Pairs LPs (begining now!)

[Frau Muller]

Zag/Siudek: "Disaster at start...not confident on 2-axels...good throw 3 loop....she just doubled it."

"Lovely lift!"

"GORGEOUS split 3-twist. Beautiful landing."

"Throw 3-sal...just held on!"

"Super!!! ending - huge applause. There seemed to be room for us to enjoy it. What a difference. The pace didn't drop. All credit to them - a sterling performance. She worked really hard on the throw landings but she stood up....only mistake at the start."


Into first (as expected) but will they surpass any ahead of them? They could well me way up from 9th overall."

1 Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (POL) 56.10 109.85 165.95
2 Valerie Marcoux, Craig Buntin (CAN) 55.62 102.59 158.21
3 Tatiana Volosozhar, Stanislav Morozov (UKR) 50.14 98.24 148.38
4 Marcy Hinzmann, Aaron Parchem (USA) 49.58 97.47 147.05
5 Marylin Pla, Yannick, Bonheur (FRA) 44.24 88.60 132.84
6 Eva-Maria Fitz, Rico Rex (GER) 43.86 76.37 120.2
7 Marina Aganina, Artem Knyazev (UZB) 43.85 75.53 119.55
8 Diana Rennik, Aleksei Saks (EST) 39.72 78.41 118.13
9 Julia Beloglazova, Andrei Bekh (UKR) 43.85 78.41 115.62
10 Rumiana Spassova, Stanimir Todorov (BUL) 37.27 73.98 111.25


Now - #2 Canadians - Dube/Davison - Piano Concerto

 

[Frau Muller]

Dube/Davison -

split 2-twist - "bit awkward. SUPER s-b-s 2 axels!"

"Wonderful speed for the lifts. Good throw 3-sal. A magnificent start for them."

"Lovely line in change-of-edge spiral....3 salchows, good....at halfway pt - can they keep it going?"

"Throw 3-loop...step sequence - they'll have to raise the level there.

END - Well, terrific! The best of the 2 Canadians. They seemed to lose strength at end....Chris: They didn't interpret the music. Transitions weren't bad but chor'phy leaves a lot to be desired. Good performance,though."

"They won't overtake the Poles. Big question - Will they overtake the #1 Canadians?"

104.23 free skate - move to 2nd above Marcoux/Buntin.

1 Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (POL) 56.10 109.85 165.95
2 Jessica Dube, Bryce Davison (CAN) 55.48 104.23 159.71
3 Valerie Marcoux, Craig Buntin (CAN) 55.62 102.59 158.21
4 Tatiana Volosozhar, Stanislav Morozov (UKR) 50.14 98.24 148.38
5 Marcy Hinzmann, Aaron Parchem (USA) 49.58 97.47 147.05
6 Marylin Pla, Yannick, Bonheur (FRA) 44.24 88.60 132.84
7 Eva-Maria Fitz, Rico Rex (GER) 43.86 76.37 120.2
8 Marina Aganina, Artem Knyazev (UZB) 43.85 75.53 119.55
9 Diana Rennik, Aleksei Saks (EST) 39.72 78.41 118.13
10 Julia Beloglazova, Andrei Bekh (UKR) 43.85 78.41 115.62
11 Rumiana Spassova, Stanimir Todorov (BUL) 37.27 73.98 111.25

Now practice for Gp #4 (lot of top guns here)!

 

[childfreegirl]

I found the audio! Yay!

 

[Frau Muller]

During warm-up of Gp4, Valerie Marcoux talks to Gwendal P.: Marcoux to Gwendal on that final fall in the risky throw at the end of the programme: Very difficult and we were unlucky, we wanted to put it in at the end of the program.

Obertas/Slavnov will be first-up, with Verdi medley. Shen/Zhao, with their new 'Mme Butterfly,' will be next....then Germans, then Americans. Very, very close grouping. Chris: "Will Inoue/Baldwin try throw 3-axel again here?"

 

[Frau Muller]

Obertas/Slavnov - Traviata, etc. Starting -

2 axels....he struggles. 3 toes...now she struggles! Slide on 3 twist...WOW. Couldn't quite hold on.

Slow part - OK...

Rigoletto music - "Hand down, I'm afraid..."

End, Anvil Chorus: [nothing said]...."A spirited performance. Nothing was right with any of the throws....not a lot to be thrilled about." Chris - "They worked very hard but not there. Footwork very jagged." "There's a problem when they can't even acknowledge each othr's presence."


Simon: "Oh no - those marks are difficult to comprehend! I don't agree with that at all. Poles down to 2nd. Bewilderment in the arena!!"

1 Julia Obertas, Sergei Slavnov (RUS) 60.25 106.29 166.54
2 Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (POL) 56.10 109.85 165.95
3 Jessica Dube, Bryce Davison (CAN) 55.48 104.23 159.71
4 Valerie Marcoux, Craig Buntin (CAN) 55.62 102.59 158.21
5 Tatiana Volosozhar, Stanislav Morozov (UKR) 50.14 98.24 148.38
6 Marcy Hinzmann, Aaron Parchem (USA) 49.58 97.47 147.05


Now - Shen/Zhao.

 

[Frau Muller]

Shen/Zhao - Mme butterfly

SUPER 3 toe-2 toe!!! (she d-footed it...in replay)

LOVELY throw 3 sal!

Wonderful entry into death spiral....WOW!!!! throw (3 twist throw)...to very emotional beat of music!

Almost losing it there....(what?) s-b-s 2 xels - he singled his.

middle section - "His lack of training can be seen" "....but SUPER throw 3 loop!"

3rd music - "WOW that is very difficult." (what?) ...slowing down a bit...very dramatic music...

no applause - no talk for over one minute....

EXPLOSION of 'bravos' at end. STANDING O. "Just great! Absolutely fantastic!" "EXTRAORDINARY! A formidable performance...well, they may not get a medal but great."

1 Xue Shen, Hongbo Zhao (CHN) 62.32 124.59 186.91
2 Julia Obertas, Sergei Slavnov (RUS) 60.25 106.29 166.54
3 Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (POL) 56.10 109.85 165.95
4 Jessica Dube, Bryce Davison (CAN) 55.48 104.23 159.71
5 Valerie Marcoux, Craig Buntin (CAN) 55.62 102.59 158.21
6 Tatiana Volosozhar, Stanislav Morozov (UKR) 50.14 98.24 148.38

Scores: They'll rocket to 1st. Very good score. 2nd mark higher than 1st...very rare.

 

[Tenorguy]

Frau Muller - thank you so much for doing this. Hearing about S&Z is giving me buttlerflies of my own.

reading with baited breath - Tenorguy

wow! 186.91 that is monster!!

 

[Frau Muller]

Savchenko/Szolkowy - Vangelis, 1492, etc.

throw 2 twist

Very difficult sequence now...3 toe-3toe. Good.

throw 3 flip - 2-footed....

(change to march music - 1492) super 2 axels...

Gt throw 3 salchow....big lean but she held on!

ah...(seems to be a slip/error at end of this part of music)


"WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM," says Chris. Simon: "Hats off to Ingo Steuer...whatever others may think of him!" Ingo allowed to sit with them...although not part of the official delegation.

Rena & John now practicing on ice as Germans await score....

Scores: 2nd-best program. May be moving up but here are Americans.

1 Xue Shen, Hongbo Zhao (CHN) 62.32 124.59 186.91
2 Aliona Savchenko, Robin Szolkowy (GER) 60.96 124.59 186.91
3 Julia Obertas, Sergei Slavnov (RUS) 60.25 106.29 166.54
4 Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (POL) 56.10 109.85 165.95
5 Jessica Dube, Bryce Davison (CAN) 55.48 104.23 159.71
6 Valerie Marcoux, Craig Buntin (CAN) 55.62 102.59 158.21

tie??? this can't be right....

 

[Mafke]

Dube/Davison -
END - Well, terrific! The best of the 2 Canadians. They seemed to lose strength at end....Chris: They didn't interpret the music. Transitions weren't bad but chor'phy leaves a lot to be desired. Good performance,though."

They didn't mention the aborted lift or the fact that they have the scariest lifts going? Really his feat are skittering around like a cartoon dog on the ice and he really looks like he's straining. Get that boy to the gym pronto.

 

[Frau Muller]

Interesting, Makfe!

Inoue/Baldwin - Shostakovich medley

good 3 toes. 2 twist.

GOOD throw 3 loop!

(music change)

and here it comes....ohhhhhhh....NOT THIS TIME....(throw 3 ax)

(music change)

"They got it back but a bit late."

Uplifting music but too many mistakes. Brave effort. We suspect this will be their last year..."they should be ahead of Obertas/Slavnov who had disaster...let's see..."

60.27 tech (good)' 54.07 2nd mark - total 175.01. - yes, into 3rd, ahead of Obertas, behind Shen and Savchenko.

Chris: Zagorska/Siudek are the only ones with reason to complain tonight (so far).

1 Xue Shen, Hongbo Zhao (CHN) 62.32 124.59 186.91
2 Aliona Savchenko, Robin Szolkowy (GER) 60.96 124.59 180.15
3 Rena Inoue, John Baldwin (USA) 61.27 113.74 175.01
4 Julia Obertas, Sergei Slavnov (RUS) 60.25 106.29 166.54
5 Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (POL) 56.10 109.85 165.95
6 Jessica Dube, Bryce Davison (CAN) 55.48 104.23 159.71
7 Valerie Marcoux, Craig Buntin (CAN) 55.62 102.59 158.21


Ice Resurfacing now....back in 15 mins with the top four! Pet/Tiks, Pang/Tong, Tot/Mar and Zhangs, in that order. Now time for coffee break...

 

[Jasper]

Germans behind Shen/Zhao? Too bad.

 

[Mathman]

Its on TV on CBC now (Canada).

 

[Frau Muller]

Ah...wish I were in Canada! Well, at least I have my Eurosport audio....


Yup. Germans are behind Shen/Zhao....even in the tech score. hmmm....will have to see this. The audio mentioned tiny off-balances & off-axis throws but S/Z seemed to have had tiny errors, too. Maybe the sheer emotion of the music & program made the Chinese 'look' better, overall?


Well, they just played the Russian anthem for Dmitri Dorofeyev, who won 500K speed skating today. Announcer wonders: "Will they be re-playing the Russian anthem 45 minutes from now, for Pairs skating?"

 

[Jasper]

Yes, the S/Z always have incredible emotion and their PCS always reflect how they skate together as one and how they reflect the music. I just was really hoping for the Germans to make the podium. They might still, but there's still four great teams to skate.

 

[Frau Muller]

Last couples on the ice now.....wheeee!!!!

Two mins left...big fall from (I think) Pang-Tong. Big gasp in hall....

"Massive artistry improvement from Zhangs," says Simon. Standing room only. Competitors from many other sports here, watching. "All will be revealed in the next half-an-hour or so. Cheering sections for each nation....vocal Chinese but here come Pet/Tick..."

 

[Frau Muller]

Petrova/Tikhonov - Fellini medley ("Probaby their last competiton...most likely not at Worlds.")

Good, difficult combo at start. LANDED - 2 ax-3 toe.

(Amarcord music) 3 salchows...she doubles...

throw 3 loop - GOOD. SUPER CONTROL!

throw 3 sal - good

(music - xylophone...) no comments...must be OK..

(music change again) huge applause but no commentary. End.

"Exhilirating finish. She just doubled on 3 sal. I wonder if it was enough. Some elements were crying out for a bit more interpretation. Pooped out a bit...Unbelievably HOT in this arena."

Chris: "I think the Chinese were better..." Let's see. They began 1.5 pts ahead of Shen/Zhao.

Tech score - not gt...so close....BEHIND Shen/Zhao. Boos from crowd (Russians only?).

1 Xue Shen, Hongbo Zhao (CHN) 62.32 124.59 186.91
2 Maria Petrova, Alexei Tikhonov (RUS) 64.27 117.42 181.69
3 Aliona Savchenko, Robin Szolkowy (GER) 60.96 124.59 180.15
4 Rena Inoue, John Baldwin (USA) 61.27 113.74 175.01
5 Julia Obertas, Sergei Slavnov (RUS) 60.25 106.29 166.54
6 Dorota Zagorska, Mariusz Siudek (POL) 56.10 109.85 165.95
7 Jessica Dube, Bryce Davison (CAN) 55.48 104.23 159.71
8 Valerie Marcoux, Craig Buntin (CAN) 55.62 102.59 158.21

 

[Jasper]

The German girl two footed the throw triple landing. They also have problem with lift.

It's fair mark. Shen/Zhao should be ahead.

Unfortunately that remains one of their biggest problems. Her landings on the throws are always scratchy. Not like the top Chinese or the Russians teams who are consistently clean.

Go Z/Z and T/M!

 

[STL_Blues_fan]

Ah...wish I were in Canada! Well, at least I have my Eurosport audio....


Yup. Germans are behind Shen/Zhao....even in the tech score. hmmm....will have to see this. The audio mentioned tiny off-balances & off-axis throws but S/Z seemed to have had tiny errors, too. Maybe the sheer emotion of the music & program made the Chinese 'look' better, overall?


Well, they just played the Russian anthem for Dmitri Dorofeyev, who won 500K speed skating today. Announcer wonders: "Will they be re-playing the Russian anthem 45 minutes from now, for Pairs skating?"

Frau, thank you for starting the thread and for the links/updates, much appreciated!

I will reserve my judgement till I see it with my own eyes on NBC. But it is fair to express my disapoinment for those who had falls, etc..namely I&B, S&S and especially O&S.

I personally hope to hear Russian anthem tonight!!! So glad for Dorofeyv, being the flag bearer and all, he would've been scrutinized by Russian media if he failed to deliver.

 

[Jasper]

Petrova/Tikhonov - Fellini medley ("Probalby their last competiton...most likely not at Worlds.")

Why wouldn't they stick around for Worlds, at least? I hope they do, they seem to be improving throughout the season.

 

[Jasper]

I'm surprised it was Petrova and not Tikhonov who doubled the 3 salchow.