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2008 Russian Nationals - Figure Skating HighlightsOriginal Dance, Pairs Short, and Ladies LongJan 5, 2008
The 2008 Russian National Figure Skating Championships continued today with the Original Dance (OD), the Pairs Short Program, and the Ladies Long Program. Ice Dance (Original Dance)Jana Khokhlova (22) and Sergei Novitski (26) continued to dominate the dance field as they won the Original Dance (OD) with 65.48 (35.08/31.38) points. The 2007 Russian National silver medalists were flawless and expressive in their performance to Two Guitars, but their twizzles were a bit slow and they lost 1.00 point due to an extended lift. The highlights of their program was a complex combination spin, very impressive and fast lifts, and an intricate side-by-side step sequence. The team received a level four for all their elements and they are currently first overall with a total score of 106.78 points. Ekaterina Rubleva (22) and Ivan Shefer (24) performed their "Gopak" Ukrainian dance much better than they did over a month ago at Cup of Russia. The team displayed more powerful and confidence with better character throughout the dance, however their twizzles were rather weak. The 2007 Russian National bronze medalists also performed two very strong lifts, well integrated into the choreography and the style of dance, but the final rotational lift received only a level three. They placed second in the OD with 57.86 (23.09/19.26) and overall (92.54 points).
Ekaterina Bobrova (17) and Dmitri Soloviev (18) pulled up to third place overall (88.02 points) after placing third in the OD with 55.26 (30.44/24.82) points. Bobrova had to check her balance during a twizzle, but their lifts were strong and well suited to the music. The 2007 Russian Junior champions earned a level four on all their elements and their "Kalinka" was well received by the audience. "I think we have grown up quite a bit since last year," Bobrova told the press. "This season we are competing in Seniors, sharing the ice with much stronger couples than we faced before, and we try to live up to their level. But on the other hand, we are not concerned with placements this season. All we want to do is to skate clean and make a strong impression. I felt we skated better in Moscow (Cup of Russia), but we love competing in St. Petersburg. The atmosphere is great here and so are the hotel and the ice." Natalia Mikhailova (21) and Andrei Maximishin (23) skated a clean, but rather generic program to Gypsy tunes, which was highlighted by two strong lifts. However, their twizzle section in the side-by-side step sequence was flawed as they failed to maintain the constant distance between them. Both step sequences were graded a level two and they scored 52.94 (27.82/25.15) points for fourth place in the OD. With a total score of 85.80 points, the team slipped to fourth overall. Anastasia Platonova (21) and Alexander Grachev (23) performed a dance to Eastern music which contained an impressive curve lift and a strong combination spin, but they appeared to miss the hold during the midline step sequence, which was graded level two. The students of Svetlana Alexeeva otherwise earned a level three on their non-touching step sequence. The 2007 Winter Universiade silver medalist were also very expressive and maintained good attack throughout the dance, earning 49.64 (27.06/22.58) points for a fifth place finish in the OD and overall (79.89 points). Pairs (Short Program)
Yuko Kawaguchi (26) and Alexander Smirnov (23) won the Pairs Short Program despite an error in their side-by-side spin which was graded only a level 2 and had negative Grades of Execution (GOE). The team performed the first half of the spin in excellent unison, but Smirnov aborted the second half. The 2007 Cup of Russia and Skate Canada bronze medalists landed side-by-side side triple toeloops and a throw triple loop, but their triple twist had a poor catch. They received 66.30 (36.85/29.54) points. Maria Mukhortova (22) and Maxim Trankov (24) opened their Otonal routine with a solid triple twist, but then Mukhortova doubled a planned triple toeloop during their side-by-side jumps. The defending champions recovered to produce a level 4 lift and pair combination spin, but they lost a bit of unison during the side-by-side spins and their straightline step sequence was awarded only a level two. The students of Oleg Vasiliev finished their program with a strong throw triple Salchow and collected 62.26 (33.40/28.86) points for a second place finish. Vera Bazarova (14) and Yuri Larinov (21) finished third with 57.47 (32.95/24.52) points. The 2007-08 Junior Grand Prix champions began their program with a strong triple twist, but they received a minor penalty for their side-by side-double Axels (-0.11 GOE). The team also received only a level one for their their death spiral and straight line step sequence, but they completed a level 3 lift, a level 2 pair combination spin, and a throw triple flip. Ksenia Krasilnikova (16) and Konstantin Bezmaternykh (19) are currently fourth with 55.47 (31.03/24.44) points. The two-time and current World Junior bronze medalists completed side-by-side double Axels, a throw tripe flip, and a triple twist. However, their non-jumping elements were graded a level 1 and the team appeared rather reserved and cautious throughout their performance to Quidam from Cirque du Soleil. The Championships debutantes, Lubov Illushechkina and Nodari Maisuradze, finished fifth with a nearly flawless performance which featured side-by-side triple toeloops, a throw triple loop, and a triple twist. Their intricate choreography and excellent carriage made them instant crowd favorites and the spectators booed at their marks 54.95 (31.61/23.34) points. Training mates Arina Ushakova and Sergei Karev are sixth with 53.92 (29.74/24.18) points after Ushakova doubled a planned triple toeloop during the side-by-side jumps. Ladies (Long Program)
Katarina Gerboldt, who stood in sixth after the short, won the ladies free skate, but missed the podium by 0.80 points. The 18-year-old earned 96.76 (46.98/52.28) points for her performance to Scheherezade and 144.64 overall. The student of Alexei Mishin received two points deduction - one for falling on her second triple and another for finishing behind the music. Nonetheless, the 2007 Golden Spin bronze medalist landed four triple jumps: a loop, a toeloop, a triple flip-double toeloop-double loop combination, and a triple Salchow-double toeloop combination. Though she clearly ran out of stream during her circular step sequence, the judges felt that her performance skills were superior to everyone except Doronina. Olga Naidenova, who stood in fourth after the short, placed second in the long with 95.63 (43.34/52.19) points, and moved up to third overall (145.34 points). The 20-year-old landed four triples jumps: two salchows (one in combination), a toeloop and a loop. She had strong spins, but her spiral sequence and steps were weak and after a mistake on her opening jump (she popped a flip into double) , she was visibly upset and didn't recover her spirit until the end of the program. Nevertheless, she was happy to medal. "I've competed at Nationals for so long," said Naidenova. "Of course I always dreamed of winning a medal and now this dream has finally came true. This medal is very important for me." Defending champion Ksenia Doronina managed to hang onto first place overall (149.09 points) after placing third in the long with 94.94 (40.83/54.11) points. The 17-year-old, who was brilliant at practice, struggled with the jumps in her long program to Tales of Travels. The student of Alla Pyatova landed her first three jumps: a triple flip, a triple Lutz (Boitano style), and a triple loop, but then underrotated and fell on a triple Salchow and singled her second Lutz and toeloop. The 2007 Russian Junior bronze medalist recovered to land a double Axel-double toeloop combination towards the end of the program, but her non-jumping elements and expression left much to be desired. "I've tried to push the thoughts of defending my title out of my mind and just skate as well as I could and enjoy my performance," Doronina later explained. "I'm not sure what happened later in the program. Perhaps after I landed three opening jumps I became too carried away with my music." Doronina also felt that she was helped in a roundabout way when the Russian Figure Skating Federation (RFSF) when they removed her from 2007 Cup of Russia lineup. "It allowed me to concentrate on preparation for Nationals," said Doronina, "but on the other hand, every competition is a valuable experience for me." When asked about her coaching change, she replied: "Sometime during summer camp, I felt like I'd lost rapport with Alexei Mishin. I have to come to the conclusion that in order to progress further, I have to move to a new coach. As I was very much impressed with Alyona Leonova's skating, who is one of the leaders of the Russian junior team, I asked her coach Alla Yurievna Pyatova to take me." Nina Petushkova finished second overall (146.99 points) after placing fourth in the long with 92.90 (46.06/46.84) points. The usually consistent skater doubled both her triple flip attempts, but otherwise landed four triples which included a Lutz, a toeloop, and two loops (one of which was in combination with a double toeloop). However, the 15-year-old's spiral and step sequences were very weak. Petushkova was happy to be competing in St. Petersburg and felt the event was very organized. "I hoped to be in the position to medal," Petushkova later told the press, "but my main task has been to come out and skate clean and not to bother about placements. Obviously, I didn't manage it. I have to work more on my long program to avoid making such stupid mistakes in the future. Perhaps I simply haven't skated it enough times." Petushkova also had a recent coaching change, switching from Andrei Kisliukhin to Zhanna Gromova last August. "The reason was that I could get better training conditions at Khodynka than in Odintsovo," explained Petushkova. "It's closer to the place there I live and we have only 12 skaters on the ice during the practice, while in Odintsovo we often had 20." Yana Smenkhnova placed fifth in the long with 87.86 (39.90/48.96) points and remained in fifth overall with a total score of 137.20 points. She delivered an upbeat performance to Russian folk music, which included a triple Salchow and triple toeloop at the end of her program as well as very nice spins. Though she expressed the character of her music perfectly, she fell on her opening triple flip and doubled a toeloop and loop. Oksana Gozeva slipped from third to sixth place overall (132.52 points) after placing ninth in the long with 79.06 (33.78/46.28) points. Though 18-year-old attempted a complete set of triples, they were mostly flawed. The highest technical score of the night belonged to 11-year-old Elizaveta Tuktamysheva. The student of Alexei Mishin completed all five triples jumps: loop, Lutz (with step out), flip and Salchow (both in combination with a double toeloop), and toeloop. Despite her charming personality and lovely performance skills, her basic skating skills aren't yet up to par on the Senior level and it hurt her in the program components scores. She placed eighth in the long with 84.30 (46.98/37.39) points and finished 10th overall (119.65 points). The event continues with the Free Dance, Pairs Free Skate, and the Men's Free Skate. |
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Jana Khokhlova (22) and Sergei Novitski (26) won the Original Dance with their Gypsy-themed routine to Two Guitars.
Yuko Kawaguchi (26) and Alexander Smirnov (23) perform a one-armed lift during their routine to Rondo Capriccioso. 
Katarina Gerboldt, 18, won the Ladies Free Skate with her routine to Scheherezade.