2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Ice Dance Qualifying Results

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	FD
1	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	92.40	1
2	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	79.69	2
3	Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND	EST	79.17	3
4	Penny COOMES / Nicholas BUCKLAND	GBR	79.09	4
5	Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV	AZE	77.80	5
6	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	76.26	6
7	Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Simone VATURI	ITA	73.96	7
8	Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN	AUS	71.37	8
9	Anna NAGORNYUK / Viktor KOVALENKO	UZB	70.88	9
10	Zsuzsanna NAGY / Mate FEJES	HUN	70.84	10
11	Gabriela KUBOVA / Dmitri KISELEV	CZE	70.39	11
12	Federica TESTA / Lukas CSOLLEY	SVK	68.42	12
13	Henna LINDHOLM / Ossi KANERVO	FIN	68.42	13
14	Alexandra ZVORIGINA / Maciej BERNADOWSKI	POL	68.29	14
15	Ramona ELSENER / Florian ROOST	SUI	66.29	15
16	Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR	TUR	64.61	16
17	Ksenia PECHERKINA / Aleksandrs JAKUSHIN	LAT	62.15	17
18	Corenne BRUHNS / Ryan VAN NATTEN	MEX	61.11	18
19	Ekaterina BUGROV / Vasili ROGOV	ISR	60.81	19
20	Cortney MANSOUR / Daryn ZHUNUSSOV	KAZ	58.92	20
21	Barbora SILNA / Juri KURAKIN	AUT	57.78	21
22	Alexandra CHISTIAKOVA / Dimitar LICHEV	BUL	55.22	22
23	Lesia VALADZENKAVA / Vitali VAKUNOV	BLR	53.00	23

Pl.	Qual.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Q	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	92.40	43.00		49.40	8.25	7.93	8.39	8.36	8.46	0.00	#14
2	Q	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	79.69	41.07		38.62	6.54	6.29	6.36	6.61	6.46	0.00	#21
3	Q	Irina SHTORK / Taavi RAND	EST	79.17	42.78		36.39	6.21	5.93	6.04	6.07	6.14	0.00	#23
4	Q	Penny COOMES / Nicholas BUCKLAND	GBR	79.09	39.49		40.60	6.82	6.61	6.79	6.82	6.89	1.00	#20
5	Q	Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV	AZE	77.80	38.85		38.95	6.50	6.29	6.46	6.64	6.71	0.00	#19
6	Q	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	76.26	39.06		37.20	6.18	6.04	6.29	6.32	6.29	0.00	#22
7	Q	Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Simone VATURI	ITA	73.96	36.50		37.46	6.36	5.96	6.36	6.29	6.43	0.00	#15
8	Q	Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN	AUS	71.37	38.78		32.59	5.39	5.18	5.57	5.50	5.71	0.00	#13
9	Q	Anna NAGORNYUK / Viktor KOVALENKO	UZB	70.88	38.91		32.97	5.57	5.21	5.75	5.50	5.64	1.00	#12
10	Q	Zsuzsanna NAGY / Mate FEJES	HUN	70.84	38.34		32.50	5.57	5.29	5.46	5.46	5.36	0.00	#18
11		Gabriela KUBOVA / Dmitri KISELEV	CZE	70.39	38.71		31.68	5.46	5.04	5.39	5.32	5.32	0.00	#17
12		Federica TESTA / Lukas CSOLLEY	SVK	68.42	36.35		33.07	5.61	5.32	5.64	5.54	5.57	1.00	#8
13		Henna LINDHOLM / Ossi KANERVO	FIN	68.42	38.42		30.00	5.14	4.75	5.18	5.04	5.04	0.00	#6
14		Alexandra ZVORIGINA / Maciej BERNADOWSKI	POL	68.29	38.36		29.93	5.21	4.79	5.07	5.04	4.93	0.00	#11
15		Ramona ELSENER / Florian ROOST	SUI	66.29	34.43		31.86	5.39	5.07	5.39	5.36	5.50	0.00	#16
16		Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR	TUR	64.61	37.56		27.05	4.61	4.39	4.50	4.68	4.43	0.00	#3
17		Ksenia PECHERKINA / Aleksandrs JAKUSHIN	LAT	62.15	34.99		27.16	4.96	4.14	4.71	4.54	4.46	0.00	#1
18		Corenne BRUHNS / Ryan VAN NATTEN	MEX	61.11	36.21		25.90	4.29	4.11	4.50	4.46	4.39	1.00	#10
19		Ekaterina BUGROV / Vasili ROGOV	ISR	60.81	33.31		27.50	4.68	4.43	4.54	4.79	4.57	0.00	#9
20		Cortney MANSOUR / Daryn ZHUNUSSOV	KAZ	58.92	34.13		24.79	4.25	3.82	4.29	4.32	4.18	0.00	#7
21		Barbora SILNA / Juri KURAKIN	AUT	57.78	31.64		27.14	4.61	4.32	4.54	4.64	4.64	1.00	#2
22		Alexandra CHISTIAKOVA / Dimitar LICHEV	BUL	55.22	31.20		24.02	4.07	3.86	4.07	4.14	3.96	0.00	#4
23		Lesia VALADZENKAVA / Vitali VAKUNOV	BLR	53.00	29.57		23.43	3.93	3.89	3.96	4.11	3.64	0.00	#5

2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Ice Dance Preview

It's still exciting to think about how far Ice Dance has come in 10 years, from an afterthought to the main event. This will be a throw down of epic proportions after the top two teams in the World have gone back and forth in their two meetings this season. The dancers skate their Short Dance at 1:40 pm EST on Wednesday March 28th and their Free Dance at 2:00 pm on Thursday March 29th.

Podium Predictions
1) Virtue & Moir (CAN)
2) Davis & White (USA)
3) Weaver & Poje (CAN)


The Top Contenders


Virtue & Moir (CAN) look poised to return to the top of the podium in Nice after their victory over Davis & White at Four Continents. Both teams are phenomenal of course, but I simply prefer the Canadians' programs this season. I love the theatrics and the fact that this program truly tells a story.

Davis & White (USA) beat their Canadian rivals at the Grand Prix Final, but fell off a little bit and lost to them in the technical mark at Four Continents. The good thing about losing in the technical mark is that they know what they need to improve upon going into Nice and it's all about getting those levels up. This is a gap they can easily bridge and I wouldn't be surprised if the difference between the two teams game down to a point or less.

The battle for Bronze will be brutal and about three or four teams will be involved. Weaver & Poje (CAN) have what I believe to be the most raw, passionate, beautiful Free Skate of the season and I think that will win out. They have waited their turn for years and they are finally among the top in the World. I hope they take the Bronze, even if it's only by the slimmest of margins.

Pecahalat & Bourzat (FRA) have had the worst luck lately. They took a freak fall last year at Worlds and finished off the podium after they seemed to be a lock for Bronze. Then Fabian got sick at Skater America and they had to withdraw from Skate Canada. Now, Nathalie breaks her nose and they lose valuable training time after being a favorite again to win Bronze. I think they still could do it, but their programs just aren't World medalist caliber this season in my opinion and Weaver and Poje's are.

Shibutani & Shibutani (USA) are also in this mix and they could finish anywhere from third-sixth, even if they are near perfect as they were last year when they took home the bronze. There have been complaints that their short dance lacks Latin flavor, which they've attempted to resolve by working with a ballroom expert. They also have heard feedback that their Free Dance is too similar to last season's, which I'd tend to agree with. They are remarkable consistent, arguably the most of all the teams in the Bronze medal race, so if the others make mistakes, they could repeat as medalists.

Bobrova & Soloviev (RUS) started out with a bang, winning Gold at Cup of China, but fell off a little later in the season, finishing only sixth at the Grand Prix Final. They did win Silver at Europeans, which is nothing to scoff at, but they haven't faced a North American team in quite a while. They're programs are very high drama and passionate, white I appreciate as an actress, but I'm afraid they are a little too 2002 compared to the North American teams' programs. They are the top European team after the French, and it will take an upset for them to fall out of the top six.

In The Hunt


Ilinykh & Katsalopov (RUS) are actually one of my favorite teams. Their beauty is striking in an understated way and I, though I may be in the minority, happen to really love their programs this season. They are erratic competitors and have consistency issues. If they can go mistake free in both phases of the competition, they could finish in the top five, as they've always had the potential to do.


Cappellini & Lanotte (ITA) had a great Grand Prix, winning two Bronze medals, and barely missed the final. They came in fourth at Europeans behind a pair of Russians, but if they can skate the way they did at their Grand Prix events and come up with a little bit of luck along the way, they could crack the top six. They showed great improvements this season and they are clearly a team on the move. Look for big things from them heading toward the Olympics.

Zhiganshina & Gazsi (GER) have been making improvements all season from changing their musical arrangements to better adhere to the rules and making tiny adjustments along the way. They are a very passionate, emotional team, but perhaps a coaching change is in order to help them up their technical elements to get to the next level of the sport.

Riazanova & Tkachenko (RUS) seemed so promising last season, but they've fallen off a little bit this year. They picked up a fifth and fourth place finish on the Grand Prix, and a fifth at Europeans. They are the number three team in Russia right now, and with some impressive Juniors coming up, they need to improve fast and make a statement if they want to be on the 2014 Sochi team.

Hubbell & Donohue (USA) are the surprise US Bronze medalists. They clicked magically in their first season skating together. Their chemistry is great, and they'll keep improving technically as they progress together. Their main goal here in Nice should be to avoid the falls they had at Four Continents. Davis/White & the Shibutanis will take care of holding onto three spots for Team USA, so these guys just need to concentrate on skating clean.

The Rest Of The Field


Obrien & Merriman (AUS)
Silna & Kurakin (AUT)
Zlobina & Sitnikov (AZE)
Valadzenkava & Vakunov (BLR)
Chistiakova & Lichev (BUL)
Ralph & Hill (CAN)
Huang & Zheng (CHN)
Kubova & Kiselev (CZE)
Shtork & Rand (EST)
Lindholm & Kanervo (FIN)
Carron & Jones (FRA)
Coomes & Buckland (GBR)
Nagy & Fejes (HUN)
Bugrov & Rogov (ISR)
Alessandrini & Vaturi (ITA)
Reed & Reed (JPN)
Mansour & Zhunussov (KAZ)
Pecherkina & Jakushin (LTU)
Tobias & Stagniunas (LTU)
Bruhns & Van Natten (MEX)
Zvorigina & Bernadowski (POL)
Testa & Csolley (SVK)
Hurtado & Diaz (ESP)
Elsener & Roost (SUI)
Agafonova & Ucar (TUR)
Heekin-Canedy & Dun (UKR)
Nagornyuk & Kovalenko (UZB)

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Free Dance LIVE BLOG

1) Sara Hurtado & Andria Diaz (ESP)

     Music: Tristan and Isolde

• I love her braid but hate the rest of this ensemble
• They are very athletically built skaters
• Nice speed in and out of the curve lift
• This is very 1990s ice dance, very high drama
• Interesting counter-balance move, the exit was very scary though, I thought he was going to tep on her head or hand or something
• He falls on the twizzle
• Interesting twizzle variations
• Kind of sloppy overall

FD Score: 26.71 (TES) + 33.33 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 58.04
Total Score: 45.71 (SD) + 58.04 (FD) = 103.75

2) Kristina Gorshkova & Vitali Butikov (RUS)
     Music: Tango

• These are equally heinous costumes, just as in the short
• They start right off with their dance spin
• Everything is very choppy and stiff
• Pretty good twizzle set
• I don't understand these costumes at all
• This whole thing is very messy
• Very slow through the footwork
• I just can't get into this program because nothing is crisp and clean, its all very muddled
• This high drama nonsense is very 1990s Ice Dance

FD Score: 34.71 (TES) + 35.00 (PCS) = 69.72
Total Score: 48.77 (SD) + 69.72 (FD) = 118.48

3) Xintong Huang & Xue Zheng (CHN)
     Music: Libertango

• Slight unison issue in twizzles
• A few awkward transitions the the big lift
• Some of their transitions are a bit strange
• Very slow in the dance spin
• That haircutter lift is very common, lacks creativity
• This program just isn't doing it for me today, there was no spark

FD Score: 38.03 (TES) + 37.95 (PCS) = 75.98
Total Score: 50.71 (SD) + 75.98 (FD) = 126.69

4) Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)
     Music: Prelude in E Minor by Chopin

• This is a very romantic program
• The technique and the connection between them has improved with every event
• She has fantastic upper body carriage as does he
• The height difference bothers me less and less each time I see it
• That lift with Evan in an arabesque is fantastic
• I still don't know if I like this muzak feel in the middle section
• Nice speed
• Same speed in and out of the straight line lift, very good
• They get way too close on the twizzles and Madi sits it down, too bad about that
• I love the speed and positions of the rotational lift
• Her upside down camel position is very nice in the dance spin 
• Aside from the freak twizzle fall, a very nice outing for them
• I'm obsessed with her hair, I have no idea how she gets it like that, its's very Romeo and Juliet

FD Score: 39.29 (TES) + 40.64 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 78.93
Total Score: 52.01 (SD) + 78.93 (FD) = 130.94

5) Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)
     Music: Ave Maria

• She always crosses herself going onto the ice
• They carry very nice speed
• I love how deep they get into the knees
• I'd prefer her hair down and flowing
• I really like the twizzles facing one another, it's nice visually
• Sometimes he looks really unsteady lifting her, but she's so small
• I love the position on that dance spin, but the speed is nearly gone by the end
• The pace is so fast, that they always look a little wild by the end trying to keep up
• I do believe that was better than at NHK though

FD Score: 37.65 (TES) + 44.50 (PCS) = 82.15
Total Score: 58.17 (SD) + 82.15 (FD) = 140.32

6) Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA)
     Music: La Strada

• This program was gorgeous at Skate Canada, if they just do it the same way
• This character piece looks lovely on them
• I love that headtap lift, it's very unique
• Very good speed throughout
• That hand in the crotch lift is just awkward all around
• That straight line lift takes so much strength
• Tanith lift, I don't know the man has any idea where he's going when she is right in his face like that
• They'll get very high marks for that skate

FD Score: 42.43 (TES) + 46.71 (PCS) = 89.14
Total Score: 64.62 (SD) + 89.76 (FD) = 153.76

7) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
     Music: The Feeling Begins, Passion, In The Garden

• Very nice opening lift
• I still don't htink that the costuming looks World Class, but I don't know how else you make somebody look like a Mummy
• He is fantastic, I could just watch him all day
• This is a very complete program, it tells a story from beginning to end and they carry the theme throughout
• I don't think you could get more of a contrast from thsi to Virtue & Moir
• All of the music goes together so well, nothing is choppy
• They  have fantastic speed, I think the home crowd is really propelling them and this is a piece that the audience can really get into
• And they end the way they started
• They loved that at home and they should be proud

FD Score: 47.33 (TES) + 50.71 (PCS) = 98.04
Total Score: 66.52 (SD) + 98.04 (FD) = 164.56

8) Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)
     Music: Funny Face

• They are the class of the field
• This piece is classic Virtue & Moir
• A little problem with that overhead lift, choppy transitions
• They make this look so easy
• Its so classic old Hollywood
• They take a lot of risk with these lifts
• Very nice, clean program
• They're very happy with that

FD Score: 50.96 (TES) + 55.79 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 105.75
Total Score: 71.18 (SD) + 105.75 (FD) = 176.93

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	176.93	1	1
2	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	164.56	2	2
3	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	153.76	3	3
4	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	140.32	4	4
5	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	130.94	5	5
6	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	126.69	6	6
7	Kristina GORSHKOVA / Vitali BUTIKOV	RUS	118.48	7	7
8	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	103.75	8	8

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	105.75	50.96		55.79	9.32	9.00	9.43	9.46	9.50	1.00	#8
2	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	98.04	47.33		50.71	8.39	8.11	8.61	8.71	8.71	0.00	#7
3	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	89.14	42.43		46.71	7.75	7.46	7.96	7.93	8.07	0.00	#6
4	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	82.15	37.65		44.50	7.57	7.04	7.61	7.54	7.57	0.00	#5
5	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	78.93	39.29		40.64	6.86	6.54	6.64	7.04	6.93	1.00	#4
6	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	75.98	38.03		37.95	6.46	6.07	6.43	6.57	6.25	0.00	#3
7	Kristina GORSHKOVA / Vitali BUTIKOV	RUS	69.71	34.71		35.00	6.21	5.46	5.89	5.93	5.86	0.00	#2
8	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	58.04	26.71		33.33	5.68	5.25	5.50	5.93	5.61	2.00	#1

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Short Dance LIVE BLOG

1) Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)
   Music: Chick Chick Boom, Doom Diggy Diggy

• This opening section has smoothed out a lot since they debuted at Finlandia
• Good twizzle set, I'm impressed their timing is so on in their debut season
• Madison's facial expressions are the best
• They are nice and close in the holds
• Their speed has improved drastically
• Their connection to one another is so much stronger than it was earlier in the season
• That straight line lift is fantastic, great position changes
• This music is very well edited, no strange cuts between pieces
• Very specific hand gestures in the step sequence
• Very nice dance from them!

SD Score: 26.15 (TES) + 15.86 (PCS) = 52.01

2) Sara Hurtado & Andria Diaz (ESP)
   Music: Mas Que Nada, Magdalenha

• My eyes, these costumes!
• She does not have large hips, but that costume is doing her no favors in that area
• The headpiece is too much
• The costumes distract from the actual skating
• That straight line counter balance lift was very cool
• I'm having trouble focusing on anything but the costumes
• She goes down to her knees right before the end, he pulls her up
• That was a decent program, but unfortunately I hardly watched the skating

SD Score: 23.28 (TES) + 23.43 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 45.71

3) Kristina Gorshkova & Vitali Butikov (RUS)
   Music: Rhumba, ChaCha

• Did she borrow this costume from Alena Leonova?
• I love that twizzle variation
• They have nice speed
• Very flamboyant gestures to match the costumes and the music
• Again, these over the top costumes pull my focus and keep me from paying my full attention to the skating

SD Score: 24.72 (TES) + 24.05 (PCS) = 48.77

4) Xintong Huang, Xun Zheng (CHN)
   Music: Mambo, Rhumba, Samba

• This costume is bad too, but I'm almost slightly used to it because I saw it in China
• She was slightly behind on the twizzles
• Nice positions in the lift
• Good speed throughout
• I love a good hydroblade move
• The choreography in the step sequence fits the music quite well
• Love the ending, but is that necessary?

SD Score: 26.43 (TES) + 24.28 (PCS) = 50.71

5) Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)
   Music: HipHip ChinChin, Mas Que Nada, Mujer Latina

• I wonder how Virtue & Moir feel about hearing this music when they're not out there skating to it
• They look so nice together 
• She has her stank face on
• I love this opening section
• Their twizzles look better than usual today
• I feel like I want them to be so much better than they actually are
• The pace of this music is almost too fast for them to keep up with it without looking wildly out of control
• Nice rotational lift, but sloppy exit

SD Score: 27.78 (TES) +30.39 (PCS) = 58.17

6) Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA)
   Music: Volveras, El Chupacapra

• Not as fast as other teams, but very clean synchronized twizzles
• Very smooth through the rhumba, very clean edge work, oops there's some snow!
• She pulls her face as well as anybody
• I love that even though she is such a diva, he still stands out too

SD Score: 33.78 (TES) + 30.84 (PCS) = 64.62

7) Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)
   Music: HipHip Chin Chin, Temptation, Mujer Latina

• This is the real HipHip Chin Chin
• Is this opening section different?
• So much speed going into the 1st rhumba sequence
• Just a hair off from one another on the twizzles
• I wish they'd bring a little more heat
• Scott is totally the star of this team
• Amazing curve lift
• I'd like to see more face from Tessa
• outstanding footwork section
• For some reason I feel like she's not giving 100% today, not sure why I feel that way

SD Score: 34.64 (TES) + 36.54 (PCS) = 71.18

8) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
   Music: Mas Que Nada, Batacuda, Real in Rio

• Huge applause from the home crowd
• I like this short dance a lot because it's different from a lot of the others
• They look a little wobbly on this rhumba sequence
• Fabian's kick over her head was a little rough looking
• Nice shimmy at the end of the twizzles
• I totally forgot about his back walkover
• They are pleased, and to do it at home!

SD Score: 33.43 (TES) + 33.09 (PCS) = 66.52

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	71.18	1
2	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	66.52	2
3	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	64.62	3
4	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	58.17	4
5	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	52.01	5
6	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	50.71	6
7	Kristina GORSHKOVA / Vitali BUTIKOV	RUS	48.77	7
8	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	45.71	8

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	71.18	34.64		36.54	9.00	8.93	9.18	9.21	9.29	0.00	#7
2	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	66.52	33.43		33.09	8.36	7.89	8.39	8.36	8.32	0.00	#8
3	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	64.62	33.78		30.84	7.54	7.36	7.86	7.79	7.93	0.00	#6
4	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	58.17	27.78		30.39	7.64	7.32	7.64	7.75	7.61	0.00	#5
5	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	52.01	26.15		25.86	6.57	6.11	6.54	6.50	6.54	0.00	#1
6	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	50.71	26.43		24.28	6.25	5.79	6.04	6.39	5.89	0.00	#4
7	Kristina GORSHKOVA / Vitali BUTIKOV	RUS	48.77	24.72		24.05	6.14	5.82	6.07	6.11	5.93	0.00	#3
8	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	45.71	23.28		23.43	5.82	5.64	5.89	5.96	5.93	1.00	#2

2011 Trophee Eric Bompard: Ice Dance Preview

Ice Dance is the headlining event at Trophee Eric Bompard as it is the France's best chance of winning a medal. This is a strong field, 4 of the 8 having medaled on the Grand Prix this season thus far. The short dance wraps up the short programs this Friday November 18th at 2:00 p.m. EST and the free is the final event of the competition on Saturday November 19th at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Olympic champs Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN) are the clear favorites in this event, hands down. They won't face serious competition until they meet Davis & White at the Grand Prix Final. Their programs this season are nice, but the're safe, while some of the up and coming teams are taking risks. One of the risk-taking teams is Natalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA), the home favorites and likely Silver medalists. Their short dance is very fun, very Carnaval, but their Egyptian-themed free, though technically exquisite, is a bit garish. I commend them for verging into new territory, but their over the top Halloween-looking costumes just aren't World Class. Bronze will be a tight race between two teams that already have Bronze medals from their first Grand Prix of the season, Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA) and Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS). Both teams have great sets of programs, very different in nature, but the Italians have about a 5 point advantage over the Russians when comparing scores from their first events. It's difficult to compare across events sometimes, but the Italians were cleaner overall. Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) were a last minute substitution and though they likely won't medal here, they look to improve their scores and overall performance at each competition with the hope of medaling at US Nationals in January and qualifying for Worlds.

My Podium Predictions:

1) Virtue & Moir (CAN)

2) Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA)

3) Cappellini & Lanotte (ITA)

Competitive History:

Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA)-3rd at 2011 Skate Canada, 8th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 5th 2010 NHK Trophy, 2nd 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 154.87 at 2011 Worlds

Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)-4th at 2011 Skate Canada, 3rd 2011 Finlandia Trophy; PB: 136.88 at 2011 Finlandia Trophy

Kristina Gorshkova & Vitali Butikov (RUS)-5th 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 1st 2011 Winter Universiade, 2nd 2010 Golden Spin, 4th 2010 Cup of Russia, 6th 2010 Skate Canada, 3rd 2010 Finlandia Trophy, 3rd 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 127.47 at 2010 Rostelecom Cup

Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)-5th at 2011 Cup of China, 17th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2011 Asian Winter Games, 5th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 5th 2010 Cup of China; 130.29 at 2011 Four Continents

Sara Hurtado & Andria Diaz (ESP)-7th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 23rd 2011 Worlds, 15th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2011 Bavarian Open, 4th 2011 Winter Universiade, 11th 2010 Golden Spin, 8th 2010 Junior NRW Trophy, 5th 2010 JGP Germany, 10th 2010 JGP England; PB: 120.411 at 2011 World Juniors 

Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)-3rd at 2011 NHK Trophy, 7th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 4th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 154.50 at 2011 Worlds 

Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)-2nd at 2011 Skate America, 4th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Europeans, 2nd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2011 Cup of China, 1st 2010 Finlandia Trophy, 1st 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 167.40 at 2011 Europeans

Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)-1st at 2011 Skate Canada, 1st 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 2nd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2010 Worlds, 1st 2010 Winter Olympics; PB: 181.79 at 2011 Worlds 

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Free Dance Commentary

1) Cathy Reed & Chris Reed (JPN)

     Music: Chale Chalo, Mon Amour

• Very courageous for them to get up and skate after that horrible warm-up accident
• I like idea of the opening sequence of poses, but it was a little labored
• Good strong twizzle sequence from them
• They seem to have stagnated, I'm not really sure what's going on with their training
• I don't like these costumes at all, but I get where they're going with them
• The whole thing seems a little slow to me, which may be partly due to that nasty fall in warm-up
• I like the rotational lift, but the exit was a bit rough
• Chris is absolutely wincing in pain after that horrible crash in warm-up

FD Score: 38.36 (TES) + 36.50 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 73.86

Total Score: 49.36 (SD) + 73.86 (FD) = 123.22

2) Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (USA)

     Music: Walking in the Sand

• They have a very long and choreographed entrance which I like
• I like the simplicity of the costumes and that keyhole cut on the front of her dress
• That split position straight line lift is fantastic, showing great control
• She exits the 1st twizzle one rotation before he does
• I like this music and it's bluesy undertones
• His rise and fall on the rotational lift is exquisite
• They have a very nice look together with her exotic features and his "All-American" quality
• They are very clean in their entrances and exits to lifts with smooth transitions between positions
• She has a beautiful arch in her back on the inverted camel dance spin
• What a lovely program, a completely program I must add
• This has a lot of growing room and should be fantastic by US Nationals

FD Score: 39.29 (TES) + 36.29 (PCS) = 75.58

Total Score: 50.81 (SD) + 75.58 (FD) = 126.39

3) Lorenza Alessandrini & Simone Vaturi (ITA)

     Music: Tosca

• That's a very overdone opening pose
• These costumes look very tacky to me, they attempt to look "period" but end up looking cheap
• They start out with the dance spin which is unusual
• She really needs to point her feet
• Something about her looks very frail to me
• I like the entrance into the twizzles, I hardly saw them coming
• Twizzles have gotten much more intricate with IJS
• Something about this program looks very old fashioned to me, it seems like a program that we would've seen in 2002
• Her costume bodice is too short in the bottom, enough said
• That ending was so tacky, that should've been a deduction as programs are supposed to be "uplifting" in nature

FD Score: 39.72 (TES) + 39.20 (PCS) = 78.92

Total Score: 54.37 (SD) + 78.92 (FD) = 133.29

4) Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)

     Music: Romeo & Juliet 

• Is this voice track new for this competition?
• I know  they've adjusted their music several times because it was thought not to have the necessary "dance beat"
• This whole piece seems a little slow to me
• She shows nice flexibility in the dance spin
• That approach to the straight line lift looks like they are going into a pairs split twist
• I like dramatic programs, but again, this seems very 2002 to me
• I don't find this piece to be uplifting either
• They are really picking up speed as they go along, almost to the point of being out of control in the final section
• I love the ending, but you aren't supposed to "die" in ice dance under the new rules

FD Score: 39.28 (TES) + 41.15 (PCS) = 80.43

Total Score: 55.69 (SD) + 80.43 (FD) = 136.12

5) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)

     Music: Chattanooga Choo Choo, In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade

• They are are just precious, and Maia is looking more like a diva every day, she commands more attention each and every competition where Alex used to be the focal point
• This program is find for this season as they're still young, but they need to branch into new styles next season
• The kids were born twizzling and they fit perfectly with In The Mood
• I love this dress on her, I hope they stay with this one
• Fantastic transitions on the first lift!
• Different spin positions from what we usually see, which is refreshing
• While I do love them, I find the middle section of this program boring, it just drags a little fo rme
• I LOVE Alex's sweater vest
• I hate to say it, but parts of this program still look junior-ish to me
• I like that we finish up with In the Mood again, it's very cyclical
• Great final pose on that last beat
• They are so happy with themselves as they should be

FD Score: 45.84 (TES) + 46.99 (PCS) = 92.83

Total Score: 59.02 (SD) + 92.83 (FD) = 151.85

6) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)

     Music: Je Suis Malade

• This is a gorgeous, simple program, and by simple I mean no unnecessary frills or embellishments
• They look so great together, probably moreso than any team out there
• That dance spin is fantastic
• I'm glad they went with a more obscure piece of music after Moulin Rouge last season
• They have very even speed throughout the program
• Great use of the arms in the twizzles
• This is a very emotional program, and its genuine, which is great to see
• I love that slightly wild quality they have about them, they are a little rougher around the edges than Davis/White or Virtue/Moir but I feel that their emotion is more genuine

FD Score: 44.30 (TES) + 48.39 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 91.69

Total Score: 60.07 (SD) + 91.69 (FD) = 151.76

7) Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)

     Music: Ave Maria

• I love their look, they're gorgeous
• They could be one of my favorite teams and one of the best in the world if they could stay out of their own way and avoid the simple errors
• This team and Weaver & Poje have the best chemistry of any of the top dance teams in the world today
• She always comes out aggressive and ready to perform while Nikita tends to look more nervous and reserved
• Slight slip from him there, caught too deep of an edge
• He exits the 1st twizzle too early, though it's harder to pick out because they twizzle facing away from one another
• Such excellent performers, I just love the genuineness of their emotion
• This piece has very nice speed 
• They have a few bobbles here and there, mostly Nikita, but I really like the program and I can see it being amazing by Worlds

FD Score: 40.35 (TES) + 47.30 (PCS) = 87.65

Total Score: 61.83 (SD) + 87.65 (FD) = 149.48

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	151.85	3	1
2	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	151.76	2	2
3	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	149.48	1	3
4	Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI	GER	136.12	4	4
5	Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Simone VATURI	ITA	133.29	5	5
6	Lynn KRIENGKRAIRUT / Logan GIULIETTI-SCHMITT	USA	126.39	6	6
7	Cathy REED / Chris REED	JPN	123.22	8	7
WD	Alexandra PAUL / Mitchell ISLAM	CAN		7

Pl.   Name Nation TSS = TES + PCS + SS TR PE CC IT Ded. - StN. 1 Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI USA 92.83 45.84 46.99 7.86 7.64 8.00 7.86 7.93 0.00 #6 2 Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE CAN 91.69 44.30 48.39 7.93 7.82 8.29 8.25 8.25 1.00 #7 3 Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV RUS 87.65 40.35 47.30 7.89 7.68 7.89 8.07 8.04 0.00 #8 4 Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI GER 80.43 39.28 41.15 6.96 6.54 7.00 7.00 7.00 0.00 #5 5 Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Simone VATURI ITA 78.92 39.72 39.20 6.50 6.29 6.71 6.64 6.71 0.00 #4 6 Lynn KRIENGKRAIRUT / Logan GIULIETTI-SCHMITT USA 75.58 39.29 36.29 6.07 5.75 6.07 6.36 6.21 0.00 #3 7 Cathy REED / Chris REED JPN 73.86 38.36 36.50 6.18 5.86 6.04 6.29 6.18 1.00 #1 WD Alexandra PAUL / Mitchell ISLAM CAN #2