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
