2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Pairs Short Program [LIVE BLOG]

Wow, Dan Zhang is super tall now!!

1) Caydee Denney & John Coughlin (USA)
    Music: East of Eden

• I don't like her lipstick, but I like her dress a lot
• it still hurts that she's not Caitlin
• That triple twist was huge with a very clean catch
• Nice clean triple toes, slight unison issues
• They seem to have a very strong personal connection to one another for only being together a few months
• Very slow in the footwok, speed will pick up as they get more experience
• A little bit of a wonky entrance into that overhead lift
• I don't know how Caydee saved that throw, very tilted in the air
• I still hate that she isn't Caitlin, but that was a solid skate

SP Score: 33.82 (TES) + 25.80 (PCS) = 59.62

2) Tiffany Vise & Don Baldwin (USA)
     Music: Pirates of the Caribbean by Hans Zimmer

• They only do a split double twist, so that will her their TES
• Very good height on the throw triple loop, hand down
• I think it's interesting to watch teams that jump and spin in opposite directions
• Here head almost hit the ice on that death spiral
• I really like their speed and edging on the footwork
• She tripped up a bit at the end, unfortunate

SP Score: 27.12 (TES) + 24.43 (PCS) = 51.55

3) Mary-Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker (USA)
    Music: Singin in the Rain

• I love that they are doing a cute, jazzy short program
• Very good unison on those side by side triple toes
• Very cute choreography, loving it so far
• Really good height on the the split triple twist, a little bit of a rough catch
• Hands down maybe on that throw triple lutz, but kudos to them for trying a harder throw
• I am just smitten with this program
• Very great energy throughout
• Nice lift
• They showed AMAZING improvement

SP Score: 29.68 (TES) + 26.48 (PCS) = 56.16

4) Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang (CHN)
    Music: A Transylvanian Lullaby by John Morris

• Fantastic throw triple loop, that's what happens when you practice throwing over couches
• This is signature Lori Nichol choreography
• Other than lacking some speed, they look just as good as they did before they took their year off
• I'm not in love with this program, it is a little bland for me
• They are clearly a class above all the other skaters we've seen
• That was an abrupt ending to the program

SP Score: 34.17 (TES) +28.68  (PCS) = 62.85

5) Kirsten  Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (CAN)
     Music: Borsalino by Claude Bolling

• Fast rotation on the  split twist, but not a clean catch
• Good side by side triple toes
• That throw triple loop was so tilted, she saved it
• I love their lift entry with Dylan in the lunge
• This program has some nice potential, but they can really up the performance ante
• That was scary when she stepped over the back of his skate boot, looked like a sliced achilles waiting to happen

SP Score: 32.30 (TES) + 27.40 (PCS) = 59.60

6) Maylin Hausch & Daniel Wendne (GER)
    Music: Music by John Miles

• Is it just me or does Daniel look a bit like Alexander Gazsi?
• Bad catch on that split triple twist, but I like how they linked it to their throw triple salchow
• Fall by Maylin on the triple toe
• I'm hating this 80s-tastic musical selections, and how do black and white costumes fit? 
• Trip by Daniel on the footwork sequence, they just look a bit frantic for me
• Her positions in the overhead spins could really use work
• I really like the ending pose

SP Score: 25.63 (TES) + 24.31 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 48.94

7) Vera Bazarova & Yuri Larionov (RUS)
    Music: Tosca by Puccini

• I always forget that Vera is so young, only 18
• I love they're elegance, if they can just land their elements, they're elite status
• Wow Yuri actually fell this time, usually it's Vera who struggles
• Did she die her hair darker?
• I've been saying for many a season that they remind me of Gordeeva & Grinkov, but not when they fall like that
• Clean throw triple flip, a harder throw than many
• I like their death spiral and that pair spin is to die for
• Very unique entrance and position changes into their overhead lift
• This is lovely choreography, not a moment is wasted
• Stumble by Yuri at the end, they looked unsettled out there

SP Score: 32.43 (TES) + 28.20 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 59.62

8) Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (GER)
    Music: Angels & Demons by Hans Zimmer

• Wow, Aliona is all about the fake skin
• I love Ingo!!
• Let me guess, she's the angel and he's the demon?
• They have a very innovative coach which is great to see
• She ate it in the throw triple axel, very tilted, not sure if they'll call it rotated or not
• Struggle coming out of the split triple twist
• She two-footed the triple toe
• Granted she took a very hard fall on the throw, could understandably be shaken
• Their pair spin is so cool, loving it!
• So far no heinous death spirals, I'm okay with that sideways position
• This program is going to be outstanding come the Grand Prix Final, just needs some work

SP Score: 29.48 (TES) + 30.97 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 59.45