POSTED: Saturday November 27th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy of Germany took the lead in the Pairs
Short Program Friday at the Trophee Bompard. Russia's Vera
Bazarova/Yuri Larionov and Maylin Hausch/Daniel Wende of Russia follow
in second and third.

Performing to "Korobushko", Savchenko/Szolkowy produced a high throw
triple flip, a triple twist and difficult lift, but she stepped out of
the side by side triple toe and he tripped briefly in the step
sequence. The two-time World Champions earned a new seasons best of
66.65 points. "It was better than at Skate America, but there is still
a lot of work left", commented Szolkowy.

Bazarova/Larionov's routine to "Adagio" from "Secret Garden" featured
a side by side triple toe, throw triple flip and triple twist. The
Russian couple also posted a new seasons best of 64.18 points. "We did
our job today, and most importantly our coach is pleased with us, and
so we are also pleased. As our result shows, we skated better than at
the NHK Trophy", Larionov said.

Hausch/Wende skated to "Tango de Roxanne" and completed a siede by
side triple toeloop, a double twist and throw triple flip to score
54.02 points, yet another seasons best. "We are very happy as we had
no big mistake and skated much better than at our first Grand Prix in
Japan. We are looking forward to tomorrow", Wende offered.

Mylene Brodeur/John Mattatall (CAN) finished fourth with 45.47 points.

Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) wins Men's Short Program

Takahiko Kozuka of Japan won the Men's Short Program Friday at the
Trophee Bompard in Paris. France's Florent Amodio and Brandon Mroz
(USA) came second and third.

Kozuka delivered a strong performance to a Soul medley and hit a
triple Lutz-triple toe combination, a triple Axel, triple flip and
three level-four spins. The Cup of China Champion earned 77.64 points,
which is a new seasons best score. "I was able to perform without any
major mistake and there was no fall, but I regret that I didn't get a
plus (positive) GOE on some elements. Compared to Cup of China I got a
higher component score and I got a level four for all spins, so I'm
very pleased", Kozuka told the press.

Skating to "Once Upon a time in Mexico", Amodio produced a clean
performance that was highlighted by a triple Axel, triple Lutz-triple
toe and fast spins. The French Champion picked up a seasons best of
75.62 points. "I really feel good with this short program that I did
with my coach Nikolai Morozov. I remained focused which I manage
better and better. I was a little off balance in my footwork, but that
was just a minor detail. Overall I'm on the right track", commented
Amodio.

Mroz's program to "The Marriage of Figaro" inlcuded a quad-triple
toeloop combination and a triple Axel, but both were shaky. He
recovered to complete level-four spins and scored 72.46 points. "My
short program went well. There were some things on the jumps that I
had to fight for, but I got the quad-triple done, which is always a
plus in the short. It's kind of a tricky move, obviously. I think I
set myself up for a good spot for tomorrow", Mroz said.

Chafik Besseghier (FRA) finished fourth at 70.33 points while current
World bronze medalist Brian Joubert (FRA) made errors on two jump
elements and is sitting in fifth with 66.95 points.

 

Kiira Korpi (FIN) captures Ladies Short Program

Finland's Kiira Korpi captured the Ladies Short Program and Mirai
Nagasu (USA) edged out Haruka Imai of Japan for second place.

Korpi landed a triple toe-triple toe combination, a double Axel in her
routine to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", but the triple loop was
wobbly. The Finn scored 61.39 points to win her first Short Program at
a Grand Prix event. "I'm really happy with my performance. It was the
best of the season. I felt very good and concentrated. The triple loop
was not perfect, but I was determined to make it", the 2007 European
bronze medalist noted.

Skating to "Un Sospiro" by Franz Liszt and "Witches of Eastwick",
Nagasu landed a triple Lutz-double toe, and triple flip, but got some
negative grades of execution for the wrong edge on the Lutz. Her spins
were all a level four and the former U.S. Champion earned 58.72
points. "I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get a higher score
than I got in China", the Californian said. "I'm also a little
disappointed that I didn't do my spins as well as I could have. These
a just little things I know I have to work on, but before that I got
to go out there and do the best I can do in the long (program)", she
added.

Imai's program to "Don Quixote" featured a triple loop-triple toe, a
triple flip, a double Axel and also difficult spins. The 17-year-old
posted 58.38 points. "I am very satisfied with my program today. I did
the triple loop-triple toeloop that I couldn't do at Skate Canada",
the Japanese commented.

Alissa Czisny (USA) is currently ranked fourth at 55.50 points and
Fumie Suguri (JPN) placed fifth (50.76 points).

 

Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat (FRA) dance to the lead

Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat of France danced to the lead in the
Short Dance and seem poised for their second Grand Prix gold this
season. Ekaterina Riazanova/Ilia Tkachenko of Russia eclipsed Madison
Chock/Greg Zuerlein (USA) to place second.

 

Pechalat/Bourzat's Waltz routine set to "Doctor Zhivago" was
highlighted by smooth footwork and a strong Golden Waltz section. The
French achieved a level four for the Golden Waltz segments, the
twizzles and the rotational lift while the side by side footwork was a
level two. Pechalat/Bourzat set a new seasons best for themselves with
65.48 points. "We are very happy because we improved since China, not
so much, ", Pechalat said. "For the first time in my life I think I
felt good in the midline steps. I used to think a lot about all my
steps

We got a level four and four in the Golden Waltz, and this is the
highlight today for us", she continued.

Riazanova/Tkachenko's produced a powerful Waltz to "The Snowstorm" and
earned a level three for the Golden Waltz sections, the midline step
sequence as well as a level four for the twizzles and the lift. The
Russian couple scored 60.81 points and improved their seasons best
significantly. "We got higher levels than at Skate America and also
higher components", explained Tkachenko. "We didn't have much time
after the Grand Prix in Portland, but we tried to improve and I think
we managed to do that. It was a good run-through for us and hopefully
we'll skate even better tomorrow", he added.

Chock/Zuerlein had picked a Foxtrot and Waltz by French singer Edith
Piaf and completed a strong Golden Waltz sequence (Level four) and had
a level three for the side by side footwork and the twizzles. The 2009
World Junior Champions collected 58.09 points. "We're very happy with
our skate today. We feel like we are improving a lot. Everytime we are
doing or program it feels like we are getting better and comfortable",
Chock said. "We got a good performance, especially doing it here in
Paris, skating to Edith Piaf we really enjoyed. We wanted to put on a
good show for the crowd", Zuerlein continued.

Pernelle Carron/Lloyd Jones (FRA) are currently ranked fourth (53.36
points) and Isabella Cannuscio/Ian Lorello (USA) came fifth (52.19
points).

For full results, please refer to www.isu.org. The Trophee Eric
Bompard continues Saturday with the Men, Ladies,Pairs Free Skating and
the Free Dance.

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Keywords · Russia · Figure Skating · ISU Grand Prix · Aliona Savchenko · Robin Szolkowy · Germany

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