Pairs

Starting Order - Short Program

Short Program

Notes:

Shen & Zhao skated a strong fast program that was in a class by itself.  They landed side-by-side triple toes, had a huge double twist, and their throw triple Salchow was spectacular.  Always a physically strong team, over the past few years they have improved in finesse and presentation skills also.  They will be strong medal contenders this year if they stick to this pace this year and - as is always the caveat in pairs - stay healthy.

The third ranked Canadian of Sale and Pelletier put their countrymen to shame with a program that was well skated, though a bit slow in places, and nicely presented.  They had a decent double twist, and she doubled a triple toe loop, but after that the program was well done, especially the lift which was a lasso to star to lasso combination with a twist out.

Third place was taken by the young Russian team of Petrova & Tikhonov.   Their program was technically strong, but they skated in slow motion and their presentation was undistinguished, faults that it seems go unnoticed if you are   Russian pair team it seems.  They landed side-by-side triple toes and had an excellent double twist.  Their lift was a lasso to a one arm position with the girl in an unattractive fetal position.  For their throw they used throw triple Salchow which was well done, thoughwas not nearly as spectacular as the Chinese.

Canadian Champions Sargeant & Wirtz did not skate as well as they did at Skate America where they placed second.  They had two minor errors with Sargeant having a poor landing edge on her triple toe loop, and then missteping in the spiral sequence where she stumbled briefly.  More than their technique being a little off, their presentation was also flatter than at Skate America, developing little energy and projecting little presence during the performance.

The American team of Allebach and Evers gave a respectable performance after both made errors in opening side by side double Axels, in a cute but slowly skated routine.

Zagorska & Siudek withdrew from the competition due to an injury to Zagorska during a practice the morning of the short program.

Starting Order - Free Skating

Final Results

Notes:

Shen & Zhao were again in a class alone in winning the pairs event.  It was a fairly strong effort, with just a few minor problems in the solo jumps.  In side-by-side double Axels, Shen stepped out, and later in the program they used single Axels in a jump sequence instead of a double.  For throws they use triple Salchow and triple loop, both of which were tremendous.  Skating to music from "Mulan" this year, the sophistication and polish of their programs continues to improve.

Placing a distant second were Petrova & Tikhonov, who moved up from third in the short.  Skating to Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" the presentation of their program was crisp, and distinctly better than the short program.  On the technical side there were three significant errors,  a weak triple twist, doubling a throw triple toe loop, and getting tangled up in a closing dance type lift.  For the other throw they use triple Salchow which was well done.  Their lifts were well done but are still pretty basic.

Dropping one spot after the short, Sale & Pelletier skated with speed and energy, finishing strong despite a few errors along the way.  Early in the program Sale two-footed triple toe loop and then stepped out of throw triple Salchow.  Mid-way through the program they had a broken lasso lift, and near the end Sale singled a double Axel.  For the second throw Sale landed throw triple loop.  In their first year together, they did very well here, and if they keep it up they could well displace Sargeant and Wirtz as the Canadian Champions.

Sargeant & Wirtz held fourth place despite Sargeant having a very rough skate.   The triple twist was poor, and Sargeant had a problem on every throw and solo jump in the program.  Their presentation was flat and uninspired.

The US team of Alleback & Evers skated a junior quality program full of sloppy errors.

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