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(26 November 2017) Aljona Savchenko & Bruno
Massot of Germany pulled up from third in the short to
first overall with a firecracker free skate to "La Terre Vue du Ciel"
by Armand Amar, for which they earned 150.58 points in the Free
Skate, and 223.13 total points. It was a season's best for the
team.
Dressed in lavender-hued costumes, Savchenko & Massot performed a
superior program laden with gorgeous lifts, huge throw triple jumps
and what has become their signature move, a split triple twist in
which she goes and two arm's length over his head while rotating
horizontally in the air. This element earned seven +3 GoEs of
three +2s.
This team, looking ahead to the Olympics, were pleased with their
results as it not only meant they took home gold, but qualified for
the International Skating Union Championship Grand Prix Finals,
which will be held in Nagoya, Japan December 7th-10th.
“It was a good fight,” said Massot. “It was a good fight, [it’s]
still not perfect and there were some mistakes, but we are in a good
way for the Olympics.”
Aside from the fact that the team had a few slight missteps such
as a two-footed landing on their throw triple flip and Savchenko
singling two double toe loops on the triple Salchow-double toe
loop-double toe loop combination, they were exceptional in terms of
the overall quality of their technique, artistry and skating.
Savchenko, in particular, seems to be just part of the ice in
terms of her edges, turns, steps and moves and consistently exhibits
the reason as to why she is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist (in
2010 and 2014 with former partner Robin Szolkowy).
Xiaoyu Yu & Hao Zhang of China, who were second
in the short, held onto their placement with a dynamic rendition of
"Star War" for which they earned 145.53 points and a 219.20 total
score.
This electric team reeled off a high throw triple loop and triple
Salchow, synchronized triple toe loops and triple Salchows, terrific
lifts and other elements in their portrayal of the iconic Princess
Leia and her fellow comrades from the classic Star Wars film series.
“I [am portraying] Princess Leia, he’s a warrior and together,
[we’re fighting] the evil,” said Yu who added that the team “was
very happy” with how they finished.
Their performance was a season's best for the team, and the most
solid skate of their partnership thus far.
Meaghan Duhamel & Eric Radford, the 2015
Canadian Champions and the 2016 World Champions, took home bronze
with their powerful rendition to "Neutron Star Collision" by
Uprising by Muse. After a seventh pace finish at the 2017
World Championships, which was the culmination of a disappointing
season during which Radford was injured, making the Final is an
important step, telling the world this team ready this season to
content for the gold in PyeongChang.
Opening up with a huge split triple twist lift, they knocked off
side-by-side triple Salchows-double toe loops-double toe loops, a
terrific combination spin and incredible lifts, for which they were
awarded 140.31 points and a 215.68 total score. Duhamel,
however, did miss her side-by-side triple Lutz, with an
under-rotation and a fall, and had a step out on the landing of the
throw quad Salchow.
“Today wasn’t our best but overall we’re happy with this
competition,” said Duhamel. “We’re on the podium with these great
teams and we’re really proud.”
The Russian team of Natali Zabiiako & Alexander Enbert
trailed the medalist by nearly 18 points with a fourth place finish.
Alexa Scimeca Knierim & Chris Knierim, the 2015
U.S. champions, were fifth with 124.80 points for their free skate
to "Ghost-the Musical," which earned them a 223.13 total score.
This talented team executed a huge throw triple Salchow and throw
triple Lutz, split triple twist and gorgeous lifts.
The second Canadian pair here, Kirsten Moore-Towers &
Michael Marinaro placed sixth with 187.81 total score.
The two other U.S. entries. Haven Denney & Brandon
Frazier placed seventh with 109.12 points in the free skate
and a 172.16 total score, while Deanna Stellato & Nathan
Bartholomay were eighth with 107.82 points in the free
skate, which gave them a 172.16 total score.
The U.S. can send only one team to the Olympic Winter Games.
Throughout the Grand Pix, Knierim & Knierem have bested their
American rivals, giving them good momentum going into U.S. Nationals
at the end of December, to earn that one spot to Pyeong Chang.
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