2012 Four Continents Championships: Pairs Free Skate LIVE Coverage

1) Huibo Dong & Yiming Wu (CHN)
 Music: Mulan

• Huge split 3twist
• Some issues on both sets of SBS jumps
• A lot of position changes, but not the beauty we're used to from the other teams
• Very sloppy death spiral positions, grip changes to up the level
• There is not much of a performance here, no attention to character, who are they even playing?
• Gigantic throw, as per the Chinese tradition
• This is very much a string of elements with no artistry at all
• They look happy to have made it through the program, very winded

46.37 (TES) + 42.02 (PCS) = 88.39
49.52 (SP) + 88.39 (FS) = 137.91

2) Yue Zhang & Lei Wang (CHN)
 Music: Singin' In the Rain

• That's a very cute opening
• Was that only a split double twist? From the Chinese?
• A little timing issue on the SBS jumps
• Good ice coverage on that lift, I like the spinning exit; cleaner positions than the other Chinese team
• They look like they're having a lot of fun out there
• Some unison problems on the spins, he is rotating much faster than her
• Nice smooth throw, not the power of Dong/Wu
• Turn out of the 2nd throw, a little low on the landing
• Backward entrance adds difficulty to that lift
• That spiral with her foot on his shoulder is unique, it's risky for him
• Major skid getting that final lift up, that could've been really scary
• Much more attention to performance than Dong/Wu, I appreciate the commitment

46.77 (TES) + 45.43 (PCS) = 92.20
48.04 (SP) + 92.20 (FS) = 140.24

3) Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford (CAN)
 Music: Viva La Vida, Yellow

• I'm loving Meagan's braid
• She looks smaller than normal to me for some reason
• Really good split twist, I love the footwork into it 
• This is a very well composed program
• Hand down from Meagan on the first jump, but they still execute the 3-jump combo
• Fall from Meagan on the second jump sequence, some thing has looked really off with her this week
• Eric has really grown on me, my eye is going to him more than Meagan now
• I love that swinging entrance into the spins
• I love it when the spins transition the music into the 2nd piece
• It's nitpicky, but his shirt is a little too blousy for me
• He's looking really unsteady on these lifts
• Good save muscling out that throw, she's a fighter
• She floats like nobody's business into those lifts
• Hand down and maybe a 2-foot on the 2nd throw
• They are giving up a ton of points here and there
• Not the dream free skate they had a Canadians, but they still have Worlds left to peak

62.27 (TES) + 52.96 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 114.23
57.53 (SP) + (FS) = 171.76

4) Jessica Dube & Sebastien Wolfe (CAN)
 Music: Heroes by Phillip Glass

• This music kills me but I won't hold it against them
• I can't imagine rehearsing to this music daily
• The split twist is still eluding them, but it's getting there
• She' the veteran, she should be able to land these jumps
• Slight unison on the spins
• The free skate is usually where the "newness" in this pair shows
• She just sat that throw down, perhaps a speed issue
• They are having trouble relating to this music
• Another fall on the throw, he looked to mouth "I'm sorry" to her
• They're really unraveling, I'm praying for safe lifts
• She seems to have no energy whatsoever, but he still looks strong
• That carry lift needs more ice coverage and perhaps a more robust section of the music to be effective

49.45 (TES) + 49.66 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 97.11
57.68 (SP) + 97.11 (FS) = 154.79

5) Paige Lawrence & Rudi Swiegers (CAN)
 Music: The Man in the Iron Mask

• This team has been focusing on PCS over TES, we'll see if it shows
• Sloppy shoulder catch on the split 3 twist
• Slight unison break on the SBS jumps
• More unison issues on the 2a sequence
• Paige is usually such a firecracker but this program doesn't have any life to me
• More unison problems on the spins
• I like that they're having fun, but they're a little too smiley for this dramatic music
• That hydroblade entrance into the death spiral was cool
• They still look pretty high energy about halfway through
• Rough entrance into that lift, a struggle to get up, you could see Paige talking him through
• Not a lot of distance or height on these throws, but at least they're landing them
• Very labored on the lifts, I think the backloading of the program is backfiring at this altitude

49.99 (TES) + 50.70 (PCS) = 100.69
57.97 (SP) + 100.69 (FS) = 158.66

6) Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig
 Music: Daphnis et Chloe

• A little messy on the split twist, but that's never their strong suit anyway
• Both step out of the SBS jump, but in perfect unison
• This is the best choreography of the whole event in my opinion
• Fall on the 1st throw
• She looks tentative, never a good sign
• She may have singled the axel, I couldn't tell
• Fantastic twist into that stand on his thigh
• Very smooth in and out of the death spiral
• Beautiful 2nd throw
• Very nice elements thus far aside from the throw, no falls on the jumps here from Amanda at all, step in the right direction
• Their lifts are more grand than anyone else, bar none
• I wish his shirt were the same color as the midsection on her dress
• Great toss into that final lift
• Lovely spin positions, but a little slow in that pair spin
• Clunky exit out of that final lift, an unfortunate way to end the program

54.30 (TES) + 53.94 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 107.24
60.75 (SP) + 107.24 (FS) = 167.99

7) Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN)
 Music: The Soul of Flamenco

• She's bringing out her inner diva on that elaborate entrance
• This program grows on me every competition
• Quad throw! Two-footed, but hey!
• 4twist, rough catch, but at least they're getting it done
• A little out of unison, but strong 3-jump sequence
• They seem more calm here, not as frantic as earlier in the season
• She could stretch out the free leg and foot more on the death spiral
• A little unison break in the spin position change
• Her flexibility on that spiral is phenomenal
• This program is light years better than it was in September
• Fantastic 2nd throw, that got so much difference
• That upside down entrance into the press lift is really cool
• Ohh scary moment mid-lift, she puts her arms on his shoulders to save her balance
• A lot of speed on that last lift, good rotation
• Great program from them, they look more grown up every time
• They look exhausted, breath kids breath!

75.54 (TES) + 59.54 (PCS) = 135.08
66.75 (SP) + 135.08 (FS) = 201.83

8) Narumi Takahashi & Mervin Tran (JPN)
 Music: Concerto de Quebec

• This team couldn't be more different from what we just saw
• Only a split 2twist
• Hard spill for Narumi, nearly fell on her face
• Wow what a mess on that SBS sequence, she singled, he stumbled and cut the 2nd jump
• If they had Sui/Han's technical tricks, they'd be unstoppable with their elegance
• She's one of those skaters who can't hit a bad position, other pair ladies must watch he rlifts
• A two-foot and a step out on the 1st throw, same on the 2nd
• He nearly skated over her on the 2nd throw, that was terrifying
• It must be so hard to keep going after all those mistakes
• And they nearly skated into the board out of their 2nd lift, just not their night at all
• Lovely extension and toe point in that 3rd lift, exit could've been more smooth

55.32 (TES) + 55.25 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 109.57
61.54 (SP) + 109.57 (FS) = 171.11

9) Caydee Denny & John Coughlin (USA)
 Music: Nessun Dorma

• Their elaborate entrances to center ice are too high drama even for me
• This program is growing on me, I hated the guitar early in the season but it suits them
• Gorgeous split 3twist
• Nice throw, a little scratchy, but good glide out
• Near perfect unison on the SBS jumps
• It was a fight, but landed the 2nd SBS sequence
• They have great spin unison for a new pair, that's usually the hardest thing to ma
• The lift positions are just not attractive, a stern Russian ballet teacher could work that out in no time
• Awesome 2nd throw, huge roar from the crowd
• That catch-foot position is slightly more attractive because the bum isn't sticking up
• Here is that carry lift that John dreams about everyday
• Her foot gets scarily close to his head up there
• A big scary on that headbanger at the end, he bent his knees and barely muscled her back up                     

62.82 (TES) + 59.25 (PCS) = 122.07
63.35 (SP) + 122.07 (FS) = 185.42

10) Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker (USA)
 Music: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor by Rachmaninov

• Come on guys, earn  yourself a medal!
• This program suits them so well, and it's appropriate for their age situation
• Mary Beth falls on the same jump she missed in warmup
• A little crashy on the split twist, looked labored
• She steps out of the double axel, she looks a little antsy today
• I love their SBS split jumps, I must've missed that at Nationals
• Good spinning unison, that's a big area of improvement over last season
• Good throw, good job Mary Beth
• Her lift positions are improving at every event
• That pair spiral is beautiful, she looks so happy to be out there
• Very nice carry lift on one leg, good ice coverage
• It would be great to see some more variation in the lift positions, but that will come
• Two-foots the 2nd throw, again a good save
• They gave away a lot of points here and there, it's going to be close if they land on the podium

60.91 (TES) + 56.56 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 116.47
62.42 (SP) + 116.47 (FS) = 178.89

1	Wenjing SUI / Cong HAN	CHN	201.83	1	1
2	Caydee DENNEY / John COUGHLIN	USA	185.42	2	2
3	Mary Beth MARLEY / Rockne BRUBAKER	USA	178.89	3	3
4	Meagan DUHAMEL / Eric RADFORD	CAN	171.76	8	4
5	Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN	JPN	171.11	4	5
6	Amanda EVORA / Mark LADWIG	USA	167.99	5	6
7	Paige LAWRENCE / Rudi SWIEGERS	CAN	158.66	6	7
8	Jessica DUBE / Sebastien WOLFE	CAN	154.79	7	8
9	Yue ZHANG / Lei WANG	CHN	140.24	10	9
10	Huibo DONG / Yiming WU	CHN	137.91	9	10

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Wenjing SUI / Cong HAN	CHN	135.08	75.54		59.54	7.46	7.04	7.79	7.46	7.46	0.00	#7
2	Caydee DENNEY / John COUGHLIN	USA	122.07	62.82		59.25	7.43	7.00	7.57	7.46	7.57	0.00	#9
3	Mary Beth MARLEY / Rockne BRUBAKER	USA	116.47	60.91		56.56	7.04	6.89	7.14	7.25	7.04	1.00	#10
4	Meagan DUHAMEL / Eric RADFORD	CAN	114.23	62.27		52.96	6.71	6.50	6.54	6.71	6.64	1.00	#3
5	Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN	JPN	109.57	55.32		55.25	6.93	6.86	6.71	7.14	6.89	1.00	#8
6	Amanda EVORA / Mark LADWIG	USA	107.24	54.30		53.94	6.82	6.64	6.61	6.93	6.71	1.00	#6
7	Paige LAWRENCE / Rudi SWIEGERS	CAN	100.69	49.99		50.70	6.57	6.36	6.04	6.43	6.29	0.00	#5
8	Jessica DUBE / Sebastien WOLFE	CAN	97.11	49.45		49.66	6.46	6.04	6.04	6.36	6.14	2.00	#4
9	Yue ZHANG / Lei WANG	CHN	92.20	46.77		45.43	5.75	5.43	5.71	5.82	5.68	0.00	#2
10	Huibo DONG / Yiming WU	CHN	88.39	46.37		42.02	5.54	5.00	5.36	5.25	5.11	0.00	#1