ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of Russia
Day One
The Cup of Russia kicked off Friday with the Compulsory Dance,
the Ladies, Pairs and Men’s Short Program. The Cup of
Russia is the fifth of six events in the 2007/2008 ISU Grand
Prix of Figure Skating series. The skaters compete for 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 Dance
The Compulsory Dance at the Cup of Russia was the Yankee Polka.
Although the Polka is a bouncy dance, the basic principle
of stroking and effortless flow must be adhered to. The partners
must remain close together to minimize the whipping action
generated by the short precise steps and rapid turning movements.
The Yankee Polka was invented by James Sladky, Judy Schwomeyer
and Ron Ludington. It was first performed in 1969.
Oksana Domnina/Maxim Shabalin of Russia captured the lead
ahead of France’s Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat and
their young compatriots Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Solviev.
Domnina/Shabalin came in first with a crisp performance of
the Yankee Polka, showing off deep edges and maintaining high
speed throughout the dance. The European silver medalists
interpreted the upbeat character of the Polka very well and
scored a new personal best of 40.05 points (20.78 element
score/19.27 program component score). “The Polka is
a fun dance, but we skated as the tenth couple, without an
ice resurfacing and it felt like on railway tracks. There
are tracings from the other couples, and this is dangerous.
When we went out, I felt like I get caught everywhere. I think
it would be better if there still was a draw for (the skating
order of) the compulsory dance”, Domnina commented.
Pechalat/Bourzat danced an excellent Yankee Polka as well,
remaining close together and in perfect unison. The Skate
America silver medalist earned 34.87 points (18.24/16.63)
and slightly improved their previous personal best, set at
Skate America. Bobrova/Soloviev put out a precise performance
of the Polka, skating much better than at Skate Canada three
weeks ago. The reigning World Junior Champions picked up 30.22
points (15.60/14.62), which is a new seasonal best for them.
Ladies, Short Program
Korea’s Yu-Na Kim won the Ladies Short Program ahead
of Yukari Nakano of Japan and Kiira Korpi (FIN).
Performing to “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss,
Kim landed a solid triple flip-triple toeloop combination,
but struggled on the landing of her triple Lutz. She produced
a high level spins, but then singled her Axel. Kim collected
63.50 points (34.90 element score/28.60 component score).
Nakano opened her routine to “Fantaisie Impromptu”
with a triple Flip-double toeloop combination followed by
a triple Lutz. She also executed a double Axel and fast, well
centered spins, earning a level three for all three of them.
The Skate Canada silver medalist scored a new seasonal best
of 60.50 points (34.10/26.40).
Korpi’s Tango program to “Triunfal” by Astor
Piazzolla featured a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination,
a triple loop, double Axel and a level-four combination spin.
The European bronze medalist was awarded 58.22 points (33.30/24.92).
Pairs, Short Program
China’s Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang took the lead in the Pairs
Short Program. Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy of Germany
and Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov (RUS) followed in second
and third.
Skating to a “Piano Fantasy”, Zhang/Zhang hit
a huge triple twist, a throw triple loop, a side by side triple
Salchow and also got a level four for their one-armed Axel
Lasso lift. The 2006 Olympic silver medalists received 69.96
points (40.92 element score/29.04 program component score).
“We performed quite well, although our spins and spirals
were better in France last week (at the Trophee Bompard).
However, we had to overcome some problems, I am suffering
from tooth ache and I don’t feel so well”, Hao
Zhang explained.
Savchenko/Szolkowy opened their original routine to the Indian
Bollywood soundtrack “Asoka” with a solid throw
triple flip and a high triple twist, but then Savchenko fell
on the side by side triple toeloop. The Germans recovered
to produce a level-four pair combination spin and Axel Lasso.
The European Champions scored 66.78 points (37.90/29.88).
Mukhortova/Trankov’s romantic program set to “Otonal”
included a triple twist, a side by side triple toeloop, a
difficult Axel Lasso lift and a level-four pair combination
spin, but they lost unison in the side by side combination
spin and Mukhortova did a three-turn out of the landing of
the throw triple Salchow. The Russian Champions earned 63.10
points (35.70/27.40), improving their previous personal best
of 61.76 points, set last week at Trophee Bompard.
Men, Short Program
Stéphane Lambiel of Switzerland skated to the lead
in the Men’s Short Program, edging out Johnny Weir (USA)
by 0.34 points. Russia’s Andrei Griazev placed third.
Top-ranked Lambiel skated last and put out a much better
performance of his “Carne Cruda” Tango program
than at the Cup of China two weeks ago. The 22-year-old Swiss
landed a double Axel, a quadruple-double toeloop combination,
a triple Lutz and showed strong spins. His combination and
flying sit spin both were graded a level four, his change
foot sit spin was graded a level three. Lambiel posted a score
of 80.49 (41.84 element score/38.65 program component score).
“I was very confident today. I just wanted to do a clean
program, that’s why I didn’t try the triple Axel”,
the two-time World Champion told the press. “I am very
proud of my performance. I didn’t feel so confident
in the six minutes (warm up), but after waiting in the dressing
room I was just ready to step on to the ice and to do it.
Peter (Grütter, his coach) told me that I just should
do a clean program.”
Weir’s elegant routine to the popular main theme of
the Russian rock opera “Yunona and Avos” featured
a triple Lutz-triple toe, a beautiful triple Axel and a triple
flip. The American also scored well on his three spins, which
all were graded a level four. Weir got 80.15 points (43.30/36.85),
slightly improving his previous personal best of 80.00 points.
Griazev, who missed two competitions earlier this season due
to injury celebrated a comeback with a clean program to “Didle
Mourani” by Space. The Russian Champion completed a
triple Lutz-triple toeloop, a high triple Axel, a triple flip
and earned a level four for his combination spin and a level
three for the two other spins to score 70.95 points (39.20/31.75),
just short of his personal best of 71.00 points.
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