{"id":18598,"date":"2018-11-19T22:09:55","date_gmt":"2018-11-20T03:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/?p=18598"},"modified":"2020-02-16T12:02:42","modified_gmt":"2020-02-16T17:02:42","slug":"recap-rostelecom-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/recap-rostelecom-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Recap: Rostelecom Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Anne Calder | Photo by Julia Komarova<\/em><\/p>\n

The fifth Grand Prix series event was hosted by Moscow, Russia from November 16-18. Nine couples from seven countries competed for prize money and points toward the Grand Prix Final which will take place in Vancouver from December 6-9.<\/p>\n

Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin orf Russia blew away the competition by 25 points and won their second Grand Prix gold medal in two weeks. Spain’s Sara Hurtado & Kirill Khaliavin and Christina Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko of the United States won silver and bronze \u2013 their first Grand Prix medals. It was also Spain\u2019s first ice dance Grand Prix medal.<\/p>\n

Rhythm Dance<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the end of the Rhythm Dance, Stepanova & Bukin had a five-point lead over Carreira & Ponomarenko, followed by Hurtado & Khaliavin.<\/p>\n

Stepanova & Bukin opened with Paso Doble dance steps to \u201cMalaguena\u201d before slipping into their level 4 Tango twizzles and level 2 Midline footwork that earned +3 and +4 GOEs. Together the two elements scored 19.30 points \u2013 more than half their 37.30 segment TES. A wobble in the first Tango Romanica by Stepanova drew 0 and -1 GOEs, but they powered through the second pattern and received +2s and +3s. The team was disappointed by the twizzle error, especially since it was at home in Moscow. The segment scored 74.49.<\/p>\n

Carreira & Ponomarenko danced to a virtual TES tie with the Russian leaders, but lost considerable ground (5 points) with their program component score. The Americans hit three of eight key points, but earned level 4 for the crisp twizzles that produced good ice coverage. The diagonal step sequence to the up beat \u201cYo Soy Maria\u201d received a 1.94 GOE. The score was 69.01.<\/p>\n

Hurtado & Khaliavin represent Spain, but train in Moscow, so it was like a home field advantage. The dancers began their \u201cI\u2019ve Seen That Face Before\u201d and \u201cLibertango\u201d program with patterns that tallied four of eight key points for the highest GOE score of the event (14.45). Unfortunately, Hurtado had a balance issue with the twizzles and the team registered all negative GOEs. Their program component score was also five points behind the leaders, but the 66.40 score was a new personal best.<\/p>\n

Natalia Kaliszek & Maksym Spodyriev of Poland were fourth and scored 66.30 followed by Lithuania’s Allison Reed & Saulius Ambrulevicius\u00a0 who scored 64.54 and had the highest base value and second highest pattern score (13.69). Sofia Evdokimova & Egor Bazin of Russia hip hopped into sixth 64.05 points. All three scores were personal bests.<\/p>\n

Free Dance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stepanova & Bukin waited a long time while the judges tallied the scores for the Polish team who preceded them. The audience clapped and cheered, encouraging their hometown heroes during the delay.<\/p>\n

When their names were finally announced, the crowd roared and were quickly mesmerized by the blues dance to \u201cAm I the One\u201d by Beth Hart and scored 124.94 \u2013 the highest 2018 Grand Prix free dance total. The judges awarded the elements all +3, +4, and +5 GOEs and the program components all 9.25+. Their base value (44.33) included level 4 lifts and combination spin and level 3 footwork. Their unique Choreographic Movements \u2013 Spin, Step Sequence, and \u201cShoot the Duck\u201d Twizzles totaled 12.54. The team was happy with the outcome.<\/p>\n

They spoke at the press conference about the delay, their performance, and making the GP Final.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a really long delay, and we want to thank the audience for their support during this time. When we finally stepped on the ice, we were really anxious to begin skating. Overall, we were pleased with the way we managed to do it. I think we did a really good job!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRegarding the Final, we are overwhelmed. We are absolutely happy about the two first places in the Grand Prix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hurtado & Khaliavin outscored the Americans with a personal best 108.02 and won the silver medal by a slim .21 margin. Their music included \u201cGreat Gig in the Sky\u201d, \u201cVladimir\u2019s Blues\u201d, and \u201cSign of the Times\u201d. Two lifts, the spin and twizzles earned level 4, while the serpentine step sequence and straight-line lift were level 3. The personal best total score was 174.42.The team made their Grand Prix debut in Helsinki, Finland, where they finished fourth.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us it is very important that we improve our programs with every competition,\u201d Hurtado said. \u201cWe are proving to every skater in Spain that if you work for it, you can be here, too. It was the first time a Spanish ice dance team medalled at the Grand Prix. It will help the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Khaliavin added, \u201cWe are happy with the way we skated today \u2013 better than yesterday. (Today) there were some minor glitches. The first part was pretty intense, but we relaxed in the second part, then skated element by element.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carreira & Ponomarenko dropped a spot but won the bronze medal with their Tokio Myers selections to \u201cBloodstream\u201d and \u201cAngel\u201d. The many tempo changes challenged the young team, but they were up to it. The lifts earned level 4, the spin level 3, and the footwork level 2. The segment score was 105.20, five points higher than their fifth place finish in Helsinki. Unfortunately, the base values were lower. The total score was 174.21.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t get all the levels, so we will go back and work on that. For our first year, we are pretty happy with our second Grand Prix,\u201d Carreira said.<\/p>\n

Sofia Evdokimova & Egor Bazin (RUS) vaulted from sixth to fourth with personal best segment (100.61) and total (164.66) scores. In fifth place, Natalia Kaliszek & Maksym Spodyriev totaled 161.62. Allison Reed & Saulius Ambrulevicius were sixth with personal best segment (93.49) and total (158.03) scores.<\/p>\n

WHAT\u2019S NEXT?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stepanova & Bukin compete at the Grand Prix Final. (Vancouver, BC Canada, Dec. 6-9).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to be prepared for Spanish Nationals,\u201d Khaliavin said. \u201cWe will stay here in Moscow and train. We will probably make some changes in the programs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited about doing a third Challenger Series event this year,\u201d Ponomarenko said. \u201cWe are going to the Tallinn Trophy in a week. We are staying here in Russia and training.\u201d
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\nICE CHATTER<\/strong><\/p>\n