to move up and down
Upside down: Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Russia perform during their pairs short program during European Figure Skating Championship in Zagreb, on January 23, 2013. They placed second. (Photo: HRVOJE POLAN/AFP/Getty Images)
STUNNING! Germany’s Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi perform during the ice dance free program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, November 10, 2012. Canada’s Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue won gold. (Photo: REUTERS/Grigory Dukor)
PHOTOBOMB! Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir perform during the ice dance short program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup. They are currently in the lead. Canada’s Patrick Chan is also in the lead after the men’s short program.
Russia’s Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov perform during the pairs short program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup in Moscow.
The real story of the day was American Gracie Gold, who started the day as the lowest-ranked skater in the Rostelecom Cup, and ended it in first place after a graceful and assured short program on Friday.
She has less than a two-point lead over the next two contenders for medals, Kiira Korpi of Finland and American Agnes Zawadzki.
There were a few ups and downs on Day One of Skate Canada. Rising Canadian star Kaetlyn Osmond (bottom photo) is in second place after today’s short program at Skate Canada International.
The 16-year-old from Marystown, N.L., scored 60.56 points for her performance to Mambo No. 8, skating a clean program that included a triple toe loop-triple toe loop combination.
Elene Gedevanishvili of Georgia, who is coached by Canada’s Brian Orser, scored 60.80 to sit in first place (top photo).
(Photos from the top: REUTERS/Mike Cassese; GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images)
It’s that time of year again … Tessa Virtue (L) and Scott Moir of Canada skate during a practice session at Skate Canada International in Windsor. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Cassese)
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir brought the magic of Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire to the ice as they became the first Canadian couple to win a second ice dancing title at the world championships on Thursday.
The competition had been billed as the battle of the North American couples and the Olympic champions trumped American rivals and 2011 world gold medallists Meryl Davis and Charlie White with their unique interpretation of the musical Funny Face.
Virtue, Moir win gold at Four Continents
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir danced their way to a gold medal on Sunday to wrap up the Four Continents figure skating event on Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Canadians were second after the short dance on Saturday, but put up the best score in Sunday’s free dance to take the title in the final major competition before the ISU world championships.
“We were pleased with our skate today and our week overall,” Virtue said in a news release. “We learned to approach our skating better, which is something we haven’t done since the Olympics. It’s skating in unison, getting into that zone and blocking all the distractions.” (Photo: Rick Wilking/Reuters)
Golden again
It was a battle between pizzazz and passion Saturday night in the ice dance final of the Canadian figure skating championships — and pizzazz won.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the defending Olympic champions, delivered their Broadway-on-ice routine, an elaborate piece of technical showmanship, to win their fourth national title.
Their skills display triumphed over a sensual and passionate performance by Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, who took second place in the competition.
Photo: Mike Cassese/Reuters
In fine form
Injuries sidetracked ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir during the 2010-11 figure skating season. Adding to the duo’s disappointment was that fact they had to sit out the Canadian championships. But 2012 will be different. Photo: Aaron Lynett/National Post
