Press Release by ISU.org
Nobunari Oda of Japan outskated Canada's Patrick Chan and Daisuke Takahashi of Japan to win the Men's Short Program. All three had a new seasons best.
Skating to „Storm“ by the Yoshida Brothers, Oda nailed a quad-triple toeloop combination, a triple Axel and Lutz to score 86.59 points. „After Skate America I decided to put a quad toe-triple toe combination jump into the short program after consulting with my coach, because my quads were pretty good at that time. Today´s quad toe was one of my best throughout the season which increases my confidence because I did an excellent quad at such a big competition“, Oda commented.
Chan also went for the quad in his program set to „Take Five“, but it was underrotated. The two-time World silver medalist landed a triple Axel and a triple flip-triple toeloop combination and posted 85.59 points. „I did everything I wanted to do mentally. Going into these jumps, as they are big jumps, I was really solid. My ultimate goal is to win or at least make the podium”, the Canadian said.
Takahashi landed a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, a triple Axel and triple Lutz, but he tripped in the footwork in his Latin program. The reigning World Champion collected 82.57 points „My jumps and my spins were okay today, but I do regret my mistake in the step sequence“, the Japanese athlete told the press.
Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) grab lead in the Short Dance
Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) grabbed the lead in the Short Dance ahead of France's Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat. Nora Hoffmann/Maxim Zavozin of Hungary came third.
Davis/White put out a strong performance of their Waltz set to „La Boheme“ and „La Traviata“. The Olympic and World silver medalists earned a level four for the twizzles, the lift and both sequences of the Golden Waltz to score 68.64 points. „We got the levels we were looking for, but we still can improve on the level three in the side by side footwork“, White said. „We did a good job today, but it is still a work in progress. The short dance is a different kind of animal to tackle“, Davis explained.
Pechalat/Bourzat turned in a flowing Waltz to „Doctor Zhivago“ that was highlighted by intricate steps and a one-armed rotational lift. The defending Grand Prix Final bronze medalists earned 65.66 points. „The elements were good and we feel we skated well. Our levels are ok but we still have space to improve. Last year we were bronze medalists, and of course this year we want to win. But most of all we want to perform and since the beginning of the Grand Prix we have being doing season bests so we are happy with what we did”, Bourzat offered.
Hoffman/Zavozin's Waltz to „Sleeping Beauty“ and „The Skaters' Waltz“ included a level-three side by side step sequence but the twizzles were somewhat out of unison. The couple picked up 55.98 points. „We are in shock right now“, Hoffmann commented on their third place. „We only found out one week ago that we ware coming here. Now we are very happy and excited for tomorrow. The competition is still tight with the couples ranked fourth to sixth. Anything can happen tomorrow“, she continued.
Alissa Czisny (USA) wins Ladies Short Program
Alissa Czisny (USA) won the Ladies Short Program with Italian Carolina Kostner and Japan's Kanako Murakami finishing second and third. All three competitors got a new seasons best score.
Czisny's program to Erich Korngold's Romance from Violin Concerto in D featured a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination, a triple flip and three level-four spins. She earned 63.75 points. „The program was good, but I have done better in practice, I was so nervous out there, I was shaking. I think the performance was overall a bit tight my jumps were not the best I could do and the spins were not the fastest I could spin“, Czisny noted.
Kostner hit a triple toe-triple toe combination, a double Axel and a triple loop in her Flamenco program to score 62.13 points. „I am really excited to be here. It is quite a success for me that I made it to the Final. Since Skate America my therapy (for the knee injury) helped me a lot to ease the pain. Last year has been quite trying for me but I have found myself now and am coming back to appreciate skating again”, the three-time and reigning European Champion explained.
Murakami produced a triple toe-triple toe, triple flip and double Axel in her dynamic program to „Jumping Jack“. She posted 61.47 points. „I learned a lot from the mistakes at NHK Trophy. I have being preparing and building my mental strength by practicing harder that´s the result of today. I could enjoy skating today and I am very pleased with my performance“, the World Junior Champion said.
Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) take Pairs Short Program
Germany's Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy took the Pairs Short Program. Qing Pang/Jian Tong of China came second and Russians Vera Bazarova/Yuri Larionov are currently sitting in third place.
Savchenko/Szolkowy's program to „Korobushko“ featured a big throw triple flip, a triple twist, side by side triple toeloop as well as three level four elements. The two-time World Champions scored 74.40 points, improving significantly their seasons best. „It was our best skate this season so far. This is our third competition and we improved our program from competition to competition. When you skate clean, you skate better and you are more confident and relaxed towards the end“, Szolkowy said.
Pang/Tong landed a triple toe, throw triple loop and high triple twist in their routine to „The Pearl Fishers“ by Georges Bizet. The current World Champions received 68.63 points, which also was a new seasons best. „We did not really have enough time to practice the new program so we switched back to our old short program. We also wanted to skate this program in our home ice rink as we performed it only abroad last season”, Tong explained. „Overall we are pleased with it, it is a good beginning of the season for us.“
Performing to „Adagio“ by Secret Garden, Bazarova/Larionov produced a triple twist and a throw triple flip, but his triple toeloop was wobbly. The Russians collected 63.86 points. „We made a little error on the side by side jump, but overall I think it was okay. We'll fight tomorrow again and we won't relax now. We felt calm and confident, maybe too calm and we would have needed a little bit more adrenalin“, Bazarova commented.
