The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final opened Friday in Gdansk, Poland with the Compulsory and Original Dance, the Ladies, Pairs and Men’s Short Programs. The top eight skaters/couples from the eight events of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating series have qualified for the Final from December 7 to 9. Gdansk hosted the Final once before in 1999.
Ice Dancing, Compulsory & Original Dance
The Compulsory Dance at the Junior Grand Prix Final was the Cha Cha Congelado. This dance was developed by Bernard Ford, Kelly Johnson, Laurie Palmer and Steven Belanger. It was first performed in Richmond Hill (CAN) in 1989.
Maria Monko/Ilia Tkachenko of Russia grabbed the lead in the Compulsory Dance, edging out their teammates Kristina Gorshkova/Vitali Butikov by less than one point. Both couples produced a precise and musical performance of the dance. Monko/Tkachenko picked up a seasons best of 33.66 points (17.87 element score/15.79 program component score) while Gorshkova/Butikov earned 33.35 points (17.72/15.63). Emily Samuelson/Evan Bates (USA) came in third in the Cha Cha Congelado. They skated well, but appeared somewhat stiff. The 2006 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists earned 31.70 points (16.69/15.01).
The dancers came back later in the evening for the Original Dance. Monko/Tkachenko strengthened their lead with a dynamic and characteristic performance to a Russian Folk song named “I’m going out on the street”. They produced intricate footwork, earning a level four for the side by side midline and the circular step sequence. The couple also produced a straight line lift and a rotational lift. All elements were graded a level four, and the Russians posted a new personal best of 56.57 points (31.58/24.99), which added up to 90.23 points so far. “We skated quite well and did all our elements, but I still feel we skated a bit better in England (at the Junior Grand Prix in Sheffield), it felt somewhat more confident there. But we got a high score and we’re very pleased. Most couples chose a more classical music, and we tried to set ourselves apart and went for a more upbeat dance”, Monko explained.
Gorshkova/Butikov had opted for a Greek Dance and put out a strong performance as well, completing a serpentine step sequence, a curve lift, a dance combination spin and a rotational lift. All their elements but the serpentine received a level four. The Muscovites collected 54.98 points (30.72/24.26) and were ranked third in the Original Dance, but held on to second place overall at 88.33 points. “We skated very well in the Compulsory Dance but not as good in the Original Dance. There was a little error right at the end of the side by side footwork. It felt hard to skate today with two dances and the practice”, Gorshkova admitted.
Samuelson/Bates turned in a cute dance to “Kalinka”, showing precise footwork, spin with changes of position and a well synchronized side by side step sequence. The defending Junior Final silver medalists were awarded a level four for all five elements and finished second in the Original Dance with a new personal best of 55.66 points (31.93/23.73). They remained in third place with 87.36 points. “We’re really happy with the way we skated today in the Compulsory and in the OD”, Bates told the press. “It was a long day for us today, we’ve been up for a while, and we had to stay sharp to skate tonight”, he continued. “We did a Russian dance three years ago for our Free Dance and we competed with it at our first Nationals (Novice). It was a great dance and it suited us, so this year for Folk we decided to go with it again, and we definitely enjoyed the program a lot”, Samuelson said, referring to their choice of music.
Vanessa Crone/Paul Poirier (CAN) are standing in fourth place. They were fifth in the Cha Cha but pulled up one spot with a Romianan Gypsy Dance (77.67 points). Madison Chock/Greg Zuerlein (USA) are ranked 5th. She stumbled in the circular step sequence and fell on a transition step right after it (75.78 points).
Ladies, Short Program
Mirai Nagasu (USA) took the lead in the Ladies Short Program ahead of Yuki Nishino of Japan and Rachael Flatt (USA). The flying sit spin and the double or triple loop are required elements in the Junior Ladies Short Program of the 2007/2008 season.
Skating to “I Got Rhythm” by George Gershwin, Nagasu delivered a joyful program and landed a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination, a triple loop and double Axel. The reigning World Junior silver medalist produced a layback into Biellmann spin, and a combination spin that were graded a level four, however, she stumbled on her flying sit spin. The 14-year-old earned 59.35 points (34.78 element score/24.57 program component score) and surpassed her previous personal best of 57.22 points. “I was just so excited, and then I forgot to think it through and I kind of stumbled on it”, Nagasu said. “My goal is to skate my best, and I don’t really care where I am placed. I think I skated my best, but there is always room for improvement, especially in the flying sit spin. It is exciting to be international. Pressure is something the skater, the athlete makes for herself and if I just go to a competition trying to skate my best and believing in myself, then I’ll skate my best”, the skater said.
Nishino’s routine to “Leyenda” by Vanessa Mae included a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination, a triple loop and a solid double Axel as well as a level four layback and combination spin. The 14-year-old received a new personal best of 54.63 points (32.33/22.30). ). “I was very happy to have done my triple Lutz”, the Japanese told the press. “I felt a little bit that it was a seasons best, but I somehow felt happier with my performance in Estonia (at the Junior Grand Prix). I didn’t expect to qualify for the Final and I was surprised that I did.”
Flatt nailed a triple loop and double Axel and got a level three for her straight line footwork. The American was the only skater to risk a triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination, but the second jump was downgraded. She picked up 52.11 points (29.99/22.12), which was a new personal best for her. “I think I skated really well. I’m really excited to skate in the Final this year. I can’t tell you how much of experience this is for me”, the 15-year-old commented. Asked about what she wants to improve, she answered: “working on my speed, just having my jumps higher and stronger and having my spins faster and more flexibility.”
Kristine Musambeda (USA) is not far behind Flatt in fourth place with 50.46 points. She completed a triple flip-double toeloop combination. Jenni Vähämaa (FIN) is currently ranked fifth. She stepped out of her triple loop and singled the Axel (46.68 points).
Pairs, Short Program
Three Russian couples are leading after the Pairs Short Program. Vera Bazarova/Juri Larionov won the first segment of the Pairs event ahead of Ksenia Krasilnikova/Konstantin Bezmaternykh and Ekaterina Sheremetieva/Mikhail Kuznetsov. The throw double or triple loop and the double Axel or double loop are required elements in the Junior Pairs Short Program.
Bazavora/Larionov put out a smooth program to “Shadow Fights” and produced a double twist, a side by side double Axel, a throw triple toeloop, a high double twist, a one armed Lasso lift and a interweaving straight line footwork (level three) to earn a new personal best of 58.45 points (35.05 element score/23.40 program component score). They earned a level four for their side by side spin, but got only a level one for the death spiral. “It felt easy to skate, and the atmosphere was good”, Larionov said. “For each competition, we are trying to give the maximum and to improve from the last competition. We are looking to improve the skating itself and the quality of our elements.”
Krasilnikova/Bezmaternykh’s routine to “Quidam” from “Cirque du Soleil” featured a double Axel, a high throw triple toeloop, difficult toe lasso lift as well as a level-four death spiral. On the other hand, their footwork and their side by side spin were graded only a level one. The current World junior bronze medalists scored 53.15 points (31.20/21.95). “We did our job today”, Krasilnikova told the press. “When we competed at the senior level Grand Prix, we didn’t feel so comfortable, because we were not used to it. But the experience at the senior Grand Prix gave us confidence.”
Skating to “Winter” from “Four Seasons”, Sheremetieva/Kuznetsov landed a throw triple toeloop, a double twist and a side by side double loop. The couple was awarded a level three for their spins and received a new personal best of 50.25 (28.73/21.52) for this performance. “We’re happy, because we did everything we can do”, Sheremetieva commented. “We didn’t have much time to prepare for this event, because Misha (her partner) suffered from an inflammation in his foot. We started to practice fully only one week ago and only then decided that we are coming here. For tomorrow we’ll just want to skate our best and hopefully can stay in the top three.”
Amanda Velenosi/Mark Fernandez (CAN) are within striking distance of the podium. The executed a solid double Axel and two level-four spins, but she crashed on the throw triple toeloop (49.47 points). Jessica Rose Paetsch/Jon Nuss (USA) finished fifth at 47.34 points. They both struggled with their double Axel.
Men, Short Program
The Men’s competition was at a high level with all eight skaters giving strong performances. Adam Rippon (USA) took the lead with his teammate Brandon Mroz following in second place. Jinlin Guan of China came in third. For the Junior Men, the change foot camel spin, the flying sit spin and the triple loop are the required elements in the Short Program this year.
Rippon landed a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, a double Axel out of a spread eagle move and a triple loop in his routine set to “Toccata and Fugue” by Johann Sebastian Bach. The 18-year-old showed also strong spins, two of which were graded a level four, and put a lot of energy in his footwork to collect 68.43 points, which was a new personal best for him. “All the elements felt ok. The jumps felt a little off, but I practice them so much that it didn’t matter. So I was happy with how everything came out. It’s such an honor to be here, because there are so many skaters doing the Junior Grand Prix and only eight of them make it to the Final. It’s totally different from any other competition that I’ve done, because it’s so small, but everyone is so good. I didn’t skate anybody skate before me, but I heard the scores, and everybody’s scores were very good. I knew that it was a very strong event. When I heard the scores I said to myself, it doesn’t matter what everybody else does. I’ve just tried to focus on what I’ve been doing in practice”, Rippon commented.
Skating to “Night on Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgski, Mroz reeled off a triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination, a triple loop, double Axel and got a level four for his change foot camel spin and the combination spin. His circular step sequence was a level three, but his straight line only a level one. The 2006 Junior Final silver medalist picked up 63.13, improving his previous personal best of 60.77 points. “It was awesome. It’s great that I ended the competition like this. What I’ve been aiming for was getting into the 60s. Today I exceeded that and got 63, so I’m pleased. I’ve been training great, so the long should not be a problem”, the 16-year-old said. “This year I was fine going into the short program, I was relaxed and not too nervous, unlike last year when I was a little jittery about it being in the Junior Grand Prix Final, but this year it seems like the norm”, he added when asked about returning to the Final.
Guan hit a triple Lutz-triple toeloop, a triple loop and a double Axel in his program to “Tango de los Exilados” by Vanessa Mae. His flying sit spin was graded a level four, but the change foot camel spin was a level two. The Chinese scored 62.41 points (34.03/28.38). “This was an average performance. I didn’t such high levels on my spins, and especially the footwork had only a level one”, Guan said.
The skaters ranked fourth to seventh are separated by less than one point. Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA) came in fourth with solid performance that included a triple Lutz-triple toe and three level-four spins (59.07 points). Artur Gachinski (RUS) placed fifth. He hit a triple Axel-double toeloop combination and was the only athlete to risk the triple Axel (58.77 points).
For full results, please refer to www.isu.org. The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final continues Saturday with the Free Dance, the Ladies, Pairs and Men’s Free Skating.
