2009

World Figure Skating  Championships

Pairs Event

by Alexandra Stevenson

by Alexandra Stevenson

1. 72.30 (41.26+31.04) The defending world champions, Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy from Germany, drew to skate last out of the 25 pairs from 17 countries and their entertaining, lively, beautifully executed routine proved a fitting ending for what was a great evening of skating. The program was a fun, unstrained 2 minutes and 50 seconds frolic to music from the movie Lost in Space. They were dressed in unique shiny outfits. She was in shocking pink with sexy, hot pants and fake knee length boots. He was in a metallic mauve-y bodysuit. The color seemed chosen from a catalogue of flashy exteriors for an expensive sports car. The beginning steps were cheeky, irreverent and playful. Then they got serious, soaring through their opening element, perfectly matched triple toe loops, which were awarded six +2 Grades of Execution (the maximum is +3) from the panel of nine judges. The other three judges contented themselves with a "mere" +1, which still means "very good". That resulted in a +1.80 GoE added to the base value. They improved on that great start with a superb throw triple flip. This time all but one of the nine judges punched in +2. The holdout stuck with +1. This resulted in a +1.40 added to the base value.

Then came their triple twist, which was given Level 2 with a GoE of +0.56. Only half the field (13) chose to present the triple instead of the much easier double twist. Of those who did the more difficult version, only 7 pairs received more than the basic Level 1. Five, including the winners (and Amanda Sunyoto-Yang & Darryll Sulindro-Yang, Californians who represent Taipei, who, despite this feat, lie 22^nd), gained Level 2. Two, the Ukrainians, Tatiana Volosozhar & Stanislav Morozov, and the US’s Caydee Denny & Jeremy Barrett, received Level 3. Denny, who was born on June 22, 1993, is the youngest competitor in these championships. None of the triple twists were deemed worthy of Level 4, although one pair, Canada’s Meagan Duhamel & Craig Buntin, earned a Level 4 for their double twist. Canadian Ted Barton, who was a main participant in the development of this system, said, "That’s something that hasn’t been written about: How, now, strategy plays a very important part. The sport has become far more like, say soccer, where strategy is a part of the game. Skaters have to decide whether to take a greater risk and possibly be penalized if the move is not well done. Or decide to stick with a more practiced easier element, getting a lower base value but a higher Grade of Execution. A whole new dimension has been added."

Savchenko & Szolkowy’s five other elements all were awarded the maximum Level 4 by the Technical Specialist, American Troy Goldstein, and his British assistant, Simon Briggs. Their GoEs for these elements, given by the judges, ranged from a low of +0.50 for their final move, the pair combination spin, up to +1.20 for their spirals. Szolkowy, 29, said, "Our practice went well and we were very focused on everything we had to do. In practice, we never had major problems with the Short Program, but in competition we were sometimes nervous. What makes us sleep well tonight is that we did well and we are in first place. But we know that everything will be decided in the free program and the difference in points to second, third or fourth place is not big." In fact, they have a margin of 3.36 points over second, 4.88 over third, 5.42 over fourth and 7.12 over fifth. Savchenko, 25, said, "It was the last Short Program of the season and it was clean! We gave our best."  

2. 68.94 (38.94+30.00) The Russian champions, Yuko Kavaguti (new spelling!) & Alexander Smirnov performed 23^rd, 2^nd in the last group. Their costumes matched their music, Camille Saint-Saens’ The Swan. She was all in white. He was in black with a design resembling Swan wings on his shirt. Like S&S, they opened with their side by side jumps, very well synchronized triple toes and received +1.0 GoE. That element was followed by a Level 2 triple twist. But the catch was not perfect and they received nothing over the base value. One judge (dare we suggest it was perhaps the Russian?) apparently, did not see the error and punched in +2 GoE! (That judge was the only official to give this couple a +3, which he/she did for their lift.) The majority, five, of the judges gave the base value for the twist. One went as far as punch in minus 2 and another -1. There was a second overly generous judge who gave a +1. That move was followed by a great +2 throw triple loop. Apart from the twist, all their levels were 4. Listening to their scores while in the Kiss & Cry area, Kavaguti, 27, looked very surprised when the announcement was made that they had gone into first place. That meant they could finish no lower than third in that section because there were only the Ukrainians and S&S to come. Later Kavaguchi said, "I am happy with what we’ve done tonight and the levels of our elements. Now my goal is to skate our free program with no mistake. I don’t want to think of medals now." Smirnov, 24, said, "I am very happy with the way we skated tonight but I think that there is no limit to perfection and we can still do better." Their coach, Tamara Moskvina, said, "I am thrilled with the way they didn’t only deliver a technical performance, they also skated their choreography a very emotional way."

3. 67.42 (38.66+28.76) Dan Zhang, 23, & Hao Zhang, 24, who are not related, drew to skate 19^th, first on of the second to last group. The Chinese Olympic silver medalists, who were second in last year’s world championship, performed much better than at the recent Four Continents Championships, in which she fell on her triple Salchow. Their routine, set to Mendelssohn’s Riding on the Wings of Songs, began with a sensational Level 2 triple twist in which he caught her ever so softly way above the ice and set her exactly and with care on the ice. Three of nine judges were inspired to punch in the maximum GoE of +3. Four others awarded +2 and two miserly meanies thought the move worth "only" +1. The random selection of the judges by the computer resulted in a GoE of +1.38. Their throw triple loop was almost as sensational, and two judges presented it with +3. The move also gained three +2s and four +1s, which resulted in a GoE of +0.98. Their side by side triple Salchows earned +0.40 GoE. All their other moves gained Level 4 except for the spirals which were Level 3 and "only" +0.30 GoE. Dan said, "We feel very good. We did the best Short Program of the whole season."

4. 66.88 (38.16+28.72) Maria Mukhortova & Maxim Trankov, Russians who have been trained since 2006 by the 1984-86 holder of this title, Oleg Vasiliev, won this section in the 2008 Skate America and in the recent European championships. They spent time getting acclimatized for this event in Chicago where Vasiliev trained the current Olympic champions, Tatiana Totmianina & Maxim Marinin, for many years. They began their routine, set to Nobody Home by Pink Floyd performed by the London Symphonic Orchestra, with a Level 1 triple twist which received only the base value, possibly because he only just caught her when she was a split second from hitting the ice. However, their triple toe loops were excellent and earned a full point over the base value, as did their Level 4 spirals. Their throw triple loop gained an even greater GoE, +1.14. Their other levels were all 4 except for the Level 3 forward inside death spiral which gained +0.84 GoE. Mukhortova, who was 23 on November 23, said, "We trained on the smaller ice surface before we came here. As we are skating with power and we are not a small couple, we had to adapt to the smaller ice surface. If I compare this performance with all the others this season then the best one emotion-wise probably was the one at Europeans." Trankov, who turned 25 on October 7, said, "We were a little tense. We skated this short for the last time and since we’ve skated it well all season, we felt some additional pressure to do it clean one more time."

5. 65.18 (35.78+29.40) Qing Pang, who turned 29 on December 24, & Jian Tong, who was 29 on August 15, have had a very good season. They won the Grand Prix Final in South Korea in December and then dominated the Four Continents Championships in February. But this showing was not up to those. They skated 21^st immediately before the last ice resurfacing. The routine was set to The Midnight Blues by Gary Moore, which was choreographed by Lori Nichol. They received -0.60 GoE for their opening move, side by side triple toe loops. Four judges saw something wrong with the jumps and gave minus 1.0 Four others decided the jumps were performed OK while one thought it was better than that and gave +1.0. Their Level 1 triple twist and the following throw triple loop were spectacular enough for one judge to give +3 for both elements. Four of the other judges sprang for +2 and four for +1 on the twist. On the throw, six judges gave +2 and only two thought it deserved a "mere" +1. However, their spirals and their last move, the flying change foot combination spin, were only Level 3. Pang said, "Basically, we are pleased with this performance. We skated up to our level like we do in practice. It was hard because he was sick, but we still feel confident for tomorrow and that we’ll do much better than today." Tong said, "Today, I felt a little tired. I caught a cold before coming here so I didn’t feel so great in practices and I felt a little weak for the jumps. But we’ve a lot of experience and we can deal with that. I’m happy with the technical score, but the second mark wasn’t so high. I hope we can do better tomorrow." They have skated in this event ever since 1999 and have finished in the top 5 every year since 2002.

6. 64.10 (37.06+27.04) Tatiana Volosozhar, 22, & Stanislav Morozov, 29, Ukraine, skated 24^th to music for the 1995 movie, Mr. Holland’s Opus, composed by Michael Kamen. They got -1 for their initial move, side-by-side triple Salchows, but then shone, earning one of the only two Level 3 awards for their triple twist which also received a great GoE (+1.26). All their Levels were 4 but they were saddled with a negative GoE (-0.42) for their throw triple loop.

7. 61.80 (34.28+27.52) Jessica Dube, 21, & Bryce Davison, who turned 23 on January 29, are the current and 2007 Canadian Champions. After placing 7^th twice in the world championships, they won bronze last season. Skating first of the last warm-up group, to Fix You by Coldplay, choreographed by David Wilson, they began with triple Salchows but she stepped out of hers. This the first season they have presented a triple twist and, although four judges thought it was satisfactorily executed, four others punched in -1 and one -2, which resulted in a -0.42 GoE. All their Levels were 4. Davison admitted, "It wasn’t by any means perfect, but it was probably just above our average for competitions in the short this year. There are still a lot of positive things about our skate, like very nice throws. There are a lot of positive things about our skate, like a very nice throw. Now it’s time to learn from this one and go on to the next day. You can’t look back and you can’t rely on a good short program to take you along in the long. They are two different programs. We’re looking forward to coming back from this one. It won’t be the first time we’ve done a mediocre short and then come out and done a really good long."

8. 61.28 (35.92+25.36) The Canadian runners-up for the national title, Meagan Duhamel, 23, & Craig Buntin, 28, who finished 6^th last year, skated 15^th just before the middle of the three ice resurfaces. Although they only presented a double twist, they were the sole competitors of those executing the simpler twist to earn the full Level 4 for it. All of their elements received positive GoEs although their spirals were "only" Level 3. Duhamel said, "We felt like this was just like home. Indeed, we did a simulation just like this last week. Mylene (Brodeur) & John (Mattatall) were also skating their program just before us, so today when we stepped on the ice and they just had skated their program very well, it felt so great. (Brodeur & Mattatall, who were the substitutes for the still injured Anabelle Langois & her partner Cody Hay, lie 11^th.) Buntin said, "We’re not such a new team anymore and we’re really starting to feel very confident." About their Level 3 spirals, he said, "I knew I was a little short in changing the edge, but this is the rule and we take it. We had to change our program so many times this season, but it finally felt just like us today."

9. 53.62 (30.10+24.52 -1.0) Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker are the twice US champions, but this is their first appearance in this event because last year she was too young. She was born on September 25, 1992 in Tarzana, CA. He was born on June 21, 1986. They, and their teammates, are the only "first-timers" lying in the top 10. Skating 17^th to Malaguena, they began well. Both their pair combination spin and Group 3 lift gained Level 4 and +0.50 GoEs. But then she fell on her triple Salchow. Their triple twist was also saddled with a negative -0.70 GoE and their throw triple loop had a slight -0.28. Their combination spin was Level 4 with a small +0.10. Their spirals were only Level 4 but with +0.30 GoE. However, their concluding move, the forward inside death spiral was given only Level 1 and +0.28. McLaughlin said, "I’m a little disappointed that I missed the jump. I guess I’m happy that we did everything else, but it’s just aggravating because I haven’t missed one all season. We actually changed our element order, to make it a bit more comfortable for us and to get better speed overall. I’m just ready to go do the long program. I love that the event is here and that the crowd is behind me no matter what." Their throw triple loop had been the second-to-last element in their short program, but they moved it up to position it right after their triple twist. They also moved their side-by-side solo right up in front of the judges, and put their spiral sequence and the death spiral at the end. Brubaker explained, "We did the throw and the side-by-side spins in completely different places, so there was a different approach going in. But, obviously, we had some mistakes. We missed some levels, which hurt us pretty bad. It’s an experience. It’s our first worlds. For the most part, we felt really comfortable out there and it didn’t have anything to do with nerves. There were just some mistakes today. Sometimes you have to stay focused, stay present and take one element at a time. Sometimes at the beginning of the program, you’re already thinking two or three elements ahead, which can get you into trouble."

10. 52.74 (32.78+19.96) These championships’ youngest competitor Caydee Denney, who turned 15 on June 22, & her partner, Jeremy Barrett, 24, are the new team who made a sensation at the 2009 US nationals, winning the Short Program and gaining the second place overall. Her parents are roller skating coaches in Florida and she won a juvenile national singles and elementary national pairs title in that sport. He won the 2004 US Junior Pairs title with Shantel Jordan. They actually had a false start, skating together briefly in 2006. But Denney went off to Colorado Springs to pursue a singles career. They gave it another try when she returned to Florida in 2008. They are trained by Jim Peterson, Alison Smith and Lyndon Johnson.

This is their second international. They took part in the Four Continents championships finishing sixth. But that was too recently to give them an international standing, so they drew with the earlier group to skate and were saddled with 3^rd on in the group. Performing to re-orchestrated music now called Palladio and Summer Haze, dressed in black and silver, they were one of only two couples to earn a Level 3 for their triple twist, for which they were awarded the base value. (The other pair was Volosozhar & Morosov who lie 6^th.) Four of their level moves gained the maximum 4. However, their death spiral was only Level 1 and they messed up their side by side triple toe jumps.

Denny said, "That was so much fun. That was awesome. It was our first Worlds and here in the United States. The experience has just been amazing. It’s not every day you get to go to a World Championships, so I’m very blessed. We have to learn from each competition. We have to take what we learn from this and go home and work on it."

Barrett said, "For it being only our second international event, it feels good to get that out of the way. We had the crowd behind us. I feel a lot more relaxed having that under our belt. After tomorrow, we’re not going to be the new team anymore. We’re just going to go out and enjoy it. We keep telling ourselves that it’s just one more run-through. But it is Worlds, so it is a little more stressful. We already know what our flaws are and we’re working on them for next year, but we have to take little steps at a time. They’re not going to change overnight."

by George Rossano

Yuko Kavaguti (former Kawaguchi) & Alexander Smirnov pinned their hopes for a gold medal here on a quad Salchow attempt.  It was a gutsy attempt that ended in a fall, and rather than move them up to the top of the podium, it cost them a place dropping them to third in the Free Skate and third overall, having been second after the Short Program.

Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy skated next to last and were in a class of their own.  Their "Schindler's List" routine was well skated and received an enthusiastic standing ovation.  It was not a perfect program, however, with Szolkowy falling in a circular step sequence.  There was perhaps also a small shoulder bump on triple twist, but only two judges gave negative GoEs, and the remainder were mainly at +1, as it was a very high strong element otherwise.  The couple landed three triple jumps in the routine, a triple toe - triple toe combination and a solo triple Salchow.  Throw triple flip and throw triple Salchow were also landed.  It was solid, expressive performance with Program Component marks in the low eights.  In winning this year, the Germans are now two time world champions, having won last year in Gothenburg.

Describing the step sequence Szolkowy said, "Yes, we had a little mistake.  I think everybody could see that I struggled with the step sequence, but in the end it [the program] was good enough.... I can't say what happened.  I just lost my weight somewhere.  It was an easy [light] fall, so it didn't hurt, and it wasn't a problem to get back into the program."

Kavaguti & Smirnov skated last in the event.  They were 3.36 points back after the Short Program and risked a throw quad Salchow to contend for the gold.  The landing was not even close, and the fall cost them four points, with the one point deduction for the fall.  Even had they succeeded in the element, however, they would not have won as there were other small errors in the program, and their Program Components tonight were not in the same class as the gold medalists.  On their opening triple toe - triple toe combination the second jump was doubled and on triple twist there was a small shoulder bump on the catch.  Skating to "I Pagliacci" their Program Components were mostly in the mid-sevens.  It was a decently skated program, but did not engage the emotions of the viewed as did Savchenko & Szolkowy.

Had the Russians landed the throw quad Salchow they would not have won, but in missing it, it cost them the silver medal, as their final score for the event was 0.13 points behind the ultimate silver medallists.  Kavaguti did not look happy after the performance, nor throughout the awards ceremony after the event.

Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang, who placed third in the Short Program, were second in the Free Skate and moved up to win the silver medal.  It was a decent skate with good unison throughout.  Nevertheless Dan did not look happy at the end of the program.  She had put a hand down on their opening double Axel - triple toe combination (on the toe loop) and also missed an attempted solo triple Salchow, doubling it.  Otherwise it was a technically accomplished program with excellent pair qualities, and Program Components in the low sevens.

Rounding out the last warm-up group, Maria Mukhortaova & Maxim Trankov placed seventh in the Free Skate after having been fourth in the Short Program.  They had errors on four elements, with solo triple Salchows downgraded, a reach and a hand down on throw triple Saclhow, a stumble in a straight line step sequence.  Their forward inside death spiral also received a few negative GoEs, though I could not see the reason for that.  Their routine "The Lady and the Hooligan," a ballet scored by Dmitri Shostakovich.  While decently skated, I find the choreography somewhat old fashioned.  Their component scores were in the high sixes and low sevens.

Qing Pang & Jian Tong, had placed fifth in the Short Program fought back to move up to fourth in the Free Skate and fourth overall, 5.31 points out of the medals.  Skating to a tango medley it was nicely executed, once they got past the first two elements.  On a double Axel - double Axel sequence, the second jump was singled, and a subsequent triple toe loop was downgraded.  The remaining elements were then completed successfully, with GoEs of zero through plus two, and a couple of scattered minus ones.  Their component marks were in the low sevens, and their PCS was actually third best.

Jessica Dube & Bryce Davison had high hopes to medal here, after winning the bronze medal in 2008, but they were well back in the Short Program, in seventh place, 10.50 points behind the leaders.  They were able to make up just a small amount of by placing sixth in the Free Skate, but still finished seventh overall. There were no real disasters in the program, only a step out of a double Axel attempt and minor errors in two other elements.  But overall the performance seemed a little off throughout and their Program Components suffered with scores mainly in the mid to upper sixes.\

The best finishing American team here turned out to be Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett who placed ninth overall while Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker placed eleventh overall.  Between the two teams, it was good enough for the U.S. to hold on to two pairs berths for next year.

Denney & Barrett gave a well skated performance to "Spartacus" and received a big standing ovation at the end.  Only one element was scored slightly negative, that being their side-by-side combination spin -- whose unison was off with unequal rotation speed. Their program components averaged around six, with only a few judges going up to seven for a few marks.  I though they were way under-marked, but my vote doesn't count.

McLaughlin & Brubaker had an off skate, with four elements scored negative, the lowest of which was for a fall on their triple toe loop combination attempt.  They also had a solo Salchow attempt called a single, and a throw triple loop popped to a single.  The entire performance was off, skated with decent speed, but emotionally flat, all of which led to Program Components in the mid to upper fives.  This couple has struggled all season, and it was no exception here.  Said McLaughin after their performance, "It was disappointing and heartbreaking to work so hard and then come here and not skate to the best of our abilities.  We're going to have our ups and downs, but it's important to take the positives and learn from each experience."

2009 Worlds Pairs Medalists