My Pairs SP Report
Zhang and ZhangThey skated in costumes that are somewhat reminiscent of Sasha Abt's Russian sailor costume. Overall, they seemed to lack speed and power. The lift wasn't unusual, it looked like SBS 3S to me and she finished a bit low on hers. Their SBS spin was way out of synchronization. Their throw 3 loop was very good, but in the sling the babe Chinese style. The split 2 twist was totally huge; the audience gasped; she had her hands over her head during it. They finished with the pair spin into a Shoot the Duck into their BODS. Good effort
Ding/Ren They were costumed in very juniorish aqua nylon net costumes. He had navy blue pants and an aqua peasant blouse. Her legs are unbelievably thin. Started with a nice throw 3Lp with a good solid edge out of it. The SBS 3T's were good. He put her down very heavily from the lift. They sort stalled in the middle of the spirals. Their combo spin was out of synchro and included a perfectly horrible shot gun spin. The split 2Tw was good, but not to the level of Z&Z, for sure. They had a flipover in the BODS and a really nice pair spin.
Obertas and Slavnov skated to I think Gypsy Kings. They were in very very bright lemon yellow outfits. His was a tunic with blousy sleeves and a red 'belt' and 'lapel' with red pants. Hers stuck out like it had a crinoline and had red piping on the bottom of the skirt, and had spaghetti straps. There was red scrolled sequined decoration at the top of the bodice and in a spot on the skirt, sort of placed like the poodle on a poodle skirt. They started with their SBS 3t's which were good but not quite in unison. They got a bit behind their music as a result. The throw 3Lp was excellent, I thought. He set her down nicely in the 2 split TW. In their spiral sequence, there was a section where his foot was in her back-it looked quite cool, but the remaining spirals were of the I'll hold my foot, you hold yours variety. The combo spin was a little out of unison at the end. They totally screwed up the lift, which had an I/Z candle lift in it. She fell out of the candle back onto his arm and they had to push it up again. Nice BODS into a pair spin that has his leg over her back ala, I think Meno and Sand. Can't believe I'm saying it, but I would have had them in 4th behind I&B. There was really nothing Wow or outstanding in this program. It was more or less competent except for the blown lift. This is not the creative work I expect of a Moskvina pair.
Orscher/Lucash This is the same as their last year short, and I have always liked both the choreo and the costumes, but today they were just not on. He fell on the 3t. She fell on the throw 3flip, and his lifting technique, especially his stroking while he has her up in the air was as usual, unfortunately, insecure. The death spiral was good though.
Totmianina and Marinin They are skating to Ave Maria in aqua nylon net outfits. Hers has an illusion fabric cross on the bodice that is a bit too much. It looks sort of like a flesh colored tie. The idea of the program is brilliant-obviously no one expects huge connection between a couple if one of them represents the Virgin Mary-it makes what is a negative in their skating to a positive. They started with the BODS, and she is one of those that gets her hip up. Blech but competent, and there is no deduction for doing it this way.Spirals nice. They always have a great throw and do not disappoint. Their 3t's are without flaw and the 2 split tw is low compared to Z&Z but very very competent. Lift OK, but the final SBS spin is hugely out of unison. Well it's a new program, and I am sure they will do well with this. I think they deserve their first place.
Shupin and Akolzin from Israel Perky yellow T shirt with black scribbles on it and black pants on him and a yellow spaghetti strap costume with a split skirt on her. She has a ponytail secured by a yellow scrunchy. They start with their lift. Exit is heavy, but he is very good holding her. No flow out of the throw, but it's OK, the 2Tw has a really nice split. They do SBS 2A's and a good SBS spin. They had some problems with the pair spin. Not enough difficulty, but quite well performed, and they seem happy about it.
Inoue and Baldwin They are first to skate after the ice is refinished, and they are going to skate to 'Bird of Fire', a techno version of Firebird. Jill Watson, their coach, is obviously flashing back to her best program. Rena is in a red dress with a flame/rag look. He has on a comic opera Nutcracker looking military outfit..he is competing with Joubert for worst costume.
Son of a gun! They start with SBS triple lutzes. His is landed, and he doesn't put his foot down, but it is a huge struggle. Hers is totally nifty. (Is this the 1st ever in competition? I think so, if it is verified). They do a throw 3Lp and she lands it for once. Quite smooth, a little low, but excellent for her. The split 2Tw could definitely be better-it's a bit crashy. The spin is right on, with good speed. I do like the huge spread eagle on him while he presents her in a spiral. Other spirals OK The lift is great-several good changes of position, and a deliberately Watson Oppegard style scary on purpose exit Audience gasps, as designed. Pair spin good, and as usual they have a unique DS entry. Well as Dick would say, Good for them. I would definitely have had them in 3rd; maybe 2nd. So much for the death of US pairs, although work is still needed.
Putnam and Wirtz He has black pants and a white peasant blouse. She has a very elegant white dress. Blech. Secret Garden again. 2 Tw too low, bad throw with a hand down, SBS 3S's and she turned out. SBS camels out of synchro. They're going slow and the lift is no good. Pair spin OK. They are quite musical, but this is not their night.
Don and Hunt She is very big for a pair skater-almost as much so as Natasha Kuchiki, Todd Sand's first partner. Rach #2 again. Nice no hand 2 Tw. The SBS 3t's are excellent. Their speed is good. The throw is a bit squeaky. They do a great SBS flying sit, somewhat off tempo when they go into a shotgun style spin. Very simple but correct DS, Nice pair spin, but he lets go of her deliberately in the middle of it (Is that allowed?) This is a simple program, but they did it very very well. Again, so much for the death of US pairs.
I don't have any huge complaints with the placing.
There was at the beginning of the program, a move Katie did that was just a balance thing, with leg up (not spiral, and only a couple seconds, and I have no clue what it would be called!), and appeared a bit off balance just with that...she had a slight wobble and her face looked startled. Then Garrett fell on the side by side jumps, and she fell on the throw...I think they may have finished a few seconds off, also, because of the errors. VERY sad. 
