ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: Preview
The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final opened
Friday in Gdansk, Poland with the Compulsory and Original
Dance, the Ladies, Pairs and Men’s Short Programs. The
top eight skaters/couples from the eight events of the ISU
Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating series have qualified
for the Final from December 7 to 9. Gdansk hosted the Final
once before in 1999.
Ice Dancing, Compulsory & Original Dance
The Compulsory Dance at the Junior Grand Prix Final was the
Cha Cha Congelado. This dance was developed by Bernard Ford,
Kelly Johnson, Laurie Palmer and Steven Belanger. It was first
performed in Richmond Hill (CAN) in 1989.
Maria Monko/Ilia Tkachenko of Russia grabbed the lead in
the Compulsory Dance, edging out their teammates Kristina
Gorshkova/Vitali Butikov by less than one point. Both couples
produced a precise and musical performance of the dance. Monko/Tkachenko
picked up a seasons best of 33.66 points (17.87 element score/15.79
program component score) while Gorshkova/Butikov earned 33.35
points (17.72/15.63). Emily Samuelson/Evan Bates (USA) came
in third in the Cha Cha Congelado. They skated well, but appeared
somewhat stiff. The 2006 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists
earned 31.70 points (16.69/15.01).
The dancers came back later in the evening for the Original
Dance. Monko/Tkachenko strengthened their lead with a dynamic
and characteristic performance to a Russian Folk song named
“I’m going out on the street”. They produced
intricate footwork, earning a level four for the side by side
midline and the circular step sequence. The couple also produced
a straight line lift and a rotational lift. All elements were
graded a level four, and the Russians posted a new personal
best of 56.57 points (31.58/24.99), which added up to 90.23
points so far. “We skated quite well and did all our
elements, but I still feel we skated a bit better in England
(at the Junior Grand Prix in Sheffield), it felt somewhat
more confident there. But we got a high score and we’re
very pleased. Most couples chose a more classical music, and
we tried to set ourselves apart and went for a more upbeat
dance”, Monko explained.
Gorshkova/Butikov had opted for a Greek Dance and put out
a strong performance as well, completing a serpentine step
sequence, a curve lift, a dance combination spin and a rotational
lift. All their elements but the serpentine received a level
four. The Muscovites collected 54.98 points (30.72/24.26)
and were ranked third in the Original Dance, but held on to
second place overall at 88.33 points.
Samuelson/Bates turned in a cute dance to “Kalinka”,
showing precise footwork, spin with changes of position and
a well synchronized side by side step sequence. The defending
Junior Final silver medalists were awarded a level four for
all five elements and finished second in the Original Dance
with a new personal best of 55.66 points (31.93/23.73). They
remained in third place with 87.36 points.
Ladies, Short Program
Mirai Nagasu (USA) took the lead in the Ladies Short Program
ahead of Yuki Nishino of Japan and Rachael Flatt (USA). The
flying sit spin and the double or triple loop are required
elements in the Junior Ladies Short Program of the 2007/2008
season.
Skating to “I Got Rhythm” by George Gershwin,
Nagasu delivered a joyful program and landed a triple Lutz-double
toeloop combination, a triple loop and double Axel. The reigning
World Junior silver medalist produced a layback into Biellmann
spin, and a combination spin that were graded a level four,
however, she stumbled on her flying sit spin. The 14-year-old
earned 59.35 points (34.78 element score/24.57 program component
score) and surpassed her previous personal best of 57.22 points.
“I was just so excited, and then I forgot to think it
through and I kind of stumbled on it”, Nagasu said.
“My goal is to skate my best, and I don’t really
care where I am placed. I think I skated my best, but there
is always room for improvement, especially in the flying sit
spin. It is exciting to be international. Pressure is something
the skater, the athlete makes for herself and if I just go
to a competition trying to skate my best and believing in
myself, then I’ll skate my best”, the
Nishino’s routine to “Leyenda” by Vanessa
Mae included a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination, a triple
loop and a solid double Axel as well as a level four layback
and combination spin. The 14-year-old received a new personal
best of 54.63 points (32.33/22.30).
Flatt nailed a triple loop and double Axel and got a level
three for her straight line footwork. The American was the
only skater to risk a triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination,
but the second jump was downgraded. She picked up 52.11 points
(29.99/22.12), which was a new personal best for her.
Pairs, Short Program
Three Russian couples are leading after the Pairs Short Program.
Vera Bazarova/Juri Larionov won the Short Program ahead of
Ksenia Krasilnikova/Konstantin Bezmaternykh and Ekaterina
Sheremetieva/Mikhail Kuznetsov. The throw double or triple
loop and the double Axel or double loop are required elements
in the Junior Pairs Short Program.
Bazavora/Larionov put out a smooth program to “Shadow
Fights” and produced a double twist, a side by side
double Axel, a throw triple toeloop, a high double twist,
a one armed Lasso lift and a interweaving straight line footwork
(level three) to earn a new personal best of 58.45 points
(35.05 element score/23.40 program component score). They
earned a level four for their side by side spin, but got only
a level one for the death spiral. “It felt easy to skate,
and the atmosphere was good”, Larionov said. “For
each competition, we are trying to give the maximum and to
improve from the last competition. We are looking to improve
the skating itself and the quality of our elements.”
Krasilnikova/Bezmaternykh’s routine to “Quidam”
from “Cirque du Soleil” featured a double Axel,
a high throw triple toeloop, difficult toe lasso lift as well
as a level-four death spiral. On the other hand, their footwork
and their side by side spin were graded only a level one.
The current World junior bronze medalists scored 53.15 points
(31.20/21.95).
Skating to “Winter” from “Four Seasons”,
Sheremetieva/Kuznetsov landed a throw triple toeloop, a double
twist and a side by side double loop. The couple was awarded
a level three for their spins and received a new personal
best of 50.25 (28.73/21.52) for this performance.
Men, Short Program
The Men’s competition was at a high level with all eight
skaters giving strong performances. Adam Rippon (USA) took
the lead with his teammate Brandon Mroz following in second
place. Jinlin Guan of China came in third. For the Junior
Men, the change foot camel spin, the flying sit spin and the
triple loop are the required elements in the Short Program
this year.
Rippon landed a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, a
double Axel out of a spread eagle move and a triple loop in
his routine set to “Toccata and Fugue” by Johann
Sebastian Bach. The 18-year-old showed also strong spins,
two of which were graded a level four, and put a lot of energy
in his footwork to collect 68.43 points, which was a new personal
best for him. “All the elements felt ok. The jumps felt
a little off, but I practice them so much that it didn’t
matter. So I was happy with how everything came out. It’s
such an honor to be here, because there are so many skaters
doing the Junior Grand Prix and only eight of them make it
to the Final. It’s totally different from any other
competition that I’ve done, because it’s so small,
but everyone is so good. I didn’t skate anybody skate
before me, but I heard the scores, and everybody’s scores
were very good. I knew that it was a very strong event. When
I heard the scores I said to myself, it doesn’t matter
what everybody else does. I’ve just tried to focus on
what I’ve been doing in practice”, Rippon commented.
Skating to “Night on Bald Mountain” by Modest
Mussorgski, Mroz reeled off a triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination,
a triple loop, double Axel and got a level four for his change
foot camel spin and the combination spin. His circular step
sequence was a level three, but his straight line only a level
one. The 2006 Junior Final silver medalist picked up 63.13,
improving his previous personal best of 60.77 points.
Guan hit a triple Lutz-triple toeloop, a triple loop and a
double Axel in his program to “Tango de los Exilados”
by Vanessa Mae. His flying sit spin was graded a level four,
but the change foot camel spin was a level two. The Chinese
scored 62.41 points (34.03/28.38).
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