2003 ISU Grand Prix Final

28 February

Pairs, Short Program

Xue Shen/Hongbo Zhao (CHN), 2002 World Champions
Zhao: The feeling was very good this afternoon. We had a little problem with our side by side spin, but our other elements were fine. After the Four Continents, we had to do two shows in Nagano (Japan) for the anniversary of the Olympic Games. So we had a very tight schedule. There were too many competitions and not enough time to practice the second Free Program.

Dorota Zagorska/Mariusz Siudek (POL), 2000 European silver medalists
Siudek: We’re happy with the program, and we hope it will be enough to make the top three and the second warm up group for the Free Skating tonight. Compared to our previous Short Programs this season, this was the second best, because of the wobble on the throw triple loop. The Short Program at NHK Trophy was better.    

Tatiana Totmianina/Maxim Marinin (RUS), 2003 European Champions

Totmianina: We have shown a good Short today. It’s nearly the end of the season and we are tired.

Marinin: I was more nervous than usual. It’s different atmosphere to skate at home. It’s a double responsibility to skate well. Although there are not many people in the audience, there was a great support. I always struggle with my triple toeloop, but this time it was fine. These were the highest marks we got all season so far for our Short Program.

Julia Obertas/Alexei Sokolov (RUS), 2003 National bronze medalists
Sokolov: That was a good performance, it felt similar to the one in Germany (at Bofrost Cup). It is very pleasant to skate here in St. Petersburg, our home town. All our families and friends have come to watch. The Final is a crazy competition, though! It’s very hard to skate two programs in one day.

Anabelle Langlois/P. Archetto (CAN), 2002 Four Continents silver medalists
Archetto : I feel good about our program. We didn’t do any mistake. We can’t ask for more, so we’re satisfied. This was our first clean Short Program of all season. We’re very glad. We always did something in the Short in our other competitions. (On competing in the Final for the first time) It’s great. It’s a first experience. We did the three Grand Prix (events), it went well, and it’s just a bonus for us, and we enjoy it. We’re just having fun right now, because everybody who is competing against us has a title. We have nothing yet.

Maria Petrova/Alexei Tikhonov (RUS), 2000 World Champions
(On Tikhonov’s double toeloop) You have to ask him about this! All other elements were well done, and it felt easy to skate. I was a bit blinded by the light on the throw triple Salchow, but I did it clean.