Missed most of this, but they skated to La Strada in rags and
patches.....dance spins were ok....although I'm not quite sure about the
musical interpretation......sometimes it seems like they can be skating to
anything....Chris says that it was very reminiscent of Rahkamo and Kokko
(although he says they won Euros in 95 with it) These guys are in 20th place
after the OD......we see on the slomos that he almost fell coming out of one
of the lifts...
marks 3.7-4.3....4.1-4.7....they lead as Chris sings the melancholy aria of
lack of movement.
Kovalova and Szurman CZE
17th in Euros. last year....there are spiderwebs on the costumes which would
otherwise be quite nice....discordant violins wail in the dance
spin....steps with slidey lunges....nice lift, her horizontal him in besti
squat.....her dress is ivory, his top is too, black trousers.....Joanne says
they look confident....they're certainly bouncing around enough......his web
is flapping about little though and it's very annoying. And weird. Pause as
she goes under his legs and he pushes her forward and backward....nice slow
sequnce.....upside down lift.....now a dance spin....then a somersaulty
lift.....music speeds up.....another somersaulty upside down lift with her
in the splits......straight line steps the length of the rink......and he
drapes her over his knee, lets her off and they're done. Music started with
Danse Macarbe.....Chris didn't like it, but when the tempo changed, the mood
of the performance lifted. I'd go along with that....they sold it more
towards the end. They are in 19th place at the moment.....there's been one
change of place from 20th to 21st who switched,,,,
marks.....4.1-4.6.....she got a Tweety Pie!.....4.3-4.7...they're in their
alloted slot of first.
Freizer and Lukanin AZE
Desert Rose! I love this song! She's wearing rusty orange...he's in orange
and brown.....nice turn s and a lift.....and they are flying!....strong
edges, good knee bend, fabulous music.....another nice lif t where she kneel
s on his kneess....more fast lift ...the crowd clap.....have I said that I"
m enjoying this? Cause I really am. ....brutal musical edit.....dance
spin......steps where they're quite far apart and timing off...those were
twizzles.......another brutal musical edit......nice lift.....more steps
with much emotion.....they have a backbeat to it! how could they???? mind
you the crowd like it.....the clapping is drowning out hte lyrics, so I'll
just sing louder!....more steps and a whirly twirly lift....into a dance
spin.......and Cheb Mami wails into the distance as the crowd applaud at the
end. I really enjoyed that. The music was great, shabby editing aside. and
the costumes fit in well with it....and it was well-choreographed. Joanne
loved it..Chris is worried about the fact that they might not have had the
skating skills to last the full four minutes, since the song builds
momentum at the end....I really enjoyed it...there she is again doing the
splits....
they're in 16th,,so should lead...
marks....4.2-4.6.....Genrich Stretenski is their coach.....4.5-4.8....2 have
them in second, the rest first.
Gudina and Beletsky ISR
Blue and bluer.....with sequins.....SDTK of the Blues Brothers.....nice lift
from steps....much white net from her...really fast dance spin.......another
lift...with changes of postion, she ended up draped across the front of
him......music slows to a bluesy saxophone.....lift where her legs is over
his shoulder then he leans her back....twizzles and great timing....nice
interpretation.....lift where she's up and down and across him......into
dance spin where she's hanging onto his leg....s/s steps and a little out of
kilter.....dance steps........music speeds up again....sell baby sell
time.....very nice diagonal step sequence.....dance spin....very fast moves
here.....he slides her under...twirls her around and that's that. Chris
enjoyed it....not as difficult as their predeccessors, but skated well and
he loved the center section from Prince. Chris reminds us that the judges
want them to skate to the beat and not the melody. So music is important.
marks....4.3-4.8....4.6-5.0....5 have them in first, ahead on the free but
are second overall.
Gebora and Visontai...HUN
Well.....Exotica- Journey tothe Heart and then Tarzan...which explains the
basic jungle colours. ...the leopardskin sheath around him...and her green
and gold spangly thing with vines wrapped all around her....nice dance lift
where she's upside down on his back......Joanne sings the reminisence of the
Duchesnays....steps sequence.....music slows....into nice lift where she's
in a split up against him......spirals in the steps and she has a nice
one....dance spin.....he also has vines wrapped around his legs...a lift
where she's wishboned around his body....music builds......lift where one of
her legs is around his neck and she's hanging ontothat ankle on the other
side....drums beat for the step sequence which was nicely done.......steps
with twizzles from her.....another dance spin......lost timing a bit on the
step there....they seemed to be moving quite slowly, her in particular...and
they're done. They're in 17th at the moment....and they look
happy...although as Chris points out they did struggle with it at
times....he seemed to struggle making sure she was secure coming out of
dance lifts says Joanne.
marks....he got an Eeyore!....4.2-4.7...they're going to be third so they've
dropped on the free..4.4-5.4....
Ice resurface!
Nowak and Kolasinski POL
She lopped off all her hair and is in black...he's in black everything with
grey waistcoat...and it looks like he's dead throughout the
routine.....which the music is this greeky violin kinda thing.......they're
11th having dropped from 8th<?> last year.....she does a bent leg spiral grr
he goes under in a bestisquat...lift where she's lying flat out... and a
swoopy lift .....nice hold there.....stop, music changes....steps where they
go amiss but get it back.....SDTK Godfather is the music...nice dance lift
where he's spreadeagled she's upside down....more steps and spirals and
twizzles...music speeds again....another swoopy lift to a spin....one armed
hold too....dance spin with her leg on his shoulder.....move where she holds
him and he's hydroblading.....and they end and he's dead again and the net
comes down from her hair and it ends up as a black veil.....foreshadowing
since they seem to be moving down?.....Chris asks where was the beat in the
last piece of music....but he enjoyed it and so did the crowd. It was
interesting I must say...nice concept, well executed and there was a lot in
it....I was playing catch up with typing it all the time which is a good
thing in dance, sometimes you're sitting there drumming your fingers against
the keyboard!
marks....4/9-5/2......5.1-5.3....a row of ones.
Ouabdelsselam and Delmas FRA
Colourful......not going to type the many colours on his top! Her dress is
the same, stringy thingys at the bottom....inserts out of the side.....music
is techno-ish....drums etc....spinny things to start......cartwheely
lift......upside down lift....very difficult in terms of footwork to do and
describe......steps in a dance hold....music slows as they do lungey
steps.....move where he's leaning and their legs are intertwined...dance
spin short on revs.....twizzles...way the heck out of time......music sounds
like Elvis' Taiko drums.....as they slide along the ice and the crowd which
is growing by the minute, clap.....more steps.....little out of step at the
end here.....another lift ...Joanne calls it great, I'm not sure....dance
spin and they're done. The French are here in force and they are
cheering.....I've just noticed that there are African faces on their
tops....kinda purple and red and green and purple strips all mashed
together......
marks....4.6-4.8....they will be second behind the Poles....4.8-5.1...that's
their alloted slot at this stage.
Hugentobler and Hugentobler SUI
He's all in black, she's in red velvet...West Side Story...When You're A
Jet.....they're in 12th.....nice start to the routine....they're flying
around......striaght line sequence is great...they're going over and under
and around each other and they're motoring around the ice and it all suits
the music....nice changes of holds.....Joanne thinks it's loose......nice
lift where she's in a wishbone against him then he bends over...music
changes to Maria...into a dance spin.......another lift...I'm enjoying
this...move where he's spreadeagled and she's in a Y shape against
him...lift where he lifts her in front the right way, turns her upside down
and brings her around the back...another dance spin.....steps and music
changes to America.......twizzles...and they kinda lose time......and he
stumbled there.....another twirly swirly lift where her legs are in a
scissors position...and they're done and they are thrilled! And the crowd
adored it! Natalia Linichuk choreographed the routine. ...but he was holding
his leg in the bows and it looks as if he's had to be helped off the
ice....now Chris says he's ok (we're looking at replays) but that he's
struggling to get his breath back...Joanne says he's been getting injections
in his knee to help him skate or they'd have had to withdraw. You'd never
have known.
Marks 4.8-5.1....4.9-5.4...they're in second....France has them first.
Agogliati and Milo ITA
Only together since last summer.....he's in pale pea green...she's in
red....bluesy music which I will try to place because I know it......lift
where he's looking down at her, she's hanging around his waist.....they're
selling it already Joanne notes.....nice steps here, really in time with the
music.....dicey moment there but they got it back....twizzles.....slidey
deep edge movements.....music changes ....to At Last complete with
vocal......you'd think they'd look at each other but no.....swingy
lift....steps whre they weren't in synch at the start but got it back and
went into a dance spin....lift where he's carrying her, then turns her
upside down....music speeds up as they do a dance spin in the
corner....steps the diagonal of the rink.....crowd clap....they're giving it
loads......but I personally am not getting it.....another lift to finish.
The crowd loved it and they're hugging each other like they won't let
go....and I enjoyed it at the start, but I lost it during the middle
section....I don't think they looked at each other once the entire slow
section. For a couple that haven't been together a year, it was great, but
is a little connection so much to ask for?
marks...4.6-4.8....whistles from the crowd....he holds up a
note...4.7-5.0...they're in fourth...again their alloted place.
Humphreys and Baranov GBR
Looks Spanish looking...she's in a red skirt and black top with gold trim,
him in black trousers and waistcoat, red shirt.....Hungarian Rhapsody
No2......move where she's lying outstretched in a lift to start.....another
carry lift.....into dance spin.....part of it with her in Biellman
position.......steps....which are very fast and intricate......move where
she's spinning in kneeling position....crowd behind them in straight line
step.....upside down swirly to scissors lift.....steps to dance
spin....another slow section where it looked to me as if she may have nearly
slipped, it looked messy.....dance lift....excellent lift where he's
carrying her looking down at her....cartwheely lift.....dance steps....now
this couple look at each other!...and another swirly lift to finish.
Tremendous! shouts Chris as he beats the drum of national pride, telling us
that they've had the time of their lives here....she was at Euros in 93 with
Justin Lanning and in 96 and 97 with Philip Askew. Now she skates with her
Ukranian born husband. ...Roy Calloway, a sprightly 81 years of age, is
their coach.
marks....they are 13th, J&C sing the song of national
hope....4.8-5.0...Kristina Regorsky is there too...they've moved up! 4.8-5.2
and are in second..they've overtaken the Hugentoblers and she's thrilled,
hugging Roy like she won't let him go!
Next group are on the ice warming up.
Delobel and Schoenfelder
In 10th....navy blue costumes.....with blue ruffles of chiffon.....nice
timing on the twizzles....great lift...where she's ipside down in splits
with bent legs.....bestsquatish moobes....dynamic skating Joanne calls
it.....move bestisquats, leaning back.....into dance spin with her in bent
leg camel position....these have been taking lessons from the A&P dynamic of
skating as regards costumes and music I feel.....move where she's in upside
down splits and he's in a bestisquat...dance spin...this pair like those
bestisquats, which make two of us I suppose...both of them.....dance steps
dance steps.....twizzles...the length of the rink, great s/s
timing!....little flying hop from him! wow! lift where he's in his fave
position and she's doing a handstand on his leg! WoW! and then they
finish.....that was really enjoyable.....although it was the same pace all
the way through...and Chris also calls them on the amount of
spreadeagles....see my earlier comment....Joanne prattles about lack of
light and shade in the routine....Chris says that some stuff was amazing but
it got lost in the mayhem of the program. It was done well though.
marks.....4.9-5.3.....crowd don't like the marks....5.2-5.4..a row of ones.
Winkler and Lohse GER
And the drool bucket is ready and waiting! In gold costumes....Go Down
Moses....nope not gonna write it......move where he's hydroblading her legs
on either side of him.....dance spin....How Great Thou Art.....nope, not
gonna write that either.....another lift where she's reaching to heaven....I
can now teach the kids this song wit ha big huge smiles on my face....nice
dance steps, good timing in the twizzles....amazing lift ...the same as that
one that Shae and Vic used to use in exhibitions.....more steps with much
feeling.....dance spin where he's holding her free leg......faster gospel
song which I don't recognise....crowd clap.....they wave their arms....great
dancing here.....goood lord he's fine.....upside down and over the shoulder
she goes.....another spin lift.......they stop and stpped up again...s/s
dancing on the spot.....more clapping waving of the arms...she goes between
his legs.....more nice steps where she twizzles her life away!....lift where
her legs around his neck she holds the free leg and spins and they are
finished and that was awesome! Loved the concept loved the couple shouts
Chris. Sing it man! That was great...he's washed that gunk out of his hair
from the OD...gold is really his colour and hers, and the costumes are quite
flattering...more than one would think yellow and gold would be.....quality
of the skating was also good says Joanne ....Chris sings the praises of
Martin Scotnicky.genius he says...that was great......
marks....5.2-5.6...best by some way...very good marks and they're in
6th...should lead going into final group.....5.5-5.7...oh yes says Chris wow
says Joanne...row of ones...Chris ponders the potential of these two moving
up...don't jinx them say I!
Navka and Kostomarov RUS
Funeral for a Friend....I don't know anyone who'd wear that dress to a
funeral. Blood red....missing most of the front and all of the back and a
good bit at the sides...with glitter galore....he's in black...although the
top looks greeny grey.....showing much chest.....nice dance spin
htere....outside spread eagle from her inside from him.....another dance
spin.....steps....as the slow part takes hold....he's in backwards leaning
bestisquat....twirly lifts.....twizzles....dance spin with her leg on his
shoulder.....steps the length of the rink as the music builds.....they get
moving into the footwork....they get moving into the footwork......a lift
where he's bestisquatting, she's doing the splits in between his legs...that
was hard! another lift with her upside down....dance spin......music changes
again as they do steps in a dance hold, really close together.......eye up
the judges....another lift......sell baby sell.......and they are done. Just
gorgeous says Chris and I don't know if he means the dance or
her.....Joanne raves about their lines...they look just perfect
together......I say again, that Sasha Zhulin has gotten wicked bad
looking...and that for someone who had a baby in May last year, she looks
fantastic. It bears repeating, for Chris too.
marks....5.1-5.4....good marks....slot into alloted place....5.3-5.6....all
seconds but the German has them in 3rd.
Denkova and Staviyski BUL
Exotica JOurney to the Heart....black and white hodgepodges....the crowd
roar before they even do much........lots of sharp staccato kicky
bits....turns and twists galore......this has everyones' attentions.....lots
of energy....lift with her lying straight out......they stops at the
barrier...cover their faces from behind....striaght line steps....into dance
spin halfway up.....lift where he's in a besti squat....why do they allseem
to like that ugly move??? who brought itback??? More steps and they
stop....steps where they're all in changing holds and very low to the
ice.....trad dance hold.....more twisting and turning.....more
steps.....lift where she's bent backwards and he's spinning..and they're
done.....Chris calls it ingenious, says that it defies belief....innovative
yes...not sure I enjoyed it though, although J&C did. Energy was sustained
right through until the end....Joanne is speechless....now there's a
first.....
marks..5.0-5.4....they're 3rd on the free behind N&K....5.3-5.6...they're
second overall...Chris does the maths....0.2. inthe difference between them
and the Russians.
Grushina and Goncharov UKR
Man, cut your hair! It's all springy and bouncy and
stuff....Gladiator....he's in an Eldredge like black costume sans
sleeves...she's in a red spanish looking dress......lift where she's
squatting in his arms.....they stops......gesture wildly.....there's her
bestisquat which is way ugly...and I say a prayer for the length of the
skirt which saved her blushes and mine....they fly around the ice....doesn't
seem as intricate as some which have gone before....although Joanne says
they look strong....dance spin.....stpes to lift with him in sitting
position, her legs straight up....another lift....besti squat from her as
she holds him in back shoot the duck position.....they stop....turn circles
on the spot into a dance spin....messy kinda moves there.....upside down
split lift.....twizzles as they do chicken tonight arm moves to the
music....more spins and they end with her upside down at an angle, lined up
the length of his body. Joanne thinks it got messy towards the end. It left
Chris cold. And I will not say anything more because they're all saying it
for me. OOH! Joanne says they needed something with a bit of personality in
it....it doesn't type as bitchy as it sounded....Chris laments how hard it
is to find a beat in it....
marks....5.2-5.5....second on free and overall.....5.3-5.6....UKR has them
in first....the rest an even split between second and third.
Ice resurface for the final group.
Fusar-Poli and Margaglio ITA
They've changed the costumes...from the pastel nightmares to all black...his
sleeves are lightening and darkening....there's orange and yellow sequins on
both their chests....Romeo and Juliet.....much waving and turing to
start.....a lift......nice....plenty of twists and turns and changes of hold
inthe steps......they are really flying....she goes across the ice on one
knee...twice....lift where her legs are spread and he spiuns.....split lift
from her.....music goes techno....miming the motorcycle....they both
kneel......swingy over lift......he's much improved without the ponytail
itmust be said....dance spin.....more twists and holds.....another lift
where she's low to the ice....pairs spin....steps...were they out of time or
was it me?....spiral spins where they 're on a real deep edge...lift and she
throws her hands to heaven., he swings her down....music picks up with 30 to
go.....crowd clap.....wow, twizzles galore near the end, and they're not
letting up! Great lift to finish and the place goes wild! Just amazing says
Chris as they hug each other......Joanne calls it superb, Chris says they
couldn't have given more....the French are going to have to skate out of
their skins to beat this says Chris....Joanne agrees...Chris speaks of the
electric atmosphere lifting the skaters......Nicky has tipped these two to
win as has Joanne.....I'm not a big fan, and I have to say, I didn't really
enjoy it, although they did skate it well and they positively flew across
the ice....they have reallly improved looks wise for me.....
marks....5.7-5.9...mostly 8s........5.8-5.9 ...6 are 9s.....all are first.
Lobacheva and Averbukh RUS
Her dress is pink.fuschia. Her hair is blonde. With red tips. I blink stare
and check again. And yes I am right. The darker roots add to the look.
Toccata is the music....his outift is black...with a bluey chiffon
cape.....lift where her legs are in an L shape and he's holding her
up....then another upside down lift.....turns galore....another lift....with
nice transitions.....straight line step and they're not doing remotely the
same thing which is intentional but it doesn't look great....slidey move
where she's draped over his back....spins....spinny lift....stop
pause.....turn her upside down as she does pendulum on either side of his
head.....dance spin....music builds.....as theu go the length of the rink
with him propelling her around ...the crowd clap....lots of turns in the
circular step.....there's the twizzles...neat as a pin....swingy
lift.....they want that medal back!....dance steps the diagonal of the
rink......,more s/s twizzles ,again in perfect time.....dance spin....je
kneels in front...she stand up on his back and shoulder...and fin!...Chris
loved it....best they've done in a long long while. Speed across the ice was
some thing to behold he says....I enjoyed it too, but my heart is hoping
that Rita and Povilas will get the bronze.....oooh....if I bit my nails
they'd be gone up to my knuckles right now...which would make it hard to
type....
marks....5.6-5.7...crowd like it not....5.7-5.9....everyone has them in
second....ooh....stomach churning....
Anissina and Peizerat FRA
..As the klaxons go for the French! Nice simple silver dress for
her....Beethoven's Last Night...Moonlight Sonata to start....black and blue
for him....lovely pairs spin......she's twirling under his arms...music
speeds....as dothey ..sliding and spinning acros the ice...he goes on one
knnee.....lift where she's on his shoulder....she slides under
him.....around the back, leg over his shoulder.......ode to joy...dance
spin...very nice...vocals....dance spin...Gwendal mimes playing....this is
nice...very nice.....and the flow is somethingelse....spiral move where legs
extended....move where she's in a circle on his shoulder.....move where she
lifts him...he leaning on her knees......twizzles...I think they're meant to
be like that ie not perfect synch....more steps....and this is so
great!....little hoppy moves from him as she
kneelll...........steps...twizzles...crowd claps!...more turns..such
speed!...more turns...circular strep and he's fallen! they've both fallen
and they're down on the ice! oh no
nononononononononnononononoononononono!........I don't believe it! I don't
believe it! I don't believe it! so close to the end! so close! and they
fall! the crowd are still standing.....presents rain on the ice...I liked
it...and disagree with J&C that it's not the best thing we've seen
ttoday....the judges must be breathing a sigh of relief.....I'm in
shock......what a shame!...cats! pigeons!...yeah...it looked like she caught
an edge as she was dipping him and he went,...and pulled her down!
marks...5.2-5.6.....he covers his face....5.7-5.9....they're second....but 6
3rds....third on the free!
cats! pigeons!
Drobiazko and Vanagas LTU
I can't type! Yeesh! Brown and orange on her....brown on him. Kinda winey
brown...tango.....and they set the mood from the get go.....great step
sequence! perfect timing all the way through!....nice slidey move....into
dance spin..she has a nice camel position....she chases him a litte...more
dance steps.....upside down lift....and stop!....dance spin.....slow
steps....nice graceful gliding from this pair...I so love to watch
them.....swingy swirly lift with her legs spread.....move where he slides
her through then a lift......move where she slides and spins in front o
fhim.......dance steps the diagonal of the rink...including a nice
lunge....great footwork here!...he holds her waist as he's in a back shoot
the duck....lift with nice exit....more steps....another lift......exit
where he's squatting in a sit position, she's on his lap....steps....lift
down lift down.....lunge and they are done! And that was
great...breathtaking Chris calls it...and I'd have that ahead of the
Russians. Chris tells us that if these two get between the French and
L&A...they'll switch them around in overall standing....French would get
bronze and L&A get silver, but Rita and Pov will go home in 4th. Joanne
chatters while Chris checks his maths and tells us that R&P would have to
finish second on free to get bronze.....I can't think any more so I'm just
typing....
marks......what a night...and there's still one more to
go.....5.5-5.6...nothing will happen....those won't do
it......5.6-5.8.....they're 4th on a 5/4 split......and 4th overall.
Chait and Sakhnovski ISR
She's in a burgundy skirt...black top on one side and orange and white
flamey things out of it....he's in tails....Variations on a theme of
Paginini by Andrew Lloyd Webber......dance spin to start.....lift where he
gestures to the skys.....to the barrier for a straight line step as the
crowd clap.....very fast and energetic....right on the music!.....swingy
lift...and they are motoring!...her in back shoot hte duck....slide into
move with her in b-squat.....more steps....twizzles and I think she lost
it.....another twirly lift....ends with her leaning over his arm....doing
little tappy things with her feet as she twirls....lift and dpin....which is
in great time wit hthe music! Greati interpretation....lift where she's
doing the splits.....she half goes under his legs in b-squat then
doesn't......more turns and twirls under his arm.....twizzles where he's
faster than she is....more steps with lunges and he looks better at this
stage then she does adn that's saying something.....turns and turns and spin
and end and loiud applause. They gave and gave.....right to the tips of his
fingers Chris says......I dunno....I've heard much this week about how he
does a lot of the work and that she does a lot of stuff on the toepick...I
was looking at their feet, and I didn't notice the toepick so much, but he
seemed to do more of the hard stuff than she did. He certainly gave it more
oomph than she did, and he looked infinitely in better shape at the
end.....she was failing badly!....lots of energy in the routine
though...they could not have given it more.
marks,,,,whistles...5.3-5.7...5.4-5.8...they're going to stay in 5th.
So ....FP&<M are champions, A&P second and L&A third.