Group 1
Wenjing Sui/Cong Han, CHN- 2A--clean and very together
- 3 Twist--She has her arms over her head and he catches her away from his body
- 3FThrow--huge throw, great ice coverage, her free leg is so high on the ending!
- Straight line step sequence--I like their step sequence and how they play off of each other but I think they get too far apart at times
- Flying combination spin--Really fast spins, they lose their unison though-it looks like he's one spin ahead
- Group 5 Lift-Nie entry into their lift and great flexibility for her through the position change
- Death Spiral--I like her position in the death spiral and I like their entry into it as well.
- Cute, fun program with tons of personality. They get a lot of love from the home crowd.
Lubov Iliushechkina/Nodari Maisuradze, RUS
- This is another young team that I love. Such spunk and personality in their program.
- They have so much speed at the top of this program it's like they were shot out of a cannon
- 3T--He turns out of his but hers was nicely landed and the timing was great
- 3LoThrow--Nicely landed, great height and ice coverage
- 3 Twist--Nice high throw but he caught her a little close to his body
- Death Spiral--Her position is great and I love how far back he leans in his pivot position but it seems like he struggles to het her back up
- Combination spin--These spins are nicely timed and show off great flexibility for both of them
- Straight line step sequence--She looked like she was falling off her posiiton on some of the steps at the beginning but I like how close together they skate the step sequence
- Group 5 Lift -- I love her stretched out air position. It looks like he drops her out of the position change but I think it's just the transition to the ending pose which could be cleaned up a little.
Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch, CAN
- Another great young team that has renewed my faith in pairs this season and made it one of the more interesting disciplines to watch.
- 3 Twist-Not as high in the air as the other two teams and she lands close to his body
- 3T--Nicely done and well timed
- Group 5 Lift--Nice air position for her and he holds her with one hand and a flip exit.
- 3LoThrow--Low landing but she hangs on to it and manages to get her free leg all the way extended
- Death Spiral--I hate the upside down death spiral but she has one of the best positions while doing it out of the teams that attempt it
- Straight line step sequence--I like that their music builds during this step sequence and that they mirror each other but also have their own choreography. He took a weird stumble at the end before the spins but they have a great connection and she waits for him before the spins
- Flying combination spin--Nice fast spins and good unison
Group 2
Vera Bazarova/Yuri Larionov, RUS- I love her dress, don't love his costume
- 3T--his landing was a little off but he holds on to it and their timing was great
- 3 Twist--Great height and the catch was away from his body
- 3FThrow--Great height and ice coverage and a beautiful landing
- Death spiral--She looks sideways which I don't like but otherwise good
- Flying combination spin--Nice positions, good flexibility, timing a little off in some places but just slightly
- Group 5 Lift--her air positions are exquisite and the position change is one of my favorite lift positions this season with him holding her with one hand on her hip and the exit is effortless
- Straight line step sequence--Nice step sequence with good unison
Qing Pang/Jian Tong, CHN
- I really love her costume and head piece for this program
- 3T--Nicely done and well timed
- 3 Twist--Good height and he catches her away from his body
- Death spiral--Great position and a nice change of hand
- 3LoThrow--Not as much ice coverage as Sui/Han but good height and really good landing
- Group 5 Lift--I'd like to see a bit more split from her in the 2nd position of their lift but otherwise well done
- Straight line step sequence--They've received really low Levels on this element this seasonand there's still not a log of content here
- Flying combination spin--Way off on their timing and they really lose speed at the end
- They've changed up some of the order of their elements. I wonder why?
Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy, GER
- Savchenko got a new costume for the Final. I don't like the bright white bra and panties under the sheer white dress. It's a little too exhibitionist.
- 3FThrow--huge height and great landing.
- 3 Twist -- Good height but she lands a little close and it looks like he gives her a push away from his body
- 3T--good timing and nicely landed
- Group 5 Lift--Good speed through the position changes and a nice flip exit
- Death Spiral--She does the slightly sideways death spiral as well
- Straight line step sequence--I like the intricate arm changes in the hold section of their step sequence
- Flying combination spin--slight unison issue at the beginning of their spins but they fix it quick, great speed through the sequence, timing issue at the end
- Looks like they had some extra music at the end and the took their time getting into the ending pose
Top 3:
1) Savchenko/Szolkowy
2) Pang/Tong
3) Bazarova/Larionov
Top TES: Savchenko/Szolkowy
Top PCS: Savchenko/Szolkowy
Totally agree with you about Aliona's costume. I really noticed it and found it very distracting. Tacky! Takes away from their great skating.
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