Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski (BUL) compete in the free dance portion of the ice dancing competition during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating on October 28, 2006 in Hartford (USA).
The 2006/2007 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating opened Thursday with Skate America in Hartford, Connecticut. Traditionally, Skate America is the first of six events in the series.
Ice Dancing, Compulsory Dance
Today’s competition kicked off with the Compulsory Dance, the “Westminster Waltz”.
Reigning World Champions Albena Denkova/Maxim Staviski (BUL) took the lead with a convincing performance of the dance. The couple showed off their deep edges and unison. They were awarded 39.19 points (19.56 element score/19.63 program component score).
“First it didn’t feel at all like we’re going to a competition, because we took the train. Usually we travel far and take the airplane. But of course this is thanks to our coaches. They prepared us so well that we weren’t nervous at all”, Staviski answered when asked about how it felt to come back to competition after winning the World title last March. “We started our preparations rather late, because we decided only end of June that we’re going to compete for another year”, Denkova explained. “But we feel better prepared than in previous years, because our programs really suit us this season. Maybe we’re approaching our practices differently, we’re truly enjoying everything what we’re doing.”
Melissa Gregory/Denis Petukhov (USA) came in second. The husband-and-wife team turned in a strong performance as well, maintaining good speed throughout the dance. They picked up 35.02 points (17.94/17.08). “It’s fun to start after the Olympic season and to train new things. We’re excited about changing our image and getting our skating to another level”, Petukhov commented. “Gennadi (Karpanosov) is very particular and very picky with every single step and every single edge and beat. So we’ve been working very hard every day with him to perfect our technique as well as our edges, our quality. So it’s been quite different for us, because we’ve never had this kind of attention before. We really like it and have kind of thrived on it”, his partner added, referring to training the compulsory dances with their new coaches Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karpanosov. “The Westminster Waltz is a nice dance, very soft and flowing. It’s not quite as complicated step-wise as the Golden (Waltz), but if you really get into each step and the timing of the dance, it can be quite difficult, too”, Gregory continued.
Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat of France produced a soft and flowing Waltz to earn a new personal best of 32.38 points (16.96/15.42). They finished third. The French couple first had arrived without their skates which came only this morning at 2 am. “We’re very happy, because it’s the first time that we’re in the top three (at a Grand Prix event), which is quite impressive, for us at least”, Pechalat said. “We skated very well. Fortunately our luggage arrived in time, and we quickly got into the competition. It was a high level competition and hopefully we continue like this. We had practice this morning, we felt the ice well and could adapt to the different size of the ice rink.”
Sinead Kerr/John Kerr (GBR) are currently standing in fourth place at 30.98 points. 2005 World Junior Champions Morgan Matthews/Maxim Zavozin (USA) are not far behind with 29.95 points.
Men, Short Program
Nobunari Oda of Japan captured the lead in the Men’s Short Program ahead of Alban Preaubert (FRA) and Evan Lysacek (USA).
Skating to “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra, Oda landed a high triple Axel, followed by a triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination and a triple flip. The 2006 Four Continents Champion produced excellent spins, earning a level four for two of them. The Japanese scored a new personal best of 81.80 points (44.60 element score/37.20 program component score). “I was just enjoying my skating today. I was here not just to win, but for myself”, Oda told the post-event news conference.
Preaubert put out a strong performance as well. He landed a triple Axel, a triple flip-triple toeloop combination and a triple Lutz in his entertaining interpretation of “Night on a Bald Mountain” and “Buzzy Bee”. The Frenchman also was awarded a level four for all three spins and a level three for both footwork sequences. He received 73.80 points (41.40/32.40), which is also a new personal best for him. “The program today went really well, the jumps, the spins, the steps. I had a good contact with the crowd and I hope to confirm this performance tomorrow”, Preaubert said. “I had a very good summer training in Courchevel with (coach) Annick (Dumont), and I am well prepared. I think this was a good beginning for the season for me. For a year now, I have a new personal best in each competition, and that’s a good sign! It gives me confidence and I hope to have 75 (points) at the Trophee Bompard (his second Grand Prix event).”
Lysacek stumbled on his triple Axel and also on the second jump in his triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination before he recovered and hit a triple flip out of footwork. The two-time World bronze medalist then showed strong spins and footwork in his routine set to “Passion” from “The Feeling Begins”, and was third at 70.35 points (35.90/34.45). “I had some minor errors, but I tried to put my heart and soul into the rest of the performance and I think it showed in the scores”, the 21-year-old American commented. “I’m looking forward to improving on this. It’s a start, not a perfect start, but it’s a start to the season.”
Ryan Bradley (USA) came in fourth at 64.44 points with a good program that included a triple Axel and a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, but his combination spin was wobbly and only graded a level one. Kevin van der Perren (BEL) is currently ranked 5th with 63.43 points.
Pairs, Short Program
The Pairs were the last to skate today. Rena Inoue/John Baldwin (USA) and their teammates Naomi Nari Nam/Themistocles Leftheris finished first and second in the Short Program. Anabelle Langlois/Cody Hay of Canada came in third.
Inoue/Baldwin had to overcome a shaky start into their “The Soul of Spain” program when she stepped out of the side by side double Axel. The couple went for the difficult throw triple Axel, but Inoue touched down with her hand. The Four Continents Champions are the first and so far the only pair to have landed a throw triple Axel in competition. They went on to produce a double twist and a one-armed hand-to-hand lift to earn 59.28 points (33.44 element score/25.84 program component score). “First time out, we had some flaws”, Baldwin admitted. “But we accepted the challenge of coming to Skate America and doing the first event of the Grand Prix series.” Inoue added: “Definitely we weren’t totally top tonight. We have a lot of stuff that we can improve next time. It was really hard for us to come into this season after such a huge season for us, we had an Olympic season.”
Nam/Leftheris opened their program to “La Cumparasita” with a beautiful side by side triple toeloop and a throw triple loop. The Americans completed as well a difficult lift, a double twist and maintained good speed. Nam/Leftheris collected 57.32 points (33.08/24.24). They are competing in their first Grand Prix event. “This is our first Grand Prix event as a pair, and we skated really well”, Leftheris said. “I think we both felt really confident and calm out there. We just performed like in practice all week”, Nam explained.
Skating to “Mr. Monotony”, Langlois/Hay landed the side by side triple toeloop, a double twist and a rarely seen throw triple Lutz, but Langlois two-footed it. The Canadians scored 55.86 points (32.10/23.76), improving their previous personal best by 4.08 points. “This is our first competition of the season and our second year together. It felt a lot more comfortable”, Hay commented. The couple tried the throw triple Lutz for the first time in competition, and Langlois explained that they were trying a throw double Lutz just for fun in practice but when it worked well they went for a triple and landed it the first time they tried. “It has become my favourite throw”, she revealed.
Poland’s Dorota Siudek/Mariusz Siudek are ranked fourth at 50.34 points after he missed the triple toeloop and she fell in the pair combination spin. 2005 World Junior Champions Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov (RUS) finished fifth. Mukhortova doubled the toeloop (49.02 points).
Skate America continues Friday with the Original Dance, the Ladies Short Program and Men’s Free Skating.
Results
