Skate America 2000 Diary: Day 3

Skate America 2000, Day 3

People who have so far commented on how adorable/sweet/cute my baby are: Sarah Hughes, Beveryly Smith, Jamie Sale, and Tiffany Scott. I am such an obnoxiously adoring momma.

Pairs Free

Well I thought the free last night was really good and we saw a really good fight for first place. I am sorry my reports are so late.

Ina and Zimmerman – USA

Had pretty costumes, no catsuit for him. Started with SBS triple toes, fine, right into SBS double axels also fine. They were definitely slower than the top pairs. She put her hand down on one throw, but the other was fine. Their SBA camel/sit spins were good. Their synch has improved 100%, as my husband said they actually look like a pair team now. At the end of the program they glided diagonally along the ice, it looked like there was supposed to be a lift there that they eliminated. Ended with a very slow combo spin. Tech and presentation marks mid 5s. 4^th place

Miller & Weiss – USA

I thought they were faster than I&Z especially at the start of the program. He fell on the toes. Their throw triple was good. 2^nd throw was definitely a double, fine. They do this lovely move I call a throw spiral, he launches her off into a very lovely, very fast spiral, great move. They did a side by side axel combo, I think it was okay, by my notes are kind of scribbled there. All in all for the 6^th place team in the country I think they did really well. They weren’t as good as the rest, but they didn’t look hideously bad either. They looked like they belonged at this event. Marks in high 4s all the way around. They were 7th

Lariviere & Faustino – Canada

Pretty purple chiffon costumes. Twist was ok. SBS triple toes he almost put his hand down. She fell on first throw. Their SBS spins were very close, too close at one point I was afraid of another Berezenia. Had nice speed in their lifts, and very beautiful positions. He put his hand down in their 2^nd SBS jumps. 2^nd throw was good. All in all this was a very pretty program and I liked it very much. Low 5s in tech marks with presentation going up about a tenth. They were 6^th.

Scott & Dulebohn

I could not take notes during Scott & Duelebohn, not the babie’s fault but my own stomach. I know she fell at least on one throw, and they had several other little bobbles. They were definitely not as polished as in their short. But I think they are looking very good, good speed and by Nationals will be up to challenging I & Z. They ended up in 5^th place

Sale and Pelletier – Canada

A sweeping and dramatic program, more powerful than they usual do, and really, really good. My notes aren’t very complete because I was just enjoying their program. The only mistake I saw was she doubled the SBS triple toes. Their SBS axels were fine. Everything else was beautiful they got a partial standing O, the only one of the night. Tech marks were 5.7 & 5.8, presentation 95.8 & 5.9. Gold medal

The Russians

Sorry I didn’t write their names in my notes. They skated to West Side Story and had a lot emoting, but didn’t reach the audience at all. They were very slow for Russians. They had a lot dance stuff, but the program seemed very lifeless. First throw was good, but stepped out of the 2^nd. Most of the program was technicaly good. They got the bronze. All marks in the mid 5s.

Shen & Zhao – China

Did SBS double axels two in a row, and they were excellent. Usuall great height in throws and twist. She leaned way forward on the SBS triple toes, but did not touch down. She stepped out of the 2^nd throw and their spins were very far apart. But they have very good speed in all their elements. I think if they had skated perfectly Sale & Pelletier would still have one on the 2^nd mark, but since they made so many errors it was all Canada. Tech marks were 5.6 5.7, presentation weree 5.6 5.7 They got the silver

Original Dance

I don’t know a lot about dance but here is my brief summary of the Original Dance. Lang and Tcherynchev (sp) did a fun playful program to Fly Me to the Moon. I thought it was a lovely dance and they had good speed. The Italians were way the most polished ones there, they were fast and had some really good footwork. Bourne & Kraatz had a major stumble at the start of one of their footwork runs, it took him awhile to get back together. I thought the Israeli’s were very, very good. They were fast and had a lot of footwork. I think they should have been 2^nd, cause the Lithuanians had a stumble.