FIGURE SKATING
Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) jump into four-point lead after Pairs Short Program
22 Nov 2024
Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) grabbed the lead in the Pairs Short Program as the first day of competition concluded at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China in Chongqing on Friday. The spectators at the Huaxi Cultural And Sports Center enjoyed an exciting day.
More than a clean skate for Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii
Italy’s 2023 ISU European Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii grabbed a solid lead of four points over Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin of Germany. Canadians Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud came in third. The Italians and the Germans are only a step away from qualifying for the ISU Grand Prix Final again.
Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy compete in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China in Chongqing © ISU
Conti/Macii delivered a passionate performance to “Carmen” that featured a triple twist, throw triple loop and side-by-side triple Salchow. The 2023 ISU World bronze medalists collected a level four for the twist, their lift, step sequence, side-by-side spin and death spiral to score 72.43 points.
“We are super happy because we work a lot on the elements, especially on the details because all the pairs do the same elements – a triple twist, triple throws and so real points are coming from the details," Conti said. “This is the first time we take a level four on the death spiral. We felt comfortable on the ice and wanted to enjoy the program and not just doing the elements clean."
Hase/Volodin (GER) bounce back from slip up
Hase/Volodin opened their sensual performance to “You Were Mine” with a triple twist and followed up with a triple Salchow and throw triple loop. However, Volodin took an unexpected fall in the step sequence which cost them several points. The ISU World bronze medalists netted 68.44 points.
Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany compete in the Pairs Short Program at Huaxi Cultural And Sports Center in Chongqing © ISU
“The first half of the program was really solid and we could show everything what we wanted,” Hase said. “The fall in the step sequence can happen. I think it is happening to every pair once and it is good it is happening now and not at the big, big competitions and it is out of our system now. We are happy with the points and this is a nice step forward for us."
Volodin added with a laugh: “When I was in the air in the step sequence I thought 'why do you fly in the step sequence'. After I fell I tried to quickly get back into the program. I was careful in the death spiral because I didn’t want to fall again, that's why it was not a level four.”
Pereira/Michaud (CAN) find redemption
Pereira/Michaud were looking for redemption after a disappointing performance at the ISU Grand Prix de France and they got what they wanted. Skating to “Sing, Sing, Sing”, the 2023 ISU Grand Prix Finalists completed a triple twist, throw triple Salchow and side-by-side triple Salchow for a personal-best 66.90 points.
“We have a lot of motivation since the Grand Prix in France,” Pereira said. “We have a lot of stuff that we still wanted to show and a lot of improvements that we wanted to make. I think we did that for the most part today. We feel much more confident.”
Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud of Canada compete in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China in Chongqing © ISU
Ioulia Chtchetinina/ Michal Wozniak (POL) finished fourth with a personal-best 61.11 points. Yuchen Wang/Lei Zhu (CHN) are ranked fifth at 55.14 points.
For full entries, schedules & results, see the ISU Grand Prix Event Page & ISU Grand Prix Cup of China Event Page .
Check out the ISU Grand Prix Standings to find out who is on their way to qualify for the Final:
Men Women Pair Skating Ice Dance
What & When
The schedule of the Cup of China is as follows
Friday, Nov 22: Rhythm Dance, Women’s, Men’s & Pairs Short Programs
Saturday, Nov 23: Free Dance, Women’s, Men’s & Pairs Free Skating
Sunday, Nov 24: Exhibition Gala
Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:
The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:
- 18 - 20 Oct 2024 Skate America in Allen, TX (USA)
- 25 - 27 Oct 2024 Skate Canada International in Halifax (CAN)
- 01 - 03 Nov 2024 Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
- 08 - 10 Nov 2024 NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN)
- 15- 17 Nov 2024 Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)
- 22 - 24 Nov 2024 Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final:
- 05 - 08 Dec 2024 Grenoble (FRA)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.
