Pic of the Week

It was such a rocky road from the outset. But I thought they had finally put themselves on the right path this season...I thought Oleg's money collection jar finally had them liking each other and not screaming at one another. I thought Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov had finally figured it out...I thought wrong.

Yes, it's splitsville for the #2 Russian duo. Sadly, it comes after one of their most successful seasons together as a team, even if it didn't include an Olympic Medal...or a top six at the Olympics...or a World Medal.

Their career has been like the throw triple salchow they did in their free skate at World's this season. Maria landed it beautifully...trouble is Maxim went splat on his face after he threw her. Beauty mixed with disaster.

Maxim has made the big split, not only leaving Maria...but leaving coach Oleg Vasiliev as well. Maria will stick with Oleg. Both are looking for new partners.

Hey Max...I hear Tatiana Volosozhar is free? Perhaps Evgeny Plushenko could embark on a new career as a pairs skater and team with Maria. Wouldn't that be something? We could call it the "Blonde Ambition World Tour." Wait...that's been taken.

XXI Olympic Winter Games Figure Skating Pairs Preview

The Pairs are the first to hit Olympic ice a week from tomorrow, on Valentines Day actually. There are nine teams that each bring unique aspects to this competition. Experience, ingenuity, consistency, athleticism, beauty, and fearlessness are some of the many things we can look forward to in the Pairs competition.

Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett (USA) - Many, in fact probably most, don't expect this extremely young and inexperienced team to be a podium threat...but I think they are. The reigning U.S. Champs have three things working in their favor; their ridiculous consistency, the fact they are fearless in competition, and they have nothing to lose by going for broke. That's a recipe for success if you ask me. The one thing that will hamper them is the fact that they don't have the little details such as toe-point, line, extension, etc. mastered. At U.S. Nationals Sandra Bezic made the comment, "There's no box for magic" when discussing the scoring system. This team may knock the socks off of everyone and find themselves still playing catch-up. I hope this isn't the case.

Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison (CAN) - This team will enjoy the support of the crowd as they are Canada's best hope at a medal in this event. The 2008 World Bronze Medalists have had trouble living up to their potential. They failed to make the Grand Prix Final this season. But at this year's Canadian Nationals they turned in a stellar free skate that left everyone, myself included, speechless. When this team is 'in the zone' they are stellar. If they can recreate that magic again in Vancouver and couple it with a clean short program, this team will not only be in the hunt for a medal, it will be for Gold.

Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov (RUS) - History is on this teams' side. When was the last time a Russian or Soviet Team wasn't on the Olympic podium in Pairs Figure Skating? 1960. And since then, a Russian or Soviet team has won every single time (they did have to share in 2002). Four of those Olympic Champions were coached by Tamara Moskvina. Sound familiar? Yuko and Alexander also just won the European Title, desperately close to cracking the highest score ever..even with some little mistakes. This team brings ingenuity and cleverness to the ice coupled with infectious personality and charisma. If this team is 100% clean...I believe the Russian legacy of Pairs Figure Skating Champions will live on.

Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov (RUS) - This team is the Russian Yen to Kavaguti and Smirnov's Yang. They bring a more traditional Russian style to the ice than their teammates. This team has also been very consistent this season, taking medals in almost everything they've entered (the Grand Prix Final was the lone hiccup where they finished 4th despite a near clean performance). What this team doesn't seem to have is that extra bit of 'pizazz' that really gets the judges behind them. They've had good luck this season against some tough teams so if they can continue to be consistent they may sneak onto the podium. Hitting every element and finding a way to make their performance more transformative will be key.

Qing Pang and Jian Tong (CHN) - Part one of the Chinese juggernaut, this team has looked solid this season. Easy wins on the Grand Prix and a very solid Silver at the Grand Prix Final has them in position to be one of the main challengers for a medal, if not Gold, in Vancouver. With loads of Olympic experience to fall back on, this team will know exactly what to expect out there. Their Man of La Mancha free skate has been very well received this season. Like Mukhortova and Trankov, their biggest set back is their sometime lack of extra spunk to set them apart. If they are clean, they'll make a great case for the podium.

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy (GER) - Along with the Chinese, these two are seen as one of the road blocks in the way of continued Russian domination of Pairs Figure Skating. The reigning World Champions have had the oddest season however. They looked out of sorts in Paris at the Grand Prix Opener winning only a bronze. They went back to the drawing board and created, I think, the most gorgeous Pairs Free Skate...ever (I know that is a big claim but it's how I feel!). They blew the competition away at HomeSense Skate Canada and set a new high score for Pairs Figure Skating. They then watched that score fall at the Grand Prix Final where their problems (and the Bronze Medal) returned. They were still not fully with it at Europeans when they lost to Kavaguti and Smirnov. What does all this mean? It means they need to get their heads together or they are going to miss their shot at Olympic Gold. They have the vehicle to win this, they just need to bring their 'A' game.

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao (CHN) - The veteran team comes to Vancouver looking for the Olympic Gold that has twice eluded them. When it comes to experience this team has more than any other as they prepare to compete in their 4th Olympics (Nagano, Salt Lake City, Torino, Vancouver). Part two of the Chinese juggernaut, they are the sentimental favorites and could be the team to put an end to Russian domination of this sport. At 31 and 36 respectively, it seems unfathomable that they recently nabbed the highest score ever for a pairs team at the Grand Prix Final. Even as two of the oldest competitors, they are solid as a rock technically. They are also two of the most expressive skaters on the ice. If these two win I don't think anyone would be upset and should they lose many will be heartbroken.

Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov (UKR) - I've said it plenty of times before and I'll say it again...this team is stuck in the zone of mediocrity. They are generally good enough to mention them here as medal contenders, but often find themselves pulling in for 4th, 5th, or 6th place. They didn't help their case at Europeans when they finished off the podium in 4th. Their free skate set to Pearl Harbor seems to labor on and on and you just wish it would end. Despite these shortcomings, they know how to construct a program to earn points and should other teams falter they might back into a medal...but I'm not holding my breath.

Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang (CHN) - Part three of the extremely powerful Chinese team, they actually have the best Olympic credentials of the three teams having won Silver in Torino. This season, however, they have been completely overshadowed by their teammates and have had really lack luster performances. Just last week in Korea, however, they put the train back on the tracks at the Four Continents Cup to win the title with two very solid performances. They didn't have to compete with their teammates in Korea and that might have given them the breathing room they needed to succeed. Trouble is, they aren't afforded that breathing room in Vancouver. Team China is exactly the same as it was in Torino yet completely different outcomes are expected of the three teams. What a difference four years makes!

European Championships Preview (Pairs)

My series of event previews continues with the Pairs event for the European Championships in Tallinn. This is one of the less dense fields in Tallinn. It's clear who the top teams will likely be, we'll just have to see how they finish. There are five teams to watch:

Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov - The Ukranian duo has been stuck in perpetual mediocrity for some time now. They are consistent enough to usually place amongst the top contenders but never good enough, it seems, to break through to the top. They just don't seem to have the same spark as their training mates Savchenko and Szolkowy. If they have any aspirations of making it to the podium at either this event or the Olympics they are going to need some more 'get-up in their gusto.' Without it, they're doomed to finish 4th-5th-6th ish. They did alright on the Grand Prix, placing 3rd at Samsung Anycall Cup of China and backing into a silver medal (after some terrible free skates) at Cancer.Net Skate America. Better days ahead?

Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov - This team has been skating very consistent this season. While they did not win Russian Nationals, they've looked good on the Grand Prix. This team is known for, in the past, really not liking one another. But ugly stares, cold shoulders, and quick exits from the Kiss and Cry have been replaced with warm hugs, kisses, and high fives. Whatever they are doing to improve the relationship, it's working. In three Grand Prix outings (Eric Bompard Trophee, HomeSense Skate Canada, Grand Prix Final) they've had near clean free skates. They managed to win in Paris, a silver at Skate Canada, and beat their main Russian competition at the Grand Prix Final. Russian Pairs have a legacy to hold up as far as the Olympics are concerned and this team looks like they're willing to do their part.

Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov - This young Russian team has pushed through to take that pivotal third Olympic berth. While they don't have a lot of experience they've shown an ability to be pretty consistent under pressure. The 2007 Junior World Silver Medalists have only ever competed in two Senior Grand Prix events. In their first senior event, they won the bronze medal (2007 Skate America) and was 4th at this seasons' Rostelecom Cup. Again, Russian teams, no matter how experienced, have a way of being 'on' in Olympic seasons. This team has the added advantage of not having to live up to the expectations the other Russian teams have and can 'go for broke.' This event is their debut at a major Senior ISU Championship and it comes literally just days before the Olympics...heavy stuff.

Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov - The third part of the Russian powerhouse, this team is teetering on greatness. As with all Tamara Moskvina teams, this team exudes an originality and lightness that none of the other teams posses. Their route to greatness has been hindered, however, with little ill timed mistakes and minor glitches. Such issues kept them off the podium at the Grand Prix Final. We all know Tamara Moskvina teams have a way of just 'getting it done' at the Olympics but time is waning. I know they have the ability to be the best, but they have yet to prove they can deliver it when it really counts. Coming to Europeans as the Russian Champs should be a confidence booster as should silver medals from both their Grand Prix Events in Russia and Japan.

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy - Quite the up and down year for this team who attempt to defend their European crown. A dismal beginning to their season after a poor free skate in Paris sent them back to the drawing board on their free skate. They showed up at HomeSense Skate Canada a brand new team with a brand new free skate (Out of Africa) that sent chills through my spine. They not only re-established themselves as the team to beat, but set a new record score in the process nabbing some perfect 10s (although several were handed out at the event) for their components. The roller coaster continued when problems hit again at the Grand Prix Final and they had to settle for a bronze and watch their new record score fall to Shen and Zhao (the Chinese bettered it by nearly 8 points). European's offer Savchenko and Szolkowy the opportunity to reapply some pressure on the Chinese team of Shen and Zhao who are now seen as the favorites heading into Vancouver. Aliona and Robin need to make the judges believe they have as much a chance as the others or they'll lose the expectations race. When done perfectly, I believe Savchenko and Szolkowy have the superior program (by just a smidgen) and it will take perfection, I think, to win the Olympics this time.

Trophy Eric Bompard Gets Grand Prix Underway

I must say I was quite impressed with the level of skating displayed at Grand Prix Paris for this early in the season. It shows these skaters are taking this season seriously and we are in for a great season.

The men's competition was a no brainer. If you read my comments I thought Nobunari Oda was just genius (see video below). Charlie Chaplin has been done many times, but I think it's a hard character to pull off. You have to be quirky but not over the top and I think Nobunari nailed it. Nice to see those jumps so incredibly solid. I think he'll be tough to beat and his win in Paris was very well deserved. I liked Tomas Verner's performance too, although it ultimately lost steam, he did skate initially with a new sophistication I haven't seen from him and I think he looks so much more put together versus last season; his silver was a nice treat for him I think. Speaking of treats, what about Adam Rippon! His short program, for me, was one of the best I've ever seen from an artistic point of view (It would be Brian Orser that would mold something effective with Neil Diamond). While his free skate didn't get me quite as excited, overall I think he has two great programs and I think for the first time I see him as a contender on the senior stage. Brian Joubert....oh Brian. I think Scott Hamilton said it best..."He's like a meat and potatoes skater; there's not a lot of parsley on the plate." He missed the quads and the program just suffered as a result. I was really surprised he finished fourth (that might save him later in the season when you look at making the Grand Prix Final) and I hope this jolts and makes him rethink some things. I like Brian Joubert and I know he is capable of much better than this. Ponsero and Voronov will need to step it up a notch as well.

In Ice Dance, Virtue and Moir were the easy class of the field. I love this teams lifts. They are so inventive and so complex. Their free dance, while gorgeous, for me is a little to stagnant. I wish the music had more rise and fall. But that's a minor complaint and really more of an opinion that doesn't really effect their scores. As I suspected, Pechalat and Bourzat sneaked past the Kerr's to nab the silver. Their free dance is fun. I don't think it's as interesting as last season's but this season's dance is clearly more difficult in terms of steps and movement. The Kerr's used a Linkin Park piece very well but had some tiny unison issues in there twizzles. Overall, however, I felt they were a smidge better than Pechalat and Bourzat and I was surprised there was that big of a gap between the two teams. The Americans were a hot mess, all over the map with their placements in each part of the competition. Samuelson and Bates finished fourth, Navarro and Bomemntre (loved their free dance!) finished sixth, Hubbell and Hubbell finished eigth...however none of them were consistent with their placements in each portion of the competition. I'm now very interested to see how Chock and Zuerlein stack up against these Senior teams. Also, I must toot my own horn and report that I correctly predicted the dance podium here!

The Pairs event gave us a little bit of a shocker. I've been saying as soon as Mukhortova and Trankov can get their heads together (and stop fighting with one another) they would be a force to be reckoned with. They put two solid performances back to back and out classed the field in Paris to take the title. While their "Love Story" program lacked a little love, it was well constructed and they were great technically. Dube and Davison nabbed the silver with a beautiful performance. They are struggling still a bit technically but their free skate is just lovely. The big shock came with Savchenko and Szolkowy placing third after only a fourth place free skate. They had a disastrous skate that culminated with a pop of their throw salchow at the end of their program and a lot of head shaking. A really out of character performance for them. Honorable mention to Inoue and Baldwin who finished fourth overall (third in the free) on the strength of a gorgeous throw triple axel.

The ladies event was interesting. Kim Yu-Na won the event, surprisingly by a margin approaching 40 points, and with a record breaking score. She accomplished the highest point total by a woman ever...without even performing a triple flip. While she was certainly deserving of the title, I don't think she was deserving of those scores. Overly inflated if you ask me. Mao Asada was a distant second with a performance that included a beautiful triple axel combination, solid footwork with deep edges, and impressive spins. While her performance was not to the level of Kim's, she should have been much closer in score. Yukari Nakano earned the bronze medal. The program didn't really sing but she did complete several triple jumps. Two American's finished in the top five. Caroline Zhang finished fourth after a program plagued with deductions due to her jump technique. She also played it safe at this competition nursing a healing injury. Alexe Gilles made her senior Grand Prix debut with a respectable fifth place finish. Caroline Kostner stumbled into sixth with two terrible performances. She still hasn't got her act together.

Full results are here. Next week the Grand Prix moves to Moscow, Russia for Rostelecom Cup.

The Op-Ed: How Dangerous are the Russians

Jumping Clapping Man has inspired a blog post…

Also, I’m trying out the Windows Live Writer interface to see if I like it.

But back to the Russians.  It’s Pairs skaters I’m talking about and we all know of their storied domination of Olympic competition.  Since 1964 in Innsbruck when the Protopopov’s won, the Russians have killed it going on an amazing 12 Olympic Games winning spree (yes…we still count 2002)!

However, it would appear that the tides are changing, and any betting person would put their good money on the Chinese or German's in Vancouver.

But, somehow, Russians always seem to get to the top of the podium at the Olympics (a little shady in 2002…but still there), fate just falls their way.  In 1997 if you had told me Kazakova and Dmitriev and their compatriots Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze would go 1-2 in Nagano I would have said…not a chance.  That four years later Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze managed to share a Gold Medal…a miracle.  The first time I saw Totmianina and Marinin in Olympic competition (2002), I thought them awkward and uninteresting…four years later I thought them well worthy of their Olympic Gold.

So I say fear the Russians in 2010 and do not count them out under any circumstances!  As per usual, there will be three, no doubt talented, teams to contend with in Vancouver.  Russian teams often have roles (not actually...just seems that way)at the Olympics and this is how I see it playing out…

There is always the team that is good, has had some success in International Competition, but don’t seem to have  the best Olympics.  In the past this role has been played by such skaters as Eltsova and Bushkov, Obertas and Slavnov, Petrova and Tikhonov…you know the type.  This I think will be Mukhortova and Trankov.  Wildly talented but I feel unprepared for the realities and pressures that Olympic competition will bring.

There’s often the young ones that have little experience that we barely, if at all, know.  This team will definitely be around but who knows who it will be?  Ozerova and Enbert?  Iliushechkina and Maisuradze?  Martiusheva and Rogonov?  Sheremetieva and Kuznetsov?  Rest assured one (or more) of these teams will burst on the scene next season and make the Olympic Team.  The young team often surprises all and has a much better result th an expected at the Olympics…think Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze in  1998.

Then there is ‘the’ team.  Maybe we didn’t expect them to do so good…but they do.  And I have a feeling this may turn out to be Kavaguti and Smirnov.  Also on their side is their coach, Tamara Moskvina who has a knack at turning out Olympic Champions.  Her teams seam to come alive on Olympic ice and I have a hunch this team will do the same.

Disclaimer: Of course I could be wrong about all of this!  Just using past history as a gauge of what may come.

Another Find...

I also just discovered Mukhortova and Trankov's flawless short program from Europeans.