1997 Skate Canada, Halifax - Report

by Christine Schwarz

Skate Canada was the third stop on the Champions Series.

Pairs

In the pairs event, Oksana Kazakova/Artur Dmitriev pocketed their first 12 points for the final and 30 000 US-Dollars, after they won short and free program. But Dmitriev looked terrible in practice, when he tried his jumps again and again, and they wouldn't work. In competition, however, he managed somehow to pull himself together, but the death spiral in the short was the worst one of the day, and in the free he singled the axel. There were some other sloppinesses in the otherwise nice programs of the Russians (last season's "Thus spoke Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss and "Passacale" by Händel). Dmitriev said he missed a lot of summer practice because he suffered from a pulled shoulder and his old back injury. Marina Khalturina/Andrei Krukov who represent Kazakhstan, but live and train in the United States were surprising seconds. With solid, but slowly skated routines they even moved up from third after the short program. Krukov had problems with his triple salchow, though. The couple was tied 2nd with Sarah Abitbol/Stephane Bernadis in the free skating, but remained ahead of the French, who were 4th after the short. The Canadians Kristy Sargeant/Kris Wirtz dropped to 5th with a disastrous free skating. They had been 2nd after the short.

Men

Former World silver medalist Ilia Kulik (Russia) challenged World Champion Elvis Stojko in front of a Canadian crowd, but couldn't snatch away the victory from the Canadian. Kulik unexpectedly singled his double axel in the short. He was taken completely by surprise by this mistake and couldn't believe it happened. Apart from this, his program to music by French composer Jean-Michel Jarre looked very nice. Unlike in Gelsenkirchen Stojko skated a clean short. Michael Tyllesen was third after more known skaters such as Dan Hollander messed up their programs.
Tyllesen remained third overall, the first time he could medal at a Champions Series competition. Stojko put a quad-triple toe combination in his free and had only problems with a triple axel, which didn't prevent him to win his second Champions Series gold medal. Kulik's rather conservative but lyrical "Rhapsody in Blue" looked good, but his black-yellow costume was awful. He had some minor problems towards the end (triple salchow on two feet) and finished 2nd overall.

Ladies

The ladies had, again, trouble with their jumps. Michelle Kwan, who didn't compete for Champions Series points, won. But even she doubled a lutz in her free skating and had some other problems, in the end she even fell. Maria Butyrskaia collected 9 points after being 2nd in short and free program. Her programs were well choreographed, but she should try to be more relaxed. She looks always really grim. 3rd placed Surya Bonaly still didn't recover from last year's achilles tendon rupture. She didn't risk a lutz, but a triple toe-triple toe combination instead in her short.

Ice Dance

As expected, Canada's Shae-Lynn Bourne/Victor Kraatz lead throughout Compulsory dance, Original dance and Free dance. Their Jive was well done and looked effortless; it seems to come easily to the North Americans. They chose sequences from the musical "Riverdance" for their free, which they presented for the first time in competition.The fast moving program with several quick step sequences was very well received by the audience, despite some people's critizisism that Bourne/Kraatz used to many steps on their toes and didn't skate enough. However, this reflects the character of the original Irish stepdance stage show. Elizabeth Punsalan/Jerod Swallow (USA) skated a very conservative free to South American rhythms which didn't look so original compared to others. Their Jive was rather ordinary as well. Irina Lobatcheva/Ilia Averbukh (Russia) were 2nd after the compulsory, but dropped to third after the original dance which wasn't necessarily justified. Their Rock'n Roll was upbeat and lively, but their free skating to "Jesus Christ Superstar" included show elements which they could have saved for the exhibition. Margarita Drobiazko/Povilas Vanagas from Lithuania, who didn't skate in Detroit due to Margarita's knee injury, made their season debut in Halifax. They skated an interesting and unusual free to indian-oriental music, but they were tentative and lacked speed.

Copyright © November 12, 1997 by Christine Schwarz

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