Tatiana Totmianina & Maxim Marinin
Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang
Maria Petrova & Alexei Tikhonov |
Warmup Group 1 Marina Aganina & Artem Knyazev, UZB Not La Boheme as listed. Kind of tango like. Double Axel:ok Slow, and uninteresting. Weak in
transitions. Weak interpretation. Tatiana Volosozhar & Stanislav Morozov, UKR Albinoni Adagio Throw Triple Loop: high and secure Slow, some decent moments of
interpretation, limited transitions. Decent elements Arena now about 3/4 full. Rumiana Spassova & Stanimir Todorov, BUL Nautical medley Double Twist: ok Fairs speed. Some transitions. Interpretation and timing to music weak. PCs in the low 4s. Rena Inoue & John Baldwin, USA Albinoni Adagio Inoue & Baldwin have planned a throw triple Axel, attempting to be the first to land that element in international competition. Star lift:one
arm take off Decent speed. above average transitions. above average interpretation PCs in the mid 6s (too low!). They are in first with 61. 27 points. Not enough to vie for a medal I would expect. At the end of the night they are in sixth, in the midst of the pack of teams with scores in the low 60s. Numerically they are in position to challenge for a medal, but it is a long shot, with Program Component scores in the mid 6s. They are also limited by using double Axels instead of triples (due to Baldwin having an injured right big toe). Two judges gave the triple Axel a +2, but one gave it a -1. What was that person thinking? The rest were 0s and 1s. Crazy marks! (An ISU judge not working the competition told me it should have been a +3.) Warmup Group 2 Qing Pang & Jian Tong, CHN Variation on a Theme of Paganini Triple toe loop: ok Above average elements. Middling transitions. Above average interpretation. Decent expression PCs in the low 7s. They move two points ahead of I&B. Their main strength remains their elements. Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao, CHN Piano Concerto Rach 3 (?) Triple toe loop:
she 2 hands down (but no deduction) Above average elements. Fair speed. Above average interpretation. Above average transitions. PCs in the high 7s. At this point they are in second place. Though still a good team, and will probaly end up n the top5, they are a shadow of their former selves. They did not skate with the speed, strength and confidence they displayed at their peak as World Champions. Yong Myong Phyo & Yong Hyok Jong, PRK Music ??? Throw double loop: ok DREADFUL MUSIC!!!
CCoSp: camel sit cof , simple, no features Basic skating skills. Limited transitions. No expression or interpretation. A mediocre intermediate US team. PCs in the high 3s. They desperately need decent music, better choreography and experience in performance and presentation of a program. Marylin Pla & Yannick Bonheur, FRA Blues for Klook (That's what it says!) Triple toe loop: she falls he steps
out Mediocre skating skills. Lots of transitions. Good expression, though weird (but then they ARE French). PCs in the low 5s. Resurface Warmup Group 3 Julia Beloglazova & Andrei Bekh, UKR Greetings to Morricone
Double twist: decent height, ok Boring "go to sleep" music, BORING program. Few transitions. No expression. PCs in the mid 4s. Marcy Hinzmann & Aaron Parchem, USA The Mission
Double twist: decent height, ok Above average skating skills. Lots of transitions. Good use of music. A pretty performance. PCs around 6. (too low!) Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang, CHN Kashmir
Star lift: strong entry, multiple cops Good skating skills. Strong tricks. , above average transitions. above average performance. Interpretation just ok. PCs in the mid 7s. Personal best. They move into first place. The three Chinese teams are now 1-2-3. I&B drop to fourth. In the past year Zhang & Zhang have unquestionably moved to the front as the best of the Chinese teams. They are the most likely team of the three to make the podium at this competition. Diana Rennik & Aleksei Saks, EST Explosive Double flip:
ok Fair skating skills. Below average transitions. They are skating to background music. No expression. Explosive NOT. PCs in the low 4s. I was worried it would be difficult keeping upright with the skating, but there is so much time between skaters you could write a book. But I won't. Warmup Group 4 Eva-Marie Fitze & Rex Rico, GER A Gusta Triple toe loop: ok Average skating skills, average transitions, little expression. Mostly background music. Did not capture rhythm or tempo of music. PCs around 5. Maria Petrova & Alexei Tikhonov, RUS Sarabande Triple toe loop:
he breaks at waist on landing Good skating skills. Some minor weaknesses in the tricks. Good performance and interpretation of music. good transitions. PCs in the mid 7s. They move
into second place. The double twist on the exit from the lift
was way cool. La Vie en Rose & Mack the Knife Triple toe loop: ok Good skating skills. Above average transitions. Above average interpretation but nothing special. PCs in the mid 6s. Jessica Dube & Bryce Davison, CAN Hasta Que Conoci Triple Salchow: she breaks at waist on
landing Above average skating skills, above average transitions. Above average presentation and interpretation. Overall a respectable job. PCs in the low 6s. Personal best. Resurface Warmup Group 5 Valerie Marcoux & Craig Buntin, CAN Hey Big Spender Triple toe loop:
she puts one hand down Above average skating skills, good transitions. Above average interpretation and performance. A pleasant program done fairly clean. PCs mid 6s. Julia Obertas & Sergei Slavnov, RUS Concerto for Coloratura Soprano and Orchestra (otherwise know as the shrieking sopranos piece) Triple toe loop:
ok, she fights for the landing (a little under rotated) Good skating skills, good+ transitions. Lovely performance, nicely done. PCs in the high 6s. Tatiana Totmianina & Maxim Marinin, RUS Snowstorm She is ghastly thin!!! A snowstorm would blow her away.
FIDS: good Good skating skill, good transitions, a lovely performance, but her appearance and the little errors were a distraction for me. PCs in the low 8s. They are in first place by a little over 4 points. I&B drop to sixth. Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy, GER Souvenir de Click Triple toe loop: ok, she scrapes ice
with free leg on the takeoff reaching back to tap Above average skating skills, some interesting and varied transitions. Good performance, above average interpretation. An interesting though not outstanding performance. PCs in the low 7s. |
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Free Skate
Tatiana Totmianina & Maxim Marinin
Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang
Throw Gone Bad
Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao |
30 minutes to go, and the arena is slowly filling. My predictions: T&M, Z&Z, P&T. Warmup Group 1 This is the warmup for the Juvenile and Intermediate teams. Rumiana Spassova & Stanimir Todorov, BUL Balkan Concept Double Twist: decent height + Skating Skills below average. Transitions and
poses decent at start and for first 1/3 but then not much for the rest of the
program. Interpretation weak, use of music weak. Yong Myong Phyo & Yong Hyok Jong, PRK Withdrew Monday Morning Diana Rennik & Aleksei Saks, EST Allegretto & Adagio, then other suff I don't recognize Throw Triple Salchow: ok Skating Skills weak to poor, transitions
few and far between. Skating to background music. Interpretation
weak. Boring program. Julia Beloglazova & Andrei Bekh, UKR Matrix Double Twist: ok Skating Skills fair. Transitions - not
many. Interpretation minimal. Whole program is in slow motion and is
boring. They can't do the solo jumps but can handle the throws. Warmup Group 2 Marylin Pla & Yannick Bonheur, FRA Angel and Devil & L'Odysse de l'espece Triple Toe Loop: he two foots and
nearly falls, tangled up in feet Skating
Skills average. Transitions average or a little less
Inerp inconsistent. Some nice moments but also some big empty holes Marina Aganina & Artem Knyazev, UZB Dell' Arte 2A + 2T Sequence: ok Skating Skills fair, transition fair to
weak. Interpretation minimal. Mostly background music. Last 1/4 of
program they just lose it. Marcy Hinzmann & Aaron Parchem, USA Esperanza & Once Upon a Time in Mexico Double Twist: decent height + carries in here
Star Lift: Skating
Skills above average, transition average to above average, Better than average
use of music and present. He looked a little weak in some elements,
particularly the lifts, and was looking tired last 1/4. Eva-Marie Fitze & Rex Rico, GER Braveheart 2A + 2S Sequence: decent + Skating Skills fair. Transitions about
average. Mostly background music. I didn't get Braveheart out of it
at all. Not enough height to land the throws. Resurface Mostly a full house now. The empty seats look like they are mainly sponsor seats. And sponsors are notorious for wasting their seats. Warmup Group 3 Tatiana Volosozhar & Stanislav Morozov, UKR Conquest of Paradise 3S + 2S Sequence: 2S + 2S
sequence posing in here
Axel Lift: cod 1aa 1asd. He is a strong guy! Skating
skills above average. Transitions above average. It has it's moment
for interpretation and presentation, but mostly they muscle their way through the
program. Valerie Marcoux & Craig Buntin, CAN Our Song BIDS: catch foot entry,
decent form Skating skills above average.
Transitions above average. Decent use of the music for
presentation, but at times they can't keep up with the tempo of the
fastest part of the music. A respectable job. Nice lift
work. Dorata Zagorska & Mariusz Siudek, POL The Mission She starts out on his shoulders upside down shoulders-to-shoulders. 2A + 2T Sequence: of, she breaks
at waist on 2t Skating
skills above average. Transitions good. Above average use of
the music. Not the most inspiring performance to this music (too
many little mistakes and slightly sloppy movements), but still pleasant to
watch and enjoyable. Jessica Dube & Bryce Davison, CAN 7th Concerto by Gershwin Double Twist: fair height Skating skill above average.
Transitions above average. Background music. Boring interpretation. A sloppy performance. Warmup Group 4 Julia Obertas & Sergei Slavnov, RUS La Traviata & Rigoletto Double Axel: he has poor
landing edge, so do she but not as bad Too many headstand moves!
Throw Triple Loop: hand touch Skating
skills above average transitions average. This performance a
mess. o much reliance on positions and posing. Not a complete
program. Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao, CHN Madame Butterfly 3T + 2T Combination: she
two foots the 2T (under 1/4?) Skating skills good. Transitions very
good. Technically not at their finest, but still some strong
elements. Interpretation and performance very good. A wonderful
performance artistically. Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy, GER Bon Voyage Double Twist: decent
height Skating skills above average.
Transitions good. Presentation good. Nice interpretation
and use
of connecting moves in the choreography. Rena Inoue & John Baldwin, USA Shastakovich medley Triple Lutz: Scored 2Ts.
He two foots it. Skating skill above average. Transitions
good. Performance good but not as good as Nationals, but still a
respectable performance. Resurface Time for the big kids to play! Warmup Group 5 Maria Petrova & Alexei Tikhonov, RUS Fellini medley 2A + 3T Sequence: She
doubles the 3T, Scored 2A + 2T sequence Skating Skill good. Transitions
good to very good. I find this a mindless program, but it was
well presented and solidly executed so it should get good marks. Qing Pang & Jian Tong, CHN Phantom of the Opera 2A + 2T Combination: just
ok Skating Skills very good.
Transitions good. Wonderful performance, sustained all the way
through. Secure and confident. CRUNCH TIME! Tatiana Totmianina & Maxim Marinin, RUS Romeo and Juliet Triple Salchow: ok Skating skills very good.
Strong throughout entire porogram. Transitions very
good. Performance clean and well done. Interpretation good.
Choreography very good. Overall a very good job. A tough act to follow. Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang, CHN The Offspring of Dragons (That would be baby dragons, wouldn't it?) Throw Quad Salchow: A big fall with a huge split. Scored throw 3S The music stops. she is in major pain. She goes to the entry door but does not leave the ice. Now they are moving slowly around the ice. Looks like they are going to try to pick it up from the interruption. The music starts again.
2A + 3T Combination: ok Skating
skills good. A courageous performance. Transitions
good. Interpretation good. Performance good (after the started
up again - which was most of the program) . |
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