ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2008
Day Four
The ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2008 went
on Friday in Sofia, Bulgaria with the Ladies Short Program
and the Original Dance.
Ladies, Short Program
The Ladies event started with the Short Program. The 56 skaters
were divided into two groups (“skating earlier group”
and “skating later group”) with 28 competitors
each. The draw was made according to the ISU World Standings.
The prescribed elements in the Junior Ladies Short Program
in the 2007/2008 season are the double Axel, the double or
triple loop and the flying sit spin.
Mirai Nagasu led an American sweep of the Ladies Short Program.
Caroline Zhang and Rachael Flatt finished second and third.
All three earned a new personal best score.
Nagasu’s performance to “I Got Rhythm”
by George Gershwin had spark and character. The reigning World
Junior silver medallist produced a triple Lutz-triple toeloop
combination (but got a deduction for the wrong edge take-off),
a triple loop, a layback spin with beautiful positions and
a double Axel. All her spins were awarded a level four, and
the footwork got a level three. The 14-year-old collected
65.07 points (39.81 element score/25.26 program component
score) and improved her previous personal best of 59.35 points
clearly. “I was really nervous coming into this competition,
because it’s such a big competition. But when I got
on the ice I put all my fears behind me and I attacked out
there, and so I’m really happy with my performance”,
Nagasu commented. “I’ve been training all year
as a junior, so going back to my junior program was pretty
easy. Just like last year at Junior Nationals, the win was
unexpected, but it was a pleasant unexpected surprise so I
really enjoyed it. Coming here I got new skates and I’ve
had a knee injury, but I put all that aside and just focus
on tomorrow’s long program”, the skater explained.
Skating to “Spanish Gypsy”, Zhang nailed a triple
flip-toeloop combination, a triple loop, a double Axel and
earned a level four for the flying sit and the excellent layback
spin. The defending World Junior Champion posted a new personal
best of 62.60 points (38.50/24.10) for her elegant performance.
Flatt’s routine to “It Ain’t Necessarily
So” by George Gershwin included a triple Lutz-triple
toeloop combination, a triple loop, double Axel. Her straight
line step sequence was graded a level three and the combination
spin got a level four. The 15-year-old American scored 60.16
points (35.94/24.22), which was a new personal best for her.
Ice Dancing, Free Dance
The Ice Dancing event concluded with the Free Dance. Emily
Samuelson/Evan Bates (USA) danced to victory. Canada’s
Vanessa Crone/Paul Poirier claimed the silver medal and the
bronze went to Kristina Gorshkova/Vitali Butikov of Russia.
All three couples medalled for the first time at Junior Worlds
and all of them had competed in the event before.
Samuelson/Bates put out a romantic Free Dance to “Luna”
by Alessandra Safina and produced difficult lifts right on
the music such as a curve-rotational lift and a straight line
lift, fluid yet intricate footwork and fast twizzles. When
they finished their performance, they hugged each other tightly.
The Americans received a level four for all elements except
the dance spin and collected a new seasons best of 88.71 points
(45.96 element score/42.75 program component score). Overall
they accumulated 181.66 points to take the title. One year
ago, the couple, standing in second place, was forced to withdraw
from the competition during the free dance when she fell and
he cut her hand with his blade. “It’s the opposite
extreme from what happened last year. We’re grateful
for everything, for our coaches for getting us thus far, the
judges and fans for their support. It just has been wonderful”,
Samuelson commented. “We felt very, very strong during
our performance. We trained very well at home, so when we
come to competition we can be relaxed and trust each other.
We went out there and skated the program like we do in practice
every day. That’s all what we needed to do. It’s
very exciting to come through”, her partner added.
Crone/Poirier danced a characteristic Tango “Adios
Nonino” that was highlighted by a stationary lift with
him in a low position, a reverse rotational lift, a curve
lift and a diagonal and circular step sequence that both were
graded a level four by the Technical Panel. The Canadians
earned a level four for all seven elements. They scored 86.86
points (45.45/41.41) and defended their second place at 178.09
points total.
Gorshkova/Butikov danced to “Total Eclipse of the Heart”,
completing a dance combination spin, a curve-rotational lift,
well synchronized twizzles and precise step sequences. The
Muscovites as well got a level four for all elements and posted
a new personal best score of 83.87 points (43.38/40.49). They
remained in third place with 172.85 points overall.
The competition at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships
2008 concludes Saturday with the Ladies Free Skating.
|
