#GPFigure #FigureSkating
Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 2018 ©International Skating Union (ISU)
World silver medalists Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov of Russia skated to the lead in the Pairs Short Program as Skate America opened on Friday in Everett (USA). Teammates Alisa Efimova/Alexander Korovin made it a one-two for Russia in Pairs Short. German Grand Prix debutants Minerva-Fabienne Hase/Nolan Seegert surprisingly came third.
Tarasova/Morozov’s program to “I Got You” featured a big triple twist and a level-four lift, death spiral and side by side spin. However, Tarasova underrotated and touched down on the triple toeloop and two-footed the throw triple loop. The team from Moscow earned 71.24 points. “We skated the short program with many small mistakes. It was difficult today, but we felt good. We like our program and we need to keep working hard on the short program,” Morozov said.
Alisa Efimova/Alexander Korovin (RUS) 2018 ©International Skating Union (ISU)
Skating to “Human”, Efimova/Korovin produced a triple twist, throw triple loop and two level-four elements, but Efimova struggled with the triple Salchow. The team from St. Petersburg scored 62.38 points, a new season's best. “We enjoyed skating very much, but we had some mistakes,” Efimova said. “We started our international season in Germany (at Nebelhorn Trophy), and we felt better here at the Grand Prix event, but we were a bit nervous.”
Minerva-Fabienne Hase/Nolan Seegert (GER) 2018 ©International Skating Union (ISU)
Hase/Seegert delivered a clean program to “Say Something”, completing a triple twist, side by side triple toeloop and throw triple Salchow to set a new personal best with 60.04 points. “Our goal coming here was to skate to clean programs and the first (part of the) goal we met. This is the reward, and we want more,” Seegert said.
Ashley Cain/Timothy Leduc (USA) came fourth on 57.72 points, followed by U.S. champions Alexa Scimeca Knierim/Chris Knierim (57.31 points) and Annika Hocke/Ruben Blommaert (GER/53.36 points).
