FIGURE SKATING: Grand Prix Finals, Pairs' Event

Grand Prix Finals February 16, 2001 - February 18, 2001 Pairs' Event

The pairs event at the Grand Prix Finals consisted of probably the deepest field ever to grace the world of pairs skating. It is certainly an event in which the head-to-head format did not work, because there were far too many good pairs. Any pair who made one small mistake could lose their spot in the super final, because one mistake shot them down too low in such a deep and talented field, and they were unable to move up because of the competition's format.

In the short program, the 1998 and 1999 World Champions, Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharudlidze of Russia, reaffirmed their position as the best pair in the world with a spectacular short program - the only clean one of the night. Out to prove themselves this year after a tough season last year (it culminated in their removal from the 2000 World Championships because Berezhnaya tested positive for a banned substance, from a prescribed cold medicine she took), Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze were elegant and technically superior. After landing their side-by-side triple toe loops smoothly, Berezhnaya flew high in the air for a huge split double twist, and then flew high again on a beautiful throw triple loop.

In second place were the Canadian pair, Jaime Sale and David Pelletier. Having beaten Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze at Skate Canada this season, and then losing to them at Trophee Lalique, Sale and Pelletier are perhaps Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze's biggest rivals this season. In the short program here, Sale slightly stepped out of their side-by-side triple toe loops. Although they executed the rest of their elements cleanly, the mistake and their overall lack of speed compared to the Russians, was enough for Sale and Pelletier to be put in second place.

1999 and 2000 World Silver medalists Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China were in third place. Although they skated without mistakes, Shen and Zhao were less elegant in their presentation and unison, in comparison with Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze, and Sale and Pelletier. In fourth place were the second Russian pair and reigning World Champions, Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhinov, due to Petrova's two-footed landing on the side-by-side triple toe loops.

The Polish pair and 1999 World bronze medalists, Dorota Zagorska and Marius Siudek, trailed in fourth place after Zagorska fell on a throw triple salchow. The current World bronze medalists from France, Sarah Abitbol and Stephane Bernadis, were in sixth place after a disastrous short program that included a fall on the side-by-side jumps, touch down on the throw triple loop, and falling off unison on the side-by-side spins.

In the first free program, which wrapped up the first round of competition, reigning World Champions Petrova and Tikhinov fell to sixth place. Although their program was relatively clean, except for Petrova stepping out of the side-by-side double axels, their music was grating, almost distracting, and the choreography did not help Petrova and Tikhinov's expression. Abitbol and Bernadis moved up to fifth place with a better choreographed program than Petrova and Tikhinov's. Zagorska and Siudek remained in fourth place, skating almost flawlessly but for a step out by Zagorska on a double axel.

The only clean program of the night was by Shen and Zhao. Technically the most proficient pair, Shen and Zhao did two sets of side-by-side triple toe loops, along with huge throws and twists. However, with weak positions on lifts and spins, Shen and Zhao were kept in third place.

Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze fell one spot to second place with a beautiful interpretation of Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights." Berezhnaya stepped out of the throw triple loop, but otherwise they were flawless. Sale and Pelletier overtook them with a more intricately choreographed program to Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde." Sale doubled the side-by-side triple toe loops, but nevertheless, Sale and Pelletier finished in first place in the first round. It was still a surprise, however, since, in the past, Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze have won competitions despite mistakes, because of their speed, line, and unison. It seems that there is finally another pair in the skating world that can rival the unison and "oneness" of Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze.

In the Final round of skating, Petrova and Tikhinov skated head-to-head against Abitbol and Bernadis for fifth place. Tikhinov took a spill on the side-by-side triple toe loops. While this team has the best lifts in the competition, it is their lack of connection to each other that kept them down so low in the standings. They failed to touch or move anyone. Abitbol and Bernadis took fifth place, skating to "The Angel and the Devil." They skated the best they had during the entire competition, and fifth place was well deserved.

Shen and Zhao won the third place head-to-head match up against Zagorska and Siudek. Skating to "Mount Olympus," Shen and Zhao were once again flawless, performing the most powerful jumps and throws in the competition. Although Shen and Zhao had rough edges and lines, they won convincingly over Zagorska and Siudek. Zagorska singled the side-by-side double axel, and they skated with less speed than Shen and Zhao.

At this point, most everyone expected that Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze would win the competition, if they skated flawlessly. Their program, "Sentimental Waltz" from last year, highlighted the pair's quiet speed and line. Unfortunately, Berezhnaya touched down on the throw triple loop, and singled the side-by-side double axels. Their last lift dismounted somewhat roughly, but in basic pairs skating quality they are unmatched. Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze left the door open for Sale and Pelletier.

Skating to last year's acclaimed "Love Story," Sale and Pelletier could win if they skated flawlessly. But within the first thirty seconds of the program, it seemed they had already lost, when Sale went down on the side-by-side triple toe loops. Pelletier then singled the side-by-side double axels.

With the amount and severity of mistakes being about even, and the beauty of the programs being even as well, the competition would most likely come down to reputation, or precedence. In the past, it has been Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze that would come out on top in situations like these. However, shockingly, Sale and Pelletier came away with the title, put in first place by all but one judge!

Although Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze have sometimes been held up in the past, having their first place cushioned even when they made mistakes, they did deserve the Grand Prix title here. They had less major mistakes than Sale and Pelletier, and overall better quality. On the other hand, it was possibly a good wakeup call for Berezhnaya and Sikharudlidze. They realize now that they will have to skate their best at the World Championships to convincingly win the title.