The 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships opened in London, ON, Canada, with the Pairs and Men's Short Programs. 164 skaters from 41 ISU members have been entered for the Championships.
Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov (RUS) take lead in Pairs Short Program
Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov of Russia skated to the lead in the Pairs Short program. Canada's Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford and Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy of Germany follow in second and third.
Volosozhar/Trankov skated last out of the 18 couples. Their program to The Godfather was highlighted by a triple twist, throw triple loop and difficult lift. The European Champions earned a level four for four elements, but Volosozhar wobbled on the side by side triple Salchow. The two-time World silver medalists picked up a new personal best score of 75.84 points. We had some mistakes today, in my solo jump. I put down my foot. But overall, it was a good short program. The key to winning is to just skate, show our emotions and our elements, Volosozhar said. It was a good job, last in the group. We keep working, dance to our music and skate well. We like to send good emotions to the audience and they give it back, Trankov added.
Skating to La Boheme, Duhamel/Radford landed a triple twist, side by side triple Lutz and throw triple Lutz to earn a new personal best score with 73.61 points. Three elements merited a level four. It was really exciting to land the triple Lutz in our short program that's the hardest thing in the program. When we landed it, the look on everyone's face down in the corner of the stands, they were all really excited and I got really excited so going into the throw which came seconds later we just looked at each other and took a moment to take a deep breath and just make sure that we didn't lose our focus, Duhamel told the press. I was so nervous this morning and today. Then we had a wave of calmness. Our confidence was so strong. We knew we could do it and we did, Radford commented.
Savchenko/Szolkowy completed a throw triple flip, side by side triple toe and five level-four elements in their routine to Kismet by Bond. The four-time World Champion scored 73.47 points, a seasons best. It was the last short program of the season. On paper, it was a seasons best, but it wasn't a seasons best for us. We know how we can skate in practice. It felt a little hard to skate, like the handbrake was pulled, Savchenko noted. We never play it safe. It was a weird feeling. We felt like we weren't moving while in fact we were ahead of our music after the third element. The World Championships are always the last competition and you never feel fresh and it is never easy, Szolkowy said.
Yuko Kavaguti/Alexander Smirnov (RUS) finished fourth at 69.98 points, just ahead of Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch (CAN) at 69.25 points. Two-time World Champions Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN) are currently ranked sixth as he stumbled on the triple toe (63.95 points).
Patrick Chan (CAN) claims Men's Short Program
Canada's Patrick Chan claimed the Men's Short Program. Denis Ten of Kazakhstan and Canadian Kevin Reynolds finished second and third.
Performing to Elegy in E-Flat Minor by Sergei Rachmaninov, Chan produced a quadruple-triple toeloop combination and followed up with a triple Axel and triple Lutz. His spins and footwork were rated a level four. The two-time and reigning World Champion collected 98.37 points, which is a new highest score, surpassing Yuzuru Hanyu's 95.32 points from NHK Trophy 2012. I worked very hard for the past three weeks which really paid off. I do this program every day in practice. The Canadian fans help me to be more focused, concentrate more and they lift a lot of pressure. Today I had no luck, just a lot of hard work that paid off. This feels almost as great as the Vancouver Olympics. Setting a new world record is just the icing on the cake, Chan explained.
Ten pulled off a quadruple toe, triple Axel, triple flip and level four spins and footwork in his program to The Artist. With 91.56 points, he improved his previous personal best by 13.51 points. It was a surprise. I didn't know how the other guys did. I'm shocked. It was important for me to skate well, the 19-year-old shared. I will be fresh and focused for the free skate. The start of my season was rough with injuries and I am still not fully recovered. I injured my right ankle in December and then my left one after that. I have been working harder, skating more and working out longer, he continued.
Reynolds hit a quadruple Salchow-triple toeloop combination, and a triple Axel in his program to Chambermaid Swing by Parov Stelar, but he stepped out of the quadruple toeloop. The Four Continents Champion posted a new personal best with 85.16 points. I had a cyst rupture in my left knee ten days ago. It feels better. The crowd really helped. I need to keep my momentum going, the 22-year-old noted.
2012 World silver medalist Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) sits in fourth after underrotating a quad toe and triple toe (84.67 points). Brian Joubert (FRA) came fifth at 84.17 points ahead of Michal Brezina (CZE) at 83.09 points.
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2013 continue Thursday with the Ladies Short Program and the Short Dance.