Group 1
Ralph/Hill, CAN: 38.56 TES + 38.04 PCS = 76.60 Total: 126.60
- She could stretch through her legs more in some of the opening acrobatic moves
- A little slow and slightly off timing on the twizzles but an interesting third variation with a flying entry
- They have good matching leg lines but don't always stretch through their free legs on some of these steps; good speed maintained
- One leg lift from him and a nice toss exit with her landing horizontal to the ice on his leg
- Rotational lift with her wrapped around his shoulders
- Nice change of level one armed rotational lift
- Good centering on their dance spin but some of her positions are slightly awkward
- I like the intensity in their skating and feel that this program really suits them
- Nice highlight move with her laying on his blade as he travels on a curve
- Nice relationship with each other and variety of holds in their second step sequence with good speed and flow
- Good change of position for her in the spread eagle lift
Zlobina/Sitnikov, AZE: 40.01 TES +41.87 PCS = 81.88 Total: 132.80 and into 1st place
- Interesting story at the top here with her slapping him and then him kissing her in response
- Flip around his head into a fast rotational lift in a haircutter position
- Nice speed into their dance spin but I'm not crazy about the backwards sit position from her and she needs more stretch through her free leg
- A little bit of a bobble at the beginning of the step sequence on one of her turns
- Good timing and distance between them on the twizzles
- Lunge lift with her in a handstand on his leg
- Great lift with him skating forward on one leg and her standing on his working leg facing him--neither were using their hands to hold the position
- A little choppy on some of these turns in the second step sequence
- Rotational lift with her curled up in a ball
- Nice standing lift with her wrapped around his waist and him rotating on one leg
- Some nice highlight movements and some of the routine seemed a bit on the junior side in terms of the acting but it had the crowd's attention!
Carron/Jones, FRA: 37.07 TES + 42.01 PCS = 79.08 Total: 130.75 and into 2nd place
- Nice entry into an AMAZING rotational single arm lift with changes of position for her
- Nice ease on their twizzles and good timing through all three sets
- Step over his head into an arabesque resting on his shoulder while he skated backwards on one leg
- Stationary rotational lift with her parallel to the ice
- Nice connection between them on the tango step sequence but it could use a little bit more flair and difficult edges
- Nice speed in the dance spin but they have a bobble getting through the change of position and she doesn't stretch through her free leg in some of these positions
- They have great lifts in this program and I wish some of the other elements were at the same level as this could be a world class program
Gilles/Poirier, CAN: 40.93 TES + 42.10 PCS = 83.03 Total: 136.74 and into 1st place
- I lost the feed for the first half
- Difficult variations on the twizzles and they looked well timed
- Nice stationary rotational lift with her leaning back toward the ice
- Double spread eagle into a spread eagle lift with two changes of position for her
- Interesting pictures in their dance spin but it seems a little slow and there are places she could stretch through her free leg more
- Good speed and flow on the step sequence
- From what I saw of this program I'm not sure how much I loved it...it seems disjointed in places and doesn't seem to really suit them
Group 2
Hubbell/Donohue, USA: 36.38 TES + 43.94 PCS = 80.32 Total: 135.16 and into 2nd place
- Difficult variations on their twizzles; nicely timed with each other and the music
- I love the way her skirt moves as she skates across teh ice
- Nice lift standing on his leg with a twist down exit
- Good matching leg lines, changes of hold and ease of movement in their first step sequence
- Nice speed in their combination spin with good change of direction and good stretch through her positions
- Heel stretch lift standing on his skates but I'd like to see her slightly straighter in her back for a more appealing position
- Difficult curve lift with her suspended out over the ice and he skating on one leg
- Good energy, edges and flow across teh ice in the second step sequence
- Good speed on the rotational lift
- Great characters and carrying the feel of the piece from beginning to end and great ending pose
Riazanova/Tkachenko, RUS: 41.64 TES + 45.95 PCS = 87.59 Total: 143.39 and into 1st place
- Nice full circle in the changes of position in the first lift
- I think her dress is stunning on her and it is one of the few white dressed I think have really worked with the ice
- Some nice footwork accentuating the music in their first step sequence
- Flip up into a fast rotational lift
- Nice stretch through her positions in the dance spin and good pictures created between them
- Good speed, distance between them and timing on the twizzles through all three sets
- Nice spread eagle lift with her upside down facing the ice
- Good flow across the ice and nice ease in the change of holds in their second step sequence
- Good speed in the rotational hair cutter lift
- Interesting straight line lift with her on his skate but she needs to arch her back slightly more
- Really nice program from them
Cappellini/Lanotte, ITA: 44.63 TES + 50.35 PCS = 94.98 Total: 160.06 and into 1st place
- In one of the most dramatic showdowns of the event Shpilband's team and Zoueva's team are separated by just .01 after the free dance and both are skating to Carmen
- It looks like he might have stepped out a bit early on the twizzles in the 2nd set of 3
- Nice kick to an arch from her in the first lift right into a rotational lift
- Nice timing in their first step sequence and I like the little details like tango flicks to really add to the theme
- I'm not a fan of her catchfoot camel position in their dance spin
- Nice straight line lift and a really nice rotational lift with her in a split position
- Great stretch through their free legs in this second step sequence and really nice deep edges and knees
Virtue/Moir, CAN: 48.42 TES + 55.90 PCS = 104.32 Total: 169.41 and into 1st place
- In terms of costumes I prefer Anna's dress to Tessa's. She looks more Morticia Addams than Carmen in her black and gray plunging neckline and shredded skirt
- Very seductive side from Tessa here in some of the opening movements
- Great lift accenting the music with a toss and nice changes of position
- Good twizzles, perfectly timed with each other and the music
- Nice stretched matching camel positions in the dance spin but her catchfoot variations in the next two positions seem a little awkward
- Nice deep edges and knees with clean changes of edge as well and good flow across the ice
- Handstand lift with him in a spread eagle into a rotational lift
- Some interesting almost hip hop arms here to coordinate with the music and a few awkward leg moves; their facial expressions also seem forced, especially considering how well they are known for performance skills
- Nice lines in the 2nd step sequence and good variety and changes of hold
- I usually LOVE Virtue and Moir but I am not really a fan of this program
