Pairs

 

Starting Order - Short Program

  1. Kyoko Ina / Jason Dungjen
  2. Evgenia Shishkova / Vadim Naumov
  3. Michelle Menzies / Jean-Micheal Bombardier
  4. Danielle Hartsell / Steven Hartsell
  5. Marina Eltsova / Andrey Bushkov
  6. Shelby Lyons / Brian Wells
  7. Mariana Khalturina / Andrey Kroukov
  8. Olga. Bestandigova /  Josev Bestandig

 

Short Program

Place Tean Country
1 Eltsova/Bushkov RUS
2 Shishkova/Naumov RUS
3 Ina/Dungjen USA
4 Khalturina/Kroukov KZK
5 Menzies/Bombardier CAN
6 Lyons/Wells USA
7 Hartsell/Hartsell USA
8 Bestandigova/Bestandig SVK

Notes:

Eltsova and Bushkov's program was skated cleanly with both skaters landing their triple toe loops.  They were technically without equal and the program was presented capably, though lacked in emotion.  Shishkova and Naumov also landed triple toe's but their program was afflicted with "sloppy feet" throughout.  Ina and Dungjen displayed fairly good technique, but Dungjen stepped out of a double flip and their spins were on the slow side, especially within the context of their choice of music, "Zorba the Greek".  Khalturina and Kroukov skated a pretty program to the music "Be my Love" and landed triple Salchows in the process.  The panel had some trouble deciding where to place them, with a wide range of mark being handed out.

Lyons and Wells gave a nice presentation of last year's program, but Lyons doubled their triple Salchow and Wells fell on his attempt.  Skating to a medley of Irish tunes, Hartsell and Hartsell skated a sloppy program with slow spins and both skaters falling on attempts at triple toe's.

 

 

Starting Order - Free Skating

  1. Michelle Menzies / Jean-Micheal Bombardier
  2. Shelby Lyons / Brian Wells
  3. Danielle Hartsell / Steven Hartsell
  4. Olga. Bestandigova /  Josev Bestandig
  5. Marina Eltsova / Andrey Bushkov
  6. Mariana Khalturina / Andrey Kroukov
  7. Kyoko Ina / Jason Dungjen
  8. Evgenia Shishkova / Vadim Naumov

 

Final Results

Place Team Country SP FS
1 Eltsova/Bushkov RUS 1 1
2 Ina/Dungjen USA 3 2
3 Shishkova/Naumov RUS 2 3
4 Menzies/Bombardier CAN 5 4
5 Khalturina/Kroukov KZK 4 6
6 Hartsell/Hartsell USA 7 5
7 Lyons/Wells USA 6 7
8 Bestandigova/Bestandig SVK 8 8

Notes:

Eltsova and Bushkov skated to an easy victory in the pairs event, skating to music from "Lord of the Dance" using some of the most bizarre costumes and choreography to be seen in recent pairs.  Except for singling double Axels near the end of the program and few minor missteps they skated a strong program with triple toes, two good throws (triple Salchow and triple toe loop) and four strong lifts.  They are clearly motivated to give Woetzel and Steuer a good fight this year.

Ina and Dungjen were able to move up one spot to finish second despite a minor injury to Dungjen during the warmup.  He snagged his thumb on Ina's costume and had a lidicaine shot following the warmup.  As a result their lifts were not a crisp as the might have been otherwise, and their initial throw was a double Salchow instead of the usual triple.  Their program has good content and some novel positions, but something is still missing in the presentation.  They project a lot of energy and strength but still lack passion.

Shishkova and Naumov dropped to third thanks to a sloppy program with errors on all their side-by-side jumps.  Their other elements were well done and their presentation showed their usual finesse.

Menzies and Bombardier moved up one spot with a decent program, with some graceful moves, but too much repetitive choreography.  They also had trouble with their side-by-side jumps with Bombardier falling on double Axel, and both falling on triple Salchow.

Harsell and Hartsell's program, "Sampson and Delilah", got off to a slow start, but improved as they progressed.  Their difficulty was a notch below the top teams but by skating clean for the most part they were able to place fifth in the long and sixth overall.  The major errors in the program consisted of Steven stepping out of a triple toe loop and latter two footing double Axel.

Lyons and Wells looked like they were sleep walking tonight.  Their program had some decent tricks (e.g., a strong throw triple loop and throw triple Salchow), but was completely lacking in energy.  Their hearts are clearly not in it, and it appears they are only skating this year because the Association urged them not to split up prior to the Olympics.  If they do not make the World Team this year, they are most likely history.


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