Bordeaux / France

Trophée Eric Bompard in Bordeaux (FRA) kicked off Friday with the Short Dance and the Short Programs.

Gracie Gold (USA) wins Ladies Short Program

Gracie Gold (USA) won the Ladies Short Program. Russia’s Julia Lipnitskaya and Roberta Rodeghiero of Italy follow in second and third.

Skating to “El Choclo”, Gold produced a triple Lutz-triple toe combination, triple flip, double Axel and three level-four spins to set a new personal best for herself with 73.32 points. “I made the improvements that I wanted to coming off Skate America. I worked really hard the past two weeks. I’m really happy that I did the program that I train every day in practice. It was strong from start to finish”, the Skate America silver medalist said.

Lipnitskaya’s Elvis Presley program was highlighted by a triple toe-triple toe combination, triple flip and excellent spins. The 2014 European Champion picked up a seasons best of 65.63 points. “(Compared to Skate America) It was already easier for me, I got more into shape physically and mentally and I tried to calm down as much as possible and not to be as nervous as in my previous competitions”, the 17-year-old noted.

Rodeghiero landed a triple toe-triple toe and triple flip in her program to “Pretty Woman”. She earned 58.81 points, a new personal best.”This is my first senior Grand Prix and I didn’t expect this result. I’m very happy with how I skated today. I was calm and confident”, the Italian skater told the press.

Kanako Murakami (JPN) sits in fourth with 58.30 points and World Champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS) came fifth as she missed her triple Axel and the Lutz (56.21 points).

Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA) lead after Short Dance

Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA) danced to the lead in the Short Dance. Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier of Canada are sitting in second and Russia’s Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin are currently ranked third.

Performing to “Hallelujah”, Hubbell/Donohue completed a strong Ravensburg Waltz pattern (level four and three), level-four twizzles and a level-four curve lift. The 2014 Four Continents Champions scored a seasons best of 64.45 points. “The program felt smooth and comfortable tonight. We’ve been putting in a lot of work this off-season to make sure we were in shape and we made really the best debut possible after our coaching change. It’s a program we’re really connected to and it’s really a joy to skate”, Hubbell shared.

Gilles/Poirier’s dance to “Lucky in the Sky with Diamonds” by the Beatles and “German Dance No. 6” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart featured level-four twizzles and a level-four lift while the step sequence and the Waltz merited a level three. The Skate America bronze medalists picked up 63.94 points, a seasons best as well. “We’re definitely really happy with today’s performance. Every time this program is getting stronger and stronger and our program components are going up, which is something that we really want to be working on this year. We look forward to attacking the free dance tomorrow”, Poirier explained.

Stepanova/Bukin turned in a solid performance to Waltz and Foxtrot from the movie soundtrack “The Stuntman” that included two level-four elements. The 2015 European bronze medalists scored 60.64 points. “We are satisfied with the performance today and everything is good”, Bukin said. “We did everything we planned”, added Stepanova.

Penny Coomes/Nicholas Buckland (GBR) finished fourth (58.34 points) ahead of Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen (DEN) with 54.72 points. World Champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) had withdrawn before the event as she is still recovering from an injury.

Shoma Uno takes lead in Men’s Short Program

Shoma Uno of Japan took the lead in the Men’s Short Program. Maxim Kovtun of Russia came second and Daisuke Murakami of Japan is in third place.

Skating to “Legends” by Sacred Spirits, Uno hit a triple Axel, quadruple toeloop and triple flip-triple toe combination so earn 89.56 points, a new personal best score. “I think my performance was less than 70 percent today. The quality of my quad toe and triple Axel could have been better and also my steps and moves were not as good as I can do them in practice”, the World Junior Champion commented.

Kovtun’s program to “I Can’t Dance” by Genesis featured a shaky quadruple Salchow-triple toeloop combination, a quad toe (he touched down with his hand) and a good triple Axel. The Russian Champion posted a new seasons best with 88.82 points. “The jumps might not have been the best today, but I did them and I didn’t feel tired in the program. The program feels comfortable now, after we made many changes to it”, the 20-year-old said.

Murakami landed a quadruple Salchow and triple Axel in his routine set to “Bring Him Home”, but he reduced his combination to triple Lutz-single toeloop. He scored 80.24 points. “I was a little too overconfident, because I had my harder elements finished and my combination is one of my easier jumps. I learned a great lesson today that don’t give up until the end, because every element counts”, the Skate Canada bronze medalist told the press.

World bronze medalist Denis Ten (KAZ) ranked fourth after a fall on the quad toe (80.10 points) and three-time World Champion Patrick Chan (CAN) is sitting in fifth after he popped his combination into double toe-double toe (76.10 points).

Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov (RUS) win Pairs Short Program

Russia’s Olympic Champions Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov won the Pairs Short Program comfortably. Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres of France finished second, ahead of Canadians Julianne Seguin/Charlie Bilodeau.

Skating to Bollywood music, Volosozhar/Trankov produced a triple twist, side by side triple Salchow and level-four lift, pair combination spin and footwork, but Volosozhar two-footed the throw triple flip. The Olympic Champions picked up 74.50 points, a new seasons best. “We were more focused and not as nervous as in Oberstdorf (their first competition this season). I was sure of myself and sure of my partner. Today we were the Volosozhar/Trankov from before. We had some technical problems, but there is a reason for this”, Trankov explained.

James/Cipres’ program to “I Put A Spell On You” included a triple twist, side by side triple toeloop and throw triple flip. The French couple set a new seasons best with 65.75 points for themselves. “We are happy with the performance today. The short program is usually not so good for us, we are better in the free skating, but we worked a lot in order to do a good short program”, Cipres said.

World Junior silver medalists Seguin/Bilodeau landed a triple twist, triple Salchow and throw triple flip in their program to ”Monde Inverse” to earn 64.95 points, another seasons best. “Like at Skate America, we are happy with our performance. We did our elements. At each competition we just want to do what we do at practice at home”, Bilodeau noted.

Cheng Peng/Hao Zhang (CHN) are not far behind in fourth place at 64.10 points after she fell on the triple toe. Nicole Della Monica/Matteo Guarise (ITA) follow in fifth at 64.08 points.

Trophee Bompard continues Saturday with the Free Dance and the Free Skating. For full entries and results please refer to www.isu.org under Single& Pair Skating/Ice Dance then select Grand Prix.