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1. Tatyana TOTMIANINA & Maxim MARININ 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2. Maria PETROVA & Alexey TIKHONOV 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 3. Elena BEREZNAYA & Anton SIKHARULIDZE 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4. Meliza BROZOVICH & Anton NIMENKO 4 4 5 5 5 4 7 4 4 5. Viktoria MAXUTA & Vitaly DUBINA 5 5 6 7 7 5 4 9 5 6. Elena BORZENKOVA & Andrey CHUVILAYEV 6 6 4 4 4 7 5 5 8 7. Alena MALTSEVA & Oleg POPOV 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 8. Natalya LOKTIONOVA & Dmitry LIKHACHEV 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 8 7 9. Tatyana KOZLOVA & Oleg PONOMARENKO 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 7 9 In order of appearance (line divide groups): 1. Elena BEREZNAYA & Anton SIKHARULIDZE -- Radezky March Compared to their last season SP, there is at least one improvement - they have costumes matching each over, but second stage - having SP costumes matching the music seems to be beyond them at this moment, as you have probably seen on screenshorts at official site, they skated in red T-shorts and black leather. She is brune now, I hardly recognize her. Overall their performance, I would say, was so-so (considering the fact what they are World Champions, of course), for they skated with almost no connection to the music. Well, rather with no emotional involment, for they skated in time with music, did several moves, which were (presumbaly) created to match the highlights of the music, but they made them look "overlearned" and mechanical. Technically - she doubles her SBS 3T, and fell at the throw, there were also some troubles (?) with lift, it looked too short and unfinished, may be a choreography, though. I liked this program and I think it really interesting and inventive, but they need to polish it, in my opinion. 5.3 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.1 5.3 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.7 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 2. Viktoria MAXUTA & Vitaly DUBINA -- Love Story I liked Victoria with her previous partner, and was really eager to see her with the new one. Vitaly previously skated with Anna Kaverzina, but she was forced to leave the sport due to trouble with ther back (for those of you who don't think they can't be "that" serious) and she now skates in ice ballet. Well, I was not disappointed with this new partnership. They are very nice and gentle team. Unfortunately they don't have power and attack of the higher placed pairs, but their program (well, rather certain elements of it) looked really intricate and (probably) difficult. It's too sad what the rest of the program looks too easy. They had several very interesting transitions and handholds, but they were not very smooth on them, and still too much time they spent doing crossovers. Lovely grey costumes. They skated with good connection with the music, but somehow managed to finish behind it (due to slow final combo spin probably, the positions were nice though). Technically - he singled his SBS 3T, she probably doubled (but I'm not sure, my guess is what she's done 3T after all) and nailed throw 3F(?). 4.9 4.8 4.9 4.7 4.8 5.1 5.2 4.2 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.0 5.1 5.4 5.4 4.8 5.2 3. Natalya LOKTIONOVA & Dmitry LIKHACHEV -- ? They skated to some kind of romantical, classical music wearing dark blue with silver costumes. Her dress looked a bit old fashioned, like the dresses ladies used to wear for their programs a decade ago or so - I mean just a regular (normal?) dress - not flying skirt, not flesh-coloured fabric etc. They have some "junior" flavour, (well, I believe they are juniors), and looked really small on the ice (but nice). Technically - they did SBS 2T, she put down second feet at their throw 3S(?). Lost unision at SBS spin. 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.9 4.6 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.6 5.0 4. Maria PETROVA & Alexey TIKHONOV -- Franzesca de Rimini by P.I. Tchaikovsky Maria wasn't very healthy (she get cold), but fortunately it didn't affect their skating. Their costumes were white (his) and dark (her), and hearing so much about A&B new LP, I can't help thinking if it was a random choice or it *means* something (no idea "what" it could mean, though). They were, shall we say, their usual selves. If you like their skating - you would like it, if you don't like it there is no way I could persuade you what they were really good. They were fast and very secure. In fact the confidence of their skating was really amazing. With other teams, before the elements you usually worry if the lady, say, will land a clean throw (and such a worries, imo, interrupt the flaw of the program (for the viewers)), but with Maria and Alexey I personally, take it for granted, what she will, and I'm really surprised if she does not. Technically - he doubled his SBS 3T. She landed very solid and impressive throw 3S(?). When they finished I though they should be first, but was afraid what judges will keep B&S first by high presentaion mark as they did at last season Nationals then they recieve straigth 5.9 for the second mark and something around 5.4 (I don't have notes) for the first one, fortunately (not for Elena & Antion, of course) it didn't happen - Maria and Alexey received 1st placement from all nine judges. 5.5 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.5 5.7 5.6 5.5 5.5 5.8 5.8 5.7 5.7 5.8 5.7 5.8 5.8 5.7 5. Alena MALTSEVA & Oleg POPOV -- ? Alena and Oleg skated to some modern music, like those they used in movies when "something" gonna happen. Their costumes were black with numerous stripes of bright orange, bright green and bright yellow. They are, in my opinion, very well matched team and looked really good together. Their programs was too simple, I guess - they had 2A for their SBS jump. And their throw was performed, well, at standstill, it was low and short. However the general impression from their skating was very nice, they are a promising team, if they could add more difficulty and power... 4.8 4.8 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.9 4.8 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.1 5.12 5.2 5.0 5.3 5.0 5.2 6. Tatyana KOZLOVA & Oleg PONOMARENKO -- ? Yet another new partnership, Oleg used to skate with Elena Bogospasaeva. This new team looks nicely matched (but she is very tiny), but their skating here was not very clean. It's strange, but I have very strong "deja vu" feeling about her dress. I have already seen it once, at last season Nationals, I'm pretty sure. It was black with light green stripes (like the second dress inside the black one). Weird. She fell on their SBS jump, and if I remember correctly, they did only 2S as their throw. My notes said "very nice lift", now I can't recall what it was like, but there were some kind of interesting transitions. They had to restart their final combo spin. Among other positions they have some "wrecked" Mishkutenok spin (not badly performed, it was just variation), she had bent her free leg, don't know if it make it easier, but it looked Ok. 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.9 4.8 4.8 5.2 5.0 7. Meliza BROZOVICH & Anton NIMENKO -- ? (but very familiar) Meliza had very serious fall during the warm up - she fell after throw attempt, "slide" through half of the skating rink and crushed into the board. I was worried about her skating, but fortunately she seems to be Ok. She had very lovely white dress with lace at the sides. In general they are very promising team. Not very polished yet, and not very strong right now (probably), but they have (imho) more potential than any other team (except top three of course). Their skating was not very powerfull, however. They probably have troubles with SBS triple, but I'm not sure, in my opinion, most obvious mistake was their twist, for she didn't even pretend she is jumping, he merely lifted her up, she did a "double" split and he catched her. She put the hand down on their throw 3S. 5.3 5.1 5.1 5.0 5.0 5.2 4.6 5.0 5.2 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.3 5.3 4.9 5.3 5.4 8. Tatyana TOTMIANINA & Maxim MARININ -- ? (something Arabian) As you probably already know Tatyana drastically changed her haircut. For those who didn't notice this team before - she used to have one like Viktoria Volchkova (blone and long), and now she has very dark and very short hairs, a-la Michelle Kwan. I didn't recognize her at all, when she first appeared from backstage I thought she was Berezhnaya, but later as she take her team Russia outfit off, I was surprised who is this lady, I recognize her only because of Marinin who had matching costume. I always liked this team, ever since I've first seen them at last season Nationals. This time they were really "on". They simply nailed all the elements. They had some very interesting lift, and several inetersting positions, showing how flexible Tatyana is. Overall I liked this program very much, but I couldn't made up my mind about their placement, as someone already reported it lack "je ne sais pas quoi", so I wouldn't have troulbes with them being second to P&T, who made one mistake, but had more "packed" program. Judges' votes splitted 6/3 in T&M favour. 5.6 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.8 5.8 5.7 5.6 5.7 5.6 5.8 9. Elena BORZENKOVA & Andrey CHUVILAYEV -- ? (very familiar) Intersting team. They looked better than Maxuta & Dubina and Brozovich & Nimenko, but mostly due to the fact what they are "larger". On the other hand their size cost them the benefit of the "cute little pair", and probably make judges look at them as on the Senior team, rather than up and coming juniors. They landed clean SBS 3T, but she did the three turn after the throw. Intersting combo spin, but they missed last change of position. 4.7 4.7 5.1 5.1 5.1 4.7 5.0 4.8 4.8 5.2 5.2 5.3 5.3 5.4 4.9 5.4 5.4 5.1 |