Guerassimenko and Futas

Olga Bestandigova and Josef Bestandig CZE
Her hair is still red, more pinky right now. Black dress for her, black trousers and white shirt for him...Michael Jackson medley....miming on spot to footsteps...nice unison though....she singled her axel...he did the 2....thriller...nice height on the split 2twist....crowd clap...throw 3 sal and she couldn't check out enough on the landing, looked like she had it....nice s/s spins...excellent timing says Chris....NIcky talks of interesting positions nad flow and depth...lift to the start of Earth song.....billy jean and dancing in place for the straight line step....not much difficulty, but there sure in unision, and they can bring the moonwalking...they do b/i death spiral as well, so Chris's elements sheet must be buggy....pairs spin....the door creaks shut and they're done. Chris loved it, he says it was something different which will go down well in SLC....they qual 5th at Golden Spin, as Nicky agrees that this will fly with an American audience, and she went smakc on the throw, looked like she caught an edge at the end, they say she didn't check out, and it was her free leg (extended leg) that just caught it....that hair is pink. Cerise even. A dark shade of rose perhaps.
marks...3.5-3.9....7 times National champions...shes 22 he's 23...4.3-4.8, and he's gone, leaving her there...charming....

Rennik and Saks EST
Brown velour, music Crosspoint....kinda jazzy and upbeat...goldy accents on clothes, her dress rather low cut....half turn short on the twisst, not near enough height....she doubled her sal, he tripled.....first internation....lft went up and striaght back down, just not hte strength there.....throw 2sal.....smile girl smile...s/s spins, looked like he lost it going into the camel..change to sit and they're all over the place again....b/i death spiral....pairs spin....again, it's slow....and losing speed throughout....circular step.....and they're done. She's 16, he's 19 and he looks ten. I swear to goodness.
marks 2.5-2.8....yikes! Nicky says he's never seen marks in the twos, Chris says you weren't around when I was skating...Pres. 3.6-3.9. Straight thirds.

Cobisi & De Pra ITA
23rd in worlds last year, national champs ..lord of the dance....in red...redly red with sparkles going into black at the waist....she's down on the 2ax...he's got an afro...and not in a good way....and she looks like she needs clean boots....throw triple loop, late with free leg but she go it...s/s spins....good timing but they moved away from each other....2twist was a little low...ift....not bad.....d/s and she could be lower to the ice....god her arms are like toothpicsk.....lots of ice coverage on straight line step....pairs spins....not bad at all chris tells us....sh'es 19 he's 21....chris says music was good but dangerous...music was getting quicker to the end, but they weren't....and nicky too is beating the drum of the dirty boots and they are indeed filthy....presentation needs to be improved they feel, because they have the look....the outfits and we get a close up on the boots once more and good grief!
marks....they are also going to SLC...3.7-4.1...this thieir first euros....4.2-4.9...5/4 split but they lead.

Shklover and Mintals EST
10th last year....Pearl Harbour...oh the jokes....stop! stop!...black velvet body suit for him, red dress for her...great twist...huge height, and delay....throw 3sal and he looked like he was going to fall, she touched down with left foot....and she's down on the triple toe.....s/s spins, off at start but get it back.....in unison but slow...lift....with a somersault dismount and that was lovely....just lovely....32cm height diff....pairs spins...straight line dtesp.....not much in way of difficulty....and she caught her foot in steps later on....d/s and that was nice....and she smiles coming out of it and they're done. And that was nice. Very well skated just a couple of big errors, .5 total deduction for the fall and step out...Chris says .6, but whatever...nicky upset with how program developed.....didn't quite make the three turns on the toe loop...he had a good skate says Chris....nicky liked the way he presented her....death spiral was a corker.
marks 4.0-4.4....4.6-4.7....in first overall (one second)

Kraslitseva and Snachkov ARM
He's in a purple blouse, black trousers and waist coat...she's in a black dress with grey and black scarfy things....huge double twist...and that blouse is billowy and I remmeber hating it last year....s.s 2toe loops....s/s spins ...lost timing on the change....and they're gone now....heard him shout but no synch....thrwo 2sal, and there was no speed going there at all but enough prep for a quad....lift nicely done but speed people! come on! straight line step as the russian folkiness of it all gets the crowd clapping and Artem gets a fright and skids....d/s ...ok...pairs spin....and they are mercifully done. Difficult to know how to sum that up says Chris. I don't have a problem, nor does Nicky. In a nutshell, the music was called "Coachman don't drive the horses too hard" ( and No, I'm NOT making that up!) and they sure didn't. They didn't both double out on the toes, they went for doubles. They're capable of more, but are taking the easy way out all the time.
marks... 3.6-3.9....3.8-4.2...they're 5th with twelve to go.

Ice resurface.

And this is a good group! Joanne (Conway) in the studio just wants someone clean....

Group 3
Petrova and Tikhonov RUS
And he likes his pale colours doesn't he? Pale pale pale blue trousers and waistocat, white shirt....kinda JOhn Curryesque...nice silver dress for her, flamey things on top, and she's got the ponytailback, oh yay! Angelic harpy music...Nutcracker.....and you can see the jump in standard....clean triple toes.....s/s spins....nice tming.....good change....and great flow on the exit....lovely doulbe twist.....throw 3sal, made it look easy....lift...with split in it, and not so ugly ugly dismount....thye're the ones that have the one I hate....nicky ponders the fact that his foot might not have been off the ice on the lift....expressive arm waving through the steps and crescendo....death spiral was lovely, nice and low....pairs spins to finish....and they aredone. And that was lovely! We have a competition says Chris...and I realise that the colour I'm looking for is periwinkle, and that there are very few men who can wear it, and I'm not sure that he's one of them...but the power and grace of their movement was unreal....such a step up from everyone else, and the timing was something to behold....not much length on throw 3sal...no, he was late getting the foot off the ice, his two feet were on the ground when she came down which is a .1 deduction.
marks...5.5-5.8....and just imagine if they'd gone later....pres....5.6-5.8, and first across the board.

Chuvaeva and Palamarchuk UKR
Oh the pinkness! And the black netting and trousers for him...Harlem Blues is the music, so of course there is much pink and yellow in the costumes....bad warmup they had....and they got the triple toes....wide wide apart...but clean....huge twist, a double.....throw 3sal and that was great! Nicky was about to do a Murray walker, but didnt and good on him! Nice lift....this is a differnet class to the warm up....circular step....s/s spins....far apart and first change wans't great...posey steps...d/s...arch your back! arch it! pairs spin....and they are done. And well done says Chris, what about that! And they done good! Rose to the occasion magnificently....he missed the throw in the warmup. how he did that I don't know, but they tell me he did so I believe them....for those of you who don't know, Murray Walker is a British motor racing commentator, who was given to verbal gaffes and annointing winners only to have something go disastrously wrong. Much like me, in fact. One of his most famous ones is "The car in front is unique. Apart from the one behind it, which is exactly the same" See, he's just like me?
marks...4.8-5.3....if she would smile....4.9-5.3..straight seconds ,which is about right.

Zagorska and Siudek POL
He's in a white shirt and black trousers, , she's in a mango coloured dress which is a pinky mango....he's got a matching tie...Pennsylvania and 65000...or something like that.....lots of animation...and it's St Louis Blues...clean triple toes that weren't pretty....entries all over the gaff....huge split twist....and they're really selling this...s/s spins...fantastic speed, his sit spin position is woeful. Just bad! throw 3sal which didn't look on and she had to work hard and just stepped out, she did well to hold it....nice straight line, alarm rings in the music and they stop and then do it again...nice....d/s....nice...into sing sing sing....dancing on the spot....and I groove in my chair....nice lift...with swingy meno.sand dismount....pairs spin which is wicked fast....and they're done...and that was great! Loved it loved it loved it! Great oomph and movement and motion and life....he twisted his knee at Lalique so they had to withdraw... throw triple sal he could have thrown her early....didn't guide her properly, it was very loose looking...as NIcky tells us that he thinks the end of the program needs work, Chris agrees they don't have the finesse of the Russians. I cna't disagree per se, but I'm waving my Polish flag , this was my favourite so far.
marks 5.3-5.5....ok, this is why I'm not a judge....5.4-5.6....straight seconds.

Sirokhvatova and Salmanovs LAT
Black for them both, mango inserts for her....violin music to start....expressive arm waving....she jumped beofre him, triple toes, hers two footed....chris says short on rotation...split twist not as good as those that preceded it....down onthe thow 3sal and down hard....I felt it here....s/s spins....slow...bad on the change...not great on the second change either...and lack of synch when they came out...lift...didn't look the best,slower and shorter than the rest....straight line step...ok on synch not great speed or diff....d/s...pairs spins....and they're done. And you know I could be wrong, but I don't think they looked at each other from one end of the program to the other. They look well, Nicky says but it needs more technical content. They show promise they think, he needs more strength esp in the lifts. she landed forwards on the triple toe...they were missing a spark for me, they could have given more chris says, which is just what I think...choreographically weak...and she could also do with the polish of the boots. 2nd in Lat nationals last year. Both 21.
marks...she was a singles skater....3.3-3.9 for tech....4.1-4.6....8th overall.

Group 4
Sfikas and Seabrook GBR
National champions, she's American, from Chicago.(Tiffany Ann) and he's a Brit....went to Euros and worlds in 98 with the Ukranian Marsha Poluliashenko (I think that's spelled wrong, it's been a while) First ever international . Skating together 3 years, she's only just got Brit residency....he's in black, with silver spangels, as is she...back of dress, much of front and all one sleeve is sparkle covered netting. Chris says you can see the American in her style...and I really get his point. And there are butterflies on his belt. But hopefully not in his stomach. Or hers. Chris is flying the Union Jack, God help us all....shes 24 hes 23....The Mask of Zorro...again??? again??? you be the matador you manly man you! She's sure as heck the cape from the choreograhpy....and seh's down on the triple toe, short on rotation...leaning on the triple sal throw but made it count....and she's smilnig....very low on the twist....d/s...nicely done and well held...not much height diff....lift...and that was well done....s/s steps....nice unison....and tricky steps too....claps of the hands...s/s spins....unison not great but they get it back....really good at the end....pairs spins....not sure about the ending pose, but well done. She bounced right back....presenting all the time...yeah and she was well short on the toe..how she landed the throw sal I do not know...you should've seen the lean on it....we get a nice shot of Andrew looking right into the camera when they were starting the steps...he knew the red light was on! they look happy....big smiles....and you can hear her say she really enjoyed it...
marks ... 3.7-4.6...coach is happy with those...4.4-5.0, and they're 4th of 10 so far which is not bad at all.

Totmianina and Marinin RUS
The lilac lovelies....ugly shirt on him, with layers of purple on the sleeves...eek...nice lilac dress on her though. But God, I hate that shirt on him. Eew! Star and Death is the music...well that 's cheered me right up...d/s to start....and tis a nice one....lyrical music....suits their style....throw 3loop and she flew! she just flew....in and out.....s/s triple toes which were also clean...such quality says Nicky as bells ring on the soundtrack...s/s spins...nice on both changes....oh that was great....bang on time....huge split 2twist....this is the best so far says Nicky...lovely lify and he put her straight down, interesting position from her, and obviously harder...citcular step....nicely expression to the music...pairs spins, one with her in almost biellman position and it's over? What? It's over? It did not seem like two and a half minutes. Nicky says it was the best of the evening, CHris doesn't agree, and I think that I do. SHe's got flowers on the front of her dress. Chris says taht the landing of elements wasn't as clean as P&T and not as fast...Nicky agrees on the speed thing....her weight was forward over the toe on the throw says CHris and he reckons his could go either way. ... synch on spins was done to the music, not to a shout......2 deduction says Chris because he was late getting his foot out on the lift...Nicky is gushing . still.
marks 5.6-5.8 mostly 7s....5.6-5.8...and they're first! three seconds the rest firsts!

Kautz and Jeschke GER
9th last year. Wine shirt and blakc trosuers for him, black with wine inserts and halter neck on her dress....smile girl you can do it...9th for hte last two years and whomever is highest with these and Mirko Muller (yes he's back!) go to Olympics - Chris is also muttering about the top 8 slot...which they have to get into for Olympics....and there are much sparkles....Wild Things is the music....wailing female....nice twist....and she went on the toes....he did nice triple...she pulled out...double footed the throw 3toe horribly....lift...which didn't look great going up....put down a little heavy and snow flew up from his skates...death spiral which was nice and low....steps...nice unison....slid to a stop and pairs spin...nice and fast...s/s spins a mile apart....and slow, but kept in time. And they are done. In more ways than one I would guess. And she does not look like the happiest of campers. As we go to replays, we are reminded that they must be top German couple and in 8th place here to go to SLC>....her timing off on the toe loop...all over the place....Nicky praises the choice of music...but senses that they have more that they can do, they could drive harder....never got going Chris tells us. Members of the German army these two.
marks .... Diana Goolsbee the choreographer...3.7-4.6...youch! 4.5-4....they're 6th.

Berankova and Dlabola CZE
Red red dress for her. Which doesn't suit her pale skin and blonde hair, or at least it doesn't on tv. In person, it could be different. ALthough maybe not. Pajero Campana is the music. Light piano to begin...and birdsong...clean s/s triple toes....light playful routine, fitting the mood of the music....nice split...and she just held the throw 3sal, it was nearly too big! She thought she's landed before she did, got rigth down in the knee....lift...good speed across the ice and a swingy dismount...s/s spins are fast and well timed...he went a little loopy in the sit, but got it back...d/s...where she's at a 30 degree angle on the ice...straight line step...not bad, but a little ragged looking ...syncopation not maintained says nicky...pairs spins...where she demonstates her flexibility ably...and they are done. Fantastic says Chris....demanding music, never let up for a moment, adn they had to keep going and they really did. She was a singles skater from 91 before going to pairs in 97...guts and more guts on landing of the sal, she was right over the toe you could jsut see her gritting her teeth! I will land this jump! Very very good.
marks 5.0-5.2, 5.0-5.4....4th overall.

Another ice resurface.

Group 5
Leray and Osseland FRA
The French number twos....he's in black tshirt with a white collar, she's in
a spangly silver number....think she robbed a glitterball....didn't she used
to skate singles? Marie Pierre Leray? s/s triple toes, clean as you
like....dynamic start says nicky....not miuch height on the twist, but they
got it....not much height diff....leaning on the throw 3sal landing...took a
while to set it up...s/s spins....great tming....and nice smile from her
when they come out, it's almost as bright as her dress....and they got the
lift all wrong....he looked like he wasn't sure getting her up, a little
judder and down she came, safely....they didnt' hold the lift. Skate
throught the music a litte....d/s...pairs spin...which si slow....really
slow....if they were any slower, they'd go backwards...and the ending was
blah...it looked like they got finished and then realised they had more
music...and she was 7th in 94 worlds as a singles skater, I was right! Nicky
laments the lack of getting down in the ankles and the lack of flow from
them....also not sure of the music, thinks something nice and light might
work to them. Says that when the spin was happening at the end there was no
connection to the music....and the lift , he didn't lock his arms - wrist is
strapped....it was perfctly safe, don't get me wrong, but she went up and
came down again....and his wrist is really heavily strapped. Chris says taht
she was finished comp skating and decided to come back and skate pairs...
marks... 3.6-4.8...and the French are not happy at all....boos from the
crowd.....4.4-5.0...7th place.

Borzenkova and Chuvilyaev RUS
And the bright flourescent pink on her! ANd bluey blacky vinyl on him...not
a good mix....waltz from my tender and affection beast....and she's down and
hard on the triple toe...he got his...this music is too big for
them....lovely split tiwst.....huge!....he's too blonde for the
outfit....adn seh steps out of the throw 3sal....s/s spins....way off time,
she's far slower than he is, and he ain't waiting for her! and she looks as
if she knows it too...not happy....lift....and they bumped on the way up but
kept it going....he's focused on ihs own performance says nicky and not on
her and on presenting her and I can go with that.....death spiral....into
pairs spin....and they're done...behind the music. But done. Disappointed
says chris. Shes 20 he's 23. 5th in Russian nationals. Skate Canada they
were 6th. Ow, that fall hurt! Off axis from the start....and he gave her
lots of twist on the throw and she just couldn't hold onto it...lift Chris
calls scary and I cna't disagree. And I apply the same to the outfits..they
didn't match at all. Not even a little. Nicky thinks they were told late
(weeks notice maybe?) that they were coming....
marks. . . 3.8-4.4...and they point that he's not near her in K&Ceither...as
if he's skating on his own and she's jjust there....4.5-4.9...9th place

Jentgens and Mueller GER
Mirko! He's blonde and he's back! French girl in manhattan! She's wearing
that pinky mango colour with sequins on the arms and bottom of the
dress...some dress drools nicky...nice split...mirko is all in black.
showing the chest. and blonde on the head. and she's short on the toe,
landed forward, 2foot, kept flow...nice easy looking lift....and she just
held the throw 3sal...left foot looked low to m....death psital looked
well....very high free leg, wrapped....steps...nice to the music....pairs
spin....and they lost it on the changes! youw! got it back well but that
could have been bad! s/s spins....losing time...and again on the change and
more on the second change....and they're done....that was nice. Shes 19 he's
27....Chris can imagine Mirko and Peggy skating to that, as can I... but
I've said it before and I'll say it again, blonde doesn't suit him. And not
with black. He's clashing with himself and that's not good. And she as
bigtime twofooted on the throw. Good unison and they match well....good
extension....we see Diana Goolsbee (who I'm sure is mother of Mirkos son and
not Jennifer Goolsbee as Chris says. Correct me if I'm wrong, do!) And he
points out Jennifer and I know her name is Diana! It is! Diana is the
choreographer, Jenn is the AMerican skater who skated for Geramny! With
Hendyrk Schamberger, and they were darn good!
marks 3.5-4.6, then 5.1! ....4.6-5.3...they're 9th overall.

Abitbol and Bernadis FRA
He's in a tux without the jacket. ANd looks good. She's in a corset dress,
in scarlet. Not red, scarlet. And the Cancan. Which starts life as a
wlatz....nice flow....and she's got a hanf down on the triple toe...music
speeds as do they and this si the cancan! huige huge huge split! heavy
landing....crowd are into it....throwthrow 3loop! This will go down a storm
in the states....lift...from a lunge entrey and that was hard! lots of
change in positions...and kepot it fast....s/s spins...great timing on the
change....and he smiles on the way out! straight line step...I want to clap
but I must type badly!Is not fair! this is great, y and she eanrly loses her
footing on the step! death spiral....nicely.....great fun says nicky.....and
into the pairs spin....lots of changes of postion and she leaps into his
arms for the end and really, who can blame her? Wouldn't you? Couple of
costly mistakes, could be third....not sure that either one of them are that
happy but there was such fun in that...Tarasova choreographed it....and you
can tell...the expression...that's what makes it.....and her two feet did
touch down on the split....throw was brilliant....lift entry was
fantastic....as was the lift....chris says .3 deductions and I bow to his
wisdom. Chemistry between them he says...and we get a shot of the crowd
standing for them, the French naturally.
marks he can't look! 5.2-5.5...crowd don't like it, but you can't blame
them,,,,... 5.4-5.8...and they're third. Which is fair enough. What with
what they did and what the Russians did, you can't blame them
Five bronze medal though!

Top ten -
1Totmianina and Marinin
2Petrova and Tikhonov
3Abitbol and Bernadis
4Zagorska and Siudek
5Berankova and Dlabola
6Chuvaeva and Palamarchuk
7Leray and Osseland
7 Sfikas and Seabrook
9Kautz and Jeschke
10Jentgens and Mueller