Two-time European Champions Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov of Russia skated to a strong lead in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix Guaranteed Rate Skate America in Las Vegas (USA) on Friday. 2021 World bronze medalists Aleksandra Boikova/Dmitrii Kozlovskii (RUS) came second ahead of Japan’s Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara.
Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov © International Skating Union (ISU)
Performing to “Metamorphosis 2” by Philipp Glass and “Experience” by Ludovico Einaudi, Tarasova/Morozov completed a side by side triple toeloop, a high triple twist, throw triple loop and picked up a level four for the twist, lift and combination spin. The Muscovites set a season's best of 80.36 points. “This is our fifth competition and we did a step forward with each one,” Morozov said. “It was not a 100 percent, we feel we can do more, but we are happy for today.".
Boikova/Kozlovskii gave an intense performance to “Swan Lake” that was highlighted by a side by side triple Salchow, triple twist and throw triple flip. The 2020 European Champions earned 75.43 points. “Performing in our first competition right away in such a meaningful event such as Skate America was not a small challenge,” Kozlovskii said. “We skated quite well, but it was only the first small step on our path towards the biggest goal of the season, the Olympic Games. We have to move forward step by step and we just started our path today.”
Miura/Kihara turned in a strong performance to “Hallelujah” that featured a throw triple Lutz and three level-four elements, only the triple toeloop was slightly under-rotated. The Japanese Champions were awarded a season's best score of 72.63 points. “We did not get all levels (for the elements), but there were no big mistakes and so we are happy,” Miura said.
Jessica Calalang/Brian Johnson (USA) are currently ranked fourth on 68.87 points, followed by U.S. Champions Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier on 66.37 points.
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