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Bofrost Cup 2004 - Friday, November 26th

Our first day of competition, apart from the skating, was mostly dominated by lots of walking (very typical considering that Steffi had an inflammation on one foot and couldn't walk properly and without pain anyway and I only had taken uncomfortable high heeled boots with me :P ). First we walked to the city center to have lunch and walked some extra cause we couldn't find our favorite restaurant anymore (aka the only nice restaurant we found so far in Gelsenkirchen). Then we took the subway to the rink, instead of the bus, because we figured it can't be that far from the subway station to the arena, but it turned out to be quite far anyway and the road wasn't even paved. And at night we thought we'd walk back from the main station to our hotel, instead of taking a subway, but since we managed to get lost :P , we ended up walking back to the main station to take the subway after all :D

Anyway, to get to the skating, when we arrived at the arena, we first watched some dance and ladies practices. I didn't take any notes on the dance, because I took quite some photos (to be shared later) and I don't remember anything in particular. Except for that we had difficulties identifying O'Connor & O'Dougherty, because her hair was so different: brown and in a bit strange shorter cut (but she had put it into a nice hairstyle for the OD).

The men's element competition was the first part of the competition. For the judging they of course had a computer system, but it obviously wasn't connected to the displays for the elements part of the competition, so we got to see signs with the GoE written on them (-3, -2, ...etc.), but they didn't show the different levels for the elements and the announcer (who was the same annoying one as last year) didn't even really explain about the difficulty levels, he only mentioned it once shortly during the men's, but not for the pairs and ladies, he only explained about the Grade of Execution, which must have been a bit confusing for the casual viewers, because they must have thought that the GoE's must be all that counts. I think they could have taken some more time to explain this. And I really would have liked to see the Level of the footwork and spins. I think it was a good thing that this year the skaters would only be out of the contest if they got a -3 in execution, because that way they still could stay in if they stepped out or 2-footed a jump and got -2's or -1's for it.

The first level was a footwork sequence, Smalun was leading after that. No notes here, since I'm not enough in TECHNIK anyway :P

After the spin combo Smalun was still in the lead, followed by Ben, Stefan, Stannick, Matt and Samuel.

The first jump was either 3l, 3z or 3f. Contesti landed a solid 3lutz, his second attempt was a bit shaky. Matt Savoie did a 3lutz out of a lunge, quite impressive. The second attempt looked about the same, both were solid. Jeanette had an ok 3z and one that was a bit shaky. Stefan also managed two 3z's, the second was a bit better. Ben also had two successful attempts, the second was a bit higher. Smalun surprisingly managed two solid 3z's too. Standings after that round: Silvio, Stefan, Ben, Matt, Stannick, Samuel.

The next round was the 3axel. Jeannette doubled both attempts and was out, Silvio fell on the first attempt and popped the second. Samuel Contesti had a solid first attempt, but stepped out of the second. Matt Savoie had two good 3axels out of a hydroblading move. Ben heavily stepped out of the first attempt, but managed a shaky 2nd one. Stefan fell on the first 3axel, but landed the second. Standings: Stefan, Matt, Ben, Samuel.

3-3 combination: Samuel Contesti only did a 3a-2t in the first attempt and did a 3a-3t (fall) in the second. Ben stepped out of his first 3axel and then did only a 3a-2t. Matt singled the axel first and fell on a 3axel. Stefan managed a 3flip-3toeloop, but had a bit of an extra turn in between. He fell on the 3axel in the 2nd attempt. He was the only one to advance in the next round (a quad), but he fell on both attempts.

The pairs element competition was next, it turned out to be a lot more interesting and entertaining than the men, we really enjoyed it, while the men were kind of boring.

The first element was a pairs spin. Handke & Wende need more flow in their position changes. Fitze & Rex' was mediocre at best. Borzenkova & C's included a nice Mishkuteniok & Dmitriev spin. Nönnig & Bleyer's had quite difficult positions. I didn't write anything about Hinzmann & Parchem's spin, except for that she was wearing a very nice bodysuit for the jumping contest. Marcoux & Buntin's spin was fast in the beginning. Standings: 1. B&C, 2. M&B, 3. N&B, 4. H&P, 5. H&W, 6. F&R

The second element was a BIDS. Fitze & Rex's attempt was tolerable. I didn't note anything down about H&W. Nönnig & Bleyer had a change of hand in the entry, but the position wasn't very low. Hinzmann & Parchem had a nice entry and she varied her arm position nicely. Marcoux & Buntin also had a nice variation on the entry, as did B&C. B&C also had a very low position. Standings: 1. B&C, 2. M&B, 3. N&B, 4. F&R, 5. H&W, 6. H&P

Throw-3salchow or Throw-3toeloop Fitze & Rex's first attempt looked a bit underrotated, the second attempt was higher. Handke & Wende saved the first t3t, the second was better. H&P put the hand down on the first t3s and she landed a bit on forward on the second and might have put her hand down again. N&B's saved their first t3s, the second attempt was higher. M&B had a high t3s out of a difficult entry, the second attempt didn't cover so much ice, but was more secure. B&C also did a t3s out of a difficult entry (a backwards pair spiral into it), the second attempt looked about the same, but maybe a bit more secure. Standings: 1. B&C, 2. M&B, 3. N&B, 4. F&R, 5. H&W, 6. H&P

Throw-3loop or Throw-3flip H&P's first t3l was ok, the second one was landed deep in the knee and she stepped out. H&W had two ok attempts. F&R did the same entry as for their t3s, except for that she put her right foot down shortly before the throw, but the weight was definitely still quite clearly on the left foot, so that it really was also a 3salchow. The judges seemed to friendlily overlook that though. The second attempt was the same. N&B did a 2footed throw-3f with a step out, it was enough to barely advance to the next round (with -2's). The second attempt was a fall. M&B did spread eagles into a throw3-loop, she fell on the first attempt, but the second was clean. B&C had no problem with the throw-3loop, they were rock solid. They only attempted it once. Standings: 1. B&C, 2. M&B, 3. H&W, 4. F&R, 5. N&B, 6. H&P

2axel H&P: she singled 1st attempt, they didn't try a second and were out. Maybe they thought she wouldn't have a chance to land it anyway? N&B: she popped, then she fell in the second attempt. F&R: She stepped out of both attempts, but it was enough to advance H&W: clean in first attempt, she put her hand down on the second M&B: had two nice attempts B&C. She singled the first attempt, but the second was clean. Standings: 1. M&B, 2. B&C, 3. H&W, 4. F&R

3-2 jump combo or sequence Fitze & Rex: she put her hand down on the 3t and had a long break before the second jump, he might have had a problem too, I didn't see it properly. They managed a clean sequence of 3t and 2salchow in the second attempt. H&W were the only couple to do a 3t-2t combination instead of a sequence. The first attempt was clean and good, on the second he nearly put his hand down and she had an extra turn in between. B&C managed a sequence of 3t and 2t without problems and didn't bother to do a 2nd attempt. M&B did the same sequence, but he stepped out of the first 3t. It was enough to advance. In the second attempt he fell on the 3t. Standings: 1. B&C, 2. M&B, 3. H&W, 4. F&R

Last round: 3twist The 3twist round really would have needed Obertas & Slavnov or a Chinese pair :D Fitze & Rex' first attempt was barely 2 3/4 rotated, the second attempt was only 2 1/2, obviously they got all -3's. Handke & Wende also had only 2 1/2 rotations on the first attempt, the second attempt was a bit better, but also not clean and they also got all -3's. I had thought that M&B generally have a decent 3twist, but if they do it wasn't there that night, the first attempt was only barely 2 3/4, the second attempt was rotated and tolerable, they got -1's and 0's for it. B&C's first attempt was underrotated as well, the second was higher and a bit better and also got them some 0's, -1's and a -2.

Since it was still pretty early after the competition was over, Steffi and I had the brilliant idea to go to have dinner at the city centre, but we soon discovered that it seems to be quite impossible to get something to eat at Gelsenkirchen after 10pm, even the McDonalds was closed, even though the opening times were supposed to be until 11pm.