Crystal Skate

Kaitlin Hawayek & Jean-Luc Baker took the gold for USA The ice dance competition was the land of opportunity in Hiroshima. All the skaters were couples that had never really been in the spotlight before. The short ended with Russia and USA in podium positions, but so close to one another, no one was safe. The event started with the host's Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto . The two skated to Une histoire d'amour  and made no errors. My favourite thing about their choreography was how it put each of them individually in the spotlight, particularly in the mid-line step sequence - you don't often see this in ice dance. Score: 94.87  -> 154.27 . Alexandra Nazarova/Maxim Nikitin  followed with a crazy balance on their curve lift, but the first positions of the twizzles not in sync. They wore very glitzy costumes that matched the Charlie Chaplin theme, but I found her boots too chunky-looking. Score: 93.02  -> 153.22 . Troubles with the twizzles continued ...