2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Pairs Short Program

1) Taylor Steele & Robert Schultz (CAN)
     Music: Malena soundtrack

• Really low catch on that split twist
• Her free leg was a little wild on those side by sides
• Not a lot of height or distance, but she lands the throw
• This program isn't doing much for, the choreography and music are really flat
• They have good basics, now they need to up the speed, difficulty, and performance

SP Score: 26.68 (TES) + 21.57 (PCS) = 48.25

2) Xiaoyu Yu & Yang Jin (CHN)
     Music: The Nutcrakcer

• Wow does this Waltz of the Flowers music take me back or what
• Huge split twist, the home crowd is going to love them
• Perfect SBS 3toes
• Their unison is exquisite
• I love the entry into the throw, very clean element with a long edge flowing out
• Very labored position changes in the lift
• No speed in the death spiral
• The ending of the music is too fast, they ran out of gas there
• Those costumes are very old fashioned, hers is cute but his is so 1994

SP Score: 31.91 (TES) + 22.51 (PCS) = 54.42

3) Klara Kadlecova & Petr Bidar (CZE)
     Music: Flamenco

• So I don't think purple when I think Flamenco, not sure where this costume idea came from
• They hit their side by side jumps, ever so slight unison issue
• He has deeper knees on crossovers than she does which looks slightly awkward
• Good speed
• Only a double split twist
• They look a little spastic out there, he slipped on a crossover and went down
• She took a very hard fall onto her shoulder on the throw, short of rotation
• That first half was a struggle, they seem to have their legs under them now
• They have more experience so their PCS could hold them up over the young Canadians but I'm not sure about that

SP Score: 20.28 (TES) + 20.06 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 38.34

4) Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang (CHN)
     Music: Transylvanian Lullaby

• This was a very pleasant program at Skate America
• Very strong opening throw
•  A little fight for the landing from him, but good SBS jumps
• They just exude experience out there
• I don't know how much that program can improve and grow in terms of peaking at Worlds though

SP Score: 30.77 (TES) + 29.80 (PCS) = 60.57

5) Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig (USA)
     Music: The Man I Love

• Amanda is absolutely exquisite
• They are perfectly suited for Gershwin, they're an American classic
• Nice split twist, catch a little low
• Step out by Amanda on the SBS jumps
• If they could be consistent, they'd always be a podium threat
• Really beautiful throw, long flowing edge by Amanda
• This is really nice choreography
• Wonderful lift with a great smooth exit
• This program should score well
• They looked mostly pleased with that

SP Score: 31.39 (TES) + 26.49 (PCS) = 57.88

6) Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (CAN)
     Music: Borsalino

• Only a split double twist
• Speed is one of the top things this team has going for them, and athleticism
• Shaky on the SBS toes
• Kirsten was really tilted in the air on that throw, really held onto it
• That lunge lift has become a signature for them and they do it so well

SP Score: 32.63 (TES) + 28.15 (PCS) = 60.78

7) Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN)
     Music: Country Dance

• I have to say it, I'm really sick of this program
• Sui falls on the SBS jump, I'm not worried though because they're good enough to make up those points
• Really nice twist and throw, smooth as always
• They've squeezed everything they can out of this program, it's time for something more mature now

SP Score: 33.16 (TES) + 27.84 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 60.00

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

• Yuko looks fantastic
• Perfect SBS triple toes
• This is a new style, especially after that terrible short last season
• Very low catch on the split triple twist
• Very good flow out of the throw
• I like teh choreography, especially in the step sequence
• Fantastic position in that lift with nice smooth exit
• I hat that death spiral entrance but unfortunately for the audience, that's what earns bonus points and levels
• Ended after the music
• A very Peter Tschernyshev program...that much was clear

SP Score: 34.47 (TES) + 30.98 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 64.45