2007 Skate Canada Figure Skating Championships - Compulsory Dance, Pairs Short, Ladies' Short, and Men's Short - Highlights

2007 Skate Canada

Nov 2-4, 2007
Quebec City (QC), CAN

DAY 2
DAY 3
FULL RESULTS

STANDINGS

ICE DANCE (FINAL):

1. Virtue/Moir CAN
2. Cappellini/Lanotte ITA
3. Carron/Jost FRA

PAIRS (FINAL):

1. Savchenko/Szolkowy GER
2. Dube/Davison CAN
3. Kawaguchi/Smirnov RUS

LADIES (FINAL):

1. Asada JPN
2. Nakano JPN
3. Rochette CAN

MEN (FINAL):

1. Joubert FRA
2. Van Der Perren BEL
3. Buttle CAN

Skate Canada is the second of six events of the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix (GP) series and is being held at the Colisee Pepsi, Nov. 2-4, in Quebec City (QC) Canada.

Approximately 56 skaters from 14 different countries are competing for points and global prize monies totaling $180,000 in U.S. dollars. The points will go toward qualification for the Grand Prix Final of Figure Skating in which the top six competitors from each discipline will be invited to compete for a total purse of $272,000 U.S. dollars.

The skaters were seeded and invited for the six GP events according to the results of the 2007 World Figure Skating Championships. Competitors who finished first through sixth place in each discipline are considered seeded and are assigned to two GP events by drawing, while those who placed seventh through 12th, are invited.

Should one of the top six from 2007 Worlds retire or opt out of the GP, then the next highest ranked skater becomes seeded.

Next priority is given to skaters who achieved a seasonal best score which was equal to or better than those who placed seventh through 12th at the ISU World Championships 2007. If vacancies still remain, then competitors who placed 13th and below at the 2007 World Figure Skating Championships are selected in order of placement.

Pair teams can compete in a third event if there is an open slot, however, it is considered "non-scoring" in terms of points. Prize money still applies according to placements.

Ice Dance (Compulsory Dance)

The Compulsory Dance (CD) of the event was the Yankee Polka, which consists of two sequences and was created by James Sladky, Judy Schwomeyer and Ron Ludington. It was first performed in 1969.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada sit in first place after the CD with 36.25 points. The team displayed matching steps that were perfectly timed, however, they had a bit of a stumble going into their final pose (not "scored").

"The Polka went well," said Moir. "As always, after compulsories, we're excited about getting into the next event."

"Every compulsory is really different," he explained. "It took us a while to get into it."

"We kind of like the Argentine Tango and Austrian Waltz more, to tell you the truth," Moir admitted.

Italy's Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte showed excellent speed and remained very close for the most part of their dance, earning 32.23 points for a second place finish.

Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov of the U.S. also showed good speed and control, albeit a bit cautious, and are only .20 of a point behind the Italians with a score of 32.03.

France's Pernelle Carron and Matheiu Jost are currently in fourth, followed by Julia Zlobina and Alexei Sitnikov of Russia.

Pairs (Short Program)

The pairs event proved to be a great one despite a small field of competitors. There were no falls, and only minor mistakes were made with the exception of Germany's Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy.

The 2007 European champions displayed effortless speed, flow, and unison in their dynamic routine to music from the Asoka soundtrack (a Bollywood movie), placing first after the short with a new personal best of 69.44 points.

After producing an excellent throw triple flip, the German champions followed up with a beautiful lateral triple twist, fantastic side-by-side triple toeloops which had good unison, and a level four lasso lift.

"This was our first performance in a big international competition, and it was good," said Szolkowy. "We can be proud of ourselves and want to do the same tomorrow."

Canada's Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison not only exceeded their personal goals for Skate America last week, but won the event by over 8 points. Just when they thought it couldn't get better, the team set another personal best of 63.12 points at this event, and are currently second.

The 2006 Olympians produced side-by-side triple Salchows, followed by a well-done double twist and an excellent level three lasso lift that had good speed, flow, and ice coverage. They followed up with a throw triple loop and a mostly "mirrored" straightline footwork sequence in their routine to Galicia Flamenco by Gino D'Auri.

Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov of Russia are currently in third place with 60.00 points. The new team, who placed ninth at Worlds last year, were fast and smooth, and their elements seemed to flow effortlessly and seamlessly.

The Russians produced synchronized side-by-side triple toeloops, a triple twist, and a level four lasso lift. The 2007 Coupe de Nice champions also delivered a good throw triple loop, good spins, and nice straightline footwork which captured the lightness of the music in their routine to Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saens.

Canada's Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay showed good expression in their routine to Historia de un Amor by Perez Prado, but appeared to be a bit on the slow side compared to that of their competitors.

The Canadian bronze medalists produced good side-by-side triple toeloops and a throw triple Lutz, however, the triple twist was a bit crashy on the landing. They are currently in fourth place (53.98 points), followed closely by teammates Meagan Duhamel and Craig Buntin (52.78 points).

Ladies (Short Program)

Finland's Laura Lepistö, who missed half of last season due to injury, made her senior debut on the Grand Prix circuit.

The Finnish silver medalist placed first after the short with a new personal best of 59.18 points.

Lepistö displayed great edge quality and flow in her routine to music from The Legend of 1900 soundtrack, landing an easy triple toeloop-triple toeloop combination, a triple loop, and a flying sit spin with good good air position.

There appeared to be a calmness to her skating, though not timid. The Nordics 2007 silver medalist also produced a double Axel and two good level four spins.

"It was almost perfect and the best I could do," said Lepistö. "My jumps went well, but also my other elements such as my spins and spirals. I didn't expect this."

Emily Hughes of the U.S. showed power in her routine from the start, landing a nice triple flip out of footwork in her Gershwin routine to I Got Rhythm.

The 2007 Four Continents silver medalist also delivered a good triple Lutz-double toeloop combination and a double Axel before displaying good extensions on her spiral sequence. The American ended her routine with a very good level four layback and combination spin, earning a new personal best of 58.72 points for a second place finish.

Japan's Mao Asada, who had problems with some jumps, placed third with 58.08 points.

The Japanese champion, who seems to have grown a fair bit taller since last year, underrotated and fell out of the landing of the second jump of of her triple flip-triple loop combination. She was also penalized on her triple Lutz for taking off from the inside edge, but landed a good double Axel.

Teammate Yukari Nakano is currently in fourth place with 55.94 points. The 22-year-old fell on a triple Lutz, but otherwise landed a triple flip-double toeloop and a double Axel.

Canada's Joannie Rochette is in a close fifth with 55.48 points. The 2007 Four Continents bronze medalist produced a good double Axel, but two-footed the landing on her triple Lutz and had a shaky landing on a triple flip-double toeloop combination.

Nana Takeda of Japan and Estonia's Elena Glebova currently sit in sixth and seventh place, respectively.

Mens (Short Program)

Brian Joubert of France easily won the men's short program, scoring 78.05 points - nearly 11 points ahead of teammate Yannick Ponsero who sits in second with 67.09 points.

Joubert opened his routine to All for You by Sebastien Damiani with a quadruple toeloop-double toeloop combination, an easy triple Lutz, and a triple Axel.

"I was a little nervous here, but I also felt confident because my practices have been going well," said the 23-year-old."

The current World champion also produced a good level three combination spin and straightline footwork which had the crowd clapping.

"I really enjoy skating it," he said. "My score wasn't bad and I hope to get even better scores [in the future]."

Teammate Ponsero put out a good routine to a remix of Otonal by Maxime Rodriguez, landing a very high triple Axel and a good triple Salchow, but he stepped out of the first jump on his quadruple toeloop-double toeloop combination.

Despite the mistake, the French silver medalist delivered good spins that had great speed, position, and extensions.

It wasn't a jump night for Canada's Jeff Buttle. The 25-year-old had a shaky landing on his triple flip-triple toeloop combination, pitched forward a bit on his triple Axel, and then fell on the crossovers setting up for his triple Lutz which he missed.

Undeterred by mistakes, the 2006 Olympic bronze medalist pushed on and delivered three good spins and two level three footwork sequences to earn 66.85 points for third place.

Teammate Christopher Mabee, despite putting his hands down on a triple Axel, delivered a very good triple flip-triple toeloop combination and triple Lutz. He is currently in a very close fourth with 66.50 points.

Right on his heels is Belgium's Kevin Van Der Perren with 66.11 points. The reigning European bronze medalist produced a triple Axel and a triple Lutz, but fell on his quadruple toeloop-triple toeloop combination.

Vaughn Chipeur of Canada is currently in sixth place, followed by Pavel Kaska of the Czech Republic.

2007 Skate Canada - Figure Skating Highlights

Compulsory Dance, Pairs Short, Ladies' Short, and Men's Short

Ice Dance (Compulsory Dance)

Pairs (Short Program)

Ladies (Short Program)

Mens (Short Program)