Tessa Virtue and Scot Moir (CAN) skate their
Tango Romantica compulsory dance at
Skate Canada.
Photo: AP/The Canadia Press/Paul Chiasson
World bronze medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir took the lead yesterday with a season-leading score in the compulsory dance at Skate Canada. As expected, there was no match for the Canadian champions, who is attempting to qualify for the Grand Prix Final with their performances this week.
Virtue and Moir did not disappoint the home crowd, skating a precise and crisp Tango Romantica and becoming the first team this season to score over 40 points in the compulsory dance. Their score edges out the previous season-leading compulsory dance score set last week by World silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.
In second going into the original dance are the French champions, Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, who had their season best score of 35.55. Another silver medal this week in Kitchener will propel them to the Grand Prix Final as well.
The battle for third is tight, with just about two points separating the next three teams, all up-and coming dance teams from the three current powerhouse dance countries. Canadian bronze medalists Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje won the first battle, with a personal best 32.18 in their compulsory dance. The U.S. silver medalists, Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates, are right behind with a 31.47. Rounding out the top five are the 2007 World junior champions, Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev, with a score of 30.09.
The second American team, 2008 U.S. junior champions Madison Hubbell and Keiffer Hubbell, who recently changed coaches, are in sixth going into the original dance.
DANCE (after the compulsory dance)
1. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir CAN – 40.69
2. Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat FRA – 35.55
3. Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje CAN – 32.18
4. Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates USA – 31.47
5. Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev RUS – 30.09
6. Madison Hubbell and Keiffer Hubbell USA – 27.14
7. Carolina Hermann and Daniell Hermann GER – 25.29
8. Andrea Chong and Guillaume Gfeller CAN – 24.27
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