GPF 2014 - All Paired Up

Last time we saw the pairs, Canada's Duhamel & Radford proved that they shouldn't be underestimated, not even when they're going up against Russian excellence. Sui & Han also proved that sometimes having a clean programme is all you need to get to the top. Will they manage to keep those standings after the free?

Cheng Peng/Hao Zhang's Alegretto isn't really as cheerful as the name suggests; on the contrary, it is filled with angst, which they could express more. They're so much better than yesterday though with only two mistakes: in the side-by-side double Axels and in the side-by-side spins. Their score: 129.33. Overall: 191.79.

The pairs' podium
Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Europe
I wish Wenjing Sui/Cong Han's choreography was more specific so that we could get a glimpse of the story behind Tchaikovski's Francesca da Rimini. The way they present the routine instead is by emphasizing the different nuances of the music through their elements. Speaking of, the best ones are the lifts - they are constantly changing positions and some of their exits are downright dangerous. She messes up the side-by-side Toeloops though. They get 127.65 points. Overall: 194.31.

The spectators will appreciate the Spanish version of Notre-Dame de Paris, which Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov surely chose especially for them. The theatricality of this routine is second to none, but the technical score is not going to be as good as we expect from them because, in a premiere this season, she makes a mistake and singles out the second side-by-side triple Toeloop. Their score: 141.39. Overall: 213.72.

Everything about Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford's long programme denotes ambition: the musical choice (because making the audience connect with Muse is a hard task), the elements (hello, throw quad Salchow) and the commitment to their trademark, the triple Lutzes. They get 146.22 points. Overall: 220.72.

Nobody in the Canadian team, from Meagan to the flag-waving fans, can contain their excitement as Duhamel & Radford win their first Grand Prix Final gold. Stolbova & Klimov have to settle for the silver through no fault of their own. Finally, who would've thought the bronze would go to Sui & Han? Congratulations to all of them!

For more comments on the other events, go to: http://crystalskate.blogspot.co.uk/.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Skaters We'll Miss, Part 5: Daisuke Takahashi

Image
October 31, 2008: It's a few days before the start of the 2008 Cup of China and for Japanese superstar, Daisuke Takahashi, it's the day disaster strikes. He's just torn a ligament in his right leg, which will take him off the ice for the entire season. What's even worse is that this is the type of injury that might just abruptly end the career of one of the most promising skaters of the decade. Long before becoming a superstar, Daisuke began his life in the ice rink by choosing between hockey and figure skating. He became a senior skater at the age of 16, but couldn't cope with the pressure and didn't become Japan's National Champion until four seasons later. Phantom of the Opera Photograph: Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images Sport In 2005/2006, at the age of 19, he almost lost the National title, and the chance to participate at the Olympics, when it was accidentally given to Nobunari Oda due to a miscalculation. The error was corrected though and Daisu
Read more

Internationaux de France 2018 - Ladies Final - What Great Skaters Are Made Of

Image
Bradie Tennell took home a surprising bronze medal The ladies' competition in Grenoble started as most do these days - with Japanese and Russian skaters going against each other for the top three positions. At the end of the short programme, Japan was winning (by less than a point), but the possibility to see Russia on the podium in the form of Evgenia Medvedeva was very much real. Stanislava Konstantinova  began the event with a flawless performance of Anna Karenina . I loved the costume, the way her hair matched the era the story is from and the neckline detail that made her look as if she was wearing a pearl necklace. Score: 134.76  -> 189.67 . Laurine Lecavelier  followed with a sexier routine, set to I'll Take Care of You . Her performance was for the most part alright despite doubling out of both the 3Flip and Salchow, but then at the very end, she fell on the 3Loop. Score: 105.58  -> 157.24 Laurine Lecavelier of France I thought Matilda Algotsson 
Read more

Skate America 2015 Preview

Image
That wonderful time of the year is here again! No, I'm not talking about Christmas, but the start of the figure skating Grand Prix series. I've been waiting for this event since the last day of the 2015 World Team Trophy, and I know I'm not the only one, so let's get started. The logo of Skate America 2015 Photo: www.isu.org Skate America will open the Grand Prix series, as usual. It is held this year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee is not known for anything related to figure skating, but for its beer and festivals - beer festivals, I assume. In fact, the logo for Skate America this year looks so much like a beer label that I wouldn't be surprised if the party favours proved out to be small bottles of beer with the logo as labels. Wouldn't that be cool? As creative as the marketing of the event is, the logo isn't what it's going to make this event spectacular. That task is given to the skaters, and judging by the big names competing, they
Read more