Well, it's 11.15 at night here, and this puppy is going to go on until about
3 o'clock in the morning....so if I get a little slap-happy halfway through,
just ignore me. If, of course, you can tell the difference....we have Simon
and Chris in the commentary box ,and Nicky Slater and some girl I don't know
in the studio...Fay Davies is her name....nothing against her, but I just
want her to stop talking and show the skating! She's recapping the B/S story
from last year....for the one person living in a tree for the last year who
doesn't know it....Nicky Slater looks like he's had his hair
trimmed....Nicky lets on that Improv-Ice for this year is in the planning
and also a UK theatre show....he backs B/S for the gold...quality act...have
grown as champions...look perfectly matched, incredible speed...Fay tells us
that Abitbol and Bernadis are out...he's torn his right abdominal
muscle...Nicky says he couldn't skate, even if he was bandaged up....he
hasn't heard of that injury for ages...and after last year, they have
Nicky's sympathy...

Woo-hoo!
Krasiltseva and Snatchkov ARM
She's in two-tone grey, he's all in black...kinda blah costumes, not really
awful, but nothing special....split 2twist to start....move around the
ice...triple toes and she doubles and he under-rotates...and they were seven
miles apart...star lift to striaght up.....throw...double sal....not much
speed going into it....into a b/o d/s and that was so low,...really nice
arch as well.....throw 2loop.....lift.....there's not much between the
elements here....double axels...and she singles the double loop. he's clean
on the double...straight line steps...and they're out of synch at the middle
point....round the corner....s/s spins...camels....and again, way
off....that was odd...he did a double flip(?) and she didn't do one at all
...she just glided...spirals...Chris says her confidence is just
gone....pairs spin.....and they go to join hands and miss....backwards lift
that didn't look comfortable...and they're done, but finished behind the
music. Simon says that these are not just world championships - they're
World Championships In Canada (all capitals!) ...she never attacked the
program they say....he wasn't too bad....
marks...3.7-3.9...3.8-4.0

Shklover and Mintals EST
She's in her little yellow dress, he's in black tshirt and trousers, and
they're skating to Grease...10th in Euros, 19th here....she's so
tiny!..You're the one that I want.....this should get the crowd
going.....split triple twist and heavy landing....she's down on the triple
toe, he had a hand down.....throw 3sal double footed....not quite
there....overpreparing the elements.....really nice lift with flip
out....she twirls and he preens...they stop, dance...go into s/s
spins....hip lift....with a somersault out and the crowd love it!..s/s sals
and she got it all wrong and continued to do so on the jump
sequence...change in tempo to slow...get the timing back!....spirals
sequence...but not much extension and she almost got the throw 2axel....
another backwards lift where she lies back and I'm so glad they got the
timing on that!/// death spiral b/o and that was nice and low...We Go
Together...crowd clap....backwards lift....she goes under and through his
legs....steps....which she doesn't look too secure on...pairs
spins....including what's supposed to be Natalya death spin...change foot,
more spins and they finish ahead of the music....she looks just shattered!
Not much elevation on the split triple twist but it was all there....made
the three turns on the throw sal but lack of confidence hammered it....
marks..4.0-4.5..4.0-4.6...row of ones...

Ponomareva and Sviridov UZB
She's all in black with little gold sequins around the neck...he's in black
tshirt and trousers...matching sequins around the neck...start back to
back...straight into triple toes and nail them...he doubled... she just got
the hand off on 2ax, and slipped off double toe on the end..split
3twist....nice....throw 3sal and that was very deep on that landing! really
bent the knee....lift oing backwards changing to forwards....that was
hard.....throw...3 toe double footed....b/i death spiral, again very
low...nicely done....sit change sit where we hear him call the change and
they still stuff it up....needs work!...they stop , music changes...slow
steps...and already we can see more in between the big elements than
previously...star lift...to sideways lift.....spiral...more spirals...him in
spreadeagle...her low to the ground in front of him...into a forward
insidedeath spiral which is fabulous and draws a rave from me and
Chris...that leads effortlessly into pairs spin...and the music speeds up
again...antoehr lift....and she slip coming out of it and that could have
been nasty....my heart!...sloppy on the steps....pairs spin....and they're
done. Whew....some of it had merit Simon says, but sloppy mistakes...on the
plus the first section was jampacked with technical and she ran out of
steam at the end...throw 3sal was clean....that f/i d/s was so difficult!
holding the opposite arm to usual...so less support Chris explains...that
was a beauty...
marks...4.3-4.8...4.1-4.7...a row of ones and we can't argue with that!

LeFrancois and Blanchard FRA
A couple with whom I am in love and thus are doomed...she's in her angelic
white dress, just stunning..he's in white top and black trousers and they
just look wow.....ivory more than white...17th going in....The Bolt....and
he puts a hand down on the triple toe...see? see?? see what I do to those I
like??? split triple twist, botched the catch and nearly ran into the
barrier so discommoded was he...lift....nicely done, they have really nice
lines...throw3sal and that was a beauty!...and they stop bang on the
music!...slow steps....into death spiral, back outside and nice arch from
her...and he steps out of the 2ax, they get the 2toes<?>...spirals....lovely
flow from this pair although she could extend her free leg more...lift where
she's lying on her stomach in the air from the spirals....throw 2ax
perfect....she got huge length...s/s spins good timing...into pairs
spin....around the ice again to a straight line step...backwards lift , she
lies back, and then stands on the ice....death spiral, f/i....with the
regular hand...pairs spin to finish...she runs away, he calls her back,
leans her back and they are done. Simon reckons that they'll hold their
place at the end of this....Chris says she doublefooted a throw....sal was
clean.....did she df? I didn't think so...mind you, I'm in serious need of
caffeine here...pray for resurface...
marks...4.5-5.0...5.0 from the French judge....ahem...4.7-5.1..gwan, guess
who gave the 5.1??? firsts across the board.

and we have a break for the warm up...the great caffeine search begins....

Sargeant-Wirtz and Wirtz CAN
She's in a pretty gold dress, he's in white shirt brown trousers and
suspenders....I just want to sing High on the hills goes the lonely goatherd
looking at him.....but it's a nice look, honest!...awww....they're so
cute!...yes! good girl!...I clap, my family sleep, stop that!....huge split
triple twist.....crowd are clapping...I'm not...Far and Away...lift...very
nice....throw..3sal and that was super!...I bounce, I make no
noise....forward inside death spiral low and beautiful a...the y kneel on
the ice...this is so lovely....I will not cry....spirals.....he touches a
hand down on the s/s jumps, triple sal, and then doubles somethings after
that... s/s spins....little out of synch but nothing disastrous....round the
corner...helicopter lift.....throw 2ax and that was great! NOw I'm
awake!...and he pops the axel to a single she gets her double out....crowd
claps as they go into the pairs spins....change foot more pairs
spins..little travel.....straight line step to slow music....this is so
nice...star lift....and she comes out around the back of him....s/s
spreadeagles crowd roar, I love that move....death spiral back outside and
they are the best i nthe busienss at these! and they are done and you can
just see them go take that! Rfeal courage says Simon and I will not cry I
will not cry I will not cry......the crowd are standing......Kris claps
her....that's so sweet!!!....oh, I'm so glad I got to see that! she wobbled
on the landing of the toe but who cares? super triple sal throw....and the
double - just monstrous!...and I repeat my comments about their death
spirals, no-one does it better!...Hi Triston, she says, that was for you
baby...oh, how much do I love this pair, as he mugs for the
camera.....aaaww....I'm all a gushing.....
marks..5.2-5.3...that's what we wanted!..5.1-5.5 and the crowd don't like
them but they're in the lead and they're going to stay there for a while.

Berankova and Dlabola CZE
All black for him, black and cream for her...and illusion fabric
aplenty...Mask of Zorro...cause no-one's used that before....clean on triple
toes...although one jumped before the other....split 3twist but not quite
around , she landed quarter shy...throw 3sal....lift...of the helicopter
variety....he singled that axel, she got 2...she does a spin with her leg
straight up while he skates around her...spirals....she's got good stretch,
I'll give her that....throw 3toe looked doublefooted to me...death spiral
type thing where sh'es in splits..a la Bechke and Petrov...pairs
spins....hip lift...leg is straight up....double flip to double toe good
synch...into death spiral...forward inside....s/s spins....again with the
good timing....music begins to speed again...lift going backways....and it
looked like she caught something coming out of it but it could be
nothing....steps...back inside death spiral and I'm almost sure she was on
the boot not the blade....pairs spin to finish....and they're done. She's so
flexible it's unreal...but Simon feels not the magic surrounding the
Canadians...I agree. Chris reminds us that this is their first competition
of the year...triple toe throw was doublefooted...we see the first d/s but
not the second....although Chris calls them both very good indeed so what do
I know really??
marks..4.6-5.1...CZE gives 4.6...no national bias for me
sir!...4.8-5.2...second by a mile.

Kawaguchi and Markuntsov JPN
She's in tangeriny froofery, he's like a gladiator and since it's Spartacus,
that's why. His shirt is also tangerine which no man should wear although
that nice death spiral might make me forgive him...and they have synchronous
splats on the triple toe...they fell just the same way..and she got the
throw 3loop....looks ragged Chris says..another split 3twist that didn't
look great....s/s double toes where she took off before him....lift...she
has nice leg position on the exit....spirals...and they're losing speed on
this step sequence....and she's down on the throw 3sal...death spiral with
her in splits, with her head facing him...combo spin with novel positions
Chris calls it...I call it other things....hip lift...ends with her upside
down on his back, legs spread....s/s spins..losing timing in the middle but
getting it back....and a false ending...more steps...wow! lift with a
somersault entry!..that was great!..and they're done. Applause is slightly
muted...Chris isn't sure of the choice of music...ya think? interesting
moves he says...I agree...shame about the rest of it....Moskvina and Moskvin
in the kiss and cry...second in world juniors this year..
marks..4.5-4.8...4.5-5.0...4th on the night and overall..>America has them
second...oooookaaaay.....

Kautz and Jeschke GER
in 16th place....blue and black and sparkles....he lifts and turns
her....she had ankle problems in autumn...and that was a very low triple
twist...not enough height..couldn't catch her properly...s/s triple
toes.....nice lift...and she's down on the throw 3loop and down hard....into
pairs spin....she's down on the 2ax...spirals...doublefooted throw
3toe...perfect in the air...lack of self belief...lift.... where she ends up
lying back....out of that and into a nice f/i death spiral...they
pause...music speeds as they go into straight line step....lift that looked
hard work getting up there...steps...into s/s double flip to toe...round
into pairs spins...move where they're lying back in between each others
legs....s/s camels and he calls them out at the same time and thats' the end
of that...she looks despondent as he tries his best to console her...she
looks shattered and shell shocked...stiff in the knee all the way
through....great synch in spins at the end...
marks...4.4-4.8..mostly 4.7s...judges of one accord pretty much..now that's
news!...4.4-4.8...5th place overall....

canada leads!

ten minute interlude for ice resurface.

Savchenko and Morozov UKR
She's in a pale greeny blue dress...he's in navy with the entire contents of
the Ukranian sequin supply shoop dotted somewhere about his chest back and
arms. Man inthe Iron Mask...starts off slow...I love this music....clean
triple toes...into double toes....nice extension from her as they go around
and huge triple twist and on the throw 2ax...huge elements!..music
speeds....lfit...nicely done...straight line step the side of the rink...hip
lift to the side...little untidy with his feet through the lidts...s/s
spins, he calls the change very well....huge huge throw 3sal...wonderful
Simon calls the program...he singles the axel, she does too...straight line
steps the middle of the rink...he's behind her all the way, as he's meant to
be...she spirals he skates away...she goesto him....pairs spin...music
speeds again....lift...and she comes down on his one hand that was
hard.....into death spiral....and the tv pictures bobble...but it looked ok,
pairs spin to finish. Simon calls it impressive....6th place at Euros this
year....Simon tries to split them and the Canadians....and he and Chris
differ...Simon says W/W, Chris thinks these...huge height on throw 2ax...the
audience in the front row you could see their gasp! She nearly landed on
their lap! Big smiles here...
marks5.0-5.3..not as good as W/W...5.0-5.3...2 1st, but the rest second.

Rodionova and Kroukov AZE
All black for him, black with red feathery endy things on the skirt for her.
Big diamond cut out of the back of her dress...she's 21 tomorrow...14th last
year...start off kneeling side by side...Bolero...double axels to start..not
in synch...but clean....moving around the rink...triple toes again not in
synch...steps...and the pics are hitching...split triple twist was
fine....throw 3sal, long wait for it...he stepped out of hte double axel...
and the s/s jumps after it weren't great either...nice hip lift...s/s camel
spins...messing on the change into sit...and they got the throw axel all
wrong...stepped too wide...spiral seps...lift...didn't look the best
starting off, and you don't get the confidence from them....f/i death
spiral, really low....steps...most in synch they've been all day....pairs
spin....chagne of foot, more spins...he lifts her over his back and they;re
done. Not their evening says Simon....didn't do much for me...Bolero is such
a hard piece to skate to, and they really looked as if they were working
hard at it, it didn't lift them...as for technically, I have but two words
for them....shadow skating. Learn it, live it, love it. Simon says that it
felt like a long program....you really felt it going....at five past one in
the morning, you betcha I did! Not happy bunnies are they....
marks...4.3-4.8...4.3-4.9...4th right now

Pang and Tong CHN
Bletch for the costumes...matching bleeding pastels...red and pink and
black...the Red Poppy is the music, so I suppose they are poppies...but men
shouldn't wear pink trousers, I mean come on!...huge split triple
twsit....and he puts a hand down on the 3toe.....throw3sal, enormous,,,he
looked like he'd topple over!...b/o death spiral could have been
lower..flying s/s camels....lost the end but got back...a long way away from
each other....they pose and spin right across from the judges...slow
steps...lift...with a flip out , made to look easy....he steps out of hte
double axel...throw 3loop and she just goes right up in the air! spirals,
lovely move where he lifts and carries her as he goes from inside to outside
spreadeagle...pairs spins....lift....with hi in spreadeagle....and out of
that....steps...diagonally across the rink....s/s single axels...double
toes....hip lift...great...pairs spins....and that'll do it! A lot to admire
says Chris...and she slipped after the triple toe...the throws are a sight
to behold...she's just vertical in the air, it's unreal!...speed across the
ice was good Chris says....
marks...4.8-5.4...good marks says Simon...how good??? not gonna beat the
Canadians he says...4.9-5.2....CZE say first, FRA second, the rest third
which is where they are.

Scott and Dulebohn USA
Wow. Fabulous red dress for her..red red red...halter necked,
gloves...wow....she looks great! He's in waistcoat and trousers, white shirt
and a little red cravat....s/s 2axels....and she's down on the triple
toe...you can hear the groan....and they fell on the twist...she didn't get
the air she needed and that was that....she fell, and he dragged her
up....lift.....with a flip out,...calm now, calm...and she falls hard on the
throw 3sal and she's winded....take your time...lift where she's leaning
back and then in a chair.....and sets her down so smooth....s/s
camels.....nice synch on the change....spirals...they have such nice flow
along the ice....so effortless looking....throw double axel good girl!...and
the crowd clap...they know......and she's down again on s/s 2ax....dearie
me....dancey stpes into a pairs spin....change...more spins...around and
into steps...lift.....she ain't letting go of that hand!...death
spiral....back inside, not low but nicely arched and they're done. He pats
her back....and she's painted that smile on....Chris points out that there
was no point in the porgram at which they could regroup...we've jsut seen
the twist and he did so well to stay on his feet..could've been
nasty...courage to do the throw 2ax after that , and thye never stopped
fighting right the way through....
marks...4.4-5.0...4.6-5.2...4th overall with seven to go...

Kristy and Kris still lead! They're gonna be top ten!

Warm up for group 4...

Zagorska and Siudek POL
Shapeless pale green frock for her...black for him, white collar....she did
the toe he went out of shot but landed it....s/s double axels, she made hers
scrappy...split triple twist was gorgeous....huge throw 2ax and how did she
hold onto that! move with him in spreadeagle her in front leg out, death
spiral very nice and low and archy....upsidedown entry tin to lift with more
changes of position than I can name but there you go...antoher lift with
upside down pike dismount and that 's just something else! wow!... slow
steps to get the breath back....pairs spin....throw 3sal...completely off
axis in the air but she got it...lift...leg goes through with a swinging
dismount,....spirals...he's got a great spreadeagle....stop and speed
music....s/s spins...really fast sit change sit and great
timing....somersault back entry into the lift which I love....death spiral
which starts with her free leg on his boot then going to normal and the
crowd are standing as they finish! That was great....really enjoyable...the
lifts were something else...Simon and Chris rave about her body
awareness...how she can find that right foot.....he punches the air when she
lands the throw, he knew she had to work it!...
marks 5.5-5.6...best so far...5.2-5.6...a row of ones.

Ina and Zimmerman USA
Nice pinky purply dress for her. Him...shows much chest. White shirt. With
much chest. Purple scarfy thing matching hers. And much chest. Choreographed
by Artur Dmitriev....she's down on the toe....clean double axel....huge
split 3twist...Andrew Lloyd Webber Variations...clean triple toe 2toe
sequence and perfect timing...steps...lift...besti squats....throw
3loop....she flew out of it...move with him in speadeagle her leg on his
back...d/s where he holds her free leg....death spiral...forward
inside...s/s camels...to sit....nice timing! and the crowd clap appreciating
it...wow! lift where shes' gripping his neck in front, and legs are straight
up...wow!.. he's in spreadeagle...throw.. triple sal and she's down....they
stop and the music changes ....they run...they do steps they wave their arms
and Chris raves as the crowd claps...great routine choeeographically....lift
of the hip ...spins and he throws her out! innovation....pairs spins incl
Natalya and they're done. Artur was written all over that program. Could
have been majestic Simon says....kept your interest from start to finish
Chris says. Adds you could see Artur skating it, and we break for a reunion
of the "We-Luv-Artur-OK" fan club from the two of them....she got this big
fuzzy blue bunny...aww!
marks...5.0-5.3...5.3-5.5...second overall....

Totmianina and Marinin RUS
New costumes...navy blue...tshirt and trousers for him,...nice dress for her
actually...she looks very Rita Morena-ish face wise....West Side
Story..clean triple sals to start...great moves...perfect timing...huge
triple twist...throw triple loop...she's so sharp they say...steps...clean
3toe 2toe...slow part now....death spiral, he hold her free leg...lift wher
she's bending backwards....lift...out of that with one hand....throw triple
sal....f/i death spiral......s/s camel spins... change to upright and out
and that was great timing....hip lift...with changes of position....straight
line step...and they're trying to sell this now...spirals...pairs
spins....and they finish slightly behind the music, but look at them!
They're just thrilled....as well they should be...quality of skating was
great....
marks...5.5-5.7..wow....they're going to lead on the night....5.4-5.7...row
of ones and they're second overall....

Poles lead, from T&M, then I&Z then W/W

Ice resurface.

And hello to the nerves and the shaking and the renewed vow of silence! It's
2am, my entire family is asleep, no matter what happens not a sound will I
make! This is going to be such fun...my stomach is churning and now that we
can see the couples warming up I'm even worse....eeeeeppppp.....

and they're trying to get a wave going....the crowd, not the skaters....what
an atmosphere says Chris.....

Bereshnaia and Sikharulidze RUS
New clothes...nice aquamarine dress for her, black fitted jacket and
trousers for him...hat and cane stitched on the back...and a dicky
bow...it's nice, not gaudy. Me like. Me shaking. Little flower at the front
of his jacket....matches her dress...Chaplin routine....starts wit the cane
i nthe left hand! yay!...she cries, he makes it all better.....triple toes
are effortless....steps around....he df the double axel, but double toes are
fine...Chris says his axel counts...wait for replay...and that was a heavy
landing on the split....just got her! move where she's in spreadeagle he in
spiral...throwtriple sal...move where shes leaning back in spreadeagle, he
in spiral...s/s spins....nicely timed....cane has moved to right hand ..for
the comedic interlude....spot on with the music. and with each other. crowd
clap.. stopping with the pause....upsidedown entry to lift....and drop down
and swing under the legs and back up....more steps...so much to admire
here....throw 3loop and she really had to work hard for that!...lift....with
an swing over the shoudler for an exit..he blows a kiss as he drops her into
a d/s...pairs spin...change pairs spin....lift..... where she's straight
down his back and they're done....and he shakes his fist and kisses the top
of her head....and for the first time the applause is slightly muted Simon
reckons....this was something else he reckons. split triple twist could've
been nasty but disguised it well...that loop was hard work!...
marks and what will they do with that??? 5.6-5.9...but the American has
marked low all the way....only one 9... 6 5.9s...the rest 8s

Sale and Pelletier CAN
Same costumes as all season...the green dress for her, the matching shirt
for him with black trousers...here we go as kids shout out we love you jamie
and david...and the roar....oh my.....Tristan and Isolde...he turns to her ,
grabs her...she skates away....throw3loop and that was fabulous....they look
so confident....triple toesare perfect! yes! and I didn't scream! split
triple twist was better than Russians.....steps...calm calm....lift....with
a twisty turny dismount.....more steps....throw3sal....he's in
spreadeagle...hip lift....to change s of position...crowd roar...clying
sits...perfect timing right the way through...death spiral...back inside and
nice position from Jamie....pausey bit where he\s casting a spell on
her....he could cast a spell on me any time and already has....slow
steps...she singles her axel.. and double toes from the two of them...and
that couldbe it...spirals....steps....round the corner...lift....wher ehse's
lying on her stomach upside down dismount....spreadeagle from him, her lying
at him...srpeadeagle from behind into spiral, this is lovely....pairs camel
spin....pairs spin....and they are done......and the crowd are standing and
she's in tears! no, she's laughing! just oh my god! oh I could just cry and
she's kicking herself over that axel...she can't believe it! big smile from
her! and even with the axel....look, you know where my heart is, I'm giving
it to them...which don't mean nothing cause you know what I'm like but hey!
the crowd are standing! oh my god....it all just looked so secure so
phenomenal....she's thrilled ..
marks here we go.....5.6-5.9...its better.....yes!!he leaps up and cries!
shes' scremaing! i missed the marks but 8 and 9s all ! 6-3 split! yes!!!

hes in tears! shes' in tears so am I! I haven't shook this much since the
mens in nice! how can they get beaten!


Petrova and Tikhonov RUS
Black and grey and pale grey dress for her...black with gold zigzags across
the middle for him...they're taking their time...which is of the
good....Four Seasons....and he touches down on the triple toe....double
axels are fine...and double toes....and antoehr heavy landing on the split
3twist although Simon says it was fine....throw triple sal....backways
lift...with forward then back somersault out....lift going forwards...him in
spreadeagle....death spiral....f/i....nice....him in s/e her in
spiral....spiral steps....throw 3toe...hip lift.....with over
dismount....famous piece of music gives them s/s cmaels which lose the
timing....pairs spins...change pairs spins....straight line step....crowd
are silent!..another lifty move and they're done.....gorgeous Simon calls
it....and I apologise here for the sheer volume of typos in this paragraph
and the last one. It's hard to type when you're shaking from head to foot!
And what courage to skate so well coming out during all that furore! Wow!
What a night and there's still one to go!
marks...5.4-5.7 and Simon is surprised at how low they are....
5.2-5.7....and they're third with one to go

Shen and Zhao CHN
The green grass costumes....breathe Jeanine, breathe....Spirit of
Spring....steps to start....clean 2ax to triple toes....in perfect
synch....triple toes again!...packing in the content....massive triple
twist...she could have cleaned the lightbulb when up there....massive throw
3loop....he lifts her close to him....slow movements....lift...looked like a
slip but not...steps...throw triple sal right on the music! half the width
of the rink nearly....lift...hip lift...flying sits....to upright not
perfectly timed but close...pairs spins.....change of music....him in
spreadeagle, her leaning away with leg up....d/s...f/i....very
nice....steps...crowd clap...but not too much!...lift...w. and she just lost
her footing coming out of it but hid it well, and they're finished.
Oooooookay....great performance, but even S&C though singing it's praises
don't see it getting the gold and nor do I. You might have to give it to
them technically, but in no way shape or form was this superior as a program
to Jamie and David or to Elena and Anton. Best night of pairs skating ever
Chris says
marks....5.8 and 9...5. 5.9s...its on the second....5.5-5.7...and they're
third! and she's devastated!

but we have Canadian world champions!
what a wonderful night! I'm totally wired and while it's not even 7 oclock
in Vancouver, here it's a quarter to three in the morning and I have to get
up in 5 hours and go to school and teach the kiddies....and actually get to
sleep which might be hard!