JUNIOR EVENTS

Ladies

Men

Pairs

Dance

Quotable

(9 December 2012)

Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin take commanding lead in Junior Short Dance

1.  Stepanova & Bukin, RUS, performed a lively routine to Swing, Blues and Swing rhythms. They took a 6.39 point lead over the French couple, Papadakis & Cizeron, with a season's best score of 61.18 points.  They picked up a level four for the twizzles, the lift and the second Blues pattern (which they skated first).   Their circular not touching step sequence achieved level two, which was the same level awarded all the couples in the event, tough some did a circular pattern and some as straight line.  The couple received no negative GoEs, with many twos, and even a three for the twizzles, while their components averaged near 7.5.

 “We have worked a lot in the break since the Junior Grand Prix in Germany, especially on the compulsory dance. It felt calm to skate here, the audience received us very well. Last year (in the Junior Final) I probably was too nervous, but now I am approaching everything calmer and it is going better. I think I worked a lot on myself in the past year,” Bukin explained.

2.  Papadakis & Cizeron, FRA, used Swing and Blues rhythms in their program, which achieved level four twizzles, a level four lift, and level two steps.  The couple from Lyon held their own against the Russians in these elements, but their Blues patterns were graded a level one and two, which caused them to loose ground in the Technical Element Score.  Their components were also scored slightly lower, averaging 7.11.  “We skated well although had several minor mistakes," Papadakis told the media. "We are skating at the (Grand Prix) Final for the first time, and that fact is already a victory for us. We have been training for a long time and we've made progress.”

3.  Dancing to Blues and Swing rhythms, Yanovskaya & Mozgov, RUS, completed a the Blues patterns with a level four and three, but with some minor errors that resulted in a few -1 GoEs.  Their  rotational lift was called level four and the steps level two, but their twizzlles were "only" level three -  and only in the sense that the other top teams scored level four.  Thanks to the higher levels in the Blues, the couple scored second in TES.  In components, however, they substantially lost ground, with average component score of  6.31, which was the lowest of the event.  “We changed our music and the order of our short dance – that was our coaches’ wish," Mozgov said, "and we like the second version more. Now it looks better in terms of music and choreography.”

4.  World Junior bronze medalists Alexandra Aldridge & Daniel Eaton, USA, had the second best component scores, averaging 7.11, but they gave away points in element score, weighing them down to place fourth in the Short Dance.  Their Blues patterns only achieved levels one and two.  Their lift and steps achieved levels four and two, as did the leaders, but their twizzles were called level three, with several negative GoEs.  Said Eaton, "We skated well through the entire program and we were connected on the ice. I think everyone at this competition is scoring a little low."   “We are notorious for coming back from a low short dance score (in the free dance)," added Eaton. "That’s what we are going to do tomorrow."

 
Lina Fedorova & Maxim Miroshkin lead after Junior Pairs Short Program,  Margaret Purdy and Michael Marinaro squeak into second place.

1. Lina Fedorova & Maxim Miroshkin, RUS, took the lead in the Junior Pairs Short Program.  Performing to “Singin' in the Rain”, Fedorova & Miroshkin completed a level-four triple twist, a throw triple Salchow, double Axel and level-four lift and footwork, but their side by side spin was badly out of synch with Fedorova coming out of the spin early.  The element still achieved level three, but was scored -1 and -2 by all but one judge.  Their back outside death spiral only achieved level one.  Nevertheless, the couple from Moscow achieved a seasons best with 54.37 points.  Their components averaged 6.38 and were second best of the group.

 “We could have done better, but now we are satisfied. We had butterflies in our stomachs. I can't say this performance was the best in the season,” Fedorova said. “It (the mistake on the spin) was very unexpected. I told myself to keep my focus as there are only two elements left, but the mistake happened. I tried to hold,” she explained.

2. Margaret Purdy & Michael Marinaro, CAN, had the best program component scores, averaging 6.39, but lost ground in the elements, to finish second in the short, 2.54 points behind the leaders.  Purdy stumbled on double Axel but later landed a throw triple Salchow.  The Axel was scored with mostly -2s and two -1s,m and was a major factor in their result in the short.  They also left points on the table with a base level death spiral.  On the plus side, they achieved level four for their footwork, change fooot combination spin and lift. The Canadians earned 51.83 points, a new seasons' best, 0.49 points ahead of the third place team, Vasilisa Davankova & Andrei Deputat.

"We got a personal best which was our goal today and we achieved that. A couple of little mistakes but overall we're very happy with how we skated today,” Marinaro said. “We're definitely trying to use that (small difference in height) to our advantage for the artistic side, trying to show off our skating skills,” he added.

3. Vasilisa Davankova & Andrei Deputat, RUS, performance to “The Godfather” was third best in Total Element Score, but trailed in Program Components where they were fifth best, averaging 5.96.  Their elements included a solid double Axel, throw triple Salchow, a level three death spiral and level-four side by side spin flying change foot combination spin.  The World Junior bronze medalists earned a seasons best score of 51.34 points.  Their components, with Skating Skills and Presentation somewhat higher than the rest, reflected their greater technical strength over artistic development.

 "Even though we have already been to an ISU World Junior Championships, competing at the ISU Junior Grand Prix series is a big deal for us," said Davankova.  "We were very nervous, actually. The Junior Worlds last season was like 'Oh, cool, we are going to the Worlds! Let's have fun'. But now we feel certain pressure, we feel that need to prove that we are a leading team and will remain one.”

5.  World Junior silver medalists Xiaoyu Yu & Yang Jin, CHN, placed fifth with 50.34 points.  Their program was technically strong with solid double Axels and a strong throw triple Salchow.  Their double twist achieved level four, which only the leaders also achieved, and their lift and flying change foot combination spin were at level 4, while their death spiral was level three.

Like many Chinese pairs teams before them, they enter the international scene technically strong, but lagging in choreography and performance skills which later develop over time.  Here at the Final their Total Element Score was second best while their component scores were last in the group, averaging 5.63.