Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) competing in the Pairs' Short Program at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France.@ ISU
Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) lead in Pairs Short Program
Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier led the U.S. Pair teams to a one-two finish in the Short Program at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier (FRA) on Wednesday. Ashley Cain-Gribble/Timothy LeDuc sit in second placed while Japan’s Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara came third.
Performing to “House of the Rising Sun” by Heavy Young Heathens, Knierim/Frazier produced a triple twist, side by side triple toe, throw triple flip and level-four steps, death spiral and side by side spin to post a new personal best score of 76.88 points.
Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) competing in the Pairs' Short Program at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France.@ ISU
“We feel very fulfilled. We’re proud of ourselves for continuing to build at each competition for our second season together. It takes a lot of time to build in the international circuit; I think we’re just doing our best each time,” Frazier said. “We’re very grateful to be here and have a chance to do these programs again. Going out and skating well – skating like we do at practice – is very fulfilling. It’s a nice way to end the season in the Short Program segment,” Knierim added.
Cain-Gribble/LeDuc’s performance to “Nureyev” from the “White Crow” soundtrack was highlighted by a triple twist, throw triple Lutz and four level-four elements. The only glitch came when Cain-Gribble stumbled on the side by side triple loop. The U.S. Champions earned 75.85 points, a new seasons best.
Ashley Cain-Gribble/Timothy Leduc (USA) competing in the Pairs' Short Program at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France.@ ISU
„It was really hard mentally and physically (after the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games) We reached the peak of what we always wanted to do and it’s kind of hard to come back from that. But you just have to trust your training, trust the people around you to get you through it,” Cain-Gribble told the press. “We've been training really strong all season, we've been building, we've put in so much training, we just want that to show, so we're ready to go out there and execute like we do in practice,” LeDuc shared.
Miura/Kihara opened their program to “Hallelujah” with a triple twist and solid triple toe, but then she stepped out of the landing of the throw triple Lutz. The two-time ISU Grand Prix medalists picked up 71.58 points.
Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) competing in the Pairs' Short Program at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France.@ ISU
“Although there was one big mistake (on the throw jump) I was determined to finish the program with a smile because it was our last Hallelujah program and think I was able to do that,” Miura noted. “Besides the big mistake we missed some of the levels, the lift - I have to look it over and try to fix it before the Free Skating. The throw jump – after coming out from the dance lift we were not able to pick up the regular speed so the timing for the throw jump was off and that was the mistake,” Kihara explained.
Karina Safina/Luka Berulava (GEO) placed fourth with a personal best score of 67.36 points followed by Vanessa James/Eric Radford (CAN) on 66.54 points. Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nolan Seegert (GER) are less than half a point behind in sixth (66.29 points).
Karina Safina/Luka Berulava (GEO) competing in the Pairs' Short Program at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France.@ ISU
The schedule of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 is as follows:
Wednesday, March 23: Women and Pairs Short Programs, Opening Ceremony
Thursday, March 24: Men’s Short Program, Pairs Free Skating
Friday, March 25: Ice Dance/Rhythm Dance, Women Free Skating
Saturday, March 26: Men’s Free Skating, Ice Dance/Free Dance
Sunday, March 27: Exhibition Gala
* Following the IOC recommendation, in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q) i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in international ice skating Competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events (Full Statement to be read on ISU website).
