2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Pairs Short Program LIVE BLOG

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

• I've been trying hard not to like them but they're growing on me
• Basically all they have to do is establish consistency and they'll be #1 in the US
• Huge split 3 twist
• This is a horrible arrangement of this music
• Caydee doubles the SBS toe, just as she did in the warm-up, not the way to win favor with International judges
• I like the weaving footwork, it complements the swell of the music quite well
• I like the entrance into the lift, but she really needs to stretch out that position and milk it for all it's worthy
• I feel like everytime she lands a throw I say she "saved the landing", not quite sure why I'm always surprised to see her land it
• They need more time together to develop the "two shall skate as one" quality, but they've really come along quickly

SP Score: 30.42 (TES) + 25.06 (PCS) = 55.48

2) Natasha Purich & Raymond Schultz (CAN)
     Music: Night-Train

• Major issues on those SBS jumps
• Really low catch on the split triple twist
• Good landing on the throw, but she hardly traveled away from him at all
• Everything in this program looks so simple, but I'm glad to see they're taking things slowly until they really master their pair elements; difficult will come later
• I like this music for them, its age appropriate
• Very cute program from them, it won't get a competitive score, but what a great way for them to get onto the International Senior scene

SP Score: 23.99 (TES) + 21.57 (PCS) = 45.56

3) Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir (USA)
     Music: Phantom of the Opera

• I like this opening, Marissa always brings the drama and it's good to see Simon getting involved
• Weird timing on the split triple twist
• She was off on the jump in the air, I'm surprised she saved it from really splatting
• Nice steps in this softer section of the music
• Simon has beautiful posture, but Marissa is a little hunched which makes the height difference even more noticeable
• Fantastic throw on a great musical crescendo
• I love that they do their signature catch foot position in the lift
• Great program for them, if only she could have landed the jump
• I really like this choreography for them, it brings a new level of maturity

SP Score: 26.56 (TES) + 24.37 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 49.93

4) Lubov Iliushechkina & Nodari Maisuradze (RUS)
     Music: Figaro

• First clean SBS jumps I've seen from them in a while
• She really cuts off that throw landing, I'd love to see a longer edge
• Slow exit out of the split triple twist
• Really slow death spiral
• They zoom so quickly around the ice but get in and out of the elements so slowly, it's confusifying
• For soem reason this program seemed so explosive to me last season, but now it seems like a string of mediocre elements frantically thrown together
• They have very cool entrances and exits for their lifts, but that was a botched exit today, they nearly finished after the music

SP Score: 27.68 (TES) + 26.44 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 53.12

5) Stefania Berton & Ondrej Hotarek (ITA)
     Music: Harlem Nocturne

• They have such an air of professionalism and theatrics about them
• They are owning this ice
• She landed very low, but held onto the SBS 3T
• He totally missed her body in that split twist and she landed on his shoulder
• Whoa scary moment, he caught an edge with her over his head upside down and tripped in the rotational lift, awkward exit, but safe exit
• Nice clean throw
• I like their spin positions, but they need some more speed
• I like the intricacies of the footwork and how they it plays into the small musical nuances
• This pair has really burst onto the scene in the last year, I like their style a lot

SP Score: 30.06 (TES) + 26.17 (PCS) = 56.23

6) Narumi Takahashi & Mervin Tran (JPN)
     Music: Imagine

• I loved this program when I first saw it at Skate Canada
• Narumi falls on the SBS toes; her jumping inconsistencies have been a major hindrance for them 
• Huge height on the split 3twist, but not a clean catch
• Not a lot of height on the throw, but a good clean landing
• What a fantastic pair spin this is
• This is my favorite pairs short program of the season, its so beautiful and well composed
• Mervin outskates her everytime, I'd love to see her rise to his level

SP Score: 31.18 (TES) + 27.71 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 57.89

7) Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov (RUS)
     Music: All Alone

• Scary moment there, Yuko falls and Alexander almost trips over her
• Messy start, botched landing on the split twist
• Decent throw there
• I liked this program a lot at Cup of China, but it seems they're fighting so hard for the elements here that they can't really focus on the character of the piece
• I like the choreography and Alexander really dances it, whereas Yuko does not
• That is really an amazing position on that lift
• I dont' know what it is about her that always seems "off" to me, she looks so frail which is part of it
• She also rarely straightens her legs the whole way

SP Score: 26.85 (TES) + 29.16 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 55.02

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

• Their costumes are always heinous and this is no exception, but I'll give them a pass because I love them
• They go after the throw triple axel and she lands on her side short of rotation
• Good split twist
• Something looked off in the SBS jumps, I didn't catch what happened but somebody doubled I think
• This is such a complete program that you hardly even see the elements
• They have the best spins and the most unique positions
• I love that every second of the choreography reflects the character of the piece, even down to her hand gesture and arm position in the death spiral
• They are upset about the fall on that axel, but kudos to them fro trying it early in the season; I bet they have it by worlds

SP Score: 29.00 (TES) + 31.23 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 59.23

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Aliona SAVCHENKO / Robin SZOLKOWY	GER	59.23	29.00		31.23	8.04	7.68	7.71	7.82	7.79	1.00	#8
2	Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN	JPN	57.89	31.18		27.71	6.89	6.96	6.93	7.07	6.79	1.00	#6
3	Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK	ITA	56.23	30.06		26.17	6.57	6.21	6.71	6.54	6.68	0.00	#5
4	Caydee DENNEY / John COUGHLIN	USA	55.48	30.42		25.06	6.43	5.96	6.36	6.36	6.21	0.00	#1
5	Yuko KAVAGUTI / Alexander SMIRNOV	RUS	55.02	26.86		29.16	7.50	7.21	7.14	7.46	7.14	1.00	#7
6	Lubov ILIUSHECHKINA / Nodari MAISURADZE	RUS	53.12	27.68		26.44	6.57	6.46	6.61	6.79	6.61	1.00	#4
7	Marissa CASTELLI / Simon SHNAPIR	USA	49.93	26.56		24.37	6.18	5.79	6.04	6.29	6.18	1.00	#3
8	Natasha PURICH / Raymond SCHULTZ	CAN	45.56	23.99		21.57	5.50	5.14	5.46	5.54	5.32	0.00	#2