The competition at Smart Ones Skate America started in Pittsburgh, USA on Thursday with the Compulsory Dance, the Pairs and Men’s Short Programs. Skate America is the first of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.
Ice Dancing, Compulsory Dance
The Compulsory Dance for Skate America was the Golden Waltz. Defending Skate America Champions Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto put out a smooth performance of the Waltz to take the lead on the first day. They interpreted the character of the dance well and showed their technical strength. The Four Continents Champions scored 43.71 points (19.90 Element Score/23.81 Program Component Score). “It felt strong and we were comfortable with the dance”, Agosto said. “The Golden Waltz is an interesting dance. It’s more fun and not boring.” His partner agreed. “This dance challenges you and shows the abilities of the couples. It was a good way to start the competition. Now we’re anxious to show our new programs (Original and Free Dance) and see how they’re received.”
Galit Chait/Sergei Sakhnovski of Israel came in second. The 2002 World bronze medalists looked dynamic and scored 40.98 points. “It was a good crowd, we had good support”, Chait said. “It was a good start for us. I always liked this waltz. I enjoy all the (Compulsory) dances this year, the Rhumba, the Blues and the Waltz.”
Sitting in third place are Canada’s Megan Wing/Aaron Lowe with a total segment score of 36.65 points. Svetlana Kulikova/Vitali Novikov (RUS) are not far behind with 33.89 points.
Pairs, Short Program
Reigning World Champions Tatiana Totmianina/Maxim Marinin of Russia won the Short Program ahead of their teammates Julia Obertas/Sergei Slavnov and China’s Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang. Performing to the lyrical “Ave Maria”, Totmianina/Marinin produced a solid side by side triple toeloop and a spectacular throw triple loop. However, the couple from St. Petersburg was out of sync on the side by side combination spin. The Russians received a score of 64.98 points for this performance. Obertas/Slavnov, who are skating in their second season as a team, delivered an inspiring program to Russian Gypsy music. The young couple hit the side by side triple toeloop, a rarely seen throw triple flip and a high double twist, but they alsmost lost the balance on the lift and finished their last element, the pair combination spin, behind their music. As they exceeded the time limit of 2.50 minutes for the Short Program, they received a deduction of one point, and their total segment score was 57.58. Zhang/Zhang came very close with a score of 56.98. The Four Continents silver medalists turned in a good Short Program as well. Their performance to the Blues “All Alone” featured a high double twist as well as a throw triple loop and a difficult Lasso lift, but Dan Zhang had to fight for the landing of the side by side triple toeloop. US Champions Rena Inoue/John Baldwin Jr. attempted a side by side triple Lutz, but Baldwin struggled on the landing of the jump. The Americans finished 4th.
“I don’t really know what happened on the spin”, Marinin commented. “Sometimes, if you’re too confident on an element, it goes wrong, and I lost control on that spin.” Totmianina added: “We made our spins more difficult to adapt them to the new system, and we worked hard on them.” The couple explained that they had wanted to use “Ave Maria” before, “but our coach and choreographer told us that we aren’t ready yet for this music. But now we are, and so we decided to to this program”, Totmianina said.
“I’m really pleased, it was quite good”, Obertas commented. “We had a problem with the lift, that was unexpected, but overall I’m happy. However, the Free Skating will decide everything, so we have to stay focused.”
Zhang/Zhang were satisfied as well. “It was ok, but it wasn’t our standard yet, and we hope to improve”, Dan Zhang told the press.
Men, Short Program
Brian Joubert of France captured the Men’s Short program with a dynamic performance to rhythmic music by “Blue Men Group”. The current World silver medalist hit a quadruple-triple toeloop combination and a triple Axel, but he stumbled on his triple flip. The 20-year-old Frenchman received 72.10 points. “This is my first Grand Prix event, the debut of the season. I think I did a very good program for me. It wasn’t perfect yet, but that doesn’t matter.” He was especially pleased to have done the combination jump.
Two-time World bronze medalist Michael Weiss (USA) came in second. The American missed his combination, when he stepped out of his opening quadruple toeloop and failed to add a second jump. But he recovered to produce a triple Axel, a triple Lutz and he showed good spins in his routine to “Henry V”. Weiss’ score was 64.82 points. “It’s the first event of the season, and to get off to a good start is what I was trying to do. I was happy with the way I skated. I hope I can do the quad (toeloop) for the long program.”
Israel’s Roman Serov was a surprise on the third place. The Russian born skater delivered a solid program that included a triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination, a high triple Axel and a triple flip. This performance earned him 62.24 points. “I didn’t compete a whole season, and then I did a few competitions last year. I just tried my best, but I didn’t try a quad, because it’s not ready yet”, the athlete told a post-event news conference. Serov, who represented Russia before, explained that he had to sit out a season after he decided to compete for Israel. Ryan Jahnke (USA) is standing in fourth place. He missed his triple Axel, but produced fine spins. World bronze medalist Stefan Lindemann (GER) made mistakes on all three jump elements of the program to finish 11th.
Smart Ones Skate America continues on Friday with the Original Dance, the Ladies Short Program and the Men’s Free Skating.
Results
Grand Prix page
