ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Day Two
The NHK Trophy in Sendai, Japan continued Friday with the
Original Dance, the Ladies Short Program and the Pairs Free
Skating. The NHK Trophy is the sixth and last event of the
2007/2008 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and held for the
first time in Sendai. 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). Skaters are vying for the last open spots for the
Final at NHK Trophy.
Ice Dancing, Original Dance
The Original Dance of the 2007/2008 seasons is the “Folk/Country
Dance”. The couples at NHK Trophy presented dances from
Russia, Greece, South Africa, Scotland, France and Gypsy Dances.
Isabelle Delobel/Olivier Schoenfelder of France defended
their lead, although Canadians Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir won
the Original Dance. Russia’s Jana Khokhlova/Sergei Novitski
finished third.
Delobel/Schoenfelder had chosen a Gavotte, a French Country
Dance, whose music “Replique” had been especially
arranged for them. The European Champions effectively used
two purple cloths in the dance, for example when he held her
in the straight line lift. The French produced a difficult
side by side midline step sequence (level four) and a circular
step sequence (level three). However, their spin appeared
short in revolutions and was graded only a level two by the
Technical Panel. On Schoenfelder’s 30th birthday, the
couple earned 61.67 points (31.10 element score/30.57 program
component score) for the OD and was ranked second in this
segment. Overall they remained in first place at 100.63 points.
“We felt very confident today in our performance. I
think we were able to show the character of the dance. This
music is from the French west coast, the Bretagne (Brittany).
The man I play wants to marry Isabelle, but she doesn’t
agree right away. She first wants to test the man and we dance
together. At the end of the dance, she agrees to marry him”,
Schoenfelder explained. “I know we still have to work
on our technical elements and to receive a higher level for
the spin and the circular step sequence, we have to skate
cleaner and show deeper edges”, he added.
Virtue/Moir performed a characteristic Russian dance to “Kalinka”,
executing intricate yet smooth footwork, a curve and a one
armed rotational lift as well as a dance combination spin.
All their elements received a level four and the 2006 World
Junior Champions scored a new personal best of 62.04 points
(33.60/28.44) and now have accumulated 96.71 points so far.
Khokhlova/Novitski’s passionate Gypsy Dance “Two
Guitars” featured precise steps, a dance combination
spin, a one-armed rotational lift and a straight line lift.
They were awarded a level four for all elements as well, but
got a one-point deduction for an extended lift. The Russians
received 57.84 points (31.80/27.04) and got 92.07 so far.
Pairs, Free Skating
Germany’s Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy claimed the
Pairs title at NHK Trophy, their second gold medal in this
season’s Grand Prix. Keauna McLaughlin/Rockne Brubaker
(USA) moved up from fourth to capture the silver and Jessica
Dube/Bryce Davison of Canada settled for the bronze.
Savchenko/Szolkowy opened their routine to “L’Oiseau”
from “Cirque du Soleil” with a throw triple flip,
followed by a triple toe-double Axel sequence and a triple
twist out of a spiral move. The reigning World bronze medalists
completed two difficult Lasso lifts and a hand-to-hip lift
which were all graded a level four by the Technical Panel.
However, Szolkowy stumbled on the side by side triple Salchow
and their last element, the throw triple Salchow, never took
really off and became a single. The Germans picked up a new
seasonal best of 120.32 points (58.64 element score/61.68
program component score) which added up to 190.64 total. “It
started well, but you have to push through”, Savchenko
commented. “It is just a second and then it’s
gone”, she said about popping the throw Salchow. “I
did a mistake, I was too fast (early). This is something I
need to improve for the next competition”, Szolkowy
added, referring to the error.
McLaughlin/Brubaker rallied back from a faulty Short Program.
The reigning World Junior Champions reeled off a big triple
twist, a triple Salchow-double toeloop combination, a throw
triple loop and interesting lifts. Their spins and their spiral
sequence were graded a level four. The only glitch in the
dynamic in the “Romeo and Juliet” program to music
by Sergei Prokofiev and Nino Rota came when McLaughlin put
down her hand on the throw triple Salchow, and also both skaters
were shaky on the double Axel. The Americans scored 110.82
points (60.18/50.64), surpassing their previous personal best
of 101.72 points and pulled up to second at 166.48 points
overall.
Skating to the lyrical soundtrack of “The Blower’s
Daughter”, Dubé/Davison produced a double twist,
a throw triple loop and level four spins and lifts, but she
fell on the triple Salchow and throw triple Lutz while he
singled the second jump in the double Axel-double Axel sequence.
The Canadian Champions collected 102.05 points (53.17/50.88)
and remained in third place with 160.21 points.
Ladies, Short Program
Carolina Kostner of Italy captured the Ladies Short Program
ahead of Japan’s Miki Ando and Sarah Meier of Switzerland.
Seven out of the 11 skaters set a new seasonal best for themselves,
and the leaders are separated by just a little over two points.
Kostner opened her program set to “Riders on the Storm”
by The Doors with a triple flip-triple toeloop combination,
but had so fight for the landing of the landing of the second
jump. The European Champion also stepped out of her triple
Lutz, but hit the double Axel and earned a level four for
her flying sit spin and combination spin as well as for her
spiral to receive 61.24 points (32.84/28.40), which is a new
seasons best for her. “I am pleased with what I did.
I know I had some small mistakes, and tomorrow is another
chance to make it better”, the Italian commented. “It
didn’t expect to be in first place. I hope I can keep
it and improve on my placement from (the Cup of) China.”
Ando’s program to “Samson and Dalilah” by
Camille Saint-Saens included a triple Lutz-double loop combination,
a triple flip and a double Axel, but she almost lost her balance
on the spiral sequence which was graded only a level one.
The reigning World Champion got a level four for her combination
spin and a level three for her flying sit spin to score 60.52
points (30.84/29.68).
Performing to the “Patch Adams” soundtrack, Meier
nailed a triple Lutz-double toe combination, a double Axel
and a triple flip, but the judges deducted on the flip for
the wrong edge take-off. The reigning European silver medalist
was awarded a level three for her layback spin, the combination
spin and for the step sequence. The Swiss Champion collected
59.16 points (31.40/27.76), improving her seasonal best.
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