Main
Reviews
Results
Participant list
Schedule
TV Schedule
Ticket Information
Press contacts
Version Française

Thursday November 23rd

Pairs Short Programs
First Group:
1. Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze - RUS
Their music was kind of annoying, and they didn't skate in harmony with it, like if they didn't feel it at all.
They did sbs 3 toes (he doubled his), a high and delayed 2 twist, a thrown 3 loop with a shaky landing. Their spiral sequence was great since they held the positions forever, the sbs spins were a bit desyncho, and Anton was counting LOUD (hop hop hop). Their lift is ok, and their death spiral looked weird, in her position I mean. They had little rotation in their pair spin with a good position.
I agreed with the marks, but not with the placement, as you will see when talking about the americans.
2. Zagorska & Siudek - POL
They had a lot of problems during the warm up with their jumps and spins.
They did a good but no great 2 twist, she fell hard on the sbs 3 toes, their sbs spins were also scary because she came very close to him, so that they had to slow them down.
Their thrown 3 salchow, and it looked like she could easily do another turn to it.
Their spiral and lift are the same as last year, and she didn't have a great position in the death spiral at all.
Their music was boring as usual, and they were not skating with or to it. It could have been anything else to that matter. Agreed with the judges.
3. Pang & Tong - CHN
Their music was a tango and they have already better speed, unison and musicality than their teammates.
Their thrown 3 loop was the best I've ever seen, with incredible height and ice coverage. They started having problems with the sbs 3toes : She fell while he two footed the landing. Their pair spin was ok, with some interesting position, and their double twist was georgeous. Their spiral section ended into the death spiral (wich might not be on the good edge). Then came the BIG mistake : she fell really hard on the lift. Problems was she slipped on the sleeves of his costumes (we could see it while judges were not on the good side). Their unison was off on the sbs spins.
I was really ashamed by their skate. They did it so well during practices I couldn't understand the mistakes. Good thing is that they kept their speed, but the mistakes were really really bad.

Group 2:
1. Marcoux and Marcotte - CAN
They really look like clones of Jamie and David, but he is a new Michael WEISS LOL !
They did a delayed 2 twist, sbs 3toes with synch problems (it could be seen right at the beginning of the jumps). He had a slight bobble on their sbs spins, their spiral sequence and lifts were ok, with nice position and dismount. Death spiral and pair spin were highlights to this program. Loved them.
I would have them ahead of the poles since their speed was great, and as good as the poles one.
2. Savchenko & Morozov - EST
They are really juniorish, in their speed and expression.
They did 2 twist, sbs 3toes (that she doubled), thrown 3 salchow where she fell, an easy lift, spiral are ok but not complete psp and death spiral were junioriiiiiiish :)
Hated them... They do need to work a LOT !
3. Sale & Pelletier - CAN
Tonight they were the best. One quick word is that I hate their music, it reminds me too much of last years short, and they do exactly the same movements.
Elements were GREAT : thrown 2 loop (textbook), sbs 3 toes (amazing she landed hers since the warm up ones were 2), 2 twist, a very good death spiral, the best so far. They had one problem on sbs spins : Jamie did the same mistake as last year worlds long program, and I must had David was counting really loud :) They also had a coold lift, wonderful spiral, and the best pair spin of the evening. Couldn't be anywhere else than at the top :)

Group 3:
1. Abitbol & Bernadis - FRA
I could tell before they skated that they would not do great. Stéphane had this head of the "bad days". They had problems with the FFSG all week long so...
All started with the sbs 3 toes, and he fell. During the warm up, he did a textbook one, with the best air position I've ever seen him do. He hadn't miss one for more than 4 months!
They recovered well and didn't miss their choreography. 2 Twist was perfect, as well as the thrown 3 loop (maybe a bit stiff ?).Spiral sequence is the best they've done in years, lift had that original position to suit the theme. What amazed me was their sbs spins : They were not out of synch this time, but they counted loud too. Death spiral was the second best, and their pair spin could be better IMO.
As you might know I was not happy with their skate, but I still think this short program is the best of the pairs this season since it's so original. Probably the best in years.
After it was over, they were really sad, but Stéphane kept his smile during the press conference.
2. Lefrançois & Blanchard - FRA
I was kind of amazed at their progress in the past two months. I didn't expect them to skate so well, thought they lack speed, compared to the top 7 teams.
They did perfect sbs 3 toes, delayed double twist, thrown 3 salchow (she held it well), death spiral ok, pair spins with more speed than Sarah and Stéphane, a nice lift. They caught an edge on pair spiral but didn't fall. I think the judges didn't see this, since it was well masked :)
Their sbs spins were perfect, thought they counted a lot too (hop to change position).
They should have been marked higher, thought their speed puts them behing the poles or the canadians.
3. Ina & Zimmerman - USA
They did a perfect program from start to finish. They have really improved a lot!
sbs 3 toes, delayed 2 twist, thrown 3 salchow (the best of the evening), a slow spiral sequence, sbs spins (he counted too, and she nearly was too slow compared to him at the beginning), a nice lift, into death spiraln and a cool pair spins, with the best rotations of the evening.
They were robbed a 2nd place finish, thought it could be explained by the lack of expression from Kyoko. He is the best of the two in this area.

Jamie and David rocked the place, while the russians received little applause. Americans and A&B were tied for public response, but Ina and Zimmerman were a great highlight IMO.