Tallinn/ Estonia

#4ContsFigure  #FigureSkating

Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA) danced to the lead as the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships opened Thursday in Tallinn (EST) with the Rhythm Dance. Japan’s  Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi came second followed by Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA).

Performing to a Janet Jackson medley, Green/Parsons picked up a level four for the twizzels, the Midnight Blues pattern and their curve lift while the pattern dance step sequence and the midline footwork merited a level three. The Warsaw Cup bronze medalists surpassed their previous personal best by five points with a score of 80.62.

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Caroline Green and Michael Parsons (USA) © International Skating Union (ISU)

“We’re really happy with our performance. Everyone’s goal is to peak at the end of the season at Championship events like this and it’s definitely the most solid rhythm dance we’ve put down this year,” Parsons said.

“We had a little, short period of recovery and then just got back into training and cleaning the stuff we thought we could improve on from Nationals and setting ourselves up to be in the mindset to compete again,” Green said. 

“Of course it’s funny (to be in Tallinn for Four Continents) but any opportunity for us to compete is a good one. We are just so happy to be here and happy that the event is held here – it’s so well run and we are just really excited to compete,” she added.

Muramoto/Takahashi had opted for a very unusual combination of traditional Japanese music and Hip Hop with “Soran Bushi” and “Koto”. The National Championships silver medalists collected a level four for the Midnight Blues and the rotational lift as well as for her twizzles. However, they had to overcome a shaky start when she fell right at the beginning on a transition move. Nevertheless, the Japanese team scored 72.43 points.

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Kana Muramoto and Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) © International Skating Union (ISU)

“We had a very big mistake at the beginning that we never do, but we’re really happy with how we performed even after the mistake. It’s our first (international) championships and second season together. I think what we achieved coming up here is a really big thing,” Muramoto noted.

“It had been nine years since the last time I was here (at Four Continents, as a single skater),” Takahashi, the 2010 ISU World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist, told the press. “I felt very nostalgic. It’s my first time as an ice dancer, so it’s something fresh and new. I would never have thought of coming back competing as an ice dancer, so I’m very glad and thankful.”

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Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) © International Skating Union (ISU)

Carreira/Ponomarenko’s performance to “Batdance” by Prince featured level-four twizzles and a level-four rotational lift, but the diagonal step sequence was rated a level two. The two-time ISU World Junior medalists earned 69.35 points.

“Some parts (of the performance) were good and some parts weren’t as good; I don’t think it was our best performance of the season. It’s our first (ISU) Championship event so we are just looking forward to get experience,” Carreira said.

2018 Four Continents silver medalists Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus (CAN) are less than one point behind in fourth place (69.15 points). Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac who made their ISU Championship debut for Canada after formerly representing France are currently ranked fifth (68.66 points). Newcomers Emily Bratti/Ian Somerville (USA) finished sixth (67.72 points).

Ten Ice Dance couples participate in the event. For full results, see here.

For more information, full entry lists and results please see the ISU event website and the official event website. Follow the discussion on social media using #4ContsFigure and #FigureSkating. 

  

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