News
November 10, 2008
Carriere claims silver in China
Hacker creates magic moment in Grand Prix debut
As energy heightened at the Skating Club of Boston in anticipation of hosting the upcoming Eastern Sectional Championships, drama of another sort unfolded nearly halfway around the world. Reigning US Men's bronze medalist Stephen Carriere prepared for his season premier on the ISU Grand Prix circuit. Cup of China, held in Beijing Nov. 6-9, would feature both Carriere, who was first alternate to the Grand Prix Final last year, and Katrina Hacker, the surprise breakout ladies performer from the 2008 US Championships and Four Continents.
Men
For 19-year old Carriere, Cup of China was just another day at the office. "I always try to focus on my performance and not who's competing or what they are doing," Carriere says. "If I don't skate my best it hardly matters who else is out there."
In his short program, set to an orchestral rendition of Metallica's Nothing Else Matters, Carriere cleared his opening triple Axel smoothly and followed up with triple flip-triple toe and triple Lutz. With solid 3s for his step sequences and 4s for his spins, Carriere earned a total segment score of 72.00, placing him in third place.
Never satisfied, a determined Carriere turned up the heat in his Firebird freeskate, nailing seven triple jumps including a late-in-the-program triple Axel that earned 10.02 points. His steps sequences and spins were rewarded with high levels - including a level 4 on his change sit spin - and positive GOE marks. The final tally gave Carriere a 145.25 for the freeskate, the second highest score in the round, and enough to earn him the silver medal overall.
"With each performance I try to improve on the one before," an exuberant Carriere explained. "You can always be a little more polished and a little more solid, but this was a good start to the season."
Ladies
Hacker took the ice in Beijing a virtual unknown, but by the conclusion of her stunning short program she had left a lasting impression on the Chinese people. Her short program, a wintery interpretation of On Golden Pond, evokes a young child discovering the love of skating on a frozen New England pond. By the time she had wiped the snow from her blades and "practiced" her figures she was a crowd favorite, then offered up a polished set up jumps and high scoring spins, spirals, and steps. The crowd was out of its seats as Hacker moved into 5th place with a segment score of 50.80.
Hacker, whose own love of skating resulted in a one-year deferment of Princeton, was surprised to find herself sitting ahead of veterans like Susanna Poykio of Finland and Sara Meier of Switzerland after the short. "I felt very comfortable on the ice, and the Chinese people made a very gracious audience," Hacker said.
The freeskate was not as generous to Hacker, as a fall and some deductions left her credited with just three triples. Still, her level 4 signature spiral and high scoring spins demonstrated Hacker's elegance and skill, helping her earn 84.15 on the way to a total event score of 134.95.
"I had the time of my life in Beijing," Hacker reflected. "I was honored to represent the US and to create some lasting memories both on and off the ice."
"It was a moving experience to visit the monuments and sites in Beijing and to mix that with a life-defining skating moment," Hacker added. "I will always remember this."
Read Katrina Hacker's Cup of China diary here.
Both Stephen Carriere and Katrina Hacker will next appear at ISU NHK Trophy, November 27-30 in Tokyo.
