The NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan continued Saturday with the Free Dance, the Pairs and Ladies Free Skating. The NHK Trophy is the sixth and last event in the series and provides the last opportunity for skaters to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December in Goyang City, Korea. The skaters compete for a global prize money of US $ 180, 000 per individual event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and receive points according to their placements. The NHK Trophy celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Pairs, Free Skating
Qing Pang/Jian Tong of China skated to victory in the Pairs event. Rena Inoue/John Baldwin (USA) took the silver medal and Canadians Jessica Dubé/Bryce Davison settled for the bronze.
Overnight leaders Pang/Tong put out a solid performance to a dynamic Tango by Gotan Project and the more lyrical Concierto de Aranjuez that featured a solid side by side triple toe, a high triple twist, a throw triple loop and Salchow as well as difficult lifts that were all graded a level four. The only glitch was the planned double Axel-double Axel sequence in which both partners singled one Axel each. The 2006 World Champions also received a level four for their side by side spin and the death spiral and a level three for the step sequence and the pair combination spin to earn a new seasons-best of 122.96 (62.00 element score/60.92 program component score) for their Free Skating. Overall they accumulated a total of 186.06 points to take their first gold of the season in Japan. The Chinese were bronze medalists at the Cup of China three weeks ago.
Skating to the dramatic piece “Pompei” by E. S. Posthumous, Inoue/Baldwin hit a double twist, double Axel-double toeloop combination and a throw triple loop, but he went down on the side by side triple toeloop. The 2006 Four Continents Champions got a level four for their lifts and the side by side spin, but the backward outside death spiral was only a level one. Inoue/Baldwin collected a seasons-best of 103.89 points (52.49/52.40) and claimed the silver with 161.49 points overall.
Dubé/Davison opened their “Carmen” program with a triple twist, but then run into trouble. She singled the the second jump in the double Axel-double Axel sequence and doubled the side by side Salchow while he stumbled on a triple. She also fell on the throw triple Lutz, and they did only a double throw loop instead of the planned triple. The 2008 World bronze medalists saved points with their strong spins, steps and spirals, for which they were awarded level threes and fours. Dubé/Davison scored 101.52 points (50.04/52.48) and remained in third place with 156.76 points.
Pang/Tong now proceed to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December in Korea.
Ice Dancing, Free Dance
Federica Faiella/Massimo Scali of Italy danced to their first Grand Prix gold medal, edging out France’s Nathalie Péchalat/Fabian Bourzat by just 1.25 points. Emily Samuelson/Evan Bates (USA) captured the bronze medal.
Faiella/Scali gave an emotional performance of their “Moonlight Sonata” routine that is about Pierrot who is in love with the moon. The Italian Champions completed difficult lifts, earning a level four for all of them and got a level four for the twizzles and a level three for the circular step sequence. On the other hand, the combination spin was graded only a level one and the midline steps a level two. Faiella/Scali picked up 87.28 points (43.20/44.08) and were ranked second in the Free Dance, but held on to first place overall at 176.67 points. “We are so happy that I can’t really describe it”, Scali said. “It has been years that we have been trying to get something else than a bronze medal (on the Grand Prix). This is our first gold medal and our first NHK Trophy, and we are really proud.” He added that they felt it difficult to skate after the fall in the Original Dance yesterday. “The pressure was already high, because only the winner today can go to the Grand Prix Final, and the mistake didn’t help”, the ice dancer explained.
Pechalat/Bourzat sparkled in their entertaining circus program, showing off innovative lifts such as a curve lift with her upside down resting on his shoulder and a serpentine lift with changes of position. All lifts and the dance combination spin were graded a level four. The French produced intricate footwork, earning a level three for the circular and diagonal steps as well as for the twizzles. Pechalat/Bourzat picked up 87.95 points (44.80/43.15) and significantly improved their seasons-best. They were ranked first in the Free Dance and their score added up to 175.42 points.
Performing to “Amazonic” by Maxim Mrvica, Samuelson/Bates had good speed and unison in their footwork and got a level three for the circular steps and a level two for the midline steps. The program was also highlighted by interesting lifts. However, the couple fell on the combination spin that got no level and zero points. With 78.35 points (40.30/39.05) the reigning World Junior Champions finished fourth in the Free Dance but overall pulled up to third at 161.45 points to win the bronze medal in their first year on the senior Grand Prix circuit.
Faiella/Scali qualified with their victory for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final for the first time in their career.
Read more
