POSTED: Saturday November 13th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) lead after Pairs Short Program

Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy of Germany won the Pairs Short Program at Skate America Friday in Portland with Canadians Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch and Caydee Denney/Jeremy Barrett (USA) following in second and third.
Two-time World Champions Savchenko/Szolkowy opened their routine to "Korobushko" with a high throw triple flip and a triple twist, but she doubled the side by side triple toeloop. The Germans scored 63.99 points. "We've skated much better programs than this in practice and we felt good coming here, but today it felt like ten men holding us back. I think you need the competition experience", commented Szolkowy.
Moore-Towers/Moscovitch put out a dynamic program set to "Zorba's Dance" that featured a triple twist and throw triple loop, but she touched down with her hand on the triple toeloop. The Skate Canada silver medalists posted a new seasons best of 61.64 points. "We're really happy with our program, all in all we thought it was pretty much how we were hoping to skate it and how we've been doing in practice", said Moscovitch.
Skating to "Love Theme" from the "Cousins" soundtrack, Denney/Barrett completed a side by side triple toeloop, a throw triple Lutz and an Axel Lasso with changes of position to earn 58.49 points. "Caydee and I a very happy with how things went tonight. There are still a couple of spots that we need to improve, several of the levels (we need to), get them a little bit higher. But overall from NHK (Trophy) to now it was a big improvement and we're looking forward to the free skate tomorrow", Barrett told the post-event news conference.
World Junior Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) came fourth at 57.53 points and World Junior bronze medalists Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov (RUS) are ranked fifth with 53.73 points.

Nobunari Oda grabs Men's Short Program

Nobunari Oda of Japan edged out his teammate and World Champion Daisuke Takahashi by just 1.16 points to take the lead in the Men's Short Program at Skate America in Portland on Friday. Adam Rippon came third.
Oda, who skated last, delivered a solid performance to "Storm" by the Yoshida brothers that was highlighted by a triple Axel, triple flip-triple toeloop combination and two level-four spins. The Skate Canada silver medalist picked up 79.28 points. "I was nervous before my program, but I didn't make any major mistakes on my jumps. However, I do regret making a minor mistake going into the spin. I was too slow. Overall I skated better than at Skate Canada", Oda said.
Takahashi skated a dance-like routine to Rhumba, Mambo and Samba and hit a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, but he underrotated the triple Axel and stumbled on the exit of the jump as well as on the triple Lutz. The reigning World Champion scored 78.12 points. "I missed two jumps, and that wasn't good. I got only a level one for a spin, and this is a problem for me. I worked hard on my spins before this competition and I'm disappointed that I couldn't show it in competition", the Olympic bronze medalist explained.
Rippon's classical program to "Romeo and Juliet Overture" by Peter Tchaikovski included a triple Lutz with both arms over his head and three level-four spins, but the 2010 Four Continents Champion stepped out on his triple Axel and the second jump in his triple flip-triple toe combination was underrotated. Rippon got 73.94 points. "Overall I'm pleased with how I skated today. I did make some silly mistakes, stepping out on the Axel and having the triple toe on my triple flip-triple toe combo being downgraded . Mistakes happen and I think that I can take this performance, learn from it and look forward to the free skate tomorrow", Rippon noted.
Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA) is sitting in fourth (67.61 points) followed by Daisuke Murakami (JPN) with 67.01 points.

For full results please refer to www.isu.org. Skate America continues Saturday with the Ladies Short Program, Short Dance, Pairs and Men Free Skating.

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Keywords · ISU · Skate America · figure skating

Name: Devra Pitt-getaz
Organization: International Skating Union (ISU)
Email:
Phone: +41 21 612 66 66 (phone)

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