad I/B, S/S, and M/B didn't skate their bests. S/S were dead on with their jumps at Euros but that's what messed them up here, and that always seems to be the problem point for the Germans. I hope they can improve their consistency. Pang/Tong have seemingly improved their jumps based on their last two competitions, and I'm so happy they could get a silver with an even better performance overall this year to prove that they were no flukes!!!

Great competition.

 

[slutskayafan21]

Very sad to see 2 longtime veteran teams like Petrova/Tikhonov and the Siudek's retire before the free skate of their final ever competition.

 

[Tigger]

Am I right in thinking Canada has three pairs again next year? Math and I agree to disagree, so...Just checking.

It's been quite the event Gang. See you all for the OD's!!

 

[Saundy]

I just think a 7th place finish for Dube & Davison is something to be awknowledged. After everything this team has been through, a 7th place finish is to be commended.

Congratulations!

 

[Saundy]

Am I right in thinking Canada has three pairs again next year? Math and I agree to disagree, so...Just checking.

Yup. I do believe Canada gets 3 spots again. I'm 99% sure anyway. :yes:

 

[Fredegunda]

Am I right in thinking Canada has three pairs again next year? Math and I agree to disagree, so...Just checking.

It's been quite the event Gang. See you all for the OD's!!

Marcoux & Buntin were 6th and D&D were 7th, and you need the placements to add up to 13 or less to send 3 pairs so Canada will indeed send 3 next year too.


From TSN via Canadian Press

http://www.tsn.ca/figure_skating/news_story/?ID=200989&hubname=figure_skating

Canada was about to lose a pairs spot for next year when the second-last skaters rushed to the rescue. The Russian entry of Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov had a really poor routine and fell so far in the overall standings that Canada was able to retain the maximum three pairs for 2008.

A combined placement total of 13 or less by two pairs from a country is required to get a third spot for the following year's meet, and Canada's total ended up at 13.

About half an hour ago, that article said that Kawaguchi and Smirnov "stunk up the place" or something like that - I was really shocked, but now it's been changed to something a bit milder.

 

[Eeyora]

I am thrilled for Shen and Zhao. Pang and Tong should be proud too. I am glad that S/S made the podium. They should have a good rivalry with the Chinese in the upcoming years. But I feel for Petrova nd Tikinov and the Siudek's they weren't my favorites but they seem like nice people. I wanted them to end their careers on a higher note.

 

[Saundy]

Marcoux & Buntin were 6th and D&D were 7th, and you need the placements to add up to 13 or less to send 3 pairs so Canada will indeed send 3 next year too.


From TSN via Canadian Press

http://www.tsn.ca/figure_skating/news_story/?ID=200989&hubname=figure_skating



About half an hour ago, that article said that Kawaguchi and Smirnov "stunk up the place" or something like that - I was really shocked, but now it's been changed to something a bit milder.

Wow...that article is a little harsh...or is it just me??