ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard
Day One
. The Trophee Bompard is the fourth of six events in the
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The skaters compete
for a a global prize money of US $ 180, 000 per individual
event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and receive
points according to their placements. The top six skaters/couples
then qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
in Torino, Italy (December 13-16).
Ice Dancing, Compulsory & Original Dance
The Ice Dancers kicked off the competition with the Compulsory
Dance and later in the evening came back to compete in the
Original Dance. The Compulsory Dance at the Trophee Bompard
is the Austrian Waltz. This dance was created by Susi and
Peter Handschmann. It was first performed in Vienna in 1979.
Isabelle Delobel/Olivier Schoenfelder of France lead after
the first day. Russia’s Jana Khokhlova/Sergei Novitski
are standing in second place and Meryl Davis/Charlie White
(USA) are currently ranked third.
Delobel/Schoenfelder captured the lead already in the Compulsory
Dance with a precise and lilting performance of the Waltz.
They scored 39.51 points (20.26 element score/19.25 program
component score). Khokhlova/Novitski placed second with a
flowing Austrian Waltz and 34.89 points (17.66/17.23). Cappellini/Lanotte
came in third at 31.86 points (16.34/15.52) although he had
a little misstep in the first sequence of the dance. Meryl
Davis/Charlie White (USA) finished fourth in the Austrian
with a new seasonal best of 31.74 points, just ahead of Pernelle
Carron/Mathieu Jost (FRA), who earned 29.92 points. This was
also a new seasonal best for the Skate Canada bronze medalists.
In the OD, Delobel/Schoenfelder strengthened their lead with
a solid Breton Folk Dance that was highlighted by precise
footwork (level four for the non-touching midline step sequence
and level three for the circular footwork), a straight line
lift with him in a low position and her bending backwards,
balancing on his skate and a rotational lift. The European
Champions earned 60.10 points (30.40/29.70) which added up
to 99.61 points. “It has been a long day. We skated
a great Compulsory dance and felt good on the ice, even though
the ice quality wasn’t so good, especially for the last
couples”, Schoenfelder said. “It was not the best
performance that we can do on this OD, but we completed all
our elements without any big mistake”, he continued.
Khokhlova/Novitski had chosen a Russian Gypsy Dance, “Two
Guitars”. The National silver medalists executed intricate
footwork, earning a level four for both step sequences, a
straight line and a one-armed rotational lift as well as a
level-three dance combination spin to score 58.15 points (30.60/27.55),
surpassing their previous personal best of 55.88 points. They
now have a total of 93.04 points.
Davis/White pulled up from fourth after the Compulsory Dance
with a charming Russian dance to “Kalinka”. All
their elements were graded a level four by the Technical Panel,
and the couple received 55.25 points (30.70/24.55). They have
accumulated 86.99 points so far.
Cappellini/Lanotte dropped to fourth place after she slipped
in the straight line lift and went down (80.97 points).
Men, Short Program
Alban Préaubert of France won the Men’s Short
Program with Patrick Chan (CAN) and Belgium’s Kevin
van der Perren following in second and third.
Préaubert put out a solid performance to the “Addams
Family” soundtrack that featured a triple flip-triple
toeloop combination, a triple Axel, a triple Lutz and a level-four
flying sit spin. The Frenchman posted a new seasonal best
of 72.70 points (38.70/34.00). “I did a good short program
at Skate America three weeks ago, but it wasn’t as good
as here”, the athlete commented. “I have worked
hard on my component scores, on my spins and on my steps.
I wanted to skate cleaner than at Skate America.”
Skating to “Exile to Snowy West” and “In
the Bamboo Forest” from “The Banquet” (soundtrack),
Chan landed a big triple Axel followed by a triple flip-triple
toeloop combination and showed strong spins (two of them were
graded a level four) and level-three footwork. However, the
16-year-old popped his Lutz. He still scored a new seasonal
best of 70.89 points (37.74/33.15).
Van der Perren completed a triple flip-triple toe, a double
Axel a triple Lutz and earned a level four for all three spins
to pick up 70.60 points (38.10/32.50), which was a new seasonal
best for him.
Ladies, Short Program
Japan’s Mao Asada took the lead in the Ladies Short
Program ahead of Kimmie Meissner (USA) and Elena Glebova of
Estonia. The leaders are separated by less than two points
from each other.
Asada produced a triple Lutz, a double Axel and got a level
three for her straight line footwork, her layback and flying
sit spin. However, the reigning World silver medalist singled
the loop in her planned triple flip-triple loop combination.
Asada received 56.90 points (27.50 element score/29.40 program
component score). “I made a mistake on a jump in the
short program. Now I hope to do better tomorrow”, the
17-year-old commented.
Meissner made a similar error in her routine to “The
Feeling Begins” by Peter Gabriel. The 2006 World Champion
singled the toeloop in combination with triple Lutz. She went
on to complete a triple flip, a double Axel and got a level
four for her flying sit spin and a level three for her layback
spin and the footwork. The U.S. Champion was awarded 55.98
points (27.94/28.04).
Glebova put out a strong performance to “Concerto de
Aranjuez” that included a triple Lutz, a triple toeloop-triple
toeloop combination as well as a double Axel and a level-four
spiral sequence. The Estonian earned 55.24 points (32.40/22.84),
improving her previous personal best of 51.36 points.
Pairs, Short Program
Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang of China skated to the lead in the Pairs
Short Program. Their teammates Qing Pang/Jian Tong came in
second followed by Russia’s Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov.
Zhang/Zhang delivered a dynamic performance of their program
named “Piano Fantasy”. The 2006 Olympic and World
silver medalists hit a high triple twist, a throw triple loop
and a side by side triple Salchow. They also were awarded
a level four for their pair combination spin and their difficult
Axel Lasso lift with changes for positions for her. Zhang/Zhang
picked up 71.60 points (42.64 element score/28.96 program
component score), setting a new personal best for themselves.
“We performed quite well, although there are still areas
we could improve, for example our spins and the jump”,
Dan Zhang told the press.
Pang/Tong’s program to “O Doux Printemps d’Autrefois”
featured a side by side triple toeloop, a triple twist, a
throw triple loop and a Axel Lasso lift that was graded a
level four by the Technical Panel. The 2006 World Champions
also earned a level three for their spins and scored 64.32
points (35.92/28.40).
Performing to “Otonal” by Raul di Blasio, Mukhortova/Trankov
nailed a side by side triple toeloop, an one-armed Axel Lasso
lift (level four) as well as a throw triple Salchow as their
very last element. The couple from St. Petersburg was awarded
a level four for their pair combination spin, but their triple
twist was messy as he caught her late. Mukhortova/Trankov
collected 61.76 points (35.84/25.92), improving their previous
personal best of 56.36 points that they established two years
ago when still competing in Juniors.
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